October 15, 2012 - City of Laredo

DATE:
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
SUBJECT: FINAL READING ORDINANCE 2012-0-175
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO CONTRACT WITH
10/15/2012 THE UNITED STATES HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION (USFDA), AMENDING THE FY 20 12-20 13 ANNUAL
BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES IN THE
AMOUNT OF $100,000.00 AND AMENDING THE FY 2012-2013 FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT POSITION LISTING (FTES) BY CREATING ONE (1)
INITIATED BY:
SANITARIAN I11 POSITION AND ONE (1) PUBLIC HEALTH TECHNICIAN
POSITION FOR THE CITY OF LAREDO HEALTH DEPARTMENT (CLHD) TO
ENHANCE CAPACITY AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN FOOD SAFETY
MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH
INAPPROPRIATE FOOD MANAGEMENT, STORAGE, ILLEGAL FOOD ENTRY
AND ILLEGAL FOOD VENDING FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING SEPTEMBER
I lo, 2012 THROUGH JUNE 30,20 13. (AS AMENDED)
STAFF SOURCE:
Cynthia Collazo Hector F. Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H.
Deputy City Manager Health Director
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On October 1,2012, Council introduced the Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
The United States Food and Drug Administration has awarded the City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) a
$300,000.00 grant over three (3) years (100,000.00 per year) to conduct an Innovative Food Safety Program.
The CLHD will employ innovative techniques using an updated automated food inspection and surveillance
system. The short term goal is to curb illegal food vending and improve food management; the long - term
outcome is to create a better awareness of food management, storage, preparation, food handling hazards,
personal hygiene and sanitation. Through this USFDA Food Inspection Innovation opportunity, the CLHD will
build capacity and workforce development, improving current automated inspection and surveillance system
improving our tracking and reporting, training, and inspection in the field to one more efficient and responsive.
I Specifically the automated system will facilitate better enforcement, quicker communication and improve I
surveillance. By increasing efficiency of field operations, we can also increase training and education at food
establishments and to the public. The CLHD will be able to provide better support for food establishments and
create better professionals for prevention and enforcement. These activities align themselves with the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention National Strategy to revitalize environmental public health and adhere to
the USFDA and CDC Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards.
The threat of food borne disease continues today in large part due to an increase in food establishments and an
increase in illegal food entry, illegal food storage facilities and illegal food vending, along with decreased staff
and lack of adequate public health professionals. Resources from this grant will include the creation of one (I)
FTE Sanitarian I11 Position, R36 and the creation of one (1) Public Health Technician Position, R36 (0.48 FTE
from USFDA grant - Account 6105, 0.35 FTE from EPAIBECC CEHI grant - Account 6803 and 0.17 FTE
from OPHP grant - Account 6007).
BUDGET ON NEXT PAGE
FINANCIAL: The City of Laredo Health Department will receive $100,000.00 in funds from HHS
FDA for the Food Inspection Innovation Program for the period beginning September 10, 2012 through
June 30, 2013. The revenue account 226-0000-321-6302 will increase by $100,000.00. The expenditure
division 226-6105 with the project number is HEFIO1 will increase by $100,000.00.
RECOMMENDATION: STAFF: Recommends that Council introduce the
Ordinance.