Score: -2
(0/18/2)
Riverside County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
March Joint Powers Authority: Marginally Transparent
⚠️ 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 19 findings
F1
The March JPA Commission’s 1996 “March AFB Final Reuse Plan” identified 12 goals to guide its work to facilitate and stimulate economic growth resulting from the base realignment.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The March JPA complies with the California Brown Act.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The March JPA Commission does not meet on a regular basis.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
By August 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission meet on a regular basis (i.e., meet in a fixed pattern, with equal or similar amounts of space or time between one and the next meeting) and publicize its regular meeting dates, times, and locations on its website. Based on Findings 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9 Financial Impact – Minimal 22
R9
By October 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission reconsider its decision to transfer its land use authority, public works, policing, and fire protection to the County of Riverside until all land development projects are completed. Based on Findings 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 18 Financial Impact – Minimal LEGALLY REQUIRED RESPONSES California Penal Code §933.05 requires the March JPA to respond to Grand Jury findings and recommendations, within 90-days, to Riverside County’s Superior Court Presiding Judge. Required Responses Locations Findings Recommendations March JPA Commissioners 3 through 19 1 through 9 City of Moreno Valley 4, 11, 16, & 19 2, 6, & 9 City of Perris 4, 11, 16, & 19 2, 6, & 9 City of Riverside 4, 11, 16, & 19 2, 6, & 9 Riverside County Board of Supervisors 4, 11, 16, & 19 2, 6, & 9 Invited Responses Locations Findings Recommendations City of Moreno Valley 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8 13, 14, 15, 17, & 18 City of Perris 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8 13, 14, 15, 17, & 18 City of Riverside 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8 13, 14, 15, 17, & 18 Riverside County Board of Supervisors 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, & 8 13, 14, 15, 17, & 18 Report Issued: 4/10/2024 Report Public: 4/15/2024 Response Due: 7/10/2024 24
F4
The March JPA Commissioners infrequently seek a consensus on March JPA issues from other elected officials on their city council/board.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
By October 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that elected officials on the County of Riverside Board of Supervisors and city council members in Moreno Valley, Perris, and Riverside establish times when March JPA issues will be discussed, and a consensus developed for their representatives on the March JPA Commission. Based on Findings 4 and 11 Financial Impact – Minimal
F5
It is difficult to hear comments in March JPA Commission and committee meetings when speakers do not use a microphone.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
By August 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission require anyone speaking in March JPA Commission and committee meetings to use a microphone while speaking. Based on Finding 5 Financial Impact – Minimal
F6
There are lengthy delays between March JPA Commission meetings and meeting minutes approvals.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Once the Governor terminated the state's COVID-19 State of Emergency, the March JPA discontinued livestreaming its March JPA Commission meetings.
Related Recommendations (3)
R4
By August 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission (a) livestream all March JPA Commission and committee public meetings and (b) allow the public to remotely make comments as if they attended in-person. Based on Findings 7, 8, and 9 Financial Impact – Minimal
R5
By August 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission video record all March Commission and public committee meetings and make those video recordings available to the public on its website. Based on Findings 7, 8, and 9 Financial Impact – Minimal
R6
By August 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission establish, or be in the process of establishing, a permanent community advisory committee made up of Riverside County residents. Based on Findings 7, 8, 9, and 11 Financial Impact – Minimal
F8
The March JPA Commission meetings are not video recorded. 21
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The public does not have access to video recorded March JPA Commission meetings on the March JPA website.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The March JPA provides information to the public in a variety of venues.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
The March JPA does not have a permanent community advisory committee comprised of Riverside County residents.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The March JPA does not always place special public meetings on its website calendar.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
By November 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission require that all Commission and public committee meeting dates, agendas, agreements, amendments, by-laws, policies, and procedures be (a) easily searchable on its website and (b) once found and opened, easily searchable. Based on Findings 12, 13, and 14 Financial Impact – Minimal to Moderate R- 8 By October 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission submit copies of all March JPA agreements and amendments, from 1993 to the present, to the California Secretary of State, California Controller, and Riverside County LAFCO as required by California Government Codes §6503.5 and §6503.8. Based on Findings 15 and 16 Financial Impact – Minimal 23
F13
The public does not have access to important March JPA documents.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
It is difficult to search for documents on the March JPA website and it is difficult to search for content within documents on the March JPA website.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The March JPA violated Government Code §6503.5 (d) by not submitting all required March JPA agreements and amendments to the California Secretary of State, and to the California State Controller.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
By November 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission require that all Commission and public committee meeting dates, agendas, agreements, amendments, by-laws, policies, and procedures be (a) easily searchable on its website and (b) once found and opened, easily searchable. Based on Findings 12, 13, and 14 Financial Impact – Minimal to Moderate R- 8 By October 1, 2024, the Grand Jury recommends that the March JPA Commission submit copies of all March JPA agreements and amendments, from 1993 to the present, to the California Secretary of State, California Controller, and Riverside County LAFCO as required by California Government Codes §6503.5 and §6503.8. Based on Findings 15 and 16 Financial Impact – Minimal 23
F16
The March JPA violated Government Code §6503.8 by not submitting all required March JPA agreements and amendments to the Riverside County’s Local Agency Formation Commission Office.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
The March JPA violated Government Code §6503.5 (d) by obtaining bonds worth $32,700,000, and later refinanced those bonds at $33,095,000, without previously submitting all required March JPA agreements and amendments to the California Secretary of State and to the California State Controller.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
The March JPA arranges for three annual audits: (1) March Joint Powers Authority, (2) March Joint Powers Utility Authority, and (3) March Inland Port Airport Authority. Annual audits appear on the March JPA website and copies are provided to the Riverside County Auditor-Controller’s office.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
Effective on July 1, 2025, the March JPA transfers its land use authority, public works, policing, and fire protection responsibilities to the County of Riverside. RECOMMENDATIONS
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 11
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CL1 Page 20As required by California’s Brown Act, the March JPA conducts public meetings, posts agendas online, and the public can express their opinions during “Public Comment” periods. However, it is difficult to hear March JPA Commissioners, March JPA staff members, and public speakers when they do not use a microphone.
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CL2 Page 20Public meetings occur on an irregular basis.
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CL3 Page 20Public meeting minutes are available to the public, but only months after the public meetings occurred.
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CL4 Page 20The March JPA livestreamed its Commission meetings during the pandemic but terminated that practice once the COVID-19 State of Emergency was over. 50 Document provided by March JPA. Fourteenth Amended Joint Powers Agreement between the Cities of Moreno Valley, Perris, and Riverside and the County of Riverside for the Formation of the Joint Powers Authority to Formulate and Implement Plans for the Use and Reuse of the March Air Force Base,” April 18, 2023. 51 March JPA Commission Meeting, “MJPA - MIPAA - SA - Reports, Discussions and Action Items,” October 26, 2022, Agenda Item 11 (1), pp. 379-393. URL is located at https://marchjpa.com/wp- content/uploads/2022/10/10262022-regular-jpc-meeting1.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2024. 20
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CL5 Page 21March JPA public meetings are accessible to the public but only if the public attends those meetings in-person.
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CL6 Page 21March JPA public meetings are not video recorded and accessible to the public.
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CL7 Page 21The March JPA has advisory committees, but it does not have a permanent community advisory committee comprised of Riverside County residents.
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CL8 Page 21The March JPA website has historical and contemporary documents available to the public. However, some documents are hard to find, difficult to search, and some documents are missing altogether.
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CL9 Page 21The March JPA does engage in outreach activities and seeks public comments on topics of interest to the public. However, it is not always easy to know when and where those sessions will be held.
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CL10 Page 21Since 1993, the March JPA has not submitted 12 legally required documents to the state, including documents required to be submitted before obtaining bonds.
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CL11 Page 21The March JPA has arranged for independent audits of its three authorities and made those audit documents available to the public via its website. However, the March JPA has not arranged for any other type of audit that would support transparency and efficiency. In conclusion, the March JPA follows the letter of the law, but not the spirit of the law. The March JPA is transparent with the public but only marginally.
Agency Responses 3
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.