Shasta County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Consolidated Final Report and Responses2.91 MB

Published: June 23, 2015 106 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 8 findings

The turf for each of the four soccer fields needs to be replaced within two-three years;

There is insufficient money in the "Replacement Fund" to replace the turf;

Several amendments to the original Soccer Park Lease over five years have not resulted in adequate monies to the Replacement Fund;

The COR has failed to perform its fiduciary duty to its citizens to protect the $10 million investment required by the original Soccer Park Lease with amendments;

There has never been an audit of the SRSA's financial records of monies received, expended and available for the "Replacement Fund"; and 5 Soccer Park Lease Between City of Redding and Shasta Regional Soccer Association Section 4.a. Percentage Rent

The pending litigation by the COR is not a guaranteed solution to obtain funds for turf replacement and drainage repair.

Community partnerships with organizations such as One Safe Place, the Child Abuse Prevention Coordinating Council, and First Five have resulted in quality parental support and education resources. The Brave Faces program and the Parent Leadership Advisory Group in particular should be commended for their efforts.

Branch directors, clinicians and social workers work with each other and with other agencies as an effective team to deal with children and families in crisis. This team approach has had a positive effect on the morale of the staff and effectiveness of the department.

Recommendations 8

R1

The COR shall conduct a forensic audit of SRSA's financial records between 2007 and 2014
R2

The COR shall develop by October 1, 2015 a strategy to replace the turf that is not dependent on pending litigation or the current Soccer Park Lease dated September 26, 2012.
R3

The COR shall establish a viable business plan for the soccer park that would provide a sustainable operation
R4

The COR shall provide accurate accounting to the City Council and the public annually by August 15 of each year for compliance with the fiscal Soccer Park Lease terms. Required Response Redding City Council as to: F2, F3, F4 and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 Requested Response Redding City Manager as to: F1, F5, and R4 METHAMPHETAMINE AND HEROIN PLAGUE SHASTA COUNTY LIFE A "Trip" You Never Want To Take 2640 Health and Human
R5

The Grand Jury recommends that , the Health and Human Services Agency continue to search and apply for grant funds to expand its mobile crisis unit.
R6

The Grand Jury recommends that within one year, the Shasta County Housing Authority, Redding Housing Department, and Health and Human Services Agency partner to develop a plan for funding and staffing one or more teen shelters to offer emergency services to teens in crisis. Non-profit organizations such as One Safe Place and CAPCC should be invited to participate in this plan.
R55-59

1 200, 200, 200, 200, 200, 200, 201, 201,
R60-64

*Only for first 6 months Source of Charts: Record Searchlight Effect of Drugs on Children and Families: Meth and heroin abuse is destructive to families and community, especially to children. Drug use tears apart the social fabric of families and communities. Education is usually not a priority in these families, which leads to truancy and school drop-outs. Consequently, the ability to acquire life and social skills is diminished for children who grow up exposed to drug abuse and related domestic violence within their family. Infants, exposed to drugs before birth, are often immediately placed into protective custody and taken into foster care. These children also often experience developmental delay and behavioral problems. For example, 88% of children placed in foster care are removed from drug abusing families. These children often need long term specialized medical care and psychological treatment. Also, many years of rehabilitation and treatment may be required for the entire family. The consensus of county officials is that the drug abuse problem often becomes multi- generational. Support for those drug users open to treatment, instead of incarceration, is needed from both the criminal justice system and the community. How Drug Use Affects Our Community Meth use is an ongoing plague in Shasta County and the use of heroin is quickly increasing. Because prescription medication is expensive and increasingly difficult to obtain, abusers frequently turn to heroin as an alternative. Users quickly develop a tolerance requiring more of the drugs to satisfy their habits. Both meth and heroin users may resort to crime to support their habit and meth users are often prone to violent behavior. Heroin and meth combined (called speed-balling) can result in a state of "excited delirium." In this state, the users often have insensitivity to pain, and as a result have superhuman strength. Police officers confronting these users can suffer serious injuries, thereby reducing police protection for the community. A consequence to users can be heart failure and death during these struggles with police. The physical and emotional damages caused to drug abusers also stresses and overburdens county and city departments, health care and community based agencies, such as, fire departments and hospital emergency rooms. These costs usually fall on taxpayer-supported community departments and agencies. Suggested Solutions for Addressing Drug Abuse To alleviate the county drug abuse problem, the consensus of many city and county officials is that a cooperative focus is needed regarding the following factors: • Provide early education for children and families about substance abuse;