The Placer County Grand Jury Final Report was published June 30, taking aim at local governing agencies making sure they run with efficiency and within the letter of the law.
The Grand Jury looked into
seven issues affecting schools, cities, prisons and more. Jury Foreman Walter
Moore said the items of most concern involved Pioneer Community Energy and
Placer County’s Information Technology Department.
The grand jury’s
examination of the operational and financial complexities of Pioneer Community
Energy, a Joint Powers Authority that purchases wholesale electrical power to
be delivered by PG&E to many Placer County residents, unearthed concerns
over the agency’s financial performance, lack of permanent staffing and absence
of a comprehensive strategic plan.
The grand jury’s
investigation revealed Pioneer’s executive director serves simultaneously as
Pioneer governing board secretary and as the elected Treasurer-Tax Collector of
Placer County. Pioneer is understaffed with most work done by Treasurer-Tax
Collector Office employees or outside consultants.
“Delays in decision-making
by the Board of Directors have impacted financial performance and
organizational effectiveness,” the report stated.
The grand jury recommended
that the governing board hire a permanent executive director who is not an
elected public official. Together, the board and executive director should
identify critical resources and create a staffing plan to reduce dependence on
Placer County personnel and outside consultants. The board should create a
comprehensive strategic plan to guide its decisions for establishing stable
finances and meeting existing and future challenges.
The grand jury also
reviewed Placer County’s Department of Information Technology, which serves all
county departments on varying levels. The grand jury observed Placer County
administration’s lack of transparency in reporting the true costs of county IT
services and an accompanying inability to determine its effectiveness in use of
taxpayer funds.
“Many offices and
departments contain IT resources which are outside the view of the centralized
Department of Information Technology,” the grand jury report stated. “Because
of this, it is not possible to understand what Placer County spends on IT.”
Moore said since the
county relies on a number of “stand-alone” computer systems within the county,
it should have some “continuity” to its management.
“Proper governance of IT
would ensure full transparency of costs and effective use of taxpayer funds,”
the report stated. “Regular audits and updated processes and procedures will
safeguard both the information and the resources that the county needs to
provide services to its citizens.”
The jury recommended that
Placer County strengthen governance of its IT department and increase
transparency so “citizens have greater confidence in the use of taxpayer funds
for IT.”
Two grand jury reports
examined compliance by certain public boards and councils with recent changes in
the law that require these agencies to post direct links to public meeting
agendas on their website homepages; these two reports revealed several local
public agencies were not in full compliance with the law. The grand jury called
on Placer County Board of Supervisors and city councils of Auburn, Lincoln,
Roseville, Rocklin and Loomis to comply with the new website requirements. Four
school districts were also singled out to comply to new requirements.
The grand jury also
commended some agencies for a job well done. In its annual inspections of local
jails and holding facilities, the grand jury found most of the facilities to be
clean, well-managed and well-maintained. Inmates involved in work programs at
the Minimum Security Facility appeared highly motivated; most notably, the
women of the Placer County Jail Sewing Team (who make blankets, stuffed animals
and clothing for displaced children, as well as face masks for distribution to
the community) manifested a sense of accomplishment and outstanding community
spirit.
Moore said the agencies of
subject in their report now have 60-90 days to officially respond to the issues
highlighted. Once the responses have been collected, the grand jury will issue
another report toward the end of 2020 updating the public on these issues.
Moore highlighted the fact
that during the COVID-19 shutdown, the group of 19 grand jurors continued to
meet and get work done.
“Given the effects of the
coronavirus pandemic on community health and workplace functions, some
investigations could not be completed,” Moore said. “Despite being unable to
hold in-person meetings or interviews, however, the jurors worked diligently to
produce this year’s final report and the individual reports it comprises. It
has been my honor to serve with this outstanding group of citizens who
contributed their time, talents and experience in carrying out our charge.”
To view the final report
in its entirety, visit placergrandjury.org.
Gold Country Media
Traci Newell
July 10, 2020
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