Presiding Judge 2007 Presiding Judge 2008

Conclusions 21

• CL1 Page 19
  The Civil Grand Jury commends the Auditor-Controller for his efforts to develop and direct the operations of the Imperial County Auditor-Controller’s Office. He has done a most credible job of providing quality service, making use of current technology, and developing personnel in the Auditor-Controller’s Office, given the resources available to him.
• CL2 Page 19
  The lack of competition for independent audit services seems to be a continuing problem. However, the Auditor-Controller seems to have taken a reasonable approach to addressing the situation. But, if possible, the Civil Grand Jury thinks it would be wise to continue to seek competitive bids for these services in the future to ensure independence in the performance of this function.
• CL3 Page 19
  While the Auditor-Controller’s Office may be relocating in the near future, the slight mold problem in the office may pose a hazard for employees working there in the interim. Also, the parking situation will remain a problem for the public, the Auditor- Controller’s Office as well as other agencies located in the area.
• CL4 Page 65
  Golf Carts cannot be driven on city streets.
• CL5 Page 65
  The golf cart issue has created much frustration among Holtville city officials, police officers, and residents, particularly golf cart owners. Much of this frustration is due to the contradiction between the California DMV’s actions of registering and licensing golf carts for use on public streets, and the federal and state vehicle codes governing the use of vehicles on public streets. The factors that led to this situation are unfortunate, but understandable. The California DMV appears to be taking steps to remedy the problem.
• CL6 Page 65
  At a minimum, the Holtville City Manager has contributed greatly to the frustration experienced by law enforcement officials seeking to execute their duties in a lawful manner. Beyond this, however, it appears she may have created a difficult, if not hostile, work environment by ordering Holtville police officers not to enforce valid laws and threatening them with job termination if they did so. The City Manager efforts to prevent the California Highway Patrol from attending a public meeting are also of serious concern, and raise questions about the best interests of the community and violations of laws pertaining to public meetings.
• CL7 Page 65
  Importantly, the City Manager’s explicit orders to Holtville police officers that they not enforce valid vehicle code may increase the risk and legal liability for the city and its taxpayers should accidents arise involving the use of golf carts on Holtville public streets.
• CL8 Page 65
  Sworn testimony from interviewees indicates that the City Manager has a very tight grip on every aspect of city government in Holtville, dominating the way the city is run in all departments and censoring out information to the Mayor and/or City Council on issues of importance to the city’s residents. 51
• CL9 Page 82
  The Calexico Police Department followed its standard procedures in referring the Complainant to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.
• CL10 Page 82
  The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office could have served the Restraining Order, but not on the day requested by the Complainant.
• CL11 Page 82
  The Restraining Order was served.
• CL12 Page 82
  The husband attended the Court Hearing on Wednesday, February 27, as ordered in the Restraining Order.
• CL13 Page 82
  The judge directed the husband to surrender any weapons to the proper authorities.
• CL14 Page 82
  The murder-suicide happened that day, shortly after the conclusion of the Court Hearing.
• CL15 Page 16
  The City Manager and Finance Director answered all of the Civil Grand Jury’s questions. Indications are that the City of El Centro is in good shape. RESPONSE No response is required. 2 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY 2007-2008 FINAL REPORT SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION Imperial County Auditor-Controller’s Office REASON FOR INVESTIGATION The Civil Grand Jury is authorized by California State law to investigate the Imperial County Auditor-Controller’s Office periodically.
• CL16 Page 23
  The Calexico Fire Department appears to be functioning well, but faces a number of challenges. Among these challenges is the lack of a permanent fire chief, manpower shortages and appropriate location of fire stations to meet NFPA standards. More specifically, the Department’s fire-fighting contingent appears to be overextended given the size of the population, and the locations of existing fire stations do not support reasonable response times to emergencies. The City of Calexico would serve it residents well by examining these issues closely in the near future.
• CL17 Page 25
  Although the department is not fully staffed, the Calipatria Police Department is handling operations well with their current number of employees. The Police Department carries out their duties safely, efficiently and effectively.
• CL18 Page 44
  The facility is well organized, orderly and clean. The staff know their jobs and work well together. The staffs that were interviewed enjoy their jobs and are proud of how well the youth do in the facility. The guards visibly hold a strong presence of authority.
• CL19 Page 59
