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Grand Jury Hub

Tuolumne County Civil Grand Jury

2023-2024: from findings to follow-through

Overview

Explore the jury’s recommendations, read matching agency responses, and join the discussion. Everything in this cycle is connected to its original source.

Recommendations & responses

Every recommendation made by the jury, with matching agency responses alongside it.

Recommendations & responses

Showing 36 of 36 recommendations

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County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions

10 recommendations

Recommendation R1

Within nine months, Public Works should revise the CSA policy manual for Board of Supervisor approval. In this revision consider ways to reduce overhead expenses, if possible. In addition, create a policy for the review of the policy manual every 10 years. (F1)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

Within nine months, Public Works should add procedures for dissolving CSAs, those with and without ad valorem to the policy manual including consideration of how to notify prospective buyers that there is no entity responsible for road maintenance.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

Within six months, Public Works should Develop a complaint system with a corresponding policy. for approval by the Board of Supervisors. (F3)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R4

Within nine months, Public Works should increase transparency and accountability by specify that the yearly report include the previous year’s expenditures for review and approval by the Board of Supervisors. (F4)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R5

Within five months, the BOS staff should create a binder of policies for each BOS member to serve as a reference. Include the CSA policy in that binder. (F5)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R6

Within nine months, Public Works should re-evaluate the engineering report for effectiveness, state the purpose of the report and align the structure to that purpose for review and approval by the Board of Supervisors. (Finding 6)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R7

Within nine months, Public Works should set a review frequency for the engineering report based on some measure of need for review and approval by the Board of Supervisors. (Finding 7)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R8

By the next BOS training for new members, the BOS should include all the entities where the BOS is the governing body in that training. (F8)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R9

Within three months, the Finance Committee of the Board of Supervisors should establish a practice to review the county audit each year within eight weeks of its release and make recommendations to the board on that audit if indicated as a local review independent of county administration. (F9)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 16

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R10

Within the next nine months, LAFCO should do Sphere of Influence (SOI) analysis that addresses any other landowners who may primarily use the CSA roads for access and expand the CSA to include those parcels. (F10)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 17

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

County Jail

3 recommendations

Recommendation R1

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury recommends that communication with the Board of Supervisors ensures competitive wages and benefits hiring and retention of staff. (F1 and F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury urges the County Jail to continue offering hiring bonuses, to increase future applications. (F1 and F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury recommends regular maintenance and system updates performed on the HVAC systems and generators to ensure maximum performance. (F3)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

Juvenile Detention Facility

3 recommendations

Recommendation R1

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury recommends a plan be put in place to accommodate additional youth in our facility. Possibly by partnering with more neighboring counties to run closer to capacity. (F1 and F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 9

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury recommends that the Mother Lode Juvenile Detention Facility offer similar employment incentives to those at the jail. (F1)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 9

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

The Tuolumne County Grand Jury recommends that the Mother Lode Juvenile Detention Facility acquire a new advanced camera security system with recording and audio capabilities.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 9

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center

4 recommendations

Recommendation R1

The Grand Jury recommends that Tuolumne County Administration and the Board of Supervisors identify sources of funding to either locate an alternative site for the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center or renovate the Tuolumne County Sheriff Justice Center to meet current and future needs. (F1)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

The Grand Jury recommends that Tuolumne County Administration creates a more conducive working environment to attract and retain sheriff dispatchers including a more functional and safer dispatch workroom, a suitable breakroom, and a more acceptable restroom for the 20 dispatch center employees. (F1, F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

The Grand Jury recommends that the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s department increases the number of full-time dispatchers on staff. (F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R4

The Grand Jury recommends a more aggressive approach to attracting potential dispatchers by collaborating with Columbia College to offer courses and certification for public service dispatch. (F2)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission

8 recommendations

Recommendation R1

Tuolumne County LAFCO commissioners and Tuolumne County leadership and staff should fully assist and expedite the proposed move from County-staff provided support to a contract with an outside agency or firm. Any support staffing continuing to remain provided by County-staff should be subject to a formal contract between LAFCO and Tuolumne County. (Findings 8, 6, 5.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

Tuolumne County LAFCO website needs improvements in order to make it easier to locate and find minutes, identify commissioners, list and status of all districts subject to LAFCO, current and previous budgets, and any other information necessary to make LAFCO more transparent and accountable (Finding 1.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

