response to the 1988-89 Grand Jury Final Report:*

Recommendations 1

• R1

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  IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNTY ESTABLISH A POLICY TO PURSUE IN A MORE TIMELY AND AGGRESSIVE MANNER THE ZONING LAW VIOLATIONS THAT ARE THE SUBJECT OF LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT BY NEIGHBORS AND OTHER INTERESTED PRIVATE PARTIES. Department of Planning and Building's Response: The Grand Jury's report on enforcement of zoning laws is in reference to 1. approximately five complaints submitted by several residents of the South Atascadero (Carmel Road) area relative to land use violations in their neighborhood. The report does not specifically mention the violations by name, so the cases are merely numbered here for discussion. These cases are listed below with dates of complaint receipt, field investigation and current status. The complaint receipt dates of each case are different although the Grand Jury's report implies that all were received on August 18, 1988. Violation Received 1st Inspection Action Case Status 1. Comm. Trucks 12/5/88 Partial 2/23/89 Correction 2. Comm. Trucks Partial 8/30/89 1/28/89 Correction 3. Comm. Trucks 4/22/89 Correction 7/25/89 4. Comm. Trucks 7/29/87 8/03/89 Citation Issued 7/31/89 5. Machine Shop 2/3/89 2/23/89 Correction We appreciate the fruscration that property owners may have when it takes a long time to enforce correction of violations, however, the problem of timely response to lower priority violations is a result of insufficient staffing. Response time depends upon the potential that the violation may have for immediate danger to health and safety. With only three field officers (presently two) covering the entire county and with a backlog in excess of 600 cases, violations which pose immediate hazards receive priority over others. An example of a lower priority violation includes commercial vehicle parking in residential areas. The Enforcement Division's staffing deficiency problem was detailed in a report to the Board of Supervisors three years ago during 1986 budget hearings. The report explained that with only three field investigators, we could not reduce the backlog of cases nor handle all complaints with the same priority. Although the Enforcement Division is understaffed, it is important to note that since 1986, approximately 792 cases have been successfully closed. Ιn addition, the Enforcement Division, together with the CHP, have removed over 1,000 abandoned vehicles from public and private property since 1987. With regards to the Grand Jury's recommendation that we establish a more timely and aggressive manner of enforcing correction of violations, it is our opinion that we are doing the best we can with the staffing that has been allotted to the Code Enforcement Division. It is noteworthy to mention that we are utilizing the court system more now than in prior years and this has resulted in a higher level of success in closing cases. The District Attorney's Office has been very supportive of our efforts, in part due to the professionalism of our personnel and the quality of criminal complaints being submitted for prosecution. This should produce increased efficiencies in handling our ever increasing caseload. II. CLOSURE OF LOS OSOS LANDFILL Grand Jury Recommendation: 1. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THERE BE A CONSTANT MONITORING OF THE COLD WATER CANYON LANDFILL OPERATION TO INSURE ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND CAPABILITIES. Heath Agency' Response: A staff member of the Health Department's Division of Environmental Health inspects the Cold Canyon Landfill operation routinely once each week to monitor compliance with Title 14, "Disposal Site Standards." Grand Jury Recommendation: 2. A SUITABLE REFUSE TRANSFER STATION BE LOCATED IN THE NORTH COAST AREA AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR NORTH COAST RESIDENTS. Health Agency's Response: 2. The County Engineering Department is pursuing the siting of a transfer station in the North Coast Area. County Administrator's Comments: 2. The Engineering Department has spent the last year working with the Solid Waste Management Commission to locate and evaluate potential sites. The process has been lengthy due to the controversy associated with siting of a transfer station in the north coast area. To date, the majority of the potential sites identified have been dropped from further consideration due to concerns related to quality of life and the environment. Currently, the Engineering Department is evaluating the feasibility of placing the transfer station st the former Los Osos Landfill site on Turri Road. The Board of Supervisors will discuss this option at their September 26, 1989 meeting. Grand Jury Recommendation: 3. THAT THE COUNTY AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE RECYCLING OF REFUSE TO MINIMIZE THE NEED FOR FUTURE LANDFILLS. Health Agency's Response: 3. The County Engineering Department is presently recruiting for a recycling specialist to address the subject of recycling in San Luis Obispo County. County Administrator's Comments: The county has already been responding by approving a Recycling and Waste Reduction Management Plan in March of 1989. The Board of Supervisors subsequently approved a Recycling Coordinator position during the 1989-90 Budget Hearings to oversee the implementation of the