The California State University, Channel Islands Site Authority is expected to discuss a 2002-03 Grand Jury report criticizing the university's fire safety at its meeting Monday.

The Site Authority is a special governing body created through legislation to manage the campus property and oversee development of campus facilities and University Glen, a faculty and staff housing development being built on the campus.

In its five-page report, the Grand Jury indicated the Site Authority was required to respond to the findings. The report found that the university does not meet industry standards for emergency fire and medical response, leaving people and facilities at risk in an emergency. University officials dispute many of the report's findings.

University President Richard Rush said the Site Authority's attorney has determined the agency is not legally required to respond to the report because the Grand Jury has no jurisdiction over the agency.

Site authority board members -- who include Rush, representatives from the CSU system and local government officials -- likely will discuss whether to respond, Rush said. The members also are likely to go over an informational report prepared by university staff to address issues raised in the Grand Jury report.

The Grand Jury said the university's lack of on-campus fire service and its remote location five miles from the nearest fire station leave people and facilities at risk in an emergency.

It also indicated the university is placing an undue financial burden on the county fire district, saying the district is not obligated to protect the school. Rush disputed those findings.

"Our determination is that, like other campuses in the state, the university is under the protection of the County Fire Department," he said. "How the County Fire Department chooses to protect us is their decision."