📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

San Joaquin County Grand Jury • 2008-2009

Central Parking District (Follow-Up)

5 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings 13 findings

F1 Page 41
Develop a system of assigning parking spaces on a first-come first-served basis free from political pressure or favoritism influencing the assignments. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. A procedure is in place to date stamp applications or send confirmation by one of several methods, accurately confirm the applicant’s place on the waiting list and notify applicants when a parking space becomes available. Additionally, CPD staff has the ability to estimate the length of time an applicant may have to wait for parking in a facility and suggest alternatives.
F2 Page 41
Develop a policies and procedures manual for all CPD office employees and the parking attendants. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. CPD developed a thorough, concise and well organized Policies and Procedures Manual.
F3 Page 41
Develop and publish an internal training procedure to detail how parking spaces are assigned. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. Currently, two CPD office staff members can assign parking spaces. Both are trained 21 and are following policy as described in the Policies and Procedures Manual. Intentional deviation from procedure requires disciplinary action.
F4 Page 42
Develop a procedure and documentation policy to ensure that all reasonable attempts are made to contact applicants on the waiting list. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. CPD office staff make repeated attempts to notify an applicant, by several methods, over a two-week period, before passing them over for the next person on the list. Attempts to contact applicants are recorded on a spreadsheet. Applicants are informed of their responsibility to update contact information as necessary.
F5 Page 42
Develop and publish a procedure for processing citizen complaints. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. The complaint procedure is detailed in the Policies and Procedures Manual available at the CPD office. Complaints can be submitted at the CPD office, a staffed parking facility, online at “Ask Stockton” (http://user.govoutreach.com/stockton/faq/php) or by mail.
F6 Page 42
Provide cross training to insure continuous operation of CPD. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. CPD rotates parking staff between facilities and shifts. The Policies and Procedures Manual adequately describes the process for cross training to ensure continued operation of parking facilities in case of an unplanned event.
F7 Page 42
Develop a “checks and balances” system for the reconciling of cash receipts collected from the parking garages to include two persons and also provide for daily processing of those receipts, in the absence of the supervisor or the other person, in accordance with accepted accounting practices. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. CPD has sufficient checks and balances in place to ensure accountability.
F8 Page 42
Develop a two-part receipt for applicants to validate the date and time of application. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. Applications hand delivered to the CPD office are date stamped and a copy given to the applicant. Applications submitted online, by fax and by mail receive a confirmation by the method in which they were submitted. 22
F9 Page 43
Post a large map in the CPD office lobby to identify the location of available parking areas. City of Stockton Response: This map is currently being reproduced and will be installed in the lobby and in City structured parking lots within 30 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. A large map is posted in the CPD office lobby. Maps are available in structured parking lots and online.
F10
Update the parking assignments at least monthly. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has implemented this recommendation. Parking assignments are updated weekly.
F11 Page 43
Develop a backup system for the computer that tracks the automated garages. Have the IT department develop a disaster recovery procedure in the event of a catastrophic failure. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation will be implemented in 90 days. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has partially implemented this recommendation by performing routine backups to a separate hard drive. Nightly backups to a City of Stockton server have been delayed due to budget constraints. The City anticipates a twelve month delay before the recommendation will be fully implemented.
F12 Page 43
Insure that all programs are operated on a secure server not accessible by other departments. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation has been implemented. All programs are now operated on a secure server and only accessible by Central Parking District staff. 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has partially implemented this recommendation. Most complex programs reside on a secure server with limited access. Some critical data resides on password protected personal computers and is backed up on a separate hard drive.
F13 Page 43
Develop a program that allows online applications, payments, and issuance of parking passes to accommodate anticipated future growth. City of Stockton Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The City’s Information Technology Director is now researching software programs to replace the City’s existing financial management software. Central Parking District staff will work with the Information Technology Director to investigate available technology to implement an on-line program that will allow for on-line applications, payments and issuance of parking passes. Staff will work to accomplish this within six months, although the City’s process, as well as identifying a funding source, may result in additional time to install the program, train staff to use the new software, etc. 23 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: CPD has partially implemented this recommendation. Much of the application, notification and complaint process are available on line. Payments are billed automatically. However, the City of Stockton operates eighteen year-old financial software that has no provision for online payment. 14. (No recommendation #14 from the 2007/2008 Grand Jury) 2008/2009 Grand Jury Finding: A large number of unused parking spaces in highly utilized structures exist on any given day. Most unused parking spaces are sold to individuals and government departments who choose not to use them on a particular day. Grand Jurors regularly observed one structure that never operated at greater than 75% capacity.

Recommendations 6