Score: +2
(2/0/0)
Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
2023-2024 Ventura County Grand Jury : Consolidated Final Report
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 17 findings
F01
Page 26
The City of Oxnard is not in compliance with California’s Permit Streamlining Act with regard to mandated timelines for development projects, taking 171 days, on average, between application and entitlement for housing with more than five units.
Related Recommendations (1)
R01
Page 27
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Oxnard identify specific steps that will be taken to reduce turnaround times to comply with California’s Permit Streamlining and ADU Acts and include expected completion dates for those steps by January 1, 2025. (F-01, F-02,
F02
Page 26
The City of Oxnard is not in compliance with the California State ADU Act with regard to the mandated 60 days from application (entitlement) to permitting, taking 406 days, on average.
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
Page 27
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Oxnard identify and recruit potential hires having EnerGov experience in the Planning and Building Divisions of the Community Development Department by January 1, 2025. (F-04)
F03
Page 26
Since 2020, assessed property values adjusted for inflation in the City of Oxnard have not increased. This indicates that city services may be maintained but could be expanded by streamlining the approval process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R03
Page 27
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Oxnard utilize EnerGov personnel, expert consultants and IT personnel of Oxnard to properly configure meaningful reports regarding compliance, workload and timeliness EnerGov reports for the Community Development Department by June 30, 2025. (F-05) Ventura
F04
Page 26
Inadequate staffing, leadership turnover and increased workloads have led to lengthy delays in project approvals for the City of Oxnard.
Related Recommendations (1)
R04
Page 27
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura identify specific steps that will be taken to reduce turnaround times to comply with 12 Building Better Together: Suggestions for Smoother Permitting Processes California’s Permit Streamlining Act and include expected completion dates for those steps by January 1, 2025. (F-06, F-14)
F05
Page 26
Out-dated computer systems have led to lengthy delays in project approvals for the City of Oxnard. Ventura
Related Recommendations (1)
R05
Page 28
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura work with the California Department of Housing and Community Development to correct errors in annual progress reports by January 1, 2025. (F-07)
F06
Page 26
The City of Ventura is in compliance with California’s Permit Streamlining Act for the 30-day requirement to deem Complete or issue an Incomplete Letter, but not for the lead agency approving or disapproving a project with an exempt CEQA status within 60 days.
Related Recommendations (1)
R06
Page 28
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura identify and recruit potential hires having EnerGov experience in the Planning and Building Divisions of the Community Development Department by January 1, 2025. (F-09, F-10)
F07
Page 26
The City of Ventura did not meet the regional housing-needs requirements from its 2014-2021 Housing Element, and little data was available from the annual progress report dashboard.
Related Recommendations (1)
R07
Page 28
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura create a standardized training protocol for new hires and existing employees for the EnerGov software system, including ongoing periodic training, by January 1, 2025. (F-08, F-15)
F08
Page 26
There has been inadequate training for the EnerGov system from deployment to present.
Related Recommendations (1)
R08
Page 28
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura properly configure and put into practice all originally purchased EnerGov modules by January 1, 2025. (F-15, F-16)
F09
Page 26
Inadequate staffing and leadership turnover have led to lengthy delays in project approvals.
Related Recommendations (1)
R09
Page 28
The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura, in conjunction with the IT department and expert consultants, implement and properly configure meaningful reports regarding compliance, workload and timeliness within the EnerGov software system by January 1, 2025. (F-11, F-12, F-16)
F10
Page 26
Departures of experienced individuals have caused a lack of continuity and institutional memory in several Community Development Divisions.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Page 26
The City of Ventura’s Community Development Department is unable to generate meaningful reports using EnerGov software. Building Better Together: Suggestions for Smoother Permitting Processes 11
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Page 27
The City of Ventura has not implemented several of the 2019 Matrix Consulting Group Report recommendations as highlighted in the Discussion Section of this report.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
Page 27
Lengthy delays in project approvals and increased costs are causing dissatisfaction among the development community and discouraging development activities.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Page 27
Since 2020, assessed property values adjusted for inflation have not increased. This indicates that city services may be maintained but could be expanded by streamlining the approval process.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Page 27
The lack of training on the EnerGov software system is causing inefficiency and workplace stress for entire divisions of the Community Development Department.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Page 27
The staffs of the Community Development Department and the Information Technology Department are attempting to fix implementation and configuration deficiencies in using EnerGov software, causing increased workloads.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Page 27
Utilizing the Historic Preservation Committee and the Design Review Committee in non-decision-making roles has delayed project approvals. RECOMMENDATIONS Oxnard
No recommendations for this finding
Additional Recommendations 2
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R10Page 28The Grand Jury recommends that the City of Ventura implement recommendations #1, 13, 17, 20, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41 and 42, from the Matrix Consulting Group Report by January 1, 2025. (F-12)
