Responses to Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Reports 2018-2019 through 2021-2022 Every year the Civil Grand Jury

Recommendations 14

• R1

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  The County Administrator’s Office (CAO) will create and maintain policy Yes and procedural manuals for each Department of Health Services (DHS) department and desk manuals for all positions in the Fiscal and Behavioral Health Divisions. Current Status: In October of 2023, the CAO office confirmed that the DHS fiscal team has fulfilled the 2018-19 Grand Jury recommendation to improve Behavioral Health budget practices and that the DHS is adhering to the County’s Financial and Budget policies, reviewed and approved by the Board annually. Also see the DHS response to R5.
• R2
  Sonoma Water maintain inventory lists with current goals for items, Yes quantities, locations, and sourcing; and improve stockpiling accordingly, by December 31, 2019. Current Status: Compliance confirmed with agency acknowledgement. Sonoma Water now maintains inventory lists with goals for items, quantities, locations and sourcing, and it has improved stockpiling of emergency items.
• R3
  Sonoma Water and water contractors derive and publicize more realistic Yes outage periods and provide updated information to the public, by December 31, 2019. Current Status: Compliance confirmed with agency acknowledgement. Sonoma Water and Individual Water Contractors (WCs) continue to study options for more realistic outage periods and for methods of providing updated information to the public.
• R4
  Sonoma Water improve coordination with water contractors, including field Yes exercises, by December 31, 2019. Current Status: All water contractors have confirmed that Sonoma Water is working with the agency to coordinate operations and plans for water management. 2
• R5

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  MADF reevaluate its policy on the use of support medications for opioid Yes abuse reflecting current best practices by December 31, 2019. Current Status: A Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program was implemented on April 1, 2021. The program is designed for patients who were started on MAT medications (Methadone, Naltrexone, Buprenorphine) in the community within three months prior to incarceration. Currently, the MADF MAT program is for continuation only, but on release participants are provided tools for successful community reentry. These include community clinical appointments, Narcan, educational pamphlets and a list of community resources. Nasal Narcan is also offered and provided to known opiate users not eligible for MAT. A substance abuse counselor conducts weekly individual counseling sessions with all MAT patients. All MAT patients take part in evidence-based, curriculum-oriented substance abuse recovery programs. THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BUDGET: A Perfect Storm Unresolved Recommendations and Implemented Current Status
• R6

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  The County Administrator and General Services Director (GSD) will assign Yes resources such as sufficient staffing for determining and setting deferred- maintenance valuations. Current Status: Valuations and prioritization of deferred-maintenance needs were presented to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on September 9, 2019. On September 24, 2019, the BOS approved funding for these projects.
• R7

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  The Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector (ACTTC) will review Yes assets with accumulated deferred maintenance and will adjust the record of accumulated depreciation if material impairment is found. Current Status: The ACTTC confirms that assets impaired by deferred maintenance are reported appropriately in the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. 5
• R8
  By December 31, 2022, the Board of Supervisors will consult with the No Human Resources Department to consider establishing an Ombudsperson for County employees to provide a neutral means to voice issues of concern. Current Status: The Human Resources Department responded that it plans to conduct an employee-engagement survey in 2024 to determine the best path forward.
• R11
  The Board of Directors direct advisory committees to develop and Yes implement a policy to keep documents and information related to their advisory role centrally located and remotely accessible, by January 31, 2023. Current Status: This was implemented in August of 2022. Documents and information are now stored electronically. In summary, the tables above give an update of the recommendations of the Civil Grand Jury reports of 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 that were unanswered when the follow-up reports were published. While there are still unresolved issues, this update shows the progress made after the Civil Grand Juries’ terms expired. 20
• R12
  Sonoma County Community Development Commission establish and Yes budget for a Youth Action Board to improve the chances of federal funding 6 through HUD’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, by February 28, 2021. Current Status: A Youth Action Board and budget have been established, as noted in the Youth Action Board minutes.
• R13
  The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Sonoma County Yes Administrator’s Office identify, by December 31, 2020, a stable funding source to support sustainable programs that will reduce youth homelessness to functional zero. Current Status: To the extent possible, these funding sources have been established as noted in the 2023 County Strategic Plan.
• R14
  The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Sonoma County Yes Administrator’s Office develop and implement, by June 30, 2021, a procedure for County departments to consistently identify and track the cost of services provided to the homeless population. Current Status: Funding for services to the homeless, including homeless youth, is identified in the Budget Binder memo. SONOMA COUNTY HAS A HOMELESS CRISIS: Is There a Response Plan? Unresolved Recommendations and Implemented Current Status
• R16
  By March 1, 2023, the Board of Supervisors direct the County Partially Administrator’s Office and the County Human Resources Department to develop a plan for the Board’s review and consideration whereby the County Human Resources Department has oversight authority over all satellite human resource divisions. Current Status: The Human Resources Department responded that it will work with a consultant in 2024 to develop recommendations regarding oversight of all satellite-department human resources functions. AFFORDABLE HOUSING: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE Unresolved Recommendations and Implemented Current Status
• R19
  By December 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management Yes publicize the work of community preparedness groups such as Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, Community Emergency Response Teams, and Community Organizations Around Disasters to more effectively reach all residents about emergency alerts and warnings. Current Status: The work of community preparedness groups is publicized on a regular basis. ROHNERT PARK ELECTION DISTRICTS: Transitioning from At-Large to District-Based Elections Unresolved Recommendations and Implemented Current Status