Board approves project labor agreement for Lewis Road mental health facility after heated debate

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors on March 24 voted to direct staff to execute a project labor agreement (PLA) for the Lewis Road Mental Health Rehabilitation Center, a state‑funded infrastructure project the county says will expand local behavioral‑health capacity.

Supervisor René Lopez, who brought the item, said the PLA would help ensure state dollars translate into local jobs. “I see this as an opportunity to ensure that those dollars are used for local jobs, for skilled and trained workers already here in our community,” Lopez told colleagues during the presentation introducing the agreement and its terms.

The board amended the proposed PLA with two edits aimed at protecting state project funding: language saying PLA compliance will not be required where it conflicts with the county’s project funding agreement, and a provision allowing replacement subcontractors to be exempted from the PLA if adding them would delay completion or increase costs as determined by the county. Staff advised those changes were needed because the $59 million in Proposition 1 state grant funds carry strict budget and schedule conditions.

Labor leaders and building trades advocates urged approval. Joshua Medrano, executive secretary‑treasurer for the tri‑counties building and construction trades council, said PLAs guarantee “local hire provisions” and help produce “on budget, on schedule” work that supports union apprenticeships and local career pathways. Victoria Ormsby of the International Union of Operating Engineers testified the PLA would strengthen accountability and keep public dollars circulating in the local economy.

Opponents urged delay and a broader comparison to non‑PLA projects. Ryan Grau of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association said the county still lacks an apples‑to‑apples cost and performance study comparing the PLA used for Fire Station 29 to non‑PLA projects; he asked the board to wait for the promised evaluation before adopting union‑exclusive terms on a much larger campus project. Eric Christensen of the Coalition for Employment and Construction and other union‑opposed groups warned the PLA could reduce competition and bidder pools.

During the public comment period, several construction‑trade speakers said local training programs have prepared a pipeline of applicants who need work; county staff said public‑works hiring, local‑hire targets and contractor performance will be tracked under the PLA. Public Works Director Greg Strack said staff will work with the trades to monitor local‑hire outcomes during construction.

Supervisor Long and other board members pressed staff for more comparative data from the ongoing Fire Station 29 pilot before the next PLA decision but acknowledged the Lewis Road project’s funding constraints. ‘‘The project funding agreement plays a huge role in this project,’’ Long said, explaining the state reimburses the county only after progress and that the county must be able to demonstrate compliance with state timelines.

Motion and vote: Supervisor Lopez moved to approve the PLA with the two edits; Supervisor Gorell seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

What’s next: Staff will finalize the agreement with the two edits approved by the board and incorporate the state project funding agreement language that county negotiators said is necessary to protect reimbursement. Public Works and labor partners will report back during construction on local‑hire and schedule milestones.