Speaker 6: Item 31 is a communication from the office of Councilmember de Andrews. Councilwoman Lena Gonzales and Councilwoman Stacie Mongeau with a recommendation request city manager to work with city departments and local medical centers to create an infectious disease emergency response plan.
Speaker 3: Cameron This over to Councilmember Andrews.
Speaker 2: I think I think he meant, you know, today infectious disease challenges at the border and more complex than they were in years past. You know, I want to thank Mr. Copeland from the Long Beach Health Department for sending a memo this afternoon regarding the existing effort, you know, of the health department. But they're the things that our health department has a plan. St Mary Medical Center has a plan. Mama has a plan. But what new threat? What I am asking for today is that they have department work with other city departments, such as the fire department, as well as the local hospitals, so that we can all be prepared for this worst case scenario. And we need to know what to do under these new threats. And we must have a training drill. I have seen when the flu season comes up in the morning, fear that needs to be addressed as staff need to be trained and know the best plan to take possible work for our patients , just like the earthquakes with the tsunami. We need to train for the worst possible scenario. And with this new infectious disease, it is threatening us. So I it's already been asking that like for you to for 30 day come back for this and if that's possible. Yeah, I'd like to move second.
Speaker 3: There's been a motion and a second councilwoman mango.
Speaker 10: Have having worked on infectious disease policy. When I worked in South Kensington, London, in Parliament, I feel that this is one of the most important things a city can do for itself. It is not until the moment of which disease enters your community that you realize how vulnerable you are. So thank you, Councilmember Andrews, for letting me join on this item.
Speaker 7: Councilwoman Gonzalez Thank you as well, Councilmember Andrews, for this. I think it is good to have. It's great that we have this comprehensive information, but something more centralized that incorporates all of our departments is important, especially because enterovirus, we have all the Ebola scare going on. I mean, this is a really relevant issue right now. So thank you very much.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Councilmember Ringo.
Speaker 0: I was at the Health Department when the.
Speaker 2: We had the N1, H1 disease going out there. And I was very, very pleased with the response of our health department and our and our first responders as far as how they tracked it and were able to prepare our response for it.
Speaker 0: So I'm sure that there is a current plan in place.
Speaker 2: That I'm sure that the Health Department will go.
Speaker 0: Step forward with, with our public, but with our form public management.
Speaker 2: Emergency response program. So I'm looking I agree that we should probably have an annual or maybe semiannual review of what we have, but I'm not sure that our health department has a plan adequately in place. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Vice Mayor Lowenthal.
Speaker 5: I know that the staff had presented in their outline some recommendations, and I'm wondering if the authors are asking for staff to include what they've outlined in their memo in in this plan. I'm not sure if it's a recreation of what staff's done. Can I ask the authors? So I knew that. Just to be clear, I know that the staff outlines in their memo a response to several different types of health emergencies, and they believe that their protocol will cover the intent of the request for an IDP. So should that be part of it? Is that the intent.
Speaker 3: To one of the authors want to comment?
Speaker 7: Councilmember Andrews.
Speaker 2: Yes, and that is part of it, if that's what you're asking. That is part of it.
Speaker 5: Okay.
Speaker 2: Okay.
Speaker 5: Thank you. And I want to be sure that the staff knows that as well. Okay. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Okay. Thank you. Any public comment on the item? Senior public comment members, please go and cast your vote.
Speaker 0: Oh.
Speaker 6: Motion carries nine votes. Yes.
Speaker 3: Okay. Now we are going to item 33, which is the last item on the agenda.
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with City Departments and local Medical Centers to create an Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan (IDEP) and report back to City Council within 30 days.