TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents and any subsequent amendments, including any amendments to the award amount, with the State of California Department of Public Health (CDPH), to accept and expend funding in an amount not to exceed $2,807,624, for public health workforce and infrastructure, for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, with the option to extend for an additional one-year period, at the discretion of the City Manager; and
Increase appropriations in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department by $2,807,624, offset by grant revenue. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is awarding $2,807,624 to the Health and Human Services Department (Health Department) to enhance the City of Long Beach’s (City) public health workforce and infrastructure for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. These funds are considered ongoing and is part of the State’s baseline budget.
The COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need for adequate investment in public health and exposed significant gaps in the ability of CDPH and local health jurisdictions (LHJs) to respond to the needs of Californians rapidly and sustainably. While COVID-19 response has been successful, it has also exposed new challenges and highlighted several existing issues, including, but not limited to, health equity concerns with racial/ethnic and socio-geographic disparities in health access and outcomes; maintenance of regular operations when staff were redirected to large scale responses; implementation of testing, contact tracing, and vaccine infrastructure with insufficient historical investment for current needs; and insufficient administrative (financial management, grants management, contracts management, and personnel services), and communications infrastructure required to manage and track large scale funding streams effectively, recruit efficiently, and communicate broadly.
Upon evaluation of the City’s use of the grant award during the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, each fiscal year going forward, the State will be awarding a base funding amount of $350,000 per year to the City. The remaining award amount above the $350,000 will be provided proportionally as follows:
• 50 percent based on 2019, or most recent, population data
• 25 percent based on 2019, or most recent, poverty data
• 25 percent based on 2019, or most recent, share of the population that is Black/African American/Latinx/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Under the agreement with the CDPH, funding may be used to supplement, and not supplant, current public health operations. In addition, 70 percent of the funds allocated must be used to support the hiring and/or retention of permanent staff, including benefits and training. The remaining funds, not to exceed 30 percent, may be used for equipment, technology, supplies and other administrative purposes.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Taylor M. Anderson on September 21, 2022 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on September 30, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 18, 2022, to start implementing the program expeditiously.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City will receive funding not to exceed $2,807,624 for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. According to CDPH guidelines, any remaining unused balance for this period can be encumbered or expended until June 30, 2024. Of the $2,807,624, $701,906, or 25 percent, will be allocated to the Health Department as an advanced payment during the first year. The remaining amount will be allocated to the City once the 25 percent advanced payment has been fully expended. An appropriation increase in the amount of $2,807,624 is being requested in the Health Fund Group in the Health and Human Services Department, offset by grant revenue. Subsequent year appropriations will be requested during the annual budget process. No match or in-kind service is required. This recommendation has minimal impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Grant revenues will offset the cost of 13.6 employees across the department required to meet the scope outlined by the program.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
KELLY COLOPY
DIRECTOR
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER