GENERAL COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	John Livey
	PREPARED BY:	same as above
	DATE OF MEETING:	November 7, 2005
	SUBJECT:	Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan (PREP) Steering Committee

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report entitled “Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan (PREP) Steering Committee” be received;

AND THAT Council endorse the composition and mandate of the Pandemic Steering Committee, attached as Appendix A to the report;

AND THAT Council appoint Deputy Mayor Frank Scarpitti as Chair, and Regional Councillor Jack Heath to the Pandemic Steering Committee.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to establish the Pandemic Steering Committee and endorse the composition and mandate of the Committee. Council is also being requested to appoint two members to the Pandemic Steering Committee. Staff resources will be required on an ongoing basis to support the mandate of the Committee and provide guidance and direction on the implementation of the Plan.

BACKGROUND:

At the General Committee meeting of October 3, 2005 a presentation was made by Ms Sandra Vessel, Emergency Planning Specialist with York Region Health Services regarding York Region’s Influenza Contingency Plan.

Council referred the matter to the Chief Administrative Officer for a report back to Committee, such report to include consideration of the following items:

- the establishment of a committee of Senior Staff and representatives of Council;

- a communications strategy for the community as a whole;

- an internal strategy for employees relating to vaccination;

- an internal strategy related to possible staff absences

- close liaison with York Region Health Services, and

- encouragement of all other York region municipalities to take similar action to minimize impact.

DISCUSSION:

The mandate of the Pandemic Steering Committee is to ensure that a Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan is created. Two sub-committees are proposed, each reporting to the Pandemic Steering Committee through Markham senior staff.

The Communications sub-committee will complete and implement a Communications Plan with external and internal components. It will be led by Janet Carnegie, Director of Corporate Communications. The sub-committee will be staffed by Corporate Communications and Economic Development staff, and will work closely with representatives of key external partners (York Region Health Services, IBM, Markham Board of Trade, etc.). The Communications Plan will be incorporated into the overall Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan.

The Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan sub-committee will complete the Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan (PREP). It is proposed that the PREP will be similar in form and content to the existing Emergency Plan, with pandemic appropriate revisions/additions. Staffing for the PREP would be Human Resources, and other appropriate staff representing each Commission (to be determined) as well as external partners (e.g. York Region Health Services, York Regional Police, York Region EMS, etc.). The PREP will include business continuity plans for all Town business units.

Once a draft PREP is completed, the Pandemic Readiness Emergency Plan sub-committee will manage training, implementation, exercising, review and revision.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

There are no direct financial impacts associated with the adoption of this report. The financial impacts associated with the PREP will be brought forward to Council upon identification by the Steering Committee.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The report was developed in consultation with the CAO Commissioners’ Committee. Senior staff resources will be required from the appropriate departments and partner agencies on an ongoing basis to support the mandate of the Committee. This support will be provided in the form of two sub-committees as shown on the organization chart attached as Appendix B to this report.

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A – Pandemic Steering Committee – Composition and Mandate

Appendix B – Organization Chart

Don Taylor, Manager, Exec. Operations

John Livey, CAO