Irvine council approves resolution urging opening of Be Well Irvine campus, 5-2

The Irvine City Council voted 5-2 on March 10 to adopt a resolution urging the immediate opening and inclusive operation of the Be Well Irvine campus.

Councilmember Michael Carroll moved to adopt the proposed resolution and Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco seconded the motion. After about 30 minutes of public comment and a short council discussion about ongoing litigation, the council approved the measure by roll-call vote: Carroll, Goh, Martinez Franco, Vice Mayor Mei and the mayor voted yes; Councilmembers Liu and Tresita voted no.

The resolution was the meeting's sole agenda item and drew public testimony from residents, clinicians and community organizations who urged the council to support opening the facility. "Providing support to the opening and operation of the Be Well Irvine campus will serve to provide a supportive response to our community's urgent need for emotional and healing support," said Susan Sayer, a longtime Irvine resident and former emergency-response adult protective social worker. Dr. Lauren Brand, a clinical psychologist and Irvine resident, described security and clinical features she said are part of the BWell model, including badge-controlled access, 24-hour on-site security and supervised movement on campus.

Several residents framed the issue in personal terms. "We owe it to her to honor her memory by ensuring that no one continues to suffer without care," said Kayla Sotelo, who spoke about losing a family member to substance use disorder while awaiting access to treatment. Rabbi Steinberg, a congregational rabbi and marriage-family therapist, told council "the campus is built. Let the healing begin." Dave Cafaro of the Greater Irvine Chamber said opening the campus would fill a regional care gap and create jobs.

The clerk also read a letter from the County of Orange into the record. The county said it is filing a cross-complaint against Mind OC and noted that the county "largely funded the construction of the Be Well Irvine campus and owns the land on which the campus is located." The county letter said the resolution "may interfere with the county's efforts to protect taxpayers' dollars" while also expressing eagerness to see the campus open and encouraging the city to work with the county to provide services.

A member of the public raised allegations about a Be Well leader's past statements and affiliations. Eric Neshanian alleged those records showed anti‑Arab or anti‑Palestinian bias by a Be Well board member; no on-the-record rebuttal to that allegation appears in the transcript.

Councilmembers asked whether adopting the resolution would affect ongoing litigation between the county and Mind OC. City Attorney Melching advised that "there's nothing in the litigation that forbids the city of Irvine from taking a position," and described the resolution as an expression of the city's support that does not commit the city to specific legal positions or actions. Several councilmembers said they supported the resolution as a symbolic but responsible step aimed at collaborating with the county to open the campus quickly.

With the resolution adopted, the council did not direct a specific operational action in the meeting record; the city attorney said the resolution does not itself compel or authorize particular contractual or management changes. The council adjourned the special meeting to reconvene for its regular session after a brief break.

The motion to adopt the resolution was moved by Councilmember Michael Carroll and seconded by Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco. The council approved it by roll-call vote: Carroll, Goh, Martinez Franco, Vice Mayor Mei and Mayor (Agren/Agaran as named in the record) voted yes; Councilmembers Liu and Tresita voted no.