2019-20 0 Shasta County

Recommendations 13

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  The Shasta County Elections Office and poll workers shall continue to sponses as follows: From the following governing body : maintain diligence through every avenue available to them to prevent a non- • The Shasta County Clerk and Registrar of Voters (F1 through F10, citizen or ineligible citizen from registering to vote or from voting in an elec- R1 through R10) tion. Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed.
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  By October 31, 2019, the SHASCOM Board Shasta County The recommendation will be partially imple- will instruct the SHASCOM Director to prepare a SHASCOM mented. The current director will be retiring in R10. By January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Shasta County The recommendation will not be implemented comprehensive recruitment plan that analyzes September, but the full recommendation will instruct the SHASCOM Director to plan the imple- SHASCOM as it is not warranted. Such wide scale testing appropriate targets and details the timing and be implemented of the ap- mentation of an annual performance test of is disruptive to the Agency, which received methods of recruitment. pointment of a new SHASCOM director. CodeRED with a subsequent report to the Board on 1,200 additional 9-1-1 calls during the 2 hours the system's effectiveness of the test. of the last system test. It can also, have 'the
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  Beginning January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Shasta County The recommendation will be implemented by January unintended result of numbing the public to fu- Board will require the SHASCOM Director to pro- SHASCOM 31, 2020. ture emergency notifications. vide quarterly reports on recruitment efforts and outcomes, based on the comprehensive recruit- R11. By January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Shasta County The recommendation will not be implemented ment plan. instruct the SHASCOM, Director to appoint a staff SHASCOM as it is unwarranted. With nearly 150,000 regis- member of SHASCOM to improve the CodeRED tered contacts, we feel the system is properly registry website and expand public registration, in- and adequately cluding persons with special access and functional utilized. needs. SHASCOM: 9-1-1 What’s Your Emergency?
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  By January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Shasta County The recommendation will not be implemented require the SHASCOM Director to have prepared SH2A5S COM as it is not warranted at this and initiated the Request for Proposal (RFP) pro- time. The Board will reevaluate the recommen- cess for hiring the management consultant. dation at a future date after allowing time for other Grand Jury recommen- SHASCOM: 9-1-1 What’s Your Emergency? dations to be completed and R12. By May 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Sh 2 a 6 st a County The recommendation will not be implemented r esults evaluated. establish an operational, standing Advisory Board, SHASCOM as it is unwarranted.
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  By November 30, 2019, the SHASCOM Board Shasta County The recommendation was already met when a composed of community volunteers as outlined in will require the SHASCOM Director to present a SHASCOM training timeline was agreed to between the this report. timeline for achieving compliance with accreditation Agency and POST at the January 14, 2019 certification of the dispatch center, either though Board meeting. A staff report will be presented POST or an alternate accreditation organization. to the Board prior to the recommended date to codify the timeline and agreement with POST. Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code Section 929 requires
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  By November 30, 2019, The SHASCOM Board Shasta County The recommendation will be implemented by that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any will require that each employee's annual evaluation SHASCOM November 30, 2019. person who provides information to the Grand Jury. include continuing education requirements and pro- vide a reasonable timeframe to complete the train- ing. Released: October 11, 2019 GRr7a. Bnyd N ovJeumrbyer 3R0, e20p1o9, rthte S H A S CO M Bo a rd S ha st a C o un ty T h e re co m m e nd a tio n w ill n ot b e im p le m en te d -9- July 1, 2020 will instruct the SHASCOM Director to conduct an SHASCOM by November 30, 2019 due to the current direc- in-house audit on the effectiveness of the training tor's retirement. The Board will instruct the new program and report the results to the Board by Jan- director to comply with the recommendation by uary 31, 2020. January 31, 2020.
