Humboldt County 2021-2022 - California Grand Jury Reports

December 31, 2022 — Silver Tsunami Warning:

11 pages 9 findings 4 recommendations

Findings & Recommendations 9 findings

F1: Reporting elder abuse is needlessly difficult, which results in its underreporting.(R1, R2)

Related Recommendations (2)

R1: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends all law enforcement agencies add a prominent elder abuse reporting link and phone number to APS and other appropriate agencies on their websites by December 31, 2022.(F1, F2) 12per multiple local government and non-profit agencies 10

R2: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends APS and the District Attorney (DA) develop a multi-faceted marketing approach to educate seniors and the public in general about elder abuse and make the process of reporting easier. The plan should be developed by December 31, 2022 and fully implemented by July 1, 2023. (F1,F2, F3)

F2: We can better protect seniors by making it as easy as possible for the public at large, and seniors specifically, to understand what elder abuse is and how to report it. (R1, R2)

Related Recommendations (2)

F3: Adult Protective Services (APS) could do more to publicize elder abuse awareness. (R2)

Related Recommendations (1)

F4: The Elder and Vulnerable Adult Services Team (EVAST), funded with Measure Z dollars, has significantly improved the prosecution and conviction rates for elder abuse cases. (R3)

Related Recommendations (1)

R3: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the DA and APS continue their annual joint application for Measure Z funds for EVAST. (F4)

F5: Governor Gavin Newsom has made available hundreds of millions of dollars in various programs and grants to address housing needs and homelessness in the State of California. Now is the time to actively pursue the many grant funding opportunities specific to senior homelessness. (R4)

Related Recommendations (1)

R4: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends DHHS proactively expand efforts to identify, apply for and utilize housing and shelter funding for homeless seniors to take advantage of state monies. We also recommend DHHS present quarterly progress reports to the Board of Supervisors beginning June 30, 2023.(F5, F7)

F6: Without a more accurate survey methodology than what is currently used by the Homeless Point in Time Count, many seniors who are homeless will not be counted.

F7: There is a dire need for senior emergency housing and shelters in Humboldt County. (R4)

Related Recommendations (1)

F8: We commend the professionals in Humboldt County, especially those in law enforcement and the various agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), who help combat elder abuse and senior homelessness.

F9: We commend all the nonprofits and volunteers working on the frontlines of elder abuse and senior homelessness.

∼ June 30, 2022 — Custody, Corrections and Other County Facilities

34 pages 30 findings 25 recommendations

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Findings & Recommendations 30 findings

F1: There is surplus and/or outdated IT department equipment stored in the Sheriff’s Office. (R1)

Related Recommendations (1)

R1: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat surplus and/or outdated IT department equipment be removed from the Sheriff’s Office by November 30, 2022. (F1)

F2: The Sheriff’s Office Armor room lacks electronic locks and a steel door. (R2)

Related Recommendations (1)

R2: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors approve funding for the electronic locks and steel door security upgrades to the Sheriff’s Office Armor room by October 31, 2022. (F2)

F3: There are four independent Dispatch Centers serving Humboldt County, located in Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna and at the Sheriff’s Office. (R3)

Related Recommendations (1)

R3: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors take the lead to prepare a plan that combines the four Dispatch Centers into one Centralized Dispatch Center by March 31, 2023, and prepare a request for proposals for the construction of a new Dispatch Center by June 30, 2023. (F3) 4 SHERIFF’S WORK ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (SWAP) The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) is an alternative to incarceration where safety of participants and community is a priority. Inmates (workers) available for SWAP include male and female workers, 18 – 80 years of age, who have a sentence of 180 days or less. Currently there are about 140 workers in this program. Qualified workers may choose to participate in the Farm or Wood operations instead of serving time in jail. Workers usually have been convicted of non-violent misdemeanors, although a few workers have non-violent felonies. Those with a history of violence, sexual abuse and/or mental illness are not eligible to participate. Other disqualifying criteria include inmates on disability or those with worker’s compensation claims. Workers labor on weekdays or weekends allowing them to live at home and maintain their current employment. Each day worked at the SWAP facility reduces their sentence one day. Both operations provide community services as well as teaching skills that can prove valuable once the sentence is served. The SWAP Wood Yard is located in Eureka, on county property, and produces about 200 cords of wood per year. In the past the Wood Yard produced 1,000 to 1,500 cords per year. Workers cut, split, and stack firewood into cords. Safety gear and related equipment are provided and maintained by the Sheriff’s Department. The wood is sold to senior citizens through a voucher system at a reduced price per cord. There has been a shortage of wood in the last few years. However, currently the Wood Yard is receiving wood from PG&E and Caltrans due to downed trees cleared this winter. The Wood Yard recently received a donation of two small greenhouses to be used by detainees at Juvenile Hall (located next door) who will receive training to grow vegetables for their own use and for use by Seniors. The Sheriff’s Office refers to the SWAP Farm as the “CROWN JEWEL OF THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.” This Farm is located in Fortuna on 84 acres of airport property adjacent to the Rohnerville Airport. The Farm is 17 acres and the remaining property is utilized for cattle and hay production. The Farm raises various vegetables and livestock. When we visited, there were many pigs of various ages, including several new piglets and chickens producing 30 eggs per day. Animal and vegetable products, including kale, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, beets, and pumpkins are used in the preparation of meals at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF). In 2021, the Farm produced 10,000 pounds of produce. HCCF receives about 85% of their pork and about 25% of their beef from the Farm. 95% of the vegetation/green waste produced is fed to the cows and pigs. The Farm is maintained 24/7 as livestock needs feeding daily. At the time of the tour, it was noted that the barn did not have doors to prevent weather damage to the equipment and hay stored in this facility. The SWAP farm recently received a donation of a greenhouse and is hoping to receive one more donated greenhouse that would allow the production of vegetables year-round to feed inmates at HCCF. The SWAP Farm is currently using timers for the garden so watering can be done early in the morning and evening. The Farm is discussing the purchase of a more efficient drip line watering system, which would require the procurement of a grant. SWAP provides excellent benefits that include cost savings to the community in the form of affordable firewood, food for Seniors and food for the inmates at HCCF. Correctional Officers 5 invite 4H and FFA members to the Farm where they are educated in gardening and care of livestock. The children interact exclusively with the correctional staff. 4H and FFA members can also purchase piglets at a reduced price, which they raise and sell at the County fair. The Farm has been impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. SWAP workers were not allowed at the Farm when restrictions were put in place by the County. During this period the Sheriff Deputies arrived at the Farm to support the care of the animals and weeding/harvesting the gardens. Workers interviewed at the Farm mentioned that thework is very difficult but rewarding because they are acquiring skills they intend to use after completing their sentence such as how to prepare/plant a garden and care for livestock. The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors and the Superior Court Judges tour the SWAP Farm to see what this facility provides to the community and the workers.

F4: SWAP Farm barn has no doors to protect vehicles and hay from weather. (R4)

Related Recommendations (1)

R4: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors prepare a Request for Proposals for the purchase and installation of doors for the SWAP Farm barn by October 31, 2022. Funding to be approved by December 31, 2022. (F4) OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES Four years ago the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) toured the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES). The detailed report that followed found the “OES in need of upgrades to better plan for the emergencies to come.” Our County has experienced significant and disastrous flooding, continuous seismic events, the now evident threat of sea level rise, and increased widespread destruction from wildfires and worldwide pandemics. Now we must add the new reality of severe drought that will alter our County's landscape and livelihoods. Natural disasters are by no means unique to Humboldt County as the planet bears witness to seemingly unlimited and more severe events. However, 2020-2022 delivered a different challenging event, the COVID-19 pandemic, testing our County’s resources and abilities across all levels of services and governance. Our ability to respond to any disaster lies with the OES, still in its old and inadequate office space in the County Courthouse basement. This vintage 1950s “bomb shelter” structure was not intended to serve as a County-wide OES facility. It lacks the basic upgrades most County offices have received to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as evidenced by the stairwell leading into the Department. This structure, unfortunately, does not lend itself to required ADA upgrades. Under the direction of the Humboldt County Sheriff, and in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners, the OES coordinates and participates in emergency planning, response, and recovery. OES is the primary local coordination agency for emergencies and disasters affecting residents, public infrastructure, and government operations in the County. This vitally important government department is staffed with highly qualified and trained personnel who have consistently displayed competence and ingenuity. They have distinguished themselves through the constant service they provide to assure our County’s readiness and safety in the face of disaster. Disaster Preparedness Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the OES Staff identified the need for a much larger space to accommodate the increased personnel recruited to assure the highest level of emergency and sustained services to our County. The relocation of the entire Department to another location in Eureka was accomplished within a week and showed extraordinary capabilities and dedication. However, this feat was successfully accomplished without extraordinary circumstances such as earthquake, flooding and fire. The recruitment and training of personnel who will work alongside the County’s First Responders requires a building with sufficient space to accommodate this important sharing of information and equally important team building. FEMA, among other State and Federal agencies, offers training to OES personnel and other stakeholders, yet the current building lacks sufficient space. OES manages emergency response from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), using the Incident Command System (ICS). The State Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), the Federal National Incident Management System(NIMS), andthe National Response Framework (NRF) establish common operating procedures,best practices, and a whole community approach to disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Zonehaven OES in collaboration with local governments and public safety partners, has established over 300 emergency zones throughout Humboldt County utilizing Zonehaven, an evacuation management platform. Pre-established evacuation Zones help fire, law and emergency service agencies prepare for, streamline and reduce confusion around the evacuation process so that roads are clear for those who need to evacuate quickly. By evacuating the most at-risk Zones first, emergency personnel are able to manage the traffic flow and more easily prevent the traffic jams that occur when an entire 7 town or city tries to evacuate all at the same time. It also provides a common reference system for all first responders and the community. In the event of an emergency, first responders and emergency service officials will use Zonehaven to determine necessary evacuations. From there, officials communicate evacuation orders and zone statuses to the public through Humboldt Alert and the Zonehaven community site. The map will be updated real-time to reflect current evacuation orders and warnings for impacted zones. Local cities utilizing other emergency alert systems such as Nixle or Code Red will also issue alerts to their respective zones should an emergency occur in that area. Residents are encouraged to "Know Your Zone" before the next emergency occurs by visiting the new interactive map on Zonehaven Aware. Managing A Disaster A review of the Emergency Operations Center Organizational Chart reveals the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors (Board) leads the chain of command and oversees the Disaster Council. An Incident Commander is identified to head the remaining and very extensive Response Team. Public Information, Liaison, Safety, and Legal Officers are assigned. Four Chiefs are in charge of the Operations Section, Planning and Intelligence Section, Logistics Section and Finance. Operations oversee the Branch of Health/Welfare, Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Health Support, Mental Health and Social Services and also include the Red Cross Representative. Operations Second Branch,Response and Safety, are in charge of Sheriff’s Emergency Response, California Highway Patrol, California National Guard, US Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, Fire and Rescue, Coroner's Response, Public Works Unit, and the Animal Care and Rescue Unit. The Planning/Intelligence Chief’s purview includes Building Inspection and Public Works Support, Damage/Safety Assessment Unit, Advance Planning and Demobilization Units. The Finance Chief is responsible for time keeping for perhaps hundreds of responders, and includes a Cost Unit and Recovery Unit. Lastly, but vitally important, is the Logistics Section. This unit requires a state-of-the-art, highly sophisticated office from which it directs and monitors an extensive Communications Unit, Medical Unit, Food Unit and is responsible for a Support Branch including Supply/Procurement Unit, Transportation, Facilities, and Personnel Units. The Emergency Operations Center becomes the physical or virtual location from which the emergency operations coordination and support of incident management activities is directed. Humboldt County needs to act now to relocate OES to a larger, more functional facility that can accommodate projected needs in the event of fires, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, and pandemics. All of our lives may depend on the expertise and functionality of our OES during these disasters. 8

F5: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) plans, organizes and participates in emergency planning, response, and recovery in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners. OES is the primary office for emergencies and disasters affecting residents, public infrastructure, and government operations in the County.

F6: The OES currently uses WIFI for internet communication and needs to be upgraded to fiber optic service. (R5)

Related Recommendations (1)

R5: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors approve funding for fiber optic internet service in the OES for this critical communication upgrade by October 31, 2022. (F6)

F7: The current office of the OES lacks sufficient space to effectively prepare for and monitor a natural or other disaster within our County. (R6)

Related Recommendations (1)

R6: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors commit budget funding for the planning, purchase of property, materials and equipment, and the construction of a new OES facility that can house all pertinent agencies during a major disaster and/or emergency by December 31, 2022. (F7) (F8) (F9)

F8: The current OES facility does not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and retrofitting would be difficult to achieve in the current facility. (R6)

Related Recommendations (1)

F9: The current OES facility does not have a sufficient or reliable backup generator with fuel supply storage to provide the needed power in the event of a prolonged power outage. (R7)

Related Recommendations (2)

R7: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors approve funding for a reliable generator with sufficient fuel storage to assure continuation of OES functions and mandates during a prolonged emergency situation by November 30, 2022. (F9) COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER “The greatness of a nation and its moral progresscan be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi Situated on open lands near our County airport, the Humboldt County Animal Shelter (Shelter) provides a safe and promising haven for lost and discarded companion animals. The Shelter cares for stray, abandoned and neglected domesticated animals in our community waiting for a new forever home. The Shelter’s multiple services include the protection and well-being of its resident companion animals and other homeless species seeking a second chance. The Shelter offers individuals and families the opportunity to meet with a companion animal seeking its “forever home.” Officers, Staff, and Volunteers are on site to match animals with prospective adopters and reunite lost animals with their owners. The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury members toured the facility in the autumn of 2021. Despite the many restrictions placed on County facilities due to COVID-19, we found the Shelter adequately staffed and intent on providing the highest quality care. During our inspection, the public services of dog licensing, remitting fines and impound fees, and reporting concerns and issues, were open to the public at the Service Desk in the Front Lobby. However, open access to the Adoption areas and kennels was restricted. The entryway into the Shelter is inviting and very accessible. There are large readable signs requesting that personal pets be left in your car. The landscaping was sparse, but we were informed that the Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) had been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions and this support had assisted with landscaping maintenance. The Shelter is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hours are extended until 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to accommodate more potential adopters and others needing related services. Staff is available in the Shelter Office during these hours to respond to telephone calls. The Shelter operates with three full-time Receptionists and four full-time Kennel Attendants. Two Senior Animal Control Officers are employed to provide services and safety at the Shelter and throughout the jurisdiction of Humboldt County. The Shelter Manager is also a Senior Control Officer. These Officers are recruited by and operate under the directives of the Humboldt County Sheriff. The majority of the care and handling of the Shelter residents is performed by the Kennel Attendants. They also oversee the Volunteers from Friends for Life, Miranda’s Rescue, Companion Animal Foundation, and Bless the Beasts. If available, these volunteers assist in kennel cleaning and outdoor dog walking, at least twice a day if volunteers are available, and socializing with cats and other impounded animals. Volunteers provide an average of 545 hours annually. Physical Aspects of the Shelter Impounded dogs are housed within individual kennels.Each has interior cubicles, heated for cold weather, and an outdoor access to a small fenced-in dog run. Water is available in individual cubicles and dogs are fed in their own space. There is a separate area for small dogs. Dogs are sequestered from the public hallway by glass-lined walls and only Shelter personnel have access to the dog kennels. Dogs brought to the Shelter by Animal Control officers and County Sheriff deputies are secured in kennels in a separate section with limited access. The Shelter Manager expressed the need for additional dog kennels. There is contiguous and sufficient land available for the construction of these kennels. There is a Grooming Room for washing and necessary grooming of animals. Cats are housed in standard stainless-steel cages but are released to communal rooms for exercise and socialization. Small rooms are available for litters of kittens and larger rooms are available with outside fresh air flow, important in reducing airborne feline viruses. Sick animals are treated and recuperate in isolation areas. Experienced on-site staff provide properly refrigerated medications and vaccines in the facility’s Sick Bay. The Laundry Facility has commercial-sized washers and dryers that provide daily, clean bedding for both cats and dogs. The facility houses three water heaters for adequate sanitation and comfort. There are multiple security cameras mounted throughout the Shelter. Some of these cameras are outdated, with low quality resolution, and need to be replaced. Operations at the Shelter The Shelter cares for stray, abandoned and neglected domesticated animals in our community. Due to the high population of these types of animals, the Shelter does not typically take in unwanted pets from their owners. The Shelter depends on other non-profit organizations such as Friends for Life, Miranda’s Rescue, Companion Animal Foundation, Bless the Beasts, and Sequoia Humane Society to take in owner surrenders. Incoming animals are immediately evaluated for apparent medical problems and depending upon the severity of illnesses and injuries, emergency treatment is provided. Dogs and cats are scanned for Microchip IDs and every effort is made to contact the owners. Dogs with licenses are identified and owners are contacted. After the hold required by California State law for impounded companion animals, the Staff evaluates the temperament and health of the animals. Animals that fail these evaluations are recommended to the various volunteer groups who might assist in placing special needs animals. Each animal is photographed, described, and included on the Shelter Website as being available for adoption to the public. Cats are FELV/FIV (Feline Leukemia/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) tested and dogs are temperament tested. The Shelter’s Volunteer rescue coordinators pursue every possible avenue in and out of the County to find an appropriate home for each animal. If these efforts fail, the Shelter has the animal humanely euthanized on site in a designated treatment room. For example, feral cats determined to be unadoptable by the general public as a Companion Animal can be placed on available farms or ranches where they live out their lives as Integrated Rodent and Pest Managers. Dogs identified as difficult to place due to behavioral or physical limitations are also given many considerations for placement in a home. All animals are spayed/neutered and vaccinated against Rabies prior to placement. Local Veterinarians perform major medical procedures at their respective Animal Hospitals. Animal Control Officers are responsible for delivering and retrieving the patients. Spays and Neuters are also performed at local Veterinary Hospitals. All cats and dogs receive standard vaccinations and are spayed or neutered prior to being placed in new homes. Daily Care Shelter staff and volunteers clean kennels and communal areas at least once daily or more often as needed. Water is always available and dog and cat kibble are provided daily. Special dietary needs are met by providing canned food and special diet foods when identified. The Shelter relies primarily on donations from the community for canned food. Dogs are walked at least once daily outside the shelter. Cats are rotated out of cages into the communal areas to roam freely. Volunteers provide interaction and socialization which enhances the animals' chances for adoption.

