8 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
The Bay Area Earthquake Plan of July 6, 2016, establishes operational planning and preparation criteria for each Bay Area county.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
F1: “In the Direct JPA model, each member delegates to the JPA a function that each member has the legal authority to provide. This shared approach results in cost savings and better efficiency on behalf of taxpayers.” Response: The City of El Cerrito agrees with this finding.
R1
Sheriff OES should consider creating a schedule for updating the Bay Area Earthquake Plan operational annexes
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R1: “All cities with JPAs in the County should confirm their compliance with Gov. Codes Sections 6505 by submitting the required audit report to the County Auditor by Decembe
F2
The Sheriff OES is charged with planning and coordinating the County’s response to a disaster.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
F2: “The Circular JPAs with a single controlling entity, such as a city council, have the potential to avoid legal debt limits and provide limited disclosures to taxpayer.” Response: The City of El Cerrito disagrees with this finding. A Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is a separate legal public entity as defined by the Government Code. As such, JPAs have the ability to incur their own debt separate from the municipality. The “single controlling entity”, even if made up of the same members as a City Council, still serves in a separate legal role. All meetings of JPAs are publicly noticed and compl...
F3
Sheriff OES Catastrophic Mass Care and Shelter Plan and other earthquake operational planning and preparation plans, dated 2010, do not meet the 2016 Bay Area Earthquake Plan requirements.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
F3: “In Contra Costa County, there are 12 Circular JPAs created by cities with RDAs that no longer exist. These JPAs may no longer be valid because each is a member of another Financial JPA which may take on new debt without the prohibition (Gov. Codes Sections 6505 3416/34170 et seq,) placed on Successor Agencies.” Response: The City of El Cerrito disagrees with this finding. To the extent that this finding suggests that all JPAs between a city and successor agency are invalid, we direct you to the following provisions of the redevelopment dissolution laws. Health and Safety Code section 3417...
F4
EHSD is responsible for executing the Mass Care and Shelter Plan and coordinating with the American Red Cross to operate emergency shelters.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
F4: “Cities that have created the 12 Financial JPAs do not provide JPA-specific financial information in their budget document. As a result, the public may have difficulty evaluating JPA’s financial performance.” Response: The City of El Cerrito disagrees with this finding. The City provides, and has provided for years, information on the El Cerrito Public Financing Authority in its biennial budget document and in its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), each of which are presented in a public meeting and are available to the public in both written and online formats. The City does no...
R4
Sheriff OES should consider including shelter selection, inspection and preparation when it establishes the Emergency Operations Center for a simulated disaster as part of disaster exercises.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R4: “The 11 cities that are members of a JPA associated with an RDA or their Successor Agencies should consider confirming their compliance with the provisions of Abx1.26 (Gov. Codes Sections 34177 et seq.) and report their findings and any corrective actions to the Auditor-Controller’s office by Decembe
R5
EHSD should consider access to view the NSS list
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
R5: “All cities with JPAs should consider making special efforts, such as special mailings to taxpayers, website postings and announcements in local media, to communicate JPA debt decisions and audit reports to the public beyond simple notifications by Decembe
R11
The Council should consider directing the Shelter to collaborate with all accredited rescue groups to maximize rescues and adoptions.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
r 11, 2018 Mario Gutierrez, Foreperson Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury 725 Court Street P.O. Box 431 Martinez, CA 94553-0091 Email: ctadmin@contracosta.courts.ca.gov Via U.S. Mail and Email RE: Grand Jury Report No. 1808, “Joint Powers Authorities” Dear Mr. Gutierrez: On behalf of the City of El Cerrito, this letter serves as a response to Grand Jury Report No. 1808, “Joint Powers Authorities,” by the Contra Costa Grand Jury. In accordance with your request and Section 933.05 of the California Government Code, the City is responding as required to Findings 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Recommendatio...
