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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026_06_18_BOH_Packet_Amended�e�vcson Public H Board of Health Meeting June 18, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health Agenda Minutes K-W 1 01 cpal -11h Public HealtPi June 18, 2026 Regular Meeting Agenda Jefferson County Board of Health Thursday, June 18, 2026 @ 2:30 PM Jefferson County Courthouse — Commissioners' Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA To view agenda items and meeting materials, click here: www.co.jefferson.wa.us — Services — Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password is: public) — Health — Agendas —Minutes —Packets — Board of Health Documents (then search by date: yyyy_mm_dd) To view public comments received, www.co.jefferson.wa.us — Services — Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password is: public) — Health — BOH Public Comments (search for folder of comments by date, year first) This is a hybrid meeting: Virtual and In -Person Attendance You can join this meeting by using these methods: • Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/o/82378389363 This option will allow you to join the meeting live. You will need to enter an email address. If you wish to provide public comment, click on the hand icon at the bottom of the screen to "raise your hand." Participation will be up to the Chair and/or Clerk of the meeting. • Audio -only: Dial: 1-253-215-8782 and use Webinar ID: 823 7838 9363# This option will allow you to listen to the meeting live. If you wish to provide public comment, press *9 to "raise your hand." Participation will be up to the Chair and/or Clerk of the meeting. • In -Person: You are welcome to join the meeting in -person. In the event of technical difficulties, at least one of the methods above will be accessible to the public. Please try all methods first before calling 360-385-9100 to report any issues. Public comment will be accepted and can be emailed to: BOH@co.iefferson.wa.us until 5:00 PM the evening prior to the start of the meeting. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER — Chair MickHager Public Comment (10 mins.) Public Comment Periods are dedicated to listening to the public. Each person may address the Board one time during these periods. To ensure equal opportunity for the public to comment, all comments shall be limited to 2 or 3 minutes per person, depending on the volume of public in attendance. AT A REGULAR MEETING, THE MEMBERS MAY ADD AGENDA ITEMS AND TAKE ACTION ON OTHER ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THIS AGENDA. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations Provided Upon Request II. Approval of Agenda I1I. Approval of Minutes of May 21, 2026 Board of Health Meeting IV. Old Business and Information Reports 1. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report (Apple Martine) (10 rains.) 2. Jefferson Healthcare Report (Dr. Kees Kolff) (10 rains.) 3. Infectious Diseases Update (Dr. Allison Berry) (10 mins.) V. New Business 1. HB2442 Revenue tool for Local Government Part VIII - Public Health Clinic Property Tax (Apple Martine) (25 mins.) 2. Report on Port Townsend Schools' Mini -Grant (Laura Tucker and Students) (10 mins.) VI. Announcements VII. Future Potential Agenda Topics: Jefferson County Supports for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (JULY) Local Sewage Management Plan Update (JULY) The County Strategic Plan Opioid Settlement spending Olympic Connect, the Community Care Hub model Board of Health 101 Rural Reproductive Health Emergency Fund for Public Health The Child Development Center ADJOURNMENT BY: 4:30 p.m. Next Scheduled Meeting: July 16, 2026 2:30 — 4:30 PM Jefferson County Public Health Hybrid Meeting AT A REGULAR MEETING, THE MEMBERS MAY ADD AGENDA ITEMS AND TAKE ACTION ON OTHER ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THIS AGENDA. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations Provided Upon Request Public Health REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Thursday, May 21, 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 Vice -Chair Grace called the May 21, 2026 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 P.M. Members Present: Vice -Chair Amanda Grace, Members Greg Brotherton, Heather Dudley-Nolette, Celeste Dybeck, Heidi Eisenhour, Dr. Kees Kolff and Gabrielle Vanwert. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Lara Cittadini, Michael Dawson, Carter Erickson, Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw. Vice -Chair Grace called for public comment. There were none. PUBLIC COMMENT APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice -Chair Grace called for a motion to accept the agenda for May 21, 2026. MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the agenda. Member Dybeck seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 3 G. Gilbert APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice -Chair Grace requested a motion to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2026 meeting. MOTION: Member Kolff moved to approve the minutes. Member Dudley-Nollette seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report Staff member Martine mentioned the positivity manifested in the previous meeting where Public Health Heroes were celebrated. JCPH has been contributing data and refining objectives for the county's five-year strategic plan, which includes goals ranging from community outreach to environmental health and disease prevention. The department is also responding to significant statewide funding cuts, with JCPH facing a reduction of about $556,000 in state foundational public health dollars, and an almost equal reduction of funding from county general funds for the upcoming fiscal year. Despite the setback, leadership is focused on absorbing the cuts thoughtfully while keeping current staff whole and maintaining essential services. 