F10: The Shelter security cameras are 18 years old and do not provide clear images. (R8) 12

Related Recommendations (1)

R8: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors approve funding to replace the security cameras at the Shelter with high-definition video equipment by October 31, 2022. (F10)

F11: The Shelter lacks sufficient kennels to house dogs. (R9)

Related Recommendations (1)

R9: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors prepare a Request for Proposals and approve funding for the design, purchase, and construction of additional kennels in the current Shelter yard area. Request for Proposals to be submitted by October 31, 2022. Funds to be approved by December 31, 2022. (F11)

F12: Currently the Shelter is closed to the publicfor adoptions on Saturdays. This is an impediment to potential adopters and their families who are unable to visit the Shelter during weekdays. (R10)

Related Recommendations (1)

R10: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Shelter open to the public every Saturday, bi-monthly at a minimum, by October 31, 2022. If deemed necessary, limited Saturday hours are acceptable. This accommodation to families enhances the opportunities for adoptions and retrieval of lost pets. (F12) SHERIFF’S BOATYARD The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Boatyard serves as a storage area for both the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department (HCSD) and the Humboldt County Search and Rescue Posse (HCSRP), a volunteer organization that assists with search and rescue operations.The two organizations share office space that is not conducive to their operations. HCSRP stores vehicles and large animal trailers on the premises. The HCSD stores boats, water skis, an airboat, a snowcat and a 20-year-old Mobile Command Center in a covered structure that has sides open to the elements. Other stored items include several generators of different sizes (some impounded as evidence) and various types of trailers. One of the trailers, a shower trailer, is loaned for use at other locations such as fire camps. HCSD also has a large evidence storage facility at the Boatyard. During the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) Boatyard inspection, the first item noted was the manually operated entrance gate. In poor weather conditions it could be hazardous to open and shut the gate. The paved parking area inside the gate was sloped to a low point in the middle of the lot with no drain. This could become a hazard during heavy rain. The security and communication systems are outdated and the lighting in some of the offices and areas of the evidence room are not functioning. Additionally, an updated communication and security system with fiber optics service, new high-definition video cameras and outdoor lighting is needed.As noted above the paved parking lot requires re-sloping to provide proper drainage. There is a need for a weather protected facility to house the generators and other equipment as well asto allow for the storage of impounded vehicles. These impounded vehicles are currently stored at commercial towing facilities that charge the County a daily rate. The Grand Jury noted that the current Mobile Command Center is 20 years old and should be replaced with a new vehicle that features up-to-date equipment. The Grand Jury was informed that the HCSD received a federal grant from Homeland Security to purchase a new boat for operation on the bay and the boat should be received in late 2022.

F13: The facilities at the Boatyard do not meet the needs of the HCSO and HCSRP. Areas that need improvement include office space, video surveillance, security systems, parking lot, gates and fencing. (R11)

Related Recommendations (1)

R11: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors prepare a Request for Proposals and funding approval for remodeling and upgrades at the Boatyard including office space, security system, video surveillance system, parking lot, fencing and gates. Proposals to be Requested by October 31, 2022. Funding to be approved by January 31, 2023. (F13)

F14: The Boatyard should be fully weather protected for proper shielding of evidence and equipment from inclement weather. (R12)

Related Recommendations (1)

R12: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors prepare a Request for Proposals and approve funding for the purchase and construction of a structure at the Boatyard to house vehicles and equipment. Request for Proposals to be submitted by March 30, 2023. Funding to be approved by June 30, 2023. (F14) EVIDENCE ROOMS The Grand Jury inspected four evidence rooms: 1) one at the Boatyard, 2) two in the Courthouse and 3) one at the Coroner’s Office (see section on Coroner’s Office). The Grand Jury found the evidence room at the Boatyard was well organized and retrieval of evidence can easily be accomplished from a computer-based system.The Boatyard evidence room is organized with multiple rows of shelves that store evidence of all sizes. The majority of the evidence is stored in cardboard boxes. The Sergeant in charge of the evidence rooms visits several times a month to verify that items are stored properly and can be found easily using the computer system.The addition of a permanent office at the Boatyard evidence room would provide a secure location for the computer and evidence log binders. One of the two evidence rooms is located in old jail cells in the Courthouse.Items located here are stored with proper identification. However, it appeared more difficult to retrieve items from this evidence room since it consists of two floors of jail cells used for evidence storage as well as inmate backpacks and belongings. The other evidence room at the Courthouse is located in the basement and has sufficient shelving for storage of evidence. This evidence room has several climate control units; however, there is no back-up generator support when there is a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) by Pacific Gas & Electric. There is a need for proper storage containers designed for all high-density data storage media at each of the four evidence rooms.

F15: Tapes and video recordings, particularly magneticrecordings, are currently stored in cardboard boxes at the evidence storage facility at the Boatyard. (R13)

Related Recommendations (1)

R13: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Board of Supervisors approve funding for purchase of storage containers designed for all high-density data storage media at the Boatyard by November 30, 2022. (F15)

F16: There are currently four evidence rooms: two located in the Courthouse, one at the Boatyard and one at the Coroner’s Office. Relocating these evidence rooms into one location would allow evidence to be efficiently retrieved by staff. (R14)

Related Recommendations (1)

R14: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Sheriff propose to the Board of Supervisors by March 31, 2023 that all four evidence rooms be located in one facility so evidence could be retrieved much more efficiently. (F16) CORONER’S OFFICE The Coroner’s facility is located in a portion of the original General Hospital in Eureka. Updating and modernization of the building has taken place over the past decades, but aging will continue to be a factor.Except for minor paint peeling and ceiling tile damage, the Coroner's Office appears clean and efficiently run. Required long-term storage of physical evidence is organized but could benefit from a larger, updated storage room. Humboldt Bay Fire Department conducts an inspection annually, but OSHA has not inspected the building in the past ten years. The Grand Jury expressed concern about the ventilation system and the reliability of a temporary replacement for the backup generator. We were assured that the ventilation system, particularly in the Autopsy room, affords adequate ventilation and air replacement every two minutes. It was also reported that the backup generator has not failed to start when a power outage occurs. Previous Grand Juries recommended the purchase of an on-site X-ray machine, which has since been purchased and is operational. The additional acquisition of ancestry and DNA identification software have also improved the Coroner’s ability to complete body identification. The scope of duties required from coroners and their deputies is far-ranging and our Grand Jury found the Chief Deputy Coroner and his deputies to be professional and skilled.Coroners and their deputies frequently must be on-site at the actual place of death. This requires a high level of investigative skills and the ability to secure a death scene; be it natural, accidental, suicide or homicide. Operations Reception and clerical duties are provided by two seasoned volunteers who have dedicated several years of service and volunteered thousands of hoursin 2021.The paid county staff of the coroner’s facility include four Deputy Coroner investigators and one Chief Deputy Coroner, who is also charged with Public Administrator responsibilities for Humboldt County. This office is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Deputy Sheriffs have the ability to rotate into a three-to-five-year assignment. There is a lack of residential pathologists throughout the country. In Humboldt County, three Forensic Pathologists conduct autopsies on-site, but only one resides in the County. For this reason, autopsies can be delayed by several days, but it was reported that the need for immediate autopsies is rare. Responsibilities of the County Coroner The Coroner's Office investigates all deaths reportable to the Coroner and notifies and counsels next of kin. The Sheriff-Coroner is also the Public Administrator in Humboldt County. This is a related but separate responsibility and is discussed in the Public Administrator narrative. The decision to proceed with an autopsy lies with the Coroner or his representative. It may be possible to determine the cause of death without an autopsy. Autopsies may uncover genetic medical problems and provide valuable information for family members. Public Health concerns may require an autopsy in order to reveal contagiousdiseases so that any close contacts of the deceased can be notified.An autopsy may provide evidencenecessary for insurance claims or death benefits. A typical autopsy is completed within two weeks. Completing the required reports can extend the process several more weeks. Circumstances may require the Coroner, at the residence of a person who died as sole resident, to secure the scene with a “Coroner’s Seal.” Although it is not intended to deprive legal heirs of their rights, it is a misdemeanor to break the seal without permission of the Coroner. New reportable deaths increased by 169 (46%) in 2021 for a total of 535 cases. Of these, 338 were investigated of which the Pathologist performed 177 autopsies. The breakdown of death investigations is as follows: 185 died of natural causes, 89 died from an accident, 45 died from suicide or homicide and 19 from other causes. Facilities Management This facility provides several individual offices for the Chief Deputy Coroner, his deputy coroners and the local Forensic Pathologist. A small conference room is available for in-house meetings and potential meetings with the deceased’s family. A well-equipped autopsy room is modest in size but adequate for the general needs of Humboldt County. Another modest sized “cooler” room provides refrigeration for up to 25 bodies awaiting autopsies or final disposition to the mortuary. These two rooms are adjacent to an outside ramp that accommodates gurneys. The Coroner has two customized Coroner's Transport vans for retrieval of bodies. Small rooms provide areas for short and long term evidence storage including refrigeration for tissue samples. A compact but efficient “research” space allows the Coroner to access important database information in the investigation of unidentified bodies. 75% of these cases are identified by fingerprints. The Coroner and investigators attend annual training sessions to maintain skills and increase knowledge. This facility does not house a laboratory for tissue and blood samples requiring toxicology, micro- tissue samples, histology, and other testing. These samples are forwarded to local hospital labs. Occasionally samples are sent to Department of Justice labs when required. Organ donations are performed at the local hospitals. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR The Public Administrator (PA) provides legal estateservices on behalf of county residents who die without a Will and without a clear heir to their property.In Humboldt County (County) the PA is also the Sheriff-Coroner. These are related but separate responsibilities. The Sheriff-Coroner investigates all deaths reportable to the Coroner, safeguards the property of the deceased, notifies and counsels next of kin and conducts inquests. The PA maintains an office staff experienced in the investigation and administration of estates of deceased persons. The PA advises the Superior Court when a decedent has left no Will or directive regarding their property. The PA manages and disposes of the property per California Probate Code. In Humboldt County the majority of the cases involve the property of a decedent without a Will or much money.The PA is required to assume control of their property while investigating the possibility of rightful heirs. The PA can sell the property at the request of the heirs and provide the heirs the money from the sale. The County assumes responsibility for the body and pays for the burial. The PA encourages next of kin to seek an attorney for disposition of the estate and to provide them an avenue for handling the property themselves. This is a difficult role for the Deputy Coroner to perform while investigating a death. If the deceased has a residence, the PA is responsible for maintaining the residence and paying all property bills. The PA must be able to inventory all the assets, not just the physical property. Other assets that must be inventoried include bank accounts, stocks and properties. Some counties hire analysts to perform this essential function. The analysts can perform all these duties and then turn the property over to the PA for disposal. Currently the PA has limited space in the Coroner’s Office for storage of deceased properties and there is no space for storage of large estates, resulting in the county renting storage units. During multiple interviews with these employees, they shared the importance of the Public Administrator role and their desire to ensure the PA duties are performed with utmost focus and care.

