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Approve the Board of Supervisors’ response to the 2023/2024 Civil Grand Jury Report of July 1, 2024, entitled “Solano County Public Cemetery Districts”
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve the Board of Supervisors’ response to the 2023/2024 Civil Grand Jury Report of July 1, 2024, entitled “Solano County Public Cemetery Districts.”
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On July 1, 2024, the Solano County Civil Grand Jury issued a report entitled “Solano County Public Cemetery Districts.” In FY2011/2012, a Solano County Civil Grand Jury investigated the County’s four cemetery districts (also called Public or Special Cemetery Districts), including Rio Vista-Montezuma Cemetery District, Silveyville Cemetery District, Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery District and Solano Cemetery District. As part of that report, the Civil Grand Jury noted several instances of failure to comply with California law, including issues with ownership, storage of data, and retention of documents. Twelve years later, in FY2023/2024, the Civil Grand Jury conducted a follow-up report on the County’s Cemetery Districts to see if they had made improvements since the last report was issued.
As part of their investigation, the Civil Grand Jury re-examined the County’s four Public / Special Cemetery Districts which, established by the California Legislature in 1909, assume responsibility for the ownership, improvements, expansion, and operation of the cemeteries within their boundaries. It is important to note that the Benicia and Vallejo cemeteries, as well as several other private cemeteries located in the County, were outside of the scope of the Civil Grand Jury’s review and were therefore not included as part of the follow-up report. As part of their methodology, the Civil Grand Jury interviewed all Solano County Cemetery District staff, toured the four Solano County Cemetery Districts, and reviewed California Health and Safety Codes and several independent handbooks, websites, and documents.
The Civil Grand Jury report came to several conclusions, including (1) that discrepancies in filling trustee vacancies within the required 90-day timeframe still exist, (2) that some trustee positions have not been filled for more than two years, and (3) and that one appointed trustee is not a registered voter within their assigned cemetery district. The report also concluded that required signage was either not visible or was incorrectly placed at some cemeteries, which constitutes non-compliance with requirements for positing endowment care signage. Lastly, the report states that each cemetery district submit a public agencies statement of facts roster of public agencies filing whenever there is any change in their board of trustees, and that several districts have not maintained up-to-date submissions of these statements.
The Civil Grand Jury report has seven (7) findings and seven (7) corresponding recommendations. The report identified the Solano County Board of Supervisors as responding agencies on behalf of Solano County. The report also required responses from the Rio Vista-Montezuma Cemetery District, Solano Cemetery District, and the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery District. The Board of Supervisors’ proposed response is set forth in Attachment A - Response to the Grand Jury Report of July 1, 2024, “Solano County Public Cemetery District.” Copies of Grand Jury reports are available upon request from the Clerk of the Board or can be viewed on the Civil Grand Jury section of the Solano County Superior Court website.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of preparing this report is nominal and is included in the County Administrator’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose to disagree with the recommended responses and direct staff to prepare a different or more elaborate response to the Civil Grand Jury.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
There is no other agency involvement.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION