02-23-2021 - Public CommentsLisa Sherrick
From: Good evening city council._
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 2:24 PM
To: Lisa Sherrick
Subject: West Covina Health Department
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
My name is Lydia Sandoval, and I have lived in West Covina for 5 years.
I am married and have two kids. My parents and grandparents all live in West Covina.
I am very encouraged to hear that the city council may be starting a West Covina Department of Health. I am
encouraged that the funding is coming from federal, state and county sources, not the city's general fund.
We have both children and seniors in our family, I have unique perspective on the way the pandemic has effected
families.
Dealing with the county is difficult, at best. Long periods on hold, sometimes even being disconnected.
I think an independent Health Department for the city of West Covina is a wonderful idea, and I look forward to this
being approved.
This will benefit all West Covina residence.
My family loves the idea that in West Covina, we have our own Police and Fire Departments. Creating a West Covina
Department of Health seems like a logical next step.
Sincerely,
Lydia Sandoval
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
PARKER & COVERT LLP
Mayor Lopez-Viado and City Council Members
February 23, 2021
Page 3
• Crisis hotlines at the local and national level;
• Updates related to immunization requirements for students;
• Emergency preparedness response safety plan and toolkits;
• Cardiovascular guides and education materials; and
• Adolescent health guides (e.g., reproductive health, teen parenting resources,
avoidance of youth and gang violence, sexually transmitted diseases and
sexual health information)
For example, in the area of outbreak prevention and containment, school nurses
contact LACDPH whenever there is an outbreak. LACDPH in turn immediately provides
the schools with a comprehensive sanitizing protocol. In the area of mental health,
LACDPH provides ongoing suicide prevention resources and training to District staff. In
addition, District nurses take part in LACDPH webinar trainings throughout the year so
that best practices can be implemented throughout the District. In providing resources for
students without medical/dental insurance, the District makes calls directly to LACDPH
on behalf of parents to facilitate enrollment in these insurance programs.
These services are integral to the operation of the District and are expertly provided
by LACDPH. If the City terminates its relationship with LACDPH, the District fears that
the City's proposed health department will not be able to provide the District with the
services needed to protect the health and service of District students, families, and staff.
Thank you for your consideration of these very important health services provided
by LACDPH when you deliberate the proposed resolution and ordinance. As you can see,
there are very significant and ongoing health services relied upon by the District in
providing a safe and healthy environment for the students, families, and staff of West
Covina.
V �yurs,
Charles D. Hinman, Ed.D.
Superintendent
cc: West Covina Unified School District Board of Education
1293401/ WC.99
Lisa Sherrick
From: Marcela Arevalo
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 1:38 PM
To: City Clerk
Cc: Letty Lopez-Viado
Subject: ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 2/23/21: meeting
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
To all Council Members,
I'm a West Covina resident, my name is Marcy Arevalo in regards to the public health department. Our city is in need for
a lot other important things, that are utilized by all residents in our community, benches removed because they are
broken, Bathroom sinks, that are drinking fountains, instead of hand washing sinks, bathroom door stall with no locks,
bathroom facilities out of order, none of these items are in the budget, to be replaced or fixed. Because their is no
money. Not enough staff, to take care of these. Basic necessities, for our community to be safe & clean.
There is homelessness (encampments), graffiti, etc. Covid has affected us all, the last thing we need is for our city to fall
apart, and more money to be spent. Our families are being affected at home, out doors, everywhere we go. It is a
constant reminder, everyday. Everyone is struggling. Children are struggling, look around, listen to your resident. Go out
into our community and see, what we see. We live here. Watching it fall apart, should not be ok, with anyone. A health
department is not the answer. Please help make our city a better place to live.
Thank you, all
Marcela Arevalo
(I can be reached via email).
g.. ��`
��.�
�'- �' ;'
`"
�* �, w �.
r �> �
a
;dW
i�,
�
/
KE
4 j
`y
t
r �
a
M
Is
r�
Fj
t•
,- .
Lisa Sherrick
From: Cynthia Viera
Sent: Monday, February 22, 2021 8:13 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: City council meeting comment
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear Mayor and city council members
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of West Covina. Our city as I know it is in financial problems and we cannot
afford to add on to our debts by breaking away from the LA county health department at this time. Yes, this may seem
like a good idea by having more local control on what happens in our city. But due to the financial burden this brings on
to our city and the hard working citizens I can not stand by this. Our pa rks are suffering already by the lack of funding
and programs for the homeless. Del Norte park has several homeless and the park is very dirty. Please reconsider
following through with something that could be a huge financial crisis.
Thank you
Cynthia Avila
Sent from my iPhone
Lisa Sherrick
From: bob kirk
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 1:49 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: Tuesday, February 23,2021, Special City Council Meeting
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
Robert W. Kirk
I am not for the Los Angeles County Health and Safety Code section 101375 as it pertains to West Covina. Each city is
unique and "one size doesn't fit all".
I am also not for the manner in which Resolution #2021-15 and Urgency Ordinance #2476 are presented to the
community. Measures of this magnitude should be vetted and transparent and follow customary City Council protocol
with the agenda published and the community allowed to comment, not hastily convened as a "Special Council
Meeting" to meet at the odd hour of 4PM with little chance for community comment.
If the Council wishes to establish our own Health Department, let's do it the proper way with residents input and
residents approval and not rush to meet a March first deadline. It seems to me that creating our own Health
Department would not be an easy task considering all the legal and basic services it would have too satisfy.
Since we are in the "Top Ten" of cities in "most financial trouble", an undertaking of this size is ill founded.
Covid-19 numbers are going down. People are getting vaccinated. Restrictions are being eased
Don't rush to a bad conclusion
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Los ANGELES
(011c Health
,f
IIPOtN��x
BARBARA FERRER, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed.
BOARD or SUPERVISORS
Director
Hilda I. Bolls
MUNTU DAVIS, M.D., M.P.H.
Flret District
County Health Officer
Holly J. Mllchell
Second DisMd
MEGAN MCCLAIRE, M.S.P.H.
Shell. Kehl
Chief Deputy Director
miry 91 tract
Janice Hahn
313 North Figueroa Street, Room 806
Fourth District
Los Angeles, California 90012
Kathryn Barger
TEL (213) 28"117 • FAX (213) 975-1273
Fifth District
w ,publichealth.lacountv.aov
February 23, 2021
The Honorable Letty Lopez-Viado
City of West Covina
City Hall Council Chambers
1444 W. Garvey Avenue South
West Covina, California 91790
Re: Resolution 2021-15 and Urgency Ordinance No. 2476
Dear Mayor and Honorable West Covina City Councilmembers:
This is to provide you with comment regarding the Council's decision to consider the
public health services agreement between the County and the City of West Covina, which has
been in place and working well at no cost to the City for decades. Although it is well within a
city's jurisdiction to create its own public health department, the Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health (Public Health) is not aware of any planning or coordination with
the City for this drastic change. Public Health is concerned that even if the City has made plans
to create and operationalize the infrastructure necessary to run an effective public health
department, there are significant hurdles to ensuring to protection of the health of the city's
residents.
Like the only other municipal public health departments recognized by the State of
California, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Berkeley, the City will need to appoint its own health
officer and provide sufficient infrastructure to operate a local health jurisdiction. State mandated
public health operations, based on 17 CCR § 1276, include: Public Health Statistics (recording of
birth and death certificates); Communicable disease control; medical and nursing services to
promote maternal and child health; environmental health and sanitation services; laboratory
services, and nutrition, chronic disease, social factors affecting health, public health nursing
services, and occupational health services. In its agreements with cities, like West Covina,
Public Health provides all services required of a local health jurisdiction to those cities at no
cost.
Per State law, once appointed, a city health officer must enforce and observe all orders,
quarantine and other regulations concerning public health prescribed by the State Public Health
Officer. During this last year, while acting as the health officer for the City, Public Health's
Acute Communicable Disease Control Unit and Outbreak Management Bureau have investigated
45 COVID-19 outbreaks within the City to ensure isolation and quarantine measures are
Mayor Lopez-Viado and West Covina City Council Members
February 23, 2021
Page 2
implemented, testing was conducted, and all infection control guidance was implemented.
Further, Public Health's Environmental Health Division has conducted 660 inspections related to
compliance with COVID-19 infection control requirements. This does not include the over 500
routine inspections of permitted businesses along with the mandated services and programs
which include food, housing and institutions, land development, milk and dairy products, public
pools, waste management, water supply, body art, and other services and programs as required
by State or local laws.
Should this council elect to create its own city public health department, Public Health
will be ready to work with the City to transfer all of the duties of a local public health
jurisdiction. Until that transition is complete and the City's public health department is
recognized by the State as a local public health jurisdiction, Public Health will continue to serve
this council and the residents of West Covina in its current capacity.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please let me know.
Sincerely,
cep p,�PH
Mqntu Davis, M.D., M.P.H.
County Health Officer
Lisa Sherrick
From:
Jay Meader
Sent:
Monday, February 22, 2021 9:06 PM
To:
Letty Lopez-Vlado; Dario Castellanos; Tony Wu; Brian Tabatabai; Rosario Diaz; Lisa
Sherrick
Cc:
Jerri Potras; Jefferson De Roux; Brian A. Jobst; Jim Grivich; Ann Grivich; Steve Bennett;
Cynthia Meader; Gloria Gandara
Subject:
Feb 23 Special Meeting
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
West Covina City Council Members
I am writing today to take Issue with what appears to be a hastily constructed, III conceived plan to withdraw from the Los
Angeles County Health Dept. The language of the direction from the City Attorney's Office raises concern from the
beginning sentence when it is stated that"It Is recommended that the City Council provide direction to staff..". Who is
'recommending' and exactly where is this originating? It certainly is not originating from the residents of West Covina, so it
must be assumed it is originating with the City Council itself.
There are several issues involved with this idea and any one of them is sufficient to make any reasonable person
question the advisability of this course of action.There has been no public discussion of the cost, the effect such a
bureaucracy would have upon our unsustainable pension and benefit contractual obligations or the possible lawsuits
and liabilities caused by non compliance with the State issued business and school closure mandates.
The statement by one of our Council Members that "We have to help our businesses" by itself is certainly not a
justification for such a drastic action that has been neither well thought out nor thoroughly researched.
There is absolutely no sense of urgency surrounding this ill advised move and to include an Urgency Ordinance NO. 2476
- AN coupled with a last minute notification of a special meeting smacks of manipulation and back room dealings. Once
more the residents of West Covina have the perception of being force fed a very questionable decision with no opportunity
for any real input that will not be summarily dismissed by the Council.
Finally, this Council should review the State Auditor's Report because all of the past mistakes that brought us to the edge
of the fiscal cliff are being repeated here. We simply do not have the money for this and the residents will not agree to a
tax increase to create even more employees that support and elect City officials. All Council Members must vote their own
conscience with the best interests of the residents in mind.
Jay Meader
A West Covina Resident
Lisa Sherrick
From: Ang Cruz
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 8:40 AM
To: City Clerk
Cc: llopez_viado@westcovina.org; Dario Castellanos; Tony Wu; Rosario Diaz; Brian Tabatabai
Subject: Oral Communications - 02/23/2021 City Council
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Hello,
I am a resident of West Covina and I wanted to make a public comment about the city council's consideration to
withdraw from the LA County Public Health Department.
I have many questions regarding this decision that I feel have not been answered and need to be discussed.
My questions are:
1. How much would it cost to create a local health department especially given the city's financial troubles?
2. How will the city contradict state and federal COVID recommendations and mandates?
3. What are the risks if we choose to opt -out of assistance from LA County Public Health's data and recommendations?
4. If approved, in between developing this local health department, what does the city plan to do in providing guidance
to its residents?
5. Is there the option to return to the LA County Public Health Department in the future?
6. Will a timeline of the proposed local health department be announced and easily accessible to anyone interested in
learning more about it and keeping up to date with it?
I, and many others, hope to have these answers whether or not the council chooses to go forward with this proposal.
Thank you and have a good day.
Lisa Sherrick
From: Jimmy Lima
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 11:35 AM
To: City Clerk
Subject: "Ural Communications — 2/23/2021"
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links,
especially from unknown senders.
Dear City Council Members,
I ask that you please provide us with more information and transparency with regards to having our own health
department. Seems to me that this is another decision that is being rushed without due diligence a nd public input. As a
former business owner myself, it is not that I disapprove of having our own health department, it is the matter how you
are conducting business. What concerns me is the city not being financially solvent to take on a huge liability like this
one. How are we going to pay for this? Where is the plan? Why are we not focusing on matters that are important to us
the residents? Have you conducted a needs assessment to see what the needs are of your citizens? What is your vision?
Seems to me that we are all over the place, with no plan or vision for the city. I ask that we please focus on the city's
budget and make that your priority. Without being financially solvent, the city will not be able to operate. I implore you
to please once again read the letter CA State Auditor and CPA Elaine M. Howle wrote to the Governor and CA Legislators
wrote on December 1, 2020 about West Covina audit report. It said the following, "This report concludes that
West Covina is a high risk city because of the significant risks it faces related to its
financial and operational management." The report continues saying, "West Covina made
certain financial decisions that appear questionable or were based on insufficient
analyses. Moreover, the city has not developed a formal financial recovery plan with
specific timelines, monitoring, and reporting to improve its long-term financial health. We
also identified instances of inadequate management..." The CA State Auditor did not say
for us to do our own Health Department. In the contrary, it states for the city to get their
finances in order and to develop a plan of action. Clearly this will be another one of those
decisions that the auditor clearly states not to do. Do not let the voices of a few distract
you from your responsibility. This is a once in a lifetime pandemic that we will never see
again in our lifetime. The State will be opening up soon and the Health Department will no
longer be needed. This was needed back in March of 2020, but not now and definitely not
now without having the funds to pay for it. May I suggest creating a community task force
to develop ideas on how we can become financially stable and present their findings to
you. We can accomplish a lot if we work together as a community. Respectfully,
Jimm Lima, West Covina Citizen
Lisa Sherrick
From:
lawrence
Sent:
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 12:26 PM
To:
City Clerk
Subject:
Oral Communications — 2/23/2021
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear City Council,
My address is
I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed Termination of Health Officer Services provided by the
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The City of West Covina is not in the financial position to
create a new health department that must provide the basic services pursuant to 17 CCR 1276 as noted in the
meeting's agenda, under Overview of Requirements for Operating a Local Health Department.