  Based on the findings from the interviews and tour, the Civil Grand Jury Investigative Committee arrived at a number of conclusions. Among them is that the airport has been badly neglected. It is in need of a lot of maintenance and improvements that have been known about for years. At a time when the airport appears to have great needs, it appears to be receiving very little attention from those who are managing it. The excessively high turnover in the Airport Manager position appears to be a reflection of the problems with the management of the airport operation. The current Airport Manager appears to be a competent and conscientious employee who is capable of maintaining the airport and making it grow and become more profitable. However, the Committee found a number of circumstances that appear to complicate the efforts of the Airport Manager and make it difficult to perform his job. Among these is a lack of communication and cooperation between the Airport Director, the Airport Assistant Director and the Airport Manager. While the Airport Manager seems to have much responsibility, he appears to have little authority to carry out his job responsibilities. He lacks timely budgetary information and has limited interaction with the Airport Financial Assistant who is located across town. He has limited or no authority to direct grounds maintenance workers. The state of the lease / rental agreements for airport grounds and facilities is chaotic. While the Airport Director is working on it, this situation is likely to have already cost the airport considerable revenue. The lack of information about competitive hangar rental rates and no review of existing rental agreements for years are also likely to have cost the airport revenue. Importantly, there are also several potential safety problems that need to be addressed, including the lack of access to hangars by fire officials, appropriate use of hangars, materials stored in hangars, and the availability of appropriate fire safety equipment. 45
• CL20 Page 72
  After interviewing several individuals in the Police Department, including two past Chief's and the City Manager we could not find evidence or facts that supported the allegations.
• CL21 Page 101
  Issue 19 Basedon thefindings from the interviews andtour, the CivilGrandJury Investigative Committee arrived at a number ofconclusions. Among them is that the airport hasbeen badlyneglected It isin needofa lot ofmaintenance and improvements that have been known aboutfor years. At a time when the airport appears to have great needs, it appears to be receiving very little attentionfrom those who are managing it. The excessively high turnover in the Airport Manager positionappearsto be a reflection oftheproblemswith the management ofthe airport operation. The current Airport Manager appears to be a competent and conscientious employee who is capable ofmaintaining the airport and making it grow and become more profitable. However, the Committee found a number of circumstances thatappearto complicate the efforts oftheAirportManager and make itdifficult toperform hisjob. Amongthese isa lack ofcommunicationand cooperation between the Airport Director, the Airport Assistant Director and the Airport Manager. While the Airport Manager seems to have much responsibility, he appears to have little authority to carry out hasjob responsibilities. He lacks timely budgetary information and has limited interaction with the Airport Financial Assistant who is located across town. He has limited or no authority to direct grounds maintenance workers. Response Conclusion - Issue 19 is disputed While the airport does need maintenance and improvements these activities are governed by available funding and are being addressed on a priority basis, Stating that the airport receives very little attention is unsupportable, Having two managers retire and the third leaving for personal reasons certainly doesn't constitute "excessive", Further, the nature ofthe noted "management problems" are unclear and thus cannot be responded to. Managing an airport, particularly one that has commercial service, is complex, extremely technical and sometimes tedious. The airport has to answer to several entities including four separate FAA divisions, the TSA, and CalTrans. Added to the mix are airport tenets, local government and airport neighbors. Notwithstanding the airport is continually striving to increase performance levels, P~e 80fll April 8, 2008 Response Letter to Grand Jury Issue 20 The state ofthe lease / rental agreementsfor airport grounds andfacilities is chaotic. While the Airport Director is working on it, this situation is likely to have already cost the airport considerable revenue. The lackofinformation about competitive hangarrentalrates andnoreview ofexistingrentalagreementsfor years are also likely to have cost the airport revenue. Importantly, there are also severalpotentialsafetyproblemsthatneedto be addressed, includingthe lack access to hangars byfire officials, appropriate use ofhangars, materials stored in hangars, and the availability ofappropriate fire safety equipment. Response Noted. Leases are reviewed and adjusted when appropriate - generally governed by the terms and conditions of the lease. With the receipt of the new Rates and Charges Analysis the airport will propose to the BOS a new "Rent and Fee Schedule". This is the first time the airport has been notified by the fire dept that they wanted access to the hangers to inspect for improper storage of flammable materials and proper fire safety equipment. Within the confines of the law, every effort will be made to make arrangements for "airport fire officials" to inspect airport hangars upon request.

Commendations 1

• CM1 Page 50
  The Civil Grand Jury commends the District for the consistently high morale of its employees, and the determination of all staff interviewed to lead the children in their care to their highest learning potential. RESPONSE The Civil Grand Jury respectfully requests that it be notified by the El Centro Elementary School District of actions taken in response to these recommendations. 36 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY 2007-2008 FINAL REPORT SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION Imperial County Behavioral Health Services REASON FOR INVESTIGATION The Civil Grand Jury is authorized to conduct a review of Imperial County Behavioral Health Services (ICBHS) periodically.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.