Sutter County Grand Jury
• 2020-2021
Continuity - The Three R’s – Recommendations, Responses & Results Fire & Emergency Services – Is Sutter County Playing
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 10 findings
F1
Page 13
There R1. The Sutter F1. The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding. This is a County The jail opened approx. 11,000 square feet of recommendation staffing Sheriff’s additional space that must meet with the Board has been partially issue Department of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) implemented. within should expand standards, which has placed more responsibility On March 8, the Sutter jail on existing staff. 2021, the Sutter County employment to R1. Response: The Sheriff’s Office sought County Board of Sheriffs provide more information for a comprehensive staffing analysis Supervisors BOS Jail manpower for the entire office. Regretfully, the cost was approved an Facility. within the jail prohibitive so the Sheriff is exploring other $80,800 contract by December 1, options that may be more affordable. With the with 2021. opening of the AB900 jail expansion project, there Management has been approx. 11,000 additional square feet of Partners, Inc. for space that needs to be maintained. This includes an Organizational inmate housing, a new jail medical, and kitchen Structure Study renovations. The Sheriff’s Office recognized Analysis additional resources would be needed but further Contract. analysis is needed to determine appropriate staffing levels. The Sheriff’s Office did add one position to the jail medical area during FY19/20 and added a secretary to the jail to assist with organization and tracking. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to finding reasonable solutions for improving staffing and is working with the County Administrator for possible solutions. …………………………………..
F2
Page 14
The Sutter R2. The Sutter F2. The Sheriff's Office agrees with This County Grand County Sheriff’s the finding. recommendation has Jury found Department been implemented.
F3
Page 15
Lack of R3. The Sutter F3. The Sheriff's Office agrees This recommendation overhead County Sheriff’s there is no netting over the has not been netting in the Department should exercise yards at the medium implemented. medium purchase and install security facility.
F4
Page 14
The Sheriff's Office agrees with that there are should invest in a the finding and have already taken F2/F4/R2 Purchase drugs and full body scanner steps to improve in this area. of a Tek84 Intercept other placed within the
F5
Page 16
The R4. The Sutter F5. The Sheriff’s Office agrees This laundry room County Sheriff's and has already taken steps to recommendation has has no Department improve in this area. been implemented. surveillance should place
F6
Page 27
The City R6. The City F6. Disagree. This This recommendation will not be Council Council maintain finding cannot be implemented because the Live meetings are proper decorum sustained. The Oak City Council states it is not not consistent during meetings Grand Jury Report warranted. with Brown and conduct is full of non- The City Council feels the Act parliamentary sequiturs. meetings are conducted within regulations procedure training
F7
Page 29
Live Oak is R7. City Council re- F7. Disagree. The Grand This recommendation not requesting evaluate all services Jury Report makes no has not been competitive bids and consultants reference to service implemented because for service under contract with contracts. The assertion the Live Oak City Council contracts per Live Oak, on of "best practices" is disagrees and states the standard best performance and misplaced. The Grand response is not practices. value, by July 1, Jury did not analyze the warranted. 2021. fact that the City's professional contracts The City Council states are proper and they use a contractual reasonable. template which Furthermore, as to addresses performance Consultant Agreements and value mentioned in not involving City
F8
Page 30
City R8. City Council direct F8. Disagree. This "finding" This recommendation has not Council has the City Manager to is nothing more than an been implemented because repeatedly examine contracts for argument and an attempt the City Council disagrees neglected to scope of work, missing to embellish "finding" 7 with the Grand Jury finding F8 require term cap fees, term above. Some professional and states the Council uses a limitations, limitations, liability relationships do not lend contractual template that caps on fees, insurance coverage themselves to "term utilizes the recommendations and a and make limitations" and the services suggested in R8. detailed recommendations to to be provided are well The Grand Jury asked for a scope of City Council by the end defined by statute in blank template and was work in of December 2020. addition to what might be provided 5 current professional set forth in an agreement. professional services service Again, the City utilizes a contracts, one of which was (consultant) form of contract for its being used as a template, contracts. consultants (who are not “Agreement for Professional City Officials) which contain Services” dated May 3, 2017. the suggested clauses. The Grand Jury reviewed the
F9
Page 31
The Water R9. City Council F9. Agree. This recommendation Enterprise Fund is remedy the missing has not yet been
F10
Page 32
The Water R10. City Council direct F10. Agree. This recommendation Enterprise Fund City administration to has not yet been
Recommendations 9
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R1Page 13The Board of Supervisors places a priority on public safety. The County Administrative Office continues to work with the Sheriff to reduce turnover and quickly fill vacant positions. If necessary, the Board can consider adding positions when resources are available. 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 4 of 37 Continuity: The Three R’s - Recommendations, Responses and Results Status of Responses to the 2019-2020 Sutter County Grand Jury Reports Criminal Justice – Sutter County Jail Results! 2020-21 GJ Report Recommendation Response Grand Jury Follow Up
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R2Page 14The Sutter County Sheriff’s Whole Body scanner contraband Sutter County Office is committed to ensuring best was proposed in the present within Main jail by practices for safety and security of Agenda Packet the jail. January 1, 2022. the jail. To that end, we previously (pages 21-39) of the
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R3Page 15The Sheriff’s Office 30, 2020. Grand Jury exercise over the open aired appreciates the feedback members were told yards. spaces/areas near from the Grand Jury, and this that due to COVID 19 the Medium Security is a valid recommendation. conditions, the facility and/or create The Sheriff has directed the exercise area is not a fenced off area Jail Commander to research being used. preventing civilians possible options and submit from having access to recommendations. If this this area by project is fiscally feasible, it December 2021. will be included in the budget proposal for FY20/21, in hopes it would be completed by December of 2021. …………………………………..
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R4Page 16The Sheriff’s Office Grand Jury members cameras surveillance previously recognized this as a observed cameras present. cameras in the deficiency in the laundry during a tour on laundry room by facility. Adding cameras to the October 30, 2020. January 1,2021 laundry room was budgeted and this project has been completed. The laundry room Note: R4 and medium security courtyard addresses F5 cameras went active on June 2, 2020. The cameras in the laundry room and the laundry courtyard all possess zoom capabilities. The inside views cover the entire main laundry room, where linens are washed and folded. ………………………………….
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R6Page 27The subject of the City’s rules of Parliamentary and City (such as this procedure which maintains the Municipal Rosenburg’s Rule recommendation proper decorum during their Codes of Order) for was not addressed meetings. The city Municipal concerning themselves and in the Grand Jury's Code Title 2 Ch. 2.04 RULES AND transparency committees under Report. The REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE and how the jurisdiction of recommendation CONDUCT OF COUNCIL meetings are the City Council will not be MEETINGS, PROCEEDINGS AND conducted. implemented as it BUSINESS website is: is not warranted. http://qcode.us/codes/liveoak/ That being said, While the City Council believes there is no the meetings are conducted question that four within the City’s rules of members of the Parliamentary procedure which city council are maintains the proper decorum courteous and during their meetings, conflict strive to live within continues. One council member the City's rules of is unable to hold any committees Parliamentary and is muted from speaking at procedure (which the Mayor’s discretion. A vote to are fully adequate censure this member occurred at for the conduct of their October 2020 meeting, but the City's it is unknown for how long the meetings). ln 2020 censure will last. It is important the Mayor has to note that this council member issued various was elected by the citizens of the memoranda to his City of Live Oak to do a service. fellow Council 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 18 of 37 Continuity: The Three R’s - Recommendations, Responses and Results Status of Responses to the 2019-2020 Sutter County Grand Jury Reports continue continue December 2020 the Grand Jury Members regarding received copies from the Live Oak procedure. There is city staff of the following: no question that the four courteous • Live Oak Municipal Code members of the Rules of Conduct. Council have • Memoranda regarding strived to live council questions on agenda within the rules. items, how to vet information in The Council as a advance of Council Meetings and body does not avoid any surprises, formal have the authority procedure to ask questions to expel one of its through the chair, asked staff to elected members. publish the meeting agendas well in advance of the meeting and more than twice the time required by the Brown Act. 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 19 of 37 Continuity: The Three R’s - Recommendations, Responses and Results Status of Responses to the 2019-2020 Sutter County Grand Jury Reports Local Government: City of Live Oak – Government, Transparency and Finances Results! 2020-21 GJ Report Recommendation Response Grand Jury Follow Up
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R7Page 29Officials, the City uses a contractual template which contain the clauses in question.