2. Jefferson Healthcare Report Member Kolff also led with positivity as Jefferson Healthcare had a large presence at the Rhody Parade, where the new dental/medical van was displayed. Also good news is the new neurology practice at Jefferson Healthcare. Concerning financials, the hospital district is considering a potential lid lift but won't decide how much to request until a June 8 retreat clarifies which essential services need support amid funding cuts and rising uncompensated care. Leaders emphasize that current property -tax support is extremely low and doesn't cover critical services like dental care or 24/7 OB, so they aim to craft a proposal the community can understand while balancing residents' financial pressures. 3. Infectious Diseases Update Dr. Berry reported that public health funding is being cut simultaneously at the federal, state, and local levels, and even the grants that once filled gaps "don't really exist right now," creating a severe strain on services. These reductions now reach critical infrastructure —such as outbreak -tracking systems and the state public health lab — leading to dangerous delays in testing that ultimately increase downstream costs and worsen outcomes. Many problems originate with large federal cuts that forced states to divert funds to backfill Medicaid instead of supporting preventive health programs. The good news in infectious diseases is that, concerning the outbreaks of Hantavirus and Ebola, there are no cases of either in Washington, and there are unlikely to be any. There are no mild versions of these diseases so, unlike Covid, they are unlikely to be mistaken for other illnesses, and they are not transmitted pre -symptomatically. Measles is still spreading and it can be severe, but there is good preventative vaccine available. NEW BUSINESS 1. Update to JCPH Fee Schedule According to Community Health Director Banker, the clinic, fiscal, and management teams revised sexual and reproductive health fees by using the median of their cost analysis and comparable local pricing, which resulted in some fee reductions; these will be updated annually. They are creating a comprehensive fee schedule for all public health services, a transparent policy, and a financial -assistance process —including an attestation form and committee -reviewed approvals —to ensure clients who cannot pay can still access services. Donations managed Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 3 G. Gilbert through the Community Foundation help cover unmet costs, and staff are trained to guide clients through sliding -scale, insurance, and assistance options so fees never become a barrier to care. 2. Alternative Enforcement Program Updates and Success Stories Environmental Health staff member Becca Maurer introduced the program, which focuses on helping residents with environmental code -compliance issues by connecting them to services, rather than penalizing them, leading to improved safety, better quality of life, and fewer repeat violations. Its strong outcomes, including increased voluntary compliance and interest from other jurisdictions, show how supportive, service -oriented enforcement can reduce strain on courts, staff, and the community. Effective code -compliance work depends on using nonjudgmental, compassionate language and understanding the personal challenges — such as mental health issues, abuse, or substance use — which often underlie property conditions. Such an approach allows staff to address root causes first, helping people stabilize so they can eventually meet cleanup goals. 3. Community Health Improvement (CHI) — Program Update Staff member Cittadini provided a presentation which described Community Health Improvement ("CHI", which is being phased in as a replacement for "CHIP" (Community Health Improvement Plan) and "CHA (Community Health Assessment)), its goals, and its process. Historically, the county's last two community health improvement cycles followed a multi -year process of assessing past work, gathering data and community input, and producing a CHA and CHIP. The CHI concept emphasizes relationships, shared priorities, and coordinated action rather than just producing documents. This current cycle will use the MAP 2.0 framework and a new public -facing Health Indicators Dashboard to guide collaborative, data -driven planning across partners and internal programs. Tools to center equity in the process were described. Tabled due to time. Tabled due to time. ANNOUNCEMENTS FUTURE POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next regular meeting of the Board will be held on June 11, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026 from 2:30 P.M. — 4:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT Vice -Chair Grace adjourned the May 21, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:30 P.M. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFE - N C T OARD OF HEALTH �. Amanda Gra - r Respectfully submitted G. Gilbert rG enn Gilbert, Pu lic ealth Assistant Page 3 of 3 Jefferson County Board of Health IV. Old Business and Information Reports Item 1 Jefferson County Public Health Report [No hand-out] ' ` r (A-11 Public June 18, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health IV. Old Business and Information Reports Item 2 Jefferson Healthcare Report [No hand-out] Public Health June 18, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health IV. Old Business and Information Reports Item 3 Infectious Diseases Update [No hand-out] M Public Health June 18, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health V. New Business Item 1 HB2442 Revenue tool for Local Government Part VIII - Public Health Clinic Property Tax ` �vtiu Public Health June 18, 2026 ,�T WSRLPHO HB 2442 (2026): Bill Summary Public Health Funding Opportunities While framed as a local finance bill, HB 2442 contains many direct and upstream provisions that support public health, health access, and social determinants of health. The overall effect is to give local governments the tools to address health inequities and social determinants of health at scale: 1. Dedicated funding for direct care services • Public health clinic levy • Behavioral health and developmental disability funding 2. Upstream SDOH investments • Housing support and flexibility • Child and family supports • Economic stability tools 3. Local flexibility and sustainability • New taxing authorities that build local government's revenue "tool -belt." • Expanded uses for counties to respond to the needs of their communities. • Longer -term funding tools for futuristic planning and investment in efforts that have generational and population health impact. Enhanced Public Health Funding New property tax authority for public health clinics This creates a stable, localized funding source for specific, additional important services that LHJs are increasingly providing. This funding could help fill gaps in healthcare access, particularly for underserved populations. Counties are allowed to create a new property tax levy specifically for public health clinic expenses. Levy rate is $.05 per $1,000 of assessed value, and this levy is excluded from the $5.90 aggregate tax rate limit. Local governments can raise dedicated funding for: o Community health clinics o Primary care services o Safety -net and public health clinical infrastructure Public Health Clinics definition: publicly operated site for the provision of low -barrier health and related services such as primary care, dental care, SUD, family and nutrition health, behavioral health care, and reproductive health. Examples of current LHJ services that would meet this definition: • Immunization and vaccines • Mobile health clinics, including unhoused outreach and health services • SSP programs and other harm reduction services • WIC clinics • HIV/STI testing and treatment • School -based health services Flexibility changes to human services responsibilities Emphasizes local nuances and needs in behavioral health, disability services, and veterans' support, all of which are critical to broader public health efforts. The bill changes existing levies: • Keep counties' ability to fund mental health and disability services. o Creates the option for separate ("standalone") levies for behavioral health, mental health, disability services, and veteran support services. o These are essential functions that county health and human service departments (approximately 45% of LHJs) provide. • Local governments have more flexibility to invest in: o Behavioral health access and care o Mental health crisis services o Community -based supports o Veterans' assistance programs in housing, healthcare support, and behavioral health services Upstream Social Determinants of Health Investments Housing funding expansions More local dollars can go to housing and supportive housing programs. Housing is one of the strongest predictors of health outcomes. • Expands uses of real estate excise tax (REET) and local housing sales taxes • Funds can support: o Affordable housing construction and acquisition o Housing operations and maintenance o Behavioral health facilities tied to housing New local sales tax for children and families (0.01%) * • Cities and counties can adopt a small sales tax to invest directly in family well- being and early life supports. Cities and counties will need to coordinate, as the total increase in tax amounts is limited to 0.01 % total, not as separate taxes. • Examples of how funds can be used: o Childcare and early learning grants or vouchers o Youth services and peer groups o Housing and transportation supports *Note: we are hearing that this tax has a typo and was intended to be 0.1 %, but it is unclear if there