Butte County Grand Jury
2015-2016
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
The 2015-2016 Grand Jury found the Butte County Superintendent of Schools did not meet the required response format outlined in the Discussion section of this report.
F2:
There were several responses to 2014-2015 recommendations that fell into the "will be done" category (See Attachment A), but no timeline for progress or completion was set forth.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Next year's Grand Jury should consider further the response to both Findings and Recommendations of the Oroville City Elementary School Report from the 2014-15 Grand Jury Report.
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends future Juries adopt a system to identify "will be done" and “partly done” responses to track their progress and/or completion. xvii
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
All Butte County Animal Control shelters have capable, dedicated personnel. They are all highly devoted to the well -being of the animals in their care. Kennels appeared adequate in size according to GSCAS (2010). The shelters in Oroville, Chico, and Gridley/Biggs seemed adequate in relation to need, and these facilities’ maintenance and renovations were up - to -date. CHICO
F2:
The Chico Animal Shelter building lacks a separate, hygienic space away from animal contact areas where personnel and volunteers can take scheduled lunch/coffee breaks. OROVILLE/COUNTY
F3:
This is an exceptionally well -managed shelter. The animals have clean and spacious kennels. There is adequate separation of the species, as recommend ed by the GSCAS (2010 ), and there is proper quarantine space for sick animals. The facility is well -supplied, and has an active fundraising program to help support humane services for animals it shelters. GRIDLEY/BIGGS
F4:
This shelter’s dog run is small compared to others and may not provide adequate exercise or play time for larger dogs, or small groups of dogs who might socialize well. PARADISE
F5:
The Paradise facility is small and in need of renovation and expansion.
F6:
There needs to be greater separation of cats and dogs, especially for the well-being of cats.
F7:
Sick animals need to be quarantined more effectively from healthy animals.
F8:
The Paradise shelter hours during which it is open to the pub lic for adoption and other services are inadequate compared to other shelter facilities.
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Chico: The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Chico provide a clean, separate space for employees and volunteers to have animal-contact-free lunch/coffee breaks.
R2:
Gridley/Biggs : The Grand Jury recommends that the joint communities provide a larger dog run to accommodate larger dogs, provide more space for exercise and play, and allow for small groups of well-socialized dogs to interact. 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report 6
R3:
Paradise: The Grand Jury recommends that the Town of Paradise provide adequate funding for the updating, enlarging, and renovating of the local animal shelter.
R4:
Paradise: The Grand Jury recommends the shelter provide greater physical separation between dogs and cats.
R5:
Paradise: The Grand Jury recommends the shelter provide greater physical separation between sick animals and healthy animals.
R6:
Paradise: The Grand Jury recommends that the animal shelter increase its hours of operation to include time that is more convenient for the public. RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following response is required:
❑ Gridley City Council: respond to F4 and R2 within 90 days
❑ Paradise Town Council: respond to F5 and R3 within 90 days
❑ Paradise Police Department: respond to F6, F7, F8, R4, R5, and R6 within 90 days.
Quick View
Full Details →
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The policy of transferring water between owners during low water years benefitted few and caused additional complexity to the District’s administrative and water accounting operation. Other than the required signing of an agreement, the District was not involved in the actual process between parties.
F2:
The District office update was not originally a complete renovation project, so there was no overall cost evaluation or preapproval. Payment for work done was approved by the Board, as reflected in the board minutes. 21 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report
F3:
The public is allowed and welcome to attend Board meetings, and to voice questions and concerns.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Butte Water District general manager and the Board should reevaluate the District’s low water transfer policy and decide if it needs to be adapted or discontinued. If adapted, a clearly defined policy and process should be developed. RESPONSES The Grand Jury invites the Butte Water District and Board to respond to F1 and R1. Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify the individuals who have been 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.
Findings & Recommendations
9 findings
F1:
Calculation of the unfunded liability is complex and unique to each municipa lity.
F2:
The five C ities in Butte County and the County itself have unfunded liabilities primarily due to CalPERS pension costs.
F3:
Additional unfunded liabilities exist for retiree health care, but these are not yet on the balance sheets.
F4:
Increases in a government al entity’s unfunded liability would impact its financial status and credit rating.
F5:
Municipal contributions to CalPERS are projected to continue to rise which will result in pressure to cut services and/or require additional revenue.
F6:
The unfunded liability is likely to increase for many years before it begins to decrease.
F7:
The Emergency Services plan requiring nighttime temperatures be below 25 degrees before triggering warming shelters seems unreasonable compared to at least two other cities.
F8:
Law enforcement expenses in responding to situations involving the homeless are difficult to calculate.
F9:
The Homeless Symposium represents an excellent start for the coordination of all government and service provider efforts to address the homeless.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The County and Cities should post their CAFR and CalPERS Actuarial Valuations Reports on their websites. 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report 37
R2:
The County and Cities should report on their unfunded liabilities, contribution rates and trend lines.
R3:
The County and Cities should conduct an analysis similar to the Bartel report and make that information available to the public on their websites. RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following responses are required within 90 days:
❑ Board of Supervisors F1-F6 and R1-R3
❑ Chico City Council F1-F6 and R1-R3
❑ Biggs City Council F1-F6 and R1-R3
❑ Gridley City Council F1-F6 and R1-R3
❑ Paradise Town Council F1-F6 and R1-R3
❑ Oroville City Council F1-F6 and R1-R3
R4:
The Chico Police Target Team should work with Behavioral Health to add a professional social services person to the team when they are calling on the homeless.
R5:
All of the service providers and local governments should explore the possible funding of a day center. RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following responses are required within 90 days: ❑ The Local Government Committee: respond to R1. ❑ Butte County Emergency Services: respond to R2. ❑ The Sheriff’s Office, and the Police Departments of Chico, Oroville, Paradise, and Gridley/Biggs: respond to R3. ❑ The Chico Police Department: respond to R4. The Grand Jury invites the following organizations to respond: ❏ Butte County Department of Behavioral Health: may respond to F1, F2, F3, F4, and R4 and R5. ❏ Butte Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care: may respond to F6 and R1 ❏ Housing Authority of Butte County: may respond to F1, F2, F3, F4, and R4 and R5.