Tuolumne County LAFCO staff should prepare a realistic schedule to review and update all Sphere of Influence (SOI) and Municipal Service Reviews (MSR) for all districts that have not been so updated within the last 5 years. Once approved by LAFCO, that schedule of progress should be available for all to view on the LAFCO website and updated at least twice per year. (Finding 4.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R4

All decisions regarding personnel responsible for staff support for LAFCO, including but not limited to Executive Officer, Assistant Executive Officer, and Legal Counsel, should be at the discretion of LAFCO commissioners after careful consideration of experience, cost-effectiveness, and subject to at least one interview with LAFCO or an ad-hoc committee determined by LAFCO. (Finding 6.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 20

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R5

Tuolumne County LAFCO should budget for participation by commissioners and staff in formal education opportunities such as CALAFCO conferences. LAFCO staff should provide local workshops for new commissioners to attend to introduce them to LAFCO laws and practices. These should also be advertised on the website and open to the public to attend at no cost. (Findings 2, 8.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 20

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R6

Tuolumne County LAFCO annual budgets should include a contribution to a reserve fund to be carried over from year to year. In a year when the estimated budget contributions are not fully expended, those remaining contributions should roll to the reserve fund. (Finding 3.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 20

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R7

Tuolumne County LAFCO should complete an update of Policy and Procedures Manual as soon as possible. Any detail necessary to remove ambiguities about how and when the Special Districts Selection Committee determines the succession of representatives from the special districts to the two Commission seats should be addressed in that update. Orientation for new commissioners should take place immediately after their appointment, and understanding the Policy and Procedures Manual should be a point of emphasis during all orientation and subsequent training. (Findings 2, 7.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 20

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R8

Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors should encourage multiple year assignments of the Supervisors to the role of LAFCO commissioner, in the interest of providing more knowledgeable and experienced members of the Commission. (Finding 9.)

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 20

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Transit Agency

8 recommendations

Recommendation R1

The TCTA Executive Director should develop and implement TCTA goals and objectives, and a yearly process to analyze if the desired results are being met.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R2

The TCTA Executive Director and the TCTA Board of Directors should meet with Tuolumne County Office of County Counsel and the Office of Human Resources and Risk Management to ensure all agencies are working in concert.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R3

After developing Public Information goals and objectives, the TCTA should either assign employees to the Public Information system or contract for such services.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R4

TCTA and the TCTA Board of Directors should establish a written Citizen Complaint procedure. Upon establishing a Citizen Complaint procedure, TCTA should ensure that the process is known to the public by, at a minimum, posting information on the web, on social media sites, on buses, at bus stops, and on brochures. TCTA should also release yearly statistics to the public concerning the number, type, and outcome of complaints.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R5

TCTA should take actions it deems appropriate to ensure Storer begins and continues to provide all reports that are required by their contract with TCTA.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R6

TCTA should either sanction Storer for failing to meet the 95% on-time Performance Standard to improve Storer’s performance, or TCTA and Storer should negotiate a change in this Performance Standard to a more realistic figure.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R7

TCTA and the TCTA Board of Directors should institute a formal on-boarding procedure for new TCTA Board members that covers the history of the agency, TCTA differences with Tuolumne County Transportation Council and the Tuolumne County Transportation Council Board, functions of the Agency, contract specifics, and the role of both the board and TCTA Executive Director.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Recommendation R8

The TCTA Board of Directors should direct the Executive Director to establish a written “Transition Plan” to allow the agency to function efficiently when the current Executive Director leaves the position. This “Transition Plan” should include goals, objectives, policies, and procedures that will enhance agency operations and memorialize corporate knowledge.

No response recorded

View recommendation and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 14

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Findings

The jury’s formal findings, with source citations and any recorded responses.

Findings & responses

Showing 34 of 34 findings

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County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions

10 findings

Finding F1

The policy manual was last updated in 1992 and some of the policies no longer reflect current operations. As such, the manual is outdated, which undermines its authority and utility.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

The policy manual does not address the dissolving of CSAs. A process was specified in 2009 when members voted on CSA continuation, but it had not been approved by the BOS.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F3

The policy manual does not address the process to be followed when Public Works receives a complaint from a property owner within a CSA. Responses to landowner’s complaints can affect the economic viability of the CSA. Yet there is no specification of what is an emergency action and what can wait for approval the following year.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F4

The policy manual does not specify providing the actual expenses to the members of the CSA and does not break out the cost of overhead separately from the cost of the work. This prevents accountability and is a lack of transparency.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F5

