⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38, F39, F40, F41, F42, F43, F44, F45, F46, F47, F48, F49, F50, F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F56, F57, F58, F59, F60, F61, F62, F63, F64, F65, F66, F67, F68, F69, F70, F71, F72, F73
Findings 14 findings
F1
Some boards are not aware of or in compliance with and procedures, no written by-laws, small population base AB1234 ethics training. Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the grand jury to draw upon for prospective board members, changing requests responses as follows: demographics and one or more board members with an
F2
District board vacancies are difficult to fill due to the agenda not in the district’s best interest. absence of a succession plan. INVITED RESPONSES The effective board works together to accomplish the
F3
Training sessions offered by County agencies for the mission adopted by the district. Board responsibilities Board of Supervisors to respond to R1, R3-R7 benefit of district board members are not well attended. include: 1. Determine the district’s basic purpose F4. Training sessions offered by County agencies, the Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals County Clerk, County Counsel, and the Auditor, do not interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand 2. Oversee operations include management functions and responsibilities. Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. 3. Review and ensure compliance with all applicable
F4
“The Grand Jury found little evidence of City inclusion in the process.” monitoring, regarding the requirement of EDBG loans to Recommendation 13.“City should seek assistance from create local jobs. The public has a right to know how appropriate State CDBG/EDBG departments. Additional effective a major City loan program like the EDBG is on jobs Finding 8.“The Grand Jury found varying opinions from training on program management, loan monitoring, and business revenue.” LC on what their responsibility is, who they work for, who procedures, collateral retrieval, loan modifications and appointed them and what the City expects of them. They delinquent payments would be beneficial. It may be helpful
F5
There appears to be limited coordination among county laws and regulations agencies providing education and training for district board members. 4. Review and correct budget and audit issues APPENDIX 5. Formulate and approve strategic plans F6. The prohibitive cost of financial audits consumes a large portion of some district budgets. Additional sources of information on special districts: 6. Approve major contracts and expenses California Special Districts Association
F6
The prohibitive cost of financial audits consumes a large Formulate and approve strategic plans 5. portion of some district budgets. Additional sources of information on special districts: Approve major contracts and expenses 6. California Districts Association Special
F7
Proposed AB2613 is designed to alleviate some of the 7. Insure board continuity by maintaining minutes http://www.csda.org/ burden regarding financial audit costs for some of the and documentation of board proceedings districts. California Association of Local Agency Formation 8. Ensure there is a written policies and procedures Commission (CALAFCO) http://www.calafco.org/ manual F8. Public meeting requirements, as defined by the Brown Assembly Bill 1234 Act, are not being fully complied with by all of the special 9. Ensure that all employees receive a written districts. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bi performance review annually
F8
“Some staff had not yet had experience in Response 5. The Board of Supervisors Disagrees. “The Finding 1.“Training made the evacuation plan successful.” handling a fire evacuation.” Board of Supervisors is very aware of the impacts of their decision not to charge Special Districts with the annual Costs Finding 2.“All staff should be commended for quick and calm Recommendation 3. “Include all staff such as custodians, Allocation charges to recover costs associated with the CAO, thinking. Staff worked hard to ensure that all children were and cafeteria workers, etc., in the evacuation plan.” Auditor/Controller, County Counsel & Tax safe.” Collector/Treasurer offices. The Board is aware of the Response to Finding 8 and Recommendation 3: “Since limited financial resources of most (if not all) of the Special Finding 3.“Panicking parents are a major concern in the Boles Fire all drills have included all staff including Districts. The Board understands that most Special Districts carrying out any evacuation plan.” cafeteria workers, custodians, and others.” are strictly volunteer based. Also, the Board has voiced their, concern over the large fluctuations in the Cost Allocation Recommendation 1.“The evacuation drill should include “Weed Union Elementary School District appreciates the charges and feel that the Special Districts fragile financial a simulated parent/student pick up. It might be wise to give commendation from the grand jury. Students, parents, staff positions could not absorb such fluctuating costs. Many information to the parents so they know what the procedure and the community have learned from the Boles Fire times these charges have fluctuated by over 100% within one is. If parents know what the school is doing, and why they Experience, and this new knowledge is valuable for year.” are doing it, they may not panic as much.” improving responses in any future emergency situations.” 20— 2015 - 2016 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT SISKIYOU CO. CIVIL GRAND JURY RESPONSES TO THE 2014-2015 FINAL REPORT CITY OF WEED ADMINISTRATION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS (CDBG) The 2013-2014 Civil Grand Jury made 13 Findings and creation under the City EDBG loan program. This report Recommendation 8. “Information should be given to
F9
