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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
San Bernardino County Grand Jury
• 1999-2000
Fire-Rescue Service Contract
⚠️ 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 5 findings
F1
Page 9
Many roads in the area were not identified by street signs or addresses. h No firebreaks were visible in the area. h Roads in many areas lacked proper maintenance. h Some standpipes were not easily located. The area observed varied from complete devastation to properties suffering little or no damage. Most of the dwellings spared by the fire had been cleared of debris surrounding the buildings, in accordance with local abatement programs. Some roads in the area were too narrow to allow safe passage of automobiles or fire engines, endangering firefighters and causing potential loss of equipment. Some of the strike teams were comprised of city fire engines designed primarily for use on paved roads. The engines with four-wheel drive and off- road capabilities were suited for mountain terrain. Water availability was a critical issue in this fire. A review of several areas revealed that their systems are 40 years old, with many having water access from standpipes, not fire hydrants. Standpipes have to be accessed through a street valve that is located in a main line several feet into the roadway. Water is released into the standpipe when a special long-handled tool is used to open a valve below the surface of the ground. In areas where hydrants have replaced standpipes, water is turned on at the top of the hydrant with a special standard wrench used by all fire departments. The out-of-area fire departments do not routinely carry the special tool used to turn on the standpipes. Some units could not access the water and replenish their tankers or engine tanks. Fifty percent (50%) of all County fire engines have exceeded the recommended operational life. Statements were made to the Grand Jury that the optimum operating life of engines is 15 to 20 years. Some vehicles in the County have been in operation for 30 years.
F2
Page 12
There is no Countywide information technology plan that addresses the County’s requirements for equipment, software, and technical personnel for the next three to five years.
F3
Page 12
There is no Countywide computer training program, facility, or staff to train County personnel in basic computer systems and/or departmental software systems.
F4
Page 12
There is no Countywide standardized equipment-purchasing plan to ensure the lowest price per unit costs are obtained when purchasing equipment and/or software.
F5
Page 12
There is no Countywide data information access security plan. Most departments have their own computer personnel that have no direct reporting responsibility to the Information Services Department. They do participate with ISD technical personnel on a given project. Of the 40-plus County departments, there are three that are mostly independent of ISD – the Sheriff’s Department, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Human Services System.
Recommendations 23
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R00-01Page 8BUDGET ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE TO REPLACE MONIES EXPECTED TO BE LOST BY THE EXPIRATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM (PTAP).
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R00-02Page 8AGGRESSIVELY UPDATE THE ASSESSOR’S ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO REDUCE DELAYS IN THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.
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R00-03Page 8REDUCE THE TIME IT TAKES FOR THE ASSESSMENT EVALUATION PROCESS.
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R00-04Page 8FUND AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO PROMPTLY AND ACCURATELY ESTABLISH THE ASSESSED VALUE OF ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANTS WITHIN THE COUNTY. COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT BACKGROUND The San Bernardino County Fire Department is responsible for fire protection and suppression in various County areas encompassing all unincorporated land within the County. In addition, 64 communities that have no independent fire departments contract with the County for their fire protection services. These entities are charged a fee for the services provided, which is negotiated between the city and County. The “Fire-Rescue Service Contract” shall provide for services that include fire prevention, fire investigation, fire suppression, and rescue services. The department may provide fire suppression to other areas of the County or state when there is an emergency condition. All fire departments within the County have reciprocal agreements for assistance if the fire cannot be suppressed by one entity. California law mandates the conditions that provide for the reciprocal agreement. On August 28, 1999 the County experienced a major fire which started in the San Bernardino National Forest. This fire was named the Willow Fire.
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R00-05Page 10MARK OR PAINT ALL COUNTY HYDRANTS AND STANDPIPES WITH FLUORESCENT REFLECTIVE MATERIALS FOR EASIER IDENTIFICATION.
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R00-06Page 10DEVELOP A PLAN TO ASSURE ALL FIRE UNITS RESPONDING TO A FIRE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL NON-STANDARD FIRE SUPPRESSION WATER SOURCES.
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R00-07Page 10STRONGLY ENFORCE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROPERTY ABATEMENT PROGRAMS.
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R00-08Page 10GRADE ALL COUNTY ROADS IN HIGH FIRE-RISK AREAS PRIOR TO THE FIRE HAZARD SEASON.
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R00-09Page 10INSTALL ROAD SIGNS AT CORNERS OF COUNTY ROAD INTERSECTIONS.
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R00-10Page 10BUDGET FOR TIMELY REPLACEMENT OF FIRE ENGINES IN EXCESS OF THEIR USEFUL OPERATIONAL LIFE. INFORMATION SERVICES
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R00-11Page 12ESTABLISH AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY BOARD, COMPOSED OF SENIOR COUNTY MANAGERS AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO DEVELOP STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO ALL DEPARTMENTS, FOR THE CURRENT AND FUTURE USE OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
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R00-12Page 13ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL POLICY COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF SENIOR TECHNICAL MEMBERS FROM THE MAJOR DEPARTMENTS AND THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THIS COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE AND RECOMMEND TO THE TECHNOLOGY POLICY BOARD, THE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE ACQUISITIONS, SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
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R00-13Page 13DEVELOP A THREE TO FIVE YEAR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLAN FOR EQUIPMENT, SOFTWARE AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS TO BE USED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
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R00-14Page 13ESTABLISH A PROCUREMENT POLICY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO ENABLE THE COUNTY’S BUYING POWER TO EFFECT COST REDUCTIONS.
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R00-15Page 13ESTABLISH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) PROCESS FOR THE USE OF OUTSIDE VENDORS THAT PROVIDE COMPUTER SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT OR MAINTENANCE.
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R00-16Page 13DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE DATA INFORMATION ACCESS SECURITY PLAN.
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R00-17Page 13ESTABLISH A COUNTYWIDE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BASIC SOFTWARE AND DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC SOFTWARE PROGRAMS.
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R00-18Page 13ESTABLISH A WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND EACH DEPARTMENT’S TECHNICAL PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE ISD WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF DEPARTMENT-SPECIFIC PROGRAMS.
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R00-19Page 13INCORPORATE ALL DEPARTMENTS INTO THE SCOPE OF THE POLICY BOARD AND TECHNICAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS, REGARDLESS OF FUNDING SOURCE OR SPECIALIZED NATURE OF THEIR OPERATIONS (I.E., SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, ARROWHEAD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, AND THE HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM).
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R00-20Page 17ANALYZE PAST FINANCIAL PLANS TO IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES THAT WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. ESTABLISH A LONG-RANGE REALISTIC FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL PLAN, CONSISTENT WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL.
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R00-21Page 17ANALYZE PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE INCUBATOR PROGRAM TO DETERMINE IF IT MEETS THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT. REVIEW THEIR LONG-RANGE PLANS TO MAXIMIZE ECONOMIC POTENTIAL FOR THE INLAND VALLEY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY.
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R00-22Page 17ESTABLISH AN AGGRESSIVE MARKETING PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES HIRING A QUALIFIED MARKETING DIRECTOR OR CONTRACTING WITH A PROFESSIONAL MARKETING FIRM. THIS POSITION WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MARKETING BOTH INLAND VALLEY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND SAN BERNARDINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY PROPERTIES.
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R00-23Page 17ACTIVELY SOLICIT THE TENANCY OF MORE ESTABLISHED SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES TO BETTER UTILIZE UNOCCUPIED SPACE THAT WOULD ENSURE A MORE DEPENDABLE CASH FLOW, MINIMIZING RELIANCE ON A SINGLE TENANT.