The Board of Supervisors members interviewed, part of the governing body, did not know about the policy manual.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F6

With increasing revenues and no increases in expenses over the 20 years covered, the engineering report does not always provide the information needed to ensure sustainable operations.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F7

The engineering report has never been updated every five years. The timing specified for the report is clearly not workable or cost effective.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F8

Supervisors were not trained on CSAs even though they are the governing board for them.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F9

The Board of Supervisors does not review the results of the county audit leaving no accountability at the county level.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F10

LAFCO has not reviewed Sphere of Influence for CSAs in the last five year which doesn’t allow for reassessment of non-contributors. Those benefiting from a CSA regularly should be members of that CSA.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · PDF page 15

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

County Jail

3 findings

Finding F1

The Jail is currently short-staffed resulting in the need for on-duty deputies to preform transports.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

Additionally, at the time of the tour, the jail was short a booking nurse and a full-time registered nurse. There is a resource issue when it comes to hiring reliable and experienced candidates in Tuolumne County.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F3

HVAC system failures for heating and cooling the facility and backup generators only last so many hours when power goes out. This allows for hot or cold temperatures in the jail depending on the time of year.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 7

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

Juvenile Detention Facility

2 findings

Finding F1

The Juvenile Detention Facility is understaffed, making it difficult to accommodate more juveniles when necessary.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 9

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

The Juvenile Detention Facility currently only runs around 50% capacity, our facility is very nice, and it would be a useful resource for your other troubled juveniles to use this facility. Many other counties do not have Juvenile Detention Facilities and could benefit from having access to ours.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · PDF page 9

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center

2 findings

Finding F1

The Tuolumne County Sheriff Dispatch Center has many well-documented structural deficiencies that render the facility unable to meet current and future electrical, technological and safety needs.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s dispatch center is recruiting and hiring relief dispatchers and trainees. However, the dispatch center continues to be understaffed.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · PDF page 13

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission

9 findings

Finding F1

The Tuolumne County LAFCO website fails to provide information that is commonly provided by other county LAFCO websites, which includes the following deficiencies: No adopted budget summaries are available No roster of LAFCO commissioners including some form of contact information and when current term expires. No identification of key support personnel including Executive Officer and Legal Counsel No Approved Minutes documents available for review No list, description, or map of special districts subject to LAFCO review and authority.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 18

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

Tuolumne County LAFCO commissioners are not given adequate preparation or orientation when assuming role as commissioners. For example, Commissioners have served without being provided with the Policy and Procedures Manual. Some did not know such a Manual existed or was statutorily required.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 18

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F3

LAFCO has no reserve fund as contributions for each fiscal year are based on actual expenditures with no carry over for the next fiscal year.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 18

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F4

While Sphere of Influence maps and Municipal Service Review updates were proposed in the FY 2019-2020 budget work plan, to catch-up to the standard 5-year review cycle, most of the updates have not been completed. As such, there are a total of 35 districts that have had no SOI or MSR updates in over 11 years.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 18

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F5

LAFCO staff support can be provided by County staff; however, it must be under a contractual agreement. There is no contract between Tuolumne County LAFCO and Tuolumne County, which is a violation of state law requirements.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 18

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F6

LAFCOs have the right to appoint and assign staff to support their activities. However, Tuolumne County has made personnel assignments to LAFCO staff without consulting commissioners. These assignments have not always been in the interest in maintaining continuity or accomplishing LAFCO goals.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

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Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F7

One of the special district seats on LAFCO is to be available to multiple different special districts who provide funding for LAFCO, and that seat is subject to vote of the special districts every four years through a Special District Selection Committee. A vote took place that was not in compliance with the state requirements and only a small number of eligible districts participated. However, that decision was accepted by LAFCO, and that commissioner will have that seat until 2026. The majority of eligible special districts lost their opportunity to decide who represents them on LAFCO.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F8

Present staffing levels and expertise of Tuolumne County employees are inadequate to provide necessary and cost-effective support for LAFCO.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F9

Annual assignments of Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors to the LAFCO commissioner and alternate commissioner roles have fluctuated among different Supervisors every year and does not provide continuity based on experience in the role of commissioner.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · PDF page 19

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Tuolumne County Transit Agency

8 findings

Finding F1

The TCTA does not have clearly defined Goals and Objectives or a process to analyze if the desired results are being met.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F2

When TCTA was formed many administrative tasks were left incomplete, causing ambiguity concerning legal and human resources matters.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F3

The current TCTA Public Information function is in poor condition.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F4

TCTA does not have a written Citizen Complaint Procedure.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F5

Storer Transportation Services (Storer) has failed to provide the bi-yearly summary reports required by their contract with TCTA.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F6

Storer consistently fails to meet the 95% on-time Performance Standard required by their contract with TCTA.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F7

TCTA Board members have an inadequate knowledge of the role and functions of the TCTA Board.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Finding F8

TCTA has very few written goals, objectives, policies, and procedures. Much of the “corporate knowledge” of TCTA operations is merely stored in the Executive Director’s mind.