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R8Page 30The recommendation contracts and found only one will not be implemented as contract to have followed the it is not warranted. This is template and have a spending simply a recapitulation of cap. Two of the contracts did
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R9Page 31The underfunded. revenue in the Water implemented but will recommendation will Enterprise Fund and be implemented in the be implemented. The come into future no later than city council will work compliance with June 30, 2021. with staff to develop State regulations and implement water As of March 26, 2021, regarding water rates that put the Live Oak city staff covenant by the end Water Fund into a states that there are of June 30, 2021. positive balance and no written plans for a bring loan covenants water rate study at this into compliance by time. June 30, 2021. 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 22 of 37 Continuity: The Three R’s - Recommendations, Responses and Results Status of Responses to the 2019-2020 Sutter County Grand Jury Reports Local Government: City of Live Oak – Government, Transparency and Finances Results! 2020-21 GJ Report Recommendation Response Grand Jury Follow Up
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R10Page 32The does not comply create and implement a implemented but the recommendation with State water rate increase that City Council will work will be implemented. regulations utilizes the 2017 Water with staff to develop See R9 response regarding the and Wastewater Rate and implement water above. water loan Study's rates that put the covenant. recommendations. water fund into a positive balance no later than June, 30 2021. As of March 26, 2021, Live Oak city staff states that there are no written plans for a water rate study at this time. 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 23 of 37 Continuity: The Three R’s - Recommendations, Responses and Results Status of Responses to the 2019-2020 Sutter County Grand Jury Reports Local Government: City of Live Oak – Public Works Results! 2020-21 GJ Report Recommendation Response Grand Jury Follow Up
Conclusions 2
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CL1 Page 46The Grand Jury annually completes its term of service with published reports on completed civil investigations. These reports generate findings and recommendations which require a variety of required and invited responses. The Grand Jury’s investigation revealed that a number of required agency responses remain incomplete and that more consistent follow up by investigated agencies is needed. It is anticipated that the implementation of new tracking and reporting mechanisms will encourage greater agency compliance. The Grand Jury appreciates all departments and agencies that replied to the 2019-2020 Grand Jury’s findings. It is important for responses to be complete and responsive so the public can know when to expect actions to be taken to address investigated issues. Reporting publicly on the completion of previously committed actions goes a long way toward enhancing the positive impact of the Grand Jury in its role as a public watchdog. 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page A - 37 of 37
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CL2 Page 7SUTTER COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES – Is Sutter County Playing with Fire? FIRE AND EMERGENCY - TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY B-1 BACKGROUND B-1 METHODOLOGY B-6 DISCUSSION B-7 FIRE SERVICES FINANCES IN DIRE STRAITS B-7 FIRE FIGHTING – ORGANIZATION, STAFFING AND PAY B-10 EQUIPMENT B-11 FINDINGS B-14 RECOMMENDATIONS B-14 REQUIRED RESPONSES B-15 INVITED RESPONSES B-15 BIBLIOGRAPHY B-16 APPENDIX A B-18 DATA PROVIDED BY SUTTER COUNTY FIRE B-18 APPENDIX B B-19 ISO EVALUATION SUMMARY OF PPC REVIEW FOR SUTTER COUNTY CSA C AS OF JULY 27, 2015 B-19 2020-2021 Sutter County Civil Grand Jury Final Report SUTTER COUNTY FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES – Is Sutter County Playing with Fire? SUMMARY The 2020-2021 Sutter County Grand Jury has heard the smoke alarm. Is Sutter County playing with fire? The Grand Jury reviewed six previous Grand Jury reports, the 2017 Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Municipal Service Review/Sphere of Influence (MSR/SOI) reports, conducted interviews, compiled data, and concluded that the County continues to underfund its Fire and Emergency Services. This underfunding potentially endangers the people of Sutter County and risks the doubling or tripling of home and fire insurance rates. Funding is so inconsistent and dire that at the end of Fiscal Year 2023 the County may have to close one of its fire stations to come within present budget constraints. Identifying a permanent source of funding is essential. Additionally, 65% of the Sutter County Fire’s equipment is out-of-date and needs to be replaced by instituting a viable capital improvement plan. Many of Sutter County Fire stations’ personnel are volunteers and, though dedicated, may not be available on an immediate basis. The County is cautioned that it takes four firefighters (Two-In and Two-Out) to fight an interior structural fire in accordance with OSHA and County requirements.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Sutter County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Sutter County Sheriff
Elected County Office