COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

DATE:

March 31, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 8, 2008

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 and Environmental Protection Division

SUBJECT:

Vector Control Program Transfer to San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1) Transferring specific vector control operations and responsibilities to the

San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District; and

2) Authorizing the Director of Health to maintain staffing sufficient to protect public health and assist the Mosquito Abatement District

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Leaders work together across boundaries to preserve and enhance the quality of life.

Goal 23: Leaders throughout the County provide the impetus for broader regional solutions in land use, housing, childcare, education, health and transportation.

Transferring certain operations and responsibilities to the San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District (SMCMAD) contributes to this commitment and goal by combining expertise and resources in an agency established to address vector control.

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2006-07
Actual

FY 2007-08
Target

Percent of service requests responded to within established time frame

92%

95%

BACKGROUND:

Section 101285 of the California Health and Safety Code permits the Board of Supervisors to transfer all or a portion of vector control services or any portion of the function of providing vector control services to any mosquito abatement and vector control district formed pursuant to the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District Law, Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 2000) of Division 3, provided that the district’s boundaries include that territory. In 2003 the SMCMAD expanded its territory and service area to include the entire County and twenty cities.

DISCUSSION:

Historically, the Environmental Health Division (Division) staff have responded to requests for assistance and complaints about pests and vectors. Staff educates the public on how to protect themselves from diseases that may be carried by vectors.

The SMCMAD offers many of the same services and educational opportunities to the public as are provided by San Mateo County. The Division and SMCMAD collaborate on many projects annually to survey and monitor the County for disease-carrying vectors.

Meetings between the Division and SMCMAD staff have identified the following duties for transfer to the SMCMAD:

1.

Conduct rodent and insect inspections and educate homeowners on proper environmental and structural modifications to limit infestations; and

2.

Inspect rodent bait stations in creeks during normal creek inspection programs, inspect rodent bait blocks in sewer and utility vaults; and

3.

Initiate rodent control baiting operations when populations reach levels where an imminent disease outbreak may occur or a serious public health threat has resulted; and

4.

Oversee and maintain contracts with pest control operators with cities and the unincorporated County; and

5.

Provide educational services to residents regarding wildlife interactions and problems, and enhance wildlife control programs.

Due to the public health significance of the vector control program, it is important that the Division remains an active partner to provide resources for public, businesses and the SMCMAD. Therefore, the Division is committed to maintain a minimum staffing of one full-time Registered Environmental Health Specialist. Three other positions exist in the program. Two filled positions will be reassigned to consumer protection duties and one position will remain vacant.

FISCAL IMPACT

The proposed transfer of duties and responsibilities is expected to save the Division $195,815 in salaries and benefits by the end of FY 2008-09. These savings will enable the Division to reduce the Solid Waste Funding it receives. These changes will be reflected in the Environmental Health FY 2008-09 and FY 2009-10 Recommended Budgets.