Gran Jurado del Condado de Kern
2018-2019
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (2)
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
12 hallazgos
F1:
Charters are granted for a term of three to five years and may be terminated at any time if a school is not meeting the terms of the Charter contract. The Charter schools are accountable for all statewide academic standards and fiscal practices.
F2:
Grimmway Academy has its own District and Superintendent.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Delano and Arvin School Districts should consider starting an edible garden by the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. (Finding 2)
F3:
Grimmway Academy has a NO Sugar Policy and serves protein at each meal along with fresh fruits and vegetables. Students help plant, care for and harvest crops of fruit and vegetables from the “Living Edible Garden.” Most of that food is used in the schools “café” for school meals and the excess is sold.
F4:
FEMA guidelines recommend all schools have at least one Automated External Defibrillator (AED) per campus. The Committee found that not all schools are equipped with AEDs.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
All Schools should have at least one AED at each school site. Funding for the AEDs could be raised by the Parent/Teacher Association (PTA). (Finding 4)
F5:
Grimmway Academy has four AEDs with several staff trained to operate them, all on one school site.
F6:
Most Charter schools have extended hours, limited class size and hands-on learning.
F7:
Arvin’s public schools are rated below average in all grades.
F8:
Arvin and Delano schools serve food modeled after the California School Nutritionist Recommendations. The meals served are high in sugar, processed food and lacking in nutrients such as protein.
F9:
Arvin and Delano Districts follow the minimum Emergency Protocols recommended by Marin County, which is a modification of FEMA guidelines. However, Delano does have two AEDs at each school.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The cafeterias should provide meals more nutritious in proteins and complete carbohydrates (fresh fruits and vegetables). (Finding 9)
F10:
Arvin Union School District (AUSD) is lacking AEDs in all elementary and high schools. Only the two middle schools have AEDs.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
Arvin and Delano School Districts should update Emergency Policy/Protocol providing for up-to-date emergency issues by the beginning of 2019-2020 school year. (Findings 10 and 11)
F11:
According to the California Department of Education, AUSD had raised Annual Yearly Performance (AYP) levels in the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. The Committee did not find information for subsequent years.
F12:
According to the California Department of Education, LEP students continue to have low performance in English Language Fluency after elementary grades. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury would like to thank Nueva Vista Language Academy, Del Vista Math and Science Academy, Morningside Elementary and the Superintendent of Delano School District, as well as, Bear Mountain, and Grimmway Academy in Arvin for the co- operation, information and tours given.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
23 hallazgos
F1:
On July 31, 2018, Arvin received a Single Audit Financial Report for Fiscal Year End (FYE) June 30, 2017, which reported a cash shortfall of approximately $1,800,000. The audit also stated:
• The Finance Department operated for many years with limited accounting staff and insufficient government accounting experience
• Significant turnover resulted in a lack of segregation of duties
• There were inadequate thorough reviews, analysis and reconciliation of financial statements
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Arvin should continue monitoring and updating their financial information and budgets monthly in order to address and correct budget shortfalls. (Findings 1 through 6)
F2:
In late 2017, Arvin hired a new Finance Director with 20 years experience in the private sector and 13 years in the public sector.
F3:
After completing an analysis of the $1,800,000 deficit, Arvin’s new Finance Director determined that the deficit was actually between $800,000 and $1,000,000. It was concluded there were accounting irregularities, including duplicate debit entries and errors in general ledger postings. The Finance Director stated that Arvin is in the process of reducing the deficit.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Arvin should continue monitoring and updating their financial information and budgets monthly in order to address and correct budget shortfalls. (Findings 1 through 6)
F4:
Since FYE 2017, the following factors have helped correct the deficit:
• 10% increase in general sales tax revenue
• 20% increase in revenue from Measure L (1% city sales tax)
• Reduction of staff and operating expenses
F5:
The FYE June 30, 2017 audit revealed that Arvin’s Proprietary Funds, i.e. Traffic Impact Fees, Special Revenue Fund and Sanitation Enterprise Fund, were used to subsidize the cash needs of the General Fund.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Arvin should continue monitoring and updating their financial information and budgets monthly in order to address and correct budget shortfalls. (Findings 1 through 6)
F6:
City Officials are monitoring the 2018-2019 budget monthly to address any shortfalls and make adjustments for the remaining fiscal year. The Budget Report dated March 19, 2019 reflects General Fund revenue at 59.2% with General Fund expenses of 63.2%.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Arvin should continue monitoring and updating their financial information and budgets monthly in order to address and correct budget shortfalls. (Findings 1 through 6)
F7:
In 2015, Arvin received a $570,000 Caltrans Grant for specific road improvements. However, Arvin misdirected the funds and made improvements on non-specified roads. Caltrans has since sued Arvin to recover the grant funds. As of April 11, 2019, negotiations are in the process of settling the suit. In order to complete the Caltrans specified road improvements, Arvin enlisted Kern Council of Governments (KCOG) assistance in finding alternate sources of funding.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
Arvin should continue working with KCOG to complete the Caltrans specified road improvements. (Finding 7)
F8:
For the past decade, Arvin has had five City Managers, the longest serving three years and three months.
