Santa Clara sets Aug. 5 opening for Behavioral Health Pavilion; board asks foundation to pursue fundraising

County facilities and health-system leaders told the Health & Hospital Committee that the Behavioral Health Pavilion is nearing completion and is scheduled to open on Aug. 5, 2026, and supervisors urged rapid fundraising work to help secure operating funds.

Facilities representatives said final construction, fire-life-safety work and state inspections were in the last phases and that the county does not anticipate additional schedule delays at this time. "We will be opening the Behavioral Pavilion on August 5," a facilities representative said.

County staff and supervisors highlighted that state inspections through the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) can cause long delays and added costs; James (county staff) said those inspections have required months to resolve in prior hospital projects and have contributed to indirect expense increases. "It is very, very challenging...and it contributes very directly to significant costs on health systems associated with these projects," James said.

Supervisors discussed possible private fundraising and naming-rights efforts to secure one-time funding for operations, asking staff and the county's foundation to coordinate. Chair Otterly suggested exploring naming opportunities that could yield significant one-time funds while county staff said the foundation has historically been the agent to coordinate such efforts.

The committee voted to receive the update, asked facilities to confirm the independent-monitoring contract end date, and asked staff to accelerate discussions with the foundation about fundraising packages ahead of the Pavilion opening.

Next steps: staff will check the audit contract end date and work with the Valley Health Foundation and the county foundation on potential naming-rights and philanthropic packages in time for the Aug. 5 opening.