DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City- Wide
POSTING LANGUAGE:
An ordinance authorizing a personnel complement of three positions for the Texas Department of State Health Services Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant for the delivery of Zika Preparedness and Response Activities and the acceptance of funds in the amount of $726,992.00 for the period March 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. [Erik Walsh, Deputy City Manager; Dr. Colleen M. Bridger, MPH, PhD, Director of Health]
SUBJECT:
An ordinance authorizing a personnel complement of three (3) positions for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant for the delivery of Zika Preparedness and Response Activities and authorizes the acceptance of funds in the amount of $726,992.00 for the period March 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes three (3) positions for the delivery of services within the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant for Zika Preparedness and Response Activities and authorizes the acceptance of funds in the amount of $726,992.00 for the period March 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018.
In addition to the (3) full-time positions, the funds will be used to: educate the general public on Zika prevention measures; rapidly test, identify and investigate a possible outbreak of Zika virus in our community; enhance Vector Control capabilities across Bexar County; coordinate a comprehensive response across all levels of government and nongovernmental partners including the health care sector; and, identify and connect families affected by Zika to medical services.
Furthermore, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Metro Health to initiate, negotiate, and execute any and all necessary documents and a grant contract to effectuate the acceptance of the referenced grant, and to execute contract amendments pertaining to this contract, to include: a) carry-over funds, when ascertained and approved by the funding agency through a revised notice of award; b) line item budget revisions authorized by the funding agency; c) modifications to the performance measures authorized by the funding agency and listed in the contract so long as the terms of the amendment stay within the general parameters of the intent of the grant; d) no cost extensions; e) amendments which will provide supplemental grant funds to the grant by the funding agency in an amount up to 20% of the total amount awarded to the grant inclusive of the amount accepted through this ordinance; f) reimbursement increases of administrative funds for each participant served; g) amendments funding one time equipment purchases or defined program services; and h) changes in state regulations mandated by the funding agency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant has been awarded to Metro Health since 2001. In 2016, Congress allocated $350 million to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of this amount, the CDC awarded $5.0 million in Public Health Preparedness and Response (PHPR) funding to Texas to prepare for and respond to the emerging Zika virus threat. The CDC allocated funds to 21 state and territorial jurisdictions based upon the risk of Zika virus disease outbreaks.
ISSUE:
The additional Zika funding provides an opportunity to add three new positions to support the prevention and response capabilities for our community. The three new positions will include two (2) Sanitarian I’s and an Epidemiologist. Additionally, the funding will support one-third of an existing marketing manager position. The marketing manager is responsible for education and outreach, including the development of a Zika media campaign, which will be used to clearly communicate key messages to the public about preparing for and responding to the Zika virus threat. The two (2) Sanitarian I’s will carry out professional sanitarian services within the City of San Antonio to control the mosquito population. The Epidemiologist will investigate, monitor, and report on positive identifications of Zika in the community.
ALTERNATIVES:
The funding provided increases Metro Health’s capability to: educate the general public on Zika prevention measures; rapidly test, identify and investigate a possible outbreak of Zika virus in our community; enhance Vector Control capabilities across Bexar County; coordinate a comprehensive response across all levels of government and nongovernmental partners including the health care sector; and, identify and connect families affected by Zika to medical services. Should City Council choose not to approve this ordinance, the three needed positions will remain unfunded and Metro Health will not be able to increase capacity to address Zika in the community, as mentioned above.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant aims to provide funding for Zika Preparedness and Response Activities for the period March 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and will fund three (3) positions. There is no impact on the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends Council’s approval of an ordinance for the acceptance of funds and to authorize the three (3) full-time positions.