Grand jury seeking new members
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

The 19-member Ventura County grand jury, a civil panel that keeps an eye on governmental affairs, is seeking to add local representation.

"We're trying to get representation from all cities in the county," said jury foreman Alyce Klussman.

The all-volunteer grand jury provides civil oversight of county and city government to ensure that local leaders serve the best interests of Ventura County citizens.

It is the watchdog of government, said Carol Dawes, foreman pro tem for the panel.

California civil grand juries inquire and investigate, but do not decide issues of guilt or innocence, as would a criminal grand jury or jurors in a courtroom.

The grand jury conducts internal investigations and responds to citizen complaints, which can be lodged by anyone who feels something isn't quite right. The panel does not deal with criminal litigation or matters relating to private companies.

Although it can receive legal guidance from the county, the grand jury works independently and is not under the county's control.

The jury is recruiting new members for the 2007-08 year that begins July 1. Applications, due by April 1, can be obtained on the grand jury's website, grandjury.countyofventura.org.

Citizens who are 18 or older and have lived in the county for at least a year may apply. Potential members must be of good character and capable of making reasonable judgments, panel representatives said. Participants receive a $25 daily stipend.

"We want to get as many people from as many cities as possible who want to help make the county a better place to live," Klussman said.

The one-year commitment is demanding but rewarding, said Dawes, who is serving her second term. Discussions can be heated but they are stimulating, said the retiree, who enjoys learning about various topics dealt with by the grand jury.

"We do have a lot of fun; it's not just a lot of hard work and business," Klussman said.

The grand jury is made up primarily of retired people because the position is time consuming- - the panel meets several times a week.

Among many other issues in recent years, the grand jury investigated affordable housing plans in the county when disparities were found in local cities' goals, plans and achievements.

The panel concluded that public resistance to development of open space, cumbersome approval processes and funding priorities were hindering the cities' efforts to increase availability of low-cost housing.

The cities are aware of these problems and are trying to work with difficult state requirements and local land use regulations to provide affordable housing, the jury indicated.

The jury also investigated alleged Brown Act and municipal code violations by some Thousand Oaks City Council members, following the 2005 termination of former city manager Philip Gatch.

The jury ruled the allegations were unfounded, but noted that some residents in Thousand Oaks were distrustful of the council because of communication concerns.

The 2005-06 grand jury cleared the Ventura County Transportation Commission of wrongdoing related to the purchase and installation of public artwork displayed at the Camarillo Metrolink Station.

The main complaint against the transportation commission was that it awarded a solesource contract- a contract without competitive bidding- for creation of the artwork.