Sonoma County Grand Jury
2017-2018
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
Permit Sonoma made substantial and sustained changes prior to the firestorm. 262
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Permit Sonoma continue to build on the successful changes noted in this report. (F1, F2, 274 275
F2:
Permit Sonoma's improved website assists customers in navigating the permit process. 263
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Permit Sonoma continue to build on the successful changes noted in this report. (F1, F2, 274 275
F3:
Permit Sonoma has streamlined and improved the permit process with emphasis on 264 increasing customer satisfaction. 265
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Permit Sonoma continue to build on the successful changes noted in this report. (F1, F2, 274 275
F4:
The Resiliency Permit Center, which operates under Permit Sonoma, has been set up to 266 expedite the permitting process for fire burnt properties. 267
F5:
Permit Sonoma and the Resiliency Permit Center responded quickly and effectively to the 268 needs of firestorm victims while maintaining the improved day to day operations in Permit 269 270 Sonoma. 271 272
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
The 2016-2017 Sonoma county Civil Grand Jury issued 25 recommendations requiring responses from 22 different County agencies or governing boards.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Probation Department provide the Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury a copy of Sonoma County Probation Yes
F2:
All the responses received were in compliance with the requirements of the Penal Code.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors resources to fund high priority continue to provide adequate funding in Sonoma County Board of efforts. The Board recognizes the support of the Probation Department's goals Yes
Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The County of Sonoma lacks a comprehensive animal emergency response plan that 420 identifies Animal Services as lead department to coordinate the response to the 421 emergency. The Animals in Disaster Response Plan; an Annex to the Emergency 422 Operations Plan of Animal Services was intended to accomplish this, was in revised draft 423 form at the time of the firestorm, and was implemented effectively. 424
F2:
The lack of an alternative power source at the Animal Services facilities, and the 425 malfunction of radios for the use by mutual aid agencies, hampered communication and 426 operations throughout the emergency. 427
F3:
Animal Services' emergency response was hindered by its assignment to Health 428 Services' Department Operations Center instead of the County Emergency Operations 429 Center. The Department of Health Services lacked a plan to ensure that Department 430 Operations Center members completed the required Incident Command Center training. 431
F4:
The lack of a formalized Emergency Response Plan and training for the Fairgrounds led 432 to some confusion and disorder in the early phase of the animal sheltering operation. 433
F5:
Without formal Memoranda of Understanding between the County and non- 434 governmental organizations, reimbursement of costs by FEMA may be more difficult. 435
F6:
Following the firestorm, Animal Services, the Fairgrounds, and non-governmental 436 agencies have begun to develop formal protocols for animal disaster response, including 437 alternate animal evacuation sites should the Fairgrounds be unavailable. Animal 438 Services has plans to improve the volunteer program to train and certify animal 439 disasters volunteers which will enhance animal rescue capabilities. 440
F7:
Animal Services is a first responder that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 441 works in conjunction with law enforcement, and exercises the powers listed under 442 California Penal Code 830.9 including the use of firearms. Animal Services management 443 was fully trained and experienced in emergency response, but much of Animal Services 444 staff lacks Incident Command System training.
* 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.