02 - COVID-19 Drive Through Testing CenterItem No. 2
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Gene Anderson, Interim City Manager & Finance Director
SUBJECT: COVID-19 DRIVE THROUGH TESTING CENTER
DATE: April 6, 2020
BACKGROUND: Due to the lack of testing kits and the inability of the State Region 45 Phlett
Lab in Tyler to process COVID-19 tests currently because of a shortage of reagent, the City of
Paris has been unable to obtain a clear picture of the spread of the coronavirus in our community.
STATUS OF ISSUE: Through the efforts of Mayor Clifford, Dr. A.J. Hashmi has agreed to be in
charge of a COVID-19 drive through testing center where citizens could come on a designated
day(s) to be tested. Dr. Hashmi is working with Dr. Amanda Green, Gina Prestridge, and myself
to organize this event. Dr. Hashmi has been in contact with a vendor who has agreed to provide
20,000 test kits at a cost of $25.00 per kit. As I understand it, 20,000 is the minimum order of test
kits possible from the vendor. The intent is for the vendor to bill the City of Paris for the testing
kits. Testing for City residents would be at no charge. People outside the City would pay $35.00
or more to take the test.
The City is expecting to be billed shortly for the tests if the Council approves the project. $25.00
per kit times 20,000 kits equals $500,000. The plan, with Council approval, is to pay for the kits
out of City reserves. There would be incidental costs for Personal Protective Equipment (masks,
gloves, protective clothing, etc.) in an amount that has not been determined but for which I have
allowed an additional $10,000. We would then attempt to recover as much of our costs as possible
by charging non -city residents for testing. It would probably also be possible to sell test kits we do
not use or wish to stockpile for future use. We also will track all costs so that, if possible, the City
can be reimbursed by Federal funds that become available.
BUDGET: This expenditure would require a budget amendment.
RECOMMENDATION: Amend the City budget and authorize an expenditure not to exceed
$510,000 from City reserves for this project.
M r,XIMIH
i -111116-Off 1 C 1
9
1I ■ r L. the State ofCounty, exas,amarexas,and . City of ...
ris hav-e-
declared disaster declarations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
11TAEA-EAS, due to said pandemic and its rapid onset, resources for testing and
aspects of the disaster have been in short supply, and testing for COVID-19 has been largely
unavailable e public; and
GENERAL FUND
1. General Fund Reserve $ 510,000.00
TOTAL $510,000.00;
and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 70 of the Paris City Charter at the request of
the City Manager, the City Council may approve transfer of reserve funds to a city department
thereby increasing the 2019-20 City budget,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in all
things approved.
Section 2. The Director of Finance be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed
to transfer funds from the following account in the amounts shown as follows:
GENERAL FUND
1. General Fund Reserves $ 510,000.00
TOTAL
to be credited, respectively, to the following account:
1. General Expenses
TOTAL
GENERALFUND
$ 510,000.00
$510,000.00
$510,000.00
Section 3. All provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in conflict with
the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions of the
ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall
remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. The repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering any
penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any section
or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 5. It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance, and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 6. That this ordinance shall become effective after its passage and
publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of April, 2020.
Steven J. Clifford M.D., Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney