The Honorable Superior Court Judges

Comments 23

• CO1
  derogatory letters about a city councilman were read into the record at a Hanford City Council meeting even though they were not included as an item on the agenda
• CO2
  the selection of two Hanford City Councilmen as the leaders of the Hanford City Council was allegedly made prior to the public meeting.
• CO3
  The Grand Jury thanks all those interviewed during the course of this very informative investigation into the services available to Veterans throughout Kings County. REQUIRED RESPONSES: None INVITED RESPONSES: Public Guardian/Veterans Services Office Kings County Behavioral Health Department Page 21 of 214 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Page 22 of 214 PEOPLESOFT SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury received an anonymous complaint in regards to the installation and transition of the county payroll system to the electronic PeopleSoft program. Understanding the importance of the program, and how the then-current manual input payroll system operated, the Kings County Grand Jury decided to investigate.
• CO4
  The Grand Jury thanks those interviewed during the course of this investigation. RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES Kings County Board of Supervisors Kings County Administrative Office Kings County IT Department Page 26 of 214 SIGNAGE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY A city or county ordinance is a type of authoritative law, rule, or regulation made by a city or county government, as opposed to a law made by a state, province, or national government. It is intended to address issues of local concern, and applies to people subject to the cities’ or counties’ jurisdiction. Most ordinances are enacted by a city council or a board of supervisors, and they have the equivalent power and force of a statute. The Kings County Grand Jury received a complaint in regards to the numerous signs located at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Highway 43. In response to the complaint, the Grand Jury decided to review code enforcement practices throughout Kings County.
• CO5
  The Grand Jury thanks all those interviewed during the course of this investigation, as well as commend the efforts of those public employees who remain enthusiastic and dedicated to the goal of improving their communities in spite of severe budgetary constraints. Page 30 of 214
• CO6
  Page 39 of 214 The Kings County Grand Jury thanks the staff of the Adventist Health Birth Center for the tour and information. The Grand Jury was also impressed not only with the facility but also the attitude of members of the staff with whom contact was made. Page 40 of 214 CITY OF LEMOORE RECREATION CENTER SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury was made aware of the Lemoore Recreation Center located at 721 West Cinnamon in Lemoore and the tremendous use of the building by residents of the city. It was decided that a visit to inspect the facility was in order.
• CO7
  The Kings County Grand Jury thanks the staff of the Lemoore Recreation Department’s Recreation Center for the tour, information and publication. Page 43 of 214 RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES City of Lemoore Recreation Department Lemoore City Council Page 44 of 214 CORCORAN HIGH SCHOOL SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury was made aware of the Technology Learning Center located on the campus of Corcoran High School and decided that a visit to the facility should take place. The visit by the Grand Jury was expanded to include the entire campus with emphasis on the master plan for the improvement of most campus facilities. The Grand Jury was impressed not only with the campus improvements but also the atmosphere on the entire campus as displayed by both students and staff.
• CO8
  The Kings County Grand Jury thanks the staff of Corcoran High School for the tour and information.
• CO9
  The Grand Jury thanks all those who provided information regarding this inquiry. INVITED RESPONSES Hanford Joint Union High School District Board of Trustees Pa ge 55 of 214 INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM SUMMARY The Independent Living Program (ILP) advocates for barrier-free access and equal opportunity for young adults with disabilities to participate in community life. The program examines strategies to achieve employment for youth with chronic health issues. The ILP provides links to information, accessibility, assistive technology and other resources that contribute to living independently. The goal of the ILP is to teach moderate to severely disabled students independent living skills as they transition from high school to adulthood.
• CO10
  The Kings County Grand Jury appreciates the opportunity to tour the Independent Living Program’s facility and thanks the staff and students for their hospitality. It was evident to this Grand Jury that they lived up to their motto, “We aren’t special education teachers; we are teachers who work with special kids.”
• CO11
  The Kings County Grand Jury thanks the staff for the tour and information.
• CO12
  The Grand Jury thanks all those interviewed during the course of this investigation. The Grand Jury was impressed with the quality and dedication that the entire staff displayed. The student body was also impressive with their commitment to achieving a quality education. RESPONSE REQUIRED Pursuant to Penal Code, §933.(c) and §933.05, the Grand Jury requests responses from individuals and governing groups within 90 days as follows: Lemoore Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees Lemoore Superintendent of Schools INVITED RESPONSES Lemoore Elementary School Principal Page 67 of 214 Page 68 of 214 SIERRA PACIFIC HIGH SCHOOL SUMMARY Sierra Pacific High School is the newest public high school in Kings County and had not been visited by the Kings County Grand Jury since its first year of operation when only ninth grade students were enrolled. Since then, there have been three graduating classes and the Grand Jury felt it was time to revisit the school.
• CO13
  The Grand Jury was impressed with the atmosphere on the campus as displayed by both students and staff. The Kings County Grand Jury thanks Page 71 of 214 the staff of Sierra Pacific High School for the tour and information. The Grand Jury is also thankful to the students for their hospitality.
• CO14
  The Grand Jury thanks the Warden, Staff and Inmates of the Avenal State Prison for their hospitality during the informative and instructive tour. Page 79 of 214 RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES None Page 80 of 214 CALIFORNIA SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT FACILITY AT CORCORAN SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury inquired into the condition and management of the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (CSATF) at the Corcoran State Prison.
• CO15
  The Grand Jury thanks the Warden and staff of the California Substance and Treatment Facility at Corcoran for their hospitality during the informative and instructive tour. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES: Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, the Grand Jury invites the CSATF- Corcoran Warden or designee to respond to Finding #1 and Finding #2 within 90 days. Page 86 of 214 Appendix 1 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 2014 Outcome Evaluation Report Page 87 of 214 Appendix 2 The Future of California Corrections Appendix B: Institution, Staffing, and Programming Plan Page 88 of 214 COLLEGE OF THE SEQUOIAS - HANFORD CAMPUS PEACE OFFICER AND FIRE FIGHTER ACADEMIES SUMMARY As a matter of public interest the Kings County Grand Jury toured the Public Safety Academies of the College of the Sequoias, Hanford campus. The purpose of the tours was to review the training programs for the Peace Officer and Fire Fighter Academies.
• CO16
  The Kings County Grand Jury is greatly appreciative of the local law enforcement officials and COS administrators who attended our tour of the Tulare–Kings Counties Basic Peace Officer Academy and shared their time and expertise. The Grand Jury also thanks the COS staff and students of the academies for sharing information during the two informative tours. INVITED RESPONSES Director, COS Tulare–Kings Counties Basic Peace Officer Academy Director, COS Fire Fighter I Academy Page 92 of 214 CORCORAN STATE PRISON SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury inquired into the condition and management of the California State Prison Corcoran (CSP-Corcoran).
• CO17
  The Grand Jury thanks the Warden and Staff of CSP-Corcoran for their hospitality during the informative and instructive tour. RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES None Page 97 of 214 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Page 98 of 214 KINGS COUNTY ONE-PERSON FIRE STATIONS SUMMARY The 2014-2015 Grand Jury previously identified the continued existence and use of one-person fire stations in Kings County as a condition which “could lead to dangerous situations” and recommended that all County Fire Stations should be staffed by at least two firefighters. Since the issuance of that report, no substantive action(s) have been taken by the Kings County Board of Supervisors to address the previous Grand Jury’s recommendation that no fire station in Kings County should be operated by fewer than two firefighters. In Volume I (Program Budgets) of the 2015-2016 County Budget, the Fire Chief requested the addition of six new firefighters as a first step towards the goal of eliminating one-person fire stations in Kings County. However, the Chief Administrative Office did not support the Fire Department’s request. During the 2015-2016 August budget hearings, an agreement was reached between the Chief Administrative Office and the Fire Administration to request three new fire apparatus engineers to address the amount of overtime costs first. The Board of Supervisors allocated three Fire Apparatus Engineers to address the problem of the fire department’s excessive accumulation of overtime costs and agreed to address the staffing of the one-person fire stations in a different budget year depending on revenues. From 1986-1987 to 2012-2013, a portion of the Hazardous Waste Tax revenues was consistently directed to the Fire Fund. In 2013-2014, those revenues were redirected to the General Fund and the Capital Outlay Fund, with no Hazardous Waste Tax revenues going to the Fire Fund. Based upon credible information provided to the current Grand Jury, it is apparent that there was a time when volunteer firefighters were consistently available to bolster the efforts of a single firefighter operating a fire station in Kings County. Today however, the number of volunteer firefighters has dwindled markedly and they are no longer able to provide consistent back- up to the county’s one-person fire stations. Page 99 of 214 The risks to the fire-fighting staff of one-person fire stations were recently highlighted in a Hanford Sentinel article titled “House severely damaged in fire” . The Sentinel reporter accurately noted that the one-person fire 3 station’s single firefighter who initially responded to the severely destructive fire, “…couldn’t do much until reinforcements arrived” because a single firefighter is not permitted to enter a burning residence in the absence of additional firefighting personnel unless there is immediate danger to human life. The 2015-2016 Grand Jury is recommending that the Kings County Board of Supervisors take steps to work expeditiously towards the elimination of one- person fire stations in Kings County including:  reconsidering the cut-off of Hazardous Waste Tax revenues to the Fire Fund, including those funds designated as “one-time revenues”,  approving a Firefighter classification at the much lower cost than that of the Equipment Apparatus Engineer classification,  conducting a study session with the County Administration and the County Fire Department with the goal of developing and adopting a resolution to eliminate one-person fire stations in Kings County.
• CO18
  The 2015-2016 Grand Jury recognizes and appreciates the committed and dedicated service of all Kings County firefighting personnel.
• CO19
  The Grand Jury thanks those who provided testimony and pertinent documents during the investigation.
• CO20
  The Grand Jury thanks all those interviewed during the course of this investigation. RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES Hanford City Council Hanford City Manager Hanford City Public Works Director Page 149 of 214 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Page 150 of 214 Responses to 2014-2015 Final Report Page 151 of 214 This Page Intentionally Left Blank Page 152 of 214 Page 153 of 214 Page 154 of 214 Page 155 of 214 Page 156 of 214 Page 157 of 214 Page 158 of 214 Page 159 of 214 Page 160 of 214 Page 161 of 214 Page 162 of 214 Page 163 of 214 Page 164 of 214 Page 165 of 214 Page 166 of 214 Page 167 of 214 Page 168 of 214 Page 169 of 214 Page 170 of 214 Page 171 of 214 Page 172 of 214 Page 173 of 214 Page 174 of 214 Page 175 of 214 Page 176 of 214 Page 177 of 214 Page 178 of 214 Page 179 of 214 Page 180 of 214 Page 181 of 214 Page 182 of 214 Page 183 of 214 Page 184 of 214 Page 185 of 214 Page 186 of 214 Page 187 of 214 Page 188 of 214 Page 189 of 214 Page 190 of 214 Page 191 of 214 Page 192 of 214 Page 193 of 214 Page 194 of 214 Page 195 of 214 Page 196 of 214 Page 197 of 214 Page 198 of 214 Page 199 of 214 Page 200 of 214 Page 201 of 214 Page 202 of 214 Page 203 of 214 Page 204 of 214 Page 205 of 214 Page 206 of 214 Page 207 of 214 Page 208 of 214 Page 209 of 214 Page 210 of 214 Page 211 of 214 Page 212 of 214 Page 213 of 214 CITY OF CORCORAN WATER REPORT SUMMARY A number of citizens from Corcoran were outraged that the Corcoran City Council had planned an emergency water rate meeting and did not make enough effort to notify the citizens. There is concern that the council did not properly notify citizens of their intent to increase the water rates as per Proposition 218. On February 1, 2016, the City Council approved an amended Resolution 2820 (Implementing an Emergency Rate Increase for Water Rates in Order to Meet Debt Service Coverage Requirements). The amended report authorized the water rate increase in 2016 based on a water rate study conducted in 2005. Conservation efforts have caused the water usage to decrease which has affected revenues.
• CO21
  The Kings County Grand Jury thanks all those interviewed during the course of this investigation.
• CO22
  The Grand Jury thanks the Assistant Sheriff and staff of the Kings County Jail for their hospitality during the very informative and instructive tour. RESPONSE REQUIRED None INVITED RESPONSES None KINGS COUNTY JUVENILE HALL SUMMARY The Kings County Grand Jury inquired into the condition and management of the Kings County Juvenile Hall.
• CO23
  The Grand Jury thanks the Staff of the Kings County Probation Department andJuvenile Hall for their hospitality during the very informative and instructive tour. RESPONSE REQUIRED None 4 INVITED RESPONSES None