Located on California's Central Coast, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Atascadero State Hospital (ASH) is an all-male, maximum security, forensic facility serving the entire state of California. ASH opened in 1954 and is a completely self-contained psychiatric hospital constructed within a security perimeter. ASH has a licensed capacity of 1275 beds, of which 204 are acute/psychiatric and 1071 are intermediate care. All residents at Atascadero State Hospital are male and have a mental disability and pose a threat to others or themselves. The majority are remanded for treatment by the superior courts of the counties of California or by the Department of Corrections pursuant to various sections of the California Penal Code and the Welfare and Institutions Code. Individuals are admitted from state prisons, county jails or are transferred from other state hospitals. The hospital does not accept voluntary admissions.


As a public sector facility, ASH's mission is linked to public policy. ASH has undergone a number of changes due to shifting public, professional, and legislative policy and law regarding the relationship between crime and mental disorders. The hospital's current mission includes the provision of a secure environment that protects the community as well as the people within the hospital, evaluations to the courts and other agencies, and recovery-focused treatment and rehabilitation services.

The hospital is currently incorporating the concepts, philosophy and activities put forth in the Recovery Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. The Recovery Model incorporates the elements of hope, choice, empowerment, respect, and self determination for the individuals served, while supporting the individual's recovery through a variety of cognitive, social, and functional skill-building strategies. The model is growth-oriented and normalizing, necessitates the individual's participation and collaboration in the Wellness and Recovery planning process, and emphasizes his strengths over his limitations.


The residential treatment programs, in conjunction with Recovery and Mall Services, provide a variety of individual, group, and unit-wide skills training, rehabilitative and enrichment activities. These activities are prescribed by the Wellness and Recovery team according to the individual's identified interests and assessed needs. Included in these activities is a vocational rehabilitation program which provides the individuals with the opportunity to learn an increasing number of vocational and work skills under the direction of trained vocational counselors and a variety of school-based classes where individuals can improve academic achievement, receive a GED, or pursue advanced independent studies.


Atascadero State Hospital employs over 2000 staff and supports a community volunteer organization. An American Psychological Association-approved internship program and Cuesta College Psychiatric Technician Training program are operated on-site and a state-sponsored 20:20 program is available for career advancement.

ASH is a fully state licensed and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (J.C.A.H.O.) accredited facility. In 1993 and 1996, A.S.H. received "Accreditation with Commendation", the highest level of accreditation awarded by the Joint Commission.


ASH is located in a region that encompasses 100 miles of pristine coastline, a rapidly growing wine industry, agricultural lands, ranches and a carefully preserved rural quality. An unpolluted environment spiced with charm and friendliness, the central coast offers the amenities of an urban area in a serene country setting.

The area is host to five state parks, part of the Los Padres National Forest, four lakes, scenic mountains and snug hills and valleys, each contributing to a wide selection of outdoor recreational activities. Among its many activities, San Luis Obispo County boasts its own Mozart Festival and is host to the Mid-State Fair, one of the largest in the State.

The climate is as varied as the terrain with coastal moderation and inland areas experiencing four distinct seasonal changes. Pleasant small communities with excellent schools, California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo, Cuesta Community College, and access to land and air transportation are all readily available.

The seaside communities of Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, and Cambria offer ocean breezes, beautiful beaches, fine dining and entertainment. San Simeon and Hearst Castle are less than an hour's drive to the north along California's spectacular coastline winding its way north to Big Sur. Within a two-hour drive to the north are Pebble Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea and the world famous Cannery Row on the Monterey Peninsula. Two hours to the south lies Santa Barbara and its famous beaches, the Santa Barbara Zoo and many historical landmarks.

The 49ers announced their interest in building a football stadium in the City of Santa Clara. It would be located on part of the parking lot of Great America Theme Park, 5000 Great America Parkway, just south of Tasman Blvd. This land, like the land under the Theme Park, is owned by the City, and is contractually committed to Great America for parking requirements.

