San Joaquin County Grand Jury
• 2013-2014
Report on Agency Approval of Responses to Grand Jury Reports – June 16, 2014
⚠️ 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 2 findings
F1
1 A majority of Stockton City Council Members stated that they disagreed with official responses they had previously approved on August 13, 2013, which raises concerns of whether members read the report and responses.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
1 Over the last four years, almost all responses by the County and the Cities were approved by unanimous votes after little or no discussion by the elected officials or the public. Recommendation
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
1 All legislative bodies publicly explain the reasons for its response to Grand Jury Findings and Recommendations prior to voting to approve their response. Conclusion Much of this report addresses the differences between the personal opinions of Stockton City Council Members versus the responses they approved. It is the opinion of the 2013-2014 Grand Jury that this type of discrepancy could be found in responses from the County, other cities, school districts and other special districts. In addition, it is the opinion of the 2013-2014 Grand Jury that this type of discrepancy could be found in decisions other than responses to grand jury reports. The governing body of an agency determines policy for the agency. Staff accomplishes most of the work of the agency. The governing body must rely on its staff to provide timely, accurate and comprehensible materials to them so that they are able to make appropriate decisions. The issues found in this report indicate that some officials rely too much on the work of staff. All members of a governing body, whether elected or appointed, must consider their own beliefs and then ask questions and, when appropriate, state disagreement with the work of their staff. These officials are in their positions to oversee the work of staff, not to accept whatever their staffs propose. Members of governing bodies are elected or appointed to make appropriate decisions while considering the interests of their constituents as well as their personal beliefs. This balance between their own beliefs and what they hear from those whom they represent leads to the best decisions.
Conclusions 1
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CL1Much of this report addresses the differences between the personal opinions of Stockton City Council Members versus the responses they approved. It is the opinion of the 2013-2014 Grand Jury that this type of discrepancy could be found in responses from the County, other cities, school districts and other special districts. In addition, it is the opinion of the 2013-2014 Grand Jury that this type of discrepancy could be found in decisions other than responses to grand jury reports. The governing body of an agency determines policy for the agency. Staff accomplishes most of the work of the agency. The governing body must rely on its staff to provide timely, accurate and comprehensible materials to them so that they are able to make appropriate decisions. The issues found in this report indicate that some officials rely too much on the work of staff. All members of a governing body, whether elected or appointed, must consider their own beliefs and then ask questions and, when appropriate, state disagreement with the work of their staff. These officials are in their positions to oversee the work of staff, not to accept whatever their staffs propose. Members of governing bodies are elected or appointed to make appropriate decisions while considering the interests of their constituents as well as their personal beliefs. This balance between their own beliefs and what they hear from those whom they represent leads to the best decisions.