2017 - Grand Jury Report - Final

Recommendations 8

• R1
  In order to minimize future conflict On March 8, 2017, the Yreka City Council $800,000. regarding large projects, the City Council decided to move forward with the renovation of the new police department site. The decision to • On October 17, 2014, an architectural should complete its comprehensive do so was influenced by many factors, some of contract was issued for the remodel of the citywide strategic plan which are outlined below: Fairlane building to meet the needs of police department operations.
• R2
  Before beginning future projects, the City • In 2011, the Police Department requested should insure that a budget is in place. that Yreka City Council seek a Community • In February 2016, bids for the remodel were Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the requested, and in March 2016, all bids purpose of evaluating the need for a new received were rejected due to projected R3. The City should provide direction and police station. Had that grant been building costs. designate responsibility for project requested and obtained, it would have management to specific individuals at the resulted in $43,750 in funding towards the • In the Fall of 2016 the decision was made start of every project. cost of the evaluation. According to to commit a city staff person to oversee the meeting minutes, the Council voted not to relocation project.
• R3
  Under an amended MOU, the County computers. In addition, branch libraries are not able The estimate was $12,000 per branch per year for a should pay the background checks to obtain the same purchasing power as the county. total of $144,000 per year. As a result, purchasing the necessary computers is required bythe County for expensive. One possible solution to library funding issues is to staff/volunteers working in any branch. create a library special district. Under California law, The overall county library bud get allows for a special district to finance library operations and R4. Under an amended MOU between the $35,000 per year in new book purchases. However, facilities could be used toprovide these services and county library and communities, the two in order to provide adequate numbers of new books could make the library system sustainable. Shasta com putters which branches are required across the system, it is estimated at least twice that County could serveas a model. to provide should be the responsibility of amount is needed. This does not take into account the Countyand should be purchased by the annual cost increases. While the 2014 Boles Fire FINDINGS County, along with required software and wasdevastating, the insurance payment resulted in upgrades. Areplacement schedule should a windfall for the branches. The books that burned Fl. Staff and volunteers at all the libraries are with the Weed Branch library were part of the concerned that volunteer training is not be created so all the computers do not county collection; they belonged to all the branches. standard at each library. have to be replaced inone year but through Insurance funds can only be used to purchase books, a five-year replacement schedule. with the exception of the one-time purchase of F2. There appears to be conflict and confusion bookshelves for the new Weed Branch location. regarding the donation, retention and R5. The county should increase available Currently, the book purchasing funds are being circulation of library materials. funding to buy new materials when the supplemented with the insurance payment from the Boles Fire Insurance money is depleted. Boles Fire. Volunteer staff members at many F3. Procedures and payment for background branches expressed concern about how new books checks are handled differently at each branch
• R4
  The City should complete its Policy Council, City Manager and Staff.” There are number of conflicts and issues with other and Procedures manual by January 2018. employees. It seems the council members are many others, all with handouts available for having difficulties managing employees. download without cost.
• R5
  The recommended orientation (R3) and the Policy and Procedures Manual (R5) The Grand Jury was also told that city council FINDINGS need to clearly define the duties and meetings were contentious, and that the F1. The Montague City Council was expectations for City Council members, the meetings lacked decorum and civility. When the seated in accordance with the City Clerk’s position and all other positions Grand Jury listened to a recording of a random recommendation of Siskiyou County at the city by January 2018. city council meeting, they heard council Counsel. members using the public comment period to
• R6
  The City Council should clearly define bring up issues not on the agenda and attacking F2. One or more documented serial responsibilities in managing staff. one another for personal behavior not related to meetings took place in violation of the council business. The Grand Jury members Brown Act.
• R7
  While all city staff is responsible to the found the exchanges were not civil. It appears board as a whole, the City Council should that City Council members might benefit from
• R8
  The City Council members should classes for mayors, city managers, planning job duties or responsibilities for either immediately avail themselves of online, free commissioners, public works employees, city staff or council members. attorneys, city clerks and fire chiefs. Montague or low cost training programs concerning City Council members believed that the city conduct, decorum and the governing of