Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
2012-2013
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 (16)
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Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The Title III Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) for English Learner progress are complex, give little indication of how long it takes English Learners to become reclassified as fluent, and do not measure the effectiveness of individual English Learner programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Even though it is not mandated by the state, in order to monitor historical trends and validate improvements made to programs, districts should consider tracking long term English Learner results by program and make the information available on district websites for review by parents, the Board of Trustees, and the community. The data should track all English Learners and follow them until they leave the district. This longitudinal data would allow the following information to be published by instructional program: ● Time to Reclassification (RFEP) ● Long term achievement levels (from STAR testing) ● Long term achievement level “gap” between English Learners, RFEPs, and English Only ● High school graduation and dropout rates
F2:
Many parents and community members do not understand the various English Learner programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Districts should make the following information available on their English Learner web pages: ● An easy-to-understand description of the programs offered by the district, with
F3:
The English Learner program information is not readily accessible on district websites.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
Districts should consider starting or expanding Two-Way Bilingual Immersion programs.
F4:
Two-Way Immersion programs are not widely available in Santa Cruz County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
Information on Two-Way Bilingual Immersion programs should be made available to parents of English speakers.
F5:
Two-Way Immersion programs are beneficial to native English speakers who want to become fluent in multiple languages.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The next version of Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s pamphlets, slide sets, video, and websites should revise the Dual-Language Immersion information to: ● Use consistent terminology throughout the district. For example, the district refers to a “Dual-Language Immersion” program, and Alianza (which provides the program) calls it “Two-Way Bilingual Immersion.” ● Update the description of how the waiver process works, as applied to Alianza, to clarify that neither the annual waiver, nor the need for at least 20 approved waivers by parents, is applicable because of Alianza’s status as a charter school. ● The “English Learner Programs” pamphlet should more clearly distinguish the differences between Late-Exit “Developmental” Bilingual, and Two-Way Bilingual Immersion.
F6:
Portions of the descriptive material made available by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District describing the Dual-Language Immersion program are inconsistent or incomplete, which could be misleading to parents trying to decide on the best program for their children.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
The districts should develop agreements for collaboration with the appropriate Head Start agencies to better align and take advantage of the school readiness efforts of Head Start.
F7:
Collaboration and communication between Head Start and the elementary schools would be beneficial to English Learners making the transition to kindergarten.
Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F1:
When a special district fails due to neglect or poor practice, the financial burden falls upon the county taxpayers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Once a problem is identified within a special district, LAFCO should proactively conduct a thorough service review of that district, with the aid of state and county agencies.
F2:
When problems in special districts occur, there is no clear cooperative path of response for addressing those problems.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
To protect the public interest, the Board of Supervisors should work with LAFCO to initiate special reviews that adequately examine the effectiveness of service delivery, especially when unaddressed chronic problems are discovered.
F3:
LAFCO underutilizes reviews that would allow for early problem detection and evaluation of independent special districts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
LAFCO should adopt policies to ensure proactive service reviews are completed, to safeguard the proper functioning of a district. These reviews should be in addition to, and independent of, sphere of influence studies.
F4:
LAFCO has the ability and the responsibility (per Government Code Section 56430) to do service reviews at least every five (5) years; however, they are not being completed in a timely or effective manner.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
LAFCO should budget adequately for professional services to conduct proactive service reviews, and maintain sufficient reserves for unanticipated service reviews of special districts.
F5:
LAFCO asserts that a general lack of funding prevents the performance of proactive and comprehensive service reviews, yet they selectively pursue funding for other purposes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
Service reviews should be designed as diagnostic assessments with recommendations to the special district, County Board of Supervisors, and LAFCO Commissioners, in order to pinpoint, make transparent, and preemptively resolve special district problems.
F6:
LAFCO, external agencies, and citizens have conflicting interpretations of the scope and frequency of service reviews for special districts.
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The current practice of transporting inmates off site for certain medical procedures continues to present security issues and additional expense.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
In order to reduce staff and transportation costs, and to mitigate transportation security risks, the Sheriff’s Office should expand the scope of medical services provided at the Main Jail to adequately serve the jail population and prepare for inmate growth projections due to AB 109.
F2:
Uncompleted repairs to the Main Jail lobby are unsightly, unprofessional, and present potential safety hazards.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Sheriff’s Office should immediately request funding from the Board of Supervisors to complete repairs of the Main Jail lobby.
F3:
Juvenile Hall lacks an outside area for exercise and recreation. This is a longstanding deficiency for the facility and the incarcerated youth.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Board of Supervisors should collaborate with all involved agencies to complete the design, permitting and construction of the already-funded multi-use recreational facility for Juvenile Hall.
