Contra CostaCountyCivil GrandJuryReportSummaries2023-2024
Challenges Facingthe City of Antioch
Antiochisadynamic anddiverse city that facesa number of challenges,includinghighturnoverin City leadership,aCityemployeevacancy rate that is four-times thenationalaverage,and possible BrownAct violations by theMayor andcertain City Councilmembers.Hiringand retainingan experiencedand qualified City Manager, aprocess that is currentlyunderway, will be an important firststepinaddressingthese challenges, butmore needstobedone. (Seepage 4)
TheCommunity WarningSystem: Will EveryoneGet aWarning?
In the2017 Wine Country firesand the2018 CampFirewarningsystems in thosecounties failedtoalertpeoplefor variousreasons.Could that happen withtheContraCosta County warningsystemtoo? TheGrand Jury investigated risks that theContraCosta County warning systemcouldalsofail, andfound areasfor improvement that maygetwarnings outtomore people sooner.(Seepage5)
Does DCDUtilizeBestPractices to EnforceDisabilityAccessibilityStandards?
Businessesare required to make theirfacilities accessibletopeoplewithdisabilities. The CaliforniaConstruction-Related Accessibility StandardsComplianceAct,the Americanswith Disabilities Act(ADA), alongwithother statutes, helpCaliforniabusinessescomply with stateand federalaccessibility standards.Afterinvestigation, theGrand Jury recommends theBoard of Supervisorspursuewhether DCDisenforcing accessibility standardsinitscommercial buildings.(See page 6)
PetroleumRefineries andHazardousMaterialReleases
Contra CostaCountyishometotwo majorpetroleum refineries as well as other businessesthatemployhazardousmaterials in their operations. Thesematerials canposeasignificant health risk to the surroundingcommunity if notproperly maintained. TheHazardousMaterials DivisionofContraCosta Health Services hasthe responsibility to monitorthe use of thesehazardousmaterials through periodicinspectionsand to respondtoany accidentalrelease of hazardousmaterials
that does occur. TheGrand Jury has investigatedthe procedures used forthese importanthealthand safety responsibilities and hasdetermined that additional staff areneeded at Contra CostaHealthServices toimprove their abilitytoquicklyand fullyrespond to emergencies. Also,the Community WarningSystempresently used to advise andwarnresidents when accidentalhazardousmaterialreleases occur should be modified in away to reach more residents.(See page 6)
ALetterfromthe CivilGrand Jury Foreperson
DearJudgeMockler,
On behalf of the2023-2024 Contra CostaCountyCivil GrandJury, Iamhonored to presenttoyou andthe citizensofContraCosta County theGrand Jury’s finalreports. Thereportscontainour findings andrecommendations regardinggovernmentagencies within our jurisdiction.Wehopethese reportswill help informthe public and contributeto improved localgovernment.
Iwouldlike to express my appreciation foryourjudicial oversight. Iwould also like to thankJudgeJillFannin forher judicial oversight during the firsthalfofour term.
TheJuryisgratefulfor theenthusiasticsupport of MariaZarco and ElisaPantaleon,Court Administration.Weare also grateful to Hannah Shafskyand RebeccaHooley, County Counsel, fortheiradvice, guidance,and constructive feedback throughout theinvestigative andreport-writing processes.
TheJuryappreciates thecooperation receivedfromthe many public officialswho respondedtoour questionsand requests. We respecttheir dedicationand expertise.Weare also grateful to thosewho facilitated toursoftheirfacilities anddemonstratedsuchprofessionalism and pridein their work.
Lastly,Iwanttothank the2023-2024 grandjurors. We hadno carryoverjurorsatthe startofour term.Webrought ourknowledge andexperience to thework. As ajury, weworked together to improve ourcommunity.Iamgratefulfor theopportunity to servewith thesejurors.
Respectfully,
Joanne Sarmento,Foreperson
2023-2024 Contra CostaCountyCivil GrandJury
Back rowleft to right: ChristopherRayner, Dr.JohnAnderson, MichaelDavidson, WilliamFaoro,Peter Appert,Richard Patterson, RonIrelan, Weldon Theobald Frontrow left to right: MariaDel Carmen Torralba,Maureen Woelffer,Karen O’Neil,Georgia Addison, Hon. JudgeTerri Mockler,JoanneSarmento, Elizabeth Berke-Dreyfuss,Susan Rainey,Julee Matt-Hamilton
Do YouHaveWHatIttakes to BeanengageD CItIzen? JoIntHeCIvIl granDJurYanD Make aDIfferenCe!
In addition toturnoverinCity leadership,Antiochcurrentlyexperiences alevelofvacanciesintotalCitystaff that isroughlyfour-timesthenationalaverage. Theseissuesarerelated.Inthe absence of apermanentCityManager,several departmentheadpositionshavenotbeen filled, which has delayed thehiring
processforstaff within these departments. Theresultis a21.6%Cityemployee vacancyrate.Thishighvacancyratehas negativelyimpactedAntioch’scitizensby delayingCitycapitalprojectsandslowing policeresponsetimestocalls,contributing to ahighercrimerateinrecentyears.
Inthecourseofourinvestigation,the GrandJurylearnedthatturnoverinthe City Managerposition andhigh employee vacancy rates areboth relatedto afailure, at times,bytheMayor andCityCouncil to respecttheCityManager’s operating authority.TheGrandJurybelievesthat certain actionsbytheMayor andCity Councilinrecentyearsinvolvedoversteppingtheirauthority,contributingto theturnoverinCityleadership.
TheGrandJuryinvestigated ContraCostaCounty’s CommunityWarningSystem, orCWS,thatprovides countywideemergency warnings.TheGrandJury foundseveralrisksthat could resultinwarningsbeing delayed,orgoingouttoonlya fractionofthepeopleindanger. Forexample,undersome circumstancestheCWSmay notusethenation-widesystem thatsends Amberalertstoall cellphonesin adesignatedarea. Instead,warningmessages will goprimarilytopeople who havegoneonline,createda CWSaccount,andregistered their addressandcontact data, includingtheir email address.
Toreducetheriskthatpeople won’tgeta warning,the GrandJuryrecommendsthe County automatically create these accountsfrom existing utilityandtelecomcompanies’ databases.Peoplewhodon’t want anaccount created for themcan requestthatnone be created.
