Yuba County Grand Jury
2005-2006
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The Yuba County Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development office have no specific plan to effectively increase commerce within the Linda, Olivehurst, and Plumas Lake areas.
F2:
The Yuba County Board of Supervisors does not sufficiently fund the Economic Development Office to enable it to effectively attract new consumer services, retail business; or to attract new industries and commerce to the Yuba County Rancho Road Industrial and Commercial Park.
F3:
Poor communication has lead to the hiring of outside attorneys at additional cost to Yuba County.
F4:
Documentation indicates that the Yuba County Board of Supervisors received legally questionable advice on budgetary matters (see letter to BOS, Attachment 11.)
F5:
At present, the INS Jail Bed Revenue Sharing MOU is out of date. Its dollar values expressed are from the 1995 contract. It shows no review by the Sheriff or the Board of Supervisors. The terms of the MOU are not being followed. Specifically, the division of funds and the use of the Sheriff’s share to provide “Allocation for Sheriff’s Department for additional personnel, safety equipment and fixed assets.…” In addition, the MOU indicates that these revenues are to be used at the end of the fiscal year and are not to replace the Sheriff’s annual budget (Attachments 12A and 12B.) Further, there is indication that the Yuba County Board of Supervisors is using the moneys to supplant the Sheriff’s current year budget (Attachments 13 and 14.)
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development office should develop a specific plan to effectively increase commerce within the Linda, Olivehurst, and Plumas Lake areas as well as a plan to promote economic development within the Yuba County Research and Development Park and the Yuba County Rancho Road Industrial and Commercial Park.
R2:
The Board of Supervisors should fund additional officers for Sheriff’s Department to provide traffic patrols.
R3:
When funds are transferred, adequate notice should be provided to all parties.
R4:
The Board of Supervisors needs to review and update the INS Jail Bed Revenue Sharing MOU.
R5:
The Board of Supervisors needs to review the annual budget to ensure that monies budgeted are from and for the current year.
R6:
The 2005-2006 Grand Jury should investigate the Yuba County Administration Office, The County Administrator, and follow-up on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors to ensure corrections of errors noted.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The county administrator failed to cooperate with the Grand Jury.
F2:
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the sheriff and BOS concerning the Jail Bed Fund that was addressed by the 2004-2005 Grand Jury Final Report is still out of date and not being followed (see Attachment 3, 4 and 5, pages 68-77.)
F3:
The BOS agreed the handling of the $500,000 reduction of the sheriff’s budget was not perfect.
F4:
Although the BOS does not control the expenditures of the sheriff’s budget, they do control the number of authorized county employees including deputy sheriffs.
F5:
The BOS does have a strategic plan in place but they do not have a plan to allocate people and resources to achieve the goals in the strategic plan (implementation plan.)
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The 2006-2007 Grand Jury should investigate the county administrators’ office. Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 14 This page intentionally left blank. Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 15 Board of Supervisors
R2:
The Jail Bed Fund MOU should be updated and followed (see Attachment 3, -69.) Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 17
R3:
The new county administrator and the BOS need to communicate with the individual county departments when making budget transfers or changes.
R4:
The BOS should adjust the budget and increase the number of deputy sheriffs required based upon population growth and number of calls responded to.
R5:
Along with the strategic plan, the BOS needs an Implementation plan.
Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
Municipal district reviews have not been done.
F2:
LAFCO’s policies and procedures, website information, and publicly available materials need to be reviewed for accuracy and compliance with state laws.
F3:
The Yuba County LAFCO board does not contain representation from independent service areas.
Additional Recommendations
7
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Board of Supervisors LAFCO Recommendations 2, 3
R1A:
LAFCO should start as soon as practicable to review all municipal districts within Yuba County.
R1B:
Obtain funding and contract with an independent inspector to perform the required municipal reviews.
R1C:
While reviewing the municipal districts a review and update of their Sphere of Influence should be completed.
R2:
LAFCO should review and update its policies and procedures, website, and publicly available materials to ensure accuracy and compliance with changes in California law.
R3A:
Contact independent service areas so they can appoint two members to sit on the LAFCO board as required by law
R3B:
Conduct a review of all service areas to establish if they are needed and the possibility of being effectively combined with other service areas to provide better service at lower cost to Yuba County citizens. This review should include all service areas, with special focus on water drainage districts, utility districts, and water districts. Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 21 Required Response to Findings and Recommendations
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
Officer Hauck is Marysville Police Department’s expert in the red light camera systems, but all his time is spent administering this system and making reports.
F2:
Wheatland has no “benefit package” for its city employees.
F3:
There is a need for public safety dispatcher.
F4:
The sewer lines do not meet the current usage needs.
