Stanislaus County 2017-2018 - California Grand Jury Reports

F1: The SCCGJ found no information X R1. The SCCGJ recommends X was readily available to the City of that the SCAC Office create a Oakdale taxpayers explaining where way to explain the 1% ad valorem the assessed 1% tax went and what, if tax that is on property owners tax any, services OID provided. bills or add an insert to the property tax bill explaining what this tax covers. d * r e e h d e t O

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R1: LAFCO should consider dissolving BPFD or consolidating it with another district by June 30, 2019.

F2: Oakdale C F it i y n d re in si g d s e nts pay over X g n id n iF /w e e r g A y lla itr a P s e e r g A y llo h W s e e r g a s iD

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R2: Th R e e S c C o C m G m J e r n e d co a m tio m n e s n ds the d e t n e m e lp m I X t n e m e l l p li m W I r u F e N s is y la n A r e h tr u F /t n e m e lp m I t o N lliW $1 million annually in property taxes SCAC Office explore ways of to the OID. providing a link on its website that is user friendly and explains the breakdown of the tax.

F3: The 1% tax that the Oakdale city X R3. The SCCGJ recommends X residents pay is based on the Tax Rate that OID commence dialog with Assessment (TRA) based on the City of Oakdale residents Proposition 13 in 1978 and assessed regarding services provided by value of their property. OID in regard to this 1% tax.

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R3: Develop procedures and rules for BPFD-BOD on conducting public meetings by participating in state-approved courses on the Leadership of Special Districts Foundation in California by December 1, 2018. R.4 Develop and implement a conflict of interest policy and procedures to establish expectations of balancing the personal and business interests of BPFD.

F4: The OID and the City of Oakdale X R4. The SCCGJ recommends X are aware of the possible disparities that OID and the City of Oakdale between property taxes paid and continue to work collaboratively services provided to property owners. on their Cooperation Action Plan Both OID and the City of Oakdale are and their Mutual Aid Agreement. engaged in a dialog regarding this issue. Oakdale Irrigation District, Board of Directors

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R4: Fire districts are to ensure that meeting times and locations are posted consistently and accurately on district websites and with LAFCO.

F5: OID-BOD failed to reapportion X R5. None its five voting districts, as needed and in a timely manner, after both the 2000 Census release and again after the 2010 Census release.

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R5: Retain Financial Disclosure Forms (Form 700) for a minimum of five years to be held at the BPFD office and at the Stanislaus County Election Office by September 1, 2018.

F6: OID currently has no formal X R6. None policy on record to redistrict after each Federal Census data release. Conclusion The 2017-2018 SCCGJ is satisfied that all entities requested to respond to the findings and recommendations of the 2016-17 SCCGJ report did so satisfactorily within the time frame stipulated by the California Penal Code Section 953 (c). Stanislaus County Detention Facilities Inspections Case # 17-20GJ Reason for Investigation The 2016 – 2017 Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) conducted its annual detention and other facility inspections as required by California Penal Code 919(b). These inspections included the jail facilities, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division (SCSOCD), Stanislaus Regional 911 (SR911), Juvenile Commitment Facilities (JDF), and the Day Reporting Center (DRC). The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division, a state-of-the-art facility that determines individuals’ cause of death for the population of three counties: Mariposa, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department detention facilities are also state of the art. The SCCGJ participated in ride-along programs offered by Stanislaus County law enforcement agencies. SCCGJ commends the Sheriff’s Department, Modesto Police Department, and Turlock Police Department for their cooperation and assistance during the various inspections and tours. The SCCGJ conducted physical inspections of each facility between September 9, 2016 and March 21, 2017. Agencies Asked to Respond  Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Agencies Invited to Respond  Stanislaus County Sheriff – Coroner’s Division  Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department d * r e h e d e e t O /t Findings Recommendations N n g n id n iF /w e e r g A y lla it r a P s e e r g A y llo h W s e e r g a s iD d e t n e m e lp m I t n e m e lp m I lliW r u F s is y la n A r e h t r u F e m e lp m I t o N lliW Stanislaus County Board of Supervisor Responses

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R6: Maintain Ethics training certificates for a minimum of three years to be held at BPFD office by August 1, 2018.

F7: The MPD, SCSD, and TPO are X committed to protecting and serving the citizens of their respective cities. d * r e e h d e t O

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R7: Establish bylaws requiring new and returning BPFD-BOD to complete biannual training in the Brown Act, Public Records Act (Government Code 1090-1098), and the Political Reform Act (Government Code 87100-87505) by December 1, 2018.

F8: AMR oper F a i t n e d s i a n n g e s w program X g n id n iF /w e e r g A y lla itr a P s e e r g A y llo h W s e e r g a s iD Recomme ndations d e t n e m e lp m I tn e m e lp m I lliW r u F e N s is y la n A r e h tr u F /t n e m e lp m I t o N lliW called Community Ambulance to assist SCSD officers when they are dealing with a person with possible mental health issues. The Community Ambulance program follows through with the subject, allowing officers to proceed with their duties. Conclusion The 2017-2018 SCCGJ is satisfied the Stanislaus County Probation Department is taking appropriate actions regarding its responsibilities to screen and test for hepatitis B & C. Stanislaus County Probation Department Case # 17-30C Reason for Investigation The Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury (SCCGJ) received a complaint alleging the Stanislaus County Probation Department (SCPD) acted in an illegal manner when conducting a property search, failed to follow SCPD procedures, and intimidates citizens from filing formal complaints. SCCGJ chose to investigate the complainant’s allegation that the SCPD Citizen Complaint Form and Citizen Complaint Declaration language may prevent citizens from filing complaints. The SCCGJ agrees and recommends SCPD review their Citizen Complaint and Declaration Forms with the intent of removing any language that would discourage citizen input. There may also be an issue with the current form’s language not meeting the requirement of a recent judicial opinion. Agencies Asked to Respond  Stanislaus County Chief Probation Officer Agencies Invited to Respond  Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors d e d e e Find ings g n id n iF /w e e r g A y lla it r a P s e e r g s e e y r g llo a s h i W D Recomme ndations d e t n e m e lp m t n e m e lp m I lliW r u F N s is y la n A r e h t r u F t o N lliW * r e h t O /t n e m e lp m A I I

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R8: The BPFD website should focus on governance information and financial transparency no later than August 1, 2018 by posting:  Regular meeting agendas 72 hours prior to the meeting.  Special meeting agendas 24 hours prior to the meeting.  Emergency meeting agendas one hour prior to the meeting.  Board minutes.  Monthly budget reports.  Financial transaction reports.  Annual audit information.

F9: BPFD-BOD failed to provide board agendas and minutes as required by the Brown Act.

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R9: Use the BPFD website to provide information about the district to encourage public attendance and participation by September 1, 2018.

F10: Agendas for special meetings were not posted as required by the Brown Act.

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R10: Encourage public attendance and involvement by clearly posting BPFD-BOD meeting dates, times, agendas, at locations visible to the public by August 1, 2018.

F11: BPFD-BOD has no written policies, procedures, or bylaws.

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R11: BPFD-BOD needs to develop job descriptions and responsibilities for all employees and volunteers by December 1, 2018.

F12: Employees have no job descriptions and therefore have little understanding of what their job responsibilities truly are.

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R12: Develop a grievance procedure free from the fear of retaliation by January 1, 2019.

F13: BPFD has no grievance procedure for protection against any form of abuse.

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R13: BPFD-BOD is directed to support the current fire chief and assistant chief by encouraging them to connect with the Stanislaus County Fire Warden’s Office to assist this leadership staff with strategic planning, training, and other support services to effectively manage the district by August 1, 2018.