title
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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Requested Action(s)
recommendation
a) Request approval and authorization for the Chair to sign the letter containing required responses to the Grand Jury Report for FY 25-26
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Financial Impact:
Financial impacts are unknown at this item and will be known once solutions for implementation are identified and finalized.
Background Information:
The Grand Jury report released on June 24, 2026, solicited responses to findings and recommended actions from the Board of Supervisors as follows:
Intimidation, Bullying and Undermining in the Workplace:
Recommendations:
R1. The Grand Jury recommends the Tehama County Board of Supervisors order structured, mandatory mediation between the Sheriff and the Chief Administrator with a neutral external mediator, accountability measures, and follow-up reporting.
R4. The Chief Administrator and Personnel Director create, and the Board of Supervisors adopt an ombudsman, or third-party process, to respond to complaints filed between employees, whether elected or appointed by November 2, 2026.
R6. The Public Code of Conduct adopted by the Board of Supervisors on September 16, 2025, should be projected on the video screen just prior to and during the public comment period at the commencement of each Board of Supervisors meeting on or before November 2, 2026.
Nepotism:
Recommendations:
R1. The County Board of Supervisors direct all county departments, including TC Sheriff's Office, to apply Tehama County Personnel Rule §1308 NEPOTISM as the countywide standard governing the employment and supervision of family members, while allowing departments to adopt supplemental operational procedures that do not conflict with the Personnel Rule. Completion date: November 2, 2026.
R2. The County Board of Supervisors direct County Personnel Department to update Tehama County Personnel Rule §1308 NEPOTISM in order to clarify the definition of a department head so that the definition includes elected officials and removes any ambiguity; and so the rule clearly states that Tehama County Personnel Rule §1308 NEPOTISM shall be the countywide standard for all departments. Completion date: November 2, 2026.
Communication:
Findings:
F1. Communication between County leadership is inconsistent and not reliably conducted through formal channels.
F7. Communication failures contribute directly to escalation of conflict.
Recommendations:
R1. The Board of Supervisors, in conjunction with the TCSO, should establish and enforce a formal communication protocol, defining and implementing clear expectations for communication, including response timelines, escalation procedures, and mandatory training that are congruent with each other.
R2. The County and the Tehama County Sheriffs Office (TCSO) should establish common guidelines governing the use of informal and public communication in official County and departmental business.
R3. The Board of Supervisors should implement training for leadership on communication standards, interagency coordination, and conflict resolution.
R4. The Board of Supervisors should implement structured internal processes designed to resolve issues before they escalate into formal disputes, public conflict, or parallel
investigations.
Staff proposes that the board discusses each item individually in order to ensure the full Board’s opinions are represented in the responses.
A full copy of the Grand Jury Report can be viewed at:
<https://www.tehama.gov/government/departments/grand-jury/> <https://www.tehama.gov/government/departments/grand-jury/>
On August 25, 2026, this matter was brought before the Board. Following brief discussion this item was continued to the next meeting to allow Supervisors to prepare responses to be included in the final letter.
On September 1, 2026, the Board discussed the drafted response in an open meeting and made suggestions for changes to the final response letter. This item is being brought back September 15, 2026, for final approval and submission to the court.