To: Board of Supervisors
From: Dr. Grant Colfax, Health Services Director
Report Title: Vacancy & Appointments on the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ACCEPT the resignation of Jelani Killings, DECLARE a vacancy in the City of Pittsburg Seat #1 on the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee (LMHAC) for a term ending on December 31, 2026, APPOINT Arlene Kobata to the City of Pittsburg Seat #2, Emily Gerber, PhD to the HSD, Behavioral Health Seat, and Saima Shah to the Bay Point MAC, Seat #2 on the LMHAC with all terms ending December 31, 2027, and DIRECT the Clerk of the Board to post the vacancy for City of Pittsburg Seat #1, as recommended by the Health Services Director.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for this action.
BACKGROUND:
The Los Medanos Community Health Advisory Committee (the "LMHAC") was created by the Board of Supervisors in 2018 as pursuant to the terms and conditions approved by LAFCo to dissolve the LMCHD. The purpose of the LMHAC is to:
1. Develop an area health plan that identifies the major health disparities that impact residents of the former LMCHD service area and establishes priorities for improving health outcomes. The plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for review and will not be final unless adopted by the Board of Supervisors. The LMHAC shall submit an updated plan for approval by the Board of Supervisors no less than every five years.
2. Solicit proposals from service providers that are interested in participating the Los Medanos Area Health Plan Service Program (the "Service Program") and are capable of addressing the priorities outlined in the adopted plan.
3. Monitor the efficacy of the programs funded by the grant program.
4. Report to the Board of Supervisors no less than once per year on the execution of the adopted plan, the grants provided under the grant program, the results achieved through the adopted plan and the grant program, and other matters that relate to the LMHAC's purpose and duties.
Appointment to the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee
The LMHAC is composed of seven seats appointed by the Board of Supervisors as follows: two (2) from the Pittsburg City Council, two (2) from the Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council (MAC), two (2) from the Health Services Department (one from Public Health and one from Behavioral Health) and (1) from the Internal Operations Committee of the Board of Supervisors.
Pittsburg City Council
The Pittsburg City Council recommends two people for appointments to the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee. Arlene Kobata has been recommended by the Pittsburg City Council for appointment to Seat #2 with a term ending December 31, 2027.
Arlene Kobata (Pittsburg City Council) has lived in the City of Pittsburg since 1988. She has studied Psychology and Administration of Law, where she has the opportunity to apply her knowledge in programs that she participates in for Contra Costa County. Before retiring, she worked with her company for 38 years in different management positions geared toward business, marketing and company growth, and has served as Union Shop Steward for her local union for 30 years.
She has been a member of the City of Pittsburg Community Advisory Commission as well as the City of Pittsburg Planning Commission, last serving as Chair.
Health Services Department
The Health Services Department recommends two people for appointments to the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee. One from Public Health and one from Behavioral Health. The Health Services Director recommends Emily Gerber, PhD for appointment to the Behavioral Health Seat with a term ending December 31, 2027.
Emily Gerber, PhD (Contra Costa Health - Behavioral Health). Dr. Gerber is a licensed clinical psychologist and seasoned behavioral health executive with over 15 years of leadership across county, hospital, academic, and nonprofit systems. As Mental Health Program Chief for Training and Clinical Practices, she leads Contra Costa’s Behavioral Health CONNECT initiative, advancing integrated, data-driven, and equitable care across the mental health and substance-use continuum. Her prior leadership includes serving as Behavioral Health Director at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Behavioral Health Area Director at Kaiser Permanente, and Assistant Director of San Francisco’s Children, Youth & Families System of Care. Dr. Gerber’s career centers on evidence-based implementation, workforce development, and trauma-informed systems transformation to promote accessible, culturally responsive public health care.
Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council
The Bay Point MAC recommends two people for appointments to the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee. Saima Shah has been recommended by the Bay Point MAC for appointment to Seat #2 with a term ending December 31, 2027.
Saima Shah (Bay Point MAC). Ms. Shah is a lifelong Bay Point/Pittsburg resident. She is the mother of three children. Shah enjoys volunteering in different areas of the community. She earned her Master’s in Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. She currently serves on the Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The City of Pittsburg Seat #1 would not be declared vacant which would hinder the ability to recruit to fill the position and the recommended appointees will not be able to serve on the Los Medanos Health Advisory Committee, which could both impact the body’s ability to achieve quorum and conduct business.