Placer County Grand Jury • 2020-2021

Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report State of California June 16, 2021 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021

Published: June 16, 2021 251 pages Consolidated Report

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Findings 13 findings

Alpine Spring County Water, Auburn Cemetery, Auburn Valley Community Services, Christian Valley Park Community District Services, Donner Summit Public Utility, Foresthill Fire Protection, McKinney Water, Newcastle-Rocklin-Gold Hill Cemetery, North Tahoe Fire Protection, North Tahoe Public Utility, Olympic Valley Public Service, Roseville Cemetery, South Placer Municipal Utility, and Tahoe Resource Conservation Districts are in full compliance with AB 2257 and SB 929.

Heather Glen Community Services, Tahoe Forest Hospital, and Tahoe City Cemetery Districts do not have websites. They are non-compliant with both AB 2257 and SB 929.

Three districts, Colfax Cemetery, Penryn Fire Protection, and Talmont Resort Improvement Districts are non-compliant with AB 2257. They do not have a prominent, direct link to their current agenda; agendas are not searchable or downloadable.

Alta Fire Protection, Auburn Area Recreation & Park, Foresthill Public Utility, Lincoln Cemetery #1, Meadow Vista County Water, Midway Heights County Water, Newcastle Fire Protection, Northstar Community Services, Penryn Fire Protection, Placer County Resource Conservation, Placer County Water Agency, Placer Hills Fire Protection, Placer Mosquito & Vector Control, Sierra Lakes County Water, South Placer Fire Protection, Suburban Pines Community Services, Tahoe City Public Utility, Tahoe-Truckee Airport, Tahoe-Truckee Sanitation, and Talmont Resort Improvement Districts do not have a prominent, direct link to the current agenda on the home page of their website.

The LAFCo website, which is hosted by Placer County, is difficult to locate. Placer County LAFCo does not have an independent website.

A lack of consistency in independent special district websites makes locating similar information difficult and time consuming for the user.

Placer County LAFCo does not have an up-to-date listing of the independent special districts with contact information.

Suburban Pines Community Services District is a non-active district.

Placer County LAFCo does not keep records of the ethics training, completed by board members of the districts they oversee.

F10

Colfax Cemetery, South Placer Fire Protection, and Tahoe Resource Conservation District websites do not comply with SB 929. -2021 Final Report

F11

Loomis Library and Community Learning Center provides innovative services to their patrons including a seed library and makerspace for children.

F12

Due to the incident in 2019, the Placer County Library system has recently taken a more complete and u p-to-date approach to handling security at all locations. -2021 Final Report

F13

As a result of SB 423 and AB 860, Placer County Elections Office has developed many new processes. The efficacy of these processes will not be known fully until after the November 2 020 election. -2021 Final Report

Recommendations 11

R1

By September 1, 2021, Heather Glen Community Services, Tahoe Forest Hospital, and Tahoe City Cemetery Districts create websites to be compliant with AB 2257 and SB 929.
R2

By September 1, 2021, Colfax Cemetery, Penryn Fire Protection, and Talmont Resort Improvement Districts update their website so they have a prominent, direct link to the current agenda and the agenda is searchable and downloadable to be compliant with AB 2257.
R3

By September 1, 2021, Alta Fire Protection, Auburn Area Recreation & Park, Foresthill Public Utility, Lincoln Cemetery #1, Meadow Vista County Water, Midway Heights County Water, Newcastle Fire Protection, Northstar Community Services, Placer County Resource Conservation, Placer County Water Agency, Placer Hills Fire Protection, Placer Mosquito & Vector Control, Sierra Lakes County Water, South Placer Fire Protection, Tahoe City Public Utility, Tahoe-Truckee Airport, and Tahoe- Truckee Sanitation Districts create a prominent, direct link from their home page to their current agenda as required by AB 2257.
R4

By September 1, 2021, Placer County LAFCo will establish and manage their own up-to-date website.
R5

By September 1, 2021, Placer County LAFCo will establish and manage their own up-to-date website.
R6

By September 1, 2021, Placer County LAFCo will establish a plan for each independent special district to update their contact and board information on a yearly basis each January, beginning in January 2022. The document with the information will be placed on the LAFCo website.
R7