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R11Page 28The Grand Jury recommends that the City Council re-examine the roles of the HPC and DRC, taking into consideration the goals outlined in the Matrix Consulting Group Report to streamline the entitlement approval process by January 1, 2025. (F-13, F-17) Building Better Together: Suggestions for Smoother Permitting Processes 13
Commendations 3
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CM1 Page 58The Ventura County Information Technology Services Department and the Office of Emergency Services are to be commended for their foresight and initiative in developing the Ventura County Regional Radio System and for the independent development of a satellite interface for VCRRS. RESPONSES Responses required from: The following elected officers within 60 days: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (F-01, F-02, R-01, R-02) City of Oxnard City Council (F-03, F-04, R-03, R-04) City of Port Hueneme City Council (F-05, F-06, R-05) City of Santa Paula City Council (F-07, F-08, R-06) City of Ventura City Council (F-09, F-10, R-07, R-08) City of Simi Valley City Council (F-11, R-09) The following governing body within 90 days: Ventura County Board of Supervisors (F-01 F-02, R-01, R-02) REFERENCES Ref-01. Ayub, B. (2021, March). 2018 Borderline and Grill Mass Shooting Public Safety Response After Action Review, pp. 24-29. https://s45643.pcdn.co/wp- content/uploads/2023/10/Borderline-AAR_FINAL-UPDATED-03.24.21-1.pdf Ref-02. Ayub, B. (2021, March). 2018 Borderline and Grill Mass Shooting Public Safety Response After Action Review, p. 53. https://s45643.pcdn.co/wp- content/uploads/2023/10/Borderline-AAR_FINAL-UPDATED-03.24.21-1.pdf Ref-03. COPS OFFICE United States Department of Justice. (2024, January 18). Critical Incident Review: Active Shooter at Robb Elementary School. https://cops.usdoj.gov/uvalde 10 Linking First Responders: Ventura County Regional Radio System
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CM2 Page 59Ref-04. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office: Ventura County SO Policy Manual. (2023, May 25). Policy 202, Role of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, p 21. https://s29762.pcdn.co/wp- content/uploads/2023/05/RELEASE_20230525_T153331_Ventura-County- Sheriffs-Office-Policy-Manual.cleaned_Redacted.pdf Ref-05. Theobald, T. (2023, September 26). Adoption of a Resolution Establishing the Subscription Rates for the Regional Radio System for the County of Ventura for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Board of Supervisors, Ventura County. https://ventura.primegov.com/portal/item?id=260563 Ref-06. Information Technology Services. (2023, June 20). Approval of, and Authorization for the Ventura County Chief Information Officer to Execute, a Communications and Services Agreement for the Continued Purchase of Equipment and Services for the 700MHz Regional Radio System and for Post- Warranty Maintenance and Software Upgrades with Motorola Solutions Incorporated in the Amount of $32,239,080.82. Board of Supervisors, Ventura County. https://ventura.primegov.com/portal/item?id=258069 Ref-07. Fryhoff, J., Johnson, G., & Nasarenko, E. (2023, September 12). Approval of, and Authorization for the Purchasing Agent to Sign, a Communications and Services Agreement for the Purchase of Two-Way Radio Equipment and Service for the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office and Probation Agency with Motorola Solutions Incorporated in the Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $12,584,216. Board of Supervisors, Ventura County. https://ventura.primegov.com/portal/item?id=260189 Ref-08. The White House. (2024, March 23). Statement from President Joe Biden on the Bipartisan Government Funding Bill. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements- releases/2024/03/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-bipartisan- government-funding-bill Ref-09. Congresswoman Julia Brownley's Office. (2024, March 6). Brownley Secures $10.3 Million for Community Projects in the Fiscal year 2024 Spending Package. https://juliabrownley.house.gov/brownley-secures-10-3-million-for- community-projects-in-the-fiscal-year-2024-spending-package Ref-10. Interviews with various Ventura County agencies, including VCSO OES, VCFD, City of Camarillo, City of Fillmore, City of Oxnard, City of Port Hueneme, City of Santa Paula, City of Simi Valley, City of Thousand Oaks and City of Ventura. Linking First Responders: Ventura County Regional Radio System 11
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CM3 Page 60Ref-11. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Services. (2020, January 21). The Hill & Woolsey Fires Emergency Response After-Action Review. https:vcportal.ventura.org/BOS/District2/Woolsey_Fires_Emergency_Response _After_Action_Review_01.21.2020.PDF Ref-12. Motorola Solutions. (2023, January). Motorola Solutions Law Enforcement Grants and Assistance. Retrieved October 11, 2023, from https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/solutions/government-grants/law- enforcement.html Ref-13. Ayub, B. (2021, March). 2018 Borderline and Grill Mass Shooting Public Safety Response After Action Review, p. 56. https://s45643.pcdn.co/wp- content/uploads/2023/10/Borderline-AAR_FINAL-UPDATED-03.24.21-1.pdf Ref-14. Duke, E. C. (2017, October 10). National Incident Management System. FEMA.gov. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020- 07/fema_nims_doctrine-2017.pdf Ref-15. United States Department of Justice. (2023, November 17). Department of Justice Order 0904 Cybersecurity Program. https://www.justice.gov/usdoj- media/jmd/media/894176/dl?inline Ref-16. Motorola Solutions. (ND) APX 8000 All-Band Portable Radio Unlimited Mobility. Uncompromising Performance. Retrieved October 11, 2023, from https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_xl/products/two-way-radios/portable- radios/apx-8000.html#tabproductinfo Ref-17. Benites, J. (2023, July 27). Motorola Radio Purchase. City Council, Oxnard, CA. https://oxnardca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/4979/files/report/4515 Ref-18. Alikhan, A., & Schindler, D. (2023, April 24). Approval to Purchase 168 Portable Radios from Motorola Inc. for the Police Department. https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/view/36003/08 12 Linking First Responders: Ventura County Regional Radio System
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.