Gran Jurado del Condado de Humboldt
2008-2009
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
1 hallazgos
F7:
and Recommendation 5. Background As part of its responsibility to periodically review County agencies under its jurisdiction, the 2008-2009 Grand Jury of Humboldt County conducted a review of the Humboldt County Assessor’s Office. The review was conducted in the time period beginning in August of 2008 and ending in March of 2009. The County Assessor is an elected official responsible for the discovery, valuation, and assessment of all taxable property located within the County. The Assessor’s Office is located on the third floor of the Humboldt County Courthouse and when fully staffed includes thirty-two employees. In conducting this review, representatives of the Grand Jury interviewed the Assessor, current and former employees of the Assessor’s Office, and other individuals knowledgeable of county operations. In addition, Jury members reviewed documents and other resources available through the California Assessors’ Offices’ Web site, which includes links to the fifty-eight counties in California. Report The California Revenue and Taxation Code is the primary resource used by the Assessor’s Office when establishing a value on real and/or personal property. Real property is assessed, or reassessed, when there is a change of ownership or significant physical modifications are made to the property. These modifications include new construction as well as additions to, or 8
Recomendaciones adicionales
1
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R4:
• The Humboldt County Counsel shall respond to Finding 7 and Recommendation 5. • The Humboldt County Community Development Services Director shall respond to
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
7 hallazgos
F1:
Employee performance evaluations in the Assessor’s Office are not being conducted according to the schedule specified by County policy.
F2:
Absence of the expectation that all employees attain appropriate computer competency, and the lack of adequate support for employees to improve their competency, contribute to declining operational efficiency in the Assessor’s Office. 10
F3:
The lack of a convenient Web-based system through which citizens can access property information and other public records through the Internet contributes to operational inefficiencies in the Assessor’s Office and to unnecessary delays in recording, processing, and providing information.
F4:
Regular management and staff meetings are not conducted in the Assessor’s Office.
F5:
There appears to be a practice of grooming a current employee in the Assessor’s Office to ultimately run for election to the Assessor position.
F6:
Twenty California counties currently combine the duties of the Assessor with those of other county offices, as permitted by Government Code. Combining offices and functions for purposes of cost and management efficiency could be a benefit to Humboldt County.
F7:
There is continuing confusion regarding the status of some properties in the County. This was previously noted in the 2006 Grand Jury Report. These unresolved issues are a source of frustration for the Assessor’s Office, for other county departments, and for property owners in Humboldt County.
Recomendaciones adicionales
5
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
• The Humboldt County Auditor shall respond to Findings and Recommendations 1 and 2. • The Humboldt County Community Development Services Department shall respond to Findings and Recommendations 3 and 4.
R2:
The Assessor should consider the creation of a staff position for the purpose of training and supporting staff in the updating and implementation of technology now and for the future. The duties of this position should also include the development of a Web-based system to facilitate public access to information, documents, and maps.
R3:
The Assessor should hold regular meetings with management staff, to ensure that all employees have a regular opportunity to discuss office operations and receive direct communication on office expectations, protocol, and procedures.
R4:
The Board of Supervisors should consider combining the duties of the Assessor’s Office with those of other compatible County offices and report to the citizens of the County the outcome of its consideration.
R5:
The Assessor’s Office should develop regular and effective communication procedures among County departments that are affected by unresolved property designations. Grand Jury Report 2009-CD-01 Humboldt County’s Small Special Districts
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Detalles completos →
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
Maintaining compliance with audit requirements is a continuing financial problem for some small special districts in Humboldt County.
F2:
Some special districts may be unaware of lower cost alternatives to annual audit requirements.
F3:
The North Coast Water Resources Association has not yet been formally established.
F4:
Many education resources are available for special district board members, secretaries, managers, and operators.
Recomendaciones adicionales
2
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
The Board of Supervisors should authorize the County Auditor to perform small special district audits at cost to the district.
R2:
The Humboldt County Auditor should communicate with all special districts that may qualify for reduced audit requirements. 15
Vista rápida
Detalles completos →
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
F1:
The driveway to the carport is not long enough to allow adequate room to enter from the street before backing into the carport. This has resulted in vehicles making contact with the building.
F2:
The unloading of bodies in the carport is in full public view from the adjacent sidewalk and street. 17
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
1 hallazgos
F1:
The Hoopa and Garberville Sheriff’s Substations are both in need of the services of a Transportation Officer.
