Committee forwards $3.6M DPH grant to add 17 public‑health positions

The Budget and Finance Committee on April 5 voted to forward an ordinance that authorizes the Department of Public Health to accept roughly $3.6 million from the California Department of Public Health for the "Future of Public Health" grant and to add 17 grant‑funded positions to the 2022–2024 salary ordinance.

Daisy Aguayo, deputy director of operations for population health at DPH, told the committee the funding will strengthen population health infrastructure — including communicable disease and infection control, data analytics, and capacity to respond to activations such as fires and extreme heat. "The Future of Public Health grant will support DPH with this expansion and support to manage the city's growing public health needs," Aguayo said.

Supervisors pressed DPH on whether recurring grants will cover the 17 positions long term. DPH and budget staff said the plan is to pursue future grants through the grants management team and to evaluate alternatives if recurring funding is not secured; the committee asked for strategic discussion with the mayor’s budget office on contingency planning for grant‑funded positions.

After questions and no public comment, the committee forwarded the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation (3‑0). The City clarified that if recurring funding is not obtained, the positions would be evaluated and adjustments considered at the end of grant periods.