LAKE COUNTY— The 2021-22 Civil Grand Jury Report details the civil watchdog group’s investigation of governing missteps concerning the Lakeport Fire Protection District and learned that the district was not adhering to the Measure M accountability requirements, was inconsistently following the Brown Act open-meeting procedures and did not have “clear and updated policies and procedures for Board governance.” The report also details the fact that financial shortfalls, administrative, board, and fire chief turnovers have left the district unsettled.
The Grand Jury, in their 50-page discussion of their findings stated, that the District personnel have been under stress for several years due to precarious finances and staff and Fire-Chief turnover. They noted that they were “in no way critical of the firefighters” and commended the board for the improvements that have been made over the course of their investigation.
During their investigation, the Grand Jury interviewed numerous district administrative, governing, and fire-fighting personnel; reviewed available board minutes (nearly a year of which were missing), budgets, and District incident statistics; perused relevant online research documents, reviewed California codes, and attended several of the district’s monthly board meetings. The Grand Jury also toured the district’s buildings in Lakeport, North Lakeport, and Finley and its empty lot in Lakeport.
Accountability provisions of Measure M, which proposed a tax rate of $6.14 per benefit unit annually on each parcel within the district included that the specific purposes of the parcel tax must be those purposes identified in a district ordinance and that an annual written report must be made to the board of directors showing the amounts of funds collected and expected from the proceeds of the parcel taxes and the status of any projects/programs required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the parcel taxes as guided by California Government Codes 50075.1 to 50077.5.
Among their findings, the Grand Jury noted that board members are unpaid and appointed by the City of Lakeport (two members) and the Board of Supervisors (three members) and not elected by district residents, that the Measure M parcel tax legal requirements for a separate account and annual public accounting have not been met and that adherence to Brown Act requirements has been lacking in regard to entrances being unlocked to the public during board meetings, a lack of wheelchair (disabled) access, and that reporting actions have been “intermittent” in regard to reporting actions publicly, if any, along with the vote, occurring during closed session proceedings.
Among their recommendations, the Grand Jury noted that a full forensic audit be conducted of the LFPD, specifically regarding Measure M revenue and expenditures, that the district comply with all the provisions of the Brown Act, and that the board decide and vote whether to sell, upgrade, or further develop its various properties including Station 50, Larrecou property, Finley Station and Station 52 in light of findings dealing with the lack of vehicle exhaust systems in stations 50 and 52. The Grand Jury found Station 50 contains asbestos, has non-code electrical connectivity (with power cords running from the attic through the ceiling), and also has roof leaks. According to the investigation, “Major financial decisions are pending regarding the two LFPD stations in Lakeport, the Finley station, and the vacant property.”
More information on this year’s Grand Jury Report can be found online at the County of Lake’s website at http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Boards/Grand_Jury/FinalReports.htm. Residents interested in participating as future Grand Jury members can contact them directly at 707-279-8619.
