Plumas County Grand Jury • 2003-2004

Grand Jury Report 2003-2004

Published: December 21, 2004 39 pages Consolidated Report
Ver PDF original

Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73, F74, F75, F76, F77, F78, F79, F80, F81, F82, F83, F84, F85, F86, F87, F88, F89, F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F95, F96, F97, F98, F99, F100, F101, F102, F103, F104, F105, F106, F107, F108, F109, F110, F111, F112, F113, F114, F115, F116, F117, F118, F119, F120, F121, F122, F123, F124, F125, F126, F127, F128, F129, F130, F131, F132, F133, F134, F135, F136, F137, F138, F139, F140, F141, F142, F143, F144, F145, F146, F147, F148, F149, F150, F151, F152, F153, F154, F155, F156, F157, F158, F159, F160, F161, F162, F163, F164, F165, F166, F167, F168, F169, F170, F171, F172, F173, F174, F175, F176, F177, F178, F179, F180, F181, F182, F183, F184, F185, F186, F187, F188, F189, F190, F191, F192, F193, F194, F195, F196, F197, F198, F199, F200, F201, F202, F203, F204, F205, F206, F207, F208, F209, F210, F211, F212, F213, F214, F215, F216, F217, F218, F219, F220, F221, F222, F223, F224, F225, F226, F227, F228, F229, F230, F231, F232, F233, F234, F235, F236, F237, F238, F239, F240, F241, F242, F243, F244, F245, F246, F247, F248, F249, F250, F251, F252, F253, F254, F255, F256, F257, F258, F259, F260, F261, F262, F263, F264, F265, F266, F267, F268, F269, F270, F271, F272, F273, F274, F275, F276, F277, F278, F279, F280, F281, F282, F283, F284, F285, F286, F287, F288, F289, F290, F291, F292, F293, F294, F295, F296, F297, F298, F299, F300, F301, F302, F303, F304, F305, F306, F307, F308, F309, F310, F311, F312, F313, F314, F315, F316, F317, F318, F319, F320, F321, F322, F323, F324, F325, F326, F327, F328, F329, F330, F331, F332, F333, F334, F335, F336, F337, F338, F339, F340, F341, F342, F343, F344, F345, F346, F347, F348, F349, F350, F351, F352, F353, F354, F355, F356, F357, F358, F359, F360, F361, F362, F363, F364, F365, F366, F367, F368, F369, F370, F371, F372, F373, F374, F375, F376, F377, F378, F379, F380, F381, F382, F383, F384, F385, F386, F387, F388, F389, F390, F391, F392, F393, F394, F395, F396, F397, F398, F399, F400, F401, F402, F403, F404, F405, F406, F407, F408, F409, F410, F411, F412, F413, F414, F415, F416, F417, F418, F419, F420, F421, F422, F423, F424, F425, F426, F427, F428, F429, F430, F431, F432, F433, F434, F435, F436, F437, F438, F439, F440, F441, F442, F443, F444, F445, F446, F447, F448, F449, F450, F451, F452, F453, F454, F455, F456, F457, F458, F459, F460, F461, F462, F463, F464, F465, F466, F467, F468, F469, F470, F471, F472, F473, F474, F475, F476, F477, F478, F479, F480, F481, F482, F483, F484, F485, F486, F487, F488, F489, F490, F491, F492, F493, F494, F495, F496, F497, F498, F499, F500, F501, F502, F503, F504, F505, F506, F507, F508, F509, F510, F511, F512, F513, F514, F515, F516, F517, F518, F519, F520, F521, F522, F523, F524, F525, F526, F527, F528, F529, F530, F531, F532, F533, F534, F535, F536, F537, F538, F539, F540, F541, F542, F543, F544, F545, F546, F547, F548, F549, F550, F551, F552, F553, F554, F555, F556, F557, F558, F559, F560, F561, F562, F563, F564, F565, F566, F567, F568, F569, F570, F571, F572, F573, F574, F575, F576, F577, F578, F579, F580, F581, F582, F583, F584, F585, F586, F587, F588, F589, F590, F591, F592, F593, F594, F595, F596, F597, F598, F599, F600, F601, F602, F603, F604, F605, F606, F607, F608, F609