is a desire to address this error from the Legislature. HB2442(2026): Bill Summary & Public Health Funding Opportunities Board of Health Presentation June 18, 2027 Presenter: Apple Martine, JCPH Director Staff Support: Veronica Shaw & Denise Banker The Moment We're In • Continued demand for essential health services that are accessible to all • Residents in rural county with unmet primary care and behavioral health needs due to limited access points for care • Increasing complexity of public health responsibilities • Flat, declining, and eliminated funding streams from both county and state sources Local health jurisdictions (ours!) do a lot, often do it with less because we're the only ones, and do it for populations who have the least access to care. But financial stability has to be achieved for sustainability. What Do Our Numbers Say WIC Clinic —Port Townsend, Chimacum & Quilcene sites 2024: 427 participants served (114 adults, 313 infants & children) 2025: 500 participants served (152 adults, 348 infants & children) Footcare Clinic — across East Jefferson County from Port Townsend to Brinnon 2024: 1505 visits 2025: 1404 visits Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinic— Port Townsend Main 2024: 739 visits 2025: 78o visits School Base Health Center— PTSD, CSD, and QSD 2024: 741 student visits 2025: 693 student visits Immunizations Clinic • 2024: 28o visits • 2025: 293 visits ►Vi The Challenge Facing Jefferson County Jefferson County has demand for essential health services: • More residents relying on LHJ clinics for basic care • Older adult population needing Footcare where they live • Increased behavioral health and SUD needs • Growing unhoused population requiring mobile outreach • Youth needing more school -based health support Public Health services are relied on by Jefferson County residents across the lifespan. These services are effective. They are trusted to catch people who would otherwise fall through the cracks. Our current funding model cannot keep pace with these - realities. HB2442Gives Counties a NewTool HB 2442 is framed as a finance bill — but its impact is fundamentally about health access. This is not a mandate. It's an option — a tool — designed for counties like ours that need stable, predictable funding to meet community needs. This is a way to invest in the health of our community, keeping essential healthcare services going without competing amid other county priorities, and creating a sustainable way for these unique services to continue uninterrupted and at the availability level our patients deserve. HB 2442 gives us the authority The need gives us the agency The community gives us the mandate Why Section Vlll of H B Section VIII provides something we've never had before: A locally controlled, locally designed, locally accountable revenue stream, a dedicated property tax levy, for public health clinic services. Public Health Clinics definition: publicly operated site for the provision of low -barrier health and related services such as primary care, dental care, SUD, family and nutrition health, behavioral healthcare, and reproductive health. This funding can support the clinical services we provide, specifically: • WIC, Immunizations, School Based Health, Communicable Disease Testing & Treatment, Footcare, Primary Care, Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, Mobile Outreach, and Harm Reduction services. i The Opportunity Before Us Levy rate: s0.o5 per si,000 of assessed value; bringing in just over $5oo,000 ($SiiK) Funding losses @a Public Health in the past year: • In 2025, General Fund contribution totaled $532,048, with Community Health receiving the majority of those dollars; In 2026, GF contribution totaled sioo,000 — this stands to lessen even more next year. • For SFYs 2026 and 2027, FPHS contributions are diminishing overall; we are loosing revenue in Community Health programming, particularly LifeCourse funding that support clinical programming at JCPH. This levy would allow Jefferson County to: • Build predictable, sustainable funding for essential services • Reduce dependence on unstable funds • Strengthen clinical infrastructure • Support long erm community resilience • Align with county values of equity and access Next Steps.... Questions? Thank you. Jefferson County Board of Health V. New Business Item 2 Report on Port Townsend Schools' Mini -Grant Public Health June 18, 2026 Students for Sustal*nability Beach Clean Up 2026 This was the group there ere - s 1 Iota l r Norwegian Memorial PA Qvp- -71 AO Google ' 3 i .- - — `IbIL � h he hike back here there's will, there's a way! I 70 1 ( /` � •`Yi �'�A "i k.f :. -.may � �, Ply ,, t m'�J 5%- —20"w `I � - '.: `� . q*** 446. Movie nightH r r twi�ighr To the dump... 77 w 540 pounds!!! otal of 24 bags a any other large items Arr Lake Crescent! W, 'he end of a uccessful tri ajor takeaways: • We helped the planet! • Cleaning up trash doesn't have to feel like work OF � T- `� � s�yJ'i''��y�•-WgSI { p eta` i N C� 4RR1 .a s _ v l J� l M _i Thank You! Jefferson County Board of Health VI. Announcements i a S N .. , du Public Health June 18, 2026 Jefferson County Board of Health Agenda Planning e/ ('Ow - Public Health June 18, 2026 Public H