Agenda Report
September 12, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Public Health Department
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH ERIC
HANDLER, MD, MPH TO SERVE AS INTERIM HEAL TH OFFICER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $372,528 FOR A ONE YEAR PERIOD,
WITH AN OPTIONAL EXTENSION PERIOD OF UP TO ONE
ADDITIONAL YEAR
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Find that the proposed contract is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3), and 15378; as the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Eric Handler, MD, MPH, for service as Interim Health Officer for one year and in an amount not-to-exceed $372,528. An optional extension period of up to one additional year at the same rate of compensation is requested, to be exercised in the sole discretion of the City Manager. The maximum contract term is two years and the grand total not to-exceed contract amount over that two year term is $745,056. Competitive price bidding is not required pursuant to City Charter Section 1002(F)(contracts for professional or unique services), and the selection was the result of the competitive selection process required by Section 4.08.047 of the Pasadena Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND:
Since 1892, the Pasadena Public Health Department has been responsible for helping protect, maintain and improve the health of the Pasadena community. The City of Pasadena is one of three cities in the state of California that maintains its own MEETING OF __ og_/_l_2_/_2_2_ AGENDA ITEM NO. _ __;7 __ _
CONTRACT AWARD FOR HEAL TH OFFICER
September 12, 2022
independent local health jurisdiction with responsibility for a wide variety of services that support the three core public health functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance. The Pasadena Public Health Department is committed to building trusting relationships with the community it serves; providing high-quality services; making health services accessible; instilling the value of public health; and creating opportunities that foster health professional excellence.
All local health jurisdictions in the state of California are required to appoint a physician that is in good standing and meets the qualifications of a health officer as set forth in Health and Safety Code, Section 101,005 to serve as "Health Officer''. The state invests broad authority in local health officers to respond to public health emergencies and to engage in core public health activities such as conducting public health surveillance and issuing isolation and quarantine orders. In addition, local health officers provide medical and public health consultation to a variety of public health and environmental health programs of the City in conformance with provisions of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California, the City of Pasadena health and sanitation code and other related laws, standards and regulations.
The Health Officer also performs critical duties for preserving and protecting public health such as:
• Interpret federal and state public health policy and guidance and provide staff direction on local implementation;
• Plan, organize, direct and coordinate clinical activities designed to protect public health;
• Provide medical consultation to public health staff and other personnel on matters related to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control of diseases of public health significance;
• Assess, plan and organize health operations to meet community health needs; • Provide advice, guidance, consultation, and policy direction to local physicians, laboratories, hospitals, health care providers, and the public in matters relating to the diagnosis, investigation, control and prevention of communicable diseases. • Maintain a network with other city, county, state and federal officials on matters related to communicable disease;
• Represent the City of Pasadena in local, regional, and state discussions about population health; and
• Deliver public health information to the community through news media.
On July 25, 2022, a Request for Proposals for Public Health Officer was posted on PlanetBids by the Office of the City Manager generating notices to 77 4 registered vendors. Of the 12 prospective vendors who downloaded the Request for Proposals documents, three were local. One responsive proposal was received. The Interim City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Interim Director of Public Health evaluated the responsive proposal. In his proposal, Eric Handler, MD, MPH, detailed his ability to provide the desired services as summarized above. Based on Dr. Handler's prior work experience, education, training, and proposed approach, his proposal was deemed highly qualified.
CONTRACT AWARD FOR HEAL TH OFFICER
September 12, 2022
Dr. Handler has a long and distinguished career in public service. Most recently, Dr.
Handler served as the Public Health Officer for Orange County from 2006 to 2019. His duties included public health disaster management and a focus on preserving and protecting community health through environmental health programs, obesity prevention, disease surveillance, and health care provision for people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Handler's understanding of public health, access to state and regional networks with public health colleagues, and experience serving as a local health officer demonstrate his ability to successfully perform health officer duties for the City of Pasadena. Dr. Handler will provide services a minimum of 36 hours per week but will be on-call 24 hours a day to respond to public health emergencies, including communicable disease control cases and natural disasters.
On August 22, 2022, Dr. Ying-Ying Goh began her personal leave for twelve months.
During this transition period, Dr. Parveen Kaur has provided Health Officer support. Dr.
Kaur is an infectious disease specialist and has provided on-site outpatient pulmonary and tuberculosis evaluation and treatment services for the Department since July 2021.
During this period, she also served as the backup Health Officer when Dr. Goh was unavailable. Dr. Kaur will continue to provide Health Officer support until an Interim Health Officer begins work.
The scope of work for this contract is aligned with the job specifications for the City of Pasadena Health Officer classification. The hourly rate is comparable to that of related contracted services.
COUNCIL POLICY CONSIDERATION:
The proposed action is consistent with the City Council's strategic planning goal to ensure public safety by securing the services of a Health Officer to preserve and protect community health.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
The action proposed herein is not a project subject to CEQA, pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(2), 15060(c)(3) and 15378. CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(2) states that an activity is not subject to CEQA if "the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment." The proposed activity consists of professional services wherein no direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment would result. For the same reason, the proposed activity is not a CEQA Project as defined in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 and is, therefore, also not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15060(c)(3).
CONTRACT AWARD FOR HEALTH OFFICER
September 12, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost of this action will be $372,528 through September 10, 2023. It is anticipated that $300,888 of the contract value will be expended in FY 2023. Sufficient appropriations are available in the Health Fund FY 2023 Operating Budget. The remaining cost of the contract will be included in the budget development process for the FY 2024 Operating Budget.
Respectfully submitted,
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Interim Director of Public Health
Approved by:
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City Manager .