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  The Shasta County Elections Office shall continue its training program at
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  Beginning at the September 2019 SHASCOM Shasta County The recommendation will be implemented at Board meeting, and at each bi-monthly meeting SHASCOM the September 2019 Board meeting. thereafter, the Board will require written updates on the performance of the CAD until all issues are re- solved to the satisfaction of participating Agencies.
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  By January 31, 2020, SHASCOM Board will in- Shasta County The recommendation will be implemented by struct the SHASCOM Director to present a project SHASCOM January 31, 2020. plan for incorporating information on people with ac- cess and function al needs into the CAD database.
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  By January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Shasta County The recommendation will not be implemented instruct the SHASCOM Director to plan the imple- SHASCOM as it is not warranted. Such wide scale testing mentation of an annual performance test of is disruptive to the Agency, which received CodeRED with a subsequent report to the Board on 1,200 additional 9-1-1 calls during the 2 hours the system's effectiveness of the test. of the last system test. It can also, have 'the unintended result of numbing the public to fu- ture emergency notifications.
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  By January 31, 2020, the SHASCOM Board will Shasta County The recommendation will not be implemented instruct the SHASCOM, Director to appoint a staff SHASCOM as it is unwarranted. With nearly 150,000 regis- member of SHASCOM to improve the CodeRED tered contacts, we feel the system is properly registry website and expand public registration, in- and adequately cluding persons with special access and functional utilized. needs. Released: October 11, 2019 27 AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ELECTION PROCESS IN SHASTA COUNTY - YOUR VOTE COUNTS! SUMMARY dress, United States Postal Service (USPS) change of address, Social Security It was the consensus of the 2019-2020 Shasta County Grand Jury that the citi- Administration data, the Superior Court and the Public Health Department. A zens of Shasta County would like reassurance that the voting processes in this registered voter dying outside the county might not be reported right away. county are above reproach. After extensive investigation, several interviews, and personal observation of election day activities, this Shasta County Grand E. The Shasta County Department of Elections/County Clerk actively encour- Jury has determined that the voting processes in our county result in accurate ages eligible citizens to register to vote. Information of all kinds is available tallies; that the security and other safeguards that are in place maintain and in many places, as well as help through their county office. There is a program assure the accuracy of the system; and the resolve of the employees and the available to the high schools informing the students of the importance of voting volunteers not only keep the system running smoothly but provide a proactive and about the registration process. They are actually allowed to pre- register as environment to continually improve the system when possible. they approach voting age. BACKGROUND F. The Shasta County Elections Office (elections office) explained the many Among the most important rights that we, as citizens, have is the right to vote. problems they en- countered with the new DMV voter registration process that Having the right to vote and exercising it properly is fundamental in deter- began in April 2018. The DMV encouraged a great many of their customers to mining how our government operates, who operates it on our behalf, how our register to vote, often without explaining eligibility/citizenship requirements. taxpayer dollars are spent, and how the government affects and determines our Additionally, many incomplete forms were submitted by the DMV to the elec- desired way of life. Accordingly, it is important that elections be conducted in tions office. These problems were addressed by election offices throughout the accordance with the law, free of voter fraud or other unlawful actions that could state, and ineligible people were removed from the rolls. The forms provided prevent an election from producing accurate results. Voter fraud could change by the DMV have become more consistently correct and complete. Most prob- the legitimate outcome of the citizens’ majority vote. Many of the methods lems with DMV provided voter registrations were corrected before the June that can stop fraudulent voting are simple and logical, but often they are not 2019 election. implemented. Voter fraud can affect the decisions of elected officials at all levels. People in a G. Voting machines are programmed, checked before each election, and kept position to prosecute those involved often hesitated or refused to do so because secure. They are transported to the polling places typically a day or so ahead of of the adverse effects on them- selves or other people, political goals, budget the election. allocations, and long range plans. Little of this is seen today. And, as both the voting process and the safeguards in place become modernized and gradually H. Voting machine secure digital memory (SD-memory) cards are secure at