To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Marissa Montenegro 707-565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Response to the 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve the Board of Supervisors response to the 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report recommendations, and direct staff to formally transmit Sonoma County’s complete set of responses to the 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report findings and recommendations.
end
Executive Summary:
Each year the Civil Grand Jury completes a Final Report on its investigations of potential issues in local government agencies. The 2021-22 Grand Jury Final Report was presented to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on June 20, 2022. The Final Report included various findings and recommendations that require response from the Board of Supervisors within 90 days, or no later than September 18, 2022. Once approved, the full set of responses to the 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report will be transmitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
Discussion:
Under California Law, Civil Grand Jury’s exercise oversight of local government agencies, including counties, cities, and special districts. They do so by investigating issues that are either brought to their attention through citizen complaints or are selected by the Grand Jury members and issuing reports on their findings and recommendations.
The 2021-22 Grand Jury Final Report was presented to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on June 20, 2020. The Final Report included various findings and recommendations that require response from the Board of Supervisors within 90 days, or no later than September 18, 2022. Once approved, the full set of responses to the 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report will be transmitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
The Grand Jury has requested responses from the County of Sonoma to the following reports:
Report: Affordable Housing: Monitoring and Compliance
Required County Responses:
• Sonoma County Community Development Commission
Report: Affordable Housing: Past, Present and Future
Required County Responses:
• Permit Sonoma
Report: Department of Health Services
Required County Responses:
• County Administrator's Office
• Department of Health Services
• Human Resources Department
• Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Report: What Happens When the Grand Jury Make Recommendations?
Required County Responses:
• Permit Sonoma
• Sonoma Water
Department responses were submitted directly to Honorable Judge Averill by August 19, 2022 and courtesy copies have been provided to Supervisorial Districts. These responses, which come from the departments and do not require Board approval, were due within 60 days of the full consolidated report being published. The department responses that were submitted are attached.
Once approved, the full set of responses to the 2021-22 Grand Jury Report will be transmitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court.
The full reports are available online at: <http://sonoma.courts.ca.gov/info/administration/grand-jury/GJ-2021-2022>.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
The Board responds annually to the Civil Grand Jury Report.
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
None
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Board of Supervisors Response
County Department Response
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None