Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Decline the invitation to respond to the 2019-20 Grand Jury Report 19-09, County Drone Use issued on June 15, 2020; and
2) Consider the Draft Board of Supervisors Responses to the 2019-20 Grand Jury Reports 19-06, West Slope Fire Protection Update, and 19-07, County Airports, both issued June 15, 2020; providing any final direction to staff regarding any changes to include with the Final Response for these reports; recommending approval of the report as the Final Responses and respective letter of transmittal to the Presiding Judge if no changes are recommended.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The 2019-20 Grand Jury published several individual Final Reports on various subjects in May and June. Report #19-06, West Slope Fire Protection Update, report #19-07, County Airports, and report #19-09, County Drone Use, were issued on June 15, 2020. Under the California Penal Code, sections 933 et. sec., if requested the Board of Supervisors must provide a response to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court within 90 days of the date that a Final Report is made available to the public.
The Board was invited but not required to respond to report #19-09, County Drone Use finding 1 which states that, “The benefits of drone usage in El Dorado County include streamlining everyday tasks, providing additional safety to County employees and a more efficient use of tax dollars.” Staff recommends that the board does not respond to this finding. The Sheriff was invited to respond to finding 1, and did not respond. The District Attorney was required to respond, and the response is attached.
The response to Report #19-06 and Report #19-07 is due by September 13, 2020 and the proposed response is therefore being submitted to your Board for approval. The attached draft response has been prepared in the form prescribed by Penal Code section 933.05 and addresses the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury which are under the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors.
Report #19-06 requested responses from eleven other public agencies. As of the publishing of this staff report, no other responses have been posted online by the Grand Jury.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
The response has been prepared in conjunction with affected departments/agencies, as noted.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Take action as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial impact related to the consideration of the responses. There may be a financial impact related to implementation of Grand Jury Recommendations; however, such impact will be identified as staff assesses needs for future action, and will be discussed in future staff reports prior to approval and/or implementation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Return letter signed by Chair to the Chief Administrative Office prior to September 11, 2020.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Don Ashton, CAO
Emma Owens, Management Analyst