After one year of extensive research, discussions, and public comment, and an eight-month feasibility study, the City Council determined at its January 15, 2008 meeting that the 49ers proposed stadium presents a potential entertainment/economic opportunity for the City’s North Bayshore Area. Council directed the City Manager to move forward in the next step of negotiations with the 49ers. These preliminary negotiations are non-binding they do not commit the City to the stadium project and will be contained in a Term Sheet which will be created through negotiations with the 49ers. The purpose of preliminary negotiations is to further examine issues and clarify and document understandings and guarantees of all parties involved in the proposed project. The Term Sheet would return to the Council for review and further public discussion.


Concurrent with the work on the Term Sheet, the 49ers will begin the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process, including an Environmental Impact Report. On March 12, 2008, the 49ers made their project application to the City for their proposed stadium. This allows the EIR preparation to begin. The costs of preparing the report are paid by the 49ers, with the City of Santa Clara serving as the lead agency in its preparation. It is necessary to begin this process immediately if the target date for the stadium opening of 2012 is to potentially be met. Starting the CEQA process does not guarantee that the project proposal will be approved by the City.

Meetings between the City and the 49ers, and discussions with Cedar Fair, are ongoing. In a letter to the City dated December 14, 2007, which was placed on the City Council Agenda of December 18, 2007, Cedar Fair laid out specific conditions they believe would be needed for the stadium to co-exist on the theme park parking lot. The parking lot is owned by the City but is used by the City to provide required parking to the theme park, under the theme park's lease with the City. Following several meetings and discussions with Cedar Fair representatives, the City responded to Cedar Fair's December letter with a letter on April 17, 2008, summarizing discussions and potential options for resolutions.


On January 15, 2008, the actions taken by the Council/Redevelopment Agency were as follows:

• Determined that the Feasibility Study is complete and that it indicates the 49ers stadium project is feasible, but that there remain many outstanding issues requiring resolution in the negotiations phase

• Determined that the project is feasible only if the City contribution does not exceed $136 million, including Redevelopment Agency funding resources, and Utility Funds (for relocation of the electric substation)

• Referred to the City Manager to negotiate an Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement (ENRA) with the 49ers, to enter into preliminary negotiations for a 4-6 month time, resulting in a Term Sheet that would memorialize key understandings, obligations, responsibilities and financial commitments between the City and the 49ers. The non-binding Term Sheet would allow the Council to determine if they wish to proceed further to negotiating a lease that would address stadium construction and operations issues. The ENRA would return to Council for approval

• Referred to the City Manager to continue discussions with Cedar Fair and the 49ers to resolve issues pertaining to the proposed stadium location and other Cedar Fair concerns

• Referred to the City Manager to return to the January 22, 2008 Council meeting with a recommendation on the type and timing of a ballot measure for a stadium

• Referred to the City Manager to develop a proposed consultant budget for continuing staff support, for the next phase of the stadium project, and return to the Council/Redevelopment Agenda with this information.

At its January 22, 2008 meeting, the City Council discussed the type and timing of a ballot measure for the proposed stadium. At their March 4, 2008 meeting, the Council determined that a November 2008 City ballot measure will be held on the proposed stadium project with information for the ballot measure being taken from the Term Sheet currently under negotiations between the City and the 49ers, and the ballot language would clearly state that the measure was subject to the stadium project completing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Staff asked for and received an extension of the negotiation period to February 1, 2009 to complete the Term Sheet, with the ability for negotiations to continue beyond this date. As mentioned earlier, the negotiations are continuing in order to address critical issues and provide the community the necessary information for an eventual stadium ballot measure for Santa Clara voter consideration.

Feasibility studies of this complex proposal have covered a wide range of questions and community concerns including legal, financial, infrastructure and stadium location issues. The Term Sheet will further clarify the following issues, among others:

• The potential for a direct land lease payment to the City.
• Resolving concerns expressed by Cedar Fair
• Determining who would be responsible for construction cost overruns beyond 2013. The 49ers have already agreed to pay for any overruns through 2013.
• Analyzing the potential expansion and current costs of a proposed 1,800-space, publicly funded parking garage in order to meet the parking needs of both the stadium and the Theme Park. The City has committed up to $42 million for the construction of a garage to serve the Santa Clara Convention Center. If the stadium went forward, the parking garage purpose would be for the stadium and Theme Park, rather than the original designation for the Convention Center. The final cost, location and who would pay for an expanded garage will also be a discussion item.