In response to those who hold the opinion that the Napa GrandJury does not accomplish anything by its reports, I respectfullyoffer the following. Recommendations made in a Grand Jury FinalReport are meant, in part, to raise the awareness of the public andthe media to the subject matter of those recommendations. however,this does not mean that any actions initiated by a governmentalagency or body to the subject matter of those recommendations werenecessarily only in response to those recommendations.

The 2008-2009 Grand Jury Response Report provided the followingpartial list of the positive actions taken by governmental agenciesand bodies after the 2007-2008 Grand Jury issued their individualfinal reports.

1. a Browns Valley fire Station Number Five is projected to bebuilt and staffed in January 2013.

2. the city of Napa has improved its financial operation.

3. the Calistoga Joint Unified School District installed Columbinelocks on all classroom doors, a telephone was placed in the artroom and the district has purchased EpiPens and sharps boxes.

4. Community Emergency Response Team training will be implementedin Napa County high schools and middle schools.

5. Napa Valley College installed computers with wirelesscapabilities in campus police cars, has deployed a computer-basedemergency notification system to communicate with college staff anduses the AlertU system to send emergency Short Message messages tostudents.

6. a training manual has been developed and ongoing traininginstituted for new members of any county agency and advisorygroup.

7. the Napa County Housing Authority has established a capitalimprovement fund for the farmworker housing centers.

8. the Memorandum of Understanding between the Napa County and thevolunteer fire departments is being revised to give the county firechief the full authority to manage and to be accountable for allaspects of the volunteer fire departments.

9. Funds paid to volunteer firefighters who are part of a CountyDeploy Strike Team are being made on a routine basis and in atimely manner.

10. a type IV engine that will fit into and be housed at SodaCanyon station has been ordered for delivery.

11. the Berryessa Peak public safety radio repeater will beequipped with a microwave relay system.

12. the Napa Central Dispatch Public Safety Access Point can“conference” the CalFire Emergency Command Center on fire andmedical/fire dispatch calls.

13. the department of corrections created a new grievanceprocedure.

14. a thorough update of the Road and Street Standards is underwayand changes will cover all aspects of the standards used formaintenance and new development conditions.

15. the Department of Public Works continues a comprehensive reviewof its safety manual.

The 2009-2010 Grand Jury Response Report provided the followingpartial list of positive actions taken by governmental agencies anddepartments since the release of the 2008-2009 Grand Jury’sindividual final reports.

1. the County Counsel’s office now schedules regular bimonthlymeetings of the entire staff rather than less frequently, as in thepast, and is developing a formal conflict-of-interest policy toaddress the problem of two opposing county agencies or departmentsthat both request representation from the office of the CountyCounsel.

2. the Adult Probation Department has increased the number ofevidence-based programs available to probationers, increasedofficer safety with regard to holding arrested probationersawaiting transport, and along with the district attorney hasdeveloped a pre-sentencing report protocol that conveys toprobationers information regarding California Penal Code 1203.4concerning the possible dismissal of their cases.

3. the Napa City-County Library is planning a review of the librarycollection to ensure the library is meeting the needs of the entirecommunity, and has increased training for its library commissionmembers.

4. the library commission by-laws and long-range policy are beingreviewed and updated.

5. St. Helena Unified School District is developing a site-specificassociated student body manual and is working to establish detailedwritten internal controls for the relationship betweenschool-connected organizations and the district.

6. the Howell Mountain Elementary School District hasre-implemented the D.a.R.E. program.

7. Napa County, the city of Napa, and the city of American Canyonare meeting with the district attorney, Napa police chief, and thechief probation officer, along with national gang consultantexperts, to develop a long-term master plan for youth and gangviolence.

8. Calistoga Joint Unified School District is collaborating withcommunity and governmental agencies to provide parent workshopswhose focus is educating parents to help identify gang culture,attire and attitude, and has adopted a stricter dress codepolicy.

9. the city of American Canyon is revising municipal ordinance(s)with regard to Transient Occupancy Tax.

If you have the time, energy and desire to make positive changesfor the benefit of the citizens of Napa County, considervolunteering for the Napa County Grand Jury.

(Suden lives in Napa.)