Recomendaciones adicionales
2
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
Background Penal Code section 919(b) provides that the Grand Jury “shall inquire into the conditions and management of the public prisons within the County.” To fulfill this responsibility, representatives of the Grand Jury’s Jails Committee inspected all holding facilities in the County, including the Sheriff’s Substations in Garberville and Hoopa. Report The Hoopa and Garberville Substations were found to be clean and, considering their age, in reasonable repair. Each substation normally has only one officer on duty at a time. Therefore, when it is necessary to transport an arrestee to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka, the substation is left unstaffed. During the on-duty Deputy’s absence, the community is at greater risk due to the inability to respond quickly to crimes in progress and to other needs of the community.
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends extending the carport to shield the process of handling bodies from public view. Grand Jury Report 2009-JL-02 Hoopa and Garberville Sheriff’s Substations
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
F1:
The annual general fund contribution to the operating budget of the Animal Shelter is rising rapidly with employee salaries and benefits being the most volatile line items.
F2:
Utility costs for the Shelter are high and are increasing, particularly the cost of operating the floor heating system in the kennel areas.
Recomendaciones adicionales
2
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
The Sheriff’s Office should review staffing and salary levels that affect the general fund contribution to the Animal Shelter’s operating budget and consider the possibility of using low risk County inmates and/or Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program participants at the facility.
R2:
The County should pursue grant funding for the installation of a solar-assisted water heating system to supplement the current floor heating system in the kennel areas. 24
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
Since the appointment of the current Eureka Police Chief, there has been, and to some degree there continues to be, a tense working environment in the Eureka Police Department affecting officers, command staff, and other Department employees.
F2:
The primary source of the current tension within the Eureka Police Department is the conflict between changes being implemented by the Chief, the manner in which they are being implemented, and the resistance to those changes by some employees in the Department.
F3:
Better direction and communication among the City Council, City Manager, Police Chief, and employees of the Police Department could have prevented or reduced some of the current anxiety and antagonism.
F4:
Everyone involved in the current conflict has a shared responsibility for its cause and for seeking ongoing resolution. This responsibility extends from the Eureka City Council, to the City Manager, to the Police Chief, and to all involved employees of the Eureka Police Department. Grand Jury Report 2009-PW-01 Redway Solid Waste Transfer Station
Recomendaciones adicionales
4
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
Background In the course of the Grand Jury’s annual inspection of the Eel River Conservation Camp, representatives of the Jury discovered a property accessibility issue relating to the Redway Solid Waste Transfer Station located adjacent to the Camp. The property on which the Conservation Camp and the Transfer Station are located is owned by the state. The portion of the property occupied by the Transfer Station is leased to the County by the state and subleased by the County to the private company that operates the Transfer Station. Though the transfer station is not operated by the County, the Grand Jury believes the accessibility issue it discovered should be called to the attention of the County’s Public Works Department. Report The Redway Solid Waste Transfer Station is an integral part of solid waste management in the Southern Humboldt area. It provides a convenient location for the disposal of unwanted items and debris, as well as commercial and residential solid waste. Being adjacent to the Eel River Conservation Camp, the transfer station is particularly vulnerable to unauthorized access after business hours. The property is fenced on three sides, but its northern boundary, approximately 300 feet, is not fenced and is, therefore, not secure. Inmates from the Conservation Camp, as well as members of the general public, have been known to rummage through the station in search of alcohol or marijuana remnants. In the event of a personal injury to one of these trespassers, Humboldt County could be found liable. The County is insured for this type of potential liability, however, it is self-insured for the first $150,000. 28
R2:
The primary source of the current tension within the Eureka Police Department is the conflict between changes being implemented by the Chief, the manner in which they are being implemented, and the resistance to those changes by some employees in the Department.
R3:
Better direction and communication among the City Council, City Manager, Police Chief, and employees of the Police Department could have prevented or reduced some of the current anxiety and antagonism.
R4:
Everyone involved in the current conflict has a shared responsibility for its cause and for seeking ongoing resolution. This responsibility extends from the Eureka City Council, to the City Manager, to the Police Chief, and to all involved employees of the Eureka Police Department. Grand Jury Report 2009-PW-01 Redway Solid Waste Transfer Station