Sonoma County 2020-2021 - California Grand Jury Reports

From the annual report

The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.

📑 Year-End Report

Responses to the 2019-2020 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Reports Providing Continuity by Following Through on Previous

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Individual reports (6)

March 28, 2022 — Responses to the 2020-2021 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury Reports Providing Continuity by Following Through on Previous*

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R1: The City of Rohnert Park establish a procedure implemented. Procedures are in place to acknowledges that this to monitor and track ethics Recommendation has been arrange and provide training and to monitor training for publicly elected compliance with AB 1234. implemented. officials as required by California Assembly Bill No. 1234. This should occur by December 31, 2021.

R2: The City of Rohnert CRP This Recommendation has been The Grand Jury acknowledges that this Park notify elected officials implemented. Notifications of online Recommendation has been of ethics training bi-annual training were sent in November 2020. deadlines by December 31, implemented. 2021.

R3: The City Council CCRP This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury members proactively plan implemented but will be implemented in the acknowledges that this in advance and allocate Recommendation will be future. Plans have been established for time in Council Meeting contracting with demographic and outreach implemented in the future. agendas to give the public consultants. At least four public hearings opportunity for robust and will be scheduled in 2021 in order to give the ongoing discussion of any public opportunities for robust and ongoing changes to the City's discussion on any changes in the City's demographics that need to demographics that need to be addressed. The be addressed when the new City's actions will comply with the Fair and Inclusive Redistricting for Municipalities and Census data is released on Political Subdivisions (Fair Maps) Act. September 30, 2021. This should occur by December 31, 2021. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report COUNTY JAIL INMATE TELEPHONE AND COMMISSARY Background: As part of its inquiry into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility's (MADF) telephone service, the Grand Jury found a pattern of charges for inmate phone use that exceeds the market rate by more than tenfold. The Sheriff's Office also runs a commissary inside the MADF and its prices are typically 200% to 300% over the jail's wholesale cost. The Sheriff's Office deposits the phone commissions and commissary mark-up into the Inmate Welfare Trust (IWT) as State law requires. The Inmate Welfare Trust (IWT) was established to provide inmate programs, and in any given year, the IWT Committee may decide not to spend all of the money it raised. As of early 2021, the IWT held a surplus of over $1.6 million. The Grand Jury offered these Recommendations to provide inmates a more accessible phone system and a more affordable commissary. GJ = Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury RES = Respondent; BOS = Sonoma County Board of Supervisors MADF = Main Adult Detention Facility; SCSO = Sonoma County Sheriff's Office; GTL = Global Tel Link, (MADF telephone provider) 2021-2022 GJ RECOMMENDATIONS RES. RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS

R4: The Sheriff's Office SCSO This Recommendation will not be The Grand Jury use its $1.6 million Inmate implemented. On June 17, 2021, the SCSO acknowledges that this returned to normal visiting operations. The Recommendation will not be Welfare Trust surplus to remove all charges for SCSO also continues to provide each inmate implemented. The GJ also telephone service while in- recognizes that the SCSO has a free 10-minute phone call per day. made changes that improve person visitation is suspended, on or before inmate access to in-person September 30, 2021. visits and phone usage.

R5: The Sheriff's Office SCSO This Recommendation requires further The Grand Jury analysis. The SCSO intends to change the acknowledges that this reevaluate its commissary Recommendation requires markup to be in line with pricing structure with an updated and modernized commissary system based on further analysis and cannot be grocery store, as opposed to convenience store pricing, analysis expected to be completed in implemented until the December 2021. While it is the intent of the on or before September 1, analysis is completed in December 2021. The GJ also SCSO to sell hygiene supplies and 2021. stationery products with a 0% mark-up, recognizes the SCSO does snack items will not be priced similar to a not have the ability at the grocery store because the pricing structure MADF to purchase in bulk needs to compensate for the additional costs and store in large quantity to at the MADF (security, small storage area, obtain discount pricing. The delivery, etc.) that are not present in a MADF also incurs more direct overhead costs than grocery store setting. that of a grocery store.

