Gran Jurado del Condado de Tuolumne
2005-2006
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
10 hallazgos
F1:
Lack of adequate information given to individuals when applying for a building permit.
F2:
Applicants were not told that the generation of a building permit may require additional permits.
F3:
The complainants were left with the impression that Building and Safety personnel either did not know the required information or that they assumed the public understood the results of requesting a building permit.
F4:
Non-uniformity exists in the interpretation of the building codes and in the implementation of these codes. Procedures The complainants agreed to appear before the investigating committee and answer in-depth questions about their complaints. Complainants were seen separately and asked to present all of the evidence they had in their possession to substantiate their complaint. Following those visits, the investigating committee visited the Building and Safety Department and spoke to Lane Manuel, the chief building official, and Bev Shane, the Director of TCCDD. At that time the committee requested a copy of all printed materials that were given to the applicants. After reviewing these materials, the committee felt that they were not designed in a manner easily understood by the general public. The committee also requested a copy of the department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs.) Bev Shane supplied a list of materials used by each section to explain to new and old employees all operating procedures. Findings After reading the complaints and interviewing the complainants, it was apparent that the Building and Safety Department personnel did not explain in detail all the information that was needed. This caused delays in getting permits and understanding the need for different permits after a project had been started. Procedures available for the use of applicants were poorly stipulated. Important information was frequently buried in the text, greatly increasing the possibility of vital information being overlooked. It was also presented during the complainants’ interviews that different inspectors had different interpretations of the codes and requirements. Further, the complainants stated that the questioning of the application of those codes and/or requirements could make a project harder to get approved. However, it was found during interviews with Ms. Shane and Mr. Manuel that some applicants did not follow the directions they were given. Conclusions and/or Recommendations It is the committee’s conclusion that most of the complaints were a result of poor communication or miscommunications between the Department and the applicants. There is an overall lack of adequate, in-depth, written instructions given to the permit seeker for both the acquisition and the application of those permits.
F5:
Violation and enforcement of encroachment codes
F6:
Engineering review and inspection services for projects under the jurisdiction of other County divisions. Duke York is the Deputy Public Works Director and coordinates projects with Tuolumne County Community Development Department (TCCDD). This accounts for about 10% of the department’s responsibilities Procedures This was a complaint driven inquiry and involved the enforcement of the encroachment codes. The first 20 feet of all encroachments (i.e. driveways) on county roads must be paved. A Grand Jury Committee met with Bev Shane, TCCDD Director; Lane Manuel, Chief Director of Building and Safety; Duke York, EDD Director; Peter Rei, Director of all eight divisions of Public Works. The complainants issues were investigated with field checks and interviews. Findings It has become a policy for the TCCDD that when a permit is applied for, on any new development, it opens the door for further review of the property using current rules. Property owners wishing to make improvements to existing property may find they incur additional costs in encroachment fees, permits and paving of their driveway encroachment. Local contractors are familiar with this policy and factor in the added costs. However, if the property owner is not using a contractor, unexpected costs may be added to the project. Encroachment issues continue to be a problem for residents of Tuolumne County. All encroachments (i.e. driveways) on county roads must be paved. The encroachment policy has been enforced due to the numerous liability claims of windshield damage caused by rocks and gravel from driveways and other hazardous conditions. Conclusions and/or Recommendations It is our recommendation that the County, from the start of any permit application, inform the applicant of all costs, including probable encroachment fees that may be applicable. All written material given to the applicant must state, in understandable and concise language, such as a checklist, what is expected of them. Full disclosure by County personnel, at the beginning of the permit process will help to reduce aggravation and stress for them and the applicants. FIRE PREVENTION Introduction and Reason for Inquiry As stated in the Tuolumne County Community Development Department (TCCDD) Annual Report, Fire Marshal Kary Hubbard, with her staff of three, analyzes the current fire risks throughout the county, endeavoring to make them less hazardous. This is done through public information forums, education, fire prevention engineering, and cooperation and code enforcement. This inquiry was not complaint driven. It was a part of an investigation into each operational component of the Tuolumne County Community Development Department. Procedures Committee members met with and interviewed Fire Marshal Kary Hubbard. Findings The Fire Marshal’s primary duties are two-fold:
F7:
Establish a smooth and logical pedestrian/patient traffic pattern with appropriate signage prepared in advance.
F8:
Patients being directed to the isolation triage need to be escorted in such a way as to minimize exposure and health risk to others
F9:
In addition, it is recommended that the Board of Supervisors perform a walk-through of the Jail at least once a year. Although the Supervisors are fully aware of the staff shortages and the short-falls in the facilities, at a minimum an annual inspection might strengthen their resolve to assist.
F10:
Assign additional personnel to the night shift cleaning crew.
Recomendaciones adicionales
10
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
Building and Safety *
R2:
Provide in-depth information at the time of permit issuance and ensure that the applicant understands what is required.
R3:
Assure that all departmental staff fully understand the codes and that these codes are interpreted uniformly.
R4:
Engineering Development Division *
R5:
Fire Prevention Bureau
R6:
Geographic Information Systems
R7:
Planning Although each of these divisions is a part of the TCCDD, each is assessed individually due to their unique responsibilities. These assessments are shown on subsequent pages, as are requests for responses where appropriate. Procedures The Committee met with Director Bev Shane and other county personnel. They also studied documents relating to these departments followed by appointments with the citizens filing the complaints.
R8:
Patients being directed to the isolation triage need to be escorted in such a way as to minimize exposure and health risk to others
R9:
In addition, it is recommended that the Board of Supervisors perform a walk-through of the Jail at least once a year. Although the Supervisors are fully aware of the staff shortages and the short-falls in the facilities, at a minimum an annual inspection might strengthen their resolve to assist.
R10:
Assign additional personnel to the night shift cleaning crew.