Sutter County Grand Jury
2019-2020
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
F The City Council created a conflict of interest by appointing the Finance Director (consultant) to be the interim City Manager, between April 2018 and April 2019. F2. The City oflive Oak is overspending on professional service contracts without City Council approval. F3. Ethics training for City Council has not been completed in the legally mandated periods and content. F4. City Council members have not disclosed potential conflicts of interest or maintained a current Form 700, as required by law. F5. For several City Council meetings no minutes or video recording are available online. Other video recordings are incomplete or inaudible. --{6. The City Council meetings are not consistent with Brown Act regulations and City Municipal Codes conceming transparency and how meetings are conducted. F7. Live Oak is not requesting competitive bids for service contmcts per standard best practices. F8. City Council has repeatedly neglected to require term limitations, caps on fees, and a detailed scope of work in professional service (consultant) contracts. F9. The Water Enterprise Fund is urderfunded. F I 0. The Water Enterprise Fund does not comply with State regulations regarding the water loan covenant. RECOMMEilDATIONS . Rl City Council adopt an ordinance to ensure the separation of duties at upper management level within the next 90 days. R2. City Council create a new Ad Hoc committee to oversee consultant contracts and spending by the end of December 2020. ,^$3. City Council members immediately take the free online mandatory ethics training and submit documentation to the City Clerk for records retention and to the Fair Political Practices Commission. R4. Those City Courcil members with incomplete or missing Form 700 statements immediately resubmit the form to the City Clerk for records retention. ns. City Council shall direct City management to consult with specialists to immediately remedy the technical difficulties with audio and video recordings and upload any missing recordings or minutes online for full transparency. R6. The City Council maintain proper decorum during meetings and conduct parliamentary procedure training (such as Rosenburg's Rule of Order) for themselves and committees under the jurisdiction of the City Council within 90 days. R7. City Council re-evaluate all services and consultants under contract with Live Oak, on performance and value, by July 1,2021. R8. City Council direct the City Manager to examine contracts for scope of work, missing cap fees, term limitations, liability insurance coverage and make recommendations to City Council by the end of December 2020. R9. City Council remedy the missing revenue in the Water Enterprise Fund and come into compliance with State regulations regarding water covenant by the end ofJune 30, 2021. ,-.R10. City Council direct City administration to create and implement a water rate increase that utilizes the 2017 Water and Wastewater Rate Study's recommendations.
F2:
The City oflive Oak is overspending on professional service contracts without City Council approval.
F3:
Ethics training for City Council has not been completed in the legally mandated periods and content.
F4:
City Council members have not disclosed potential conflicts of interest or maintained a current Form 700, as required by law.
F5:
For several City Council meetings no minutes or video recording are available online. Other video recordings are incomplete or inaudible. --{6. The City Council meetings are not consistent with Brown Act regulations and City Municipal Codes conceming transparency and how meetings are conducted.
F7:
Live Oak is not requesting competitive bids for service contmcts per standard best practices.
F8:
City Council has repeatedly neglected to require term limitations, caps on fees, and a detailed scope of work in professional service (consultant) contracts.
F9:
The Water Enterprise Fund is urderfunded. F I 0. The Water Enterprise Fund does not comply with State regulations regarding the water loan covenant. RECOMMEilDATIONS . Rl City Council adopt an ordinance to ensure the separation of duties at upper management level within the next 90 days.
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
City Council create a new Ad Hoc committee to oversee consultant contracts and spending by the end of December 2020. ,^$3. City Council members immediately take the free online mandatory ethics training and submit documentation to the City Clerk for records retention and to the Fair Political Practices Commission. 34
R4:
Those City Courcil members with incomplete or missing Form 700 statements immediately resubmit the form to the City Clerk for records retention. ns. City Council shall direct City management to consult with specialists to immediately remedy the technical difficulties with audio and video recordings and upload any missing recordings or minutes online for full transparency.
R6:
The City Council maintain proper decorum during meetings and conduct parliamentary procedure training (such as Rosenburg's Rule of Order) for themselves and committees under the jurisdiction of the City Council within 90 days.
R7:
City Council re-evaluate all services and consultants under contract with Live Oak, on performance and value, by July 1,2021.
R8:
City Council direct the City Manager to examine contracts for scope of work, missing cap fees, term limitations, liability insurance coverage and make recommendations to City Council by the end of December 2020.
R9:
City Council remedy the missing revenue in the Water Enterprise Fund and come into compliance with State regulations regarding water covenant by the end ofJune 30, 2021. ,-.R10. City Council direct City administration to create and implement a water rate increase that utilizes the 2017 Water and Wastewater Rate Study's recommendations.
Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F2:
The City of Live Oak has not provided consistent explanations for work delays.
F3:
There is a lack of responsibility and accountability by the City of Live Oak management.
F4:
There is a lack of oversight by Live Oak City Courcil.
F5:
_ Lack ofoversight and project management has caused delays and cost overruns, as well as, impacts to other systems and projects. RECOM]TIENDATIONS Rl. Live Oak City Council to direct the City Manager to provide the following: . Quarterly report ofprojects to the Live Oak Council, starting by September 2020. o To restart the Water, Sewer and Storm Drain Committee meetings on a quarterly basis. o Quarterly report on the Water, Sewer and Storm Drain Committee meetings/activitie s to the Live Oak Council.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
Live Oak City Council to direct the City Manager to immediately hold the City Engineer and respective Department Directors responsible for managing the delivery ofprofessional services (consultants) contract tasks, milestones, project schedules and project completion in the prescribed timefiame and report status to the Live Oak Council within 90 days.
R3:
Live Oak City Council to direct the City Manager to ensure all future project is contractual with milestones, deadline, to assess monetaD/ penalties for delays, and incentives clearly identified. 56
R4:
Live Oak City Council to direct the City Manager and/or the Department Directors to report on each project's status at Live Oak Council meetings, to inform the public and create transparency, starting by September 2020.
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F2:
There lacks a structured and comprehensive "Life Skills" program.
F3:
Exposure to technicaVvocational career training and opportunities is limited. RECOUitENDATtOilS R I . The Board of Supervisors give approval to replace the carpet or repair and sanitize the current carpet in the Juvenile Hall girl's dormitory by 12131120.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
The Yuba County Office of Education develop and implement a structured and comprehensive life skills program that should include money management, food and nutrition knowledge, hygiene care and pregnancy awareness and management by 06/31/21.
R3:
The Yuba County Office of Education have in place more training and exposure to the technical/vocational career opportunities available to the youths (i.e.: culinary, plumbing, electrical, military etc.), obtain brochures and other written material describing these careers and their requirements, and assist youth in obtaining further information if they want to pursue a specific goal, by 09101121.
R4:
The Sutter County Sherifls Department should place surveillance cameras in the laundry room by Jantary 1,2021. REOUIRED RESPOilSES Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the grand jury requests responses as follows: The following elected county official within 60 days: . Sutter County Sheriff: F I - F4 and Rl - R4 The following response is required within 90 days: . Sutter Cormty Board of Supervisors: Fl - F4 and Rl - R4 DISCI.AIMER Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify indfuiduals interviewed. California Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury will nol contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. Tri-County Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility and the Maxine Singer Youth Guidance Center