"LC members do not have terms and are not responsible parties are so inquiries can be made. This should required to file conflict of interest forms. Their For additional information see the 2015/2016 Grand Jury avoid confusion that was evident during our visits." responsibility as LC committee members is to deal with CDBG report contained in this document. many individuals and businesses in the City. They should
F10
"LC members do not see or approve LC extensive these issues are within the CDBG/EDBG loan be especially true for non-performing loans. Included in the meeting minutes." program. They should include a review of the obligations guidelines is the responsibility of the borrower to furnish
F11
"City Council needs appropriate orientation projections for the business. The City should follow the
F12
"CDBG/EDBG program appears to lack the outcome of loans they approve. The LC would also
F13
"The City CDBG/EDBG programs need help retrieve collateral on non-performing loans." encourage them to ask questions and request information that with their implementation." would help them in their process. The LC needs better
F74
T Meed Dress siskiyoudaily.com mtshastanews.com 2015 - 2016 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT — 23 CITY OF WEED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS The City of Weed participated in this program from 2006 FINDINGS SUMMARY to 2014. They signed a contract with Great Northern F1. The Jury found no evidence that anyone is keeping In 2013-2014 the Civil Grand Jury final report voiced Corporation (GNC) to facilitate loan packaging and track of the status of delinquent CDBG loans. concerns about the way commercial development block servicing, client outreach, job monitoring, attending grant loans were handled by the City of Weed. Because workshops, loan committee liaison, debt collection, F2. Records provided show that there has been no the City of Weed failed to respond to the Grand Jury's concerted effort to collect on CDBG delinquent loans. document updating and facilitation of public hearings as request within the required time limit (as required by needed. When the jury requested a copy of said contract Further, there is no clear delineation of responsibilities for PC933.05), the 2015-2016 Grand Jury chose to do a the City of Weed had to obtain one from Great Northern. CDBG loan maintenance and collection. follow-up investigation on the status of the Commercial The Jury reviewed the contract and found it to be very Development Block Grant program. vague. The Grand Jury was unable to ascertain who was GLOSSARY specifically responsible for monitoring delinquent loans
Recommendations 14
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R1The Board of Supervisors should instruct County conflicts, while allowing for discussion. The chair http://www.calafco.org/Assembly Bill 2613 Counsel to ensure that all special district boards are aware also clearly defines each member’s role and of AB1234 ethics training requirements. documents any committee duties. The chair either http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bi is, or designates, a spokesperson to regularly
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R2District boards must develop a set of procedures, ll_id=200520060AB2613 communicate with the district’s citizens and the including plans to fill vacancies as they occur. press. http://www.thefirstamendment.org/Brown-Act-Brochure-
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R3The Board of Supervisors should direct those offices DEC-03.pdf 11. Formulate a plan to recruit new prospective currently providing training for special district board members, and has a mentoring program to orient members to develop a comprehensive curriculum to be http://oag.ca.gov/ethics and prepare new members for their upcoming role. offered in one session, on a weekday with alternate sessions offered during non-working hours. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bi Districts that seem to have difficulty in filling board ll_id=200520060AB1234 vacancies exhibit some of the following characteristics: R4. The Board of Supervisors should direct those offices currently providing training for special district board • Districts are rural and less densely populated members to develop a comprehensive curriculum to be 1 CSDA (California Special District Association) fact sheet. •Communication between the boards and its offered in one session, on a weekday with alternate sessions constituents is lacking offered during non-working hours. CSDA (California Special District Association) fact sheet. 2015 - 2016 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT— 7 CITY OF MONTAGUE PROPERTY CODE ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY DISCUSSION The 2014-2015 Civil Grand Jury received a complaint The complainant reported a long history of neglect on the A response is made to complaints and efforts to enforce regarding property code enforcement. That jury started an property where the fire originated. It was reported that some compliance. It is reported that efforts are made to encourage investigation but was unable to complete the investigation cleanup had been done, but there are still issues with this and neighbors to help out others who are having difficulty within their year of service. The complaint was refiled and other abandoned properties. In addition, there are currently cleaning up their properties. A city council member stated the 2015-2016 Civil Grand Jury investigated the complaint. occupied properties that have abandoned vehicles, engines, the current city council intends to back up the code transmissions and other debris that appear to violate enforcement officer’s efforts to enforce compliance in the BACKGROUND Montague property code. future. A complaint was received from a Montague resident that a fire on a neighboring derelict property resulted in damage to According to one individual, the procedure for enforcing It appears that the city has rarely cleaned up properties his property. He further stated the