Final Report 2019-20

Conclusions 28

• CL1 Page 34
  The TCBOS has neglected to provide essential oversight to ensure that the public interest is served. They continue to reappoint trustees who have demonstrated an inability/unwillingness to adhere to accepted practices as they relate to conduct of Cemetery District board meetings.
• CL2 Page 18
  Tulare County Office of Education Findings F1-F5, Recommendation R1. ***Disclaimer*** Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Section 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Section 924.2 and 929). 11
• CL3 Page 19
  Conducted interviews FACTS:
• CL4 Page 20
  CWS has seven resource homes that qualify (per AB 403) to care for youth with special needs.
• CL5 Page 20
  Social Workers and resource families working with Special Needs Youth require specialized training.
• CL6 Page 20
  The total number of youth under the supervision of CWS is 1,101. Currently 56 cases are special needs (5.09%).
• CL7 Page 20
  CWS has an ongoing recruiting program for Special Needs Resource Families.
• CL8 Page 20
  CWS has an ombudsman program to assist Resource Families.
• CL9 Page 20
  CWS has a 24 hour hot line to aid Resource Families. FINDINGS: F1: There are not enough trained Resource Families to meet the needs required by AB 403. F2: Placement of Special Needs Youth can be with an individual Resource Family, extended family member or a Short Term Residential Treatment Center. F3: Recruitment efforts are extensive throughout the County at different organized events: • County events • School events • Recreation events • Private events/meetings (such as clinics, hospitals, schools and clubs) F4: The specific special needs categories also include youth with the following conditions: • Diabetes • G-Tube • Tracheotomy • Non- Ambulatory F5: CWS is looking for Care Families who possess the following characteristics: • Caring and flexible • Willing to transport youth to medical appointments • Willing to learn from and receive training by doctors on how to care for a youth’s healthcare needs • Willing to attend appointments in various settings including clinics and hospitals • Experienced in caring for youth with health needs or are willing to learn CONCLUSIONS: Health and Human Services Agency is committed to meeting the requirements of AB 403. 13
• CL10 Page 31
  Both TCAT and VT have a Capital Budget program that includes the replacement of buses on a scheduled basis. VT is under a federal mandate to convert one-half of its fixed route bus fleet to all electric by 2040.
• CL11 Page 31
  Currently, there are preliminary discussions about a “regional transportation plan” that would consolidate separate providers under one authority structure. FINDINGS: F1. Public transportation in Tulare County would not exist if its only revenue source was ridership fares. Public transportation is highly dependent on subsidies from various government and public sources. 24 F2. Recent complaints about the consolidations have been addressed and in three instances the issues were resolved to the satisfaction of the public. F3. TCAT and VT cooperate with each other for transfer programs for riders. Together, they have a “consolidate and cooperate” attitude.
• CL12 Page 34
  Members of the group Caring Cause speak up in board meetings before they are recognized by the Chairman and interrupt speakers during public comment sessions. FINDINGS: F1. Office staff was using antiquated bookkeeping practices which led to inaccurate and lost payroll documents as well as endowment fund practices not being followed for several years. Payroll was done by averaging hours rather than hours worked. F2. Information contained in the Board packets are frequently incomplete and not all members are provided information to which they are entitled. Requests on August 29, 2019, September 30, 2019 and October 10, 2019 by a board member for information was not received by the board member. F3. “Caring Cause” is a volunteer group, which is disruptive to Board meetings. F4. TCCGJ found no evidence to confirm that required ethics training had been administered. F5. The cemetery district addressed accounting issues with new accounting practices and software. F6. The TCBOS has neglected to provide essential oversight to ensure that the public interest is served. They continue to reappoint trustees who have demonstrated an inability/unwillingness to adhere to accepted practices as they relate to conduct of Cemetery District board meetings.
• CL13 Page 45
  Do you have any significant problems reading or understanding the English Language?
• CL14 Page 45
  Do you have any suggestions, comments or other matters you would like to bring to the judges attention in connection with your application?
• CL15 Page 45
  Please tell us about any special skills or abilities that you have which the judges should know about in considering your application?
• CL16 Page 45
  Please tell us why you are interested in serving on the Tulare County Civil Grand Jury. (Please attach additional pages as needed)
• CL17 Page 45
  Describe any background experience or skills you have which would be helpful to grand jury service (i.e., computer skills, leadership skills, or experience writing/editing reports, working in groups, or conducting investigations or interviews.) Mail in the envelope provided or deliver to: Attention: Civil Grand Jury Tulare County Superior Court 221 S. Mooney Blvd., Room 303 Visalia, CA 93291 Or Fax to: (559) 737-4290 NOTE: Applicants for nomination as a member of the Tulare County Civil Grand Jury are subject to investigation by an appropriate law enforcement agency as to the statutory qualifications for service and the applicant’s ability and suitability for service. In support of my application for selection as a member of the Tulare County Civil Grand Jury, I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing information is true and correct. Signed: Date: 36 Page of 5
