Title
a. Consider approval of the response to the 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke”, “Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic” and “Public Safety At What Cost” and
b. Authorize the County Administrative Officer to submit the approved response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, by August 10, 2022.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a) Consider approval of the response to the 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke”, “Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic” and “Public Safety At What Cost” and
b) Authorize the County Administrative Officer to submit the approved response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, by August 10, 2022.
SUMMARY:
The 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke” and "Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic”, and “Public Safety At What Cost” was issued in May 2022. By law, the Board of Supervisors is required to respond to specific findings and recommendations as directed therein. Within 90 days of report issuance, on or before August 10, 2022, the Board’s response must be submitted to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey.
The County Administrative Office coordinated preparation of the recommended responses to the 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke” and "Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic”, and “Public Safety At What Cost” on behalf of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors approved response should be deemed by the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury and the Judge of the Superior Court, County of Monterey, as the response of the Board of Supervisors to those issues raised by the Civil Grand Jury regarding County operations, except as applicable to elected County officials.
The recommended response is intended to reflect staffs’ understanding of Board policy. Should the Board wish to make significant modifications to the recommended responses, the Board is requested to direct the County Administrative Officer to do so and return with those changes at the July 26, 2022 Board of Supervisors meeting.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office coordinated preparation of the recommended responses to the 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke” and "Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic”, and “Public Safety At What Cost”. Principal authors of the draft responses were the following County departments or programs: Cannabis Program, Economic Development Program, Health Department, Office of Emergency Services, Budget Office, Emergency Communications, and County Counsel. Staff who participated in drafting the proposed County responses will be available should the Board have specific questions or direction regarding the draft responses. The Sheriff, as an independently elected official, previously submitted his response to the Presiding Judge regarding the Civil Grand Jury report entitled Public Safety At What Cost”. The Sheriff’s response is attached for the Board’s information.
Members of the 2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury were invited to attend the Board of Supervisors hearing on this matter.
FINANCING:
There are no fiscal impacts to the General Fund with associated with this report.
Approved by:
Nicholas E. Chiulos
Assistant County Administrative Officer
Date: July 12, 2022
Attachments:
2021 - 2022 Monterey County Civil Grand Jury Final Report - “Monterey County’s Cannabis Industry Up in Smoke” and “Monterey County's Initial Response to Covid -19 Pandemic”, and “Public Safety At What Cost” Response Reports.
Sheriff’s Office response to Presiding Judge re “Public Safety At What Cost”
cc:
Charles McKee, County Administrative Officer
Les Girard, County Counsel
Susan Blitch, Chief Asst County Counsel
Elsa Jimenez, Health Director
Gerry Malais, OES Manager
Joann Iwamoto, Cannabis Program Manager
Richard Vaughn, Economic Development Manager
Ezequiel Vega, Budget Director
Lee Ann Magoski, Emergency Communications Director
Steve Bernal, Sheriff
John Mineau, Undersheriff
James Bass, Chief Deputy Sheriff, Sheriff-Coroner