No response recorded

View finding and responses

Jury report: Tuolumne County Transit Agency · PDF page 13

Permanent link
Official responses
No response recorded
A matching agency response has not been added to Grand Jury Hub. This does not establish whether a response was submitted or is overdue.

Questions

Editorial discussion prompts inspired by the reports. These are separate from the jury’s formal findings and recommendations.

Civic question

What should an updated County Service Area policy manual say about periodic review, overhead costs, and dissolution of a road-maintenance district?

The report finds that the CSA policy manual had not been updated since 1992 and did not address dissolution, and recommends revising it, considering overhead reductions, adding dissolution procedures, and establishing a ten-year review cycle.
Why this matters
Current written rules can make decisions more consistent, preserve institutional knowledge, and clarify what property owners should expect if a district is dissolved.

Supporting report

County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations - Policy Manual

Civic question

How should annual CSA reports and a written complaint process show property owners what was spent and why work was authorized?

The report finds no specified complaint process and says annual reporting did not provide prior-year actual expenses or separate overhead from work costs. It recommends a complaint policy and inclusion of prior-year expenditures in the yearly report.
Why this matters
Shared information about costs and service requests can help property owners evaluate budgets and understand how limited road-maintenance funds are used.

Supporting report

County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations - Policy Manual

Civic question

What costs, assumptions, and review triggers should CSA engineering reports use to test whether long-term road plans are financially sustainable?

The report finds that engineering reports did not always provide information needed to test sustainability and that the prescribed review timing was not workable. It recommends clarifying their purpose and setting a review frequency tied to need.
Why this matters
Realistic projections can help communities anticipate rising maintenance costs before a district lacks enough money for major road work.

Supporting report

County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations - Engineering Report

Civic question

What budgets, minutes, maps, district information, and progress updates should residents be able to find on the LAFCO website?

The report identifies missing or difficult-to-find public information on the LAFCO website and recommends easier access to minutes, commissioner information, district status, budgets, and other material needed for transparency and accountability.
Why this matters
Accessible information helps residents understand an agency whose decisions shape local services and district boundaries.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

How should LAFCO prioritize overdue Sphere of Influence and Municipal Service Reviews and report progress to the public?

The report finds that 35 districts had gone more than 11 years without updated reviews and recommends a realistic schedule for reviews more than five years old, with public progress updates at least twice each year.
Why this matters
A visible schedule can focus limited capacity on the most overdue work and show whether service boundaries and municipal services are being reviewed systematically.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

What combination of compensation, hiring incentives, and clinical staffing would reduce transport demands and improve reliable coverage at the jail?

The report finds shortages among detention staff and nurses, with on-duty deputies used for transports and no full booking-nurse coverage at the time of the tour. It recommends competitive wages and benefits and continued hiring incentives.
Why this matters
Adequate custody and clinical staffing affects daily safety, access to care, transport demands, and the facility's usable capacity.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · Chapter 1 - Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

What maintenance schedule and performance measures should be used for the jail's HVAC system and backup generators?

The report finds that HVAC failures and limited generator duration can expose the jail to hot or cold conditions and recommends regular maintenance and system updates for both systems.
Why this matters
Reliable temperature control and backup power are basic safeguards for people who cannot leave the facility during equipment or power failures.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · Chapter 1 - Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

How should staffing and agreements with neighboring counties be balanced to use available juvenile-detention capacity responsibly?

The report finds that understaffing limited the juvenile facility to roughly half of its capacity and recommends a plan for additional youth, potentially through more neighboring- county partnerships, along with employment incentives.
Why this matters
A deliberate capacity plan can connect staffing, regional demand, facility revenue, and the quality of care provided to young people.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · Chapter 2 - Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

What capabilities, privacy safeguards, retention rules, and implementation priorities should guide a new juvenile-facility camera system?

