Approval of Resolution No. 2019/521 is projected to increase Environmental Health fee revenues by approximately $1.3 million.
The Contra Costa Environmental Health Division of the Health Services Department exists to protect and promote public health through programs for safe food, safe water for drinking and recreation, the sanitary management of wastes, and development of land in a manner protective of the environment. Legal authority for environmental health programs is obtained from the California Health and Safety Code, Government Code, Public Resources Code, Water Code, California Code of Regulations Titles 15, 17, 22, and 24, local ordinances and regulations and the California Constitution.
The Environmental Health Division is almost wholly funded with fee revenue. Division staff has conducted a review of multiple years of time accounting data to develop fees for 2019 that are aligned with the inspection activity and risk function by type of business. All field staff account for their time spent on facility inspections by using commercial software developed for the Environmental Health programs. By utilizing the updated time and risk factors by business type, staff determined that certain fees warrant an increase while other fees can remain unchanged.
Additional revenue is needed to pay for increases in staff wages since the last major adjustment in 2014, and the anticipated retention of additional staff. Increases are proposed to some of the existing fees, including fees that apply to food facilities, plan reviews, medical waste permits, body art facilities and practitioners, sewage collection and disposal systems and transport, wells and borings, and some solid waste activities. Due to increased efficiencies no changes are needed to some of the fees. New fees are proposed to fund new programs, including the Safe Drug Disposal and Commercial Cannabis programs, and some of the existing programs.
The new and adjusted fees are set forth in the fee schedule and attached hereto as Attachment A. Additionally, the report that explains the basis for fee adjustments and calculations it attached, as well, as two accompanying exhibits (A and B).
These new and adjusted fees are exempt from the CEQA pursuant to Section 15273 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations in that the proposed fees are for the purpose of meeting operating expenses and for purchasing materials and equipment to provide the identified services.
If Resolution No. 2019/521 is not adopted, current fees will remain in place. Revenue from the current fees together with other revenues may not be sufficient to pay the anticipated costs of the Environmental Health Division in Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
Received report from Environmental Health staff regarding proposed new fees and adjustments to current fees to fund Environmental Health programs.
Opened a public hearing on proposed Resolution No. 2019/521, which would establish new fees and adjust existing fees that fund the Environmental Health Division of the Contra Costa County Health Services Department; received and considered all oral and written testimony; and CLOSE the hearing.
Found that the proposed fee adjustments are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15273 of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Adopted Resolution No. 2019/521, establishing a schedule of fees set forth in Attachment A to the resolution.
Directed the Conservation and Development Director, or designee, to prepare and file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk.
Directed the Health Services Director to arrange for payment of a $25 fee to the Department of Conservation and Development to process the Notice of Exemption and a $50 fee to the County Clerk to file the Notice of Exemption.