Imperial County Grand Jury
2008-2009
Findings & Recommendations
9 findings
F1:
The District applied for funds made available through the Physical Education Teacher Incentive Program for hiring Physical Education teachers for grades K-8. This application was approved for Desert Gardens and McKinley Schools, each to receive $35,000 annually.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
That bond funds earmarked for the improvement of the health of students of lower economic status were used to purchase a portable stage, and that the stage is a "white elephant", underutilized and currently in storage.
F2:
The District received the first allocation of these funds this year ($70,000).
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
That the District received a continuing grant of $70,000 per year for the purpose of hiring Physical Education teachers, and that no teachers have been hired although this is the third year of the grant.
F3:
The District realizes that this is not enough money to hire a full-time P.E. teacher and therefore plans to wait for the next $70,000 to be allocated and then hire a teacher for the 2009-2010 school year.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The IID needs to be added to the matrix for investigations of its departments due to its financial impact on the County every year.
F4:
The District expressed concern about the continuing availability of the funds because of the current economic crisis of the State, and therefore decided to use caution in proceding with the hiring of a teacher under this program. CONCLUSIONS The Civil Grand Jury finds no evidence of misuse of public funds in either the purchase of the stage or in the non-employment of a Physical Education teacher. The QZAB grant specifically allows purchase of equipment such as the stage. Waiting to hire a P.E. teacher until sufficient funds have been received is an allowable prerogative of the District.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The Board of Supervisors should be investigated every two years because of the length of terms of the elected board.
F5:
Computer should have ability to scan, fax, email, interconnect with printer, and conference with individuals outside the county and record.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
Computer should have ability to scan, fax, email, interconnect with printer, and conference with individuals outside the county and record.
F6:
Budget should be increased to $50,000 to insure investigations are complete and encompassing.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
Budget should be increased to $50,000 to insure investigations are complete and encompassing.
F7:
A phone should be added to the Grand Jury Room to allow for phone conferences.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7:
A phone should be added to the Grand Jury Room to allow for phone conferences.
R07-08:
terms. Information was provided on documentation needed, contact information, overview of updated and comprehensive grand jury procedural manual and procedures for contacting court staff. In addition to the initial orientation session, Court staff provided orientation on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis. Offer seminar training to all interested – This recommendation is fully 3) implemented. During the 06-07 and 07-08 grand jury terms, every grand juror was allowed to attend the Grand Juror Statewide training. Due to the unavailability of some grand jurors and the limited sessions provided by the California Grand Juror Association, full participation was not possible. Provide a permanent meeting room – The recommendation will not be 4) implemented because it is not reasonable. While the Court has made every effort to provide an adequate meeting space for the grand jury and has recently moved the 07-08 grand jury to a new larger area within a vacated county office located in the basement of the El Centro Courthouse, the County of Imperial is the only authorized entity to provide adequate court facilities. Due to chronic shortage of court space, the Court can not donate any space for civil grand jury operations. Train and cross train personnel – This recommendation has been 5) implemented. The Jury Commissioner's Office currently has staff fully trained and cross-trained to work with the Grand Jury and carry out the duties contracted to by the County. Appropriate levels of Supervisory and Management staff oversee the grand jury expenses and operations. Respectfully yours, Jose Octavio Guillen, Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Cc: Chair of the Board Robertta Burns Ralph Cordova California Rule of Court-10.810 Function 2. Jury Services Costs reported in this function are Juror expenses of per diem fees and mileage Meals and lodging for sequestered jurors Salaries, wages, and benefits of jury commissioner and jury services staff (including selection of grand jury) Contractual jury services Jury-related office expenses (other than information technology) Jury-related communications, including "on call" services Costs not reported in this function include
F8:
A digital camera should be available for use in investigations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8:
A digital camera should be available for use in investigations.
F9:
An email account should be set up with complaint forms so that the public can directly communicate directly with the Grand Jury. Superior Court of California County of Imperial Executive Office of the Court 939 West Main Street • El Centro, CA 92243 Telephone 760-482-4374 ♦ Fax 760-337-7742 JOSÉ OCTAVIO GUILLÉN Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Honorable Jeffrey B. Jones, Presiding Judge 939 Main Street El Centro, CA 92243 Subject: Response to Grand Jury Investigation 2006-07 While the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Civil Grand Jury do not include the auditing of Court Operations, within the meaning of Penal Code Section 914.1, The Office of the Jury Commissioner for the Superior Court is submitting responses in accordance with Penal Code section 933.05 in its capacity as contractor for the County of Imperial for the limited purposes of civil grand jury expenses and operations, considered a county-funded program, pursuant to California Rule of Court 10.810(b)(6). Responses to findings: Continue Email Communication – This recommendation has been fully 1) implemented. Assigned Court staff has set up an internal process for communicating via the e-mail system with the Foreperson and other designated officers of the grand jury on expenditures and administrative matters. Conduct an informative orientation session - This recommendation 2) has been implemented. The Court conducted an orientation session with all the members present at the first grand jury meeting for the 06-07 and 07-08 terms. Information was provided on documentation needed, contact information, overview of updated and comprehensive grand jury procedural manual and procedures for contacting court staff. In addition to the initial orientation session, Court staff provided orientation on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis. Offer seminar training to all interested – This recommendation is fully 3) implemented. During the 06-07 and 07-08 grand jury terms, every grand juror was allowed to attend the Grand Juror Statewide training. Due to the unavailability of some grand jurors and the limited sessions provided by the California Grand Juror Association, full participation was not possible. Provide a permanent meeting room – The recommendation will not be 4) implemented because it is not reasonable. While the Court has made every effort to provide an adequate meeting space for the grand jury and has recently moved the 07-08 grand jury to a new larger area within a vacated county office located in the basement of the El Centro Courthouse, the County of Imperial is the only authorized entity to provide adequate court facilities. Due to chronic shortage of court space, the Court can not donate any space for civil grand jury operations. Train and cross train personnel – This recommendation has been 5) implemented. The Jury Commissioner's Office currently has staff fully trained and cross-trained to work with the Grand Jury and carry out the duties contracted to by the County. Appropriate levels of Supervisory and Management staff oversee the grand jury expenses and operations. Respectfully yours, Jose Octavio Guillen, Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Cc: Chair of the Board Robertta Burns Ralph Cordova California Rule of Court-10.810 Function 2. Jury Services Costs reported in this function are Juror expenses of per diem fees and mileage Meals and lodging for sequestered jurors Salaries, wages, and benefits of jury commissioner and jury services staff (including selection of grand jury) Contractual jury services Jury-related office expenses (other than information technology) Jury-related communications, including "on call" services Costs not reported in this function include
Related Recommendations (1)
R9:
An email account should be set up with complaint forms so that the public can directly communicate directly with the Grand Jury. Superior Court of California County of Imperial Executive Office of the Court 939 West Main Street • El Centro, CA 92243 Telephone 760-482-4374 ♦ Fax 760-337-7742 JOSÉ OCTAVIO GUILLÉN Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Honorable Jeffrey B. Jones, Presiding Judge 939 Main Street El Centro, CA 92243 Subject: Response to Grand Jury Investigation 2006-07 While the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Civil Grand Jury do not include the auditing of Court Operations, within the meaning of Penal Code Section 914.1, The Office of the Jury Commissioner for the Superior Court is submitting responses in accordance with Penal Code section 933.05 in its capacity as contractor for the County of Imperial for the limited purposes of civil grand jury expenses and operations, considered a county-funded program, pursuant to California Rule of Court 10.810(b)(6). Responses to findings: Continue Email Communication – This recommendation has been fully 1) implemented. Assigned Court staff has set up an internal process for communicating via the e-mail system with the Foreperson and other designated officers of the grand jury on expenditures and administrative matters. Conduct an informative orientation session - This recommendation 2) has been implemented. The Court conducted an orientation session with all the members present at the first grand jury meeting for the 06-07 and 07-08 terms. Information was provided on documentation needed, contact information, overview of updated and comprehensive grand jury procedural manual and procedures for contacting court staff. In addition to the initial orientation session, Court staff provided orientation on an ongoing and ad-hoc basis. Offer seminar training to all interested – This recommendation is fully 3) implemented. During the 06-07 and 07-08 grand jury terms, every grand juror was allowed to attend the Grand Juror Statewide training. Due to the unavailability of some grand jurors and the limited sessions provided by the California Grand Juror Association, full participation was not possible. Provide a permanent meeting room – The recommendation will not be 4) implemented because it is not reasonable. While the Court has made every effort to provide an adequate meeting space for the grand jury and has recently moved the 07-08 grand jury to a new larger area within a vacated county office located in the basement of the El Centro Courthouse, the County of Imperial is the only authorized entity to provide adequate court facilities. Due to chronic shortage of court space, the Court can not donate any space for civil grand jury operations. Train and cross train personnel – This recommendation has been 5) implemented. The Jury Commissioner's Office currently has staff fully trained and cross-trained to work with the Grand Jury and carry out the duties contracted to by the County. Appropriate levels of Supervisory and Management staff oversee the grand jury expenses and operations. Respectfully yours, Jose Octavio Guillen, Court Executive Officer/Jury Commissioner Cc: Chair of the Board Robertta Burns Ralph Cordova California Rule of Court-10.810 Function 2. Jury Services Costs reported in this function are Juror expenses of per diem fees and mileage Meals and lodging for sequestered jurors Salaries, wages, and benefits of jury commissioner and jury services staff (including selection of grand jury) Contractual jury services Jury-related office expenses (other than information technology) Jury-related communications, including "on call" services Costs not reported in this function include
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R78-79:
and 79-80, but the reports of these investigations are no longer easily available for scrutiny. The IID was the subject of a comprehensive investigation in 1992-93 and of a separate investigation in 1995-96. There have been no further investigations of the IID by a Civil Grand Jury in any of the years since 95-96. The initial point of investigation for this Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) was a series of public forums that reviewed the justifications for proposed water and power rate increases in various municipal areas of the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. CGJ members in attendance felt that there were some discrepancies between IID policies and statements about their intentions, and our collective concern over these matters prompted us to begin this inquiry. In the process, we realized that many points in the previous two investigations remained unresolved or unanswered; our current report begins where those reports left off. The 1995-96 Final Report: The focus of this past investigation was to understand and recommend action in the proposed transfers or sales of local water; in the matter of land purchases by Western Farms; and in the procedures followed at the time for the hiring of district employees, including management. The 95-96 Final Report repeatedly chastised the IID for manipulating the release of pertinent data during its planning stages so that certain players had more insight than the general public; the implication here was that such insider status was, in a best-case
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.