A Kern County Grand Jury investigation into alleged mismanagement and wrongdoing by public officials in California City has revealed numerous instances of open meetings law violations and harassment complaints by city employees.
The Grand Jury conducted its investigation amid complaints about the city’s governance.
The Grand Jury conducted more than 50 interviews between November 2017 through March of this year. It found the following:
• The mayor and city council members have held discussions regarding city business behind closed doors, which is a violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
• City officials ordered a red tag removed from an unoccupied building where two men were found to be living and working illegally. The order for removal came at the behest of the building's owner, an unidentified member of the City Council with a cannabis permit at that address, after he complained to the city manager.
• Code enforcement officers were directed not to inspect certain buildings in the city.
• City council meeting minutes are not approved in a timely fashion.
• There is an overall lack of transparency and the city’s website does not provide adequate contact information or City Council minutes.
• Two or more emails between city employees have disappeared from the city’s email server.
• 8 out of 21 current and former city employees interviewed by the Grand Jury said they had filed a complaint or grievance about working conditions.
• There is inadequate supervision of city employees who accept payments for water bills, business licenses, and cannabis permits in the city.
• Despite these problems, claims of nepotism on the part of Mayor Jennifer Wood are unsubstantiated.
The Grand Jury offered a series of recommendations, including an independent, forensic audit of all financial transactions for the past two years. The recommendation comes at a time of great fiscal hardship for the city. Budget constraints, combined with voters’ recent rejection of a proposed parcel tax, will soon force the city to cut its police, fire and other services.
“To say I’m disappointed by the report is an understatement," said Mayor Wood. “I’m saddened and disheartened by the statements that were made by the jury.” She questioned some of the evidence behind the Grand Jury’s findings and vehemently denied some of its claims, including that she spends 40 hours per week at city hall.
California City has 90 days to submit a response to the Grand Jury.
The entire report is available here.
Update: A part of this article has been removed due to inaccuracy of information.