COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

 

DATE:

May 30, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 20, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department

Brian J. Zamora, Director, Public Health & Environmental Protection Division

Scott Morrow, M.D., M.P.H., Health Officer

SUBJECT:

California Department of Health Services – Amendment to Bioterrorism Preparedness Grant for Pandemic Influenza Funds

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Amendment to California Department of Health Services (DHS) Bioterroism Preparedness Grant for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in the amount of $82,848 for the period of May 22, 2006 through June 30, 2006.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors

This agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by providing funds for pandemic influenza preparedness activities for San Mateo County.

 

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2004-05
Actual

FY 2005-06
Projected

Percent of activities listed in the work plan completed by required due date

n/a

100%

 

BACKGROUND:

On May 2, 2006, your board approved an agreement with the California Department of Health Services for bioterrorism preparedness and related activities for the term of August 31, 2005 through August 30, 2006. Under that agreement, work will continue in six key areas: general bioterrorism planning, epidemiological and disease surveillance enhancements, public health lab improvements, technological improvements, development of a comprehensive risk communication plan, and increased training for public health and clinical staff.

 

DISCUSSION:

The original Bioterrorism Grant Preparedness agreement is amended to include funding for California Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for the period May 22, 2006 through June 30, 2006, with no change to the original term of the agreement. This amendment was received by the Health Department on May 26, 2006, and must be approved and returned to DHS no later than June 26, 2006, in order to be eligible to receive the funds included in the amendment. The additional funds provided in the amendment represent San Mateo County’s share of the $4.5 million for FY 2005-06 which was included in the Governor’s May revision of the budget for FY 2006-07. These funds were pledged to local jurisdictions for influenza preparedness activities. The amendment requires each jurisdiction to complete a self-assessment tool; attend a Technical Assistance Seminar; convene a local Pandemic Influenza Coordinating Committee that includes local government, local emergency managers, police, fire, businesses, schools, social services, volunteer organizations and others as appropriate; continue development of a local Pandemic Influenza Emergency Response Plan; participate in a table top emergency drill exercise and plan a large-scale pandemic influenza exercise. While the funds included in the amendment are for the period May 22, 2006 through June 30, 2006, local health jurisdictions will have until Fall 2006 to complete all tasks except the exercises, which do not need to be completed until January 2007. In San Mateo County, these funds will be used for staff time to support the required activities, travel expenses to the Technical Assistance Seminar and contract expenses for assistance with designing and conducting the exercises and drills.

 

The Health Department has been involved in pandemic influenza planning since the Fall of 2005. These new funds will be used to enhance the current effort with a particular focus on the development of the Coordinating Committee. The Health Department will continue to partner with Office of Emergency Services (OES) regarding all activities associated with this grant.

 

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Amended Grant Agreement as to form.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The total grant amendment award is $82,848 for the period of May 22, 2006 through June 30, 2006. The expenditures in this amendment can be absorbed within existing appropriations in Public Health’s Adopted FY 2005-06 Budget. The original term of the agreement remains August 31, 2005 through August 30, 2006, and the funding for bioterrorism activities remains at $848,209. There is no Net County Cost associated with this amendment.