COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

May 21, 3003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 10, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Margaret Taylor, Director of Health Services
Charlene A. Silva, Director of Aging and Adult Services

SUBJECT:

First Amendment to the Agreement with Urban Wildlife Management, Inc.

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing:

1.

The First Amendment to the Agreement with Urban Wildlife Management Inc.; and

2.

The Director of Health Services to execute amendments and minor modifications, up to $25,000

Background

Aging and Adult Services (AAS) provides protective and supportive services, case management, and conservatorship services to functionally impaired adults and seniors. Protective services provided by AAS include the Public Guardian/Conservatorship Program, which serves frail elderly, physically and/or mentally disabled residents who are substantially unable to provide for their own personal needs of health, food, clothing, or shelter and/or are unable to manage their financial resources or resist fraud or undue influence.

Conservatorships are primarily set up for adults who cannot handle their own finances, care for themselves, and/or have limitations caused by aging. For each type of conservatorship, the Public Guardian, acting under the authority and direction of the Superior Court, may be appointed for the person, for the estate, or for both. The general duties of a Conservator of the Person include arranging for the person's care and protection, deciding where the person will live, making arrangements for health care, meals, clothing, personal care, housekeeping, transportation, and recreation. The general duties of a Conservator of the Estate include managing the person's finances, marshalling and protecting the assets, collecting all income due to the person, paying all just debts, making investments as appropriate, and representing or arranging representation in all legal matters.

Discussion

One responsibility of the Public Guardian is to sell conservatees' assets when necessary. This may include the selling of personal residences that often have been seriously neglected and require intense, specialized clean-up. These services may include removal of animal and human waste; rodent abatement; gross (major) scrubbing, washing and cleaning; and the hauling of debris and elements deemed hazardous to the community. Other services in readying a home for sale include searching for specific items of value, inventorying items removed, and assessing for necessary repairs. A Request for Proposals was issued in October 2000 for specialized clean-up and other services to assist in preparing homes for sale. Urban Wildlife Management participated in this process and was selected as the provider for a three-year period ending June 30, 2004.

The current agreement with Urban Wildlife Management, Inc. has a three-year term ending June 30, 2004, and the amount of the agreement is $200,000. However, in the current year there has been an increase in the number of conservatees appointed to the Public Guardian who owned properties requiring specialized clean-up. As a result it is necessary to increase the amount of the agreement in order to have sufficient funds available for the balance of the contract term.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved this agreement as to form and content.

Vision Alignment

An amendment to the agreement with Urban Wildlife Management, Inc. keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal number 8: People - Help vulnerable people - the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others - achieve a better quality of life. Services provided by the contractor will contribute to this commitment and goal by assisting conservators to optimize management of Public Guardian clients' assets.

Fiscal Impact

The amount of the original agreement is $200,000 for a term of July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2004. The amendment adds $55,000 to the agreement, bringing the total amount to $255,000. Funds for this agreement are included in the FY 2003-04 Aging and Adult Services Recommended Budget and are derived from clients' personal assets, including the sale of real property. There is no impact on the County General Fund as a result of this action.