COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Services Agency

DATE:

July 9, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 27, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director of Health Services

Brian Zamora, Director of Public Health & Environmental Protection

SUBJECT:

Agreement with South County Fire Authority

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with South County Fire Authority to provide personnel to staff the County-wide Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team.

Background

In 1985, a Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team was formed in San Mateo County through a Joint Powers Authority. This is a multi-agency response team comprised of the South County Fire Authority, the San Mateo County Environmental Health Services Division and the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, which services all twenty-one cities and the unincorporated area. The team responds to approximately eighty incidents involving hazardous materials each year. Through the Joint Powers Agreement, half of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program’s budget is paid by the cities. The Solid Waste Fund, legal settlements and responsible party billings make up the remaining half of the budget which represents the County’s contribution.

In 1995, the Environmental Health Services Division assumed responsibility for administration of the program from the Office of Emergency Services. In 1999 and 2001, your Board entered into agreements with the South County Fire Authority to provide Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team services.

Discussion

The County’s Environmental Health Services Division is responsible for overall administration, including budget preparation, operations, and agency coordination. The South County Fire Authority provides trained personnel who respond to incidents. As with the previous agreement, this agreement is necessary to continue to reimburse the South County Fire Authority and its vendors for personnel costs, as well as required equipment and supplies. This agreement is a part of the County-wide Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program costs.

Performance Measures

Performance

Indicator

Actual

2002-03

Actual

2003-04

Projected

2004-05

Projected

2005-06

Respond to hazardous material incidents *

50

46

44

Maintain a maximum one hour response time on hazardous material calls

58%

%

62%

63%

* The number of responses to hazmat incidents will decrease due to public education and the provision of an outlet for hazardous materials in the form of the Household Hazardous Waste Program.

Vision Alignment

The agreement with the South County Fire Authority keeps the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and Goal #7: maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors. The agreement with the South County Fire Authority contributes to this commitment and goal since it ensures that unwanted hazardous materials do not pose a health and safety danger to residents or cause environmental damage through illegal disposal.

Fiscal Impact

The term of the agreement shall be from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. The maximum amount payable under this agreement shall not exceed $621,000. The budgeted amount for FY 2004-05 is $187,000 and is included in the approved FY 2004-05 budget. Appropriations for subsequent years are $207,000 for FY 2005-06 and $227,000 for FY 2006-07 and will be made part of the recommended budgets.

Half of the County-wide Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Program is funded by the participating cities pursuant to the Joint Powers Agreement. The remaining County portion of the program costs are funded through the County Solid Waste Fund, legal settlements and responsible party billings. The FY 2004-05 recommended budget included $50,171 in net County cost to offset cuts to the Solid Waste Fund. In lieu of future increases from the Solid Waste Fund, there will be an increase in net County Cost. The estimated net County Cost is $65,755 in FY 2005-06 and $78,277 in FY 2006-07.