⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 14 findings
F1
Many of the Arvin City employees have voiced concerns that other staff members are not doing the amount of work required for their respective positions, causing animosity in the workplace.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that by August 1, 2025, the City, through its Human Resources Department, provide mandatory specialized training for the Mayor, City Council, and all City employees regarding confidentiality, workplace decorum and team building. (Findings #1 and #2)
F2
Cohesiveness within the staff is often missing, demonstrated by employee allegiance – or lack thereof – to various members of the City Council, department heads, or fellow employees. This has resulted in the perception of two “teams” within the City staff working in different directions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that by August 1, 2025, the City, through its Human Resources Department, provide mandatory specialized training for the Mayor, City Council, and all City employees regarding confidentiality, workplace decorum and team building. (Findings #1 and #2)
F3
The unattractiveness of closed businesses discourages other businesses from locating in the downtown area.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Grand Jury recommends that by July 1, 2025, the City assemble a working group made up of representatives from the City Departments of Community Development, Economic Development, Parks & Recreation, Police, Transportation, and the City Council to work with a similar group of persons or groups, such as business groups, service clubs, and property owners interested in the revitalization of Arvin’s downtown area to develop an actionable plan to attract commerce, residents and others into the area. (Findings #3 and #4)
F4
Repairing the streets in the downtown area of Arvin is a critical piece in the overall economic revitalization of the City, by aiding in the attraction of businesses to that part of town.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Grand Jury recommends that by July 1, 2025, the City assemble a working group made up of representatives from the City Departments of Community Development, Economic Development, Parks & Recreation, Police, Transportation, and the City Council to work with a similar group of persons or groups, such as business groups, service clubs, and property owners interested in the revitalization of Arvin’s downtown area to develop an actionable plan to attract commerce, residents and others into the area. (Findings #3 and #4)
F5
The lack of scrutiny of billings from the Outside Law Group has resulted in payment of invoices that are billed in excess of the contracted amounts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
All over-payments and under-payments discovered with the audit of the Outside Law Group’s billings should be collected/paid by July 30, 2025. (Finding #5)
F6
The contract with the Outside Law Group describes the agreement as an appointment of an “interim City Attorney.” (See Attachment A, ¶2.0 of the contract with the Outside Law Group). The contract, dated May 25, 2021, is still in use, and no apparent effort has been made to either find a new qualified attorney or to update the contract with the Outside Law Group. 6
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
The Grand Jury recommends that all Outside Law Group invoices from the commencement of the contract (May 26, 2021) to date be adjusted to include the retainer, adjust the fees per the contract and reduce the number of hours charged accordingly by June 30, 2025. (Findings #6 and #7)
R7
The Grand Jury recommends that by July 1, 2025, the City Council secure a City Attorney by a valid contract or direct employment. (Finding #6)
F7
Adjusting the contractual fees to be charged/paid with the 5% annual increase required under the contract in ¶3.1 results in the following hourly fee schedule: Basic Services Attorneys $260.46 Paralegals and Law Clerks 115.76 Special Legal Services Partner/Of Counsel 341.50 Associate 260.46 Paralegals and Law Clerks 115.76 Third Party Partner/Of Counsel 405.17 Associate 318.34 Paralegals and Law Clerks 144.70 Other Specialists Partner/Of Counsel 318.34 to $520.93 Associates 248.89 to 318.34
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Grand Jury recommends that all Outside Law Group invoices from the commencement of the contract (May 26, 2021) to date be adjusted to include the retainer, adjust the fees per the contract and reduce the number of hours charged accordingly by June 30, 2025. (Findings #6 and #7)
F8
The City does not have a written contract in effect with the outside contractor working for the Planning Department. This could lead to excessive billing.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that by May 1, 2025, a written contract with a contractor for the City’s Planning Department be completed and signed by all parties. (Finding #8)
F9
The Police Department’s emphasis on Community Policing has brought the crime statistics down considerably in the past two and one-half years, contributing to Arvin becoming a more welcoming community.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The City Council failed in its duty to either appoint a replacement for the Council vacancy, or to call for a Special Election.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends that by March 14, 2025, Arvin comply with California Elections Codes §§1000 and 1405 by filing a notice of intent to hold a special election to fill the vacant City Council seat. (Finding #10)
F11
The decision to cease the publishing of City Council Minutes has left the residents of Arvin without an easy way to determine what actions were taken by the City Council except what they may learn from the press or word of mouth.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
By July 1, 2025, the Grand Jury recommends that City Council Meeting Minutes be posted on the City’s website promptly after they are approved by the City Council. (Finding #11) NOTES: • The City of Arvin should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other-agencies/grand-jury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other-agencies/grand-jury RESPONSE DEADLINE: • REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: Arvin City Council
F12
The deviation from the customary agenda format resulted in having the old council vote on matters before the new council had been seated. This preempted the new council’s opportunity to vote on matters that otherwise would have been before them.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
The Grand Jury recommends that a Special Election be held on November 4, 2025, to bring the City into compliance with the law, California Code, Elections Code - ELEC §1000 to fill the vacant City Council seat. (Finding #12)
R9
By July 1, 2025, the City Council should codify an agenda format to be followed at the first Council meeting following the certification of an election, special election, or appointment. This format should place the swearing in of new members (including the Mayor) first on the agenda followed by Public Comments. (Finding #12)
F13
There is an inherent conflict with the City Manager also filling the roles of Finance Director and Community Development Director.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
By July 1, 2025, an Assistant City Manager should be hired to relieve conflicts created for the City Manager by filling the multiple roles of City Manager, Finance Director, and Community Development Manager. (Finding #13) 8
F14
The City of Arvin should be commended for its forward thinking in the management of its Transit Department and the conversion of its bus fleet to all electric. 7
No recommendations for this finding