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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM071615JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, July 16, 2015 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Phil Johnson, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Kathleen Kier, Vice -Chair, County Commissioner, District #3 Kris Nelson, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Chair, Citizen at large Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, Citizen at large Staff Members Thomas Locke, MD, Health Officer Jean Baldwin, Public Health Dir Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager Jared Keefer, Env. Health Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Michael Dawson, Water Quality Dir Vice -Chair Kler called the July 16, 2015 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:35 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: David Sullivan, Kathleen Kler, Phil Johnson, Kris Nelson, Jill Buhler, John Austin Members Excused: Sheila Westerman Staff Present: Tom Locke, Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer, Julia Danskin, Michael Dawson APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice -Chair Kler added item 5, Agency Drought Informational Meeting to Old Business items. Vice -Chair Kler asked for approval of the July 16, 2015 Agenda. Member Nelson moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Member Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice -Chair Kler mentioned an awkward construction in the fourth line of item 3, New Business and asked for clarification. Jean Baldwin, Director, suggested taking out the word "and." Vice -Chair Kler called for approval of the minutes of the May 21, 2015 meeting of the Board of Health. Member Nelson moved to approve the minutes as presented; the motion was seconded by Member Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. No public comment. PUBLIC COMMENT OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Measles Death in Clallam County. Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, JCPH, discussed the risk of measles transmission among the growing number of people on immunosuppressant drugs and why this reality makes it all the more important that measles vaccination rates improve. Dr. Locke asserted his support for strict school entry immunization requirements such as those recently adopted in California that allow only medical exemptions from vaccination. He emphasized the efficacy of vaccines combined with the very low-risk of potential side effects, and reminded the Board the study that associated measles vaccine with autism had been thoroughly debunked. Jean Baldwin, Director, JCPH, pointed out that an important result of the tragic measles death in neighboring Clallam County is that vaccination is no longer a "me and my kid" issue; the death in Clallam county has made vaccine exemption a community health issue, which changes the dialogue. 2. California Adopts Strict Vaccination Laws Removing Religious, Personal Exemptions. The Board continued its discussion of the increasing potential for outbreaks of diseases that have been eradicated by readily available, safe vaccines. They pointed out the problem of misinformation perpetuated by the vocal, famous elite. Dr. Locke said one of the four priority areas in the Community Health Improvement Plan is to form a task force to address the declining vaccination rates in Jefferson County. 3. WIC Newsletter: SmileMobile Returns to Jefferson County. Julia Danskin, Public Health Manager, JCPH, reported upcoming events and activities sponsored and promoted by WIC efforts in Jefferson County. The SmileMobile, a mobile dental clinic, will be serving the dental needs of community members at the Chimacum Tri -Area Community Center. Continuing WIC efforts include additional dollars afforded the Farmers Market checks program, with matches available to increase purchasing power; to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week, a WIC sponsored picnic; and an exercise and nutrition class focused on empowering women. Ms. Danskin emphasized the importance of visibility: WIC activities and community health awareness programs change prevailing attitudes and promote healthy lifestyles. 4. Boards Official Business: John Austin appointed to Jefferson County Board of Health for term ending May 31, 2018. The Board welcomed Mr. Austin, Jefferson County Citizen at large, to his new term as board member and thanked him for his continued support and guidance. 5. Agency Drought Meeting. Dr. Locke reported on an agency -wide meeting he, Jared Keefer, EH Director, JCPH, and Susan Porto, Environmental Health Specialist, JCPH, attended earlier this month. Among those present were representatives from the Department of Health, Department of Ecology, Department of Commerce, Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC), and City of Port Townsend. The group discussed concerns surrounding the area's drought status: river water flows are at September levels and snowpack predictions point to a continuation of drought conditions well into 2016. Dr. Locke reported on the City's 5 - stage plan to mitigate issues related to the needs of various stakeholders, and told the Board that the PTPC also has a contingency plan. Mr. Keefer reported on the amount of water PTPC is already saving by making the decision to rent cooling towers rather than using water. The public health role in this situation is to inform the public of boil water alerts should pumping of surface water in drought stricken supply lakes — Lords Lake and City Lake — cause turbidity, which would in turn cause the failure of purification system techniques. Ms. Kler mentioned the ongoing drought forecast. Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, mentioned her concern regarding area agriculture. Mr. Keefer explained the status of shallow wells, and the increased questions he's fielded in regards to drilling deeper wells. Ms. Kler explained how community members, particularly in Quilcene, whose wells have stopped producing, get free water at community parks. The county pays for this water supply. NEW BUSINESS 1. Adoption of Civil Infraction Ordinance. Mr. Keefer reviewed the situation wherein the Infraction ordinance was inadvertently repealed when prior action had been taken concerning revisions to the Solid Waste Code. Based on County Attorney David Alvarez's newly drafted ordinance, which was presented to the Board at the June 18th meeting, Vice -Chair Kler opened the public hearing. No one was present to offer testimony. The public hearing was then closed. Member Sullivan moved that Adoption of the Jefferson County Board of Health Ordinance, 06-0716-15, Authorizing Environmental Health Civil Enforcement; Member Nelson seconded. No further discussion ensued. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Proposed Food Safety Program Fee Revisions, Part 1. Mr. Keefer opened a discussion of Jefferson County Food Establishment Fees, and presented the Board with the first part of a revision plan that is based on a robust dataset collected and compiled by Jefferson County Health food inspector, Mina Kwansa, over the past four years. Numbers extrapolated from the data point to the need for several fee revisions including the potential for a one-time New Establishment Fee, which differs from a re -opening permit fee, being added in addition to the general, yearly permit fee. Vice -Chair Kler voiced her concern that if permit fees were based on distance from JCPH, it would penalize establishments located farther rather than nearer to the JCPH physical premises. Mr. Keefer responded that the travel costs component of permit fees are based on an aggregated number — individual restaurants are all charged the same fee for the same type of license regardless of the distance inspectors must travel. Member Nelson mentioned, as a restaurant owner, the problem of loopholes exploited by some restaurateurs. This is an ongoing discussion the Board will continue at its future meetings. 3. Solid Waste Code Enforcement re. local impacts of State Budget Cuts. Mr. Keefer explained that the Solid Waste Budget appropriation was cut by 62%. In real numbers this means Jefferson County Environmental Health Solid Waste Program will function with approximately $62 thousand dollars split evenly over two years. The expected appropriation was approximately $160 thousand split evenly over two years. The result is JCPH will be working to fund programs related to Solid Waste education and enforcement with $31 thousand dollars rather than $80 thousand dollars for each of the next two years. Mr. Keefer presented a new policy statement, he wishes the Board to consider, that sets priorities for code enforcement programs. Ms. Baldwin warned of the importance of remaining active with several high profile solid waste cases in the county, and further warned that the ground we've gained may be lost. In regards to fielding complaints, Member Austin mentioned addressing issues by telling a complainant thank you for contacting us and that we will look into the issue, rather than burdening a complainant with too much information and/or frustrating caller by simply referring to him/her to the Sheriff's Office or ORCCA, depending on the nature of the complaint. 4. Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam Behavioral Health Organization Update. Ms. Baldwin, Vice -Chair Kler, and Ms. Buhler attended, along with Catharine Robinson, Vice -Chair, JC Substance Abuse Advisory Board, a workshop to discuss how the group would come together in light of the Peninsula Regional Support Network's efforts to become a Behavioral Health Organization prior to its becoming part of the Accountable Community of Care, in 2020. The group's main concerns are how create a governance structure and administrative capacity; how to develop a governing body and structure for funding; and how to refine communication that promotes transparency and regional awareness. Vice -Chair Kler emphasized the need to remain viable as a major contributor to mental health services and chemical dependency recovery services while grappling with this complex challenge involving fiscal oversite management and allocation, as well as a nuanced understanding an ever -evolving business model. The disparate community of stakeholders are under the ongoing pressure to make services fair and accessible to everyone. At the workshop, members monitored their tempers as difficult questions and demands for clarification were brought to the table. The group made some headway on preliminary decisions, one of which was to call themselves the Salish Behavioral Health Organization. Jefferson County representatives, Kler, Baldwin, Buhler, and Robinson will keep the Board updated on developments vis-a-vis this important organization's development. 5. Chimacum Prevention Coalition Strategic Plan Update Ms. Danskin presented the update for Kelly Matlock, JC Community Health Educator, who wrote the strategic plan, which may be viewed at the Jefferson County Public Health Web site. Danskin highlighted Chimacum Prevention Coalition achievements and reported to the Board the continued improvements the Coalition has brought to the community. With continued support from the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery, the Coalition will broaden its reach and is currently participating in Youth Mental Health First Aid training hosted by the YMCA. The importance of Coalition activities was affirmed by the new Chimacum School District superintendent Rick Thompson, who attended its meeting in June. 6. Public Health Policy Issues and Consumer Use of Fireworks. Dr. Locke addressed the Board at the request of one of its members and provided an article from the American Public Health Association to aid in broadening awareness of hazards associated with fireworks. Consumer fireworks cause avoidable injuries to community members and the environment. There is a ban in the City of Port Townsend, but, Vice -Chair Kler noted the difficulty in effecting a county -wide ban, noting timeframes governing how banning ordinances must be implemented. It was also noted that the County has no jurisdiction regarding Tribal land. Mr. Keefer offered a Yakima policy related to policing land borders in an effort to keep fireworks limited to areas where they are not banned. The difficulty of implementing state-wide bans also surfaced.. ACTIVITY UPDATE Ms. Buhler reported Jefferson Healthcare voted unanimously to adopt recommendations to form a Reproductive Task Force. Ms. Baldwin reported JCPH opened a new position for a Community Health Director and will open the School Nurse position; there will be a Pertussis update at the August BOH meeting; Peter Browning, Browning Solutions, project manager structuring the next stage in the development of the Accountable Community of Health, will attend the August meeting. Mr. Keefer informed the Board that he will provide an update to the Port Townsend Paper Corporation's permit application. Vice -Chair Kler shared the Public Health threat created by poachers selling and consuming poached shellfish. Member Phil Johnson shared Ecology plans to study the effects of Fish Net Pen bans, which will save the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) from having to ask that a study be performed. There was no public comment. PUBLIC COMMENT NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2015 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Vice -Chair Kier adjourned the July 16, 2015 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:08 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Phil Johnson, Member David iva�er Kris Neil on, Member Respectfully Submitteu: Denise Banker EXCUSED Sheila Westerman, Chair Ithteen,'Kler; Vice -Chair