Calaveras County Grand Jury
2017-2018
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Findings & Recommendations
14 findings
F1:
The ACS is constrained due to ever present budgetary limitations and could generate funds within the department (e.g. license compliance) if provided an approved budget to properly staff the ACS operation.
F2:
The Animal Service Manager does not have a backup Supervisor to perform the duties as needed. There is an open position for someone who left to accept higher pay in an adjoining county.
F3:
A study conducted by the Calaveras County Human Resources Department showed Calaveras Animal Shelter employees received 15% less pay than adjoining counties. Based on the above-mentioned study, the Board of Supervisors in January 2018 moved to approved Animal Control Officers to receive an “Equity Adjustment” of 5% on 3/3/18 and an additional 5% on 9/29/18 in addition to the negotiated COLA. Once the increase in higher pay is received there will remain a 5% deficiency compared to adjoining counties.
F4:
The existing aging and obsolete animal shelter was never designed to be an animal shelter, is small and outdated (built in the 1950’s) to adequately meet the daily services and operational needs for animal housing. The layout of the facility includes five separate buildings and a corral area and is inadequate to promote efficient and productive 17 operation of ACS. Due to the lack of fencing there is no secondary containment on any of the 6.93 acres. This creates an unsafe condition for staff, animals and the public.
F5:
A partnership with the Humane Society, based on a 2016 preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a 6.93 acre, jointly operated Animal Shelter, fell through. The Humane Society Board lost faith in the County’s ability to provide a yearly funding amount for the existing ACS. There was a slower than expected progress on the ACS discussions which is the reason for the ACS deal falling through. This should have never happened. The partnership MOU should have moved forward in a timely manner. A partnership with the Humane Society would have streamlined services and expenses for a new facility.
F6:
In researching past Grand Jury reports this year’s Grand Jury found that a new facility has been recommended to the Board of Supervisors for nearly 20 years.
F7:
Instead of enforcing the animal laws, the priority of ACS has been more on the day-to- day care of animals due to the lack of staffing. For example, the level of compliance in obtaining domestic pet licensing is at approximately 22%. The Grand Jury finds this is an area where revenue could be generated with proper staffing. In addition, there is inadequate staffing overall to meet the daily services and operational needs. The shortage of qualified staff lowers the efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of the department including reduced morale.
F8:
During our tour at Calaveras ACS on February 1, 2018 there was mention of considering an outside agency to conduct a feasibility study to create a ballot measure for increasing the ACS budget.
F9:
The current vehicles are in poor condition, inadequate and not functional for the ACS needs. One has very high mileage (over 100,000 miles), and one is currently out of service. All vehicles, when received, have been used vehicles and not designed for animal control according to interviewed representatives. At the February 1, 2018 ACS meeting, the Grand Jury was informed the County Board of Supervisors allotted $40,000 to purchase a new specialized vehicle.
F10:
There are industry standards established such as found in “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters,” 2010, or similar guidelines.
F11:
The ACS does have a web site and in addition uses Facebook as a social media source.
F12:
Clear policy and procedures are in place and strictly followed by staff and volunteers. Day-to-day operations are performed at a high standard under sub-standard conditions without adequate facilities and equipment.
F13:
The nonprofit Friends of the Calaveras Animal Shelter (FOCAS) has provided funds to the ACS and has donated equipment and volunteer hours to help keep the ACS effective. 18
F14:
The ACS has a ninety percent (90%) no-kill rate.
Findings & Recommendations
1 findings
F1:
After reviewing documents and conducting interviews, the Grand Jury, finds sufficient evidence that all members of the Board of Supervisors have met valid residency requirements for the districts they serve.
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Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
The Calaveras County Correctional facility is maintained immaculately and has modern environmental equipment such as solar panels reducing electrical cost, an inside controlled constant temperature of seventy-three degrees (73) and natural light allowing the facility to be well-lit. 33
F2:
The kitchen equipment is state-of-the art and is well maintained.
F3:
High quality, nutritious and balanced food is served to the inmates. One (1) Head Cook, one (1) Assistant Cook and selected inmates prepare meals. Local Food Banks contribute and supplement with their overstock food. Bulk purchasing has a sufficient storage area. A large capacity cold storage refrigerator stores bulk amounts of food and is routinely inventoried and monitored for freshness. All food and chemicals were noted as stored safely.
F4:
Staff professionalism is a priority and apparent by the mutual respect exhibited between personnel and inmates.
F5:
Insufficient and inexperienced correctional staff (on average only have eighteen (18) months experience) contributes to safety issues, the ability to efficiently meet daily services and operational needs. Overtime adds to job stress. Although the control booths for the pods are designed for two (2) correctional officers, they are frequently only staffed by one (1) correctional officer due to lack of staffing.
F6:
For Fiscal Year 2017/2018 budget, overtime expense was budgeted for two hundred sixty-five thousand dollars ($265,000.00).
F7:
Staff wages are not industry competitive contributing to high turnover. Correctional staff to inmate ratio is at one to forty-five (1:45). Calaveras County serves as a training ground for better paying agencies. If this cycle continues it will cost the Calaveras County Jail Department more in unnecessary expenses over the years.
F8:
Additional nursing staff is needed to meet medical requirements and requests. Examples include safely administering medications and performing inmate medical assessments.
F9:
The Calaveras County Correctional Facility provides a safe and secure environment that promotes positive inmate behavior through fair, impartial and humane treatment of all individuals in the facility.
F10:
Deputies, corporals, and sergeants received a seven-point five percent (7.5%) pay increase in March 2018 and will receive another seven-point five percent (7.5 %) increase in September 2018. In addition, other workers from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association will receive a two-point five percent (2.5%) increase.
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
Bret Harte Union High School District has policies and procedures in place to address the California Public Records Act.
F2:
Calaveras Unified School District has policies and procedures in place to address the California Public Records Act.
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The Calaveras County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters, as head of the Elections Division, is charged with multiple, complex duties and finite resources.
F2:
Recruiting and training of poll workers are on-going challenges.
F3:
Although provisions were in place to ensure correct ballots to voters, there were seven ballots erroneously issued during the 2016 election concerning Measure E.
F4:
Determining the jurisdiction of ballots for special districts is complex. Seven voters were disenfranchised in a special district election in 2016. However, according to the Elections Division’s numerical determination, those disenfranchised voters would not have changed the election outcome.
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Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The overall condition of the Vallecito Conservation Camp was found to be clean and maintained well.
F2:
The Vallecito Conservation Camp staff and inmates have a mutual respect and inmates are motivated.
F3:
There are spiritual and self-improvement programs provided by community volunteers. A General Equivalency Diploma (GED) Program additionally is available.
F4:
The 2016/2017 Grand Jury recommended new couches for the TV room. The couches have not been replaced.
F5:
Contraband is being hidden in the couches in the TV room.
F6:
The main inmate violations are methamphetamine, other drugs and cell phones. The only consequence for inmate violations is a loss of pay for thirty days.
F7:
Communication systems are inadequate and out-of-date for use between officers, and from officers to the main office, especially in case of an emergency. The current cordless phones do not extend beyond fifteen feet from the phone’s base. The radios were non-operative during our visit. Officers may risk a violation if they must use their 41 personal cell phone during emergencies. The facility is spread over a large area with no perimeter fencing. This contributes to safety issues for personnel and inmates.