Administrative Committee Administrative Committee Back – JoAnn Miller, Roy Nierman-Chair, Elias Valdez, Gary Moran

R07-01

COUNTY AGENCIES CONDUCT THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF ANY LAND OR BUILDING.

R07-02

THAT COUNTY COUNSEL INSURE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS ARE COMPLETED BY THE COUNTY BEFORE AGREEING TO “AS IS” OR “WITH ALL FAULTS” PURCHASES.

R07-03

THAT COUNTY COUNSEL PURSUE REIMBURSEMENT FOR COUNTY ABATEMENT COSTS OF: a. ASBESTOS REMOVAL $637,647 b. LEAD-BASE PAINT REMOVAL $360,432. BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

R07-04

CONTINUE THE “SERVICE FIRST” WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS FOR ALL NEW EMPLOYEES.

R07-05

TO INSURE THE SAFETY AND INTEGRITY OF THE COUNTY, EVERY EMPLOYEE WHO RECEIVES A PAYMENT FROM THE COUNTY BE REQUIRED TO PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK, INCLUDING PUBLIC OFFICE APPOINTEES AND BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STAFF.

R07-06

THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE BUSINESS PLANS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS. HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

R07-07

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM THAT GIVES EACH COUNTY EMPLOYEE A YEARLY AND TIMELY WORK PERFORMANCE EVALUATION (WPE).

R07-08

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT A “STANDARD BACKGROUND CHECK” AND MOVE THE POLICY TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER AND TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

R07-09

THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO REVISE AND IMPLEMENT THE (1) STANDARDIZED DRESS AND GROOMING PROGRAM; (2) DRUG TESTING AND ALCOHOL TESTING; AND (3) THE REVISIONS OF THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS INDICATED ABOVE. INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT

R07-10

DETERMINE FEASIBILITY AND COST FACTORS TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE DIGITAL RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.

R07-11

IMPLEMENT A DIALOG WITH CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS USING THE COUNTY ANALOG COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM TO DISCUSS ANALOG ISSUES, PREPARE A PLANNED COURSE OF ACTION AND DETERMINE AVAILABLE FUNDING RESOURCES TO CONVERT TO A COUNTYWIDE DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AT A FUTURE DATE.

R07-12

REVIEW THE CURRENT ONE-WAY PAGER, BLACKBERRY/GOODLINK COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE NEED, USAGE AND COST EFFECTIVENESS. PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL

R07-13

COMBINE THE EXISTING MULTIPLE ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL FACILITIES IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY INTO A LARGER REGIONAL FACILITY BY USING JOINT POWERS AGREEMENTS (JPA) OF NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO.

R07-14

EMPLOY A FULL-TIME VETERINARIAN TO PROVIDE CARE, SPAY AND NEUTERING AT A REGIONALIZED CONTROL CENTER.

R07-15

PROVIDE MORE SPACE IN AN ADOPTION CENTER WHERE PEOPLE/FAMILIES CAN INTERACT WITH PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PETS. VECTOR CONTROL PROGRAM BACKGROUND Among the services provided by the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health is the Vector Control Program of the Environmental Health Services Division. (Vector has been defined as a carrier). Vector Control denotes control of vectors and vector-borne diseases by any insect or animal that could cause health hazards to humans or other animals. The Vector Control Program is both proactive and reactive. There are two components of the program important to the control of vectors and vector-borne diseases throughout the County. 1. The program has a comprehensive surveillance plan that routinely performs surveys of mosquito, rodent and tick populations. It further evaluates the prevalence of diseases such as West Nile, encephalitis, plague, Hantavirus, Lyme, and others. 2. The program also provides prompt response to County residents’ requests. Visits were made to Vector Control facilities to get an overview of the department. The Vector Control Program has an administrative office in the County Government Center and a field office on Fifth Street in San Bernardino. The field office is what drew our attention. FINDINGS The field office facility was designed to accommodate a staff of eight and currently serves a staff of 21. It is extremely crowded. A Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for a new facility has been prepared and is going through the process. A new site near freeway access would reduce unnecessary travel time. The department is adequately staffed with trained professionals supplemented with seasonal staff when needed. The seasonal staff mostly comes from colleges and universities. There is no plan to add more staff at this time. The 5,000 square foot building includes offices, laboratory, equipment storage, locker room with a changing area shared by men and women, conference room, indoor parking/garage and supply storage. An additional 5,000 square foot of outdoor space is taken up by four Sea Train shipping containers; two are modified to accommodate offices and two for storage of chemicals and fuel. These containers are not compliant with the American Disabilities Act. On site is a chicken flock and hatchery tubs for mosquito fish. There is no space at this site for expansion of any kind. The construction of a new facility will allow for future expansion of the program and added staff to accommodate the expected population growth and to better respond to the concerns regarding vectors and vector-borne diseases from County residents. Testing is done in the field and in an onsite lab manned by the Vector Ecologist. Testing is also contracted out to University of California, Davis, and University of California, Riverside, facilities. The San Bernardino Vector Control lab is crowded. Sometimes lunches and lab specimens end up in the same refrigerator. There is an exit door in the lab going directly outside; this could compromise the integrity of the lab. The Vector Control Program includes County lands and West End cities served by Special Districts. Communication is good between public and private agencies, which results in no duplication of Vector Control services. State grants are available; some desert cities did apply for grants up to $20,000 each while others have not applied for grants. Vehicles and equipment are parked outside. Though there is an effort to put sensitive equipment indoors at night, there is not always room. Vandalism in the past has caused some loss of fuel and equipment. RECOMMENDATIONS