• CL18 Page 21
  Health and Human Services Agency: Findings F1-F5, Recommendation R1 ***Disclaimer*** Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Section 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Section 924.2 and 929). 14
• CL19 Page 23
  Interviewed witnesses
• CL20 Page 23
  Reviewed documents FACTS:
• CL21 Page 26
  Tulare County’s ownership of property totaling 4,479 acres of land includes the following property types: Agriculture Land Detention Facilities Parks Airport/Airfields Fire Stations Ponding Basins Animal Control Facility Landfills Road Yards Auto Shops Libraries Sheriff’s Sub-Stations Borrow Pits Multi-Purpose Properties Undeveloped Land Clinics Museum Warehouses Courthouses Office Space Waste Water Treatment Plants Data Communication Facilities Parking Lots Well Sites
• CL22 Page 26
  The above list does not include properties acquired through foreclosure, property tax default or right-of-way. These properties are outside the scope and authority of the PMD.
• CL23 Page 26
  The PMD has a webpage that is accessed through the GSA website under “GSA Divisions” https://tularecounty. ca.gov/generalservices FINDINGS: F1. The PMD has written policies and procedures in place for the acquisition and disposition of real estate. F2. The PMD maintains a database of Tulare County properties that are: • owner/occupied properties • properties occupied as a tenant • properties leased out as a landlord F3. There is a process, which requires the Tulare County Board of Supervisors’ approval, for the sale, purchase and lease of real estate. Many of the procedures are dictated by the State of California. F4. The PMD follows a process to retain the services of a real estate brokerage firm on an exclusive basis to represent them in the acquisition and disposition of real estate. The brokerage firm is retained for one year, with the option to extend the contract for another year. 19 F5. The PMD’s website is outdated and lacking basic information such as: key people, available properties, forms and current Requests for Proposal. RECOMMENDTIONS: R1. That the PMD continue to refine their Real Estate Policy and Procedures Manual. R2. That the PMD enhance their website to include: key people, available properties that are for sale and for lease and current Requests for Proposals. REQUIRED RESPONSES:
• CL24 Page 31
  Currently, VT has three electric operated buses in its 37-bus fleet. An additional three will be ordered in 2021. The cost of an electric bus is currently between $850,000 and $950,000, which is approximately $200,000 more than CNG- operated buses. The funding for buses comes from federal and state sources and grants.
• CL25 Page 31
  TCAT operates the following services by contracting with a transportation provider, MV Transportation. The ridership is approximately 278,000 per year: • Fixed Route Service: 4 inter-city routes. 5 local circulators. Blended paratransit. • Dial-A-Ride service in the communities of Lindsay, rural Tulare/Waukena, South County and North County. • LOOP Bus Program.
• CL26 Page 24
  Tulare County Sheriff : Findings F1-F4: Recommendations R1-R3: ***Disclaimer*** Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Section 911, 924.1 (a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Section 924.2 and 929). 17 "GIVE ME LAND, LOTS OF LAND" BACKGROUND: Government entities at all levels in the United States are among the largest property owners and tenants in their respective areas. The same holds true for Tulare County. This scope of real estate ownership and tenancy entails significant capital expenditures, ongoing operating expenses, expertise and operating responsibility to be properly accountable to the taxpayers of the County. The management of real estate is an administrative function involving staffing, a detailed process, operating controls, budgeting, record keeping, analysis, implementation and monitoring. Traditionally, a government entity will house these functions in a Real Estate or Property Management Department. In Tulare County, the real estate function is handled by the Property Management Division (PMD) of the General Services Agency (GSA). The GSA is one of thirteen departments of the Tulare County government. The mission statement of the PMD is: “To secure, develop, and manage the properties and real estate assets necessary for the County to deliver services to the public.” In the course of their operations, the PMD is responsible for property acquisitions, dispositions, lease negotiations and tenant management. REASON FOR THE INVESTIGATION: The Tulare County Civil Grand Jury (TCCGJ) is given broad authority by the California Penal Code to perform reviews of county and city departments or agencies thereof. The decision is not necessarily based on suspicions of illegalities or malfeasance. It can be, as in the case of the GSA-PMD, to provide the general public of Tulare County with information regarding an important aspect of local government operations. The TCCGJ initiated an investigation into the practices and procedures of the GSA-PMD. Among those things of interest were the amount of real estate owned and leased by Tulare County and the process and procedures in place by the PMD to acquire and dispose of real estate. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION:
• CL27 Page 25
  Reviewed documents 18
• CL28 Page 26
  Tulare County leases (as a tenant) 64 properties totaling 550,000+ square feet. Rent currently paid by the County totals $9,358,068 annually.

No Responses Found 3

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