San Benito County Grand Jury
2025-2026
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The iniƟal security vendor withdrew due to insufficient or inaccurate informaƟon during the bidding process. A replacement vendor was secured two weeks prior to the event at significantly higher cost, with personnel lacking relevant experience.
F2:
Many of the contracted security company's personnel did not have adequate rest or sleeping faciliƟes and slept in vehicles, which is a violaƟon of local ordinances.
F3:
There is conflicƟng informaƟon in regard to the forecasted budget for the 2025 Rally vs the actual amount spent on the Rally.
F4:
There is a lack of conƟnuity of informaƟon between the city officials and staff members. The ad hoc CommiƩee, Mayor Stephens, and Councilmember Resendiz made the majority of decisions for the Rally.
Additional Recommendations
7
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
A professional security company for the Rally must be contracted no later than six months prior to the event.
R2:
All contracts for services must require vendors to comply with the City’s municipal code and San Benito County Public Health code.
R3:
Within three months following the 2026 Rally event, the City must disclose the actual expenditures incurred. Including but not limited to all staff Ɵme.
R3A:
Following any large event (greater than 1000 people) where City funds are expended, the City must disclose actual incurred costs.
R3B:
Any future Rally event must have a realisƟc budget, including revenue projecƟons and sources adopted by the City Council at least nine months prior to the event. 19
R4:
The ad hoc commiƩee cannot make decisions for the enƟre City Council. Within the next six months, the City must adopt rules and responsibiliƟes for all ad hoc commiƩees to ensure conƟnuity of informaƟon.
R4A:
The City Council members are responsible for knowing what the acƟons the ad hoc commiƩee is taking and what is being proposed.
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
Staffing shortages exist within the Sheriff’s Department. The Department is unable to aƩract and maintain adequate staffing.
F2:
A new radio communicaƟon system has been purchased but has yet to be implemented.
F3:
The intake recepƟon area of the CurƟs J. Hill RehabilitaƟon Center is non-ADA compliant.
F4:
The Sheriff’s department requires addiƟonal staffing when transferring inmates and detainees.
F5:
The BSCC report Non-Compliance (1056 - The use of Sobering Cells)- Incarcerated persons were held in sobering cells longer than 12 hours without hourly safety checks.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the County invest in retenƟon incenƟves or other programs for exisƟng officers within the next nine months.
R2:
The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the County take appropriate steps to implement the new radio system within the next three months. 9
R3:
The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the facility be brought into ADA compliance within six months.
R4:
The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the County develop a policy so that all inmates and detainees are transported by a minimum of two officers/depuƟes. This recommendaƟon must be implemented within the next nine months.
R5:
The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the facility incorporate the recommendaƟons that the Sheriff submiƩed to the BSCC within 6 months.
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The subpoena process took an addiƟonal four - six weeks to complete and schedule interviews with City Officials.
F2:
The subpoena process took an addiƟonal four - six weeks to complete to obtain documents.
F3:
A former interim city manager did not respond to a subpoena request for interviews. Four of the elected officials did not show for their iniƟal scheduled interview. The Civil Grand Jury had to reissue subpoenas for those interviews.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Remove the current blanket subpoena process.
R1A:
Within the next six months, the City should adopt a policy that allows the Foreperson of the Civil Grand Jury (or designee) to contact public officials to schedule interviews.
R2:
Remove the current blanket subpoena process.
R2A:
Within the next six months, the City should adopt a policy that allows the Foreperson of the Civil Grand Jury (or designee) to request documents. ProducƟon of said documents must be Ɵmely in compliance with the California Public Records Act.
R3:
Within the next three months, the City AƩorney must train elected officials on the importance and penalƟes associated with subpoenas.
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
Sewer rates were changed without the public noƟce required under ProposiƟon 218.
F2:
The easement acquisiƟon process appears inconsistent and may not fully align with established procedures.
F3:
The decision by the Sunnyslope Board to bypass the established steps in conflict resoluƟon contributed to addiƟonal conflict among Board members and the airing of grievances in the public forum.
F4:
CommunicaƟon and transparency issues are significantly affecƟng interacƟons among Sunnyslope management, staff, Board members, and the public.
F5:
When the general manager is negoƟaƟng contracts, such as those for the easements and the contract with the City of Hollister, the Board is not receiving all of the perƟnent details.
F6:
When Sunnyslope creates a recording of a Board meeƟng, it becomes a public record, subject to CPRA and the Brown Act. Sunnyslope currently records Board meeƟngs; however, the existence and availability of these recordings are not clearly communicated to the Board or the public.
F7:
Sunnyslope accepted an outside rate study that did not include methodology templates from the contractor, which hindered their ability to fully analyze the recommendaƟons within the report.
F8:
Current hiring pracƟces for management posiƟons are creaƟng confusion within the District.
Additional Recommendations
17
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Review and, if necessary, suspend implementaƟon of the revised sewer rates pending compliance with ProposiƟon 218 noƟce requirements. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R1A:
Rebate or credit back any increase of sewer charges to impacted customers. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R1B:
In alignment with ProposiƟon 218, begin the process to raise sewer rates, including a 45- day public noƟce, a public hearing, and the creaƟon of an official ordinance by the Board. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R1C:
Update the Sunnyslope website to reflect new sewer rates once the ordinance has passed. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R2:
All contracts for easements should be made available to the Board in wriƟng prior to approval. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R2A:
The board should take a more acƟve role in the development of contracts on behalf of Sunnyslope, such as developing a detailed set of procedures for the General Manager to follow. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R2B:
The current easement contracts should be immediately available to the public. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R3:
All policies and steps for dispute resoluƟon need to be followed. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R3A:
In the event that the established conflict resoluƟon policy needs to be amended, an 36 agreement between board members needs to be reached within the confines of Board meeƟngs. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R4:
Management needs to give staff clear direcƟon when policies, prices, or procedures change by puƫng them in wriƟng. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R4A:
The Board of Directors should conduct training so that the general manager and the Board are familiar with the Sunnyslope County Water District Policy Manual. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R4B:
Using the Sunnyslope website, news sources, and social media, noƟfy the public concerning new programs and iniƟaƟves. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R4C:
The Board should approve the use of recordings at Board and commiƩee meeƟngs. These recordings should be retained and posted on Sunnyslope’s website so the public can parƟcipate in the process. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R5:
Management needs to follow established policies for communicaƟng with the Board so that they receive informaƟon regarding contracts or changes to contracts. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R6:
Sunnyslope should immediately post all Board and commiƩee meeƟng audio recordings within its possession on its website. To be implemented by August 19, 2026. 37
R7:
Require, as a sƟpulaƟon, outside contractors to provide methodology templates to management. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.
R8:
Develop a clear hiring process for management to include wriƩen agreements when promoƟng from within the organizaƟon. To be implemented by August 19, 2026.