R07-16

IMPLEMENT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP) IMMEDIATELY TO ACQUIRE A NEW CENTRALIZED SITE WITH FREEWAY ACCESS TO CUT DOWN ON TRAVEL TIME FROM THE FACILITY TO THE JOB SITE(S).

R07-17

THE FACILITY INCLUDE SEPARATE DRESSING ROOMS AND SHOWERS FOR MEN AND WOMEN STAFF.

R07-18

PROVIDE MORE SPACE FOR PERSONNEL, SPECIMENS, STORAGE AND SENSITIVE EQUIPMENT, IN THE LAB.

R07-19

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT DEVELOP A PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE DESERT CITIES TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE IN VECTOR CONTROL ACTIVITIES TO SAFEGUARD THE CITIZENS BY APPLYING FOR AVAILABLE STATE GRANTS.

R07-20

SECURE INDOOR PARKING OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPRAYERS, AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. RISK MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT

R07-21

RISK MANAGEMENT REMAIN A SEPARATE DEPARTMENT REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

R07-22

THE NEW RISK MANAGEMENT “USER-FRIENDLY” WEBSITE FOR USE BY COUNTY EMPLOYEES BE MAINTAINED AND CONTINUED.

R07-23

EVERY COUNTY EMPLOYEE BE REQUIRED TO PASS A STANDARD BACKGROUND CHECK. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BACKGROUND During a Grand Jury investigation of a citizen complaint concerning a city’s use of environmental mitigation funds (EMF), several areas of concern came to our attention. These concerns related to Solid Waste Management Memorandums of Understanding (MOU’s) with various cities in which San Bernardino County landfills are located. FINDINGS The Solid Waste Management Division has entered into many MOU’s with various cities concerning landfills that are located within that city’s boundaries or sphere of influence. Each city is paid the following amounts: LANDFILL CITY RATE PER TON Mid Valley Fontana $2.69 Rialto $2.69 San Timoteo Redlands $1.00 Colton Colton $1.00 Victorville Victorville $ .50 Barstow Barstow $ .50 29 Palms 29 Palms $ .50 Landers Yucca Valley no fee Mid Valley pays tonnage rates more than five times greater than other landfills. These MOU’s provide for: 1. Distribution of money from the Environmental Mitigation Fund. 2. Eligibility for funding. 3. Criteria for funding. 4. Funding formula. 5. Payment method. 20 6. The Nexus Test (A project satisfies the “Nexus Test” if the project’s primary purpose and effect is to alleviate or to reduce the magnitude or the significance of an adverse condition affecting the city. This adverse condition must result from the presence of the current and/or expanded landfill). All monies from the EMF paid to a city must be used by that city relative to the criteria established under the “Nexus Test”. All cities warrant that they will use fees only on projects that meet the “Nexus Test”. The cities of Rialto and Fontana are presently each paid approximately $2 million per year. Rialto was prepaid $14 million in 1998 in order to build a new police station. That police station has never been built. Rialto has been prepaid for tonnage until approximately 2012. The MOU’s with all cities except Fontana and Rialto require that: 1. The city keeps records necessary to establish the use of EMF monies for five years after use. 2. All use of EMF monies is subject to audit by the County, as it deems necessary. If a city fails to satisfy the “Nexus Test”, the funds are to be returned to the County for placement in the EMF until a project to use the funds meets the “Nexus Test”. Solid Waste Management has never conducted or requested an audit, has no procedure for requesting an audit, and has no knowledge of whether any city is misusing EMF monies. RECOMMENDATIONS

R07-24

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SET UP A PROCEDURE TO AUDIT THE USE OF EMF FUNDS.

R07-25

IF CITIES ARE NOT USING EMF FUNDS PURSUANT TO THE MOU, SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT REQUEST THAT THOSE FUNDS BE RETURNED TO THE COUNTY PURSUANT TO THE MOU. 21

R07-26

IF FONTANA AND RIALTO CANNOT MEET THE “NEXUS TEST”, THEN SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RENEGOTIATE THE TONNAGE RATES PAID TO FONTANA AND RIALTO IN LIEU OF REQUIRING THOSE CITIES TO MEET THE “NEXUS TEST”.

R07-27

THE COUNTY COUNSEL’S OFFICE INCLUDE IN ALL ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION FUNDS MOU’S THE REQUIREMENT THAT EACH CITY KEEP RECORDS FOR FIVE YEARS AND THAT THE COUNTY CAN AUDIT THE EMF MONIES AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY. 22