Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2024-2025
• Agency Response
Honoring Commitments to the Public Review of 2020-21 Grand Jury Report Responses
⚠️ 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 7 findings
F1
Page 6
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation is developing a new system of notification for agricultural pesticide applications statewide and the proof of concept shows promise of being a good solution for notifying the public of pesticide application information in a timely manner.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Page 6
The Active and Passive modes of notification will allow access to members of the public in a manner of their choosing. Some people are comfortable signing up for notifications, others are not and would prefer to look up the information anonymously. This appears to provide most people the option to choose the method with which they are most comfortable.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Page 6
Because project delays have put off the release of the new system until the Spring of 2025, rather than 2024 as originally proposed, it is even more important that the public be made aware of what the new system will provide to them.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 7
The Grand Jury recommends that the Office of the Agricultural Commissioner makes known to City of Watsonville officials and various governmental agencies, information about the “Spray Days Now” notification system being developed by the state DPR. Information should be shared by September 30, 2024. (F1, F2,
F4
Page 6
As science progresses, less toxic pesticides are being developed and released regularly, and growers are finding acceptable alternatives to many pesticides. Less toxic pesticide use in Santa Cruz county is leading to lower risks to human and environmental health.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 6
Communication between the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and other south county officials concerning pesticide management is not adequate, leading to a higher risk to human health. Honoring Commitments to the Public published June 17, 2024
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Page 9
With regard to the City Manager’s response to Recommendation R8, the City’s FY 2024 Annual Budget does not provide a detailed plan and accounting of how homeless funds have been used. The City’s response only partially fulfilled its commitment to make related budget figures available. Honoring Commitments to the Public published June 17, 2024
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 11
The joint effort between CAL Fire and OR3, as well as many other partners listed in the report, to improve preparedness for future wildfires is well-documented in the above-mentioned After-Action Report and Improvement Plan. Furthermore, the Grand Jury’s recommendation that this undertaking commence within 6 months of the Grand Jury report publication did take place in the allotted time period. However, the Grand Jury did not find the original report or any published updates to the initial report that included progress towards the report’s stated objectives. Such publications would reassure the public that wildfire preparedness is a priority and is being addressed.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 11As previously mentioned in the Summary, the 2023-24 Grand Jury reviewed responses to three of the nine 2020-21 reports and found that, to varying degrees, commitments were kept. In some cases, the agencies are implementing recommendations but it’s not clear if the actions are in response to the Grand Jury or whether they were instigated by the agencies. The Grand Jury continues to recommend that all organizations create and regularly update formal records of the actions they take to address Grand Jury recommendations, and to share those records with the public, in accordance with CA Penal Code section 933(c). Honoring Commitments to the Public published June 17, 2024 Page 11 of 14