County of Napa

Recommendations 10

• R1

  Page 25
  The Napa County Board of Supervisors examine the need to upgrade the Napa Elections Office to ensure adequate office workspace for future elections. This examination should include collaboration with and input from the Napa County Elections Division staff, and should occur , with a report of recommendations released in 45 days.
• R2

  Page 25
  The Napa County Elections Division review its website for modernization and standards to help the organization of information. The Elections website should include the public reports required by the state. Recommendation for a review and generation of areas of improvement of the website be and implementation of changes from the identification of the areas of improvement.
• R3

  Page 25
  The Napa County Elections Division set up and maintain its own social media accounts to distribute voter information, and staff should refrain from using personal accounts to communicate official county business. Both of these recommendations should be implemented
• R4

  Page 25
  The Napa County Elections Division examine its outreach program directed to those coming of age to vote. This outreach should be added to the next iteration of the Napa County Election Administration Plan (EAP). Materials should be readily available and circulated COMMENDATIONS The Civil Grand Jury commends the Napa County Elections Division Staff and Registrar of Voters. These individuals executed their duties expertly and conducted their operations in a manner that ensured the elections were safe, secure, and conducted in accordance with the law and procedures. The Elections Division staff governed the process with integrity and transparency.
• R5

  Page 50
  NVUSD should arrange for independent training of Citizen Bond Oversight Committees, starting with the new Measure B committee, and do so
• R6

  Page 50
  NVUSD should implement fully its existing facilities planning policy by establishing a Facilities Advisory Committee consisting of staff, parents/guardians, and business, local government, and other community representatives, and do so before a new Facilities Master Plan is created and no later than June 30, 2026.
• R7

  Page 102
  The Jury recommends that, whenever possible PBES send the same inspector to conduct follow-up inspections. Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services: The recommendation has been implemented. Inspectors are currently assigned districts (as noted in the Finding 7 response) corresponding to areas in which they are responsible for inspections. Staff strives to have the same inspector out for the same project; however, inspectors are sometimes unavailable due to personal leave, like time off, sickness, or needing to care for a loved one. Other inspectors may need to fill in to fulfill a timely inspection. Additionally, workload in one area may be greater, so two inspectors may be needed to cover the demand for that district. On occasion, an inspector may not be available for a follow up inspection that they provided a correction notice on. A different inspector may conduct the inspection. The inspector will typically only be looking at what the prior inspector noted and just confirms those items are corrected. If they see additional items that the prior inspector missed, they are advised to honor the prior inspector's corrections unless they observe a life safety violation. In these rare occasions, the inspector then uses their judgement when requiring additional corrections while considering the safety of the building and its occupants. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services.
• R8

  Page 102
  The Jury recommends that PBES immediately establish a protocol for resolving conflicting code interpretations by different inspectors on the same project. Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services: The recommendation has not yet been implemented. Building inspectors are trained under the same California Building Code and strive for consistency as described in the response to Recommendation 7. There are occasions when the Building Code may not be entirely clear, and the inspector may need to interpret the intent of the code language. When this occurs, it typically results in a discussion with the other inspectors and the Field Inspection Supervisor. In the morning before the inspectors head out for the day, inspectors will discuss code corrections from the prior day as well as review any issues that might arise with the inspections assigned for that day. This is an opportunity to promote a balanced understanding of the code across the inspection team. Currently, these discussions are organic in nature and brought up as issues come up with the individual inspector. The Field Inspection Supervisor will establish a more formal protocol to promote uniformity and consistency in this process by December 31, 2024. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services. R.9 By December 31, 2024, the Jury recommends that PBES provide mobile compatible electronic devices for each field inspector capable of reviewing plans and prior inspection notes. Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services: The recommendation has not yet been implemented. In the fall of 2023, a single iPad was issued to the inspection team to allow preliminary testing of a mobile tablet device in the field. Based on the feedback received, the testing was expanded to include the purchase and issuance of two additional tablets to the inspection staff. Subsequently, two more tablets have been requested, bringing the total number up to five (5). This will enable each of our inspectors the ability to result inspections, view previous inspection results and comments, and access digital plans while conducting their inspections in the field. It is important to note that iPads and other remote electronic devices are limited by the wireless network coverage throughout the County. The hills and valleys in the County result in some areas lacking cell coverage, preventing the devices from communicating with the permitting software at the County offices. Despite these challenges, it has been proven that an iPad or similar device is useful in most parts of the County. We will have the 5 iPads implemented by September 30, 2024. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the Director of the Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services. NAPA COUNTY'S COMMUNICATION WITH ITS CITIZENS Report Date: 3/27/2024 Response Date Board of Supervisors: 8/6/24 (142 days) Response Date County Executive Officer: 8/20/24 (156 days) Response Date Sheriff: 8/20/24 (156 days) Response Date County Office of Emergency Operations: 8/20/24 (156 days)
• R9

  Page 116
  By December 31, 2024, the Sheriff’s Department OES prepare and execute updated plans to fix deficiencies in alert notification measures ensuring that accurate and timely emergency information is disseminated to the public and media when needed. This may require assessing alternative emergency notification system providers to resolve ongoing Everbridge deficiencies. This recommendation has been implemented. Since July 2023, Everbridge has been responsive and continues to be responsive in improving the reliability and e ectiveness of their platform. As indicated in Response to Finding 7, the most recent contract with Everbridge was a three-year renewal of the previous contract. ff Everbridge had acquired Nixle in 2015, and the renewed contract contemplated that, during this period, the County’s subscribers would be migrated from the Nixle platform to the Everbridge platform. As the Jury found, however, this transition was not seamless. Beginning in July 2023, the issues were quickly identified and addressed, and now the system appears to be functioning properly. Beginning in the spring 2025, the Sheri will recommend to the Board of Supervisors to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for messaging services beyond October 2025 when the ff Everbridge contract expires. Everbridge can certainly submit a proposal as part of that process, and other providers will also be invited to submit proposals. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the Sheri . ff
• R10

  Page 116
  By September 30, 2024, the Sheriff’s Department OES collaborate with Napa County communication staff to address problems with the “Alert Napa County” citizen enrollment process including increased awareness of how to enroll, streamline the enrollment process, and improve citizen’s ability to manage their own alert notification preferences. This recommendation has been implemented. As indicated in Response to Finding 10, beginning in January 2024, residents can now subscribe by simply texting their zip code to 888-777. Additionally, logging into their online 109 | Pa ge account allows citizens to opt into the notices that they wish to receive. OES continues to work with Everbridge to ensure the platform functions correctly and is as user-friendly as possible. The Board of Supervisors agrees with the Sheri . ff RAISING AWARENESS OF ELDER ABUSE IN NAPA COUNTY Report Date: 4/24/2024 Response Date County Sheriff: 7/3/2024 (70 days) Response Date City of Napa: 7/16/2024 (83 days) Response Date County Director of HHS Agency 9/11/2024 (140 days)