Other/Miscellaneous Request Template (Appointments; ROW; Code Changes; Zoning Action, etc.)
Date Submitted: 08-01-17
Requesting Agency: Mayor’s Office
Division:
§ Name: Skye Stuart
§ Phone: 720-865-9058
§ Email: Skye.Stuart@denvergov.org <mailto:Skye.Stuart@denvergov.org>
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
title
A bill for an ordinance submitting to a vote of the qualified and registered electors of the City and County of Denver at a special municipal election to be held in conjunction with the coordinated election of November 7, 2017, a proposed amendment to the Charter of the City and County of Denver concerning the Department of Environmental Health.
Refers a question to the November 2017 ballot to amend the Charter to change the name of Department of Environmental Health to Department of Public Health and Environment to better reflect agency responsibilities and increase the size of its Board from 5 seats to 9 to allow for more diverse representation. The Committee approved filing this bill at its meeting on 8-9-17.
body
Affected Council District(s) or citywide?
Executive Summary with Rationale and Impact:
Detailed description of the item and why we are doing it. This can be a separate attachment.
This referred measure is proposed to be submitted to the voters at the November 7, 2017 election.
The Department of Environmental Health was created through a Charter amendment in 1996 precipitated by a change in state law that made Denver General Hospital and its’ clinics an independent entity, the Denver Health and Hospital Authority. The new department was assigned many health-related functions previously housed under the former Department of Health and Hospitals. DEH and DDHA split public health duties, with DEH having responsibility for regulatory health functions like food safety inspections, animal control and coroner and DHHA managing public health services like medical investigation of disease, immunization clinics and disease control. DEH acts as the county public health entity and is designated as the official public health agency for the county through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The name “Department of Environmental Health” has sometimes been misleading to the public and partner entities. It does not adequately convey the public health responsibilities of the department. Through conversations with partners including DHHA, we have determined it is in the City’s best interest to update the department name to better reflect the duties.
The Board is the body that develops rules and regulations for implementing department issues. Over time the department and board have had responsibility for a broader set of issues (like marijuana, syringe exchange, increased focus on odor and noise, etc.) and would benefit from a more diverse set of expertise and experience. Additionally, it can be difficult to get a quorum at some meetings. With more board seats we can ensure we are not needlessly cancelling meetings or delaying hearings on rules.
These changes will not remove, change or add any powers or duties and are essentially clean-up/best practice items.
Address/Location (if applicable):
Legal Description (if applicable):
Denver Revised Municipal Code (D.R.M.C.) Citation (if applicable):
Draft Bill Attached?