Memorandum
Date: October 21, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Ben Rickelman, Deputy County Administrative Officer
Subject: Consideration of a Letter of Support for Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s Proposition 1 Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Funding Proposal for their Crisis Stabilization Unit Project
Executive Summary:
Sutter Lakeside Hospital proposes a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in Lakeport providing 24/7, short-term stabilization for adults and adolescents in acute behavioral health crisis. The CSU would provide rapid assessment, psychiatric evaluation, medication support, crisis counseling, safety/stabilization, and warm handoffs to ongoing care and would be the only Lanterman-Petris-Short Act designated facility in Lake County-reducing out-of-county transports, improving timeliness and continuity of care for Medi-Cal and uninsured residents. The CSU directly supports SB 43 implementation by adding local capacity for timely crisis intervention and diversion from jail or emergency department boarding. Lake County Behavioral Health intends to contract with the CSU for Medi-Cal beneficiaries and uninsured residents and will coordinate referrals and follow-up care pathways. Sutter Lakeside Hospital requests a letter of support from the County for its Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Round 2: Unmet Needs Funding application for the Crisis Stabilization Unit project.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
☐ For Technology Purchases: Vetted and Supported by the Technology Governance Committee <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Intranet+Forms/Information+Technology/AdvPlan.pdf> (“Yes,” if checked)
☐ Other (Please describe in Executive Summary)
Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☐ Public Safety ☐ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☒ County Workforce
☐ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action: Approve the letter of support for Sutter Lakeside Hospital for their Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure (BHCIP) Round 2: Unmet Needs Funding application for their Crisis Stabilization Unit project.