Health and Human Services Committee Report on Conservatorship and APS

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The Director of Social Services should provide a public interest article about APS to the media (online and printed newspapers, TV 8 and the Social Services website) to inform concerned citizens how they can help APS provide services to clients in a more expeditious manner. (F4) Agency/Department(s) Required to Respond: • Social Services Director via the Board of Supervisors (90 Days) Health and Human Services Committee Health and Human Services Committee Environmental Health Oversight Summary: Lake County Environmental Health, a Division of the Lake County Health Department, has a basic mission to protect the people of Lake County through education and the enforcement of State health laws. Background: The Environmental Health Division is located on Bevins Court in the city of Lakeport. The Director has been with the Division since 1985 including eight years as Director. The Division has 14.5 positions which include a Financial Director. The Division is funded by a combination of funding sources. Currently, Environmental Health does not receive any money from the County General Fund. Approximately 55% of funds are collected from fees charged to regulated businesses and from permit services. Approximately 35% of funds come from public health realignment funds that come to local government from the State Vehicle License Fund. Approximately 10% of funds come from special grant projects such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food safety and the California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for above-ground petroleum storage safety inspections. The fiscal year budget for 2009-2010 is $1,258,193. The Division provides numerous services to the people of Lake County to include the following: • Food sanitation inspection. • Recreational swimming safety inspection. • Land development inspection. • Hazardous material inspection. • Septic tank inspection. • Solid waste management. • Public water system inspection. • Vector control. • Tattoo parlor inspection and licensing. • Control and inspection of emergency response and complaint response. The mandate and authority to implement these programs comes from Chapter 9 of the Lake County Code and from the state Health and Safety Code. Health and Human Services Committee Methodology / Procedure: In November, 2009 after reviewing requested documents, the Health and Human Services Committee of the Grand Jury conducted an oversight visit by interviewing members of the administrative staff at their offices on Bevins Court in Lakeport. The different notes of the committee members were compared for duplication and accuracy and were used to compile this report. Facts: • The Division keeps files of permits, inspections, emergency complaint responses and the resolutions for them. • Permits are required for all food operations. Restaurants, markets, non- profit groups, and organizations are inspected for sanitation wherever food is stored, handled, prepared, and cooked. • Restaurants are inspected three times annually and as needed. • Markets are inspected twice annually and as needed. • Non-profits and organizations open to the public are inspected annually. • Permit costs are discounted for non-profit organizations and temporary events. • Employees that conduct inspections for weekend events receive compensatory time instead of overtime. • A permit and registration fee is required for body piercing and tattoo parlors. • Safety and water chemistry permits are required for public swimming pools and spas. • During summer months, the Division analyzes water quality samples from public beach areas approximately one week before Memorial Day, The Fourth of July and Labor Day. • Permits are required for septic systems, including site evaluation, tank size and construction. • Permits are required for garbage company’s solid waste storage and disposal. • The Lake County Division of Environmental Health includes the Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) that deals with hazardous wastes and Health and Human Services Committee responds to hazardous waste emergencies. The agency also assists other Federal, State, County, city, and private agencies. • The Division inspects and issues permits to hazardous waste generators and inspects onsite treatment, onsite handlers, above ground, and underground storage tanks in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code. • Companies determined by the Lake County Health Department to have caused hazardous material spills are required to pay the cost of clean-up. • When Environmental Health performs a “private property clean-up” and the hazard was not caused by the property owner, the cost for clean-up is paid by the county through a special account. • Grant money for hazardous clean-up comes from the State. • No permit is required for a residential water connection to a community water system. • The Division handles public health risk situations, nuisance and health code compliance complaints. • Permit fees range in price from $34 per practitioner for body art establishments to $1,749 for large hazardous materials storage facilities. • The list of fees is extensive. A complete schedule of fees can be obtained from the Environmental Health Division. Findings: F1. The Environmental Health Division effectively enforces California State Health laws to guarantee environmental and health safety for the people of Lake County. F2. Application forms for permits and inspections are well developed, comprehensive and readily available. F3. The Division uses scheduled inspections and various priced permits appropriately. F4. Employees receive compensatory time instead of overtime as a cost saving measure. F5. Division budget documents were reviewed that indicated the Division was well within budget. This was confirmed by County budget reports. Recommendations: None Health and Human Services Committee