Gran Jurado del Condado de Sonoma
2013-2014
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
1 hallazgos
F1:
The Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District knowingly violated the Brown Act.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
All members of the Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District be required to obtain appropriate training in the Brown Act.
Recomendaciones adicionales
1
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R2:
The Board of Directors of the Russian River Fire Protection District adopt meeting policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the Brown Act.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
F1:
While the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury may investigate officer-involved fatalities, it does not have the resources to perform in-depth reviews or lengthy investigations of every officer-involved fatality.
F2:
By accepting Critical Incident Reports, the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury may mislead the public to believe it initiates in-depth investigations of every officer-involved fatality.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
Safety violations occurred in the Supervised Adult Crews program, putting crew members and the public at risk.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sonoma County Probation Department:
Establish a method for verifying that daily safety meetings are held at the start of each work day.
F2:
An improved training program in the use of power tools and protective gear increases safety for crew members and for the public.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sonoma County Probation Department:
Monitor road crew safety along roadsides and highways to protect both the crews and the public.
F3:
The Probation Department’s failure to provide safety and training information in Spanish endangers road crews and the public.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sonoma County Probation Department:
Provide safety training in the proper use of all power tools at daily roadside safety meetings and assure protective gear is worn when power tools are used.
F4:
A functioning complaint process is important to identifying and correcting safety hazards, resulting in improved work crew and public safety.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sonoma County Probation Department:
Provide all written materials related to job safety in English and Spanish and require onsite supervisors to speak and understand basic Spanish.
Recomendaciones adicionales
1
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R5:
The Grand Jury recommends that the Sonoma County Probation Department:
Ensure that all Supervised Adult Crew members are aware of the process for registering a complaint about safety or other work concerns.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
Sonoma County’s online information on each board, commission, committee, and task force does not fully explain the qualifications necessary for appointment.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
On each website of the individual boards, commissions, committees, and task forces, the County Administrator’s Office include information specifying the qualifications necessary for appointment.
F2:
The decentralized nature of individual boards, commissions, committees, and task forces precludes a uniform evaluation of their work.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
The Board of Supervisors direct that each board, commission, committee and task force post, on its website, an annual one-page report about its activities and accomplishments that will provide accountability and transparency.
F3:
The County provides limited recognition of the work done by the boards, commissions, committees, and task forces, and their members. 9
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The Board of Supervisors adopt a program to recognize the boards, commissions, committees, and task forces and their members, to solicit greater public interest and participation.
F4:
Sonoma County’s outreach efforts to encourage participation on the boards, commissions, committees, and task forces are insufficient.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
The County Administrator’s Office provide increased visibility of and public access to board, commission, committee, and task force meetings and activities.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
13 hallazgos
F1:
The completion of Phase 1 in late 2016 will not satisfy what was promised to voters in 2008.
F2:
The current two-year delay in service caused by construction shortfalls represents a 10-percent loss in value generated by 20 years of sales tax revenue.
F3:
The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury’s financial analysis indicates that SMART faces potential funding challenges to complete the 73-mile project.
F4:
The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury’s financial analysis raises concerns with the forecasting assumptions and contingencies used to project future revenues generated by the 1/4-cent sales tax.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
SMART engage the services of an independent economist to provide a forecast of the revenue to be generated by the 1/4-cent sales tax. 20
F5:
Operating plans and finances are dependent on sales tax revenues, and any shortfall could have serious consequences.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R3:
The 2014 Strategic Plan Update provide a forecast of operating and maintenance costs associated with the future operation of the system.
R4:
SMART provide an annual update to long-term financial forecasts which includes notification to the public of any risks associated with uncontrollable factors such as economic fluctuations and the potential consequences of such risks in its “Comprehensive Annual Report.”
F6:
While its name suggests that it performs a public oversight function, the Citizen’s Oversight Committee has not provided broad oversight; its actual contributions to the SMART project have been confined to the mandated role of overseeing the Strategic Plan.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R7:
Management issue a quarterly status report addressing the development, operations, and financial matters currently facing SMART, which could be provided in conjunction with the regular General Manager’s reports to the Board of Directors.
F7:
SMART management has demonstrated resourcefulness throughout the construction phase and a prudent control of finances, but competent management is no substitute for effective Board governance.
F8:
The members of the Board of Directors have heavy time commitments, resulting in a lack of sufficient attention for SMART and an absence of the effective oversight voters expected when Measure Q was adopted.
F9:
Although an economic crisis began in 2007, SMART failed to inform voters in the November 2008 election of the resulting risks to the revenue projections contained in the Measure Q Expenditure Plan.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
The 2014 Strategic Plan Update include a comparison between the original financial plans in the Measure Q Expenditure Plan and the current outlook in the Updated Strategic Plan.
F10:
The Board of Directors failed to mitigate the serious impact of the economic downturn and of the land-use environmental approvals process.
F11:
The Board of Directors would operate more efficiently and effectively if it were using the standing committees defined in the SMART Administrative Code.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R6:
The Board of Directors utilize standing and advisory committees to more effectively fulfill its obligation to provide comprehensive oversight on major policy issues.
F12:
The lack of station parking, road-crossing disruptions, and failure to connect directly with the Larkspur ferry terminal will create serious logistical difficulties.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R5:
SMART appoint a Citizen’s Advisory Committee to investigate and report on concerns regarding scheduling, fares, pedestrian/bicycle pathways, connecting services and safety.
F13:
Once construction has been completed, public safety needs to become the highest priority.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R8:
The Board of Directors create an ad hoc Safety Committee to provide conscientious oversight of the system’s safety policies and elevate the overall importance of safety.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
The close to 400 delinquent final autopsy reports due from FMG show a lack of effective oversight by the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
The Sheriff-Coroner’s Office impose contractually stipulated penalties for late autopsy reports while evaluating the suitability of its continued relationship with FMG for forensic services.
F2:
The Sheriff-Coroner’s Office has not exercised means within its control to bring about the timely issuance of final autopsy reports by imposing the 2-percent daily fine for overdue reports. 26
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors give priority to exploring possibilities for remodeling or relocating the existing Coroner’s Office and Morgue.
F3:
The Coroner’s Office lacks adequate storage for the extensive records currently in cardboard boxes stacked throughout the facility.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The Coroner’s Office and Morgue adopt technological improvements, including a modern file management system and hands-free recording devices in the autopsy room.
F4:
Coroner operations can be negatively affected by delays resulting from failure to use up- to-date file management software tailored to its needs or hands-free recording equipment during autopsies.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
F1:
If the City of Rohnert Park and Sonoma County do not oversee the allocation of mitigation funds meant to offset the effects of the Casino on the County’s infrastructure and public services, then unfunded future obligations may be created.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Officials of Sonoma County and the City of Rohnert Park, who oversee their separate agreements with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, release to the public annual financial reports on mitigation funds, including a plan for mitigation fund allocations over the next six months and an accounting of mitigation fund expenditures for previous years. 6
F2:
Casino revenue shortfalls may adversely affect public services.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
When owners delay picking up their pets from Sonoma County Animal Services, the resulting increase in the holding period adversely affects the animals’ health.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
Sonoma County Animal Services enforce a firm deadline for owners to retrieve their animals or relinquish them for adoption.
F2:
Sonoma County Animal Services programs to decrease the unwanted animal population through spay and neuter services appear to be effective.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
Sonoma County Animal Services continue and expand its spay and neuter services.
F3:
A professional animal behaviorist can evaluate the possibility of successful rehabilitation of borderline-adoptable dogs and prescribe the best course of action.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The Board of Supervisors authorize the position of full-time animal behaviorist for Sonoma County Animal Services.
F4:
Sonoma County Animal Services lacks sufficient office space. 13
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
The Board of Supervisors provide additional office space at the Sonoma County Animal Services facility.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
3 hallazgos
F1:
Realignment continues to pose challenges to adult detention facilities.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
The Sheriff’s Office continue to improve the expansion and safety of adult detention facilities.
F2:
Mandatory overtime is an increasing burden for correctional personnel.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
The Sheriff’s Office keep up its efforts to hire new personnel to deal with the growing inmate population.
F3:
Inmates with medical and mental health issues make significant demands on the MADF staff and facilities.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
The Sheriff’s Office continue treating inmates with mental and physical health issues to improve their chances for successful adjustment to independence upon release.