DATE:

 

07/15/2002

SUBJECT:  FINAL READING ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-155

Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute all documentation from the Texas Department of Health for the BioTerrorism Preparedness Program of the City of Laredo Health Department in the amount of $411,076 in additional funds for the period beginning June 1, 2002, through August 31, 2003, and amending the City of  Laredo FY 2001-2002 budget in the same amount; and authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s full-time equivalent positions by creating 1 – Sr. Epidemiologist; 1 – Public Health Technician; 2 – Registered Nurse II; 1.25 – Sanitarians; and 1 – Health Educator, which will be funded by this grant.  

INITIATED BY:                                                           STAFF SOURCE:               

Cynthia Collazo                                                              Hector F. Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H.

Acting City Manager                                                      Health Director

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On July 1, 2002, Council held public hearing introducing ordinance and instructed staff to proceed with final readings.

BACKGROUND:

The Texas Department of Health has contracted with the City of Laredo to provide public health services to residents of Laredo and Webb County through the City of Laredo Health Department.

 

The City of Laredo Health Department will activate the local public health surveillance and prevention preparedness and response bio-terrorism plan (BT).  The BT plan is federally funded and can only be used for developing disease surveillance infrastructure.  The following detailed activities will be conducted.

 

·          Strategic direction, coordination and assessment

·          Initiate active surveillance systems

·          Further develop infection control capabilities, committee and training capacities of  providers, first responders and emergency personnel

·          Planning for preparedness and  response

·          Pharmaceutical stockpile preparedness

·          Public health surveillance and detection capacities

·          Public health epidemiology investigation and response capacities

·          Communications connectivity for quick information flow and for distance learning enhancement

·          Risk assessments and risk communication plans of action

·          Further develop electronic communication systems

·          Emergency communications

·          Protection of data and information systems

·          Secure electronic exchange of pubic health information

·          Support of emergency response management

·          Full information technology

·          Public health risk communication:  assessment, planning, community access

·          Development, testing, and dissemination of effective public health communications and information sharing

·          Community readiness through training opportunities

·          Evaluation of training effectiveness

·          Lab testing development

·          Further develop relationships with state and federal authorities to develop comprehensive plans of action and intervention for any disaster, chemical hazards or BT issue

·          Strengthen bi-national  surveillance and communication effort for response and intervention

 

The BT services will include the counties of Webb, Zapata, Him Hogg, and Duval.

  

FINANCIAL:   The City of Laredo will receive $411,076 in additional funds for the BioTerrorism Preparedness Program of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning June 1, 2002, through  August 31, 2003.

RECOMMENDATION:

STAFF:  Recommends that Council approve  ordinance.

 

BUDGET

 

 

 

 

 

ORDINANCE NO. 2002-O-155

 

Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute all documentation from the Texas Department of Health for the BioTerrorism Preparedness Program of the City of Laredo Health Department in the amount of $411,076 in additional funds for the period beginning June 1, 2002, through August 31, 2003, and amending the City of  Laredo FY 2001-2002 budget in the same amount; and authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s full-time equivalent positions by creating 1 – Sr. Epidemiologist; 1 – Public Health Technician; 2 – Registered Nurse II; 1.25 – Sanitarians; and 1 – Health Educator, which will be funded by this grant.

.  

 

                WHEREAS,  the Texas Department of Health (TDH) is contracting with the City of Laredo to provide public health services to residents of Laredo and Webb County through the City of Laredo Health Department; and

               

                WHEREAS,  the City of Laredo Health Department will activate the local public health surveillance and prevention preparedness and response bio-terrorism plan (BT).  The BT plan is federally funded and can only be used for developing disease surveillance infrastructure; and

 

                WHEREAS,  The following detailed activities will be conducted:

 

·          Strategic direction, coordination and assessment

·          Initiate active surveillance systems

·          Further develop infection control capabilities, committee and training capacities of  providers, first responders and emergency personnel

·          Planning for preparedness and  response

·          Pharmaceutical stockpile preparedness

·          Public health surveillance and detection capacities

·          Public health epidemiology investigation and response capacities

·          Communications connectivity for quick information flow and for distance learning enhancement

·          Risk assessments and risk communication plans of action

·          Further develop electronic communication systems

·          Emergency communications

·          Protection of data and information systems

·          Secure electronic exchange of pubic health information

·          Support of emergency response management

·          Full information technology

·          Public health risk communication:  assessment, planning, community access

·          Development, testing, and dissemination of effective public health communications and information sharing

·          Community readiness through training opportunities

·          Evaluation of training effectiveness

·          Lab testing development

·          Further develop relationships with state and federal authorities to develop comprehensive plans of action and intervention for any disaster, chemical hazards or BT issue

·          Strengthen bi-national  surveillance and communication effort for response and intervention; and

 

WHEREAS, the Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s full-time equivalent positions by creating 1 – Sr. Epidemiologist; 1 – Public Health Technician; 2 – Registered Nurse II; 1.25 – Sanitarians; and 1 – Health Educator, which will be funded by this grant.

 

WHEREAS,   the BT services will include the counties of Webb, Zapata, Him Hogg, and Duval.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAREDO THAT:

 

Section 1:              The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute the contract and accept the grants and their provisions as set forth by the Texas Department of Health.

                                               

Section 2:              The City of Laredo accepts funds in the amount of $411.076 in additional funds for the BioTerrorism Preparedness Program of the City of Laredo Health Department.

 

Section 3:              Revenue line item 226-0000-323-4089 funded by the Texas Department

of Health be increased from $0 to $411,076.

 

Section 4:              Expenditure line item 226-6092  be increased from $0 to $411.076.

 

Section 5:              The City Manager is hereby authorized to amend the City of Laredo’s full-time equivalent positions by creating 1 – Sr. Epidemiologist; 1 – Public Health Technician; 2 – Registered Nurse II; 1.25 – Sanitarians; and 1 – Health Educator, which will be funded by this grant.

 

Section 6:              The City Manager is hereby authorized to make transfers within the budget as allowable under the General Provisions of the existing general contract with the Texas Department of Health to meet the necessary costs to accomplish the scope of work for the project.

 

 

                PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPROVED BY THE MAYOR

 

ON THIS _________________ DAY OF ________________________, 2002.

 

 

 

 

_____________________

ELIZABETH G. FLORES

MAYOR

 

 

ATTEST:

 

_____________________

GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.

CITY SECRETARY

 

 

APPROVED AS TO FORM:

 

______________________

JAIME FLORES

CITY ATTORNEY