Receive and file the 2021 Website Transparency Scorecard

Receive and file the 2021 Website Transparency Scorecard. 

None. 

In the fall of 2017, the cities and County requested LAFCo to begin preparing web transparency scorecards on an annual basis promoting a vision for open government and transparency for government agencies countywide (cities, County, special districts, and joint powers authorities), thereby fostering public trust and accountability.

The checklist criteria are intended to establish a generally accepted minimum standard for transparency, i.e. this is not intended to be used as a "best website" contest. We acknowledge some of our larger and more resourced agencies go far above and beyond these criteria for higher levels of public service and communication. The goal for smaller agencies is not necessarily to have a high score at the outset, but to set a baseline that will hopefully see improvement from year to year.

Scorecard Results
Website transparency improved somewhat across every category from 2020 to 2021 as detailed below. There was one new special district website established in 2021, but one was disabled too. There are two cemetery districts (Cottonwood and Knights Landing) and three reclamation districts (307, 730 and 765) that are not in compliance with state website requirements. There are 5 local JPAs that also do not have websites for transparency purposes, however, there is currently no legal requirement for them to have one. 

Cities and County (5)
City and Yolo County content overall improved from 94% in 2020 to 97% in 2021.

Special Districts (47)
Special district content is summarized by each district type below. The five districts that are not in compliance with legal requirements (to either maintain a website or adopt a hardship resolution) generally are very small, volunteer-run districts with no staff to maintain a website. 

• Cemetery district (6 total) content overall improved from 33% in 2020 to 43% in 2021. Although three cemetery districts (Capay, Cottonwood and Knights Landing) do not have a website at all, but Capay has adopted a hardship resolution and is, therefore, in compliance with special district website requirements. 
• Community Services District (4 total) content has improved overall from 35% in 2020 to 53% in 2021.
• County Service Area (7 total) content has improved from 88% in 2020 to 93% in 2021.
• The Sacramento-Yolo Port District (1) has improved from 84% in 2020 to 90% in 2021.
• The Yolo County Resource Conservation District (1) improved from 62% in 2020 to 65% in 2021.
• Water districts (3 total) improved slightly from 62% in 2020 to 64% in 2021.
• Fire protection districts (15 total, although only 5 are independent districts which require websites) improved from 25% in 2020 to 36% in 2021. Capay Valley FPD created a new website this year. However, Dunnigan FPD which had a website previously is now shown as "disabled" in 2021. Three FPDs do not have a website at all, but only Elkhorn FPD as an independent district is required to have one, but they have adopted a hardship claim due to a lack of broadband availability and are in compliance with state law. 
• Reclamation district (10 total) content has improved slightly from 32% to 33% overall. Three RDs (RD 307, RD 730 and RD 765) do not have websites are are not in compliance with state website laws.  

Joint Powers Authorities/Agencies (18)
Joint Powers Authorities/Agencies' (JPAs) content improved slightly from 52% to 54% overall. Of the 18 total local JPAs tracked in the scorecard, five JPAs do not have websites at all. These JPAs are: Conaway Ranch, Winters Branch Library Financing Authority, Winters Public Finance Authority, Woodland Finance Authority and the Yolo County Public Agencies Financing Authority. However, there is no legal website requirement for JPAs.