The report says the existing cameras did not record audio or video and recommends acquiring an advanced security-camera system with recording and audio capabilities.
Why this matters
A clearly governed system can support safety and incident review while accounting for the heightened privacy interests of detained young people.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center · Chapter 2 - Discussion and Recommendations

Civic question

Should the County renovate the existing Sheriff's Dispatch Center or relocate it, and what safety and technology requirements should guide that choice?

The report finds structural deficiencies that limit current and future electrical, technological, and safety needs and recommends identifying funding for relocation or renovation of the existing center.
Why this matters
Dispatch infrastructure must remain dependable during emergencies while supporting changing communications technology and protecting staff.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

Which workspace, breakroom, restroom, staffing, and compensation improvements would have the greatest effect on dispatcher retention?

The report describes an understaffed center and constrained working conditions, and recommends a safer, more functional workroom, suitable breakroom and restroom, and more full-time dispatchers.
Why this matters
Retaining trained dispatchers helps maintain continuous service and reduces the operational strain of vacancies in a high-responsibility workplace.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · Working Conditions; Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

What role could Columbia College and local public-safety agencies play in preparing and recruiting future dispatchers?

The report recommends a more aggressive recruitment approach through collaboration with Columbia College on public-service dispatch courses and certification.
Why this matters
A local training pathway could make the profession more visible and reduce barriers between interested residents and a specialized public-safety career.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center · Findings, Recommendations, and Commendations

Civic question

What standards and ownership should govern schedules, stop information, websites, and social-media updates for transit riders?

The report finds the transit agency's public-information function in poor condition and recommends written goals followed by assigning staff or contracting for public-information services.
Why this matters
Riders need current, consistent information to plan trips and use a service on which many seniors, students, and people with disabilities depend.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Transit Agency · Findings and Recommendations

Civic question

How should riders submit complaints, track their handling, and see aggregate information about outcomes?

The report finds no written citizen-complaint procedure and recommends establishing one, publicizing it online and throughout the transit system, and releasing annual statistics on complaint numbers, types, and outcomes.
Why this matters
A visible process gives riders a consistent way to raise service problems and helps the agency identify recurring concerns.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Transit Agency · Findings and Recommendations

Civic question

How should TCTA verify required reports, disclose on-time performance, and decide whether to enforce or revise the contractual standard?

The report finds missing twice-yearly contractor summaries and repeated failure to meet the 95 percent on-time standard. It recommends ensuring required reports are delivered and either sanctioning poor performance or negotiating a realistic standard.
Why this matters
Consistent measurement and enforcement allow the board and public to judge whether contracted service meets agreed expectations.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Transit Agency · Findings and Recommendations

Civic question

What should board onboarding and an executive transition plan contain to preserve oversight and institutional knowledge?

The report finds that board members lacked adequate knowledge of their role and that few policies and procedures were written down. It recommends formal board onboarding and a transition plan documenting goals, policies, procedures, and organizational knowledge.
Why this matters
Written expectations and continuity plans can help leadership changes occur without losing operational knowledge or weakening contract oversight.

Supporting report

Tuolumne County Transit Agency · Findings and Recommendations

Sources

Original reports and response documents provide the evidence behind this cycle’s findings, recommendations, and discussions.

Report overview: County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions

Official report

County Service Areas in Tuolumne County: Road Maintenance in Subdivisions

Reviews the policies, engineering reports, financial transparency, oversight, and service boundaries used to administer road-maintenance County Service Areas.
Report overviewOfficial PDF
Report overview: Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

Official report

Tuolumne County Jail and Detention Center

Reviews conditions, staffing, healthcare coverage, facility systems, education, programming, and security at the Dambacher and Mother Lode Regional Juvenile detention facilities.
Report overviewOfficial PDF
Report overview: Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center

Official report

Tuolumne County 911: Sheriff's Dispatch Center

Examines the dispatch center's physical condition, safety systems, working environment, staffing, recruitment, and ability to meet current and future emergency-communications needs.
Report overviewOfficial PDF
Report overview: Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission

Official report

Tuolumne County Local Agency Formation Commission

Reviews LAFCO transparency, commissioner preparation, staffing arrangements, finances, policies, and the timeliness of municipal-service and sphere-of-influence reviews.
Report overviewOfficial PDF
Report overview: Tuolumne County Transit Agency

Official report

Tuolumne County Transit Agency

Reviews public transit information, complaint handling, contractor performance, board oversight, organizational policies, and continuity planning.
Report overviewOfficial PDF

Response documents

No response documents have been added for this cycle.