R6: By September 30, SCSO This Recommendation has not yet been The Grand Jury 2021, the Sheriff's Office, implemented, but will be in the future. acknowledges that this Recommendation will be using the reserve Inmate Prolonged interactions between inmates Welfare Trust funds, from different housing areas has been implemented in the future. resume all inmate programs eliminated in order to reduce the spread of The GJ recognizes that the in existence pre-COVID, COVID-19. Detention staff will resume COVID-19 safety precautions with funding at the same pre-pandemic level programming when it is create program challenges in level once COVID related safe to do so. the MADF congregate restrictions are lifted. setting. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report 2021-2022 GJ RES. RECOMMENDATIONS RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS SCSO This Recommendation will not be

R7: The Sheriff's Office The Grand Jury acknowledges that this implemented. The Inmate Welfare Trust restructure the 10-member Inmate Welfare Trust Committee provides recommendations and Recommendation will not be Committee by December direction to the Sheriff on inmate programs implemented. The GJ also 31, 2021 to include more and IWT expenditures. The SCSO is always recognizes that Penal Code § diverse representation, for open to suggestions from the community. 5006 applies only to state prisons and not the MADF. example, community members, financial analysts, social workers and educators to bring the Committee more in line with the requirements of Penal Code § 5006 regarding commission membership standards for State Prisons. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report COVID-19 MITIGATION AND THE COUNTY JAIL Background: The Grand Jury investigated activities by the Court, the District Attorney and the Sheriff's Department to reduce jail populations and lessen the likelihood of a major COVID-19 outbreak within the jail. The Sheriff's Office made significant efforts to mitigate Covid-19 transmission throughout its detention facilities to ensure the on-going health and safety of inmates and employees. The Grand Jury recognized the success of the Sheriff's Office in avoiding a major COVID-19 outbreak in the jail. However, some actions significantly limited the ability of inmates to communicate with family and legal representatives. Other actions limited inmates' access to educational and recreational resources. The Grand Jury made several Recommendations aimed at restoring inmates' rights and maintaining reduced prison populations. GJ = Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury; RES = Respondent; SCSO= Sonoma County Sheriff's Office; DA = Sonoma County District Attorney; MADF = Main Adult Detention Facility 2021-2022 GJ RECOMMENDATIONS RES. RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS

R8: In the annual budget BOS This Recommendation requires further The Grand Jury acknowledges process the Sonoma County analysis. The next opportunity to allocate that this Recommendation Board of Supervisors and funding, during the annual budget process, requires further analysis and the Office of that the County budget is set will take place in June, 2022. Administration include on an annual basis. BOS will evaluation of the costs of not be able to consider laying cable or empty cable/conduit fund allocation conduit in upcoming until June 2022. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report 2021-2022 GJ RES. RECOMMENDATIONS RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS infrastructure projects by COA This Recommendation requires further The Grand Jury acknowledges December 31, 2021. analysis. The County Administrator's that this Recommendation Office will work with departments to requires further analysis. determine if funding is available for "laying cable or empty conduit in upcoming infrastructure projects" and will make appropriate recommendations to the Board of Supervisors through the normal budget hearing process. BOS

R9: The Sonoma County This Recommendation requires further The Grand Jury acknowledges EDB that this Recommendation Board of Supervisors, the analysis. Though download/upload speeds of 100/20 have been recommended by the requires further analysis and Economic Development and Board, and Access Sonoma ASB state as well as identified by NBNCBC as that implementation depends Broadband include in the on establishment of a working a target, it is unlikely that formal adoption of any particular speed recommendation implementation of any plan. broadband plan a clear will be made locally before a governing requirement for the structure and business plan are identified and created. It is anticipated that an update download and upload on this work would be made to the BOS speeds of 100/20 proposed in State of California within six months. Executive Order N-73-20 to be the minimal acceptable level of service by September 30, 2021. The Grand Jury acknowledges

R10: The Sonoma County This Recommendation requires further BOS that this Recommendation Board of Supervisors assure analysis. Though fiber optic cable or its equivalent is a widely used benchmark, it that any plan for broadband requires further analysis and is unlikely that the County will adopt expansion should utilize depends on adoption of a plan. fiber optic cable formal transmission standards before a transmission or its governing structure and business plan are identified and created. equivalent whenever it is possible by November 30, 2021. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report EMERGENCY ALERTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Background: Wildfires and other emergency situations have threatened Sonoma County and its residents for many of the last several years. There have been losses of lives, property, and a sense of security. This Grand Jury Report centered on emergency communications. Information must be precise, accurate and continuously updated. The Jury found that significant improvements in communication policies, procedures, and practices have been made since the Tubbs fire in 2017. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) have worked in conjunction with the nine cities of the county to ensure that all residents have access to good information. The Jury also noted four specific areas in which improvement was still needed. In addition, the Jury included a comprehensive listing of available resources for information, both before and in case of an emergency. This information is on pages 83-87 of the full report, which is available at any County library and online at www.sonomagrandjury.org. RES = Respondent; GJ = Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury; SCSO = Sonoma County Sheriff's Office; DEM = Dept. of Emergency Management; CCL = City of Cloverdale; CC = City of Cotati; CH = City of Healdsburg; CP = City of Petaluma; CRP = City of Rohnert Park; CSR = City of Santa Rosa; CS = City of Sebastopol; CSO = City of Sonoma; TW = Town of Windsor; BOS = Sonoma County Board of Supervisors; SCFCA = Sonoma County Fire Chief's Association 2021-2022 GJ RECOMMENDATIONS RES. RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS ALERTS AND WARNINGS

