Responses to 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Final Report

Conclusions 32

• CL1
  "No sign posted regarding access to social services" Response: The Beverly Hills Police Department agrees with this finding. City o/Beverly Hills Police Department,4 64 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 ff3I0)285-2100 /(f310)246-9854 BeverlyHills.org The recommendation has been implemented. Signs with social services information were posted throughout jail facility after inspection.( Attachment)
• CL2
  "Broken light fixture and toilet" Response: The Beverly Hills Police Department partially agrees with finding. Broken light fixture was reported to facilities and repairs were made on August 29, 2019. (Attachment) We were not made aware of a broken toilet requiring repair during inspection. All jail facility toilets were functional during and after this date. There are no records of a request made for jail toilet repairs after inspection. We routinely check to ensure all jail facility toilets are in good working condition. If you have any questions regarding these responses, please contact Records and Jail Manager Sylvia Gelfman at . Sincerely, Dominick Rivetti Chief of Police City o/Beverly HilKs Police Department,4 64 N. Rexford Drive, Beverly Hill.s, CA 90210 ^^310)285-2100 /t310)246-9854 BeverlyHills.or^ / r LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT ^T P. 0. Box 30158 MICHEL R. MOORE Los Angeles, CA 90030 Chief of Police Telephone:( 213)4 86-0150 TDD:( 877) 275-5273 Ref #: 18.2.2 ERIC GARCEin Mayor September 24,2020 Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street, 11^ Floor, Room 11-506 Los Angeles, California 90012 Honorable Presiding Judge: In response to the July 31,2020, Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury report," Detention," the Los Angeles Police Department( LAPD)o ffers the following responses to the recommendations provided for the following police stations: 1. Hollywood Community Police Station Findings: "Lighting very dim in holding cells; at time of inspection blood and/or human waste were on walls; floors and walls peeling and in need of paint."
• CL3
  "Safety cell limited padding" Response: The Beverly Hills Police Department disagrees with this finding. Safety cell padding meets Title 24 Section 123.38 Cell Padding requirement. Safety cell padding does in fact cover all walls, floor and door of cell. Safety cell padding has been in place for every biennial State inspection, annual Los Angeles County inspection and annual Grand Jury inspection which our jail facility has passed and met safety cell requirements. "In safety cells, padding must cover the entire floor, doors, and walls and evetyt hing on them to a clear height oj 8f eet. All such padded cells must be equipped with a tamper resistantf ire sprinkler as approved by the State Fire Marshal. All padding must be approved for use by the State Fire Marshal, nonporous to facilitate cleaning, at least Yi inch thick, of a unitary or laminated construction, firmly bonded to all padded surfaces, and without any exposed seams. (Attachment)
• CL4
  Findings 1.1 through 1.11 are not applicable to the Beverly Hills Unified School District.
• CL5
  Findings 1.12 and 1.13 cannot be implemented at the District due to the District's undersized and compact campuses. In addition, the urban setting of the District requires the District to take more care in securing food waste and composting facilities to avoid vermin infestation. Thus, at this time, the District does not intend to implement these findings. Presently, due to the age of the facilities at the District, configurations for the sorting of trash, recycling and food/organic waste are limited, varying from campus to campus. However,s ince the District is undergoing a District-wide modernization, it is anticipated that cafeterias in each school will be upgraded with locations to dispose ofa nd properly store food/organic waste. The most recently renovated school, Horace Maim, was modernized to include a separate food/organic waste bin and handling area. Each of the other schools will receive similar facilities as part of their modernization. In the meantime, the City of Beverly Hills has been working with their waste hauling service, Athens Services, to provide food/organic waste bins for each campus and a food/organic waste removal service to address food/organic waste. The Beverly Hills Unified School District recognizes that the ability to handle food/organic waste is critical to the proper operation of each school. The District expects to have all campuses in compliance with AB 1826 through cooperation with the City and Athens Services within the next 6 months. Please let me know if you should need any clarification on this letter. Sincere: MICHAEL BREGY,E d.D., SUPERINTENDENT BEVERLY HILLS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Cc: Heather Oyama Ken Hass Terry Tao Don Blake James Burnley, City of Beverly Hills BEVERLY HILLS HIGH SCHOOL • BEVERLY VISTA MIDDLE SCHOOL• HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL• HORACE MANN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Idalnletretlve Sta££ Suporintendont - Dr. Michael Bregy • Assistant Superintendent, Student Services - Laura Chisn • Assistant Superintendent, Business Services - J. Wade Roach •A ssistant Superintendent, Education Services - Dustin Seemann • Assistant Superintendent, Husian Resources - Dr. Matthew Horvath m BEVERLY HILLS 255 SOUTH LASKY DRIVE BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212 UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT EDUCATION REIMACINED , 310-551-5100 September 24,2020 Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street, Floor, Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury To the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court: On behalf of the Beverly Hills Unified School District (the "District"), attached is the response to the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report. The report, requires responses from the District to Recommendations 1.12 and 1.13. Sincerely, Dr. Michael Bregy Superintendent Enclosure DR. MICHAEL BRECY SUPERINTENDENT LAURA CHISM ASST. SUPERINTENDENT, STUDENT SERVICES 3. WADE ROACH ASST. SUPERINTENDENT, BUSINESS SERVICES DUSTIN SEEMANN ASST. SUPERINTENDENT, EDUCATION SERVICES DR. MATTHEW HORVATH ASST. SUPERINTENDENT, PERSONNEL SERVICES Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court 9/24/2020 Page 2
• CL6
  At lunch time, students may select the vegetable offering from the salad bar or from the produce stand, utilizing the Share Table idea mentioned on page 14 of the Report.
• CL7
  Since mid-March 2020, schools in the District have been physically closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families in need pick up prepackaged meals. To save trips and packing materials, they typically pick up breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. Since milk must be offered with each meal, for a family of four picking up three meals, this could be as many as twelve servings of milk. The Agency has applied for and received a waiver thus, if the client does not wish to take the milk, it is not required that they do so, thus saving food waste.
• CL8
  In addition to limiting food waste, the Agency has taken conscious steps to limit packaging waste as well. Grab and go meals are provided in a clear thin plastic bag without boxes and without cardboard trays. This limits packaging waste.
• CL9
  During school closures in the spring semester due to the pandemic, and in beginning the 2020 - 2021 school year in August,i ndividual school sites served by the Agency will have no food waste, as students will not be present.
• CL10
  During regular food production when students are in attendance on campus,t he Agency endeavors to maintain food offerings in a frozen state until absolutely needed. Careful records are maintained of what foods are offered and what amounts are selected by students, thus, limiting preparation of excess amounts of food. When food can be safely retained, stored, and offered as an option on the next day menu in addition to the scheduled food offerings, this is done to limit food waste.
• CL11
  All retention or storage of food is always in accordance with USDA guidelines. This may cause some amount of food waste.
• CL12
  Some school nutrition services offer prepackaged salads. The Agency does not do this, in order to limit food waste. For example, individual elements of a salad are maintained and stored separately rather than being prepackaged in a salad. This allows the ingredients of a salad to be safely retained and used the next day.
• CL13
  The Agency keeps detailed production sheets to assess the popularity and volume off ood offerings so as to limit ordering and limit the preparation of unnecessary food.
• CL14
  During regular times when schools are physically open to students, the cardboard tray or "Boat" on which school lunches are placed is biodegradable. Milk cartons in use are also biodegradable. Please direct any questions to the undersigned. Respectfully, / Steve Doyle Superintendent S^t.fodajl Gentinela Valley Union High School District Business Services Division 14901 Inglewood Avenue, Lawntdale, CA 90260 (310) 263-3220;( 310) 644-7218 fax www.centinela.k12.ca.us BOARD OF EDUCATION October 30, 2020 Dr. Daniel D. Urrutia President Hugo M. Rojas II Presiding Judge Vice-president Los Angeles Superior Court Marisela Ruiz Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Clerk 210 West Temple Street, 11*^ Floor, Room 11-506 Estefany A. Castaneda Los Angeles, CA 90012 Member Gloria A. Ramos Member Re: A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Gregory O'Brien 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury n Business Services To the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court: Ron Hacker Assistant Superintendent (310) 263-3220 On behalf of Centinela Valley Union High School District (the "District"), attached is the (310) 644-7218 fax response to the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report. The report Educational Services includes the required responses from the District to Recommendations 1.12 and 1.13. Dr. Kelly Santos Assistant Superintendent (310)263-3170 Sincerely, (310) 973-8318 fax Human Resources Dr. Stephen Nellman Assistant Superintendent (310)263-3210 (310) 973-7983 fax Hawthorne High School Ron Hacker for Dr. Pamela Brown Gregory O'Brien, Ph.D. Principal (310) 263-4400 Superintendent (310) 675-7017 fax Centinela Valley Union High School District Lawndale High School Dr. Paula Hart Rodas Principal (310)263-3100 (310) 675-8174 fax Leuzinger High School Dr. Howard Ho Principal (310) 263-2200 (310) 675-7023 fax Lloyde High School/CV Adult School/CV Independent Study School Ben Wardrop Principal (310) 263-3263 (310) 679-2632 fax Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court October 30, 2020 Page 2
• CL15
  Of course, under the current school closures and distance learning protocols, no food is being served directly to students at school. Rather, food is served not only to students but to members in need in the nearby community via a "Grab and Go" method. The Agency serves food in bulk whenever possible, such as a salad bar or a produce stand at lunch time. This greatly limits packaging waste, and may also limit food waste.
• CL16
  In times when students are in attendance, the Agency practices what they call, "Offer vs. Serve." This means that students are offered food items, but are not automatically served all available food items for the meal, in order to reduce food waste. Both the National School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program require that certain offerings be made to students participating in the nutrition program. Students are allowed by those rules to turn down a certain number of the offerings. The Agency offers for lunch a dairy item, a protein item, a grain item, and two fruit items. Under the national rules, students must select three items, but may turn down the remainder of the offerings. Civil Grand Jury Presiding Judge September 29,2020 Page 3
• CL17
  At lunch time, students may select the vegetable offering from the salad bar or from the produce stand, utilizing the Share Table idea mentioned on page 14 of the Report.
• CL18
  Since mid-March 2020, schools in the District have been physically closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Families in need pick up prepackaged meals. To save trips and packing materials, they typically pick up breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time. Since milk must be offered with each meal, for a family of four picking up three meals, this could be as many as twelve servings of milk. The Agency has applied for and received a waiver thus, if the client does not wish to take the milk, it is not required that they do so, thus saving food waste.
• CL19
  In addition to limiting food waste, the Agency has taken conscious steps to limit packaging waste as well. Grab and go meals are provided in a clear thin plastic bag without boxes and without cardboard trays. This limits packaging waste.
• CL20
  During school closures in the spring semester due to the pandemic, and in beginning the 2020 - 2021 school year in August, individual school sites served by the Agency will have no food waste, as students will not be present.
• CL21
  During regular food production when students are in attendance on campus, the Agency endeavors to maintain food offerings in a frozen state until absolutely needed. Careful records are maintained of what foods are offered and what amounts are selected by students, thus, limiting preparation of excess amounts of food. When food can be safely retained, stored, and offered as an option on the next day menu in addition to the scheduled food offerings, this is done to limit food waste.
• CL22
  All retention or storage of food is always in accordance with USDA guidelines. This may cause some amount off ood waste.
• CL23
  Some school nutrition services offer prepackaged salads. The Agency does not do this, in order to limit food waste. For example, individual elements of a salad are maintained and stored separately rather than being prepackaged in a salad. This allows the ingredients of a salad to be safely retained and used the next day.
• CL24
  PERSONNEL SERVICES Action: A. Approval of Personnel Actions Report That the Board of Education of the Mountain View School District approves the Personnel actions. Certificated Personnel Actions Report New Hires Name Site Assionment Effective Date Aguirre, Alicia DO Substitute Teacher 8/13/2021 Benitez, Tanya DO Substitute Teacher Governing Board Members Jeff Pelzel Superintendent TZ'Z. " NEWHALL SCHOOL DISTRICT De.iamuo„ ErneaoSm»h Assistant Superintendent Suzan T.Solomon COLLABORATE I INNOVATE I PERSEVERE I EXCEL Instructional Services Isaiah Taiiey Sheri Staszewski Assistant Superintendent Brian Walters Business Services Amanda Montemayor Assistant Superintendent Human Resources September 29,2020 VIA U.S. MAIL & CERTIFIED MAIL. RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. & ELECTRONIC MAIL Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center 210 West Temple Street, 11* Floor, Room 11-506 Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: (1) Response of the Newhall School District to the July 31,2020 Report oft he Civil Grand Jury: Regarding A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste. (2)R ecommendation No. 1.12 "All 80 School Districts Located in the County Should Work with Local Public Works and Health Department Officials to Create a Garden and Compost Program in Every School, and Monitor Edible Food Recovery Efforts." (3)R ecommendation No. 1.13 "All 80 School District Should Develop a Garden / Compost Program That Can Be Available for Students in the Myriad After-School Daycare Options Available on Campus( LACER, After The Bell, STAR,e tc.)." Dear Presiding Judge: The Newhall School District ("NSD" or "District") Governing Board thanks the Los Angeles County Grand Jury for its thoughtful report ("Report") dated July 31,2020 regarding cutting down on food waste. The District's Governing Board and administration have taken into consideration the
• CL25