F17: Currently the Chief Deputy Coroner also has theresponsibilities of the functioning Public Administrator, a complex role that is very difficult to perform adequately while focused on a death investigation. (R15)

Related Recommendations (1)

R15: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Board of Supervisors approve funding to hire a civilian analyst to the Public Administrator’s office to manage the Public Administrator duties by December 31, 2022. (F17) HUMBOLDT COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY Per the requirements of California Penal Code section § 919(b), the Civil Grand Jury inspected the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (the facility) and received an explanation of leadership’s management philosophy. The facility’s staff are employees of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Top leadership includes a captain and three lieutenants. The four shifts provide 24 hour per day, 365 day per year coverage and each shift includes 1 supervisor, 4 corporals and 17 line staff. Other staff are court officers, transportation officers, Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program officers, contractors and civilians. Despite recent staff salary increases, recruitment continues to be a top priority. The facility has 24 open positions and struggles to attract qualified staff. The leadership team experienced great recruiting success in the California Central Valley pre-COVID-19, however, the continuing Humboldt County housing crisis and the County’s overall high cost of living are negatively impacting current recruiting efforts. Due to the staffing shortages, Administration now works a shift in the Inmate Processing department in addition to performing their leadership duties. There are multiple Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) projects in progress in this eight-story facility that encompasses 155,000 square feet. The facility’s maximum capacity is 417 inmates. Due to COVID-19 and AB 109 (California Public SafetyRealignment Act of 2011), the 2021 population was 279 and this year, 2022, the population is 290. To ensure the safety of staff and inmates during COVID-19, a quarantine policy was initiated at the beginning of state mandated lockdowns in March 2020. That initial quarantine period has been reduced from 14 days at the height of the pandemic, to 7 days, and is currently down to 5 days as pandemic risks have lessened. The facility’s leadership works closely with the County Health Department and should there be a COVID-19 uptick, leadership is able to quickly adjust the length of the quarantine. Inmates who test positive for COVID-19 are placed in isolation cells. The 18 facility reports that throughout the pandemic only one inmate had a serious case of COVID-19 that required hospitalization. After testing negative, the inmate was then returned to the facility. Leadership operates the facility using the philosophy of direct supervision. Officers are stationed within the housing units where they directly interact continuously with inmates, actively supervising them to identify problems in the early stages. The officers’ goal is to create an environment that is safe and secure for inmates, staff and visitors. Housing Inmates are housed based on one of three classifications they receive when initially processed: 1) protective custody, 2) administrative segregation, or 3) general population. Protective Custody dorms are reserved for inmates who are classified unsafe in general population units, whether due to the nature of their charges, a fear for their safety if they are about to provide testimony in an upcoming case, or if they have learning disabilities that could make them vulnerable. Violent inmates, those with serious mental health issues and other inmates who have demonstrated they are not able to live in general population dorms are housed in individual locked cells. In keeping with leadership’s efforts to encourage best eventual outcomes, the status of these inmates is reviewed every seven days with the goal of moving them to the general population as appropriate. General population dorms have open sleeping and gathering areas, as well as private showers and toilets, and are leadership’s preferred method for housing inmates. This housing arrangement is an option for minimum and mixed security inmates. There are three dorm units with 50-70 inmates in a dorm. No physical barriers exist between the officers and the inmates in these units. Movement of staff and inmates facility-wide, including the release of doors for their passage from one location to the next, is controlled and monitored from a central command post staffed 24/7. The Sick Bay is staffed 24/7 with licensed personnel and an on-call doctor. In addition to exam rooms there are secure rooms for inmates who need close medical supervision. Services performed by inmates include laundry, janitorial and cooking detail. The cleanliness of the facility is due to the janitorial services inmates provide three times a day. Inmate Programs Programs offered to the inmates include GED and college-level courses, religious services, substance abuse counseling, meditation and yoga, and veterans’ aftercare and treatment. Mental health services are provided seven days a week during regular work hours by four Department of Health & Human Services licensed clinicians. Recreational offerings include two indoor basketball courts. Mental Health Crisis Leadership reports the correctional facility’s main ongoing challenge is the escalating mental health crisis in Humboldt County. The correctional facility serves as the largest de facto mental health facility north of Santa Rosa, with 90 percent of the inmates having mental health conditions. Often these conditions are related to drug use which makes it difficult for officers to differentiate between mental health-induced and drug-induced behaviors. Although the Department of Health & Human Services has provided 5150 training and de-escalation training to the correctional officers, these officers are not mental health professionals and they would welcome more training. The facility continues to incarcerate individuals experiencing serious mental health issues who should be housed in a mental health facility. Sempervirens, Humboldt County’s 16-bed acute psychiatric hospital located at the Clark Complex in Eureka, does not have the capacity, security or staff to house incarcerated inmates. This mental health crisis was detailed in the 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury report “The Last Resort,” and the situation at the facility has only worsened. Violent inmate behavior has increased dramatically due to an increase in inmates who suffer from mental health issues. From 2020 to 2021 inmate-on-inmate assaults were up by more than 50 percent. This creates a potentially unsafe environment for officers and inmates. Seven years ago, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommended the installation of safety netting between floors as a fall and suicide prevention safety measure. Per leadership, this netting should be installed by November 2022. Facility Expansion Summer 2023 is the new projected opening date for the adjunct building that has been in the planning stages since 2015. This 23,712 square foot “one-stop-shop” was originally budgeted at $20 million, but multiple delays and corresponding rises in construction costs have added an additional $10 million to the projected cost. The structure’s first level will include a day reporting center for AB109 post-release community supervision clients and Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program workers. The second level will be strictly for inmates in custody. 38 beds on this level will be reserved for a minimum-security transitioning housing unit focused on preparing inmates to successfully re-enter society. There will also be a six-bed mental health unit for inmates with less severe mental health issues.