F5:
Traffic light at Highway 65 and 1st Street is not completed as proposed.
Additional Recommendations
5
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Use non-sworn law enforcement personnel for the task of administrating the red light camera systems.
R2:
The City of Marysville should consider the possibility of installing more red light camera systems in other locations.
R3:
The Board of Supervisors should consider installing red light camera systems at several locations, including North Beale Road and Hammonton-Smartville Road, Lindhurst and North Beale, and several other possible locations.
R4:
The increased workload to the Yuba County Superior Court needs to be addressed. One possible solution is for the City of Marysville to fund one court employee and the county to fund one court employee if they install red light camera systems in the county. The State of California legislators should be advised because if the system proves viable in Marysville, several other cities in California will install these systems as well. /// Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 6 Required Responses to Finding and Recommendations
R5:
The traffic light has in the past been funded by individuals and grants (as noted in 2004-2005 Grand Jury Report) but there is no fund tracking of its usage. An investigation of these funds should be conducted and the traffic light needs should be funded and installed by the start of the 2006 fall school term.
Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
The executive director was on medical leave but still receiving full pay pursuant to current policy covering long term illness.
F2:
Notice of meeting dates, times, locations, and agendas were not posed in all effected counties.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
Follow guidelines of the Brown Act and post meetings.
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Findings & Recommendations
2 findings
F1:
4x4’s and dirt bikes that use this part of the levee cause excessive erosion to the levees.
F2:
Levee repairs should be monitored through inspections, and an investigation should be conducted to identify the cause of the damage to improve repairs, identify better repair methods, provide information on how to prevent these occurrences in the future.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Since this is a concern to everyone living in the levee area, stricter enforcement of levee usage should be implemented.
Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.
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Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The PWD should consider the use of alternative energy sources (such as bio-diesel and solar energy).
F2:
The PWD has developed and published a Five Year Roadway System Master Plan. This plan includes a financial analysis section that appears to be extremely dependent upon grant funding from the State of California and the federal government, but the PWD does not have a full-time grant writer or even a grant- writer position. The PWD did have a full-time grant-writer but the county chose to eliminate this position.
F3:
Updating and unifying the fragmented storm water drainage system plans would greatly enhance the public health and safety of the residents of the south Yuba County area.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
The PWD needs a full-time grant-writer position.
R3:
The PWD, in coordination with all affected agencies and special districts, should develop, update, and maintain a unified master storm water drainage plan for south Yuba County.
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
The 2004-2005 Grand Jury Final Report pointed out that many individuals who paid their fees have not been annexed by the YCWD, some for over 20 years. At a recent meeting, the YCWD’s legal counsel suggested returning the money these individuals. This type of action does not consider the people who have paid their fees in good faith, or the loss of interest or devaluation of their money.
F2:
The YCWD may potentially be violating the rights of the non-annexed individuals.
F3:
The 2005-2006 Yuba County Grand Jury Special District members have noted three members talking among themselves. They appear to be conducting “Serial Meetings” which would be in violation of the Brown Act. (Potential violations of the Brown Act were also noted in the 2004-2005 Grand Jury Final Report.)
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The YCWD must annex these individuals.
R3:
The YCWD board should comply with all provisions of the Brown Act.
R4:
The Yuba County District Attorney’s office should investigate the YCWD for potential wrongdoing, in cooperation with the 2006- 2007 Grand Jury.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
Of concern is the confidentiality of the detainees while being transported in restraints to the contracted dentist. Of further concern is the possible exacerbation of dental problems by not providing basic, preventive dental care at the YSJH facility.
F2:
The committee was highly impressed with the skills and attitudes of the staff, the condition of the facilities and the programs offered. The detainees were clean, well-nourished, cooperative and respectful of staff and the Grand Jury.
F3:
The detainees and staff demonstrated exceptional motivation and effort in recycling an abandoned arena from Yuba County Friday Night Live, a federal, county and state-funded juvenile recreation program within the community, for their own use.
F4:
The procedure for obtaining a new prescription for psychiatric or psychotropic medication is complicated and slows the treatment time for patients who need them.
F5:
These facilities lose skilled and motivated staff to other county facilities that offer higher pay and benefit packages.
Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Consider the practicality of hiring a part-time dentist for preventive dental care, thus encouraging proper dental care, reducing dental emergencies and eliminating the problem of confidentiality of the detainees.
R4:
The Grand Jury would like to see a change to the system that would expedite the process without risking the well-being and safety of the detainees.
R5:
Continue with the BOS’s efforts to implement “Pay Banding” in order to stop the loss of skilled and motivated staff.
R6:
The BOS should provide much deserved recognition to the staff of the YSJH complex. Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report 43 Required Responses to Findings and Recommendations