ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

PROGRAM MISSION: To prevent disease from environmental sources, through education, identification of public health risks and enforcement of public health laws.

• The Food Safety Program ensures sanitation standards are maintained in the approximately 1,700 food establishments under regulation.

• The Swimming Pool Safety/Sanitation Program ensures sanitation and safety standards are maintained in the approximately 190 swimming pools under regulation.

• The Centralized Rodent Control Program responds to citizen complaints, and assesses and reduces community rat populations in residential and commercial areas.

• The Rabies Control Program minimizes human exposure to rabies through animal control, animal vaccination and education.

• The General Environmental Health Program ensures sanitation and safety standards are maintained in day care centers, public and private schools and homes for adults, and monitors on site sewage disposal, well water quality and radiological sources.

• The Arbovirus Control Program monitors vectors of arboviral diseases (such as West Nile virus) and uses physical, biological and chemical control methods to reduce the chances of transmission of the disease to humans.

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

• Non-Personnel is reduced ($26,564) due to elimination of one-time funding relating to the new positions approved in FY 2005, and reductions in equipment repair and maintenance in anticipation of the move to the Fenwick Center.

• Fees increase due to increased projections based on projected FY 2005 collections, and also due to a proposed increase in the Food Establishment License Application Processing Fee from $60 currently to $65.

• State Share increased to reflect additional Virginia Department of Health Cooperative funds expected in FY 2006 based on the FY 2005 allocation.

• A variety of fees relating to regulation of water recreation facilities are proposed to be modified to recover full costs of the related regulatory activities.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

General Environmental Health, Food Inspection Program, Swimming Pool Inspections

• The numbers of food establishment inspections was reduced during FY 2003 and FY 2004 to focus inspection efforts on higher risk establishments which require more time.

• The goal for the number of inspections for food establishments is based on the recommended inspection frequency for food establishments that is prescribed by the State Health Department.

• The goal for the number of inspections for swimming pools was calculated by using a recommended standard frequency of 3 inspections per year for seasonal swimming pools and 6 inspections per year for year round swimming pools. Because of staffing shortages the number of swimming pool inspections is below the standard.

• Any swimming pool that represents an immediate health hazard or safety is closed at once pending corrective action.

• The number of inspections for general Environmental Health facilities was not tracked in FY 2002.

Animal and Rodent Control Program

• The number of rodent complaints rose by 28% during FY 2004. Because of that increase the percentage of complaints that were responded to and closed out within 90 days decreased. It is anticipated that the number of rodent complaints will remain at higher levels than were experienced in FY 2003.

• The number of animals vaccinated for rabies by the Arlington Animal Welfare League will probably continue to decline in FY 2005 and FY 2006 because of an increasing number of alternative vaccination locations such as commercial pet food establishments.

Arbovirus Control Program

• The increase in treating mosquito-breeding sites, identified by complaint, can be attributed to a better trained staff and their ability to locate and eradicate mosquito breeding sites.

FUTURE BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• In FY 2005 2.0 FTE food inspectors were added to this program. There is still a need for two additional food inspectors in order to meet state and federal recommended activity levels in food establishments.

• The FY 2004 the number of citizen complaints regarding rats increased by 28% (798 in FY 2003 compared to 1,022 in FY 2004). Although some of this increase was due to an increased food supply for rats, it is anticipated that the number of rat complaints in subsequent years will continue to increase over FY 2003 totals. Two additional field staff are needed to adequately respond to citizen complaints and prevent rat activities throughout the community.