Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2007-2008
Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 37 findings
F01
The Department is under the supervision of the County Executive Officer (CEO) and the BOS for policy and oversight. [Att-01]
No recommendations for this finding
F02
The Project restrooms are not within the Department’s boundaries and are not included in the Department’s property inventory.
No recommendations for this finding
F03
Public complaints to the Department regarding the condition of the public beach restrooms began prior to 2001.
No recommendations for this finding
F04
The Department was assigned the task of replacing the restrooms at the request of the CEO.
No recommendations for this finding
F05
The Department requested the County Airports Director to assist in securing the required reconstruction permits since the Airports Department had experience with the permitting process. Approvals
No recommendations for this finding
F06
The Department obtained coastal zoning clearances #ZC07-0183 and #ZC07-0182 in February 2007 for public restrooms at SSB and HB.
No recommendations for this finding
F07
Building permits #PLR07-1216 and #PLR07-1217 were issued by the Resource Management Agency (RMA) in June 2007 to remodel existing public restrooms at SSB and HB.
No recommendations for this finding
F08
The Project was subject to the County Coastal Plan certified by the CCC.
No recommendations for this finding
F09
In issuing building permits and coastal zone clearance for the Project, the Department used the following terms to describe the type of construction being permitted: 2 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction • construction • remodel
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The complainants contend that the proper term to describe the Project at mid-beach on SSB and HB is new construction.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The Department contractor’s bid was to completely remove the former restrooms and reconstruct them in the same locations. Location
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Required coastal zone approvals from RMA were waived since this was reconstruction in the same location as the former restrooms.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
In June 2007, the California State Lands Commission (CSLC) was contacted by the Department inquiring into the feasibility of locating the mid-beach SSB restroom on State property in La Jenelle Park, which is located at the south end of SSB. No further action was taken by the Department due to costs.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The County has leased La Jenelle State Park since 1973.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Relocation of the SSB mid-beach Project to the south end of SSB could be accomplished: • through the approval of the CSLC which would negotiate price and terms for relocation on State property at La Jenelle Park • with new Environmental Impact Study Checklist • with new RMA approvals
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The additional budget expense for the relocation of the SSB project would also require: • an Environmental Impact Report at an estimated cost in excess of $500,000 • additional time to secure permits which has a cost value • new County building permits at an undetermined cost Public Notification
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Public notification for the Project was conducted in several acceptable ways: • mailings to the affected private property owners through water bills • public meetings held by the Department for the public to voice their opinions • Website for the County and Department announcing meetings and or related agenda items • hand delivered notices to affected private property owners Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 3 • BOS meeting agenda items concerning the Department posted on the BOS Website. • site postings (this was not used due to vandalism experience)
Related Recommendations (2)
R01
The Department should continue to notify affected private property owners near a County project which may affect private property values. A formal written procedure of public notification should be added to the 6 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Department Manual of Policies and Procedures. Records of notifications and resulting public comments should be maintained. (C-03)
R02
The Department should continue to hold public meetings and maintain records of public comments. (C-03)
F18
BOS public hearings and agenda items relating to the Project occurred on October 3, 2006, November 14, 2006, December 12, 2006, and November 20, 2007.
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
The Department should continue to hold public meetings and maintain records of public comments. (C-03)
F19
The Department held public meetings related to the Project in June 2006 and October 2007. Public Safety
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
The Department should continue to hold public meetings and maintain records of public comments. (C-03)
F20
Beach restroom maintenance is provided by the Department at the request of the CEO.
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Public safety issues of beach restrooms are shared responsibilities of the Department’s Harbor Patrol (water), the Oxnard Police Department (land), and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department (land). ADA Access
Related Recommendations (1)
R04
The Department should assist residents to form a type of “Neighborhood Watch” program for the safety issues surrounding public beach restrooms and coordinate efforts with Oxnard Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, and the Harbor Patrol which together are responsible for public safety at County beaches. (C-04)
F22
The construction of the public restrooms is in compliance with all Federal, State, and County building code ordinances including Title 24/ADA. (The Department intends to continue its program of providing balloon-tired wheel chairs to cross the sand at SSB and HB restrooms.) Budget and Costs
Related Recommendations (1)
R03
Appropriate steps should be taken to assure that all disabled and handicapped members of the public have beach restroom access instead of relying exclusively on County provided balloon-tired wheelchairs. (C-05)
F23
The Project was first referenced in the 2000-2005 County Capital Improvements Report and in several successive County reports: • 2003-2008 County Capital Improvements Report • 2003 County Budget line item note Structural and Improvements Contracts • 2005-2006 Operation of Enterprise Fund Report • CEO 2002-2007 5-Year Report for Capital Improvements • CEO 2003-2008 5-Year Report for Capital The Project was deferred due to lack of funds.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
In the 2003-2008 County Capital Improvements Report, it was noted that the lifeguard/public restroom facility at the north end of SSB was earmarked demolished as a result of a 2002 storm and the HB public restroom was noted to be in poor condition and beyond renovation status.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
The BOS initial funding pass-through of $1.2 million was in FY2005- 2006 budget for the Project.