City of Montague failed property code violations entails three violation notices being on its own initiative or issued liens to cover the cost, to enforce ordinances that could have prevented the given to the owner. If no action is taken by the property nor has it brought legal action against delinquent catastrophic loss. owner, the city council has the authority to step in and owners. It may be that the city simply does not have mitigate the situation. This includes everything from having the resources to enforce the property code. A city METHODOLOGY the property cleaned up and billing the owner for that council member stated that the city has not contacted The Civil Grand jury observed the condition of multiple expense through placing a lien on the owner’s property. This other county or state agencies to determine what assistance properties within the city limits. Interviews were conducted. information is corroborated by Montague Municipal Code might be available. The City of Montague property codes were also reviewed. section 8.080. 8— 2015 - 2016 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT CITY OF MONTAGUE PROPERTY CODE ENFORCEMENT
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R4“Determine alternate evacuation Controller's office performs different functions, has different “The Auditor-Controller appreciates the opportunity to respond routes. Have a refuge far enough away to be safe even in a processes in place, and may be combined with other offices, to the grand jury findings and recommendations as the needs of major disaster.” such as Lake County. E.g. In Lake County the position is this office are ever changing.” Auditor-Controller-Clerk. It is like comparing apples and Response to Finding 6 and Recommendation 4: oranges.” “Alternate evacuation routes have been considered for WEED SCHOOL DISTRICT various emergency scenarios.” “The county continues to have additional projects that arise, FIRE EVACUATION: such as the new Stage Transit Facility that is currently being
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R5“Change the fire alarm sound from a built, the new proposed Jail Detention Facility, a new county Lessons Learned noisy siren to something that doesn't interfere with service area. There are additional statutory and accounting communications. Perhaps a calm voice that simply informs guidelines that must be adhered to, as well as new statutory “The Civil Grand Jury decided to review the evacuation plans classes that a fire has been discovered, evacuate immediately, requirements for personnel/payroll. All of these things of Weed schools due to the Boles fire. No lives were lost and would work.” increase workload for the Auditor-Controller’s office.” no students were injured: however, things could have been much worse had a number of people not gone beyond the bounds of Response to R5:“A calm announcement with directions
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R6The Board of Supervisors should exercise any influence they possess with the State Assembly to support the County · A list of potential candidates who possess desirable
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R7The Board of Supervisors should exercise any influence · A plan to recruit and mentor new board members investigated are struggling. they possess with the State Assembly to support the County Auditor's efforts to pass AB2613. Members of the Grand Jury found that each of the special Some of the attributes of boards that function well are: board districts provides a much needed service or services for its members who have managerial skills, written policies and
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R8District Board members should familiarize themselves constituents. They also provide an extraordinary opportunity procedures, written by-laws and a large population base to and comply with the public meeting mandates outlined in for the citizens who choose to serve their communities to draw upon for prospective board members. the Brown Act. retain local control of those services. Some attributes of struggling district boards are: lack of
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R9"The City should set terms of 2 are contained within the Mayor's letter found at the end of specific responsibilities." or 4 years in order for LC members to be reviewed this report. by the City on a periodic basis. Members should be appointed based on the qualifications outlined in the
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R10"Prior LC minutes should be and performance of administration contractors and others annual financial information. The files included little information of that kind." involved in the program." presented to the LC and approved by the members at each meeting. These minutes should be clear, complete, and
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R11“Annual orientation session for all EDBG/CDBG loans and process. If the City has the possibility of loan losses, this could reduce the amount of Finding 7.“The Grand Jury found that LC lacks training City Council members should be required to cover loss to taxpayer funds funded programs.” and understanding regarding CDBG/EDBG City guidelines. CDBG/EDBG Guidelines and programs.” The LC would benefit if they knew the status of loans and
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R12"Appropriate reporting should process has to occur when necessary. The Grand Jury could
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R13"City should seek assistance from monitoring, regarding the requirement of EDBG loans to appropriate State CDBG/EDBG departments. Additional create local jobs. The public has a right to know how
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R74T Meed Dress siskiyoudaily.com mtshastanews.com 2015 - 2016 SISKIYOU COUNTY GRAND JURY REPORT — 23 CITY OF WEED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS The City of Weed participated in this program from 2006