The most recent Shasta County report grand jury report slams the
operations of LAFCO over past failures to meet deadlines and poorly managed
staffing.
The report, subtitled No Laughing Matter, recognizes the Local
Agency Formation Commission as an independent watchdog agency that overlooks
city and special district boundaries. But the report also said difficulties
with past officers in the agency have led to lawsuits and complaints filed with
the California Labor Board.
The last several years have been tumultuous for the agency, with
a change in its staffing roster, a marathon blitz to complete mandatory studies
and a lack of oversight for its staff.
From 2001 to 2012 the agency did not complete any of its
mandatory reviews of special districts or municipal services in the county. The
reviews require updating every five years for each entity, which includes
sewer, water and fire districts.
LAFCO staff raced to complete about 50 reviews and finished
early last year, summarized the report.
Completing the special district reviews depleted the LAFCO
budget, requiring the agency to reduce staff and business hours.
The grand jury report said this reduction in hours shows the
agency "is not fulfilling its purposes and programs. This is evidenced by
frustrations voiced by City of Anderson staff in dealing with Shasta LAFCO
during its recent land annexation" and the grand jury also ran into delays
when it requested documents.
Current Executive Office George Williamson, who took the
position earlier this year as a consultant, said many of the issues raised in
the report are in the process of being addressed by the agency and its staff.
Observations and recommendations from the grand jury report will
be considered and the report will be addressed at a regular meeting on
Thursday.
Other recommendations from the report include a review of the
executive officer's performance and a revision of the budget to bring back
staffing levels so the agency can resume normal businesses hours.
Also, the agency could establish a fee to charge for review
updates. The agency could also revise its fee schedule, which has not been
updated since 2013, according to the report.
In April commissioners with LAFCO approved a fiscal budget that
projects a remaining balance of $24,000 in the next two fiscal years. That
money is expected to go back into its services.
"Shasta LAFCO appreciates the role of the grand jury in
reviewing and making recommendations on local government matters, including the
operations of this agency," said Williamson in an email.
May 29, 2015
Redding Record Searchlight
By Nathan Solis
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