Oct. 1—The Sutter County Board of Supervisors filed responses last week to the findings of the 2020/21 Grand Jury related to Sutter County Fire and Emergency Services and the Gray Avenue property.
The
Grand Jury made five recommendations regarding the Sutter County Fire and
Emergency Services. The grand jury recommended the board direct staff to
identify a sufficient permanent funding source of funding for each fire
jurisdiction in the county that maintains pace with rising population,
increased number of structures, equipment costs, optimal manning, salaries
comparable to neighboring counties, and workers' compensation insurance costs
before the end of fiscal year 2022/23.
Supervisors
said the recommendation had not been implemented yet but will be by the 2022/23
timeframe. Staff estimate funding sources will be identified by June 2022. The
county has established a Fire Services Ad Hoc Committee to address the
financial situation within the fire department and research possible solutions
including an increase to the existing special fire tax, a new property-based
tax assessment to cover all areas covered by Sutter County Fire and a possible
sales tax measure. Sutter Fire received a FEMA SAFER grant for additional staff
and will reapply in 2022.
The
second recommendation was for the board to immediately find or create alternate
revenue streams such as recouping costs from motor vehicle accidents involving
commercial and reckless or impaired drivers. In their response, supervisors
said the recommendation will be implemented by Dec. 1. Sutter County Fire
presented an ordinance to the board to address cost recovery from motor vehicle
accidents. The ordinance will not have a direct financial impact on the public
as the fees are already paid by auto insurance policies of those involved in
at-fault accidents.
The
grand jury recommended that the board start a planned campaign to educate the
public on the need to increase the amount and scope of the special fire tax to
include the reset of the county and to include a cost-of-living adjustment for
the next open election cycle. The board said this recommendation will be
implemented by April 2022. Once it is confirmed what action will be taken to
secure needed funds, county staff will schedule town hall meetings to discuss
the financial situation of the department.
Fourth,
the grand jury recommended that the county administrative officer (CAO) develop
and institute a viable capital improvement plan for firefighting equipment in
Sutter County before the end of fiscal year 2022/23. Supervisors said this has
already commenced with the adoption of the recent 2021/22 budget and will be
completed by the end fiscal year 2022/23. Funding issues for the fire
department need to be resolved before any capital improvement plan can be
viable, according to the board's responses.
Finally,
jurors recommended the board of supervisors direct staff to work with the Local
Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) for consolidating all county service areas
(CSAs) and fire protection districts into one that is run by one paid fire
chief by the end of fiscal year 2022/23. The board said this has not been
implemented but a related municipal services review process of CSAs F,C and D
has begun. The review is being done to prepare for the Sutter Pointe Phase One
Response Plan.
Gray Avenue property
The
grand jury provided four recommendations about the former Kmart location at 850
Gray Ave., Yuba City, that has been vacant for the last seven years. The county
plan is to consolidate and house the Health and Human Services Department
personnel and equipment onto this property.
It
was recommended that the board of supervisors oversee the CAO to create a policy
that provides guidance and procedures for efficient leasing, purchasing,
management and disposal of property to be completed in 120 days.
"This
recommendation will not be implemented," supervisors said in response.
"It may be beneficial to adopt a policy regarding leasing, but subjecting
transactions to a 120-day limitation may not be realistic as every transaction
is different."
The
second recommendation from the grand jury was completed as the purchase of the
building is complete. Third, jurors recommended the CAO work through the
Department of Development Services to complete the renovation of the facility
and relocation of HHS by the summer of 2025. The supervisors said this will not
be implemented. The response said the cost of building materials and labor has
made construction under the current plan cost prohibitive. County staff is
working to revise the design and layout of space to incorporate post-pandemic
work environments.
"The
timeline suggested by the grand jury may not be feasible given current
construction conditions," the supervisors' response read.
Finally,
the grand jury recommended supervisors request the CAO provide semi-annual
reports on financing, expenditures, renovation and relocation progress
beginning six months after the close of escrow. The board of supervisors said
the recommendation will be implemented and that bi-annual reports will be
provided to supervisors beginning this December.
To
access the full grand jury report and responses, visit suttercourts.com.
Appeal-Democrat
David Wilson
October 1, 2021
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