Gran Jurado del Condado de Butte
2015-2016
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
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.
Recomendaciones adicionales
2
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
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. xvi Attachment A Required Responses to Grand Jury Report 2014 - 2015
Vista rápida
Detalles completos →
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
8 hallazgos
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 recommended 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 public for adoption and other services are inadequate compared to other shelter facilities.
Recomendaciones adicionales
6
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
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. 5 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report
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.
Vista rápida
Detalles completos →
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
11 hallazgos
F1:
The Independent Auditor issued an unqualified (“clean”) opinion of the Financial Statements of Butte County, and reported no material issues requiring any notice.
F2:
Butte County again was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association.
F3:
HAZWOPER training satisfies OSHA requirements.
F4:
Staff at all facilities is friendly, helpful, and seems eager to educate the community regarding HHW disposal.
F5:
All the facilities are required by CUPA to be inspected by Butte County Environmental Health. The Grand Jury reviewed current facility inspection certificates and found them in compliance.
F6:
At all three facilities, personnel estimate that only around 15% of available HHW in Butte County is being brought in to their HHW sites by the community. 15 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report
F7:
Considering F6, the Grand Jury finds there is a need for more public education to make Butte County residents aware of opportunities to reduce the HHW entering the Neal Road landfill and preserve the environment.
F8:
RBCC in Oroville has a website but it can be improved to provide more specifics as to the services offered. RBCC also does not provide information to the community via local media advertising.
F9:
NRWS in Paradise is to be commended for its very informative and user-friendly website which contains all the information the public needs to use its facility. It also advertises widely on TV to make its presence and services known.
F10:
Resolving the issue regarding the septage ponds at the Neal Road landfill needs the involvement of the community and the Board of Supervisors. This matter remains a critical issue and a timely resolution is necessary before Butte County residents are adversely affected with higher costs for hauling to another location.
F11:
At present all three facilities have limited days and hours of operation available to the public to turn in HHW.
Recomendaciones adicionales
6
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
All HHW facilities should look at ways to increase both days and hours they are open to the public to try to increase proper disposal of HHW.
R2:
BRHHWF in Chico should explore ways to increase public awareness of its facility through advertisement to the community via radio, television, and newspaper.
R3:
RBCC in Oroville should explore a change to its city contract to accept pharmaceuticals.
R4:
RBCC in Oroville should do more to make the public aware of its facility location and the services offered. RBCC should also advertise regularly via newspaper, local television, and radio.
R5:
The Public Works Department should continue its efforts to increase the capability of the Neal Road landfill to continue processing septage at its site or find an alternative which will have the least economic impact on the residents of Butte County. .
R6:
The 2015-16 Grand Jury recommends that a future Grand Jury investigate the septage pond situation at the landfill to evaluate the progress being made toward a solution. RESPONSES: Pursuant to Penal Code 933.05, the following responses are required within 90 days: Butte County Board of Supervisors: F10 and R5, R6 Butte County Department of Public Works: F1-11 and R1-5 16 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report Butte Regional Household Hazardous Waste Facility (Chico): F6, F7, F11 and R1, R2 Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (landfill): F10 and R5 The Grand Jury invites responses from: Northern Recycle and Waste Services (Paradise): F6, F11 and R1 Recology Butte and Colusa Counties (Oroville): F2, F6-8, F11 and R1, R3, R4 The governing bodies indicated above should be aware that comment or response must be conducted subject to the notice, agenda, and open meeting requirements of the Brown Act. Responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Butte County Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Penal Code section 933.05. Reports issued by the civil Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code §929 requires that the reports of the Grand Jury do not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the civil Grand Jury. 17 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report [This page left blank intentionally] 18 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report Butte Water District People Had Questions, And Answers Were Available The Butte Water District was formed in 1956. Previously it was known as the Sutter Butte Canal Company. This has been the original office since the district formed. The deed dates the original construction to 1911. This is a photo of the office just prior to the renovation project.
Vista rápida
Detalles completos →
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
3 hallazgos
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.
Recomendaciones adicionales
1
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
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.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
9 hallazgos
F1:
Calculation of the unfunded liability is complex and unique to each municipality.
F2:
The five Cities 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 governmental 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.
Recomendaciones adicionales
5
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
The County and Cities should post their CAFR and CalPERS Actuarial Valuations Reports on their websites. 36 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report
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 Responses are to be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Butte County Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Penal Code section 933.05. FOOTNOTES 1 HTTP://WWW.FOXANDHOUNDSDAILY.COM/2016/03/DOING-THE-GASB-GASP/ 37 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report [This page left blank intentionally] 38 2015/2016 Butte County Grand Jury Report BUTTE COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT HOMELESSNESS IN BUTTE COUNTY
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.