Ensure ongoing community input in the finalization of all projects...*

The Financial Oversight Committee exemplifies the disability of the system by being placed at the end of the approval process. The Ordinance intended the Financial Oversight Committee to "Ensure ongoing community input in the finalization of all projects...". Response, Financial Oversight Committee. The Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) disagrees with this finding. There is no disability of the system with respect to Measure A projects' approval process. All projects are subject to review and oversight by qualified engineers, including the Flood Authority and Flood District. As set forth in Measure A itself (enacted as Napa County Flood Protection and Watershed Improvement Authority Ordinance No. 1), the role of the FOC with respect to approving projects is limited to making a recommendation on proposed replacement projects. (See Measure A, Section 8, concluding paragraph). Section 9(A)(2) sets forth the responsibilities of the FOC, and approval of projects is not a listed responsibility. Rather, the role of FOC is to ensure that Measure A funds are being properly expended. The Grand Jury's quote with respect to the intent of the FOC is misplaced. That quotation is from Section 3, entitled Purpose and Intent, with respect to the Napa County Flood Protection and Watershed Improvement Expenditure Plan as a whole, not the specific role of the FOC.

The Financial Oversight Committee is the community "watchdog" for Measure A projects and should constantly monitor the projects in all stages, instead of only after the termination of those projects. Response, Financial Oversight Committee. The Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) agrees that its role could be construed as a community "watchdog" with respect to the expenditure of Measure A tax funds, as Section 9 states the FOC's "purpose and charge is to inform the public regarding the expenditure of the Flood Protection Sales Tax proceeds that will be generated as a result of the approval of this Ordinance by the Authority and the electorate." The FOC disagrees it should monitor projects in all stages. FOC members have neither time nor expertise to fulfill roles currently performed by qualified engineers of the Flood Authority and Flood District. FOC members are community volunteers and serve without compensation. The FOC's role is to monitor the expenditures of tax proceeds, not monitor actual project design and construction.

The Financial Oversight Committee is improperly constituted and has passively performed its role. Response, Financial Oversight Committee. The Financial Oversight Committee (FOC) disagrees with this finding. The FOC is properly constituted in accordance with the membership requirements of Measure A, Section 9(A)(3). The fact that there are vacant Committee positions does not mean the Committee is improperly constituted. The FOC also disagrees that it has performed its role passively. The FOC has complied with its financial oversight duties as set forth in Section 9 of Measure A. Responses to Recommendations: