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Recommendations 19
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R1Board Budget Policy. The Board of Supervisors reviews, updates as required, and adheres to the Board Budget Policy. The Board should include a long-term plan and milestones for development of new facilities. The plan should include how facilities will be maintained after the facility is constructed. (Reference #5 Planning.)
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R2Tobacco Securitization Fund. The County Administrator reports the Tobacco Securitization Fund annually in the County budget, so that all activity can be more easily tracked. The report should include progress and failures in the use of the funds, as well as scheduled and actual repayments.
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R3Golden Pond. The Board of Supervisors must establish a reserve for Golden Pond liability. The reserve should be funded annually, even if that requires cuts in all departments.
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R4Road Repair. The Board of Supervisors funds a minimum of $1,000,000 annually for road repair materials. This should be in addition to any State funding. This should be funded annually, even if that requires cuts in all departments.
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R5Planning. Board of Supervisors develops a 10-year plan addressing future needs such as: Juvenile Detention Center – reviews the need for this facility and establishes its priority in the plan. Senior citizen center New jail facility – see Jail report
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R6Tuolumne General Hospital a. Indigent Care. Board of Supervisors should initiate a study to determine if the County’s indigent care responsibilities and care for Medi-Cal patients can be more economically provided by a less costly facility than TGH. b. County Funding Limit. Board of Supervisors must develop a time-line to reduce need for County funding to $500,000 annually. c. Long-term Plan. Board of Supervisors must initiate a long-term plan for TGH. The Plan should address benchmarks for deficit reduction, earthquake retrofitting, the need for a County hospital (few counties have one), and the feasibility of making TGH a regional hospital, privatizing the Hospital or shutting it down. Tuolumne General Hospital Overview Members of the Tuolumne County Grand Jury conducted a routine review of Tuolumne General Hospital (TGH) as prescribed in the guidelines set forth in the Grand Jury Procedures Manual. This review was also a follow-up to the report of the 2002-2003 Grand Jury. Procedures Grand Jury members interviewed Barry Woerman, Health Services Director and Administrator, on February 10. We interviewed Kent Johnson, Financial Officer, of Tuolumne General Hospital, on February 27. Members originally met with Mr. Woerman to discuss what the status of TGH is one year after initiating his recovery plan. Mr. Woerman provided the Grand Jury with several printed reports that had been previously presented to the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors. Mr. Woerman answered questions and provided information about TGH and his ongoing recovery plans.
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R7Continue to monitor CMSP funding status.
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R8Continue to monitor seismic retrofitting requirements and funding sources. Overview Members of the Tuolumne County Grand Jury conducted an investigation of Tuolumne Utilities District generated by a letter complaining of inappropriate use of property tax dollars. Procedures The Grand Jury requested the complaining party to appear in person and furnish any and all documents and information pertaining to the accusations. The complaining party did appear and presented the members with a document. Members of the Grand Jury contacted the Assistant Auditor-Controller of Tuolumne County and asked for tax-apportioned documents for fiscal year 2002/03. Members of the Grand Jury contacted Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) and met with the General Manager. We requested an overall view of the department; at the conclusion of the meeting the Grand Jury were given a tour of the facilities. After the tour the Grand Jury members met with the Controller to review financial documents and records. The Grand Jury members also spoke with engineers, Administrative Services Manager, and to the staff. TUD was asked to provide specific information regarding the expenditures of property tax dollars; they offered documentation without hesitation. When the Grand Jury members asked to visit off-site locations, the General Manager and the District Engineer presented them with a guided tour. The Grand Jury members were given a book of maps, locations and written information on all the sites and a list of ongoing projects in the Tuolumne Utilities District area. The tour started at Lyons Reservoir and continued on to the Section 4 ditch at Main Canals, the Upper Basin Water Treatment Plant, Phoenix Lake, the Columbia Water Treatment Plant, Table Mountain Ditch, Slum Dam, O'Neil Reservoir, Sonora Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, Quartz Reservoir and Recycled Water Irrigation Areas, where recycled water is dispersed.
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R9Match specific State and Federal funding reductions with commensurate cuts in specific program expenses. TUOLUMNE UTILITIES DISTRICT ADDENDUM TUD Addendum The Tuolumne Utilities District (TUD) receives a portion of the tax revenue collected by Tuolumne County pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Division I, Part .5, Chapter 6, Article 2. This code also mandates the distribution of a portion of the property tax revenues to cities and other local agencies in the County such as the City of Sonora, Groveland Community Services District, Twain Harte Community Services District, Jamestown Sanitary District, Mono Village Water District, various school districts, and fire districts in Tuolumne County. Prior to 1978, TUD's predecessor (TCWD #2) had independent authority to levy its own taxes on property within the District. And in fact, prior to Prop 13 the District had in effect a $0.10 per $100 of assessed valuation tax levy. Proposition 13 in 1978 placed a limit on the amount of all property taxes that can be levied, by the County, to 1 % of the assessed valuation. Prop 13 also established the allocation method the County would use to apportion this new limitation of tax amounts to the County and to other local agencies based on the amount of the taxes levied prior to Prop 13. All Special Districts including TUD are also subject to an annual appropriations limit established by the State Constitution Article XIII B, Section 8. This limitation applies to any authorization to expend, during a fiscal year, the proceeds of taxes levied by or for an entity of local government. The limitation calculation is based on information provided to the District by the State Department of Finance on May 1 of each year for the next budgeted fiscal year. For Fiscal year 2003 the calculated appropriation limitation was authorized by formula to be $2,266.754. The tax revenue for the same period was $578,448 approximately 25% of the total amount authorized. On June 22, 1993, Tuolumne County adopted the alternative method (Teeter Plan) of distributing tax levies, assessments and collections as provided for in Section 4701 through 4717 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California. The Teeter Plan set forth the distribution of tax collections to be 50% of the projected tax collection to be distributed in December, 40% in April and the final 10% in June. The District also receives benefit assessment revenue for bonded indebtedness, from a special assessment district within the District, from the Tuolumne County Auditor, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Division I, Part .5, Chapter 6, Article 2. The District has one Special Assessment Bond, a 1915 Act Bond, approved by the voters within an Assessment District within TUD, and issued in 1984. The District is limited on the expenditures that the tax revenues can be used for. This limitation is set forth in the District's Annual Budget, adopted by the District's Board of Directors each year in June. The specific limitation prohibits the use of tax revenues for the operation of the District's water and wastewater facilities. The use of tax revenues is limited to expenditures for Survey and Investigation Projects, Elections, Public Information, Certain Legal Fees and Board of Directors Administration. TUD Addendum The Survey and Investigation Projects are undertaken by the District to determine the need and feasibility of acquiring additional water and sewer system facilities. During the most recent fiscal year just ended, the District had expenditures during the Fiscal 2003 year of $ 336,035, see attached. For Fiscal 2003 the District received tax revenues as follows: Secured and Unsecured Property Taxes $ 570,028 Timber Taxes 6,420 Total Tax Revenue Received $ 576,448 Also for Fiscal 2003 the District had approved tax revenue related expenditures as follows: Survey and Investigation Projects $ 336,035 Board of Directors Administration 87,984 Contract Services 75,548 Legal Fees 67,438 Public Information 18,154 Elections 15,400 Total Expenditures $ 598,569 Tuolumne Utilities District Survey and Investigations FISCAL YEAR 2003 PROJECT NUMBER BALANCE @ 06/30/2003 BALANCE @ 06/30/2002 AMOUNT SPENT IN FY 2003 Griswold Creek Hydro Project 100-141-070 $ 1,323,959.38 $ 1,321,959.38 $ 2,000.00 Water Master Plan 100-141-102 19,784.94 19,784.94 - Watershed Sanitary Survey - Stanislaus River 100-141-103 48,543.76 48,543.76 - Lyons Dam Fed Fund Cons Serv 100-141-104 68,450.47 51,160.14 17,290.33 Emergency Response Plan 100-141-202 30,100.00 7,900.00 22,200.00 Mono Village Acquisition 100-141-203 25,554.79 15,415.19 10,139.60 