After a public hearing peppered with concern from Paso Robles residents,
the council voted 3-2 to allow two Bakersfield corporations to hold
informational community meetings in the city and to talk again about
allowing a prison facility in Paso Robles at a November meeting.

All of the council members stressed it was too soon to make a decision
either way.

The two companies, Maranatha Private Corrections and Community
Correctional, separately approached the city earlier this month, asking the
council to consider allowing a 1,000-bed, minimum security prison at an
unspecified location in the city. The facility would house low-risk inmates
with less than two years left to serve.

"The support of the community must be a prerequisite for one of these
companies to come in here," said Councilman Lee Swanson, who voted to
approve the council's action Tuesday. "We need an education process, and
the sooner the better."

The proposals were made with urgency so that the corporations could pursue
state funding to build the facility though allocations to pay for five
1,000-bed private prisons were cut cut from the state budget last week.

Both corporations pursued their proposals with the city anyway, on the
expectation that funding would be provided next fiscal year, and possibly
sooner if lobbies by the private prison industry can push special
legislation through the state legislature. A representative from one of the
companies said further state funding would likely only call for 500-bed
facilities.

Public concerns Tuesday ranged from the negative image a prison might give
the city to questions of safety. About fifteen people spoke, including
several state correctional system employees, with about two-thirds voicing
concern or outright opposition to the idea.

In addition, Councilman Chris Iversen and Mayor Duane Picanco, who voted
against the council's motion, said they received several phone calls
Tuesday, all expressing concern or opposition. Picanco and Iversen also
agreed the council should talk more about the proposals later, but could
not agree that city staff should be involved in educating the public.

"I think it is premature for a decision," Iversen said. "But, I think it is
up to these companies to educate the public."

Lee Crib, a representative of Maranatha Private Corrections, also spoke at
length, outlining some details of his company's proposal and agreeing to
conduct informational meetings. Representatives from Community Correctional
did not speak Tuesday.

The companies will continue to seek approval from several cities and
counties to allow the construction of a private prison. They will then make
proposals to the state, when more funding is available, for each city or
county that agrees. The Department of Corrections, through which the
companies would run such a prison, has final say as to where the facilities
would be built.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan