San Joaquin County Grand Jury
2014-2015
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (3)
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Findings & Recommendations
11 findings
F1:
1 Non-pile supported areas at the IPS are shifting as evidenced by changes in ground elevation, which has caused concern about employee safety and the integrity of equipment and buried electrical systems and conduits in the generator yard and other areas.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
1 The City Council direct (through the City Manager) the Director of MUD to complete needed repairs at the IPS by September 2015 to ensure work areas are safe for employees and to report back annually to the Council regarding the status of IPS ground settling and associated repairs and costs.
F2:
1 Both the USPeroxide study in 2012 and the AMEC analysis in 2014 recommended biofilm shocking and/or continuous chemical treatment for H S, yet none was conducted by MUD for more than 2 two years, allowing continued sewer pipe corrosion.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
1 The City Council direct (through the City Manager) the Director of MUD to make a presentation to the Council no later than September 2015 identifying the process and timeline to manage the H S 2 problem in the sewer pipeline system.
F3:
1 MUD failed to develop a succession plan as recommended in its 2009 Business Plan, causing difficulties during transitions and the unnecessary loss of valuable institutional knowledge.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
1 The City Council direct (through the City Manager) the Director of MUD to develop and implement a succession plan by September 2015.
F1.1:
Non-pile supported areas at the IPS are shifting as evidenced by changes in ground elevation, which has caused concern about employee safety and the integrity of equipment and buried electrical systems and conduits in the generator yard and other areas.
F1.2:
The DWTP was shut down for approximately four months in calendar year 2014 due to low staffing levels, which caused an increase in the SEWD pumping tax and further depleted declining water supplies.
F2.1:
Both the USPeroxide study in 2012 and the AMEC analysis in 2014 recommended biofilm shocking and/or continuous chemical treatment for H S, yet none was conducted by MUD for more than 2 two years, allowing continued sewer pipe corrosion.
F2.2:
The utility vault at the southeast corner of Van Buskirk Park is extensively corroded and at times emits a strong H S odor, which raises concerns about public safety. 2
F3.1:
MUD failed to develop a succession plan as recommended in its 2009 Business Plan, causing difficulties during transitions and the unnecessary loss of valuable institutional knowledge.
F3.2:
As of March 10, 2015 MUD had 27 vacancies. Staff shortages contributed to delays in progress of capital improvement projects, caused more than $1 million in annual overtime costs in 2014, and threaten the operation of critical facilities if qualified technical positions are not filled.
F3.3:
The independent, full-time position of Safety Program Manager has been vacant since May 2013 and the decision to fill the position on an interim basis with the Deputy Director of Wastewater caused some employees to perceive it to be a conflict of interest.
F3.4:
Complaints regarding safety concerns have often been filed directly to Cal/OSHA by MUD employees intimating a lack of trust in management personnel to solve issues.
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