Water Commitment Project 100-141-300 48,382.93 - 48,382.93 Conservation/mitigation waste Mgmt Project - - - Stanislaus River Hydro Study 100-141-902 20,299.59 19,785.00 514.59 New Melonies Water Contract 302-141-080 5,922.91 4,563.82 1,359.09 New Standard / SPI 308-141-901 - - - Sonora Community Hospital (Note 1) 320-141-200 89,082.03 - 89,082.03 Mountain Springs (Note 1) 320-141-800 10,379.41 - 10,379.41 Ditch Optimization Study 322-141-201 328,279.01 219,622.74 108,656.27 Phonix Hydro Study 322-141-204 15,000.00 8,786.41 6,213.59 Big Hill Acquisition 324-141-101 48,799.02 28,981.42 19,817.60 Total Projects $ 2,082,538.24 $ 1,746,502.80 $ 336,035.44 Note 1. This is a joint development project with some expenditures being reimbursed. "Water Commitment Project" fills in a blank After an 18-month effort, the Tuolumne Utilities District's "Water Commitment Project" has given officials better information now on the status of scores of existing developments and a clearer picture of future water demand and growth patterns in Tuolumne County. TUD's District Engineer Tom Scesa presented the results this fall. By reviewing contracts, assessor's records, maps and other information, TUD staff members estimate that the district has commitments to supply an additional 979 acre feet of water to future development on existing parcels or about 10 percent more than it now supplies countywide. Before the study, that number was subject to much debate and wide discrepancies. TUD last year started the infill project to settle the question. New homes in Sonora Vista will get water from TUD. Scesa's first step was to work with a board committee to pin down parameters. After months of discussions, the committee decided several key points: • Deal only with land within or adjacent to the TUD service area. It leaves out areas not yet reached by TUD water lines, since any extensions would need new agreements. • Consider all existing lots as potentially buildable. Don't debate whether lots are "unbuildable," since opinions vary and depend on the real estate market. • Count only existing parcels regardless of zoning rather than trying to estimate potential new parcels that could be created in the future. Any new parcels would need new water agreements. "We wanted to know what firm commitments exist today for the district, to give us a solid starting point," Scesa said. "That meant eliminating the subjective and coming up with definites." With the parameters set, Scesa and his staff started counting the existing undeveloped parcels TUD is obligated to serve, either directly or through resale to smaller water companies. The results: • 1,017 undeveloped lots in subdivisions within or adjacent to TUD's service area. • 242 unimproved lots in the town sites of Columbia, Tuolumne and Jamestown • 317 unimproved lots in the City of Sonora. • 280 unimproved lots covered by development agreements. • 86 unimproved parcels that would have to be served by public water under rules adopted in the 1980 general plan. • 12 unimproved lots covered by a "master meter" contract the district has with Muller Mutual Water Company. The total commitment equals 882 acre feet of additional water per year for service to existing parcels, plus another 97 acre feet for development agreements signed in the last year. "From here, we'll be able to update this information annually," Scesa said. "We'll know where we stand and what impact any new requests will have." TUD Water Workshop looks to the future Future population growth, water use and water supply are the topics of ongoing workshops for directors of the Tuolumne Utilities District. The water workshops – open to the public – are giving directors a complete picture of water issues as TUD prepares to update its water master plan. Topics covered so far included: Growth estimates – Accurate growth projections for Tuolumne County, and methods for estimating water demand essential building blocks for planning. The State Department of Finance has estimated that Tuolumne County's population could reach 62,200 in 2005, 72,800 by 2015, and 77,200 by 2020. Updated estimates are expected in January, 2004. Supply and Demand – A general overview of the district's existing water supply and demand. TUD's current supply, primarily water from Lyons Reservoir, has previously been estimated at 19,250 acre feet per year during even the most dry years. Existing water demand is approximately 15,357 acre feet per year, and TUD estimates that it has firm commitments to supply another 979 acre feet per year to vacant lots and approved projects. Supply options – A general overview of options for increasing supply to meet future demand: conservation by water