F18: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury finds ahigh percentage of inmates at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility have mental health issues and many are violent. This creates a potentially unsafe environment for officers and other inmates. (R16)

Related Recommendations (1)

R16: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors request that the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, local hospitals and community health centers meet jointly to develop a comprehensive action plan with a three-fold focus, to be in place by January 31, 2023 as detailed below (F18,

F19: Officers receive and implement de-escalation training with incarcerated mental health patients. However, these officers are not mental health professionals and lack behavioral health training and certification in counseling. (R16) 20

Related Recommendations (1)

F20: The County’s acute care psychiatric hospital, Sempervirens, does not provide enough space or services to reduce the strain on the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and ensure mental health patients receive appropriate placement and care. (R16)

Related Recommendations (1)

F21: Neither incarceration at the correctional facilitynor a short stay at Sempervirens will address the County’s challenge of meeting the mental health needs of inmates. (R16)

Related Recommendations (1)

F22: The Step-Down housing facility approved by the Board of Supervisors two years ago has not been constructed. Currently, without the approved facility, there is inadequate local Step-Down housing for Sempervirens patients. This is a critical community-wide issue. (R17)

Related Recommendations (1)

R17: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsHumboldt County Department of Health & Human Services ensure implementation of step-down housing for patients being discharged from Sempervirens by June 30, 2023. (F22)

F23: The Mobile Response Team (MRT) is a key component of evaluating individuals in mental health crises and assessing admittance to Sempervirens from our local hospitals. This unit requires 24/7/365 staff coverage. (R18)

Related Recommendations (1)

R18: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsHumboldt County Department of Health & Human Services provide the necessary staff, either through increased recruitment efforts or staff transfers, to expand Mobile Response Team (MRT) staffing to around-the-clock, effective by December 31, 2022. (F23)

F24: Humboldt County is in the process of completinga Facilities Master Plan to guide construction of new County Facilities. (R19)

Related Recommendations (1)

R19: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors complete and approve the Countywide Facilities Master Plan, effective by December 31, 2022. (F24)

F25: Our community deserves access to an updated and state of the art facility that treats mental health conditions. (R20)

Related Recommendations (1)

R20: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors move forward immediately with the recommendation of the 2019-2020 Civil Grand Jury to replace Sempervirens Psychiatric Facility with a larger, modern facility designed to accommodate both adults and juveniles. (F25)

F26: The placement of an exposed outside generator that provides power to Sempervirens during electrical outages is unsecured. (R21) 23

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R21: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsHumboldt County Department of Health & Human Services authorize construction of a protective barrier for the Sempervirens outdoor generator to prevent potential vandalism and assure electricity to the building in the event of an electrical outage, effective by December 31, 2022. (F26) HUMBOLDT COUNTY ADULT PROBATION SERVICES AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS RESOURCE CENTER The 2021-2022 Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) visited Humboldt County Adult Probation Services. In addition to inspecting the premises, the Grand Jury wished to better understand how our County has fared since implementation of AB109 (California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011). This report addresses both topics. The Facilities Both the Community Corrections Resource Center and the separately housed Adult Probation Services department appear welcoming to the public as well as adult offenders. There are multiple, readily accessible bulletin boards throughout both buildings that provide a variety of resources for jobs and potential housing, as well as inspirational reminders and tips for rehabilitation efforts. Although some of the individual counseling offices are in close proximity to public hallways, white noise machines are provided to enhance privacy. The restrooms are ADA compliant. The Fire Department inspects the buildings annually. Understanding the Impact of AB109 24 AB109 shifted populations of offenders with higher levels of criminal sophistication, from State prisons and the State parole system, to the County level. This law came about to address the overcrowding of California State prisons and is often referred to as “public safety realignment.” The law created a post-release community supervision population of inmates released from State prison to County probation (instead of state parole). It also shifted incarceration responsibilities for non-serious, non-violent, non-sex offense prison sentences (3Ns) from the State prison system to the County jail system. The majority of 3N inmates are sentenced to a period of mandatory supervision monitored by Humboldt County Adult Probation Services. Probation refers to the sentence granted to the offender by a judge, under which the offender remains out of prison under the supervision of an Adult Deputy Probation Officer (DPO), and must follow the rules set by the court. Adult Probation Services makes a sentencing report based on a risk assessment of the offender. If the offender receives probation, that probation is served in Humboldt County and can involve no jail time in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility or a split sentence of jail time and probation. If the offender violates probation, they may be sent to a prison facility. The Grand Jury learned that Adult Probation Services reports to the Superior Court for legal matters and the Board of Supervisors for its budget. The multi-agency Community Corrections Partnership (established by Senate Bill 678 CaliforniaCommunity Corrections Performance Incentive Act of 2009) serves as an advisory committee, as does the Executive Committee (established by AB 109 in 2011). There are 35 staff (including supervisors) in Adult Probation Services. The Juvenile Probation Department has 14 staff including supervisors. The Adult Deputy Probation Officers are considered peace officers and have the option to receive the training required to become armed officers. To be considered for the role of Deputy Probation Officer, a person must pass a number of screening tests including background checks, voice stress analysis, a psychological evaluation, and a physical evaluation, before being sworn in by a judge. The position requires a combination of law enforcement and therapeutic skills, as a great deal of responsibility for providing cognitive behavior therapies has been placed on the Deputy Probation Officers. During the first year, inductees attend a 5 ½ week core course (with some components provided at College of the Redwoods Police Academy), 1-2 weeks of firearms training and a mandatory 40 hours of additional work-related education per year. There is a week of training in cognitive behavioral therapies (with updates every three months); a three-day training in motivational interviewing (with refreshers every other year); and ongoing training in the identification of appropriate needs-based medications for probationers. There are two distinct Deputy Probation Officer responsibilities: 1) needs assessments and case plans for each offender on probation; 2) home checks to ensure probationer compliance with rules set by the court. Humboldt County Adult Probation Services has recently restructured so that there are two officers assigned to each offender. The officer most skilled in developing needs assessments and case plans takes on those office assignments and the officer most skilled and comfortable in the field takes on the home check duties. Needs Assessment and Case Plans Adult Probation Services designates a risk level to each offender using a risk assessment tool before developing case plans and assigning caseloads. Every effort is made to keep these assigned caseloads balanced among Probation Officers in order to prevent undue workload and potential stress. High-risk offenders require more monitoring than intervention tools. Low-risk offenders who made a one-time mistake benefit from less monitoring. The moderate risk offenders benefit from intervention and rehabilitation efforts. Humboldt County Adult Probation Services uses evidence-based practices developed by the University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute to keep probationers on track and modify their behavior. These practices, called Effective Practices in Community Supervision (the EPICS model), use cognitive and behavioral strategies to change moderate and high-risk offender behavior, and have proven very successful. The department has benefited from state incentive funding for client services because of their success in supervising felony probationers. Pre-COVID-19, Adult Probation Services had a 75 percent success rate. During COVID-19, the state’s success metrics were altered somewhat and Adult Probation Services is realizing a 90 percent success rate. Programs that Adult Probation Services provide include life skills, behavioral and mental health counseling, and referrals to substance treatment programs as needed. Public Health nurses are available to coordinate substance abuse treatment and other probationer medication needs. A multi-disciplinary team holds weekly meetings designed to get probationer buy-in to apply for jobs. Incentive funds are also slated for housing (Next Step Program) in partnership with the Arcata House Partnership. Home Checks Adult Probation Services has taken multiple steps to ensure the safety of the Deputy Probation Officer while out on home checks: ● The University of Cincinnati caseload standard is in place. This standard identifies the number of high-risk, moderate-risk, and low-risk offenders recommended for supervision per Deputy Probation Officer. ● Probation officers who have received firearms training are armed. ● Probation officers may elect to go on home visits in teams and may coordinate visits with law enforcement. ● Officers are provided with bullet-proof vests, handheld radios (these will be digital in the near future) and car radios. ● Over the last 18 months, due to COVID-19, 90 percent of the home visits are “Knock and Talk” that take place on the front porch of the offender’s residence. The Grand Jury commends Adult Probation Services. Because of their efforts, offenders have an opportunity for intervention, rehabilitation and a fresh start. That, in turn, ensures a safer community for all of us. The Grand Jury suggests an analysis of County expenditures related to the significant initial and ongoing training required for each Probation Officer. These costs should be considered when establishing compensation and benefits. Retention of these well- trained employees would increase department morale and prove less costly than replacing them. JUVENILE HALL Humboldt County’s new juvenile hall facility was completed in 2021. The building project first broke ground in 2017. Contractor issues, weather delays and the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant interruptions along the way. The total project cost was 15.75 million dollars. The new facility is located a block west of the General Hospital Campus in Eureka close to the original Juvenile Hall, which was built in 1970. In the new facility, there are 30 beds split into 12 double occupancy rooms and six single occupancy rooms for the average daily population of 12 youths. Juvenile Hall is a co-ed facility. Each youth is assigned their own sleeping room when they arrive. Youth are assigned sleeping rooms based on classification factors such as their behavior, safety needs, and history in Juvenile Hall. Staff escort youth to their sleeping rooms to ensure they are being placed in the correct room. All youth participate in program and recreation activities together under staff supervision. Single bed sleeping rooms are approximately 79 sq ft. and double bed sleeping rooms are approximately 106 sq ft. There are two classrooms for Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) teachers and support staff. The HCOE provides the educational component with a curriculum offering 7th-12th grade coursework leading to a high school diploma. Students complete academic assessments and teachers create an individual learning plan. Students receive weekly feedback and progress reviews. Staff includes a credentialed teacher, an instructional aide, and a resource specialist teacher. Additional education staff provide programming in the classroom that includes technology courses, alcohol and other drug education, vocational training, reproductive health and guest speakers. Developmental programs for youth include Independent Living Skills (ILS) facilitated by a Probation Officer. Skill streaming and anger control groups are also led by probation staff. A large multipurpose room provides game tables, areas for projects and a projector and screen for movie nights. A secured and covered outdoor recreational area includes a basketball court, volleyball court, playing fields and a garden plot. Juvenile Hall is required to have a staff person in any area of the facility where youth are present. Staff utilize closed circuit TV and also complete safety checks at least every 15 minutes when youth are in their sleeping rooms. Upon admittance, all youth receive a medical screening and a behavioral health assessment. Medical services are contracted through Wellpath. The state-of-the-art kitchen provides breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a healthy snack at night, while accommodating special or religious diets. Youth are held in Juvenile Hall on a predisposition or post-disposition status. The average length of stay for youth in a pre-disposition status is 38 days. Youth in post-disposition status, who have had a disposition before the Court and who are incarcerated at Juvenile Hall, have an average length of stay of 121 days. Youth may be held until age 23 on juvenile matters. Youth ordered to the Secure Youth Treatment Program can potentially be held until age 25. If youth violate the terms of their court orders, they can be found in violation of probation and returned to Juvenile 27 Hall. Between July 2020 and June 2021, about half the youth in custody entered Juvenile Hall for the first time. About 33 percent of those first entry youth returned once again in that time period and approximately 15 percent more have returned since June 2021. Violent offenses and property offenses are leading types of felonies for which California youth are arrested. Most of the youth booked into Juvenile Hall are not arrested for drug-related offenses. However, many have some level of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) that frequently contributes to what led them to the juvenile justice system. The Adolescent Treatment Program (ATP) delivers substance use disorder services to youth in custody and adolescents in the community. The Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) provides two mental health clinicians and two mental health case managers who work onsite Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2020/2021 Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) stated that DHHS had hired uncertified SUD counselors to work with Juvenile Hall youth, and only 33 percent had completed counselor certification requirements. The present Grand Jury investigated this issue and we noted progress. The SUD counselor who provides services in Juvenile Hall holds the highest attainable certification in this job classification. The ATP is currently staffed with two certified substance use disorder counselors and one trainee who is preparing for the credentialing exam. SUD counselors have received training in Evidence Based Practices and are required to complete mandatory training to maintain certification. When a youth is first arrested, a juvenile correction officer contacts the parent(s) or guardian as part of the booking process. The arrest information is forwarded to the juvenile probation officer who contacts parents to begin an investigation and informs them of the detention hearing date and time. This is 24 to 72 hours based on the offense. Detention may be removed and the youth placed on home supervision. Basic probation contact standards with parents are at minimum one face-to-face contact per month. The frequency increases as the child and family team meetings, wrap-around meetings, court investigation meetings and court hearings are included. In addition, Probation staff are readily available to parents. Juvenile probation is inherently about serving the youth and the entire family system as the young person prepares for adulthood. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Juvenile Work Service (JAWS) program was successful in providing an alternative to detention options and a platform for youth attempting to satisfy court- ordered community service hours. Since the pandemic began, the JAWS program has been placed on hold to lessen the chance of exposure for youth. A typical day for youth at Juvenile Hall consists of the following: At 7 a.m., youth clean their rooms and perform other general duties around the facility. They eat breakfast and attend school from 8:30 a.m. until 2:10 p.m. with a lunch period in-between. After school, youth attend various behavioral health programs such as Anger Replacement Training (ART), Substance Use Disorder (SUD) groups and/or role playing difficult situations they may face after release. They are escorted outside for recreation time. Dinner is served at 4 p.m. and following that, there are various programming opportunities which may include groups facilitated by Project Rebound, Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Boys 2 Men, Ink People, and several other community-based organizations. After evening programming ends, 28 youth may participate in free-time activities. Family visits occur during evening hours. Youth are generally secured in their sleeping rooms by 10:00 p.m. each night. When the Grand Jury conducted an on-site visit, we met personally with two of the youth detainees who had spent time in the old Juvenile Hall. Both had positive comments on the new facility and staff. Both liked the new surveillance cameras, saying that the cameras helped create a much calmer atmosphere in the building. The detainees felt safe and secure. They liked their education, the medical staff, and the additional TVs. They were very appreciative of the outside recreation area, and both expressed appreciation for the quality of the food. On the negative side, the shortage of officer staff was noted, and with that shortage, our interviewees felt that less free time outside of their room was provided. The Grand Jury spoke to Juvenile Hall management about staffing issues. Recruiting qualified staff has become increasingly difficult due to the low wages for juvenile corrections officers. The Grand Jury finds this disparity will need to be addressed in order to recruit and retain qualified staff at Juvenile Hall. The importance of a qualified and fully staffed Juvenile Hall is key to the safety and progress of youth and reflects the entire community’s commitment to our youth. The Grand Jury is tasked with the inspection of the Juvenile Hall facility. The larger issue for youth is the prevention of the first admission into Juvenile Hall and the risk of subsequent readmissions. EEL RIVER CONSERVATION CAMP The Eel River Conservation Camp (CC#31) was activated February 2, 1967. The Camp is jointly operated by the California Department of Forestry (Cal-Fire) and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The primary mission of the camp is to provide inmate fire crews for fire suppression of wildland fires during the summer and fall fire seasons. Inmate hand crews also provide a work force for floods, conservation projects and community services. It is estimated through the emergency response to fires, floods, and project work, CC#31 provides cost avoidance in excess of a million dollars per year to the taxpayer of California. Noteworthy projects include extensive work at Southern Humboldt Unified School District, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Shelter Cove Resort Improvement District (RID), Humboldt County Roads, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Local Community Service District. The inmate crews also provide the numerous Memorial Grove signs posted in State Parks and Avenue of the Giants. CC#31 comprises 11 California Department of Correctional and Rehabilitation and 14 California Department of Forestry staff members. There are currently 28 inmates at the facility, down from 51 in 2021. CC#31 has a capacity for 120 inmates. 13 of the current population are FireFighters that make up one crew. To become a FireFighter each inmate must pass a medical evaluation and complete 80 hours of hand crew training. Then they must complete an additional 247-hour training to become an Engine/Structure Fire member. The Engine/Structure Fire crew’s primary task is fighting wildland fires during the summer and fall fire seasons. Other inmates at CC#31 have duties such as kitchen staff, laundry staff, mechanics and carpentry. CC#31 hosts a variety of programs in conjunction with local volunteers: 29 ● Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous meetings ● Faith-based services ● Department of Motor Vehicles Pre-Release California I.D. and Driver’s License program ● Hobby Craft program ● Camp Gardening Project ● Music Appreciation Program Unfortunately, inmate enrollment at the camp has been negatively impacted by AB-109 (California Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011), Proposition 47 (The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act of 2014), and Proposition 57 (Parole forNon-Violent Criminals 2016). Inmates with records for arson, violence, rape, or murder are not eligible to be in the Conservation Camp program. The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury inspected the facilities and found them well maintained and well managed. Inmates had painted several murals in the dining area reflecting the work that they do. The kitchen and dining facility had recently been replaced and an air-conditioning unit had been installed to replace the swamp cooler. Other facilities at CC#31 still use swamp coolers. The sleeping facilities were clean, even with the fire crew having just returned from supporting a fire in another county. The 160 acres of athletic fields and emergency base camp grounds were mowed and trimmed should there be an immediate need for the facility to be used as a base camp. GENERAL FACILITIES INSPECTIONS The following are Findings from multiple facilities inspected by the Humboldt Civil Grand Jury and rather than identify these items in each facility we are noting them here to avoid repetition.

F27: Many county facilities have various volunteergroups and individual volunteers that support the efforts of the County staff. (R22)

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R22: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors issue an official Proclamation of Support and Appreciation for these volunteers. (F27)

F28: Volunteer recruitment may be increased through additional County promotional efforts. (R23)

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R23: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthe Board of Supervisors promote volunteer recruitment on existing County websites, County printed advertisements and at Board of Supervisor meetings. (F28)

F29: Salary ranges and ceilings for County positionsdo not provide incentive to recruit and retain dedicated and qualified staff. Positions remain unfilled and require upgraded salary incentives. (R24)

Related Recommendations (1)

R24: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat Humboldt County Human Resources identify and review salary ranges and ceilings for County staff on an ongoing basis beginning November 30, 2022. (F29)

F30: Many of the County facilities lack preventive maintenance which will eventually result in emergency repair at additional cost. The Grand Jury noted peeling paint, ceiling leaks, deteriorating stairways and damaged ceiling tiles at several facilities. Also noted in selected facilities throughout the inspections were partially demolished areas in need of repair, inoperable lighting in rooms and janitorial services that were not scheduled on a regular basis. (R25)

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R25: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommendsthat the Board of Supervisors provide sufficient funding to allow preventive maintenance to be in place with the next fiscal year budget. (F30)

May 23, 2022 — The Sea Also Rises

20 pages 9 findings 4 recommendations

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Findings & Recommendations 9 findings

F1: There is significant public interest in when and how Sea Level Rise (SLR) will impact life around Humboldt Bay.

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R1: The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors, the City Councils of both Arcata and Eureka, and the Board of Commissioners of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District (Harbor District) each meet and vote to affirm a commitment to adapting to and mitigating the adverse effects of Sea Level Rise, and direct their staffs to make this commitment a priority in their planning efforts. These individual meetings and commitments should occur by September 30, 2022. (F1, F5, F9) 14

R4: Once the Humboldt Bay SLR Steering Committee determines the best regional approach to implement, the Civil Grand Jury recommends the regional organization chosen be formed by July 1, 2024 and include the following stated goals: a) seek input from all major stakeholders including, but not limited to, local and county agencies, agriculture, fishermen, aquaculture, Tribal groups, owners and occupants of threatened land, regulatory agencies, environmental groups, academia, SLR consultants, PG&E, and CalTrans; (F1, F6) b) research and aggressively seek sources of SLR mitigation funding by State, Federal, and Public programs; (F4) c) share the operating costs (salaries and office expenses) associated with its efforts; (F3) d) triage the order in which mitigation/adaptation actions can be implemented; (F5, F8) e) analyze the low-lying communities of King Salmon, Fields Landing and Fairhaven/Finntown and develop a planned retreat process for these threatened areas or find ways to successfully save them; (F5, F9) f) solicit definitive input from regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over threatened areas so that implementation of mitigation/adaptation actions are not delayed by the permitting process; (F6, F7) . g) hold semi-annual public presentations (also available on Zoom) of the organization’s activities; (F1) and h) start mitigation projects on or before July 1, 2025. (F5) 15

F2: The Grand Jury agrees with the coastal professionals who deal with SLR mitigation and adaptation planning who are nearly unanimous (95%) in the belief that all entities must collaborate to successfully find solutions to the adverse effects SLR poses to the infrastructure and communities surrounding Humboldt Bay. 13

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R3: The Grand Jury recommends the Humboldt Bay SLR Steering Committee direct the implementation of a regional SLR coordination entity based on the conclusions and recommendations in the Humboldt Bay Sea Level Rise Regional Planning Feasibility Study. The recommended approach shall be selected no later than July 1, 2023. (F2)

F3: Any SLR adaptation and mitigation regional planning group will incur ongoing costs in salaries, benefits, and overhead that will require the political entities surrounding Humboldt Bay to agree to cost sharing.

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F4: The costs associated with SLR mitigation efforts will be significant and will require the diligent pursuit of Federal, State, and Public funding sources.

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F5: The decade of studies that defined the areas and physical assets vulnerable to SLR around Humboldt Bay by mid-century clearly indicate there is an urgency to start developing and implementing solutions.

Related Recommendations (3)

R2: The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors along with elected officials from Arcata, Eureka, and the Harbor District form a Humboldt Bay SLR Steering Committee composed of senior members from each entity who have decision-making authority. This committee should be formed no later than December 1, 2022. (F5)

F6: All SLR collaboration efforts will benefit by including the permitting agencies who have the final decision on whether projects may proceed.

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F7: Successful SLR mitigation efforts will benefit from the full support of our local California State Senator and Assembly Member.

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F8: Former industrial and other contaminated sites around the Bay are susceptible to SLR. As such, SLR could push the contamination into wetlands, creeks, and even Humboldt Bay itself, making it harder to mitigate and clean up.

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F9: Research studies of SLR impacts around Humboldt Bay indicate that if no action is taken by 2050, monthly maximum high tides will overtop bay barriers and flood existing infrastructure, wetlands and low lying communities.

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May 17, 2022 — Collaborative Community Quest “... There is no resource that is more vital to the existence and integrity of Indian

13 pages 8 findings 4 recommendations

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Findings & Recommendations 8 findings

F1: Although tribal community representatives engage with Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services’ Child Welfare Services (DHHS-CWS), tribal members and compliance monitors have expressed dissatisfaction with the process and outcomes of engagement.

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R1: Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors authorize the creation of an independent Office of Tribal Affairs by January 1, 2023. This office will advise all County departments and the Board of Supervisors on matters of importance to tribal communities and Native Americans wherever they live in Humboldt County and will encourage collaboration with all Humboldt County governmental entities. (F1, F2, F3)

F2: Although DHHS-CWS has established an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) program, Humboldt County does not have a specified Office of Tribal Affairs to address matters of importance to the County’s sovereign nations including child protection and extending to justice- related issues as well as cultural protocols and social services.

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F3: Humboldt County does not have a specified Office of Tribal Affairs to promote County- Tribal partnerships facilitating collaboration through coordination of intergovernmental services 11 while respecting tribal sovereignty.

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F4: DHHS-CWS created a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) program which provides needed oversight of Child Welfare Services.

F5: The pandemic slowed efforts to fully meet the requirements of the Stipulated Final Judgment. However, DHHS-CWS has maintained necessary levels of critical care and developed new programs and resources.

F6: DHHS-CWS has moved into a hybrid work model by which employees work in the office and from home. Advantages include video conferencing for training opportunities, family team meetings and information-sharing.

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R2: Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that by Oct. 1, 2022, the Board of Supervisors formally support the continuance of a hybrid work model in County departments by which employees are able to work in the office and from home. (F6)

F7: Community Task Force meetings have become dominated by DHHS-CWS rather than serving as “community” collaboration. These meetings do not provide for the variety of input intended by the Stipulated Final Judgment.

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R3: Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends DHHS-CWS share the responsibility for Community Task Force agendas and discussion topics with all stakeholders on a rotating basis beginning with its next quarterly meeting in September 2022. (F7)

F8: The Child Protection Reporting Guide (CPRG) is the primary purpose of the Community Task Force; however, it is currently in draft form and is not available to the general public. DHHS-CWS has created a Request For Proposals (RFP) whereby not the County but an outside organization will be responsible for promoting community awareness and access to this guide.

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R4: Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends two versions of the Child Protection Reporting Guide be made available in both print and on-line; one for mandated reporters familiar with the terminology and another version with language understandable to the general public. 12 (F8)

May 02, 2022 — Preface The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury conducted an investigation of Humboldt County's financial management and

25 pages 17 findings 19 recommendations

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Findings & Recommendations 17 findings

F1: The Office of the Auditor-Controller lacks institutional knowledge due to staff turnover and with outdated written policies and procedures in place; therefore, staff in the Auditor-Controller’s office interpret procedures on a case-by-case basis, without certainty that their interpretation is correct. (R1, R3)

Related Recommendations (2)

R1: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller develop and maintain an accessible (and regularly updated) written and comprehensive operations policy and procedures manual that is available to current staff and new-hires. The Grand Jury recommends a draft manual be completed by Dec. 31, 2022, and fully implemented by July 1, 2023. (F1, F2, F4, F14)

R3: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller, in cooperation with financial managers from County departments, develop an agreed-upon written process for recommending, implementing, and giving notice of changes to financial procedures. This should be completed by Oct. 1, 2022. (F1, F4, F10, F11, F14)

F2: To address the lack of written procedures, the Auditor-Controller introduced several new operating strategies that improved Humboldt County fiscal operations into the future.

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R4: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller provide accessible, written policies and procedures to County departments, school and special districts and other organizations for which financial services are provided. These will clearly state terminology and methods required by the Auditor-Controller. The Grand Jury recommends this be completed by Dec. 31, 2022, as part of the policies and procedures manual development. (F2, F4, F10, F11, F14)

R8: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors establish an Advisory Committee to include the County Administrative Officer, Auditor- Controller and Board appointees of no less than three other elected officers or department heads. This committee may include a facilitator to help enable the transfer of institutional 22 knowledge, set goals and build on complementary strengths. The Grand Jury recommends this committee be established by Oct. 1, 2022. (F2, F4, F5, F6)

F3: The Auditor-Controller did not submit a proposed budget to the County Administrative Office for Fiscal Years 2020/2021, 2021/2022, or 2022/2023 where, per established procedures, staffing requests are to be made. (R5, R6)

Related Recommendations (2)

R5: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller follow established procedures by submitting an annual budget proposal to the County Administrative Office for Fiscal Year 2022/2023, and for each subsequent fiscal year. (F3, F6)

R6: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that with the Fiscal Year 2022/2023 budget request, the Auditor-Controller submit a plan to meet operational requirements, including staffing requirements needed to achieve the plan's goal. When the budget request is approved, the plan, which will reduce the need for the County to hire consultants, should be implemented by June 30, 2023. (F3, F6)

F4: The Auditor-Controller and County departments have different interpretations of fiscal policies; therefore, they utilize different operational reporting structures and technology resulting in inefficient operations and delayed budget and audit reporting. (R1, R2, R3, R4)

Related Recommendations (5)

R2: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that when the policy and procedures manual is adopted, the following specific items be included: a) When procedures are updated, give advanced written notification to all County departments of all changes, including chart of account object lines. b) Restrict changes to the chart of accounts to the first day of a fiscal year. (F4, F10, F11, F14)

F5: The Board of Supervisors is responsible for the administration and management of the County’s business practices; however, the Supervisors did not respond in an effective manner to information provided to them regarding dysfunction on many levels between the County Administrative Officer, Auditor-Controller, other elected officials, and department directors. (R7, R8, R9, R10)

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R7: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that when notified of conflicts between elected and appointed officials, the Board of Supervisors act promptly to investigate and take necessary actions. (F5)

R10: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the County Administrative Officer and the Auditor-Controller establish effective communications in person, by telephone and by email, actively seeking mutual agreements for the general welfare of the County. (F5, F6)

F6: Humboldt County Code, Sec. 241-6(a) requires the County Administrative Officer and the Auditor-Controller to cooperate in the preparation of the County’s annual budget. There is a general obligation that the two offices collaborate to ensure fiscal responsibility; however, this is being obstructed by a breakdown of trust and communications between the two offices. (R5, R6, R8)

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F7: With transactions of more than $5 million per day by the Treasurer-Tax Collector, failure to reconcile cash and investment accounts creates a general lack of transparency and possible General Ledger posting errors. These include bank transactions or debits and credits to funds overseen by the Treasurer-Tax Collector and the Auditor-Controller, which may be over or understated, thereby compromising the integrity of financial statements. (R11)

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R11: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller and Treasurer-Tax Collector begin reconciling cash and investment accounts for which they are responsible no later than the last day of each month for the preceding month as required by Government Code §26905. The Grand Jury recommends this commence at the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2022. (F7)

F8: The Auditor-Controller notified the Treasurer-Tax Collector that a “certificate of the auditor” would no longer be provided as a receipt for deposits to the Treasury but did not establish an alternative control procedure as provided by statute and recommended by the Treasurer-Tax Collector. (R12) 20

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R12: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller either reinstate issuing “certificates of the auditor” or reach an agreement with the Treasurer- Tax Collector for an alternative control procedure as directed by Government Code §27008. The Grand Jury recommends this commence at the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2022. (F8)

F9: The Auditor-Controller did not file financial reports and audits on time as required by the Federal Government and the State of California in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, causing loss of substantial public funds to the County, schools and special districts, and putting past, current, and future funds at risk. (R13, R14)

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R9: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Advisory Committee convene on a regularly scheduled monthly basis or more frequently whenever a majority of the members deems it desirable or necessary. Effective upon establishment of the committee. (F5, R8)

R13: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller file all required financial reports and audits by their due dates, beginning with the next required report. (F9, F13)

F10: The Auditor-Controller made changes to the chart of accounts and object lines resulting in deletion of data leading to the inability for County programs to make claims for reimbursements. (R2, R3, R4)

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F11: Department financial managers have reported changes by the Auditor-Controller to financial procedures made without timely notification or consultation are disruptive to their departments. (R2, R3, R4)

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F12: Departments, other than that of the Auditor-Controller, are not able to utilize Finance Enterprise workflow modules to submit journal entries, invoices and accounts receivable as well as run reports. This requires information to be entered into spreadsheets and transmitted to the Auditor-Controller’s office, where staff in that office, in a duplication of effort, enters the same information into Finance Enterprise. (R15)

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R15: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller provide training to fiscal staff in all County departments to properly use the workflow modules of Finance Enterprise and authorize trained employees to use those modules to submit journal entries, invoices and accounts receivable as well as run reports. This will reduce redundancy on a countywide basis. Training to be completed and Finance Enterprise access permission to be given by Dec. 31, 2022. (F12)

F13: The County paid unnecessary credit card interest; lost bank interest; paid for consultants to assist with finances and other professional or personnel services; faced delays in receiving funds; paid fines and late fees; and missed opportunities to secure grants. These losses were the results of payments or required reports not submitted on time by the Auditor-Controller. (R13, R14)

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R13: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller file all required financial reports and audits by their due dates, beginning with the next required report. (F9, F13)

F14: The County’s financial procedures are decentralized in that different processes for accounting are used by different departments, including the use of spreadsheets and some use of paper timecards. (R1, R2, R3, R4, R16)

Related Recommendations (6)

R14: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends if the Auditor-Controller anticipates a required financial report or audit cannot be filed on time, the Board of Supervisors be notified and assistance be requested from the County Administrative Officer, and if needed, from the Treasurer-Tax Collector, impacted departments or agencies, and the State Controller’s Office. (F9, F13, R13)

R16: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors exercise supervision over the accounting forms and methods of keeping the accounts that are under their control by directing the Auditor-Controller to standardize the accounting methods used throughout County government. These forms and methods should be developed by Dec. 31, 2022, and fully implemented by July 1, 2023. (F14) 23

F15: Adjustments or corrections to financial items in the accounting system, called journal entries, were not posted in a timely manner by the Auditor-Controller resulting in County departments not having accurate information to determine current budget funds and bank balances. (R17)

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R17: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller post all journal entries no later than 30 days from the date they were submitted. (F15)

F16: The Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 21-128 affirming, unless otherwise authorized by law, all interest on monies deposited with the County belongs to and shall be paid quarterly into the General Fund and the Auditor-Controller is authorized and directed to act in compliance with the resolution and Government Code section 53647. (R18)

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R18: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Auditor-Controller comply with the Board of Supervisors’ Resolution 21-128. (F16)

F17: The County Administrative Officer is responsible for supervising County business affairs, as charged by the Board of Supervisors, specifically including, supervising all departments for whom the Board adopts an annual budget. (R19) 21

Additional Recommendations 1

Not linked to specific findings.

R19: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the County Administrative Officer comply with the County Code requirement of supervising all County departments by requiring all departments to submit financial documents to the Auditor-Controller within the timeframe and in the manner necessary to meet established reporting and filing deadlines.

April 12, 2022 — Permitted (eventually) a Review of the Cannabis Cultivation Permitting Process in Humboldt County

9 pages 7 findings 7 recommendations

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Findings & Recommendations 7 findings

F1: The intake of applications for cannabis cultivation is done at the Planning and Building Department by a counter team of six full time employees assigned on a rotating basis to enter the application information into the Accela system. (R1)

Related Recommendations (1)

R1: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that for Fiscal Year 2022- 2023, the Board of Supervisors approve sufficient funding for the Planning and Building Department to upgrade the Accela system so that applicants can complete the application, including payment, on-line. This will reduce the need for applicants to come into the Planning and Building office. (F1, F2)

F2: The Accela software cannot accept credit card payments, thus an applicant cannot utilize the online application process. (R1)

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F3: The Board of Supervisors funded the purchase of the Accela software for the Planning and Building Department to replace the former OnTrack permit management system. Accela lacks completeness in that the Public Works Department is limited to responding to Planning & Building Department referrals. (R2, R3)

Related Recommendations (2)

R2: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the Public Works Department determine the funding needed and submit a budget request to build out Accela modules for Planning and Building Department referrals for; 1) encroachment permitting; 2) legal document review; 3) map review; 4) drainage fee calculator; 5) encroachment violation and tracking; 6) reporting tools for each module; and/or other modules determined to be necessary. (F3)

R3: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the Board of Supervisors approve sufficient funding for the Public Works Department to 7 fully implement Accela to a level which enables Public Works to meet its specific needs. (F3)

F4: Through the Accela Citizen Access portal, there is a cumbersome process for the public to access and view the status of all permit applications, including cannabis. (R4)

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R4: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that in Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the Planning and Building Department provide in the Citizen Access Portal specific instructions for the general public to search a location without creating an account in Accela or the need to contact the Planning and Building staff. (F4)

F5: The State will not issue new provisional cannabis licenses after June 30, 2022. Thereafter, applicants must meet all requirements of State regulations for the issuance of a license. Holders of a provisional license will be allowed to continue in operations until final resolution after which the County will be notified. (R5)

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R5: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that the Planning and Building Department act on all County interim cannabis permits upon receiving notice of approval or denial of the State provisional license. (F5)

F6: As of January 2022, there were over 900 pending cannabis permits, many of which are amendments to existing permits. (R6)

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R6: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that for applications pending more than 30 days, the Planning and Building Department notify applicants of the corrective actions required for approval. (F6)

F7: Within the Public Works Department, as part of the cannabis permitting process, applicants are allowed to “self-certify” Category 4 roadways, however, self-certification is not always verified. (R7)

Related Recommendations (1)

R7: The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that by December 31, 2022, as an essential part of the cannabis permitting process, actual verification that a roadway meets Category 4 requirements should be performed by Public Works employees. (F7)