, F610, F611, F612, F613, F614, F615, F616, F617, F618, F619, F620, F621, F622, F623, F624, F625, F626, F627, F628, F629, F630, F631, F632, F633, F634, F635, F636, F637, F638, F639, F640, F641, F642, F643, F644, F645, F646, F647, F648, F649, F650, F651, F652, F653, F654, F655, F656, F657, F658, F659, F660, F661, F662, F663, F664, F665, F666, F667, F668, F669, F670, F671, F672, F673, F674, F675, F676, F677, F678, F679, F680, F681, F682, F683, F684, F685, F686, F687, F688, F689, F690, F691, F692, F693, F694, F695, F696, F697, F698, F699, F700, F701, F702, F703, F704, F705, F706, F707, F708, F709, F710, F711, F712, F713, F714, F715, F716, F717, F718, F719, F720, F721, F722, F723, F724, F725, F726, F727, F728, F729, F730, F731, F732, F733, F734, F735, F736, F737, F738, F739, F740, F741, F742, F743, F744, F745, F746, F747, F748, F749, F750, F751, F752, F753, F754, F755, F756, F757, F758, F759, F760, F761, F762, F763, F764, F765, F766, F767, F768, F769, F770, F771, F772, F773, F774, F775, F776, F777, F778, F779, F780, F781, F782, F783, F784, F785, F786, F787, F788, F789, F790, F791, F792, F793, F794, F795, F796, F797, F798, F799, F800, F801, F802, F803, F804, F805, F806, F807, F808, F809, F810, F811, F812, F813, F814, F815, F816, F817, F818, F819, F820, F821, F822, F823, F824, F825, F826, F827, F828, F829, F830, F831, F832, F833, F834, F835, F836, F837, F838, F839, F840, F841, F842, F843, F844, F845, F846, F847, F848, F849, F850, F851, F852, F853, F854, F855, F856, F857, F858, F859, F860, F861, F862, F863, F864, F865, F866, F867, F868, F869, F870, F871, F872, F873, F874, F875, F876, F877, F878, F879, F880, F881, F882, F883, F884, F885, F886, F887, F888, F889, F890, F891, F892, F893, F894, F895, F896, F897, F898, F899, F900, F901, F902, F903, F904, F905, F906, F907, F908, F909, F910, F911, F912, F913, F914, F915, F916, F917, F918, F919, F920, F921, F922, F923, F924, F925, F926, F927, F928, F929, F930, F931, F932, F933, F934, F935, F936, F937, F938, F939, F940, F941, F942, F943, F944, F945, F946, F947, F948, F949, F950, F951, F952, F953, F954, F955, F956, F957, F958, F959, F960, F961, F962, F963, F964, F965, F966, F967, F968, F969, F970, F971, F972, F973, F974, F975, F976, F977, F978, F979, F980, F981, F982, F983, F984, F985, F986, F987, F988, F989, F990, F991, F992, F993, F994, F995, F996, F997, F998, F999, F1000, F1001, F1002, F1003, F1004, F1005, F1006, F1007, F1008, F1009, F1010, F1011, F1012, F1013, F1014, F1015, F1016, F1017, F1018, F1019, F1020, F1021, F1022, F1023, F1024, F1025, F1026, F1027, F1028, F1029, F1030, F1031, F1032, F1033, F1034, F1035, F1036, F1037, F1038, F1039, F1040, F1041, F1042, F1043, F1044, F1045, F1046, F1047, F1048, F1049, F1050, F1051, F1052, F1053, F1054, F1055, F1056, F1057, F1058, F1059, F1060, F1061, F1062, F1063, F1064, F1065, F1066, F1067, F1068, F1069, F1070, F1071, F1072, F1073, F1074, F1075, F1076, F1077, F1078, F1079, F1080, F1081, F1082, F1083, F1084, F1085, F1086, F1087, F1088, F1089, F1090, F1091, F1092, F1093, F1094, F1095, F1096, F1097, F1098, F1099, F1100, F1101, F1102, F1103, F1104, F1105, F1106, F1107, F1108, F1109, F1110, F1111, F1112, F1113, F1114, F1115, F1116, F1117, F1118, F1119, F1120, F1121, F1122, F1123, F1124, F1125, F1126, F1127, F1128, F1129, F1130, F1131, F1132, F1133, F1134, F1135, F1136, F1137, F1138, F1139, F1140, F1141, F1142, F1143, F1144, F1145, F1146, F1147, F1148, F1149, F1150, F1151, F1152, F1153