DATE: May 20, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: David Luchini, RN, PHN, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Retroactive Submittal of Grant Application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Subsequent Award Acceptance and Revenue Agreement for Lead Hazard Reduction Program Grant
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the Department of Public Health’s previous submittal of a grant application in the amount of $4,623,068 to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for remediation services of lead hazards on houses where a lead poisoned child has been identified;
2. Adopt Resolution approving and ratifying the Director of Public Health’s execution of retroactive revenue Agreement CALHD0516-24 with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes, for the 2024 Lead Hazard Reduction Program Grant Funds, and authorizing the Director of Public Health, or designee, to execute requests for payment and documents necessary to secure Program Grant Funds and implement the related projects subject to review and approval by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, effective March 17, 2025 through March 17, 2029 ($4,623,068); and
3. Authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health, or designee, to execute changes at the object level for budget line items up to 10% and without exceeding the annual contract maximum.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the first and second recommended actions will retroactively authorize the submission of a competitive grant application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for lead hazard reduction and remediation services and request the approval for execution of the retroactive revenue agreement. The application and Agreement include leveraging an in-kind match of services ($623,068) and allows the Department of Public Health (DPH) to accept the Lead Hazard Reduction (LHR) Program Grant Funds ($4,000,000) over 48 months for a total project cost of $4,623,068. The revenue agreement was submitted to DPH on February 4, 2025 with a deadline to sign and re-submit to the HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) by February 6, 2025, contingent upon your Board’s approval of the second recommended action.
The third and fourth recommended actions will allow the execution of payment requests to secure grant funding and for adjustments in budget line items, as necessary, up to 10% by the DPH Director. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended actions, the grant application would be withdrawn, the $4,000,000 award would be relinquished, and DPH would be unable to continue providing the lead-based paint hazard remediation services.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
DPH received official notification of the grant award from HUD on October 21, 2024. New Grant Orientation occurred December 3-5, 2024, and the budget workbook and narrative were completed. HUD requires official grant negotiation meetings to occur until budgets are finalized. Funds are not awarded until all documents have been reviewed and approved. Negotiations were not complete until March 25, 2025. Due to the new federal administration, many rules, review processes, and requirements were adjusted last minute causing further delay.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The revenue agreement will provide $4,000,000 over 48 months to continue support of the program and requires a minimum 10% ($400,000) in-kind match to fund the costs associated with administering the grant. The application included leveraging in-kind services ($623,068) in the form of DPH risk assessments and clearance inspections of lead contaminated homes for a total project cost of $4,623,068. Funding for in-kind services is funded by Health Realignment and the Children’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) grant funds. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the DPH Org 5620 FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and will be included in subsequent budget requests for the term’s duration.
DISCUSSION:
In November 2017, the Department was awarded a $1,000,000 grant from HUD to support remediation services for the removal of lead-based paint hazards in high-risk houses. The program’s project goal was to abate lead hazards in 65 homes. There were 67 applications received, and 37 projects assessed, with 16 projects completed. The Department was awarded an additional $2,000,000, 3-year grant in October 2019 to continue providing remediation services to an additional 93 homes. 143 applications were received, with an additional 122 projects assessed and a total of 136 projects completed since November 2017. The subsequent grant agreement from January 2021 to April 2025 was for $3,480,653 and is estimated to provide services up to 133 homes. There were 173 applications received, with 147 projects assessed and a total of 133 projects completed by December 2024. The new 2024 LHR Program’s grant goal will be to provide remediation services to 168 homes.
The LHR Program will continue to help local governments create and implement programs to make homes lead safe. Remediation services include the removal and/or containment of dangerous lead paint, soil, and dust, insuring a healthy living environment. DPH, in conjunction with staff from Public Works and Planning’s Community Development Division’s Affordable Housing Programs, will continue to assist both rental and owner-occupied houses to remediate lead-based paint hazards. The grant includes leveraging in-kind funding in the form of services such as risk assessment of homes for lead contamination and clearance inspections at the completion of services to ensure properties are lead safe.
Every year, over 20,000 at-risk children are tested for lead poisoning in the County. DPH currently surveils 780 cases, with 67 confirmed and 141 potential children diagnosed with lead poisoning. Back in July 2023, blood lead levels were decreased to 3.5 ug/dL; therefore, the Department is required to provide additional environmental investigation oversight and management even though the individuals are not a state or potential case. The LHR Grant Program will coordinate with DPH’s Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP) to identify eligible participant households.
DPH’s Environmental Health Division, upon a homeowner’s request, will perform a brief assessment of the home to identify whether detectable levels of lead-based paint and lead hazards are present. Once determined, a more extensive Lead-Based Paint Inspection/Risk Assessment (LIRA) will be performed by a contracted California State Certified Inspector to identify the actual location of the lead contamination. PWP will complete a work plan based on the LIRA, prepare a bid announcement to certified lead abatement contractors, and execute a construction grant between the property owner and their choice of lead abatement contractor. Environmental Health will conduct clearance inspections and notify PWP when the project passes clearance.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 52, March 22, 2022
BAI # 46, June 23, 2020
BAI # 44, March 20, 2018
BAI #52, July 11, 2017
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - HUD Grant Application
On file with Clerk - HUD Grant Agreement CALHD0516-24
On file with Clerk - Workplan Supporting Documentation
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Ron Alexander