R11: By September 30, This Recommendation has been The Grand Jury acknowledges 2021, The Sheriff's Office that this Recommendation has implemented. SCSO and DEM coordinate DEM and Department of with CALFIRE and local agencies to been implemented. Emergency Management protect local infrastructure. An example is work with the Fire protection of the Mt. Jackson site during Agencies in the County to the LNU Complex fire in 2020. define actions to take The Grand Jury acknowledges SCFCA supports and concurs with this SCFCA during a disaster for the that SCFCA supports this Recommendation. protection of all County Recommendation. communication towers/repeaters and cellular network towers.

R12: By December 31, DEM This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury accepts that 2021, the Department of implemented and may not be implemented. DEM does not set safety requirements for commercial Emergency Management DEM does not establish infrastructure Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report 2021-2022 GJ RES. RECOMMENDATION RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS safety requirements for cellular providers, cellular providers' work with cellular tower infrastructure. The Jury providers to ensure a plan is but as partners in public safety will support encourages DEM to facilitate developed to ensure their efforts. measures that support the spirit defensible space standards of this Recommendation. are implemented around each tower. This Recommendation has not been

R13: By October 31, 2021, DEM The Grand Jury acknowledges that this Recommendation will the Department of implemented but will be implemented in Emergency Management the future. A new County Emergency be implemented by the end of update the County 2021, and that After Action Management Plan is expected to be Emergency Operations Plan submitted for review and approval by BOS Reports and Recommendations to incorporate and post on in the 4th quarter of 2021. After Action will be posted. the Department of Reports will continue to be posted on the DEM website. Emergency Management website the most up-to-date information and Recommendations from the After Action Reports since the disasters of 2017. The Grand Jury acknowledges

R14: By October 31, 2021, BOS This Recommendation is in the process of that this Recommendation will the Board of Supervisors being implemented. An updated plan is approve the updated County being prepared and is expected to be be implemented early in 2022. Emergency Operations submitted to BOS in the first quarter of 2022. Completion has been delayed by the Plan. need to comply with the County's new strategic plan and a new State law dealing with community engagement and cultural considerations. CC

R15: By October 31, 2021, This Recommendation has been The Grand Jury acknowledges the nine cities update their that this Recommendation has implemented, although the Emergency CCL Operations Plan is a long-term planning Emergency Operations Plan been implemented. CH to incorporate the most up- document and is not necessarily an CS to-date information and appropriate site for most up to date information. lessons learned since the disasters of 2017 and post it CSO The Grand Jury acknowledges This Recommendation has not been on their websites. that this Recommendation will implemented but it will be in the future. CSR Updating is a continuing process, and the be implemented in the future. CRP Emergency Operating Plan is not CP necessarily an appropriate site for the most up to date information. TW This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury acknowledges Implemented and may not be implemented that this Recommendation may because the Emergency Operation Plan is not be implemented. not an appropriate site for detailed information. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report 2021-2022 GJ RES. RECOMMENDATION RESPONSES OBSERVATIONS This Recommendation has not been DEM The Grand Jury acknowledges

R16: By September 30, that this Recommendation has 2021, Department of implemented and may not be implemented. Emergency Management The Emergency Operations Plan for Warm not been implemented because obtain from the US Army Springs Dam is available to County the Emergency Operations Plan Corps of Engineers a copy officials but subject to a non-disclosure is subject to a non-disclosure agreement. The Army Corps of Engineers of the Emergency agreement. Operations Plan for Warm must balance security concerns and public Springs Dam and safety with release of information. incorporate it into the County Emergency Operations Plan and post it on the Department of Emergency Management website. DEM

R17: By December 31, This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury acknowledges that this Recommendation will 2021, Department of implemented and may not be implemented. not be implemented because the Emergency Management, The County submits reports as part of the through the San Francisco SF Bay Area Local Emergency appropriate Bay Area and State Bay Area Counties, submit Communications Committee which has not organizations are currently non- its annual Emergency Alert met since 2010; this local committee is functional. These organizations System Plan to the State are expected to be reconstituted. controlled by the State Emergency Emergency Alert System Communications Committee which has not Committee of California as met since 2011 but is being reconstituted recommended within the and will hold annual meetings. 2019 State of California Alert and Warnings Guidelines. BOS This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury acknowledges

R18: By December 31, 2021, the Board of implemented and may not be implemented. that this Recommendation has These plans are multiple and complex and not been implemented and may Supervisors adopt a it is impractical to review and update them not be implemented because resolution that all major County disaster plans annually. Plans will be updated on a three annual updating is impractical. having to do with year or as needed basis. Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness be considered "Living Documents" to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. DEM This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury acknowledges

R19: By December 31, implemented but it will be implemented in 2021, the Department of that this Recommendation will Emergency Management the future. DEM supports multiple be implemented in the future publicize the work of and that support of community community preparedness groups and will community preparedness continue to do so. DEM has applied for a preparedness groups is an groups such as Citizens grant to support these efforts. ongoing process. Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, Community Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report 2021-2022 GJ RES. RESPONSES RECOMMENDATION OBSERVATIONS Emergency Response Teams, and Community Organizations Around Disasters to more effectively reach all residents about emergency alerts and warnings. BOS This Recommendation has not been The Grand Jury acknowledges

R20: By December 31, that this Recommendation 2021, the Board of implemented and requires further analysis. Supervisors increase the The capacity of the DEM Community requires further analysis and capacity of the Department Preparedness function has been increased implementation will be part of of Emergency over the last several years. Community the budgeting process. Management's Community Preparedness is a BOS priority and we Preparedness function in anticipate this discussion will take place order to effectively engage during budget hearings. DEM is currently the greater community in applying for federal grants, which would disaster preparedness with support preparedness efforts including groups such as Fire Safe developing Community Emergency Sonoma, neighborhood Response Teams. groups such as Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, and Community Emergency Response Teams to foster resilience. Continuity Responses to 2020-2021 Report

June 04, 2021 — Broadband Access in Sonoma County Broadband is a Utility; The Quiet Crisis of Availability

19 páginas 15 hallazgos 10 recomendaciones

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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones 15 hallazgos

F1: Broadband access is a necessity; it has become a “Utility”, like electricity, roads, or water, but broadband has not yet been formally recognized as such.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R1: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors consider recognizing and designating broadband as a “Utility” that needs prioritization by October 31, 2021. (F1)

F2: The need for high quality broadband access has been clear for some time, but the crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the urgency in addressing this need.

F3: Without high quality broadband access the ability to work at home, apply for a job, do distance learning, access telehealth or telemedicine, receive emergency notifications or other activities that require internet access is limited or absent.

F4: Broadband access is an equity issue; disadvantaged residents who lack the ability to pay for broadband services are further disadvantaged and hindered in opportunities for work, education, and other important aspects of society.

F5: Many residents and businesses in Sonoma County, particularly those in rural, coastal, forested, or mountainous areas, have no access, undependable access, or low-quality broadband service.

F6: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has neither taken proactive action to improve broadband access nor exhibited a sense of urgency regarding this problem.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R2: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopt and support a plan to address a lack of broadband access in the County by November 30, 2021. (F6, F7, F8)

F7: The Sonoma County Administration and Board of Supervisors have delayed adopting a plan to address the problems of broadband affordability, availability, or low-quality access in Sonoma County.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R2: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopt and support a plan to address a lack of broadband access in the County by November 30, 2021. (F6, F7, F8)

F8: In the absence of an actual plan for expansion of broadband access, any actions or applications for funding in this area have been done on an ad hoc basis.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R2: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors adopt and support a plan to address a lack of broadband access in the County by November 30, 2021. (F6, F7, F8)

F9: Multiple agencies and groups have interests in broadband expansion. There is not yet a Countywide coordinated effort between departments and broadband providers to address implementing a broadband strategic plan.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R4: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Board assemble an interdepartmental group to coordinate and oversee efforts in Broadband expansion by November 30, 2021. (F9, F10)

R5: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development Board consider the establishment of a broadband Joint Powers Agreement that includes Sonoma County, Mendocino County, and possibly other neighboring counties by November 30, 2021. (F9)

F10: Access Broadband Sonoma has been given the task of implementing broadband expansion in Sonoma County but it lacks the funding, staffing level, or authority to accomplish this goal.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R4: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Board assemble an interdepartmental group to coordinate and oversee efforts in Broadband expansion by November 30, 2021. (F9, F10)

R6: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors give a high priority to addressing personnel levels sufficient to accomplish the goals of a broadband specific plan. (F10, F12)

