City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: 

Item No.:        

Recommendation:  That the Council adopt Ordinance No.2436,  (An Ordinance to Repeal and Recreate section 3.40 (c) (15) relating to Fees – Health Department.

Background:  On October 11, 2006 the Board of Health unanimously approved a motion to recommend removal of all clinic fees from Chapter 3 Section 3.40 (15) (a) & (b)  of the Municipal Code and allow the Community Public Health Officer under direction from the Board of Health to set the fees.  

Currently the clinic fees for both adults and children are part of the Municipal Code.  Each immunization and cost is listed separately.  If there would be any increase in cost to the Health Department for an immunization, this must be brought to the Common Council, in ordinance form, for action.  This does not allow the Community Public Health Officer to react to the market prices in a timely manner related to these fees. In addition, vaccines are constantly changing, either being renamed or newly offered to the childhood immunization program, which the Health Department should offer to the community.  Lastly, Section 3.40 (15) (c) School emergency nursing services, no longer applies.  Over the course of four years, the Oak Creek-Franklin Jt. School District decreased the number of nursing services for which the Health Department received reimbursement.  As of May 1, 2006 the Oak Creek-Franklin Jt. School District did not renew their contract for any emergency nursing services, therefore, the 2005-2006 school year was the last year that the Health Department had a contract.  The Health Department may provide some minor school nursing services without a charge. 

Fiscal Impact:  The Health Department receives revenue from the immunization clinics (childhood, adult, flu and pneumonia clinics).  For the past four years, the average amount of clinic revenue was $20,732.  The new fees/charges for childhood and other immunizations have not been set yet but there should be a minimum of $3,000 additional revenue.     

The Health Department has seen decreased revenue from the Oak Creek-Franklin Jt. School District over the course of four years.  Here is an historical review:

2000-2001       $96,780           2001-2002       $96,780           2002-2003       $56,780

2003-2004       $21,228           2004-2005       $21,802.50      2005-2006       $21,802.50

Not only has the revenue from the schools decreased but also a reduction of nursing staff at the Health Department.  This has resulted a lower payroll expense.

Prepared by:                                                                 Respectfully submitted:

Judith Price, BSN, MS                                     Patrick DeGrave

Community Public Health Officer                                  City Administrator

Ordinance:  Consider to repeal and recreate Chapter 3 Section 3.40 (c) (15) to read as follows:

Health Department Fees.  Health Department Fees and Charges shall be established by the Community Public Health Officer according to guidelines adopted by the Board of Health and subject to review by the Board of Health.  A list of the fees and charges will be on file in the Health Department office.  The Community Public Health Officer shall provide a copy of any change to the fees to the City Clerk 15 days prior to the effective date of such change.  The clerk shall provide a copy to the Common Council as soon as practicable.  The fees shall go into effect at the end of the 15 days period unless an Alderman or the Mayor objects in writing in which case the fee change shall be brought before the entire Common Council for consideration and approval.