Score: +2 (2/1/0)

Tuolumne County Grand Jury • 2023-2024

Tuolumne County Grand Jury Report Photograph by Cal Trans Modesto 2022

Published: June 30, 2023 146 pages Consolidated Report

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⚠️ 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 12 findings

F1 Page 12

1. The airports have been poorly managed.

F2 Page 13

1 At a cost of almost $4 million, Project 1906 excavated, rebuilt, and repaved the Airport’s ramp, apron, and taxi lane areas. Little or no transition work was done, resulting in major operational and safety issues with many hangars.

F3 Page 15

1 The airport is presently in good condition; although, the taxiway needs crack repair.

F4 Page 16

1 County oversight of airport budget and administration has been sub-optimal.

F5 Page 18

1 The Board of Supervisors is not receiving valuable and sufficient input that the AAC can provide, to be able to make decisions about the airports.

F6 Page 21

The staff was friendly, professional, articulate, and knowledgeable. 17

F7 Page 22

We learned that the prison is fully staffed with correctional personnel but there are shortages in staffing for many of the other departments, such as, medical, education, and all other rehabilitation services offered to the prisoners.

F8 Page 22

There are a tremendous number of services and opportunities available that benefit staff, the incarcerated, and the public at large.

F9 Page 34

1: Like most of the schools in the county, Soulsbyville has both in-house ALICE training and assistance by local law enforcement. Full time teachers receive safety training, but substitutes must rely on safety plans in the classroom. They do have cameras and 65% fencing which includes athletic fields and play area.

F10 Page 35

1: Staff training occurs before the start of the school year and includes two ALICE training courses annually.

F11 Page 37

1: Summerville High School has implemented ALICE training and engages with law enforcement for planning and preparedness.

F12 Page 40

1: While ALICE training is part of the yearly plan for Twain Harte School, it isn’t clear if this occurred during the COVID years amidst school closures and times of uncertainty. The most recent drill was in January 2022 and an interviewee stated that the school was actively trying to schedule another drill for this calendar school year but was waiting on Sheriff availability. The ALICE training is listed in the school’s safety plan.

Recommendations 12

R1
Page 13

1. Customer service and responsiveness need to be improved and monitored by County Management. (F1.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Board of Supervisors Recommendation has been implemented The airport's management has been moved under the direct supervision of the public works department. Also, a qualified airport manager has been recruited.
R2
Page 14

1. The transition strip between the new and old pavement should be corrected. (F2.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Board of Supervisors The response language differs from the Penal Code requirements The recommendation will be implemented in the future dependent of available resources. If a recommendation is to be implemented at a future date, there are only two responses permitted by Penal Code 933: “The recommendation has not yet been implemented, with a schedule and summary of what will be done”, or “The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation of the scope, parameters, and time frame of the proposed analysis or study not to exceed six months from the date of publication of publication of the Grand Jury report.” Therefore, the response does not meet one of the four Penal Code 933 response choices.
R3
Page 15

1. The taxiway should be repaired. (F3.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Board of Supervisors The response language differs from the Penal Code requirements Response indicates future planning for implementation of this recommendation. However, if a recommendation is to be implemented at a future date, there are only two responses permitted by Penal Code 933: “The recommendation has not yet been implemented, with a schedule and summary of what will be done”, or “The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation of the scope, parameters, and time frame of the proposed analysis or study not to exceed six months from the date of publication of publication of the Grand Jury report.” Therefore, the response does not meet one of the four Penal Code 933 response choices.
R4
Page 16

1. To increase airport revenue generation, it may help if the County Administration takes a more active role in budget oversight and in airport operations management. (F4.1, F4.2,
R5
Page 18

1. The AAC should be re-established. RESPONDENT RESPONSE Board of Supervisors Recommendation has been implemented On August 8, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a new Airport Advisory Committee.
R6
Page 29

1: Jamestown Elementary should continue to complete ALICE training and consider biannual all-school training sessions to ensure that students are reminded of the concepts. This will ensure that all individuals responsible for students are prepared to execute the safety plan in an emergency. (F6.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Jamestown Elementary Superintendent Recommendation has been implemented The response indicates that annual ALICE training will continue for staff and students. Also, biannual training sessions will be conducted, beginning with the 2023-24 school year. Therefore, this recommendation has been implemented.
R7
Page 30

1: The school should institute a system for logging and reviewing all safety drills. The documentation should include recording the date, time, type of drill, and debrief to identify any issues arising from the drill. Regular reviews of these logs could help identify trends, areas for improvement, and ensure consistency in safety practices. (F7.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Sonora Elementary Superintendent The response language differs from the Penal Code requirements. The response indicates that since January 2023, all drills have been logged. However, the response has not indicated whether the logging of safety drills include the date, time, type of drill, and debriefing of the drills. The recommendation is to institute a system for logging and reviewing all safety drills. Therefore, the response discusses only a portion of the recommendation. Because the response does not indicate that the recommendation has not been (fully) implemented, will be implemented (with details of that future implementation), nor that the recommendation will not be implemented, the response does not satisfy any of the four PC 933 responses.
R8
Page 32

1: Regular ALICE Training and Drills - Conduct ALICE training for staff and students more frequently to ensure they are well-prepared for potential active shooter situations. Maintain an updated log of all drills and trainings. Regularly practicing different scenarios can help build confidence and familiarity with emergency response procedures. (F8.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Sonora Union High School District Recommendation has been implemented. Superintendent The response indicates that “bi-annual” training will begin during the 2023-24 school year. (Note: because the response indicates that this training will be conducted in each of the Fall and Spring semesters, the GJ assumes that this training will be “semi-annually”). The district will maintain a current log of all emergency drills and training. Last, recent, and routine collaborative meetings have been held with school superintendents and law enforcement to develop best practices for school safety plans. Therefore, this recommendation has been implemented.
R9
Page 34

1: Staff should maintain and follow up in ALICE training for both students and staff, and involvement with local law enforcement is optimal. Staff should also continue to update and review safety plans if possible. (F9.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Soulsbyville School District Superintendent Recommendation has been implemented The response states that the district will continue to maintain and follow up ALICE training and continue to review and update safety plans. Therefore, this recommendation has been implemented.
R10
Page 35

1 Continue to prioritize and invest in regular safety drills and staff training, including ALICE training. Given the comprehensive nature of this training, consider extending this training to substitute teachers to ensure a uniform response to potential emergencies across all staff. (F10.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Summerville School District Superintendent The response language differs from the Penal Code requirements. The response states that the district will continue to prioritize regular safety drills and staff ALICE training. The district’s response also indicates that it will commence conversations with county personnel, regarding the training of substitutes. While the response clearly indicates the district’s desire to fully implement this recommendation, if the recommendation is going to be implemented, PC 933 requires a timeline for the implementation (for example, when will the meetings with county personnel occur?). Therefore, the response language does not meet any of the four PC 933 responses choices.
R11
Page 37

1 Continue to engage with local law enforcement to practice and review the ALICE training. (F11.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Summerville Union High School District Recommendation has been implemented. Superintendent The response states that the district will continue with their existing ALICE protocol. Therefore, the recommendation has been implemented.
R12
Page 40

1: The district should ensure that the safety plan is updated routinely, and that all teachers, staff, students, and parents are provided copies and pertinent training to develop current understanding. ALICE training should be yearly, and the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office should prioritize and promote engagement with students and education around lockdowns and potential threats to the school. (F12.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Twain Harte School District Superintendent Recommendation has been implemented. Response states that the School Safety Plan is reviewed annually by the School Site Council and adopted by the school board before March 1 of each year. Copies of the School Safety Plan are available in the school office. Both administrators will complete ALICE train-the-trainer certification. ALICE drills will be held annually with the Tuolumne Conty Sheriff’s Office.

Commendations 7

CM1 Page 60

Public works has carefully administered CSAs and has implemented the postcard notification and online availability of the annual reports as a cost saving measure. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES
CM2 Page 85

Discussion The maximum occupancy of the jail is 230. At the time of touring the jail they had 129 inmates. Inmates may be male or female, unsentenced and sentenced. The facility houses under 150 inmates due to staffing, medical, and food demands. This number could be higher if staffing needs were consistently met. In 2011, California experienced a criminal justice realignment such that inmates may now serve their felony sentence either in a local jail or in a state prison depending on the charge for which they were convicted and their own prior convictions. As such, there is no limit to the time that may be served in a California county jail if the conviction is for a felony punishable by imprisonment in a county jail. Due to this change, inmates may be in the Dambacher detention center for a lengthy time. Many programs usually seen at the prison have been adopted for the jail too. For example, inmates may be enrolled in Medi-Cal, Education, and Mental and Behavioral Health assistance. The purpose of these programs is to keep inmates happy, healthy, and prepare them for life outside the jail. There are also support groups like bible study, Alcohol Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous for inmates. The jail is around 60,000 square feet, about double the size of the old jail. This allows room to grow in both staff and inmate populations. During the tour, the jail appeared to be clean, well maintained, and secure. The committee toured the entire jail and saw no areas of concern with the facilities. Staffing seems to be one of the largest issues when it comes to the county jail. Even with hiring programs, retention is hard due to the mental and physical strain deputies and nurses experience. Additionally, on duty deputies often must be called to transport detainees to court hearings or for medical reasons. This can mean a deputy is removed from the field to transport as far away as Modesto. Another issue is on-site nurses. There was no 24-hour nurse at the booking station, resulting in the inmates being seen at Adventist Health Sonora. An additional booking nurse could prevent the need to transport inmates. Another concern at the time of touring was the HVAC system. There have been many instances of the HVAC system not working at full capacity. This has caused the jail to become very cold or hot depending on the season. When the HVAC system is not working properly on a hot day the temperature in the county jail has reached 80 degrees or higher. There has been a lot of effort and work put into fixing the HVAC system, and it is encouraging news that the system seems to be working consistently now. 6 FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COMMENDATIONS
CM3 Page 86

C1. Staff were dedicated and well trained in safety precautions for staff, inmates, and the public. C2. The facility is clean, secure, and well managed. 7 CHAPTER 2: MOTHER LODE REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY – DISCUSSION, FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND COMMENDATIONS
CM4 Page 88

C1. The Grand Jury notes that the Mother Lode Juvenile Detention Facility staff really care about all the juveniles in the facility. C2. The Grand Jury notes that the Mother Lode Juvenile Detention Facility staff and detainees share mutual respect. C3. The Grand Jury notes that the Mother Lode Juvenile Detention Facility detainees participate in 4H, sewing, gardening, brush management, education programs, and so much more that enhances the quality of life. 9 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES
CM5 Page 102

Findings F1. The Tuolumne County Sheriff Dispatch Center has many well-documented structural deficiencies that render the facility unable to meet current and future electrical, technological and safety needs. F2. The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s dispatch center is recruiting and hiring relief dispatchers and trainees. However, the dispatch center continues to be understaffed.
CM6 Page 102

The Tuolumne County Sheriff dispatch center professionals continue to rise to the challenge of carrying out their life saving mission. The dispatchers are required to be detail oriented as they gather essential information to determine a situation’s severity in record time and ensure information is dispatched to the appropriate emergency response agency. 13 In 2022, in recognition of outstanding service in the line of duty over an extended period, eleven members of the Tuolumne County Communications Division were awarded the Distinguished Service Award 7. The Tuolumne County Grand Jury appreciates and commends the critical role our public safety dispatchers play in keeping our community safe and secure. Additionally, the grand jury commends the Tuolumne County Sheriff for his dedication to creating a safer, more efficient, and operative facility to meet the public’s safety needs now and in the future. 14 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES
CM7 Page 127

Findings F1. The Tuolumne County LAFCO website fails to provide information that is commonly provided by other county LAFCO websites, which includes the following deficiencies: No adopted budget summaries are available No roster of LAFCO commissioners including some form of contact information and when current term expires. No identification of key support personnel including Executive Officer and Legal Counsel No Approved Minutes documents available for review No list, description, or map of special districts subject to LAFCO review and authority. F2. Tuolumne County LAFCO commissioners are not given adequate preparation or orientation when assuming role as commissioners. For example, Commissioners have served without being provided with the Policy and Procedures Manual. Some did not know such a Manual existed or was statutorily required. F3. LAFCO has no reserve fund as contributions for each fiscal year are based on actual expenditures with no carry over for the next fiscal year. F4. While Sphere of Influence maps and Municipal Service Review updates were proposed in the FY 2019-2020 budget work plan, to catch-up to the standard 5-year review cycle, most of the updates have not been completed. As such, there are a total of 35 districts that have had no SOI or MSR updates in over 11 years. F5. LAFCO staff support can be provided by County staff; however, it must be under a contractual agreement. There is no contract between Tuolumne County LAFCO and Tuolumne County, which is a violation of state law requirements. 18 F6. LAFCOs have the right to appoint and assign staff to support their activities. However, Tuolumne County has made personnel assignments to LAFCO staff without consulting commissioners. These assignments have not always been in the interest in maintaining continuity or accomplishing LAFCO goals. F7. One of the special district seats on LAFCO is to be available to multiple different special districts who provide funding for LAFCO, and that seat is subject to vote of the special districts every four years through a Special District Selection Committee. A vote took place that was not in compliance with the state requirements and only a small number of eligible districts participated. However, that decision was accepted by LAFCO, and that commissioner will have that seat until 2026. The majority of eligible special districts lost their opportunity to decide who represents them on LAFCO. F8. Present staffing levels and expertise of Tuolumne County employees are inadequate to provide necessary and cost-effective support for LAFCO. F9. Annual assignments of Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors to the LAFCO commissioner and alternate commissioner roles have fluctuated among different Supervisors every year and does not provide continuity based on experience in the role of commissioner.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Sheriff's Dispatch Center

August 20, 2024 • 3 pages • 3 responses • Score: +2 (+2, 1, 0) View Details ▾

PDF

3 responses to findings and recommendations

1. The airports have been poorly managed.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Agree The current 911 communication center is located at 28 N. Lower Sunset Drive, in Sonora. The facility has been evaluated on numerous occasions and is consistent with the Grand Jury's findings. Back-up power is unstable and unreliable. There are multiple documented incidences of power outages affecting 911 services in Tuolumne County, which encompasses ambulance, fire, and law enforcement response. There is currently no operational fire alarm for the 911 communications, which there are two documented incidences of fire, or risk of fire due to the strained electrical infrastructure. Climate...

Response: Agree Score: +1

Agree At the time the Grand Jury was conducting their investigation, 911 dispatch staffing was at approximately 5 of the 12 allocated positions. These critical staffing levels resulted in continual mandated shifts, extended shifts, and burn-out. Undoubtedly the staffing levels were a direct result of low compensation, fatigue factor and a lack of retention. Critical staffing levels of the 911 center undoubtedly puts the community at risk. The Sheriff worked collaboratively with the County Administrator and the Board of Supervisors to take swift action to provide the necessary tools, to the She...

1. The taxiway should be repaired. (F3.1) RESPONDENT RESPONSE Board of Supervisors The response language differs from the Penal Code requirements Response indicates future planning for implementation of this recommendation. However, if a recommendation is to be implemented at a future date, there are only two responses permitted by Penal Code 933: “The recommendation has not yet been implemented, with a schedule and summary of what will be done”, or “The recommendation requires further analysis,...

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

dispatchers on staff. (F2) Response: Recommendation has been implemented On December 13, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved a newly drafted hiring incentive policy, developed by staff, with a focus on public safety positions. In April 2024, the Sheriff and County Administrator worked together on a plan to allow the hiring of dispatchers at a higher step than previously allowed. Within approximately 8 weeks, the vacancy rate decreased to approximately 15% and the Sheriff is in the process of filling our last vacancy for 911 dispatcher. This was a collaborative effort between the Sheriff, ...

No Responses Found 13

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

Belleview Elementary School District School District

Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District School District

Columbia Union Elementary School District School District

Curtis Creek Elementary School District School District

Jamestown Elementary School District School District

Sonora Elementary School District School District

Sonora Union High School District School District

Soulsbyville Elementary School District School District

Summerville Elementary School District School District

Summerville Union High School District School District

Tuolumne County Auditor-Controller Elected County Office

Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office

Twain Harte School District School District