H
HAYWARD
COUNCIL REFERRAL MEMORANDUM
To: Hayward Mayor and City Council
From: Council Members George Syrop, Julie Roche, & Ray Bonilla Jr.
Subject: Referral - Developing Hayward's Vulnerable Needs Registry Date: 6/6/2023
BACKGROUND:
Response Teams that are prepared with information about individuals with special needs (such as the elderly, unhoused, and people with disabilities) provide improved response times during public emergencies. The Hayward Fire Department's (HFD) Emergency Services division currently possesses a secure database for storing resident information, however its resident data is limited and the County only provides resident information during disasters, creating more bureaucratic hurdles during life-or-death situations. This referral aims to expand HFD's database, thereby improving disaster readiness for our most vulnerable residents.
SUMMARY:
This referral requests that Council direct staff to:
1. Define the scope of "vulnerable needs" to determine which residents should be included in the Vulnerable Needs Registry database, what information should be collected, how and when the information will be used, and how resident privacy will be protected given the diverse nature of Hayward's population.
2. Engage with Spectrum, Community Resources for Independent Living, Meals on Wheels, Tiburcio Vasquez, La Familia, South Hayward Parish, LIFE Eldercare, and any other relevant local service providers to create awareness of the Vulnerable Needs Registry and develop processes for their clients to opt-in.
3. Create a public-facing City webpage that would allow residents who fall within the defined scope of "vulnerable needs" to opt-in to the Vulnerable Needs Registry & collaborate with the City Manager's Office to promote the Registry's webpage.
4. Present a report on the status of this project as part of the annual HFD report to Council.
Ili Kicke Papo
ulie Roche George Syrop
Council Member Council Member Council Member
STRATEGIC ROADMAP:
This referral supports the Strategic Priority to Enhance Community Safety & Quality of Life.
Specifically, this referral relates to the following project:
Support Safety through Emergency Preparedness, Planning, and Response Project Q9: Update comprehensive emergency services plan for community and staff. -
REFERENCES:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/emergency-monitoring.html "States have used registries to identify and locate people with disabilities by asking them or their caregivers to voluntarily enter information into a registry such as Smart911, designed to identify individuals who may require special assistance during emergencies. Smart911 is a secure, national database supported by fees paid by public agencies. The services are available to anyone, but are especially of value for individuals who self-identify as having special needs. Emergency response personnel use this information to make better decisions and improve response time, and municipalities can sign up for advanced services that enable them to know who lives in their community that might require additional assistance in the case of an emergency. Several Disability and Health programs around the country are now encouraging people with disabilities to sign-up for Smart911 or similar registries."