Received Received JUL - 6 2005 JUL 0 6 2005 Clerk of the Board Clerk of the Board Supervisors Picked up from

Recommendations 24

• R2
  Traffic studies were done originally in 1998. PW En- have spent years shepherding the redevelopment of the gineering has since reviewed the 1998 traffic study and City's corporation yard. The Grand Jury believes the City gathered current information. PW Engineering's findings of Woodland used proper procedure in attempting to are that the additional traffic impact will not result in a transfer this parcel to its highest and best use. Unfor- short or long-term unacceptable level of service per City tunately the SVOC was unable to fulfill its promises of of Woodland General Plan criteria. construction.
• R3
  In 2002 the zoning was changed through a zoning admin- istrative permit, and the police and fire departments RECOMMENDATIONS reviewed these zoning changes and made their comments. The project was approved based on the conditions from None these departments of public safety. SOURCES Hazardous wastes were studied extensively in 1992 by
• R4
  Wallace Kuhl & Associates. Specific high-risk areas were Complainant targeted. The hydraulic lifts area had no detectable Economic Development Manager, City of Woodland concentrations of contaminates. The other areas checked, Redevelopment Manager, City of Woodland the vehicle wash rack, the former paint shop, the equip- Text, Public Meeting, Nueva Vista Questions and Comments, ment wash areas, the fire training burn depression, the Feb, 2004 pesticide storage area, etc. were all found to have no Traffic Impact Analysis Report significant levels of toxins and were considered an Soil Evaluation Report of Findings insignificant threat to the ground water. Several buildings Council/Redevelopment Agency/SVOC Agreement were still in place at the time of this report (1992). It Engineer, City of Woodland was recommended that when these buildings are re- moved, that the soil under their concrete slab foundations Police Office Space in be excavated and properly treated or disposed. Oakshade Shopping Center,
• R5
  Drainage concerns have been addressed by the City of Woodland Engineer. While the corporation yard does Davis drain into a common storm drain with the Beamer Park area, the new housing development should permit more ground infiltration of the storm waters and the city plans REASON FOR REVIEW to upgrade the existing storm drainage systems in the The Grand Jury investigated a citizen's complaint stating Woodland Avenue area. While there is, as yet, no specific the developer of the Oakshade Shopping Center in Davis storm drain plan for the new housing, the condition of did not provide adequate space within the complex for police development says that the developer's plan cannot impact use. the surrounding community. The City's contract with SVOC has been in place, in 6.
• R8
  Woodland City Council and the Redevelopment Agency
• R05-01
  Based on the above findings, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors should suspend Mr. Rose from duty. Services Investigation It is further recommended that the Board of Super- The report of this investigation was issued January 27, visors initiate the personnel proceedings necessary 2005 as an interim report of the 2004-2005 Grand Jury. The to terminate Mr. Rose's employment. Board of Supervisors, the County Administrative Officer, and Based on the above findings, the Yolo County Board
• R05-02
  the County Auditor-Controller, in accordance with their of Supervisors should suspend Mr. Johnson from mandated requirement as respondent, responded to the report duty. It is further recommended that the Board of February 15, 2005. Supervisors initiate the personnel proceedings neces- Regarding Findings No. 1, 2, and 3 the sary to terminate Mr. Johnson's employment. Board of Supervisors states: Based on the above findings, the Yolo County Board
• R05-03
  Due to the fact that the Board is not aware of nor is able of Supervisors should suspend Ms. Craig from duty. to review the evidence upon which Grand Jury has based its It is further recommended that the Board of Super- findings, the Board disagrees with the report's Findings, visors initiate the personnel proceedings necessary pending further investigation. The Board has retained the to terminate Ms. Craig's employment. investigative services of the Honorable Richard L. Gilbert The Yolo County Board of Supervisors should im-
• R05-04
  (Ret.) to conduct a thorough, impartial, independent and fair mediately ensure appropriate funding of the Welfare Fraud Investigations Unit, with budgetary control investigation into the accusations. transferred from DESS to the District Attorney. Regarding Recommendations 05-01, 05-02, The Yolo County Administrative Officer should
• R05-05
  create an ombudsman position to actively intercede states: in conflicts between DESS and the Welfare Fraud Further analysis may be required. Accordingly, the Board Investigations Unit to ensure sensitivity, fairness, and will await the results of the independent investigation. unbiased arbitration. A priority function of this As to the ongoing issue of the administrative structure individual should be to coordinate joint interpersonal and financing of the welfare fraud investigators, during last skills training for DESS and Welfare Fraud Investi- summer's budget process the Board approved and County gations Unit staff. Administrative Office hired an outside consulting firm to The Yolo County Auditor should arrange for fiscal
• R05-06