Furthermore, it is time and effort wasted to reinvent the wheel during this pandemic. The City of West Covina
should be focused on engaging in collaboration with County Public Health, not chasing this unrealistic idea.
Lawrence Murata-Shih
0 s_ Virus -free. www.avq.com
Lisa Sherrick
From: Daniel Luna
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 12:35 PM
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comments Submission -Special Council Meeting on February 23, 2021
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking
links, especially from unknown senders.
Dear West Covina City Council,
While there is likely room for our county health department to improve Its operations, public guidance and decision
making, the idea of West Covina creating its own health department like Long Beach or Pasadena is not a prudent action
at this point. I am not entirely sure of the motivations for this but they do appear to bean effort to distract or to
appease certain interests with a far-fetched fantasy.
Given the recent infection and death rates there is hope in the horizon with the COVID-19 pandemic but we are not out
of the woods. I cannot imagine how a West Covina controlled Health Department would do a better job with
responding to COVID-19. The issues facing our responses are being experienced by everyone in the entire world with
limited vaccination supplies and other cultural and economic issues at play. From the recent presentation and what
Councilmember Wu has outlined it appears that the primary motivation is to help out our small businesses. While we
should figure out ways to help out our small businesses as well as all community members, now is not the time to
explore a quick end around the county health and safety guidelines with a city health department. LA County has 88
cities and about 15 that like West Covina have 100k+ residents (only two have their own health departments) and it
simply does not make sense to further decentralize our public government response to COVID-19.
Given the budget issues in the city, now is not even the time to explore and spend money paying private consultants to
explore this mid -battle idea. Instead West Covina should work with our county and State officials to ensure that all who
want to be vaccinated are and that we support each other with becoming a fiscally sustainable community.
Sincerely,
Daniel Luna
VIA C-MAIL
Cfty Clerk a westcovina.ore
City of West Covina
1444 West Garvey Avenue South
West Covina, CA 91790
Attention: Letty Lopez-Viado, Mayor
Dario Castellanos, Mayor Pro Tern
Brian Tabatabai, Councilmember
Tony Wu, Councilman
Rosario Diaz, Councilwoman
David Carmany, City Manager
Re: Oral Communications — February 23, 2021 — Emergency Resolution
Terminating LA County Health Officer's Services Effective July 1, 2021
Dear Mayor Lopez-Viado and City Council Members:
I write on behalf of the West Covina Unified School District ("District") and its
nearly 10,000 students and 1,000 employees to respectfully oppose the City Council's
adoption of Resolution No. 2021-15 and Urgency Ordinance No. 2476 to terminate the Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health ("LACDPH") provision of services to the
City of West Covina effective July 1, 2021. The District's opposition is based on its
concern that the City's proposed health department may not be capable of providing all of
the services LACDPH currently provides to the District.
Because of the importance of this matter for the West Covina Unified School
District, 1 am submitting this letter in writing to your Honorable City Council and City
Manager.
As you know, 17 CCR § 1276 requires that the proposed health department must
offer at least the following services in the City, which would include services on behalf of
students, families, and staff of the West Covina Unified School District:
Collection, tabulation, and analysis of all public health statistics;
b. Health education programs;
12934Av�W%Vv Merced Avenue • West Covina, CA 91790 • 626.939.4600 %\0
PARKER & COVERT LLP
Mayor Lopez-Viado and City Council Members
February 23, 2021
Page 2
C. Communicable disease control (including availability of adequate isolation
facilities);
d. Medical, nursing, education, and other services to promote maternal and
child health;
e. Environmental health and sanitation services/programs (food, housing and
institutions, radiological health, milk and dairy products, water -oriented
recreation, safety, vector control, waste management, among others);
f Laboratory services;
g. Services in nutrition;
h. Services in chronic disease;
i. Services directed to social factors affecting health;
j. Services in occupational health,
k. Appropriate services in the field of family planning; and
1. Public health nursing services to provide for preventative and therapeutic
care.
LACDPH provides essential direct support services and resources to District
students, families, and staff. These include the following, all of which fall squarely within
the requirements of 17 CCR § 1276:
• Resources for students without medical/dental insurance;
• Guidance and consultation related to communicable disease when an
outbreak occurs at a school site;
• Strategies for infection control and prevention;
• Guidance to our local community with up to date information regarding
health and safety;
• Health education training and webinars to staff and community members;
129344vt / WC.99