To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Health Services
Staff Name and Phone Number: Tina Rivera, 707-565-4774
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Interim Health Officer Appointment
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a resolution appointing Dr. Karen Smith to the position of Interim Health Officer for the County of Sonoma effective August 5, 2023.
B) Authorize the Director of Health Services to execute a professional services agreement with Dr. Karen Smith to provide Interim Health Officer services in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 through February 4, 2024.
end
Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors appoints the County Health Officer in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 101000. The Health Officer reports to the Board through the Director of Health Services. The County Health Officer provides leadership for the protection of public health, enforcement of public health regulations, and serves as an advisor to elected and appointed officials, members of the medical profession, and the public on matters affecting health and safety.
Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, who was appointed Interim County Health Officer on April 18, 2023, has notified the County of her resignation, effective August 4, 2023. As such, the County has an immediate need to appoint an Interim Health Officer pending a recruitment to fill the position.
This item requests adoption of a resolution appointing Dr. Karen Smith to the position of Interim Health Officer for the County of Sonoma. In addition, this item requests approval to execute an agreement with Dr. Smith for Interim Health Officer services for a lump sum monthly rate of $12,500 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $75,000. This amount represents approximately half of the estimated cost of a permanent full time Health Officer as the Interim Health Officer will not be engaging in all activities conducted by a permanent full time Health Officer including staff meetings, organizing community fora, periodic meetings with hospital and systems leadership, engaging initiatives such as street medicine, opioid response and review of medical policies and protocols. If approved, Dr. Smith will assume the role of Interim Health Officer effective August 5, 2023.
Discussion:
The Board of Supervisors appoints the County Health Officer in accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 101000. The Health Officer reports to the Board through the Director of Health Services. The County Health Officer provides leadership for the protection of public health, enforcement of public health regulations, and serves as an advisor to elected and appointed officials, members of the medical profession, and the public on matters affecting health and safety.
Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana, who was appointed Interim County Health Officer on April 18, 2023, has notified the County of her resignation, effective August 4, 2023. The Department of Health Services is finalizing the recruitment for a permanent Health Officer. The Health Officer recruitment opened on June 6, 2023. To date, 11 applications have been received, with two of the candidates meeting minimum qualifications and having been referred to the department for interview. The Department of Health Services interviewed candidates in July. The top candidate identified from the interview process will need to complete pre-employment steps, which include reference and background checks and medical clearance, before an offer of employment can be extended. Based on the current timeline, it is anticipated the department will seek Board approval to appoint a new Health Officer in October. As such, the County has an immediate need to appoint an Interim Health Officer until the permanent Health Officer is appointed by the Board of Supervisors.
Department staff approached several experienced Health Officers and former public health clinicians to consider filling the position on an interim basis. Dr. Karen Smith agreed to the temporary assignment under a reduced assignment described in the attached agreement. In this reduced and temporary capacity, the interim duties include providing medical expertise in response to emerging threats and issues, directing the clinical aspects of emergency response, and providing medical consultative advice to clinicians. Additionally, assuming responsibility for critical departmental functions including the issuance of birth and death records, health and safety inspections of food facilities, and the oversight of medical practices and support Department efforts to improve community health in Sonoma County, and to ensure that Board of Supervisors' priorities are met. The Interim Health Officer will not be engaging in all activities conducted by a permanent full time Health Officer including staff meetings, organizing community fora, periodic meetings with hospital and systems leadership, engaging initiatives such as street medicine, opioid response and review of medical policies and protocols.
Dr. Smith is currently retired from government service and does consulting in public and community health. Dr. Smith served as the Director and State Public Health Officer of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) from March 2015 through July 2019. Prior to her appointment to CDPH, Dr. Smith served as public health officer and deputy director of Public Health at the Napa County Health and Human Services Agency since 2004. She was medical staff for infectious disease at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa since 2012 and was a faculty consultant for the Francis J. Curry International Tuberculosis Center at the University of California, San Francisco since 1997. Smith specializes in infectious disease, public health, and emergency response. This item requests adoption of a resolution appointing Dr. Karen Smith to the position of Interim Health Officer for the County of Sonoma. In addition, this item requests approval to execute a professional services agreement with Dr. Karen Smith for Interim Health Officer services for a flat lump sum rate of $12,500 a month in an amount not-to-exceed $75,000 and through February 4, 2024. The agreement includes a provision for early termination once a permanent Health Officer is appointed. If approved, Dr. Smith will assume the role of Interim Health Officer on August 5, 2023.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
On April 18, 2023 the Board adopted a resolution appointing Dr. Kismet Baldwin-Santana to the position of Interim Health Officer for the County of Sonoma effective April 18, 2023.
On November 17, 2020 the Board adopted a resolution transitioning Dr. Sundari R. Mase from a provisional appointment to a regular appointment for the position of Health Officer for the County of Sonoma, effective November 17, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY 24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$75,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$75,000 |
0 |
0 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$75,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$75,000 |
0 |
0 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Department’s FY 23-24 budget includes the Health Officer salaries and benefits. The interim appointment will utilize this budgeted appropriation and funding.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Interim Health Officer Resolution
Attachment 2 - Interim Health Officer Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A