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
It appears the City of Watsonville does not have a comprehensive, citywide cash handling policy.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The City of Watsonville should develop comprehensive citywide cash handling policies and procedures. (The City of San Luis Obispo Cash Handling Policy is an excellent resource.[17])
F2:
In the absence of an overall cash-handling procedure, the handling of large amounts of cash paid out and received during the Strawberry Festival creates an unacceptable risk for misappropriation of funds.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The City of Watsonville should immediately implement interim procedures, in writing, for the handling and tracking of cash, prior to the 2012 Strawberry Festival.
F3:
The City of Watsonville may have failed to meet U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program objectives for the purchase of the fire truck.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The City of Watsonville should comply with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirements for the use of Community Development Block Grants.
F4:
With regards to the Grand Jury investigations reported on here, city staff responses to requests for information from the City Council or the public were too often incomplete, inaccurate, or not provided in a timely manner.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The City of Watsonville should improve the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of information provided to the City Council and the public.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R5:
The City Council should stipulate date specific response deadlines on requests to City staff for information.
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Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
The Grand Jury and Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services have no jurisdiction over PG&E. However, the County Board of Supervisors can request help from the Governor and from their state legislators to require that the California Public Utilities Commission uphold their state mandate, as the oversight body of PG&E: “to ensure the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates.”[5]
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The County Board of Supervisors should request periodic updates on the condition and safety of PG&E gas pipelines in Santa Cruz County, urging the Governor and state legislators to demand that the CPUC improve their oversight of gas pipeline safety.
F2:
During the course of our investigation, the Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services made significant progress in coordinating the flow of essential emergency response information regarding pipeline safety to the appropriate agencies.
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Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F1:
The Custody Alternatives Program (CAP) is vital to decreasing jail overcrowding.
F2:
There are presently insufficient written criteria for the selection of inmates for CAP.
F3:
There are no written guidelines to follow when an individual violates the terms of
F4:
There are few statistics on how well CAP is working.
F5:
There is a difference of opinion between police officers in the field and the
F6:
As of April 1, 2013, AB 109 appears not to have resulted in critical jail overcrowding
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Chief Deputy of Corrections should consider expanding the CAP Program in
R2:
The Chief Deputy of Corrections should complete and adopt written guidelines for
R3:
The Chief Deputy of Corrections should establish guidelines to follow when an
R4:
The Chief Deputy of Corrections should establish a program to determine how
R5:
The Probation Department should improve communication with law enforcement
R6:
The Probation Department should contract with an independent data analyst to
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
At the time of our investigation, there did not appear to be an independent third-
F2:
The process for obtaining referrals to these programs is cumbersome.
F3:
There are no written guidelines for inmate program eligibility.
F4:
Further post-release services for ex-inmates are needed.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Although the treatment program contracts may not be fully utilized yet, Santa Cruz
R2:
The Probation Department should contract with an independent data analyst to
R3:
The Probation Department should simplify the process of inmate referrals so that
R4:
The Probation Department should institute a policy outlining qualifying criteria, time
R5:
The Partnership should allocate additional funding for post-release programs.
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Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
Based on our investigation and the comments made at the public forums, it
F2:
Some Santa Cruz County building code amendments are difficult for both staff and
F3:
The new cost recovery fee called Construction Unpermitted-Recovery Enforcement
F4:
Inconsistency of provided information, most often concerning Zoning and Building
F5:
The Planning Department was not able to provide us with clear documentation that
F6:
The online fee estimator is not the same as the official fee calculator used by
F7:
The information provided in the Zoning Prescreen is not binding; it fails to warn the
Additional Recommendations
7
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Planning Department should continue to streamline the county building code
R2:
The Department should allow routine OTC permits to be applied for, paid for, and
R3:
The Planning Department should adopt a set policy for Zoning and Building Code
R4:
The Planning Department should adopt the Minor Exceptions Provisions into the
R5:
The Planning Department should adopt a system to analyze data and track
R6:
The Planning Department should have the web fee estimator match the one used
R7:
The Planning Department should include a disclaimer on the Zoning Prescreen
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The Board of Directors has not been acting on the Material Weaknesses or Control
F2:
The PVWMA minutes and agenda materials fail to document whether the
F3:
The Agency’s 2011-12 audit shows the PVWMA Long Term Debt to be over $41
F4:
The Grand Jury’s investigation revealed numerous instances of Agency failure to
Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Board of Directors should direct the staff to correct Material Weaknesses and
R2:
The Board should direct the Administrative/Finance Committee to include
R3:
The Board should address the apparent conflict between the Agency’s current debt
R4:
The Board should employ a qualified CPA to conduct a full forensic examination of
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The Santa Cruz County Office of Education does not have a policy for setting
F2:
SCCOE does not have a policy governing the allocation of surplus funds.
F3:
SCCOE has provided consistent and significant financial support to the districts.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The SCCOE Board of Trustees should adopt a policy establishing parameters for
R2:
The SCCOE Board of Trustees should establish well-defined procedures and
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.