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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.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 397 F17. By not filling essential positions for months at a time,
⚠️ 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 1 findings
F17
Page 407
By not filling essential positions for months at a time, services for residents suffer harm when vacancies persist. _X_ AGREE __ PARTIALLY DISAGREE __ DISAGREE Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): Required Response from the Santa Cruz County Board Of Supervisors New Recruiting Ideas for the Personnel Department Due by September 25, 2024 398 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 416
The Grand Jury recommends that by December 31, 2024, the Personnel Department post a public dashboard, based on real time data, to include time- to-hire and vacancy rates for difficult to fill positions in County departments. (F15, F16, F17) _X_ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – __ summarize what will be done and the timeframe REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe __ (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: The Personnel Department already tracks time-to-hire data, from the request to establish a list, and vacancy rates, which change each pay period and are available in a report format. However, these metrics are primarily internal and are not directly relevant to applicants. For applicants, the most important information is the real-time status of their recruitment, which is available on the Employment Opportunities Center website. This platform provides updates on individual recruitment stages, and applicants can also email or call for additional information at any time. The implementation of Workday will further enhance internal tracking capabilities. [Return to Table of Contents] 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 407 City Of Santa Cruz: Preventing Rape and Domestic Violence Where’s The Priority?
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R81-29Page 417to make the prevention of rape and domestic violence one of its highest priorities. In 2023, the Santa Cruz City Council adopted a Five Year Strategic Plan. The Plan makes no mention of rape and domestic violence. Over the past decade, the City’s Commission for the Prevention of Violence Against Women has failed to provide the City Council with solid Annual Reports that document City, community, and police efforts to prevent rape and domestic violence. Recent reports have either included no data or limited data. The 2023 CPVAW Joint Report has no metrics on important trends such as whether the City of Santa Cruz still has a higher than average rate of rapes by strangers. What areas of the city were the crimes committed in? Have there been arrests? Long-standing Commission programs such as the Safe Place Network of local businesses are currently idle. This year the Santa Cruz City Schools District canceled the Commission’s popular self-defense classes for middle and high school students. The in-person classes are being replaced with an online self-esteem video. The City has ended the Commission’s thirty five-year access to redacted police reports of rape and domestic violence. These reports enabled the Commission to evaluate police response, respond to complaints and recommend training if needed. The Grand Jury submits its findings and recommendations to bring the City of Santa Cruz into compliance with City Ordinance 81-29. The personal safety and well-being of the community is at stake. Preventing Rape and Domestic Violence published June 27, 2024