F11: While inability to access adequate broadband is recognized as a significant problem, reliable quantitative data on unserved and underserved residents are lacking.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors provide staff and funding to allow the Economic Development Board and Access Sonoma Broadband to develop accurate data on broadband service for the County by December 31, 2021. (F11)

F12: Access to State and Federal grants will be necessary to finance broadband expansion. Without a plan, good data, and support mechanisms to apply for and utilize grant funds such funding is less likely.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R6: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors give a high priority to addressing personnel levels sufficient to accomplish the goals of a broadband specific plan. (F10, F12)

F13: “Dig-Once” is widely held to be a useful concept, but it is not a well-defined policy within Sonoma County: installation of broadband infrastructure is often not considered as part of a project, and no mechanism exists to inform potential broadband suppliers of a project or to mandate conduit installation.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R7: The Sonoma County Department of Transportation, Permit Sonoma and Access Sonoma Broadband develop procedures and standards that would ensure placement of broadband conduit in all appropriate situations by December 31, 2021. (F13)

R8: In the annual budget process the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and the Office of Administration include evaluation of the costs of laying cable or empty conduit in upcoming infrastructure projects by December 31, 2021. (F13)

F14: The definitions of “minimal broadband”, “acceptable broadband”, and “quality broadband” vary widely.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R9: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Board, and Access Sonoma Broadband include in the implementation of any broadband plan a clear requirement for the download and upload speeds of 100/20 proposed in State of California Executive Order N-73-20 to be the minimal acceptable level of service by September 30, 2021. (F14)

F15: Fiber optic cable is currently and for the foreseeable future the optimal means to carry broadband signals.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R10: The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors assure that any plan for broadband expansion should utilize fiber optic cable transmission or its equivalent whenever it is possible by November 30, 2021. (F15)

📋June 04, 2021 — Covid-19 Mitigation at the County Jail And Its Unexpected Consequences

17 páginas 11 hallazgos 7 recomendaciones

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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones 11 hallazgos

F1: Sonoma County did not suffer the COVID infection and death rates in its jail that other counties did, in large part because of its success in reducing the size of the jail population.

F2: Without the extraordinary cooperation between the Sonoma County District Attorney, the Sonoma County Public Defender, and the Sheriff, the incarcerated population would not have dropped dramatically early in the pandemic and remained at historic low levels for more than one year.

F3: The reduction in the size of the County’s incarcerated population resulted in a substantial reduction in Sheriff’s Office Detention Division overtime.

F4: Keeping the incarcerated population at or below 800 people would save the County between five and six million dollars every year.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: The Sheriff’s Office should continue the pandemic-era policies favoring citations over arrests. (F4, F5)

F5: The Sheriff’s practice of issuing citations rather than arrests for misdemeanors and non- violent felonies has helped prevent the MADF population from increasing.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: The Sheriff’s Office should continue the pandemic-era policies favoring citations over arrests. (F4, F5)

F6: The Implementation of the Zero Cash Bail Initiative has helped to prevent the MADF population from increasing.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R5: The District Attorney discontinue cash bail for defendants charged with misdemeanors and non-violent, non-sexual, and less serious felonies. (F6)

F7: The Sheriff’s Office and Department of Health Services failed to collaborate in order to alleviate the isolation and reductions in programs that were imposed on the incarcerated population to mitigate health risks.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R2: The Sheriff’s Office implement 30-minutes of video visits per week by September 30, 2021, and continue until it fully restores in-person visits to their pre-pandemic levels. (F7, F8)

F8: The Sheriff’s new policy of inmate visits limited to once per month starting May 1, 2021 is insufficient to relieve a year’s absence of visual communication with friends and family.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R1: The Sheriff’s Office develop, no later than September 1, 2021, a policy to restore out of cell activity, in person and video visitation, and all programs to pre-pandemic levels. (F8)

R2: The Sheriff’s Office implement 30-minutes of video visits per week by September 30, 2021, and continue until it fully restores in-person visits to their pre-pandemic levels. (F7, F8)

F9: Allowing jail staff and inmates to refuse testing and vaccination creates a risk to public health.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R6: The Sheriff’s Office implement a surveillance-testing program and require 100% participation by all unvaccinated jail staff by September 1, 2021. (F9)

R7: The Sheriff’s Office reassign jail staff who decline vaccination or participation in surveillance testing by September 1, 2021. (F9)

F10: Discharge planners could play an indispensable role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 between the jail and the community.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R4: The Sheriff’s Office and the Board of Supervisors work together to develop a plan by December 31, 2021 to increase the contracted Wellpath resources to fund four additional Wellpath discharge planners for mental health and medical assignment to the Main Adult Detention Facility. (F10, F11).

F11: Adding at least four new discharge planners at the Main Adult Detention Facility would contribute to lowering the recidivism rate and therefore play a key role in maintaining a lower incarcerated population

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

📋May 21, 2021 — Emergency Alerts and Communications Toward a Culture of Preparedness

37 páginas 25 hallazgos 20 recomendaciones

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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones 25 hallazgos

F1: The alerts and warnings, law enforcement and fire response efforts since the 2017 fires have been successful in the mass evacuation of residents, saving lives, and preventing more loss of homes.

F2: The use of Nixle, SoCoAlerts, 2-1-1 Sonoma County, and PulsePoint has helped to reduce the emergency call load to 9-1-1 during a disaster by providing important information to the public.

F3: During an emergency, residents in both the incorporated and unincorporated portions of Sonoma County receive multiple and at times conflicting messages.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: By October 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management explain the challenges behind the emergency communications in order that residents may understand, trust, and appreciate the complexity and the ongoing work it takes to maintain effectiveness. (F3, F5, F19) Evacuations

F4: There are some groups and individuals of the population who may not receive alerts directly; these include the elderly, tourists, farm workers, migrants, those hard of hearing, non-English speaking, and individuals with special needs.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R1: By October 31, 2021 the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Emergency Management, and nine cities’ departments include within their Emergency Operations Plans action steps to reach all subpopulations within the County who may not otherwise receive an alert. (F4, F6, F7, F8)

R19: By December 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management publicize the work of community preparedness groups such as Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, Community Emergency Response Teams, and Community Organizations Around Disasters to more effectively reach all residents about emergency alerts and warnings. (F4, F24, F25)

F5: Due to the limitations of the alert and warning systems, duplication of alerts and warnings across many platforms helps to get the messages to more residents of the county.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R2: By October 31, 2021 the Board of Supervisors review and propose additional alert and warning methods such as air raid sirens and public address systems to put contingencies in place when broadband fails or is not available. (F5, F7, F8, F13)

F6: The role of the Emergency Operations Center during recent emergencies has helped to improve the sharing of information among the many fire and police districts and the County as well as improving the consistency of messaging across alert and warning platforms; particularly, the Nixle, SoCoAlerts.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

F7: The low-technology alert systems (for example hi-lo and air raid sirens), which do not rely on communication towers, provide essential backup during power outages and cellphone tower breakdowns during severe storms or fires.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

F8: Due to the topography within Sonoma County, the re-institution of audible alarms such as air-raid sirens could dependably reach residents in remote areas and work as a reliable tried-and-true alarm system. Evacuations

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

F9: Different evacuation zone designations for the same area (numbers, names, streets, areas, etc.) by the County, cities, CAL FIRE and agencies can lead to confusion for residents during an emergency.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R4: By October 8, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Emergency Management, and nine cities work together to ensure consistent naming for all evacuation maps used by the public and first responders. (F9, F10, F11)

F10: Because evacuation zones were not published or known, prior to the recent emergencies, residents were unaware of their evacuation zones.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

F11: Not all police and fire agencies within the County show an Evacuation Map on their website. Infrastructure and the Reliance Upon Technology

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

F12: The County communication network is at risk of communication tower/repeater equipment loss through delayed maintenance and failure to update obsolescent equipment, or disaster loss affecting the Sheriff’s Department, city, police, fire agencies, and Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (6)

R6: By December 31, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office develop a plan and identify what is needed to bring the communication tower equipment/repeaters up-to-date to ensure during an emergency the systems function (legacy and end of life systems.) (F12, F13)

R7: By March 31, 2022, the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors provide funding to maintain the communication tower equipment/repeaters. (F12, F13, F14)

R8: By June 30, 2022, the Sheriff’s Office implement the plan to bring the communication tower equipment/repeaters up-to-date. (F12)

R10: By October 31, 2021 the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Emergency Management work with the Fire Agencies in the county work ensure that defensible space standards (as outlined by CAL FIRE) are met for all county communication towers/repeaters and cellular provider network towers. (F12, F13, F14)

R11: By September 30, 2021, The Sheriff’s Office and Department of Emergency Management work with the Fire Agencies in the County to define actions to take during a disaster for the protection of all County communication towers/repeaters and cellular network towers. (F12, F13, F14)

R12: By December 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management work with cellular tower providers to ensure a plan is developed to ensure defensible space standards are implemented around each tower. (F12, F13, F14) Emergency Operations Plans

F13: There is no backup system for the County communication towers/repeaters or for commercial cellular towers should they fail to function.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (6)

R7: By March 31, 2022, the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors provide funding to maintain the communication tower equipment/repeaters. (F12, F13, F14)

F14: The County communication towers/repeaters and cellular provider towers are not maintained and protected (including defensible space) sufficiently to ensure alerts and warnings can go out in the event of a disaster.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (5)

R7: By March 31, 2022, the Sheriff’s Office and Board of Supervisors provide funding to maintain the communication tower equipment/repeaters. (F12, F13, F14)

R9: By December 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management work with Permit Sonoma to identify where all cellular provider towers are in the county. (F14, F15)

F15: Department of Emergency Management does not have documentation/maps of the physical location of the cellular provider communication towers in the event of a disaster.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R9: By December 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management work with Permit Sonoma to identify where all cellular provider towers are in the county. (F14, F15)

F16: PulsePoint is a useful tool for community groups and the public for early notification of fire activites (e.g. controlled burns, smoke). Calls dispatched through Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications (REDCOM) are updated onto PulsePoint.

F17: Residents of Cloverdale and Rohnert Park cannot receive local PulsePoint alerts because those cities do not utilize Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications (REDCOM) for fire and medical dispatch. Emergency Operations Plans

F18: The Board of Supervisors has not fulfilled its commitment to update the 2014 Emergency Operations Plan by 2018-2019. This commitment was made in response to a Recommendation by the 2017-2018 Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R14: By October 31, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approve the updated County Emergency Operations Plan. (F18, F19)

F19: Various agencies, cities, and the public rely on the County Emergency Operations Plan for their disaster preparedness and best practices regarding the alerts and warning systems.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)

R13: By October 31, 2021, the Department of Emergency Management update the County Emergency Operations Plan to incorporate and post on the Department of Emergency Management website the most up-to-date information and Recommendations from the After Action Reports since the disasters of 2017 (F19, F20)

R14: By October 31, 2021, the Board of Supervisors approve the updated County Emergency Operations Plan. (F18, F19)

F20: Recommendations documented in After Action Reports following a disaster have not been incorporated into the current Emergency Operations Plans for Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Office, Cities, and fire agencies.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R15: By October 31, 2021, the nine cities update their Emergency Operations Plan to incorporate the most up-to-date information and lessons learned since the disasters of 2017 and post it on their websites. (F20)

F21: The Warm Springs dam is under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local fire agencies do not have access to protocols established in the event that the dam fails.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R16: By September 30, 2021, Department of Emergency Management obtain from the US Army Corps of Engineers a copy of the Emergency Operations Plan for Warm Springs Dam and incorporate it into the County Emergency Operations Plan and post it on the Department of Emergency Management website. (F21)

F22: San Francisco Bay Area Counties, of which Sonoma County is part of, has not yet submitted its annual Emergency Alert System plan to the State Emergency Alert System Committee of California as recommended by the 2019 State of California Alert and Warning Guidelines.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R17: By December 31, 2021, Department of Emergency Management, through the San Francisco Bay Area Counties, submit its annual Emergency Alert System Plan to the State Emergency Alert System Committee of California as recommended within the 2019 State of California Alert and Warnings Guidelines. (F22)

F23: Disaster and Emergency Preparedness has become an all-year round activity for both County departments and staff and residents alike. Community Outreach-Preparedness

F24: Sonoma County has made good progress in Community Outreach and Preparedness since the 2017 Tubbs Fire, however; residents may not fully appreciate or realize that preparing for resiliency during emergencies is an ever-evolving process and requires ongoing attention.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

F25: Government cannot help residents with everything during a disaster. Continued development and expansion of Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies / Community Emergency Response Teams groups are deemed essential as major emergencies could overwhelm agencies’ ability to fully reach and protect people and property.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

Recomendaciones adicionales 3

No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.

R5: By October 8, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office, Department of Emergency Management, and nine cities work together to ensure the public is informed of their evacuation zones by publishing evacuation maps in local media, online, and through SoCo Emergency. (F9,

R18: By December 31, 2021, the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution that all major County disaster plans having to do with Emergencies and Emergency Preparedness be considered “Living Documents” to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. (F18,

R20: By December 31, 2021, the Board of Supervisors increase the capacity of the Department of Emergency Management’s Community Preparedness function in order to effectively engage the greater community in disaster preparedness with groups such as Fire Safe Sonoma, neighborhood groups such as Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies, and Community Emergency Response Teams to foster resilience. (F24,

📋August 27, 2020 — County Jail Inmate Telephone and Commissary Overcharging a Captive Population

11 páginas 8 hallazgos 7 recomendaciones

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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones 8 hallazgos

F1: Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office commission-based contract with Global Tel Link unreasonably inflates the cost of telephone communication for incarcerated people and their families in the community.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R1: The Sheriff’s Office work with the Board of Supervisors to replace the current commission-based audio and video contract with Global Tel Link, using a model based on the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department, by December 31, 2021. (F1, F3)

R2: By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office develop a new communications model to provide for sufficient telephone kiosks to allow the inmate population free telephone and video visitation for at least 90 minutes per week until such time as a new communication contract is in effect. (F1, F2, F3)

F2: High mark-ups on commissary and phone card sales place an undue burden on some of the most economically vulnerable families in the County.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R5: The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)

F3: A renegotiated agreement with Global Tel Link, without the excessive mark-up added for commissions, would lower the cost of telephone calls for the incarcerated population.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

F4: Five telephones for a group of 60 people to use in less than one hour is insufficient to promote communication between incarcerated people and their support networks outside the jail.

F5: The Sheriff’s Office will be required to find new funding for its Inmate Welfare Trust - supported programs if the California Public Utilities Commission issues its order in the coming year.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: As required by PC § 4025(e), the Sheriff’s Office provide an annual report to the Board Of Supervisors detailing line item revenue and expenses within the Inmate Welfare Trust , beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, with the initial report due by November 30, 2021. (F5, F7)

F6: The Sheriff’s Office detention staff holds disproportionate control over the Inmate Welfare Trust Commission with nine seats of the 10-member committee.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R7: The Sheriff’s Office restructure the 10-member Inmate Welfare Trust Committee by December 31, 2021 to include more diverse representation, for example, community members, financial analysts, social workers and educators to bring the Committee more in line with the requirements of Penal Code § 5006 regarding commission membership standards for State Prisons. (F6)

F7: The high mark-up on the commissary and phone card sales continued while visitation and inmate supportive programs, which are funding by the Inmate Welfare Trust revenues, were cancelled.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R5: The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)

F8: The high mark-up on the commissary and phone card sales result in over $1.6 million accumulated excess in the Inmate Welfare Trust.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)

R4: The Sheriff’s Office use its $1.6 million Inmate Welfare Trust surplus to remove all charges for telephone service while in-person visitation is suspended, on or before September 30, 2021. (F8)

R5: The Sheriff’s Office reevaluate its commissary markup to be in line with grocery store, as opposed to convenience store, pricing, on or before September 1, 2021. (F2, F7, F8)

R6: By September 30, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office, using the reserve Inmate Welfare Trust funds, resume all inmate programs in existence pre-COVID, with funding at the same level once COVID related restrictions are lifted. (F8)

📋February 25, 2020 — Rohnert Park Election Districts Transition from At-Large to District-Based Elections

11 páginas 7 hallazgos 3 recomendaciones

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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones 7 hallazgos

F1: The Rohnert Park City Council acted in compliance with California law in transitioning to district-based Council elections.

F2: There is no credible evidence of violations of the Brown Act with regard to non-public communication of the City Council. The Brown Act permits closed-session meetings to discuss litigation.

F3: The election sequence adopted by the City Council complies with California and federal election law.

F4: The submission of Map 112 and the City Council’s evaluation of it complied with the California Elections Code.

F5: The City of Rohnert Park does not monitor or track the ethics training required by California Assembly Bill 1234 of all local agency officials in office on or after January 1, 2007.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)

R1: The City of Rohnert Park establish a procedure to monitor and track ethics training for publicly elected officials as required by California Assembly Bill No. 1234. This should occur by December 31, 2021. (F5)

R2: The City of Rohnert Park notify elected officials of ethics training bi-annual deadlines by December 31, 2021. (F5)

F6: The City Council provided legally sufficient opportunity for the public to submit proposed district maps and to comment on submitted maps.

F7: Subsequent to the first sequencing election in 2020, but prior to the second sequencing election in 2022, in which the transition from At-Large to District-Based elections as adopted in Ordinance 944 is fully adopted, the City of Rohnert Park will have the results of the 2020 decennial Census and will need to evaluate whether Map 112 still provides representation for demographic groups of interest.

Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)

R3: The City Council members proactively plan in advance and allocate time in Council Meeting agendas to give the public opportunity for robust and ongoing discussion of any changes to the City’s demographics that need to be addressed when the new Census data is released on September 30, 2021. This should occur by December 31, 2021. (F7)

* 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.