F9:
The current City Manager served three years as Arvin’s Chief of Police.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends the Bakersfield City Council initiate steps to ensure full disclosure on future tax measures by providing detailed information on how funds are to be spent. (Finding 9) 57 NOTES: • The Bakersfield City Council should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS TO: PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 CC: TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 58
F10:
In March 2019, Arvin hired a new Chief of Police with approximately 30 years law enforcement experience.
F11:
Arvin reported 14 homicides from 2014 through 2018, with six occurring in 2017. However, overall crime decreased 30.2%.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
Arvin should continue to improve public safety. They should also consider starting a Secret Witness Program to encourage residents to “say something if they see something.” (Findings 11 and 12) NOTES: • The City of Arvin should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. RESPONSE REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS TO: PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 CC: TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
F12:
City Officials state that Arvin residents are fearful to come forward and report violent crime. Officials are confident new police strategies and community involvement will improve public safety:
• “Coffee with a Cop” meetings
• Forming a community crime prevention awareness group consisting of churches, schools and businesses
• Joint effort with Kern County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit
F13:
Arvin is in the process of forming a Housing Advisory Committee that will play a key role in developing and advising the City Council regarding policies that will facilitate the implementation of various housing programs. COMMENTS: The 2018-2019 Grand Jury would like to thank Arvin City Officials for their cooperation and assistance in providing needed information. The Grand Jury recognizes the progress Arvin is making towards correcting the financial condition of their city.
F14:
The chart below illustrates the stopping distance at various speeds.
F15:
Computerized Traffic Controllers (CTC) regulate the traffic lights at 427 intersections throughout the City of Bakersfield. 358 intersections are directly connected to the Traffic Operations Center (TOC). From either the TOC or the CTC, Traffic Operations Technicians have the ability to change traffic light timing intervals. Any maintenance done to the CTC is recorded in a logbook left inside the CTC cabinet.
F16:
CTC detect cars at an intersection by either ground loop sensors or cameras that operate like a motion detector. Special sensors can also detect approaching emergency vehicles and turns the traffic light to green for them.
F17:
CTC cabinet doors are locked but are not equipped with open door alarms to indicate when a cabinet door has been opened. 64
F18:
Only two Traffic Operations Technicians are trained to modify traffic light time duration. Other Traffic Operations Technicians and their Supervisor do not have this training.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R5:
The Traffic Operations Supervisor should be trained to adjust traffic signal timing. (Finding 18)
F19:
In addition, malfunctioning traffic lights may be reported via the City of Bakersfield web site. The app is free to download for both Apple and Android platforms by searching for “Bakersfield Mobile” in the respective app store:
▪ Android: https://goo.gl/WCgaFw
▪ iOS: https://goo.gl/zDZuuS COMMENTS: The Committee would like to thank the City of Bakersfield, the Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Division, Red Light Photo Enforcement and the Bakersfield City Public Works Department for their information and assistance.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R6:
The City of Bakersfield should advertise the Bakersfield Mobile app more frequently to keep the public informed and to help ensure traffic lights are repaired as quickly as possible. (Finding 19) 65 NOTES: • The City of Bakersfield should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: www.kerncounty.com/grandjury. RESPONSE REQUIRED WITH 90 DAYS PRESIDING JUDGE KERN COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 CC: TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 66
F20:
There are six solar powered surveillance cameras throughout the city and can be relocated to different areas.
F21:
The city’s computer programs and hardware are updated on a regular basis. The city has connected fiber optics to their servers in order to increase the speed of data transfers. Outdated computers are scheduled for replacement.
F22:
On February 25, 2019, a review of Wasco’s website revealed that the City Council Agenda and Minutes had not been updated since October 2018. In addition, the Finance Department has not updated financial statement information. Furthermore, the Community Development Department’s last meeting minutes were for October 2017.
F23:
The Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB946) went into effect on January 1, 2019. Under SB946 sidewalk vendors may not be prohibited, although local authorities will be able to establish regulations on sidewalk vendors to protect valid health, safety and welfare concerns. Wasco City Officials are anticipating this may negatively affect Wasco due to public health concerns, loss of sales tax revenue and retail business to “brick and mortar” stores:
• On January 22, 2019, Wasco City Officials passed Ordinance #19- 700 to regulate street vendors. COMMENTS: The Committee wishes to thank the Staff of the City of Wasco for their information and willingness to assist with this report.
Additional documents
Documents found alongside this year's reports, not grand jury reports or responses.