Riverside County Grand Jury
• 2008-2009
Riverside County Business Registration and Licensing Program
⚠️ 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 4 findings
F1
The intended application of BRLP is to register businesses in the unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The intent went further by expecting, but not requiring, other county departments to input their permitting information. This would result in the capture of fees not currently collected by the county. 1
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
When this system is properly implemented, its use must be mandated by the Board of Supervisors to enable all county departments and agencies to develop data and share appropriate information with other agencies having similar needs.
F2
As it now exists, the BRLP does not serve the purpose for which it was intended. This causes many instances of duplication of effort or no action at all, resulting in unnecessary expense and/or loss of revenue. Investigation has shown there is little or no utilization of the program to notify other county agencies, which may have an interest in features of the same business.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Redesign or replace the BRLP with software providing the necessary data required by all county agencies to meet the needs for which it was originally intended. It is essential that all permitting departments of the county government, which have legal requirements, enter data into and retrieve data from the system on a timely basis. 2
F3
The BRLP is designed as a two-tier system, the first tier of which contains only information that is not of a personal nature. The casual seeker of information can retrieve no more than the name of the business, address, telephone number and type of business in which it is engaged. The second tier, which is only accessible to personnel of the BRLD, contains much more data protected by privacy statutes. This tier’s data is only given to those who make a formal request to BRLD personnel and can show a legitimate need for the information. The program requires several follow-up efforts via telephone and/or e-mail to finally obtain the necessary data.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Redesign or replace BRLP to allow direct access to the second tier by those agencies, which require specific information for their operations, which would be more cost effective.
F4
Due to lack of direction by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the County Executive Officer to the implementation of BRLP, the result is an ineffective system, which does not fulfill its original intent.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors and County Executive Officer must be more active in the implementation and monitoring of the previously approved countywide computer system. Report Issued: 06/10/09 Report Public: 06/12/09 Response Due: 09/08/09 3