EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 17, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
BY: Patrick Heisinger, Interim City Manager
SUBJECT: Grand Jury Report: “Ransomware: It is not enough to think you are protected” Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to sign the City’s response to the San Mateo County 2019-20 civil grand jury report: “Ransomware: It is not enough to think that you are protected.”
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 1: Enhance Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Priority No. 4: Improve Public Facilities and Infrastructure Background
The San Mateo County civil grand jury is an independent investigative body composed of 19 citizens who conduct fact-finding efforts and issue written reports containing specific recommendations to improve local government operations.
The 2019-20 San Mateo County civil grand jury selected the following issue for exploration:
“City and county government computer systems are at risk of Ransomware attacks. Are adequate measures being taken by local government agencies to mitigate the risks and provide recovery options?” The civil grand jury’s work resulted in the report “Ransomware: It is not enough to think that you are protected,” which is provided in Attachment 1.
On May 2, 2022, the Interim City Manager received a letter from the San Mateo civil grand jury stating that the City of East Palo Alto never responded to the grand jury’s earlier request and urging the City to do so, as soon as is reasonably possible.
Analysis
Please see Attachment 2, which shall serve as the City’s official response to the San Mateo County civil grand jury report.
Fiscal Impact
There are no fiscal impacts associated with this report.
Public Notice
The public was provided notice by making the agenda and report available on the City’s website and on a bulletin board located at City Hall: 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The action being considered does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
Attachments
1. Grand Jury Report
2. City Response Letter