MARIN COUNTY CHAPTER, CALIFORNIA GRAND JURORS ASSOCIATION

(Minutes of the Membership Meeting January 19, 2006)

Meeting Called to Order by President Haxton at 9:35 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors room.

Attendees: -- Bob Abeling, Dennis Brown, Nick Clark, Gene Dyer, Jack Friesen, Don Graff, Owen Haxton, Conrad Kloh, Al Lozano, Ron Lucas, Catherine McKown, Jack Olive, Bob Shelnutt, Barbara Smith, Lowell Smith, Irwin Taranto, and Shelly Wolff

Initial remarks: -- Owen pointed out that this meeting will begin with our invited speaker Don Hunter. Owen also pointed out that some of the interested members couldn't come. Furthermore he announced that he was distributing a letter from the San Mateo chapter to the California Grand Jury Association regarding dual membership.

Owen then introduced Don Hunter, who is the person in the county administrator's office who is the point person regarding responses to grand jury recommendations.

Hunter began with a description of his career within the county. He is currently deputy administrator. He first came to work in the county in 1982 and progressed through various jobs to the one he has now. He indicated that he has seen a marked increase in professionalism in the job that occurred in Mark Riesenfeld's regime. He pointed out that when grand jury recommendations come in he looks at them, and they are given to the department heads for the initial response. Responses then come to him where he and his staff go over them and edit them. Sometimes this requires extensive editing and sometimes it is only done superficially. He points out that in the past most of the recommendations were responded to superficially but in the last few years they've been taken much more seriously. The responses then go to the Board of Supervisors The present Board of Supervisors does take the grand jury seriously.

Several people raised questions with Hunter. When asked about whether or not the Board of Supervisors ensures that cities and towns and other agencies address the grand jury's concerns, Hunter indicated that he doesn't know that they do do this. Hunter was also asked about the implementation of other follow-ups, and he indicated he would check on that.

On several occasions Hunter indicated that the Board of Supervisors spends a considerable amount of time on hot button issues that had been pointed out by the grand jury. In other cases it becomes a question of whether or not an individual supervisor is interested in the issue. Thus he pointed out that the Board of Supervisors and the administrator's office are spending a considerable amount of time regarding "managing for results" as a way to address budget problems. They are also spending a lot of time on the question of pensions because of the grand jury report. Furthermore they're spending considerable amount of time regarding the permitting issue which led to the controversy regarding the big house in Greenbrae.

It was proposed that Hunter might consider coming to the sitting grand jury to give them some ideas of what is useful. Hunter thought that might be a good idea.

Irwin asked if Hunter's office would be willing for the Marin County Grand Jury Association to help them analyze responses on which action was not yet completed. Hunter thought that might be appropriate. He was also asked if he would develop a “status check list” and if such could be made public. He agreed to consider and look into this.

Hunter then left at 10:35 and the regular meeting commenced.

Agenda -The agenda was approved.

Minutes - The minutes of the November 14 meeting were approved as submitted.

Comments from chapter members -- Lowell commended Owen on his year-end report. Owen indicated that he had had input from Betty, Lowell, and others.

2005/2006 Foreperson’s report - Catherine McKown presented her report on the activities on the 2005 -- 2006 grand jury. This is presented in Appendix I. Al Lozano asked if the grand jury has investigated the possibility of meeting at night. It was pointed out to him, however, that the building is closed at night.

Officer's reports and announcements -- Irwin pointed out that two numbers had been transposed in the treasurer's report. The corrected version is presented in Appendix II. At this time Al Lozano suggested that we have an event like last year's luncheon. This met with general approval. Owen Haxton indicated that Jack Friesen will do the financial review. He reported that the MCGJA will need an elections committee, otherwise we will have to suffer through a second year of Owen being president. There were no volunteers. He then lauded Lowell for the job he has done on the speakers program.

Speakers program: Lowell indicated that Richard Arrow, the county treasurer and controller, will be invited for February 13^th.

Orientation: Irwin pointed out that there will be some changes in the department heads and city representatives who will speak. The orientation will occur over five days on July 11, 12, 13, 18, and 19.

Excellence in reporting in government: Don Graff indicated that nothing new had transpired.

Compliance: Mike Casey does not have time to chair this committee. We are now looking for a new chair. Owen thinks this would be away for us to interact with Hunter.

Public Relations: Bob Abeling noted that Madeline (sp) Peters wants to make a tape for a show on the grand jury that will be broadcast in Novato. April 11th is the cut off for this. She would like to have a panel. Bob Abeling made a motion regarding whether or not the chapter wanted to do such a show. The answer being yes, the question was should the chapter provide a panelist. Owen suggested that Abeling and Betty get together to see if they want one or two chapter members on the panel.

Liaison: Owen had handed out a letter from the San Mateo chapter regarding dual membership in the local Association and the statewide association. This is presented in Appendix III.

Annual Project: the CGJA wants to prepare a cookbook. The local chapter will probably take on part of this as its annual project.

Member’s comments: Shelly pointed out that the grand jury's annual review of San Quentin prison is quite perfunctory and is mainly a dog and pony show. As a result, over the years the grand jury has missed the great scandal regarding medical care and the internal hospital facilities at San Quentin. The question now becomes whether or not grand juries should carry out more far-reaching reviews of San Quentin, much as they do in the case of the county jail.

Lowell pointed out that the subject is so large that it is beyond the expertise of the local grand jury, a point emphasized by Bob Shelnutt.

Adjourned at 11:25 AM. The next meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. February 16, 2006.

Sheldon Wolff

Secretary