plan. Interviews for the position were held on September 11, 1989. It is expected that the new position will be on board by mid-October of 1989. Grand Jurors Association SAN LUIS OPISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Board of Supervisors San Luis Obispo County The members of the Grand Jurors Association of San Luis Obispo request that you consider establishing temporary holding rooms for prisoners at both north and south government centers as described in the Grand Jury's Final report for 1988-89. Under stress of drug and alcohol abuse our sheriff is operating with a minimum staff. Taking the time of one of the two prowl cars operating at either end of our large county leaves the area vulner- able while making the 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive to and from the court to book an arrest. Grand juries in the past five years have devoted many hours to researching this problem. The 1988-89 Grand Jury asked for and Sheriff Williams requested that temporary holding rooms (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Down Rugal Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1905- 56 under a ress or drug and alcohol abuse our sheriff is operating with a minimum staff. Taking the time of one of the two prowl cars operating at either end of our large county leaves the area vulner- able while making the 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive to and from the court to book an arrest. Grand juries in the past five years have devoted many hours to researching this problem. The 1988–89 Grand Jury asked for and Sheriff Williams requested that temporary holding rooms (which would not require Jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1988-89 prisoners at both north and south government centers as ueser then in the Grand Jury's final report for 1988-89. Under stress of drug and alcohol abuse our sheriff is operating with a minimum staff. Taking the time of one of the two prowl cars operating at either end of our large county leaves the area vulner- able while making the 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive to and from the court to book an arrest. Grand juries in the past five years have devoted many hours to researching this problem. The 1988-89 Grand Jury asked for and Sheriff Williams requested that temporary holding rooms (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1986-87 Grand Jurors Association COUNTY, CALIFORNIA SAN LUIS OPISPO Board of Supervisors San Luis Obispo County The members of the Grand Jurors Association of San Luis Obispo request that you consider establishing temporary holding rooms for prisoners at both north and south government centers as described in the Grand Jury's final report for 1988-89. Under stress of drug and alcohol abuse our sheriff is operating with a minimum staff. Taking the time of one of the two prowl cars operating at either end of our large county leaves the area vulner- able while making the 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive to and from the court to book an arrest. Grand juries in the past five years have devoted many hours to researching this problem. The 1988-89 Grand Jury asked for and Sheriff Williams requested that temporary holding rooms (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 19 88/85 FOR and shorter Milliams-rower- (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more ar 6, Sauceur Member San Luís Obispo Grand Jury 1987-88 San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1983-84 1984-85 arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1937-88 south government centers, thousand account San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Annual Control of the Grand Jurors Association CALIFORNIA COUNTY, OPISPO LUIS SAN Board of Supervisors San Luis Obispo County The members of the Grand Jurors Association of San Luis Obispo request that you consider establishing temporary holding rooms for prisoners at both north and south government centers as described in tha Grand Jury's final report for 1988-89. Under stress of drug and alcohol abuse our sheriff is operating with a minimum staff. Taking the time of one of the two prowl cars operating at either end of our large county leaves the area vulner- able while making the 2 1/2 to 3 hour drive to and from the court to book an arrest. Grand juries in the past five years have devoted many hours to researching this problem. The 1988–89 Grand Jury asked for and Sheriff Williams requested that temporary holding rooms (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 19 Dan bula obtapo only once a day maximum and giving both areas more coverage. Tlan Front Member San Luss Obispo Grand Jury 19 85-86 em eile geveng both dicas More coverage. Dorothy Conner Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 1 100 1118 (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once ≿day max∤mum and giv∤ng both areas more coverage. LUM ON Member San Luis Obispo Grand Jury 19 , HAVE LONG FELT THIS TO BE A BRACTICAL, ECONOMICAL NECESSARY LOGISTICAL CONSIDERATION FOR DUR COUNTY'S LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATION. many hours to researching this problem. for and Sheriff Williams requested the temporary holding rooms (which would not require jail security) be added at the north and south government centers, thereby allowing arrests to be taken to San Luis Obispo only once a day maximum and giving both areas - more coverage.