Finding F18

Finding F18

The Grand Jury identified a clear and recurring lack of understanding by County leadership regarding the complexities of permitting, code compliance, and inspection requirements. A notable example involved the distinction between public and private fire hydrants, including the differing permitting requirements, inspection standards, jurisdictional authority, and installation procedures applicable to each. Such misunderstandings contributed to confusion regarding compliance obligations, oversight responsibilities, and enforcement actions. The absence of sufficient technical familiarity with applicable building, fire, and public works requirements created the potential for inconsistent decision-making and increased risk to both public safety and County liability exposure. Your Grand Jury appreciates that the CAO has been tasked with doing multiple jobs concurrently and is making his best effort to meet expectations. However, the Grand Jury finds that technical, regulatory, permitting, and code-compliance determinations should be made only by appropriately qualified and authorized personnel within the applicable departments or by certified subject-matter experts.