Colusa County Grand Jury
2025-2026
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Findings & Recommendations
11 findings
F1:
Employee furloughs and executive compensation. In July 2025, the City implemented furloughs reducing employee’s hours and wages by 10%. The City imposed financial hardship on employees while increasing executive compensation and demonstrating inequitable and inconsistent fiscal priorities.
F2:
Declining revenue ignored. The Finance Director and a City Council member reported declining revenues including reductions in sales tax and gas tax. The City failed to adjust spending in response to declining revenue, contributing to avoidable fiscal instability.
F3:
Questionable dismissal of employee concerns. Employee unions reported being pressured to accept furloughs or face layoffs. A “vote of no confidence” and complaints were filed against a director. The City’s handling of employee concerns reflect disregard for the workplace conditions. COLUSA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT | 2025 - 2026
F4:
Employee morale and retention decline. Evidence shows low employee morale and denial of cost-of-living adjustments after reinstatement from furloughs led employees to seek employment elsewhere. The City’s management practices have significantly degraded workforce stability and morale.
F5:
Appearance of a conflict The City awarded a contract to a company employing someone that had a close personal relationship with a Director without sufficient public disclosures, thus eroding public confidence.
F6:
Interference with oversight The City Manager instructed the finance staff not to communicate with a city official. This directive obstructed oversight and undermined transparency.
F7:
Procurement violations The City declared an “emergency” to bypass the bidding requirements for a roadway project despite longstanding poor road conditions and accepted private financing, bypassing public bidding. The “emergency” declaration appears unjustified.
F8:
Brown Act concerns Three City Council members were observed meeting privately outside of official meetings on more than one occasion. These actions raise serious concerns of potential violations of the Brown Act.
F9:
Lack of City Council competence and engagement Evidence shows some City Council members lack understanding of their roles. Multiple members appear to be insufficiently prepared at meetings to discuss agendized subjects. A lack of preparation among elected officials constitutes a failure of governance.
F10:
Failure to adequately vet and evaluate executive leadership Evidence shows when the City hired a Director they had knowledge of prior employment concerns. The City did not adequately vet a senior executive thus exposing the organization to foreseeable risk.
F11:
Failure of oversight Due to lack of engagement and understanding, the City Council failed to identify and correct misconduct and mismanagement by leadership. The City Council failed in its fundamental duty to supervise executive leadership and protect the public interest.
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Mandatory Governance Training All City Council members shall annually complete training on their roles, oversight duties, and compliance with the Brown Act.
R2:
Use of Public Funds The City shall review annually the current credit card policy and the actual use of the City’s credit cards, followed by employee training. COLUSA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT | 2025 - 2026
R3:
Conflict of Interest Enforcement All elected officials and managers need more robust ethics training on an annual basis to ensure compliance of state law and city policy regarding conflict of interest and public disclosures.
R4:
Executive Hiring Standards Reform The City shall consistently implement formal background investigation requirements and take
R5:
Comprehensive review of staffing needs and employee morale Review job descriptions and employee responsibilities and make the adjustments to staffing as deemed necessary to assist in improving the City’s financial crisis and employee morale.
R6:
Report out with an agendized item completion of R1 through R5 as each occurs.
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
Services are frequently disrupted and IEP minutes and placements are not always delivered consistently.
F2:
Staff lack consistent access to IEP details and adequate training, leading to inconsistent implementation.
F3:
CCOE does not consistently implement IEPs as written; the least restrictive environment is compromised.
F4:
Parents are not always properly notified when services are missed or changed; progress monitoring is opaque.
F5:
Student safety controls (e.g., elopement prevention) vary by site and are insufficiently standardized.
F6:
Staff training gaps (CPI, autism/Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), documentation) contribute to behavior-management challenges and lost instructional time.
F7:
Delayed placements, late assistive-device provision impede timely student gains; home support and training are required. Although well within ADA compliance, the investigation discovered some deficiencies in ensuring dignity of students.
F8:
Local capacity gaps in programming necessitate out-of-county placements for some students, detaching them from community support. COLUSA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT | 2025 - 2026
Additional Recommendations
8
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Implement written policy to finalize, lock, and preserve IEPs immediately post‑meeting; document any subsequent changes only via formal amendments or new meetings with parents.
R2:
Establish a mandatory tracking system for service delivery, missed minutes of service (with reasons), and timely parent notifications. Develop corrective action plans and provide compensatory education for students identified as not receiving required IEP services. Parents are not being notified of minutes missed and no current system to make up for them. Parents should be encouraged to review this information against their originally signed IEP to verify that approved services are being implemented as written and that appropriate plans are in place to address any missed services. This process would increase transparency, accountability, and compliance with IEP requirements while enabling parents to participate meaningfully in monitoring their child’s education.
R3:
Provide annual training for all special education staff, administrators, and support personnel on legal IEP requirements, record-alteration prohibitions, confidentiality laws, and consequences of noncompliance.
R4:
Designate an independent compliance officer/independent monitor and/or CCOE advisory/review committee responsible for IEP integrity oversight, monitoring adherence to special education laws, and direct reporting to the governing board.
R5:
Report back to the newly formed oversight body (R4) within 60 days (status) and 120 days (documentation of full/substantial compliance).
R6:
Establish a credentialed substitute bank and permanent floaters to cover daily absences; maintain coverage protocols so one-on-one supports are not deviated from.
R7:
Standardize site safety and elopement policies (gate-lock logs, radio protocols, incident escalation), require post-incident IEP reviews, and ensure immediate parental notification.
R8:
Expand local capacity and timely outside placements where necessary; provide home devices and parent training for adaptive communication needs.
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The Grand Jury finds that the Jail administration and staff are operating the facility in an efficient and professional manner.
F2:
The Grand Jury finds that the Jail is in compliance with its annual scheduled and “surprise” inspection and maintains a Safety plan for staff and inmates.
F3:
The current Jail’s linear design has security risks that does not allow for continuous observation of inmates. This will be eliminated with the opening of the new facility.
F4:
The current medical contract with WellPath is not being renewed at the end of June and the County is providing medical services themselves. COLUSA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT | 2025 - 2026
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends the Jail staff closely monitor medical services provided to the incarcerated once the County takes over medical care to assure they are at acceptable standards.