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Board approves $22.4 million budget amendment to remodel Brawley site for behavioral health campus after broad public support
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a $22,405,798 budget amendment to establish a program budget to remodel county property in Brawley into a behavioral-health campus (Northern Horizons) after numerous residents, service providers and clients testified about treatment gaps and transportation barriers.
The Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 voted to approve a $22,405,798 budget amendment resolution to create a program budget for remodeling county property at 2020 East Main Street in Brawley into a behavioral health campus intended to expand access to mental-health and substance-use-disorder services.
Leticia Blancarte Garcia, Imperial County behavioral health director, asked the board to approve the BAR so the county could proceed when grant funds are received. She told the board the request follows prior board authorization to seek state funding and the county's application for the funding round. Blancarte Garcia said a corrected backup packet reflecting the single budget item was provided for the meeting record.
Dozens of residents, peer-support workers and representatives of faith-based and nonprofit programs spoke in favor at a lengthy public-comment period. Speakers described long travel times to services in El Centro, a scarcity of local clinics and the potential to save lives with closer, integrated care. Norman Chandler, Susan Ireland, Coba McNally, Don Gorham, Raymundo Gonzalez and many others shared personal or family experiences of addiction and recovery and urged approval. Several speakers described the North End and Brawley as areas with limited transportation and called the building conversion a needed "one-stop shop" for services.
Supervisor questions focused on budget contingency planning, neighborhood impacts, and how faith-based partners would be incorporated. Supervisors reported follow-up meetings with providers and said faith-based organizations would have voluntary space in the building for clients who chose that model; behavioral health staff said the project would preserve options for medication-assisted treatment and clinical services alongside any faith-based programming.
Supervisor Escobar moved and Supervisor Hawk seconded the motion to approve the BAR. The clerk announced the motion passed.
Board members praised the work of behavioral health staff and community providers and emphasized the need for multiple treatment options, transportation consideration and rigorous stewardship of grant funds. The BAR is one piece of a multi-step project; supervisors noted further approvals and implementation steps will follow as funds are received and construction proceeds.
