Title
a. Consider approval of responses to the 2022/23 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report, which includes four reports that require responses from the Board of Supervisors: Public Guardian the Final Helping Hand: A Mandate to Care; Noise Ordinance: Sleepless in Monterey County; Human Resources, Help Wanted: A Speedier Way to Hire; and, Monterey County Coroner's Office: A Matter of Life and Death; and,
b. Authorize the County Administrative Officer to submit the approved responses to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, by August 10, 2023. (ADDED VIA ADDENDA)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a) Consider approval of responses to the 2022/23 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report, which includes four reports that require responses from the Board of Supervisors: Public Guardian the Final Helping Hand: A Mandate to Care; Noise Ordinance: Sleepless in Monterey County; Human Resources, Help Wanted: A Speedier Way to Hire; and, Monterey County Coroner's Office: A Matter of Life and Death; and,
b) Authorize the County Administrative Officer to submit the approved responses to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, by August 10, 2023.
SUMMARY:
The 2022/23 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) Final Report (Report) was issued in May 2023 and includes four reports that require responses from the Board of Supervisors. Pursuant to Penal Code, section 933(c), the Board of Supervisors, as the governing body, is required to respond to specific findings and recommendations as directed therein. Within 90 days of report issuance, on or before August 10, 2023, the Board’s response must be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey.
The County Administrative Office coordinated the preparation of the recommended responses to the Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations in accordance to Penal Code, section 933.05, to the four reports that require responses from the Board of Supervisors:
• Public Guardian the Final Helping Hand: A Mandate to Care; Noise Ordinance;
• Sleepless in Monterey County;
• Human Resources, Help Wanted: A Speedier Way to Hire; and,
• Monterey County Coroner's Office: A Matter of Life and Death.
The approved responses to issues raised by the Grand Jury regarding the County’s operations, except for those reports involving other elected County officials, should be deemed by the Grand Jury and the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, as the response of the Board.
The recommended responses are intended to reflect staffs’ understanding of Board policy. Should the Board wish to modify the recommended responses, the Board may direct the County Administrative Officer to do so and return with those changes at the July 18, 2023 meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office coordinated preparation of the recommended responses to the four reports within the Report that required responses from the Board. with assistance and input of the Housing and Community Development, Health Department, Human Resource Department, Social Services Department, County Administrative Office - Contracts Purchasing Division, Sheriff’s Office and County Counsel’s Office.
The Sheriff, as an elected official, submits responses directly to the Presiding Judge; however, the Sheriff’s responses to are attached to this Board report for informational purposes.
Members of the 2022/23 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury have been invited to attend the Board meeting on this matter.
FINANCING:
There are no fiscal impacts to the General Fund associated with approval of the responses to the Grand Jury; however, it is possible that there could be budgetary implications with the implementation of various recommendations of the Grand jury.
Approved by:
Nicholas E. Chiulos
Assistant County Administrative Officer Date: July 5, 2023
Attachments:
• Responses to the four reports (4)
• Reports requiring Board responses (4)
• Sheriff’s Office response
cc:
Sonia M. De La Rosa, County Administrative Officer
Les Girard, County Counsel
Sandra Ontiveros, Administrative Operations Manager, County Counsel
Elsa Jimenez, Director of Health Services/Public Administrator/Public Guardian Lori Medina, Director of Social Services
Juan P. Rodriguez, Equal Opportunity Officer
Craig Spencer, Director of Housing and Community Development Irma Ramirez-Bough, Director of Human Resources
Tina Nieto, Sheriff, Sheriff-Coroner Prepared by: Maegan Ruiz-Ignacio