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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.28.22 Butte County Public Works Response to the 2021-22 Butte County Grand Jury Final Report From:Pack, Joshua To:Caraway, Corie Cc:BOS; Pickett, Andy; Nuzum, Danielle; Hatcher, Casey; Cissell, Craig; Lowrance, Rennai; Snyder, Ashley; Stephens, Brad J. Subject:Butte County Public Works Response to the 2021-22 Butte County Grand Jury Final Report Date:Thursday, July 28, 2022 11:40:32 AM Attachments:Butte County Grand Jury 21-22 Public Works Response Final.pdf Dear Judge Caraway: Under Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, the Butte County Director of Public Works humbly submits the attached response to the findings and recommendations of the Butte County Grand Jury Report for 2021-22 on the Department of Public Works. On behalf of the Department, I express my appreciation to the grand jurors for their professionalism and commitment to many hours of effort to better understand the operations of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (NRRWF). I also express my appreciation to the NRRWF employees who provide a valuable service to Butte County residents with an emphasis on professionalism and a commitment to customer service. A hard copy of this response will also be mailed to you shortly. Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Grand Jury’s findings and recommendations. - Josh Joshua Pack Director of Public Works 7 County Center Drive Oroville, CA 95965 530.538.7681 Phone 530-538-7171 Fax jpack@buttecounty.net Department of Public Works Joshua Pack, Director 7 County Center Drive T: 530.538.7681 buttecounty.net/publicworks Oroville, California 95965 F: 530.538.7171 July 28, 2022 Honorable Corie Caraway, Presiding Judge c/o Court Administration Superior Court of California, County of Butte One Court Street Oroville, CA 95965 RE: Response to the 2021-22 Butte County Grand Jury Final Report Dear Judge Caraway: Under Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, the Butte County Director of Public Works submits the following response to the findings and recommendations of the Butte County Grand Jury Report for 2021-22 on the Department of Public Works. On behalf of the Department, I express my appreciation to the grand jurors for their professionalism and commitment to many hours of effort to better understand the operations of the Neal Road Recycling and Waste Facility (NRRWF). I also express my appreciation to the NRRWF employees who provide a valuable service to Butte County residents with an emphasis on professionalism and a commitment to customer service. NEAL ROAD RECYCLING AND WASTE FACILITY Findings: F1. NRRWF provides a valuable service to Butte County and its residents. The operation is well run, and management does an excellent job of staying abreast of the latest technologies in landfill operations and recycling, as well as governmental mandates and requirements. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F2. NRRWF employees are well trained, committed to their jobs, and perform their work in a professional and competent manner with an emphasis on customer service. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F3. NRRWF management and Butte County Department of Public Works are commended for their emphasis on planning for the future by creating a Strategic Plan for the Landfill and posting an RFQ for development of a Master Plan. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F4. User fees at the Landfill are not high enough to fully cover operational costs. R esponse: The respondent agrees with this finding. Between FY 2015-16 and 2020-21, theNRRWF fund balance increased from $11.4 million to $26.4 million. This increase was due to unanticipated revenues from the Camp Fire and the deferral of capital improvements and equipment purchases. Recognizing the need to budget capital improvements and equipment purchases to align the NRRWF with Senate Bill 1383 and other recent State legislation and to maintain operational efficiencies, the NRRWF fund balance has trended downward in recent fiscal years. Projections prepared by Public Works staff suggest a continued downward trend in future fiscal years that could eventually exhaust the remaining fund balance. The NRRWF Master Plan efforts will provide additional information on future capital improvements and fund balance projections that will be helpful when projecting future user fees and operational costs. F5. Signage at NRRWF is confusing and difficult to read. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F6. The credit card system is cumbersome and slow. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F7. Scale house employees are using individual skills and conflict resolution techniques to counter and avoid negative interactions with customers. Response: The respondent agrees with this finding. F8. Due to the way work hours are scheduled, employees rarely have time to participate in team conversations or learning opportunities. Response: The respondent disagrees wholly with this finding. NRRWF management hosts monthly employee meetings that include safety discussions, an update on pertinent topics impacting operations, and a general discussion to solicit feedback and input from the employees. These meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month and are split into two sessions to ensure sufficient staffing to maintain NRRWF operations during these times. Recommendations: R1. Department of Public Works management to upgrade or replace the current credit card system with a system that is simpler and more efficient by December 31, 2022. Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented by December 31, 2022. R2. Department of Public Works management to install signage that is simpler and more direct. This includes signage at the scale house window in English, Spanish, and Hmong by December 31, 2022. Response: The recommendation to install signage that is simpler and more direct has not been implemented but will be implemented by December 31, 2022. The recommendation to include signage at the scale house window in English, Spanish, and Hmong will not be implemented because it is not reasonable and would be in direct conflict with the recommendation to install signage that is simpler and more direct. As an alternative, the Department will provide brochures in English, Spanish, and Hmong in advance of the scale house to avoid slowing down entering traffic. The brochures will include applicable information and will provide QR codes or similar web links for users with smartphones or other web-enabled devices to download brochures in the aforementioned languages by December 31, 2022. R3. Department of Public Works management to develop an informational and factual multi- language brochure for customers by December 31, 2022. Response: The recommendation has not been implemented but will be implemented to include a kiosk in advance of the scale house that includes brochures in the aforementioned languages and QR codes or similar web links for users with smartphones or other web- enabled devices to download brochures in the aforementioned languages by December 31, 2022 R4. Department of Public Works management to initiate regularly scheduled team meetings for employees to improve communication by December 31, 2022. Response: The recommendation has been implemented. NRRWF management already hosts monthly employee meetings that include safety discussions, an update on pertinent topics impacting operations, and a general discussion to solicit feedback and input from the employees. These meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month and are split into two sessions to ensure sufficient staffing to maintain NRRWF operations during these times. R5. Department of Public Works management to provide scheduled conflict resolution training for employees who deal directly with the public by December 31, 2022. Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented by December 31, 2022. Sincerely, Joshua Pack Director – Public Works CC: Board of Supervisors Andy Pickett, Chief Administrative Officer