Colusa County Grand Jury
2023-2024
Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The Grand Jury finds that the City of Colusa has made good progress in the development and implementation of policies associated with the planning and permitting of City sponsored events and has made updates to its credit card use policy. COLUSA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT | 2023-2024
F2:
The Grand Jury finds that the City of Colusa did not make updates to its existing Purchasing Policy as it had represented in its letter of response to the 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report.
F3:
The Grand Jury finds that there exists confusion and a lack of general understanding among City of Colusa administrators and staff regarding the applicability and requirements established in the City’s current Purchasing Policy.
F4:
The Grand Jury finds that some city administrators and staff have identified issues and concerns with the City’s implementation of the existing Purchasing Policy.
F5:
The Grand Jury finds that the City of Colusa website should include the contact information for the elected City Treasurer and City Attorney.
F6:
The Grand Jury finds that there is limited law enforcement coverage in the Bear and Indian Valley area due to the difficulty in recruiting a resident Sheriff’s Deputy in Stonyford causing challenges for BVIVFPD in responding to calls that require law enforcement support.
F7:
The Grand Jury finds that the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office is performing in a highly professional and efficient manner working with limited resources and staff at its disposal to provide as much law enforcement coverage to the Bear and Indian Valley area as possible.
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Colusa conduct a thorough review of the existing Purchasing Policy and make all necessary and appropriate revisions to address the deficiencies identified by the 2021-2022 Grand Jury Report and to make any appropriate updates to ensure the City’s Purchasing Policy is consistent and reflects current regulations, ordinances, and policies by December 31, 2024.
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Colusa develop a training program for elected officials, city administrators and staff who are responsible for the expenditure of public money that is consistent with the City’s Purchasing Policy. This training should be held on an annual basis.
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that all City of Colusa administrators and staff responsible for the expenditure of public money attest in writing that they have received Purchasing Policy training and understand their duties and obligations as established in the Purchasing Policy.
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Colusa establish an Ad Hoc Committee of the City Council that includes two (2) City Council members and the elected City Treasurer to provide general oversite of the City’s Purchasing Policy and the expenditure of public money - including a regular review of expenditures to ensure consistency with the City’s adopted policy. The Ad Hoc Committee should report out to the full City Council and the community at a regularly scheduled meeting of the City Council on a quarterly basis highlighting the Ad Hoc Committee’s activities.
R5:
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Colusa website include the contact information for elected City Treasurer and the City Attorney.
R6:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office continue to take proactive efforts to recruit, hire and retain a Stonyford Resident Deputy, and in the interim continue to find ways given its limited resources and staff to increase law enforcement presence in the Bear Valley/Indian Valley area.