Amador County Grand Jury
2021-2022
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
11 findings
F1:
The County General Plan Housing and Safety Elements are out of date and need to be updated.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Housing Element along with the Safety Element be brought into compliance with State statue as soon as possible and no later than December 31, 2022. (F1)
F2:
There are insufficient County plans or procedures to mitigate fire dangers for existing residential properties.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the County further consider prioritizing, implementing, and enforcing fire safety programs including the new Ordinance No. 1820 for residences and private landowners. (F2)
F3:
We commend the BOS for passing Ordinance No. 1820, which the County recently adopted.
F4:
The County has insufficient staffing for grant programs that support fire safety in the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that the BOS consider coordinating with State representatives and neighboring county partners to more efficiently utilize grant funding resources and to petition State and Federal government to address staffing shortages at the State and Federal levels. (F4)
F5:
The AFSC, a non-profit organization, is focused and active in fire mitigation and protection within the County. Several County officials referred the Grand Jury to AFSC for information, despite AFSC being a non-profit organization unaffiliated with the County. We commend AFSC for its service to the community.
F6:
There is insufficient County-level accountability or funding for fire safety enforcement in the County. 8
F7:
There are insufficient funds to enforce County Ordinance No. 1820.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The Grand Jury recommends that the County consider hiring or assigning a County employee the responsibility to enforce Ordinance No. 1820 and any other defensible space laws and regulations. (F7). 9
F8:
There is insufficient communication within the County fire related agencies, due to the lack of staffing and funding.
F9:
There is no County department devoted to finding, applying for, and managing grant funding.
F10:
The County provides the public insufficient fire-safety resources that are reliable, current, and educational. As a result, the Grand Jury finds the County is not meeting its General Plan Safety Element Goal S-2 to reduce fire risks to current and future structures.
F11:
The Grand Jury finds that information on fire safety and prevention websites are fragmented and not current. Many links for resources are not useful or functioning.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the County consider taking over more direct responsibility and accountability for fire protection and not rely on less accountable non-profit and non- governmental entities. (F5/6)
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends that the County consider hiring a financial advisor to prioritize the budget to address staffing needs, and consider hiring a grant writer to pursue grant funding. (F8/9)
R7:
The Grand Jury recommends that all County websites be updated quarterly with current information so the public is able to access resources easily and quickly. We recommend that a website be created to provide all fire related issues and resources in one place. (F10/11) a. There should be a link on the county website to this website. b. The website should assist homeowners in finding specific information pertinent to fire prevention, mitigation, and other fire issues. c. The website should have a printable or electronic complaint form that will streamline the enforcement process for Ordinance No. 1820. d. The website should contain an organizational chart of all fire-related resources in the County.
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The jail is 38 years old and was designed with a 20-year lifespan intended to house 76 inmates.
F2:
Correctional staff positions are unfilled despite recruitment efforts to fill them.
F3:
This Grand Jury notes that prior Grand Juries have made similar findings and
F4:
Although overworked the staff remained professional.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The County and Sheriff’s Office should consider filling vacancies and reviewing the compensation and incentives to encourage recruitment. [F2]
R2:
The BOS should consider whether to approve and secure the necessary funding to initiate construction of the jail expansion. 35
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
Staff was professional and engaged.
F2:
The prison provides programs that benefit the inmates.
F3:
The facilities were impressively well maintained. ADDRESS RESPONSES TO: The Presiding Judge – Amador County Superior Court 500 Argonaut Lane Jackson, CA 95642 Amador County Civil Grand Jury PO Box 249 Jackson, CA 95642 42 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. APPENDIX A 43 44 45
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The facility is generally well maintained.
F2:
The kitchen floor needs to be repaired. The new flooring was removed due to water damage.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The kitchen floor should be repaired as soon as possible due to possible health issues. (F2)
F3:
The ventilation unit in the ceiling in the dining area is rusty and corroded.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The ventilation unit in the ceiling in the dining area should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. (F3)
F4:
The chairs in the day room are stained and outdated.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
Chairs should be repaired or replaced. (F4)
F5:
We observed the new paint and other small repairs that had been done since the 2019-2020 grand jury report.