Resolution - 9712RESOLUTION NO. 9712
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA OPPOSING THE EXPANSION OF THE LANTERMAN
DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
WHEREAS, the State Department of Developmental Services has determined
and the State Legislature has approved the transfer of seventy-five (75) forensic patients
to the Lanterman Developmental Center; and,
WHEREAS, a forensic patient is an individual, with developmental disabilities,
that has committed a criminals act(s), for which, the individual cannot be prosecuted
because of their developmental disabilities; and,
WHEREAS, forensic patients must be treated and confined in a secure treatment
facility, pursuant to Penal Code Section 1370.1; and
WHEREAS, the proposed secure treatment compound at Lanterman would have
double, sixteen (16) foot high fences, spaced fifteen (15) feet apart; it has four twenty-
eight (28) foot high observation/guard towers; it has a double -gated entry sallyport, with
access/ingress control building; and, a security staff of more than thirty (30) personnel;
and,
WHEREAS, the proposed forensic confinement facility would be located in a
highly urbanized, residential area (within less that two blocks), with 250,000 Diamond
Bar, Pomona and Walnut residents living in close proximity to the forensic confinement
compound; and,
WHEREAS, the existence of such a forensic patient confinement compound
would be a continuing source of unmitigatable concern for public safety, as well as,
psychological and emotional distress for all that live, work, recreate and attend school in
the surrounding urbanized areas; and,
WHEREAS, the Lanterman Development Center is located in an extremely
urbanized land use environment, wherein the placement of an intensive forensic patient
treatment confinement compound is completely incompatible with the surrounding
residential properties, e.g., single family residences and Little League fields abut the
southern Lanterman boundary; and,
WHEREAS, the State of California failed to provide reasonable actual notice to
abutting property owners or to the residents of Diamond Bar, Pomona and Walnut; which
is especially inexplicable, in the light of the failure to provide appropriate notice, to the
surrounding communities, related to a recent expansion project at Metropolitan Hospital
(Norwalk); and,
WHEREAS, the State Department of Developmental Services has other
developmental centers, which are located in semi -rural or rural areas and have
developmental centers at which there are existing forensic patient security compounds;
and,
WHEREAS, the Cities of Diamond Bar, Pomona, Walnut, Chino Hills, the
County of Los Angeles, Cal Poly -Pomona, Mount San Antonio College, State elected
officials, Congressional elected officials, other public agencies/ institutions and
community individuals and organizations, have formally expressed opposition to the
Lanterman forensic expansion project; and,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Citv of West Covina, does
hereby oppose the placement of a forensic patient treatment confinement compound at
the Lanterman Developmental Center and encourages the Governor and Legislature to
stop the Lanterman project; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of West Covina, does hereby
beseech the Governor, the State Department of Developmental Services and the State
Legislature to change their respective decisions regarding the locating of a forensic
treatment facility at Lanterman Developmental Center; and, instead, locate the forensic
treatment facility in a more rural and remote environment.
BE 1T FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of West Covina, does hereby
direct that copies of this resolution be sent to the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly,
President Pro Tern of the Senate, all State Assembly members, all State Senators,
Congressmen Miller and Drier, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, Members of the Los
Angeles County Board of Supervisors, all relevant State Departments, and the media
(print, television, radio CATV, electronic data, and others).
Approved and Adopted this 61' day of July, 1999.
IM or IChy o w a r d
Attest:
U
City Clerk Janet Berr
1 HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the City
Council of West Covina at a meeting of the Council held on the 6"' day of July, 1999, by
the following vote of the Council:
AYES: Herfert, Touhey, Wong, Howard
NOES: None
ABSENT: Melendez
ABSTAIN: None
Approved as to form:
City -Attorney
0
City Clerk Janet Bc