users, conservation by improving efficiency of water delivery, developing more groundwater, purchasing power generation water from PG&E and enlarging Lyons Reservoir. These alternatives will be discussed in detail at a workshop later this year. Existing commitments – A detailed review of TUD's existing water commitments, both to existing and planned development. This included the findings of the district's Water Commitment Project (see separate article), a review of agriculture, water use the district's tracking system and procedures for annual updates. Future commitments – Policies and procedures for water commitments to proposed developments, including methods for estimating a project's water needs, permitting procedures for new development and proposed projects now under review. TUD's next workshop will detail water supply alternatives, including estimated costs, updated growth projections, potential water savings or yield, timelines and other issues. Ultimately, directors and staff will select projects and set work plans for the next 10 to 20 years, however the workshops are for discussion and information only. Additional sessions will be added as necessary. "Many of these issues may be controversial," said TUD General Manager Gary Egger, "but they warrant a thorough discussion and understanding by directors and the public. It's part of good planning and continuity for the future." Draft ditch study ready for public's review After a year of work, consultants working on a comprehensive assessment of Tuolumne County's ditch system took their work to the public on Nov. 17. A "town hall" meeting was held to present information, maps and preliminary options for review by the public. The Tuolumne Utilities District has been working closely with Sacramento consultants EIP Associates and Kennedy Jenks Engineers on a county-wide analysis of the ditch system. The 56-mile network of open canals deliver water to most Tuolumne County water treatment plants and customers. The system, in continual use since the Gold Rush, has long been a topic of community debate. Many residents value the waterways for their beauty, support of wildlife and historic significance, but the system also poses significant problems as a water delivery system. The ditches need continual maintenance and repair, are vulnerable to contamination, vandalism and outages, and lose almost 50 percent of the water they carry in leaks, evaporation and end-of-the-ditch spillage. The consultants have completed an extensive field review that details by segment the physical condition of the canals and the environmental and cultural resources along the waterways. They also installed flow gauges along the system to collect more accurate data on where the most significant losses occur. Their maps and preliminary findings were the topic of the Nov. 17 meeting, and the public was invited to review maps, ask questions and offer comments. The consultants will now compile the responses, respond to comments and concerns, refine their recommendations and present them to TUD's board and the public for continued discussion and action. Once an improvement plan is approved, the consultants will prepare a 10-year work plan for the district, including budgets, environmental studies, an operations and maintenance plan, and both short term and long-term funding options. TUD General Manager Gary Egger urges the public to stay involved in the process. "People in the community care about the ditches and about water quality, water costs and other related issues," he said. "We're still in the early stages of this planning process and we need their input to come up with the best solutions." Employee spotlight: Gary Egger Congratulations to Gary Egger, promoted to TUD General Manager as of July 1, with the retirement of TUD's Tim McCullough. Egger has a long history in local water agencies. He worked with the former Tuolumne Regional Water District in Sonora for 17 years, serving as district engineer and general manager, and he has been TUD's district engineer since its inception in 1992. Egger was born and raised in Sugar Pine, graduated from Summerville High School and went on to earn bachelors and masters degrees in engineering from California State University, Sacramento. He and his wife, Kathleen, live in Tuolumne and have one daughter and three grandsons. New sewer rates adopted New sewer rates have gone into effect for TUD, the first in a series of increases that will help the district cover rising costs for regulatory compliance and maintenance. Directors this summer passed a rate plan that will increase rates gradually over three years, and changed the sewer billing schedule from quarterly to monthly. The