, F1154, F1155, F1156, F1157, F1158, F1159, F1160, F1161, F1162, F1163, F1164, F1165, F1166, F1167, F1168, F1169, F1170, F1171, F1172, F1173, F1174, F1175, F1176, F1177, F1178, F1179, F1180, F1181, F1182, F1183, F1184, F1185, F1186, F1187, F1188, F1189, F1190, F1191, F1192, F1193, F1194, F1195, F1196, F1197, F1198, F1199, F1200, F1201, F1202, F1203, F1204, F1205, F1206, F1207, F1208, F1209, F1210, F1211, F1212, F1213, F1214, F1215, F1216, F1217, F1218, F1219, F1220, F1221, F1222, F1223, F1224, F1225, F1226, F1227, F1228, F1229, F1230, F1231, F1232, F1233, F1234, F1235, F1236, F1237, F1238, F1239, F1240, F1241, F1242, F1243, F1244, F1245, F1246, F1247, F1248, F1249, F1250, F1251, F1252, F1253, F1254, F1255, F1256, F1257, F1258, F1259, F1260, F1261, F1262, F1263, F1264, F1265, F1266, F1267, F1268, F1269, F1270, F1271, F1272, F1273, F1274, F1275, F1276, F1277, F1278, F1279, F1280, F1281, F1282, F1283, F1284, F1285, F1286, F1287, F1288, F1289, F1290, F1291, F1292, F1293, F1294, F1295, F1296, F1297, F1298, F1299, F1300, F1301, F1302, F1303, F1304, F1305, F1306, F1307, F1308, F1309, F1310, F1311, F1312, F1313, F1314, F1315, F1316, F1317, F1318, F1319, F1320, F1321, F1322, F1323, F1324, F1325, F1326, F1327, F1328, F1329, F1330, F1331, F1332, F1333, F1334, F1335, F1336, F1337, F1338, F1339, F1340, F1341, F1342, F1343, F1344, F1345, F1346, F1347, F1348, F1349, F1350, F1351, F1352, F1353, F1354, F1355, F1356, F1357, F1358, F1359, F1360, F1361, F1362, F1363, F1364, F1365, F1366, F1367, F1368, F1369, F1370, F1371, F1372, F1373, F1374, F1375, F1376, F1377, F1378, F1379, F1380, F1381, F1382, F1383, F1384, F1385, F1386, F1387, F1388, F1389, F1390, F1391, F1392, F1393, F1394, F1395, F1396, F1397, F1398, F1399, F1400, F1401, F1402, F1403, F1404, F1405, F1406, F1407, F1408, F1409, F1410, F1411, F1412, F1413, F1414, F1415, F1416, F1417, F1418, F1419, F1420, F1421, F1422, F1423, F1424, F1425, F1426, F1427, F1428, F1429, F1430, F1431, F1432, F1433, F1434, F1435, F1436, F1437, F1438, F1439, F1440, F1441, F1442, F1443, F1444, F1445, F1446, F1447, F1448, F1449, F1450, F1451, F1452, F1453, F1454, F1455, F1456, F1457, F1458, F1459, F1460, F1461, F1462, F1463, F1464, F1465, F1466, F1467, F1468, F1469, F1470, F1471, F1472, F1473, F1474, F1475, F1476, F1477, F1478, F1479, F1480, F1481, F1482, F1483, F1484, F1485, F1486, F1487, F1488, F1489, F1490, F1491, F1492, F1493, F1494, F1495, F1496, F1497, F1498, F1499, F1500, F1501, F1502, F1503, F1504, F1505, F1506, F1507, F1508, F1509, F1510, F1511, F1512, F1513, F1514, F1515, F1516, F1517, F1518, F1519, F1520, F1521, F1522, F1523, F1524, F1525, F1526, F1527, F1528, F1529, F1530, F1531, F1532, F1533, F1534, F1535, F1536, F1537, F1538, F1539, F1540, F1541, F1542, F1543, F1544, F1545, F1546, F1547, F1548, F1549, F1550, F1551, F1552, F1553, F1554, F1555, F1556, F1557, F1558, F1559, F1560, F1561, F1562, F1563, F1564, F1565, F1566, F1567, F1568, F1569, F1570, F1571, F1572, F1573, F1574, F1575, F1576, F1577, F1578, F1579, F1580, F1581, F1582, F1583, F1584, F1585, F1586, F1587, F1588, F1589, F1590, F1591, F1592, F1593, F1594, F1595, F1596, F1597, F1598, F1599, F1600, F1601, F1602, F1603, F1604, F1605, F1606, F1607, F1608, F1609, F1610, F1611, F1612, F1613, F1614, F1615, F1616, F1617, F1618, F1619, F1620, F1621, F1622, F1623, F1624, F1625, F1626, F1627, F1628, F1629, F1630, F1631, F1632, F1633, F1634, F1635, F1636, F1637, F1638, F1639, F1640, F1641