require less reliance on the physical paper ballot for the tally, vote accuracy has all times. Tallies from the polling place are done on an isolated server. Poll data greatly improved and the possibility of external intervention has been greatly (SD-memory cards, ballots, etc.) is carefully documented, counted and logged reduced. (several times), and always in the possession of at least two people. Ballot count and voter count must match. Types of voter fraud include: • A non-citizen registering to vote (and subsequently doing so) I. The Help Americans to Vote Act (HAVA) regulations are sometimes cum- • An individual voting by using someone else’s name bersome, but do not hinder the process. HAVA requirements and the Building • An individual registering to vote more than once using different names, Code for the polling places are often as restrictive as the Americans with Dis- addresses, precincts and/or birthdates abilities Act (ADA) regulations for people with disabilities. • Voting machine fraud or hacking Alleged voter registration irregularities used in the past included: J. At the election office, all election material from each precinct is closely • Politically motivated organizations registering non-citizens monitored. Counts must add up (number of voters, number of used ballots, • Registering homeless people living at a single address, then “helping number of unused ballots). All material them” fill in their ballots (then called absentee ballots) • A person obtaining a quantity of blank registration forms and literally first has its ID scanned as it arrives, then is logged in manually at each of two “going through the phone book” for names to register. different loca- tions. Voting tallies are done again on the isolated servers in a secure area at the election office. All activity, especially transporting these ma- FACTS terials, involves at least two people closely monitoring what is going on. A. Voter fraud is rare in Shasta County, and is prosecuted when discovered. K. There are two checks at the polling place to verify voter eligibility. The The Shasta County Elections Office explained the many cross-checks in place. signature log and the address log. Poll workers are not allowed to ask for iden- tification unless the voter is flagged for an ID check. This usually occurs if B. In the past, voter registration required only a verbal affirmation of citizen- there is a problem in a recent voter registration as identified by the elections ship and non-felon status. However, these requirements are now verified by office. one of several ways during the final vetting process. L. Most voting issues can be handled by the poll supervisor. Often, provi- C. Current voter registration requires proof of age and address such as would sional ballots are used. be obtained from a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Driver’s License or ID card, and the last four digits of the Social Security number. M. People rarely try to fraudulently vote for someone else in Shasta County. There are many cross-checks in place. Plus, the poll volunteers, particularly in D. Shasta County, to the extent possible, validates and updates all voter reg- unincorporated areas of the county, are often from the same neighborhood and istrations and the voter database. This is done using voter input, DMV ad- know the residents. July 1, 2020 -10- Grand Jury Report N. It was noted that the salaries for employees of the County Clerk/Elections and address, each of which is checked with the current voter log. If the voter Department are below those of comparable positions in some other depart- is flagged (a rare occurrence, and usually for a new voter) the voter may be ments in the county. This has caused difficulty in obtaining new employees and asked to show their ID. For any irregularities in the above check- in process, keeping current employees. the poll supervisor is called and the problem can usually be solved by using a provisional ballot. O. Nearly 80% of voters in Shasta County vote by mail. Vote by Mail (VBM) has become popular in Shasta County, and actually state- P. The age of the average voter in Shasta County is 60½. wide as well. Currently about 80% of registered voters in Shasta County vote by mail. Voting by mail provides yet another check for election accuracy as Q. There was a significant error in the title of Measure A in the voter informa- all VBM signatures are manually checked with the signa- tures on file. This tion guide, the only local measure on the ballot for the March 2020 primary doesn’t happen when voting in person at the poll. election. Voting machine security is assured. There is virtually no way for the election METHODOLOGY results to be hacked. Each voting machine has an SD memory card for storing This Grand Jury decided to begin this investigation by finding as much infor- election results. The results from each precinct are tabulated on an isolated mation as possible about the voting process and its history in California and server at the elections office. For example, when results from a statewide elec- Shasta County specifically. It then validated, to the extent possible, the au- tion are tallied, the Shasta County precincts’ results are tabulated, and a fax thenticity of that information. There is a wealth of information available at the containing the County Clerk’s phone number is sent to the Sacramento elec- Shasta County Elections Office and their website detailing how to register and tions office. That office then calls the specified number for the county totals. vote, registration requirements, and the importance of voting. Those of this Grand Jury who went to the Elections Office on election night were very impressed with the detail of organization of the entire election pro- This Grand Jury interviewed three individuals, including people from the cess. One entire hallway wall was covered with post-it notes detailing every- County Clerk/Elections Office and one poll worker. Additionally, on the day of thing that needed to be done for the current election, due date, the person or the November 2019 election, quite a few grand jurors went (in pairs) to several group responsible, and all other pertinent information. Four feet by thirty feet polling places in the county to observe and ask about the voting processes, and of details! five grand jurors went to the elections office to observe the receipt, logging and handling of election materials from each polling place, and the tally of the The supervisors, employees and volunteers that worked election night were election results. surprisingly energetic and enthusiastic, even after working a 12 hour work day with several more hours ahead. It is obvious that everyone understood the im- DISCUSSION portance of what they were doing and were proud to be part of the end result! Based on our initial research, this Grand Jury did not expect to find any egre- Up until last year, the two people from each polling place bringing all the elec- gious irregularities in the voting process in Shasta County. However, it did go tion materials to the elections office had to stand in line outside until their in with an open mind, and with no pre- conceived expectations one way or the materials were logged in. other. The election in June 2019 was unseasonably hot, even after 8:00 in the eve- The first thing this Grand Jury investigated was the voter registration process ning. Nobody really complained, but the elections office personnel came up and the methods to ensure only eligible citizens are registered to vote. In years with the plan to have the back alley blocked off for dropping off the election past, only a verbal sworn statement of materials. Therefore, starting with the November 2019 election, nobody had to leave their car – runners logged in the materials and took them inside! Great citizenship and eligibility was required to register to vote. This is no longer the plan, and perfect timing considering the inclement weather that evening! case. We are happy to report that today a citizen can register to vote not only at the County Clerk’s office but also at the DMV year-round. In addition, registra- FINDINGS tion can be done on-line and at many tables and kiosks in shopping centers and F1. In years past, only a sworn verbal statement was required to establish citi- businesses around town as an election approaches. zenship and/or eligibility at the time of voter registration. This provided the potential of stacking votes in a given election in many different ways. In the Voter registration requires proof of name and address. A DMV Driver’s Li- modern era, use of the DMV Driver’s License or ID card, the last four digits of cense or ID is often used. The last four digits of the Social Security Num- the Social Security number, and a long list of other recognized sources of valid ber (SSN) may be requested. There is an extensive list of authorized forms of identification allows the Shasta County Department of Elections to properly identification that the Department of Elections will accept. The Department of vet all new voter registrants. Elections then vets the voter registration information to confirm and finalize the registration. F2. To assure current and accurate voter information, the voter registration re- cords are updated continually. An inactive voter will eventually be removed The voter registration database is updated continually. In many cases the voter from the active voter list, but this could take up to eight years (two presidential will provide a change of status (married name, address change, etc.). Further election cycles). information is obtained from the USPS address changes, DMV data, Social Security Administration (SSA) data, the Superior Court, and the Public Health F3. A good percentage of voter registration as well as good voter turnout is at- Department. tained in part by the Shasta County Elections Office providing the public with constant reminders (mailings, media, etc.) to register and to vote before each The Department of Elections employees and all volunteers are totally prepared upcoming election. for election day. There is required training for all personnel, with refresher tests required before each upcoming election. If somebody fails to pass the F4. Shasta County has a good record of preventing voter irregularities (fraud) refresher test, they must retake and pass the training package again before they because of the various cross-checks in place, the updates of voter information are eligible. and the diligence of the employees and volunteers involved. When the registered voter goes to the poll, the voter is asked for their name F5. The Shasta County Department of Elections indicate that the problems ini- Grand Jury Report -11- July 1, 2020 tially experienced with the DMV provided voter registrations have been essen- tially eliminated, but are still being monitored. R4. The Shasta County Elections Office should continue its current procedures of voter fraud and election irregularities prevention.
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  Beginning fiscal year 2021, the Shasta County Fire Department. shall LRA- Local Response Area look into training and utilizing off-season volunteer fire department personnel OES- Office of Emergency Services for the purpose of Defensible Space Ordinance Enforcement Inspector activi- REU- Redding Electric Utility ties. This can be funded through existing grants. July 1, 2020 -16- Grand Jury Report RFD- Redding Fire Department WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE - A zone of transition between wildland SB901- California Legislature State Bill 901 (unoccupied land) and human development. SCFD- Shasta County Fire Department SFB- Shaded Fuel Break REFERENCE DOCUMENTS SLC- Shasta Lake City 1. Redding Electrical Utility 2019 Wildfire Mitigation Plan. SLCFD- Shasta Lake City Fire Department 2. Redding COMMUNITY PLANNING ASSISTANCE FOR WILDFIRE SRA- State Response Area 2019 WUI- Wildland-Urban Interface 3. Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (14CCR), Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Sub- chapter 2, Articles 1-5. GLOSSARY 4. Public Resource Code Section 4291 (Amended 2018, Effective January 1, 2019), and Section 4291.1 CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 109 (AB109): Established the California 5. Public Resource Code Division 4421 through 4446, Chapter 6 FIRE Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 which allows for current non-violent, SAFETY STAND- ARDS 5/10/2017 non-serious, and non-sex offenders to be supervised at the local County level 6. Report to Shasta County Board of Supervisors, August 13, 2019, after release from prison. Ordinance for Defensi- ble Space for Fire Protection. 7. State of California, Community Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA): is a Cali- Report, 2/22/2019. In response to Executive Order N-05-19, 1/9/2019. fornia statute passed in 1970 to institute a statewide policy of environmental 8. CAL FIRE – Shasta County Incidents and Responses Reports for the protection. years 2008 through 2018 9. NOTICE OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE INSPECTION FORM CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE STATE BILL 901 (SB901): State Bill 901 10. CAL FIRE – Are you ready? Graphic Description of Defensible addresses a number of wildfire related items relating to public utilities. Space - Pamphlet 11. CAL FIRE – Returning home after a Wildfire – Pamphlet DEFENSIBLE SPACE (DS): The buffer created between a building and the 12. SCFD/CDF/Shasta County Sheriff’s Office - Shasta County Wildfire grass, trees, shrubs or any wildland area that surrounds it. Evacuation Plan – Shingletown 13. CAL FIRE – READY, SET, GO – Your Personal Wildfire Action FIRE FUEL MANAGEMENT(FFM): Hazardous fuel reduction generally Plan – Booklet requiring the re- duction of surface and ladder fuels. 14. CAL FIRE – Homeowners Checklist – How to Make Your Home Fire Safe. SHADED FUEL BREAK - Selective reduction, modification, and manage- ment fuels within des- ignated areas in order to enhance mitigation efforts in Released: July 1, 2020 the event of a wildland fire situation. SO MUCH WITH SO LITTLE BACKGROUND French Gulch is a small village not far from the end of the pavement in a can- yon along Clear Creek. French Gulch was established by French gold miners in 1849. With the creation of several large mines in the area and an influx of people, a school was established in 1854. A school building was built in 1858, the same year that a wagon road was opened between French Gulch and Weav- erville. The current school building was built in 1964. French Gulch has been threatened by fire several times in the past, the Carr Fire being the latest and most destructive. Although the town was saved, several houses up canyon were lost. The entire town was evacuated for several weeks during the fire.
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  By November 1, 2020, the BOS shall consider amending their October