  During regular times when schools are physically open to students, the cardboard tray or "Boat" on which school lunches are placed is biodegradable. Milk cartons in use are also biodegradable. This response was adopted by the District's Goveming Board on September 29,2020. Please direct any questions to the undersigned. Respectfully, Jeff Pelzel Superintendent Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District MALAGA COVE October 30, 2020 ADMINISTRATION CENTER 375 Via Almar Palos Verdes Estates California 90274- 1277 (310) 378-9966 Presiding Judge www.pvpusd.net Los Angeles Superior Court Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center Alex Chemiss, Ed.D. 210 West Temple Street, 11 Floor, Room 11-506 Superintendent of Schools Los Angeles, CA 90012 Board of Education Suzanne Seymour President Re: A DIET FOR LANDFILLS: Cutting Down on Food Waste Richard Phillips Vice President 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Megan Crawford Clerk Matthew Brach Member To the Presiding Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court: Linda Reid Member On behalf of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (the "District"), attached is the response to the 2019-2020 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury Report. The report, requires responses from the District to Recommendations 1.12 and 1.13. Sincerely, Oeoartmenf Extensions Superintendent, x 404 Business Services, x418 Brenna M. Terrenes Assistant Superintendent Administrative Services Educational Senrices, x 163 Human Resources. Enclosure x417 Technology ServTces, x 700 Presiding Judge Los Angeles Superior Court October 30, 2020 Page 1
• CL26
  The Report identifies 163 vacant homes owned by Caltrans in the County of Los Angeles. This is incorrect. Caltrans currently owns 105 vacant homes in the county of Los Angeles.
• CL27
  Of the 105 vacant homes, 22 hove been committed to the City of Los Angeles as part of on agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).
• CL28
  Of the remaining vacant homes, 10 will be required by Caltrans as relocation housing, when the currently occupied homes are sold pursuant to the Roberti Act and the Affordable Sales Program Regulations 'Provide a sate, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to entrance Caiiternia's economy and iivabiiity" Mr./Ms./Honorable Full Name Date Page 2 (Regulations). The Regulations establish that if the estimated lender required repairs for each home exceeds the value in return for a property, Coltrans may be required to find a replacement property for the current occupants. Caltrans conducted an analysis and determined that there were suitable vacant properties in Caltrans inventory that would be acceptable as replacement properties. This will allow Caltrans to avoid having to find replacement properties in the private market.
• CL29
  The remaining 73 vacant homes are deteriorated; many have issues related to mold, asbestos and lead, and are not in a habitable nor safe condition for human habitation. On the average, the cost of repair is a minimum of $100K per vacant property to meet the habitability requirements. This is due to the age of the properties and the prevailing wage requirements that Caltrans is lawfully bound to follow. Pursuant to California Penal Code, Section 933.05(b), Caltrans responds that it will take the following action regarding Recommendation No. 8.13: The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not feasible. Of the 105 vacant homes in the County of Los Angeles, Caltrans has already committed 32 properties for other uses. The remaining 73 vacant houses are in a state of complete disrepair and it is cost prohibitive for Caltrans to make these properties safe for human habitation. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or concerns. Sincerely, "JOHN C. BULINSKI District 7 Director "Provide a safe, sustainable, integrated and efficient transportation system to enhance Caiifomia's economy and livability" 9.0 Hospitals on Ventilators COMMITTEE MEMBERS Jean Holden, Co-Chair Larry Sullivan, Co-Chair Hind Baki Gordon Jefferson Heather Preimesberger Irene Shandell-Taylor Jenalea Smith RESPONSE TO THE 2019-2020 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 2019-2020 CIVIL GRAND JURY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOSPITALS ON VENTILATORS
• CL30
  Hollywood Community Police Station Findings: "Lighting very dim in holding cells; at time of inspection blood and/or human waste were on walls; floors and walls peeling and in need of paint."
• CL31
  North Hollywood Community Police Station Findings:" Key to defibrillator not available."
• CL32
  West Los Angeles Community Police Station Findings:" No toilet; no food and/or water on site for arrestees; inspection reports were not available; duty officer feels State Board of Corrections and Civil Grand Jury inspections are not necessary for a facility with temporary holding cells and handles booking only."

Agency Responses 1

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