increases were the first since 1999, and were necessitated by a combination of skyrocketing regulatory costs and a decrease in interest income. Can I walk along the ditches? TUD gets the question often. Many segments of Tuolumne County's ditch system have long been popular walking trails. But TUD has no right or authority to permit this activity. The district has the right of access to the ditch system for water system activities only. To clarify the issue, TUD directors in August adopted an official position regarding ditch access. It makes three points: • The district does not own rights of way and easements for all existing ditches in the Tuolumne Water System, however district representatives have the right of access to the ditch system for operation, maintenance inspection and repair. • The district has no right or authority to grant access or use to any other person or to the general public for general use, enjoyment or other purpose. • Where ditches are located on private property, ditch access is a matter between the private property owner and the person wanting access. Conservation Corner • Replace an older toilet in your home with a water-conserving model - you'll save water and TUD will reimburse you $25. • Interested in conserving water in the garden? Master Gardeners can help. Call 533-5696. Tuolumne Utilities District Directors Glenn Carroll, vice president Judy Delbon Louise Giersch, president Ralph Retherford Gary Walter General Manager Gary Egger Chief staff Tom Scesa, District Engineer Dick Pattinson, Controller Leonard Mauro, Operations Manager Karla Hoback, Administrative Services Manager Board committees for 2003 Planning - Louise Giersch and Glenn Carroll Water - Judy Delbon and Gary Walter Wastewater - Glenn Carroll and Louise Giersch Fiscal - Gary Walter and Judy Delbon Human Resources - Judy Delbon and Glenn Carroll Public Outreach - Louise Giersch and Ralph Retherford Ditch - Gary Walter and Ralph Retherford Agriculture - Gary Walter and Ralph Retherford The Tuolumne Utilities District Board of Directors meets at 7 p.m., the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the District's main office: 18885 Nugger Blvd. • Phone 209-532-5536 email: [email protected] web: www.tuolumneutilities.com TUOLUMNE COUNTY JAIL ADDENDUM DECEMBER 30, 2003 TO: JERRY TUCKER, FACILITIES MANAGEMENT FROM: LT JIM CHILDERS, CUSTODY COMMANDER SUBJECT: WORK ORDER PURSUANT TO FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT Pursuant to the Tuolumne County Fire Marshal's report dated December 29, 2003, the following discrepancies that are directly related to Facilities Management is being submitted. A copy of the Fire Marshal's report is attached which details the violations that were observed.
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R10All heating, cooling and ventilation equipment is maintained satisfactorily. There are no visible defects. (CMC 109.2; 19 CCR 3.02)
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R11Electrical wiring, fixtures and appliances are properly installed and operated. (19 CCR 3.01; CBC 3.24)
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R12Emergency power is provided for minimal lighting and fire/life safety systems. (CBC 1003.2.9; CBC 328A) D. HOUSEKEEPING
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R13Kitchen hoods, vents, ducts and filters are installed, adequate, are maintained in proper condition and are free of grease. (19 CCR 3.19, 3.24; CMC 501 through 510)
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R14All areas are free of unacceptable amounts of storage. (19 CCR 3.19) Not in Boiler room E. FIRE EXTINGUISHING/FIRE ALARM
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R15All portable fire extinguishers, automatic fire sprinkler systems, wet and dry standpipe systems are installed and maintained properly. (CBC 3.24; CBC 3.29; CBC 3.29A; NFPA 13)
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R16Manual and automatic fire alarm systems, when installed, shall be properly installed and maintained. (19 CCR 3.24; CBC 330A; NFPA 72)
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R17The automatic fire alarm system is properly maintained. (19 CCR 3.24) F. TRAINING/PREPLANNING
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R18At least one person is on duty who meets the training standards established for general fire and life safety relating specifically to the facility. (Penal Code 6030[c])
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R19Fire suppression preplanning inspections are conducted by the local fire authority at least every two years. (Penal Code 6031.1) Code
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.