, F1642, F1643, F1644, F1645, F1646, F1647, F1648, F1649, F1650, F1651, F1652, F1653, F1654, F1655, F1656, F1657, F1658, F1659, F1660, F1661, F1662, F1663, F1664, F1665, F1666, F1667, F1668, F1669, F1670, F1671, F1672, F1673, F1674, F1675, F1676, F1677, F1678, F1679, F1680, F1681, F1682, F1683, F1684, F1685, F1686, F1687, F1688, F1689, F1690, F1691, F1692, F1693, F1694, F1695, F1696, F1697, F1698, F1699, F1700, F1701, F1702, F1703, F1704, F1705, F1706, F1707, F1708, F1709, F1710, F1711, F1712, F1713, F1714, F1715, F1716, F1717, F1718, F1719, F1720, F1721, F1722, F1723, F1724, F1725, F1726, F1727, F1728, F1729, F1730, F1731, F1732, F1733, F1734, F1735, F1736, F1737, F1738, F1739, F1740, F1741, F1742, F1743, F1744, F1745, F1746, F1747, F1748, F1749, F1750, F1751, F1752, F1753, F1754, F1755, F1756, F1757, F1758, F1759, F1760, F1761, F1762, F1763, F1764, F1765, F1766, F1767, F1768, F1769, F1770, F1771, F1772, F1773, F1774, F1775, F1776, F1777, F1778, F1779, F1780, F1781, F1782, F1783, F1784, F1785, F1786, F1787, F1788, F1789, F1790, F1791, F1792, F1793, F1794, F1795, F1796, F1797, F1798, F1799, F1800, F1801, F1802, F1803, F1804, F1805, F1806, F1807, F1808, F1809, F1810, F1811, F1812, F1813, F1814, F1815, F1816, F1817, F1818, F1819, F1820, F1821, F1822, F1823, F1824, F1825, F1826, F1827, F1828, F1829, F1830, F1831, F1832, F1833, F1834, F1835, F1836, F1837, F1838, F1839, F1840, F1841, F1842, F1843, F1844, F1845, F1846, F1847, F1848, F1849, F1850, F1851, F1852, F1853, F1854, F1855, F1856, F1857, F1858, F1859, F1860, F1861, F1862, F1863, F1864, F1865, F1866, F1867, F1868, F1869, F1870, F1871, F1872, F1873, F1874, F1875, F1876, F1877, F1878, F1879, F1880, F1881, F1882, F1883, F1884, F1885, F1886, F1887, F1888, F1889, F1890, F1891, F1892, F1893, F1894, F1895, F1896, F1897, F1898, F1899, F1900, F1901, F1902, F1903, F1904, F1905, F1906, F1907, F1908, F1909, F1910, F1911, F1912, F1913, F1914, F1915, F1916, F1917, F1918, F1919, F1920, F1921, F1922, F1923, F1924, F1925, F1926, F1927, F1928, F1929, F1930, F1931, F1932, F1933, F1934, F1935, F1936, F1937, F1938, F1939, F1940, F1941, F1942, F1943, F1944, F1945, F1946, F1947, F1948, F1949, F1950, F1951, F1952, F1953, F1954, F1955, F1956, F1957, F1958, F1959, F1960, F1961, F1962, F1963, F1964, F1965, F1966, F1967, F1968, F1969, F1970, F1971, F1972, F1973, F1974, F1975, F1976, F1977, F1978, F1979, F1980, F1981, F1982, F1983, F1984, F1985, F1986, F1987, F1988, F1989, F1990, F1991, F1992, F1993, F1994, F1995, F1996, F1997, F1998, F1999, F2000, F2001, F2002

Findings and Recommendations 11 findings

F1 Page 6
That you agree with the finding.
No recommendations for this finding
F2 Page 6
That you disagree wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons for disagreement. How to Report Action in Response to Recommendations Recommendations by the Grand Jury require action. The responding person or entity must report action on all recommendations in one of four ways: 1. The recommendation has been implemented, with summary of the implemented action.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 6
The recommendation requires further analysis. If the person or entity reports in this manner, the law requires an explanation of the analysis or studies in a time frame not to exceed six months. In this event, the analysis or study must be submitted to the officer, director or governing body of the agency being investigated.
No recommendations for this finding
F4 Page 7
The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation. If either a finding or recommendation deals with budgetary or personnel matters of a county department headed by an elected officer, both the elected officer and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if the Grand Jury so requests, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision-making authority. Requirement to Respond No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency (includes departments) shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body, and every elected county officer or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall comment within 60 days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the board of supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. All of these comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the presiding judge of the superior court who impaneled the grand jury. Distribution List The final report of the 2003-2004 Plumas County Grand Jury will be distributed to the following individuals and agencies: The Honorable Judge Ira Kaufman The Honorable Judge Garrett W. Olney Plumas County Grand Jury for 2004-2005 Plumas County Grand Jury for 2003-2004 Plumas County Board of Supervisors Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Plumas County Administrative Officer Plumas County Auditor/Controller Plumas County Building Department Plumas County Clerk Plumas County Counsel Plumas County Department of Human Resources Plumas County Development Commission Plumas County District Attorney Plumas County Facility Services Department Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Plumas County Information and Technology Department (Website) Plumas County Jail Plumas County Libraries Plumas County Office of Emergency Services (OES) Plumas County Planning Department Plumas County Probation Department Plumas County Public Health Agency Plumas County Sheriff Plumas County Unified School District California State Archivist City of Portola Grizzly Lake Resort Improvement District California Department of Forestry Battalion Chief for Plumas County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Fire Departments Plumas County Reviews Grand Jury Oversight Committee Background One of the primary functions of a civil Grand Jury is to investigate all branches of county government to determine if they are being administered efficiently, honestly and in the best interests of its citizens. Each year the Plumas County Grand Jury issues its findings and recommendations in the form of a written report, no later than the end of its term. The public agency or the governing body of the public agency must file a written response to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body. The Committee interviewed all five current Supervisors, the former County Administrative Officer, Director of Planning and the Fire Warden. Additionally, the committee reviewed the past five years of Plumas County Grand Jury reports, including responses from the Board of Supervisors (BOS). Findings 1. The current procedure is the Grand Jury issues its report, findings and recommendations on or about June 30'. The BOS or the agency involved then has 90 days in which to file a written response. That response is during a new Grand Jury term, when most of the members are not familiar with the findings and recommendations of the prior Grand Jury.
No recommendations for this finding
F5 Page 11
The Grand Jury found no evidence of Skelly Hearing violations in 2004.
No recommendations for this finding
F6 Page 16
The PUSD clarify the memo of March 3, 2004, regarding the authority for chartering buses. Commendations: The Grand Jury commends the Portola High School parents for making their decisions with good intentions. They were not aware of the technicalities of the ASB account or the provisions of the contract with CSEA Chapter 193. The Grand Jury commends the PUSD Superintendent, Mr. Chelloti, for his tenacity in finding funding solutions in a difficult financial environment with deteriorating budget revenues. The Grand Jury also commends the Principal of Portola High School, Mr. Lake, for his leadership and guidance through a difficult situation. Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (PCFC) Function Provide for control and disposition of storm, flood and other waters of the district; make water available for any present or future beneficial use or uses of lands or inhabitants within the district, including acquisition, storage and distribution for irrigation, domestic, fire protection, municipal, commercial, industrial, recreational and all other beneficial uses; develop and sell at wholesale hydroelectric energy to aid in financing water projects. Background Plumas County is recognized by the state of California as a County of Origin and therefore has water rights to specified amounts of water flowing from the county. That right would have been lost via an agreement (The Monterey Agreement (MA)) that was about to be finalized between State Water Project (SWP) contractors and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) approximately eight years ago. The PCFC (along with the other agencies) sued DWR and SWP. As a result of the litigation a resolution was reached, the Settlement Agreement (SA), whereby the DWR is required to make annual payments of $1 million to PCFC for four years. An additional $1 million dollars of payments for four additional years are authorized pending completion of a new Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and a successful defense of any legal challenge trying to invalidate the SA. The SA directs that: "3. Use of Funds. a. Funding of Watershed Programs. Plumas shall apply a majority of all funds received each year pursuant to Section IV(A) to Watershed Programs. b. Balance of Funds to General Purposes. Plumas may apply the balance of funds received each year to other district-related purposes, as determined by Plumas with due consideration for the needs of the Watershed Forum." In the SA, "Plumas" is defined as PCFC. The Watershed Forum (WF) is comprised of PCFC, DWR, and the SWP. The SA states, for the WF: 2. Purpose and Goals a. Generally. The Watershed Forum's purpose is to implement watershed management and restoration activities for the mutual benefit of Plumas and the SWP. Forum activities include design of, participation in, implementation of, and review of studies and demonstration projects related to watershed restoration. b. Specific Goals. The specific focus of the Watershed Forum's activities is to implement programs designed to achieve the following benefits: (1) Improved retention (storage) of water for augmented baseflow in streams; (2) Improved water quality (specifically, reduced sedimentation), and stream bank protection; (3) Improved upland vegetative management; and (4) Improved groundwater retention/storage in major aquifers." The Grand Jury noted the contentiousness of the July 28, 2003 meeting of the Plumas Watershed Forum. There was disagreement over how the funds should be spent. The Grand Jury therefore decided to investigate how the funds of the SA were going to be dispersed and what direction was provided by the settlement. The Grand Jury interviewed the members of the Board of Supervisors (BOS), past members of the BOS, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning/Building Services, the former County Counsel, County Auditor, Plumas County's litigation counsel, members of the WF Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and personnel previously employed by Plumas Corporation. Findings 1. Some approved expenditures of the initial installment have not been consistent with stated goals of the SA. Projects not aligned with the goals of the SA have included $10,000 for increasing the capacity of a well owned by the Grizzly Lake Resort Improvement District, $115,000 to the PCFC for the 2003-2004 budget expenditures, $452,000 to repay the general fund for loans to the PCFC for expenditures that had accumulated for several years (These expenditures are being reviewed by DWR). 2. Plumas County has a building permit moratorium in the Sierra Valley. This moratorium can be lifted only after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determines that an adequate Sierra Valley flood plain map has been developed.
No recommendations for this finding
F7 Page 10
In conducting interviews of the five members of the BOS, each member had a slightly different view of what constituted a "conflict of interest" while serving on the Board.
No recommendations for this finding
F8 Page 10
The former county counsel verbally advised some board members that in order for a conflict to exist it must be shown that the Supervisor in question must receive "financial gain." 9. Currently each Board member annually completes a Statement of Economic Interests (California Fair Political Practices Commission form 700), a public document disclosing personal financial interests.
No recommendations for this finding
F9 Page 14
The HR computer system does not pick up due dates for evaluations. The HR Department does not have computer software to track personnel, therefore tracking must be performed manually.
No recommendations for this finding
F10 Page 10
The BOS rejected the Grand Jury's recommendation last year to re-establish the Plumas County Planning Commission.
No recommendations for this finding
F2003 Page 29
Response The Complainants were advised that because their complaint involved the criminal justice system, it was not within the jurisdiction of this Grand Jury. Complaint #03/04-06 Nature of Complaint A citizen submitted a complaint asking if the Solid Waste Fee on his county property tax bill is legal. The Solid Waste Fee listing on the bill falls under the heading "Voter Approved Taxes, Taxing Agency Direct Charges, and Special Assessments," and the complainant states that he has never voted on this issue. He wanted the Grand Jury to determine if the fee is legal and if so, how long can it be imposed. Findings 1. On March 27, 1990, Board of Supervisors (BOS) Resolution No. 90-5004 provided for a county trust fund to meet state-mandated requirements for funding the eventual closures of the Gopher Hill and Chester landfills. The resolution states "WHERAS, engineers in the county's Department of Public Works have prepared initial landfill closure cost estimates showing that: the cost of closing Gopher Hill in five years will be met by depositing approximately $130,446 annually in a trust fund with CIWMB (the California Integrated Waste Management Board) as beneficiary; and the cost of closing Chester in twenty-five years will be met by depositing $197,431 annually in a trust fund with CIWMB as beneficiary; such deposits generating a total of $5,588,008 (includes 20 percent contingency required by CIWMB); and ...... (emphasis added) The BOS also stated in the resolution "...Further, the board intends to present to the voters of the county in April 1991 the choices available for funding solid waste mandates ... long-term borrowing, raising new revenues through user fees or taxes, or trimming the budget by deleting existing programs and services that are local options." The Grand Jury has been advised that no public election was held on that issue.
No recommendations for this finding

No Responses Found 3

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

Plumas County District Attorney Elected County Office
Plumas County Sheriff Elected County Office
Plumas Unified School District School District