  analyze this issue and make recommendation. Accordingly, audits of DESS by State and Federal funding agen- the Board of Supervisors will await results of this report. cies. Regarding Recommendation 05-05 the The 2005-2006 Yolo County Grand Jury should
• R05-07
  County Administrative Officer states: follow-up on this report. Further analysis is required. The County Administrative Office hired an outside con- RESPONDENTS sulting firm to analyze this issue and make a recommenda- The Yolo County Board of Supervisors: Recommendations tion. The Board of Supervisors will await the results of this 05-01, 05-02, 05-03, and 05-04 report. The Yolo County Administrative Officer: Recommendation 05 - 05 (INVESTIGATIONS: Yolo County Department of Employment The County Auditor: Recommendation 05-06 and Social Services-continued, on next page) 2004–2005 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT Regarding Recommendation 05-06 the Yolo passed on, intact, as it was received. County Auditor-Controller states: In their general response to the Interim Report, the Board of Supervisors cites Penal Code Section (PC) 933.05 require- Since the State Department of Social Services has over- ments that they must agree with the Grand Jury's findings, sight on the County Department of Employment and Social or disagree wholly or partially with the findings. The Board Services, we will transmit to them the complete Grand Jury states that, "Because it is legally limited in its responses to findings and recommendations for their action. However, it the Grand Jury findings, the Board must disagree with the has been our experience that the State and Federal agencies above findings for the reasons set forth herein." The primary do not have resources to deviate from their normal audit reason proffered by the Board is that "The Grand Jury's cycle and focus on a single issue, especially when there is findings are inconsistent with the Board's past experience no clear evidence of material non-compliance with laws or with these employees." regulations affecting their programs or material losses of In effect, the Board concedes that it has insufficient funds. information to respond, yet the Board does respond by Therefore, the office of Auditor-Controller will conduct disagreeing with the Grand Jury. The author of the response a fiscal review of DESS that will determine the validity of blames the statute, but it is disingenuous to suggest that a the three allegations of mismanagement of funds cited in law can require the Board to come to such an illogical the report, and that will include an overall review of internal conclusion. The proper response should have been to agree control throughout the department. with the Grand Jury that an inquiry was warranted. By disagreeing, the Board took a position that the Grand Jury Response of the Grand Jury was wrong; at the same time the Board acknowledged it to the Yolo County Board of lacked evidence to know if the findings were true. Supervisors This lack of candor was further exacerbated when the Board claimed, both in its response to the Grand Jury and On January 27, 2005, the 2004-2005 Yolo County Grand in the Chairwoman's comments to the local newspaper (on Jury released an Interim Report detailing three major areas January 28, 2005) that the three employees had excellent of concern regarding allegedly inappropriate managerial histories. The panel members are also dismayed that the behavior at the Yolo County Department of Employment and Board ignored its suggestion that, for the safety and welfare Social Services (DESS), including: of other employees, the three DESS administrators be sus-
• R05-08
  ney's Office should create a process that closes the holes in the collection and enforcement process. A new policy should be generated that reflects follow- up of the court decisions, enforcement of penalties, and collection of fines. Animal Services staff should review mid-year, recently
• R05-09
  created training materials, to determine effective- ness as well as thoroughness and completeness of the program, and re-write it as necessary. RESPONDENTS Chief, Yolo County Animal Services: Findings 1, 2, 3, 4; Recommendations 05-08, 05-09 Yolo County District Attorney: Recommendation No. 05-08 Yolo County Traffic Commissioner: Recommendation No.
• R05-10
  maintain their physical conditioning. Conditioning is essential the physical plant design to include better monitoring to the officer's ability to perform his job effectively and capabilities. Correctional staff should be able to ob- reduces on the job injuries. The holding cells appeared se- serve inmate activity from a distance, rather than cure and well maintained. Most detainees under arrest are only upon entering the pod. held less than 6 hours before they are released or transported The Sheriff/Coroner and his management team should
• R05-11
  to the Monroe Detention Center in Woodland for booking. develop plans, policies, and procedures to establish The building is well designed to accommodate future growth a Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) to M and contains state of the art equipment for effective law serve as the first-responder in the event of an emer- enforcement communications. gency (i.e. inmate riot or hostage situation). City of Winters Police Department: Total Comment On February 11, 2005 the Grand Jury interviewed the RESPONDENTS Chief of Police and was given a guided tour of the Winters Yolo County Sheriff/Coroner: Recommendations 05-10, Police Department, located at 318-A First Street, Winters.
• R05-12
  The Yolo County Communications Emergency Ser- assistance to County residents in the areas of Child Welfare, vice Agency should look into the troubling issue of Licensing of Foster Families, Adult Protective Services, radio communications in Winters to rectify the Transitional and Employment/Training Services. It conducts reception difficulty as soon as possible. This com- eligibility determination for Medi-cal, Food Stamps, General munication problem could seriously impact public Assistance, Cal Works, Workforce Investment Act and Aid safety until the situation is corrected. Payments to eligible persons. The Yolo County Communications Emergency Ser-
• R05-13
  The Youth and Children's Services department has intensi- vice Agency, working with the Winters City Manager fied its efforts to increase the number of licensed foster and the Winters Police Chief, should find a way to families in the county and provide an adoptive family for add a second channel to the present single-channel children who are in permanent placement. There are more radio system so that more than one emergency entity than 400 children in foster care in the County. At age 19 the can use the system concurrently. foster child becomes emancipated. To prepare for this emanci- We encourage the Police Chief to explore the possi-
• R05-14
  pation, the department provides an Independent Living Skills bility of using Emergency Preparedness funds to program, designed to assist young people with future plans, purchase a generator to replace the battery currently teach life skills, and provide the resources and training to used when power outages occur. reach these goals. Any youth between 16 and 21 is eligible
• R05-15
  The Winters City Manager must find a way of for the service. providing a locked holding cell in the police station. The Employment and Transitional Services Department offers many services designed to assist job seekers in job The Winters City Manager should explore all possi- 05 - 16 ble avenues for improving or replacing the depart- search techniques. Resources available include workshops and seminars on job application tips, computer skills, cus- ment's current physical facility. tomer services skills, and interviewing skills, in addition to job leads and on-site recruitment. The department offers RESPONDENTS counseling regarding the training, education and skills needed Coordinator, Yolo County Emergency Services: Recom- to achieve individual goals. Staff also offers instruction on mendations 05-12 and 05-13 enrollment in the CalWorks Program, which provides cash Chief of Police, Winters, California: Recommendation payments, and employment services to families with insuffi- 05 - 14 cient income to meet their most basic needs. CalWorks is City Manager, City of Winters: Recommendations 05-15 designed with a "work first" idea that helps welfare recipients and 05-16 move from welfare to work and toward self-sufficiency. The Financial Management Department manager ex- SOURCES plained the Community Services Block Grants selection Chief of Police, Winters Police Department Captain, Davis Police Department (REVIEWS: Department of Employment and Social Services-continued on next page) . 15 2004-2005 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT from the main stream. District employees, called "Ditch process. This process consists of a Request for Proposal Tenders", control the flow of water in this secondary network solicitation and a non-competitive/discretionary funds allo- of channels, opening and closing gates to fulfill "orders" for cation. A Community Service Action Board of 15 members, water placed by individual District members. including 5 Board of Supervisor appointees, identifies prior- The District maintains well hydrographs at various loca- ities. The Block Grants received funds of $268,000 from the tions to monitor the depth to ground water in the District. State, which was distributed to respondents and "winners" The hydrographs examined by the Grand Jury indicate no of the application process. This year's priorities are: food, significant ground water overdraft and it could be concluded shelter and youth programs. The process for distribution of that the system was in a steady state. Therefore, this valuable funds is an open invoice/voucher system with county vendors. asset is not at risk. It should be noted, however, that the City The Grand Jury thanks the Department of Social Services of Davis has drilled some of its wells to tap into aquifers far Managers for conducting the tour of their facilities and their deeper than the one utilized by the agricultural members of assistance in explaining the functions of the departments the District. examined. FINDINGS RECOMMENDATIONS The Grand Jury was positively impressed with the manage- None ment of Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District and its Board of Directors and we commend their SOURCES efforts. ESS Division Manager, Department of Social Services Children's Services Division Manager, Department of RECOMMENDATIONS Social Services None Summary of Block Grant Funding Children's Services Handouts SOURCES Employment and Transitional Services Handouts General Manager, Yolo County Flood Control and To a second Water Conservation District Yolo County Flood Control Hydrographs and Water Conservation Slide Presentation ı District New Yolo County Schools REASON FOR REVIEW In an effort to determine if the ground water in Yolo REASON FOR REVIEW County is at risk of overdraft, the Yolo County Grand Jury met with the General Manager of the Yolo County Flood In an effort to assess the new educational institutions Į, Control and Water Conservation District on December 8, within Yolo County, members of the Grand Jury interviewed 2004. faculty and administrators, and toured the facilities of Harper Junior High School and Leonardo Da Vinci High School in BACKGROUND Davis, as well as Pioneer High School in Woodland. The Grand Jury was shown an excellent slide show giving BACKGROUND an overview of the District's physical water storage facilities, which include a dam and diversion works at both Clear Lake Harper Junior High School: and Indian Valley. These works control the flow of water The 2004-2005 school year is the first year of operation down Cache Creek, where it is diverted to lands within the for Harper Junior High School, which serves approximately District. This water is supplemented by water pumped from 550 students in grades 7-9. This new school is located on privately-owned farm wells and from the wells operated by the far eastern edge of Davis. the Cities of Woodland, Winters, and Davis. A third, smaller Some of the issues discussed by our panel with the reservoir is located near Winters and is used as a balancing reservoir for both flood control and irrigation. Stream flows ı in Cache Creek included in the District's water right are (REVIEWS: New Yolo County Schools-continued on next page) diverted into lateral canals, which carry water to farms away 2004–2005 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT for Pioneer High School, located in the southeastern area of teachers and administrators at this junior high school included: Woodland. During that academic year, enrollment started at The financing of the new school which was accomplished 1. 875 in grades 9 and 10, dropping to 845 by the end of the in part by a successful school bond election, school year. In September 2004, the enrollment was 1225; The ability of the administration to staff faculty at the 2. currently there are approximately 1132 students attending school completely by voluntary transfer of teachers, grades 9 through 11. Next year, when a new freshman class 3. The use of "advisory sessions", in which all faculty and is added, the school will have its first senior class. staff are actively engaged with student discussion groups, Some of the issues discussed with teachers and adminis- 4. The high level and appropriate use of technology to trators at Pioneer High School included: improve instruction in all core areas, and The culture and school climate, 1. The coordination of library lending services among this 5. The potential for "cross-town rivalries" between the two 2. school and the two previously existing junior high schools high schools in the community, in Davis. 3. The difficulty of opening a school with the realities of The Grand Jury recognizes how difficult opening a new the current school funding situation in California, comprehensive junior high school is, particularly given 4. Issues connected to student leadership, given the lack of limited financial resources. The community is to be com- a current senior class, mended for its vision and dedication to providing a high 5. Challenges of creating a quality academic program for quality educational program for its young people. a high percentages of English Language Learner students, Our panel was impressed with the quality of the facility, and the dedication of the faculty, administrators and staff, as well as by the organizational structures of this new junior high 6. Growth pressures upon the school due to the rapid school. population increases in the southeast portion of Wood- land. Leonardo Da Vinci High School: In each of the above listed issue discussions, we found Da Vinci High School is in its first year of operation on the faculty and administrators at Pioneer well informed, the campus of Davis High School. It is a "small independent capable of identifying potential problems and willing to apply learning community", based on the model of the "new their best professional practices to solving any difficulties technology high schools", funded in part by the Bill and which might arise. Melinda Gates Foundation in concert with additional grants Opening a new high school is always a challenging awarded to the Davis Joint Unified School District. prospect for any school district, and Woodland is not unique The current student population of Da Vinci is approxi- in this regard. The School Board is to be commended for mately 150 students in a sophomore and junior class. In 2005-
• R05-17
  roadways, controlling points of admission to hospitals, and action training session be developed within the com- isolation of the infected. Members of the Grand Jury attended ing year. The scenario should include law enforcement, the exercise as observers, and noted that the coordination, fire, and environmental health and other agencies procedural standards, communication and planning between that OES would consider pertinent to the training. the aforementioned participants were still in their infancy Law enforcement representatives should attend a
• R05-18
  stages. medical table top exercise to understand the nature Areas of Vulnerability: of complexities these organizations are experiencing, and how far along they are in their development The Davis Police Department recently took part in a security-related walk through the University of California, stage. Davis (UCD) campus with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. We encourage the Davis Police Department to devel-
• R05-19
  The walk through consisted of security analysis of high risk op a permanent liaison position with the UCD Police facilities on the campus. They found that the current security systems in place at these high risk facilities were inadequate. A representative from the Davis Police Department concluded that the security systems should go beyond pass codes, and (REVIEWS: Yolo County Homeland Security Preparedness- primarily focus on security changes, with an emphasis on continued on next page) 2004–2005 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT Department to better develop intelligence, promote awareness, and enhance security measures of high- risk facilities on campus. The 2005-2006 Grand Jury should continue to re-
• R05-20
  view, and investigate further, Homeland Security in Yolo County. RESPONDENTS Yolo County Sheriff/Coroner: Finding 2; Recommenda- tion 05-18 Chief of Police, Woodland: Finding 2; Recommendation 05 - 18 Chief of Police, Davis: Findings 2, 5; Recommendations 05-18, 05-19 Coordinator, Yolo County Office of Emergency Services: Recommendation 05-17 SOURCES Representatives from: Yolo County Sheriff's Department Davis Police Department Woodland Police Department Yolo County Office of Emergency Services Yolo County Office of the Auditor-Controller Sources reviewed include: Yolo County FY04 Homeland Security Grant Program State of California Emergency Medical Services Authority Statewide Medical & Health Disaster Exercise . 10 2004-2005 YOLO COUNTY GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT