IRVINE

Leaning toward a compromise that would allow expansion of the James A. Musick Branch Jail, the City Council has called for a special public meeting today before taking a final vote.

“I think it’s important to have a good public discussion of the issues,” said Mayor Christina L. Shea. “I don’t think many people are clear on exactly what’s being proposed.”

On Friday, the council will disclose specific terms of the proposed settlement between the county and Irvine and Lake Forest during a special meeting at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 1 Civic Center Plaza. The two cities have sued the county over its plans to expand Musick into a maximum-security jail with nearly 8,000 inmates. Thus far, council members have confirmed that Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona has proposed that Musick would house no more than 4,600 minimum-security inmates by 2015.