No recommendations for this finding
F26
The budget adopted for FY2006-2007 added $1.0 million additional pass-through revenue for the funding of the Project. Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction
No recommendations for this finding
F27
The BOS allocated a total pass-through of $2,259,000 which included a $59,000 payment from the insured storm damage to complete the three public restrooms/lifeguard tower projects.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
The 2007-2008 Ventura County Preliminary Budget Book noted in the Accomplishments section that construction drawings for the replacement of two public beach restrooms were completed and out for bids.
No recommendations for this finding
F29
The cost of architecturals (blueprints and engineering) is normally about 10% or less of the construction cost. This was exceeded for the two public restrooms due to thirteen redrafts of the plans as a result of public and staff recommendations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R05
The Department should inform the public of costs, locations, and construction procedures for similar coastal projects prior to implementation. (C-06)
F30
The cost of construction for the Project included: • permits • demolition • utility off-sites (utilities brought to the site from the utility vendors, not utilities within the project site) • facility construction to coastal zone standards • construction oversight consultant
No recommendations for this finding
F31
Qualified architectural bids for the Project were awarded to bidders based on experience with coastal zone construction standards required for this Project.
No recommendations for this finding
F32
Qualified construction bids for the Project were awarded to bidders based primarily on cost.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
Three contracts were awarded for the construction of public restrooms at mid-beach SSB and HB. (A third public restroom/lifeguard tower combination building at SSB was put on hold.) The cost breakdown was: • architecture and engineering $154,930 • facility construction $595,001 • construction oversight consulting $63,920 [Att-02]
Related Recommendations (1)
R07
The Auditor-Controller should audit the use of funds for this Project when it is completed. (C-08) Responses Responses Required: Board of Supervisors, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-05) Auditor-Controller, County of Ventura (R-06, R-07) Responses Requested: Harbor Department, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-05) Attachments Att-01 County Organization Chart Att-02 County Construction and Consulting Contract Cover Pages Att-03 Aerial Photos of Public Restroom Projects Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 7 (This page intentionally blank) 8 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-01 County Organization Chart Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 9 (This page intentionally blank) 10 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 11 (This page intentionally blank) 12 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-02 County Construction and Consulting Contract Cover Pages Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 13 (This page intentionally blank) 14 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 15 16 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 17 18 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-03 Aerial Photos of Public Restroom Projects Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 19 (This page intentionally blank) 20 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 21 (This page intentionally blank) 22 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction
F34
The cost for the two public restrooms conformed to typical governmental contracts for similar projects in other southland coastal counties. The total was $813,851 or approximately one third of the BOS allocation for the three public restroom/lifeguard tower projects. [Att-03]
Related Recommendations (1)
R07
The Auditor-Controller should audit the use of funds for this Project when it is completed. (C-08) Responses Responses Required: Board of Supervisors, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-05) Auditor-Controller, County of Ventura (R-06, R-07) Responses Requested: Harbor Department, County of Ventura (R-01 through R-05) Attachments Att-01 County Organization Chart Att-02 County Construction and Consulting Contract Cover Pages Att-03 Aerial Photos of Public Restroom Projects Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 7 (This page intentionally blank) 8 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-01 County Organization Chart Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 9 (This page intentionally blank) 10 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 11 (This page intentionally blank) 12 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-02 County Construction and Consulting Contract Cover Pages Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 13 (This page intentionally blank) 14 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 15 16 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 17 18 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Attachment-03 Aerial Photos of Public Restroom Projects Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 19 (This page intentionally blank) 20 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 21 (This page intentionally blank) 22 Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction
F35
The Department has a budget of approximately $10,000,000 per year and the last comprehensive County audit was in the late 1990’s. Silver Strand Mid-Beach Public Restroom Reconstruction 5 Property Values
Related Recommendations (1)
R06
The Auditor-Controller should perform a comprehensive audit of the Department at least every three years. (C-08)
F36
Complainants stated that their property values are affected by: • types of public structures • loss of viewscapes • graffiti • behavior at public restroom facilities
No recommendations for this finding
F37
The mid-beach SSB public restroom has been in its current location for over 30 years. Conclusions C-01. The Department did not exceed its granted authority in contracting the demolition and reconstruction of the public restroom at mid-beach SSB. (F-04) C-02. The Department followed building codes for the Project. (F-06 through
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 3
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CL1 Page 6its location in the coastal zone
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CL2 Page 6prevailing wage requirements
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CL3 Page 6type of bidding required to perform the type of project (F-23 through F-34) C-07. The original public restroom at mid-beach SSB was over 30 years old and the new mid-beach restroom, properly maintained and protected, should not further affect private property values. (F-37) C-08. The County would be better served if comprehensive agency audits were performed on a regular basis. (F-35)
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
County of Ventura
Agency
Ventura County Auditor-Controller
Elected County Office
Ventura County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office