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Community Development Agency, Environmental Management Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Accept grant award in the amount of $10,000 through the National Association of County and City Health Officials for the Voluntary National Food Regulatory Program Standards Mentorship Program;
2) Upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute Agreement 327-O1611, in the amount of $10,000, for the approximate term, effective retroactively, of December 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016; and
3) Delegate authority to the Community Development Agency Director, or designee, to execute all grant related documents, including, but not limited to, reports, request for payments and all associated documents necessary to secure and expend grant funds as designated under the Agreement.
FUNDING: National Association of County and City Health Officials Grant. (Federal Funds)
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Environmental Management Division (EMD), recommending the Board accept grant award in the amount of $10,000.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In accordance with Board of Supervisors (Board) Policy A-6, the Board is the sole authority for accepting grant awards and approving grant agreements. After acceptance of a grant award and approval of the grant agreement, the Board may delegate authority to the Community Development Agency Director or designee to execute all documents, including, but not limited to, the grant funding agreement, amendments, request for payments, reports, and all associated documents necessary to secure grant funds and implement the approved grant project.
On October 31, 2015, EMD submitted an application to the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) for the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Mentorship Program (Attachment A). On November 30, 2015, EMD was notified of an award in the amount of $10,000 for the term of the grant, December 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016, (Attachment B). The County of El Dorado was selected as one of 27 jurisdictions to collaborate and partner with NACCHO through support from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
NACCHO Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards Mentorship Program (Mentorship Program) is funded through a five-year cooperative agreement between NACCHO and the FDA. The Mentorship Program connects local health departments with peers in order to learn, share experiences, and acquire tools and resources related to the FDA Retail Food Program Standards. The Mentorship Program, which features tracks for both mentors and mentees, matches practitioners experienced in applying the Retail Food Program Standards with those newly or currently enrolled in the program who are looking for assistance, guidance, tools, resources, and recommendations.
EMD will be mentored by Riverside County, Department of Environmental Health, who will be providing guidance on FDA Retail Food Program, Standard No. 2, Trained Regulatory Staff. The guidance will help to enable consistency between EMD’s Registered Environmental Health Specialists by standardizing EMD’s retail food inspection program based on the FDA model.
EMD currently has five Registered Environmental Health Specialists who are responsible for inspecting approximately 950 permanent food facilities (e.g., restaurants, bars, grocery stores, etc.) and over 460 temporary food vendors that participate in 450 events (e.g., El Dorado County Fair, Jeepers Jamboree, Snow Globe, etc.) annually throughout the County. Through the Mentorship Program, one member of EMD will be trained to become a Statewide Standard and will subsequently train remaining staff on becoming standardized in the retail food program.
This Grant will also fund the purchase of two field computers that will benefit EMD’s retail food inspection program by allowing staff to complete inspections more efficiently.
NACCHO requires a grant agreement to implement the program. Upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, the Purchasing Agent will execute Agreement No. 327-O1611, in the amount of $10,000, for the approximate term of December 1, 2015 through August 31, 2016 (Attachment C).
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Pending County Counsel and Risk Management review and approval.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office recommends moving staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change in Net County Cost. No matching funds are required for this grant project.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Greg Stanton, REHS, Director
Community Development Agency
Environmental Management Division