Butte County Grand Jury
2019-2020
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Findings & Recommendations
1 findings
F1:
The Auditor Controller's Office performed extremely well for the citizens of Butte County while adjusting to the changes experienced over the last year and preparing for the future needs of our County.
Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
The BCJ was constructed in 1963, and in 1994 the second facility was built. The age of these two buildings contributes to the need for a new jail facility.
F2:
The daily BCJ inmate population fluctuates between 570-590 inmates, with a maximum jail capacity of 614 creating potential areas of concern for both inmates and staff.
F3:
Overcrowding could potentially lead to the spread of disease and viruses.
F4:
AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop 57 have negatively impacted the jail population and the Probation Departments.
F5:
The grievance process is difficult to maneuver and subject to interpretation.
F6:
The medical examination table is an infection control hazard.
F7:
The computer lab, located in the Day Reporting Center, is outdated.
F8:
Juvenile Hall is professionally managed and adequately staffed.
F9:
BCJ inmate programs are a positive model for the State of California.
F10:
BCJ inmate programs are clearly a benefit for Butte County. 23
Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Butte County Sheriff’s Office should continue the pursuit of a new jail facility with the process that is currently in progress.
R2:
Butte County Sheriff’s Office should simplify the inmate grievance procedure. For example, create a flow chart showing the responsibilities of the inmate and a separate flow chart for the Correctional Officers by January 3, 2021.
R3:
Butte County Sheriff’s Office, or responsible party, needs to replace the existing examination table per Professional Service Contract by October 1, 2020 (before the start of flu season).
R4:
Butte County Sheriff’s Office should upgrade the outdated Computer Lab and workstations by January 3, 2021.
Findings & Recommendations
19 findings
F1:
Mosquito migration northward poses health risks to Butte County residents: West Nile Virus, Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika and others.
F2:
Butte County has significant vector risk due to the large agriculture base, wetlands and estuaries, all breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
F3:
Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control Districts are funded almost entirely by property taxes which underfunds a rural area like Butte County.
F4:
Butte County would benefit from regularly scheduled meetings between BCMVCD and DMAD. Butte County Department of Public Health
F5:
BCDPH Mosquito and vector public information and outreach needs to be expanded.
F6:
BCDPH website is not user friendly on the topic of mosquitoes. Butte County Local Agency Formation Commission
F7:
LAFCO is limited in its effort to integrate DMAD and BCMVCD.
F8:
LAFCO has reduced Butte County’s risk by removing DMAD’s SOI over 15,000 acres of rice fields. 39
F9:
LAFCO has provided excellent oversight and direction for BCMVCD and DMAD. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District
F10:
BCMVCD excels in mosquito abatement despite its limited budget.
F11:
BCMVCD did a great job identifying and treating mosquitoes in the Camp Fire Burn Scar area following the crisis.
F12:
BCMVCD will face budgetary problems when tax-backfill funds end next year because Paradise is not being repopulated to its pre-Camp Fire level.
F13:
BCMVCD would benefit from more funding for public education and outreach.
F14:
BCMVCD’s funding is not adequate to thoroughly protect Butte County.
F15:
BCMVCD would benefit from personnel dedicated to acquiring funds. Durham Mosquito Abatement District
F16:
DMAD’s website has improved.
F17:
DMAD customers are satisfied with their level of service and cost.
F18:
Butte County would benefit from the DMAD District Manager’s regular attendance at BCDPH monthly West Nile Virus Task Force Meetings.
F19:
DMAD would benefit from more funding for public education and outreach. RECOMENDATIONS: Butte County Department of Public Health
Additional Recommendations
7
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Butte County Department of Public Health should add the term Mosquitoes to its search engine and to its drop-down menu on the BCDPH website by January 1, 2021.
R2:
Butte County Department of Public Health should increase access to public information regarding mosquito disease prevention by creating a link on their website home page and through increased public service announcements by January 1, 2021. Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District
R3:
BCMVCD should create a new position dedicated to finding new funding by January 1, 2021.
R4:
BCMVCD should increase the funding for public information and outreach by January 1, 2021. Durham Mosquito Abatement District
R5:
DMAD should thoroughly comply with LAFCO’s recommendations regarding its website by September 1, 2020.
R6:
DMAD District Manager should regularly attend the BCDPH West Nile Virus Task Force Meetings beginning September 1, 2020.
R7:
DMAD should increase the funding for public information and outreach by January 1, 2021. RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code 933, the following responses are required: From the following governing bodies: • Director, Butte County Mosquito Vector Control: F12, F13, F14, F15 and R3, R4 within 90 days.
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F9:
The City of Gridley’s positive community response to the Camp Fire survivors was overwhelming.
F10:
The City of Gridley is financially positioned to accommodate the extra population which has not burdened the City’s finances. CITY OF OROVILLE
F11:
The City of Oroville is resilient and has made a strong comeback from the experiences of the past three years.
F12:
The State Highway 70 widening is coming to fruition thanks to the support of Butte County’s District 1 Supervisor Bill Connelly and will most likely reduce head-on collisions thus saving lives. TOWN OF PARADISE
F13:
The resiliency of all interviewees is admirable in the face of rebuilding from the ashes.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The City of Chico needs to find additional revenue sources by March 1, 2021.
Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
The lack of maintenance documentation at Harrison Stadium for the athletic field creates a lack of accountability.
F2:
The water damage found at Harrison Stadium girls’ bathroom, in the locker room, presents a health hazard.
F3:
The water run-off from the Harrison Stadium football field drains into a culvert and out to the street gutter, carrying black Ecofill® beads to the river which creates an environmental concern.
F4:
Security cameras which are not functioning at Harrison Stadium pose a potential safety and security risk.
F5:
The Harrison Stadium security cameras would provide better security if they were networked for remote access for real-time viewing.
F6:
Improved maintenance at the LP practice field would reduce the risk of injuries.
F7:
It would be financially beneficial for LP Athletics to re-establish the Booster Club.
F8:
In the OHS weight room, the broken water fountain push bar creates a safety hazard.
F9:
In the OHS weight room, the cracked, vinyl weight bench surface creates an unhealthy infection and virus control issue.
F10:
OUHSD has responded to the current pandemic with efficiency by providing for students’ educational needs. 74
Additional Recommendations
9
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
OUHSD should document maintenance and retain records of Harrison Stadium athletic field and its equipment, including scheduled maintenance performed, and runtimes of equipment, by January 1, 2021.
R2:
OUHSD should repair the water damage in the Harrison Stadium girls’ restroom in the locker room by January 1, 2021.
R3:
OUHSD should groom Harrison Stadium field as recommended by the manufacturer prior to sporting events and document it accordingly by January 1, 2021.
R4:
OUHSD should operate the Harrison Stadium field's cooling water system on a regular basis to maintain functionality and retain documentation, starting no later than October 1, 2020.
R5:
OUHSD should repair or replace the security camera system to provide real time capabilities at Harrison Stadium by January 1, 2021.
R6:
OUHSD should level and maintain LP’s practice field by January 1, 2021.
R7:
LP should work to re-establish the Booster Club by September 1, 2021.
R8:
OUHSD should repair or replace the broken, water-fountain push-bar in the OHS weight room by September 1, 2020.
R9:
OUHSD should replace the damaged weight bench in the OHS weight room by September 1, 2020.
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Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
Public Works operates on a BOS countywide mandate of a 10% reduction in work force, which hampers its ability to complete jobs in a timely manner.
F2:
BOS’ county employee compensation policies are fiscally conservative to the point of discouraging potential qualified applicants.
F3:
All Butte County roads should have a current PCI rating to provide a complete picture of necessary road maintenance or repair.
F4:
The BCC link is difficult to locate on the Butte County website.
F5:
Public Works needs a BCC tutorial for its employees and the public.
F6:
BCC is not being utilized to its maximum potential because complaint logs are not consistently updated upon completion of the jobs. 54
F7:
Public Works staff would benefit from training on the BCC program from the perspective of a public user.
F8:
BCC is not utilized to its maximum potential because the priority feature is often bypassed by the nine staff members using the program and priority levels are not consistently assigned.
F9:
BCC software requires continuing customization.
F10:
A full-time dedicated employee is needed to develop and implement all necessary training.
Additional Recommendations
7
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
BOS work with stakeholders to reconsider and revise the pay scale, benefits, hiring guidelines, etc. in order to attract quality applicants and retain employees by the time the next contract negotiations begin.
R2:
Public Works define and develop a policy for consistent use of the BCC priority level feature for all Public Works staff who have access to enter or change the priority data by January 3, 2021.
R3:
Public Works ISAP place a link to BCC in a prominent place on Butte County’s homepage by October 31, 2020.
R4:
Public Works ISAP add a feature to BCC that allows employees to view complaints from the general public’s perspective by October 31, 2020.
R5:
Public Works create a BCC tutorial and introduce it to Public Works employees through training and to the public through Public Service Announcements by March 31, 2021.
R6:
Public Works management work with ISAP to simplify BCC to maximize its use for Public Works employees by March 31, 2021.
R7:
Public Works hire or train a full-time employee to develop and implement a training program for its employees by September 1, 2021.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
Butte County Elections should complete the redesign of the layout for Voter Assistance Centers to accommodate larger numbers of voters by October 15, 2020.
R3:
Butte County Elections should collaborate with CSUC to send out student voting information via text or email by October 1, 2020.