HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - DISCUSSION OF FORMING A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPART (2)Agenda Item: 10
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CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:1
DATE:
September 22, 2020
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION OF FORMATION OF A LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT:
City Manager's Office
PRESENTER:
Kenneth W. Striplin
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Discuss and provide direction to staff.
2. If deemed appropriate to explore further, authorize the transfer of $25,000 from Contingency
Account 19300-5401.001 to Professional Services account 19000-5161.002 to hire a
consultant to conduct an analysis on the feasibility of creating and operating a local Public
Health Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents, subject to City Attorney
approval.
BACKGROUND
At the September 8, 2020, regular City Council meeting, Mayor Smyth requested that the City
Council discuss at the September 22, 2020, regular meeting, the possible creation of a Public
Health Department.
After nearly seven months of diligently adhering to the guidelines and directives issued by both
State and County Public Health officials, the City of Santa Clarita (City) remains focused on
continuing to combat the virus, while allowing our local economy to safely and responsibly
initiate the recovery process. However, many of the countywide restrictions do not appear to be
justified in Santa Clarita based upon local infection and recovery rates.
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COVID-19 Cases
According to data published on September 9, 2020, by the Los Angeles County Department of
Public Health, the City has seen 3,120 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Factoring in the
population of Santa Clarita, the third most populous community in the Los Angeles County
(County) with 225,000 residents, this equates to 1.39 percent of the City's population having
been infected, most of which have recovered. As of September 9, 2020, Santa Clarita accounts
for only 1.25 percent of the County's 249,859 COVID-19 cases.
Economic Impact
Even with the County recently relaxing some orders, most businesses are still closed, and for
those businesses that have been allowed to re -open, it is only in a limited capacity.
The local economy in Santa Clarita experienced a sharp decline with the abrupt closures and
continues to be impacted, resulting in many businesses closing and significant job loss. A study
published by Wallethub on April 29, 2020, ranked Santa Clarita as the 17th city in the nation
(third in California) with the biggest growth in unemployment due to COVID-19.
The economy in Santa Clarita relies heavily on entertainment, travel, film, aerospace production,
retail, and food service -sectors that have been shut down under current the Safer at Home Order.
City Council Action
At the City Council meeting on May 12, 2020, the City Council directed staff to disseminate a
letter from the Mayor to Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Barger opposing any further
extensions to the Safer at Home Order and requesting a variance for cities in the North County
region who have substantially lower case numbers than the majority of the County. Additionally,
the Council requested a committee of the Council (Mayor Pro Tem Miranda and Councilmember
Kellar) meet with the City Manager and Supervisor Barger to discuss the request. The meeting
took place on Thursday, May 21, 2020.
On May 28, 2020, the City sent a letter addressed to Governor Newsom supporting the
application submitted by the County and urged the California Department of Public Health to
grant the County a variance. Notwithstanding these efforts, no such variance was granted.
Therefore, it is recommended the City Council discuss the possible creation of a Public Health
Department and if deemed appropriate by the City Council, then appropriate $25,000 to hire a
consultant to complete the analysis of such creation. The study would evaluate different models
of service delivery, scope of services provided, and potential revenues and expenses, among
other factors.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
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FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, $25,000 will be transferred from Council
Contingency to Professional Services expenditure account 19000-5161.002 to conduct the
analysis.
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