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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.

Placer County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

Temporary Emergency Homeless Shelter

Published: June 26, 2015 6 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings 12 findings

F2 Page 77
Due to the lack of consistency between websites, organization of information on the various R1. A website best practices guide be locating similar information on different websites is websites. considered for development in the next 12 time consuming and frustrating. months. by representatives from Placer County and the Cities of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Although the websites vary, some of them Rocklin, Roseville and the town of Loomis. have more of a focus on general community information (i.e. visitor info, weather, schools, etc.) than on government
F3
The inclusion of outdated information on the website, besides being of limited value, clutters the website and calls into question other postings on the website. An example is that one website includes labor force statistics and economic reports from 2006.
F4
The lack of document information, including posting dates and sunset dates, decreases confidence in the validity of data found on the websites.
F5
Some minutes are not being posted in a timely manner.
F6 Page 78
It is generally more difficult to distinguish the One agency website does not have minutes when they are embedded in agendas or in current agenda and minutes. videos, rather than posted separately .
F7 Page 78
Posting of summarized minutes (abstracts), or a Some of the sites provide video records of summary of actions taken, would improve the public’s meetings. experience in trying understand what governance actions were taken, or what decisions were made . Only the Placer County website contains a summary of actions approved by the Board.
F8 Page 78
Video recordings of proceedings are beneficial to R6. Posting of complete video recordings of Some of the sites provide video records of the public’s understanding of their representatives meetings should be investigated to determine if meetings. actions in council and board meetings it is economically feasible . Video recordings of county board and city council meetings allow the public to view the entire proceeding. - 74 - Attachment A . The ability to locate current financial results is R7. All websites should include direct links to financial results versus budgets are improved when operating reports and financial financial reports, including on-going progress generally only available as agenda performance reports are directly posted on the and performance reports on financial results exhibits. website. versus budgets . Only four websites provide on-going operating reports regarding expenditures vs. budget.
F9
The ability to locate current financial results is improved when operating reports and financial performance reports are directly posted on the website.
F10 Page 79
Lack of consistency in posting of bid All but three sites provide access to special district/agency web sites should include opportunities and awards, on websites, makes it opportunities to bid on contracts. There is access to the policy, process and posting of difficult for the public to discern available contracting no consistency in displaying bid awards. current contracting opportunities. Results of opportunities and what awards have been approved. bid awards should also be posted. None of the websites include current F11. The public’s access to operating policies, R9. Current operating policies covering travel operating policies, such as employee and applying to elected officials and employees, would be and use of entity owned assets including elected officials travel, use of government enhanced if these documents were available through vehicles, cell-phones, computers, and credit owned vehicles, computers, cell-phones the website. cards should be available on websites or by on- and credit cards; nor do they include line CPRA requests. policies on purchasing and contract bidding processes.
F11
The public’s access to operating policies, applying to elected officials and employees, would be enhanced if these documents were available through the website.
F12 Page 79
A link on the website to fill out CPRA document R10. Placer County, Auburn and Colfax Only two of the websites included access requests, improves the public’s ability to submit should incorporate into their websites a link to to make public CPRA document requests. requests. make CPRA Public Records Requests. - 75 - Attachment A . A link to the Grand Jury website where the GJ R11. Websites should include a link for the a link to the Grand Jury website to allow complaint form “Confidential Citizen Complaint” is public to make a Grand Jury complaint. easy access to the Grand Jury complaint available enables public access for registering a form “Confidential Citizen Complaint”. confidential complaint on line. - 76 - - by the Board of Supervisors (BOS). In 2004 the Placer Consortium on Homeless and Affordable Housing Committee presented to the BOS a ten-year plan to end homelessness in Placer County. As of December of 2014, there was no temporary emergency homeless shelter in Auburn. Faced with the prospect of people living out in the open during a cold and wet winter, immediate action for a shelter, even if temporary, appeared in order. A number of citizens stepped forward with offers of resources and a proposal to repurpose two buildings on the DeWitt Center Campus as a temporary shelter. These buildings, which had recently been used to house minimum-security prisoners, appeared to be a ready solution to provide temporary shelter for the homeless. When the issue appeared to stall before the BOS in December 2014, the Grand Jury decided to investigate. During the course of the investigation, the BOS held a special meeting in which they requested an expedited review and analysis by County staff. At the time of this writing, the BOS has given approval for a temporary shelter at the DeWitt Center with a conditional use permit for ninety (90) days. The need for a permanent solution remains. Background In September 2014, the BOS commissioned a study to identify the needs of the homeless in Placer County. The study, expected in March 2015, would not come in time to help the homeless people. In December 2014, the homeless were camped in the fields and parking lot adjacent to the DeWitt Government Center in North Auburn. As of this writing, numerous homeless people are camped in the DeWitt Center fields, parking lots, and under buildings. During December 2014, a month with record rainfall, the homeless had no choice but to huddle together under the awnings and decks of the DeWitt buildings in a vain attempt to stay dry. - 78 -
F13
A link to the Grand Jury website where the GJ complaint form “Confidential Citizen Complaint” is available enables public access for registering a confidential complaint on line.

Recommendations 11