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Home My WebLink About2026_02_19_BOH_Minutes_ExecutedREGULAR MEETING MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Thursday, February 19, 2026 @ 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Courthouse — Commissioners' Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA Hybrid Meeting Board Members Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner, District #3 Heather Dudley-Nollette, County Commissioner, District #1 Celeste Dybeck, Tribal Representative Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner, District #2 Amanda Grace, Vice -Chair, Community Stakeholder Dr. Kees Kolff, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner Monica MickHager, Chair, Port Townsend City Council Gabrielle Vanwert, Consumer of Public Health Staff Members Denise Banker, Community Health Director Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer Lara Cittadini, CHIP Manager Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager Carter Erickson, Environmental Health Manager Apple Martine, Public Health Director Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health Director Jenn Mitchell, Finance Manager Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director Chair MickHager called the February 19, 2026 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. Members Present: Chair MickHager, Members Greg Brotherton, Heather Dudley-Nollette, Heidi Eisenhour, Amanda Grace, Dr. Kees Kolff and Gabrielle Vanwert. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Carter Erickson, Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo and Jenn Mitchell. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair MickHager called for public comment. Commenter discussed the clinic fees at Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) which, Commenter said, were raised in 2025 to a level higher than fees in any other clinic in the region, which presents a risk to the community. Commenter distributed a handout showing an alternative fee schedule and asked that the fees be quickly fixed, which will allow the clinic to provide accessible care aligned with the values of Public Health. Staff member Martine responded that the graveness of the situation of high clinical fees is appreciated. She said that fees setting was not an easy process and referred to other factors that come to bare on the process. Commenter announced an upcoming concert being sponsored by Friends of Public Health for the benefit of JCPH. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 4 G. Gilbert APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair MickHager called for a motion to accept the agenda for February 19, 2026. MOTION: Member Dudley-Nolette moved to approve the agenda. Member Kolff seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair MickHager requested a motion to approve the minutes of the January 15, 2026 meeting. MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the minutes. Member Brotherton seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report Staff member Martine provided a lengthy list of JCPH Accomplishments in 2025 in the meeting packet, to which she provided a few additional comments. Member Dudley-Nolette asked about the Autism Evaluations program. JCPH recently finished building its School Medical Autism Review Team (SMART) autism evaluation program, developed over several years by staff members. The SMART team coordinates medical evaluations with school based educational evaluations, with families receiving a more complete picture of a child's needs. With trained local clinicians now available, the county can offer autism assessments and connected supports that previously required long waits and travel to distant centers. Martine also announced that the communications team has developed JCPH's first full program guide, a professionally designed booklet that showcases services, accomplishments and future goals, with completion expected in spring 2026. This project reflects long -needed investment in communications and will help the department clearly convey its role and value to the community. 2. Jefferson Healthcare Report Dr. Kolff led with two state bills which Jefferson Healthcare (JH) supports: one protecting 340B drug revenue (2SSB 5981), and another improving insurance claims processing (ESSB 5845). Also being monitored are state budget proposals; JH is preparing for major federal funding cuts from HR1, which could significantly reduce Medicaid coverage and revenue for the county. Leadership is working with consultants to identify cost -saving opportunities, aiming to preserve staff, services, and core community values despite the financial challenges ahead. 3. Infectious Diseases Update Dr. Berry underscored concern in the medical community about the regional impact of HRl . Dr. Berry's infectious -disease update noted high influenza activity but with a possible dip in cases, continued RSV circulation (of particular concern to babies and those over 50), and relatively low levels of severe COVID cases. Measles activity, however, is rising nationally and within Washington, prompting local efforts to boost vaccination access, partner with schools, and prepare for potential cases. The overarching goal is to minimize disruption —especially avoiding school closures —by ensuring children, teachers, and community members are well -protected through vaccination. Discussion ensued, particularly with regard to the dangers posed by measles. 4. Legislative Update & Debrief on PH Legislative Day on the Hill Staff member Martine described attending Public Health Legislative Day, where they heard motivating presentations from state leaders, emphasizing the importance of public -health advocacy and preserving access to preventive services. Meetings with District 24 legislators and staff focused on issues such as vaccine -access legislation, foundational public -health funding, and other bills affecting rural counties. A major topic was HB 2242, which would ensure continued insurance coverage for recommended vaccines despite recent federal changes. Also discussed were Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 4 G. Gilbert ongoing legislative activity on septic -system capacity and county funding measures, highlighting how bills evolve over multiple sessions. NEW BUSINESS 1. Update regarding Community Health Fee Setting Procedures Staff member Martine presented a slide which outlined a proposed clinical fee process, going forward. The proposal establishes an annual internal advisory committee to review cost analyses, compare fees with comparable providers, and ensure broad departmental representation in fee -setting decisions. The committee's work would be brought to the Board of Health for review before any fees are finalized, with the goal of creating a more transparent and consistent process. Discussion ensued. A more detailed process will be presented in March. The final process will be established by resolution. 3. Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization (SBHASO): Introduction and Update [New Business items were juggled to assure that SBHASO received adequate time.] Jolene Kron, Executive Director of SBHASO presented a slideshow describing the work and some history of the organization, which serves Jefferson, Clallam and Kitsap counties and the Jefferson S'Klallam tribe, overseeing crisis -related behavioral health services and care for under- and uninsured residents. The organization manages more than 60 contracts, supports crisis teams, housing programs, harm reduction and youth services, and continues expanding crisis -response infrastructure, including mobile outreach and facility -based stabilization. Funding comes from a combination of non -Medicaid state and federal sources, as well as opioid settlement funds. 2. Foundational Public Health Services Funding: Orientation and Update Staff member Martine explained that Foundational Public Health Services (FPHS) funding was created to ensure every community in Washington has access to core public health services, one of only a few states implementing this model. Major funding increased, beginning in 2019, to build consistent statewide infrastructure. This year, however, the governor's supplemental budget proposes a roughly 40% cut to FPHS, which would eliminate or reduce several programs that local health jurisdictions depend on to provide essential services. WSALPHO provided a template for an FPHS Local Board of Health Resolution, which some counties have already submitted to the legislature, to emphasize the importance of FPHS funds to local health jurisdictions. Member Martine recommended that Jefferson County complete the resolution, which may be ratified at the March meeting. MOTION: Member Brotherton moved "I would move that we authorize the public health director to complete the resolution and send it around to the board for individual notes and a subsequent vote, which we will ratify at the next in -person Board of Health meeting." Member Dudley-Nolette seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. 4. National Public Health Awareness Week (week of April 6) and nomination period for Jefferson County's Public Health Heroes Awards Staff member Martine announced that nominations for Jefferson County's Public Health Heroes are now open on the JCPH website, where community members can submit a simple narrative recognizing an individual or organization. Award recipients will be honored at the April Board of Health meeting. Public Health Heroes Awards honor people/organizations who make significant contributions to maintaining and improving health in Jefferson County. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were none. FUTURE POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS No discussion. Respectfully submitted Page 3 of 4 G. Gilbert AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next regular meeting of the Board will be held on March 12, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair MickHager adjourned the February 15, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:34 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. RSON CO O ALTH - •a r Monica MickHager, Chair Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted Page 4 of 4 G. Gilbert