By September 1, 2021, Placer County LAFCo will take the necessary steps to dissolve Suburban Pines Community Services District and incorporate the maintenance of the six fire hydrants to another entity.
R8

By September 1, 2021, Placer County LAFCo will establish and maintain a list of the ethics training completed by each independent special district board member.
R9

By September 1, 2021, Colfax Cemetery District will add contact information to its website to be compliant with SB 929.
R10

By September 1, 2021, South Placer Fire Protection District will add a contact email address to its website to be compliant with SB 929.
R11

By September 1, 2021, Tahoe Resource Conservation District will list their board members on its webs ite. -2021 Final Report

Conclusions 5

CL1

Due to the various circumstances affecting the homeless population, there is no simple solution to meet all needs and concerns within Placer County. Placer County citizens expect nonprofits, the Placer County Board of Supervisors, and Placer County Health and Human Services Division to properly communicate and be transparent on all levels. It is unlikely that any decision related to the location of permanent supportive housing for the homeless will satisfy all concerned. The need for all parties to be open and honest with each other will go a long way to creating a successful pathway for the Placer County Whole Person Care Pilot program. Photo by Norma Worley Page 57 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report
CL2

To resolve the revenue and expense imbalance, the LRA must improve its two primary revenue sources: hangar rentals and fuel sales. Revenues can improve by increasing traffic through the airport, more closely monitoring fuel prices and inventory, increasing hangar revenue by charging market-rate rent, and considering the construction of additional hangars to meet customer demand. Central to Lincoln’s struggle to achieve positive earnings and assured solvency for the airport, is the lack of a current Lincoln Regional Airport Master Plan. Although the grand jury was told the Lincoln Regional Airport Master Plan of 2007 was in the process of being updated, these updates are long overdue. City management disclosed they considered hiring a professional airport manager, but this was not considered feasible. As a result, the airport is currently understaffed and managed by city employees with no experience in airport management. This puts the on-site airport employee and the airport at risk for safety violations or accidents. Elected city leadership has failed to act in hiring a professional airport manager and replacing the retired maintenance worker with a full-time employee. Lincoln city management is not involved in day-to-day operations, safety reviews, revenue enhancement, or expense analysis. Annual emergency response exercises, such as those conducted by other area GA airports, are not performed. The City of Lincoln’s leadership did not demonstrate a clear understanding of airport finances, staffing requirements, a viation safety, and emergen cy preparedness. Page 77 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report
CL3

The libraries in Placer County are unique and provide a variety of programs and opportunities for their patrons. Although each library has its own challenges, COVID-19 and the restrictions imposed on service this year have been a unifying concern throughout Placer County’s various library systems. Overall, the libraries have faced this challenge head-on and although each has responded uniquely to the restrictions, all have responded admirably to support their patrons. Funding, staffing, and security remain significant concerns for the libraries in Placer County. This is particularly true for the Placer County Library system, which sees the largest circulation numbers in the county yet has a minimal number of non-administrative staff members when compared to the municipal libraries of the county. The staff of each library system are dedicated and committed to providing excellent service. Beyond just books, these facilities are invaluable to their patrons and function as community centers, offering a place to gather, learn, and share ideas. Libraries are a public service provided by the county and/or municipalities and should be supported as such. With appropriate ongoing financial support, staffing, and marketing, the libraries will c ontinue to serve the residen ts of Placer County well into the future. Page 102 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report
CL4

The security camera system at the Auburn Historic Courthouse is inadequate and needs to be replaced. The Placer County Sheriff’s Tahoe Substation is out-of-date and not ADA compliant. All facilities inspected were found to be secure, clean, well-maintained, and professionally staffed. Each facili ty adheres to the CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although delayed by COVID-19, both the Au.burn Jail and SPACF have a plan to reduce recidivism. They alsoutilize a detailed decision tree to categorize each person into the system to mFiinnidmiinzge csonflict among inmates The grand jury found: F1: The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has mitigated the overnight detention issue at the Tahoe Substation through their contract with Nevada County. F2: The cost to use the Tahoe Substation for overnight holdings would exceed the current contract for jail services provided by Nevada County. F3: The average booking fee at the Nevada County Truckee Jail for the 2019-2020 fiscal year was $3,382.32 per arrestee. F4: Placer County Sheriff’s Tahoe Substation is a dilapidated building that cannot be improved economically for service as a certified jail. F5: In 2019, the Placer County Board of Supervisors allocated funds for the proposed Tahoe Justice Center, with construction starting in 2024/2025. F6: Environmental and budgetary concerns are factors affecting construction progress of the Tahoe Justice Center. F7: The security camera system at the Auburn Historic Courthouse facility is inadequate. Page 122 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report
CL5

In past years, the Placer County Grand Jurors’ Association provided support in following up on responses. The Placer County Grand Jury has not produced a continuity report in the past. We believe it is important to verify that respondents were compliant with Penal Code § 933.05 and conclude that this work is too important to not be a requirement of each g Frainndd ijunrgys g oing forward. The grand jury found: F1: Placer County Grand Jury has not written a continuity report in previous years. F2: Five responses were not compliant with Penal Code § 933.05. F3: Alta-Dutch Flat School District website is not currently compliant with AB 2257. F4: Bowman Charter School District website is not currently compliant with AB 2257. F 5: Tahoe-Truckee Schoo l District did not respond to the grand jury. Page 218 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report

Observations 5

OB1

• The facilities at the Auburn Jail are well-maintained and staffed by trained and committed personnel.
OB2

The Auburn Jail, with its current operational capabilities, meets the needs of the community it serves. South POlpaecreart iJoanils & at S tohuet Ahu Pbluarcne rJa Mil iinnicmluudme p Sreocgurarmitys Jtao irl educe recidivism. Photos by Mark Brown The South Placer Jail and the South Placer Minimum Security Jail, which are part of the South Placer Adult Correctional Facility (SPACF), are located at the Bill Santucci Justice Center. Although separate buildings, they operate in a cooperative relationship. The grand jury inspected the facilities, which included the laundry room, recreation rooms, and rehabilitation program rooms. The South Placer Jail also has a large kitchen used for meal preparation for all county jails and holding facilities, as well as meals for other county programs. The residential district manager administering the kitchen is commended for exceptional management and dedication to excellence in service. The South Placer Adult Correctional Facility is managed by the PCSO. The staff is dedicated and perform their duties efficiently and effectively. COVID-19 has caused the state mandated plans to reduce recidivism to be altered. In-person classes have been replaced by online courses. They have devised a system to determine whether a cell has been sanitized. They adhere to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As with the Auburn Jail, these facilities house several types of inmates. Inmates are assessed based on gender, classification of past criminal convictions, current or repeated assaults, behavior problems, psychological problems, protective custody, escape risk, and prison history. The assessment results determine where the inmate will be housed. There a re control stations located in facility housing to monitor all inmates. Page 118 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report The mental health section of the SPACF is in the process of being expanded but construction has been delayed due to COVID-19. Wellpath, a contractor, provides medical treatment for inmates. A mental health specialist visits SPACF sixteen hours per week for mental health evaluations. A medical doctor visits the SPACF on a twice-a-week schedule. Add•i tional medical personnel support the facility on a daily basis including:
OB3

Licensed Vocational Nurse
OB4

Dentist Dental Hygienist Mental Health Analysts There is a complaint process for the inmates to file should they feel they are not receiving the proper medical treatment. The complaint is reviewed by the on-duty nurse and, if not resolved, is reviewed by a Wellpath health administrator for further investigation. If a person, outside of the facility, makes a complaint concerning medical treatment of an inmate, the complaint is sent to the Wellpath health administrator for review and mHoitlidgaintigo nF.a cilities Auburn Historic Courthouse The Auburn Historic Courthouse is divided into two basic areas. The first area is for public tours of the historic building which was completed in 1898. In the second area there are several functioning courtrooms dealing with arraignments or trials. Security is provided by Placer County Sheriff’s deputies for the main entrance, courts, holding cells, and the sally port when in use. The holding cells are primarily used for Photo by Erik Bergen holding individuals for court appearances. They are not used for overnight confinement. The grand jury commends the facility’s sergeant-in-charge for a simple and pra ctical innovation for ensuring the sanitation of holding cells. Each cell is marked with a large red or green colored magnet denoting green for “cleaned” or red for “not cleaned.”The holding Ofabcisleitryv aadthioenress to the CDC guidelines for COVID-19. Both this grand jury and previous grand juries have observed that the current security cam•e ra system is obsolete, inadequate, and fails in the following: The cameras do not cover the critical areas of the court parking lot and cannot capture license plate numbers. Page 119 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report
OB5

• The cameras do not cover critical areas of the building entrances where an armed person(s) could approach and surprise the on-duty deputies. The resolution of the video is poor, making it impossible to identify any person(s) in Placert Cheo puanrtkyi nSgh leorti offr’ sc aTpathuroee u Snulabwsftualt aioctns that may occur there. . The grand jury performed its annual inspection of the Placer County Sheriff’s Tahoe Substation and investigated their booking and jail services contract The facility’s original purpose was for use as a temporary sheriff’s substation during the 1960 Winter Olympics. Several prior grand juries and the Placer County Board of Supervisors acknowledge it has outlived its usefulness. Resources were allocated by the Board of Supervisors in 2019 to modernize the station, which is a project currently referred to as the Tahoe Justice Center (TJC). At present, the substation only operates as a holding facility and not as a jail. To operate as a jail would require staffing of four or five deputies for around-the-clock operations, medical personnel, food service, technology upgrades, and maintenance, which would be prohibitively expensive. The cells do not meet state standards for incarceration, but they are adequate for temporary custody and emergency holding. The building does not meet the accessibility requirements of the Tahoe Substation Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Photo by Jim Ferguson cost to upgrade the building would be prohibitive. Since 2001, PCSO has had a contract with Nevada County Sheriff’s Office for booking and jail servUincedse.r T thhee ccoonnttrraacctt ,s atlalt aersr iens tpsa mrta: de by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office in and around the North Tahoe area after normal business hours, or on holidays and weekends, are booked into the Nevada County Sheriff’s Truckee Jail. This contract applies to persons arrested in Placer County by other agencies (e.g., California Highway Patrol, probation, state parks). The contract enables access to the Truckee Jail for an annual fee of $459,996 with an increase of 3 percent every fiscal year (July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020). When the new TJC is completed, targeted for 2025, jail housing for arrestees at the Truckee Jail should be reduced.Environmental and budgetary concerns are factors affecting progress of the TJC. The Nevada County Truckee Jail can refuse to take the arrestee for various reasons, for example facility capacity or medical issues. Arrestees who cannot be released or make bail are subsequently transported to the Placer County jail system for housing. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for transporting the arrestees from the Nevada Page 120 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report County Truckee Jail to the Auburn or South Placer Jail. On occasions when Interstate 80 is impassable, the arrestee may remain at the Tahoe substationholding cell pending roads reopening or vacancy at the Nevada County Jail in Truckee. In the fiscal year of July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, there were 136 arrestee s booked into the Nevada County Truckee Jail, and 49 arrestees were refused and transported for booking at tRhoec Akulibnu Prno loicr eS oHuotlhd Pinlagc Fear cJailiilt. yN one were detained at Tahoe Substation. Rocklin Police Department’s jail is used as a holding facility because they rarely use the facility for overnight incarceration. Arrested persons instead are taken directly to South Placer Jail. On rare occasions, a detainee will be held in the jail facility to be interviewed by Rocklin detective. The jail was last used in May 2020, and before that in November of 2019. The City of Rocklin decided it is more cost-effective for their officers to book arrestees directly into the South Placer Jail instead of maintaining a full-service jail. Booking at South Placer Jail allows Rocklin officers to return to patrol duties quickly. The facility is clean and Photo by Barbara Ferguson professionally managed with an up-to-date bBoilol kSianngt auncdc is Jeucsutriictey sCcerneteenri ng system. The Bill Santucci Justice Center complex contains two separate holding facilities and are managed by the PCSO. The largest holding facility, located in the courthouse basement, is connected to the jail by an underground tunnel. Inmates are taken from their jail cell to the basement holding cell when they are scheduled for a court appearance. There are holding cells in the basement. Upstairs, there are additional holding cells adjacent to the courtrooms. The facilities are secure, well-maintained, and clean. The on-site staff are professional and take pride in their duties. In addition, CDC guidelines and recommendations regarding C OVID-19 are being followed . Page 121 Placer County Grand Jury 2020-2021 Final Report