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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM121715JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, December 17, 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 42 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 02 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 Kier called the December 17, 2015 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Phil Johnson, David Sullivan, Kathleen Kier, Kris Nelson, Jill Buhler, John Austin Staff Present: Jean Baldwin, Jared Keefer, Denise Banker, Karen Obermeyer, Dunia Faulx Members and Staff Absent: Sheila Westerman, Thomas Locke, Julia Danskin, Michael Dawson, Veronica Shaw APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice -Chair Kier called for approval of the December 17, 2015 Agenda. Member Austin noted a typo in the agenda draft and asked that it be corrected. The word "rapid" was corrected to "rabid" in Section IV, Old Business, item #1. Member Austin also asked that there be an additional section added to the agenda that would function as a "follow-up" report on actions requested of staff by the Board. It was noted a letter the Board had requested staff compose had gone unheeded. Member Sullivan moved to approve the agenda as amended; the motion was seconded by Member Nelson. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice -Chair Kier called for approval of the October 15th minutes. Member Sullivan moved to approve the agenda; the motion was seconded by Member Austin. No further discussion. Vice -Chair Kler reiterated the typo in the agenda be corrected. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public were in attendance to comment on the Food fees for which there was a public hearing scheduled. Members of the public included: Jim Lobato of Sobremesa Tacos; Susan Maxwell of Crust Pies and Market Kitchen; Mike Aarbin of Mo -Chilli BBQ. Members of the Board and Staff introduced themselves. OLD BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Rabid Cat in Jefferson County Jean Baldwin, Director, JCPH reported to the Board on the occurrence of a rabid cat in Jefferson County. Ms. Baldwin noted there is only one strain of the rabies virus among wildlife in this area and that the cat indicated this strain. Bats carry the particular strain of the disease so it was assumed the cat was infected by a bat. Other pets in the household are quarantined for a period of 6 months and are being monitored by Animal Control officials. Four people were treated for possible rabies infection. Baldwin noted an erroneous press release, which linked rabies to a sick coyote that had been euthanized by WA Fish and Wildlife, had been retracted by the Jefferson County Leader. Overall the rabies incident provided a teachable moment for the County. 2. Department of Health Marijuana Prevention Project Ms. Baldwin reported to the Board on a grant provided by the Department of Health that contributes marijuana tax revenue to fund prevention projects focused around "No Initiation" among youth ages 12-21. Public Health staff is involved in supporting prevention activities, one of which is a presentation by Jerry Blackburn, Chemical Dependency Counseling and Education Consultant, to be held Monday, January 11, 2016, 6-8 pm at the Chimacum High School Library. 3. DBHR Substance Abuse Prevention Events Ms. Baldwin continued to report to the Board on activities, funded by the same grant, geared toward prevention. A science -based training program, Strengthening Families Program, to be held Thursdays, February 4 — March 17, 2016, at the Irondale Church, 681 Irondale Rd, Port Hadlock. Training equips participants with necessary life, communication, and social skills. 4. Port Townsend Paper -Mill Solid Waste Facility Financial Assurances Jared Keefer, Environmental Health Director, JCPH reported to the Board that the Port Townsend Paper Mill had completed its financial assurances requirement. Mr. Keefer told the Board that a Trust had been set up in the name of Jefferson County, the monies from which are to be used in closure and post -closure activities in regards to the Waste Facility clean up. The dollar amount contributed by the Mill as part of the assurances requirement is tied to CPI and will fluctuate accordingly. Board members wondered out loud if the Trust account was interest bearing. Mr. Keefer assured Board members he would find out and report. 2 S. Olympic Accountable Communities of Health (ACH) Plan Submittal Ms. Baldwin reported to the Board about ACH activities. Through diverse multi -sector partnerships the three -county work group had completed its plan and had submitted it to the Health Care Authority with the goal of receiving ACH designation. 6. Community Health Improvement Plan Update Karen Obermeyer, Community Health Educator, JCPH reported to the Board on Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) activities. The four work groups that were previously established have completed the norming and forming stages and are in the process of identifying long-term and short-term goals. The CHIP groups are working on four priority areas: Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Access to Healthcare, Immunization education and accessibility, and chronic disease prevention. NEW BUSINESS 1. Public Hearing: Food Safety Program Fees Vice -Chair Kler opened the Public Hearing at 3:10 and invited Mr. Keefer to speak to the issue of Food Safety Program Fees. Mr. Keefer reminded the Board of the discussions leading up to the public hearing and the rationale for the new fee schedule. It was emphasized that JC fees do not cover all costs involved in maintaining a food safety program and that the roughly 10% increase in costs to restaurateurs represents an effort to recover more costs associated with the program. Jefferson County general fund subsidizes the cost of the Food Safety Program. Mr. Keefer reiterated ongoing efforts to establish efficiency in the program and emphasized the need to lay a foundation for transition to a risk-based rather than type of operation as a basis for fee setting. Vice -Chair Kler opened the floor to members of the public. Mr. Jim Lobato, Sobremesa Tacos asked when the new fees were to take effect and asked how the fees compared to fees in surrounding counties. Mr. Keefer answered: January 1, 2016; and told Mr. Lobato Jefferson County fees were lower than surrounding counties. Mike Aarbin, Mo -Chilli BBQ asked about strategies for risk-based fee assessments, commented on the expense involved in mobile unit food fees, and wondered if there were a way to make the permit application more efficient. Mr. Aarbin was particularly concerned about individual and redundant costs involved in setting up at various locations; redundant costs involved in having a food -truck kitchen and commissary kitchen, and redundancies in costs associated with menu items. Kris Nelson, Port Townsend City Council, and local restaurateur explained various fees are associated with risk and are based on proximity, in the case of mobile kitchens, to hand -washing facilities. Nelson said in the case of menu items it's wise to put as many menu items on a proposed menu as possible to avoid paying additional fees associated with changing the menu. However, Nelson did express concern over the problem of the complexity of the permit application process. David Sullivan, Commissioner, Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners told the group he was concerned 'by community responses to the costs associated with single - event permits. It was decided there needs to be a work group formed composed of interested community members, restaurateurs, and food program representatives to look for inefficiencies, tighten categories, and establish evenly distributed fees across risk-based categories with the aim of simplifying the program, cutting overhead costs, and moving the Food Safety Fees to a budget neutral program. Members of the public and Member Nelson recorded their names and contact information on a sheet of paper in the first step toward forming a work group. Mr. Keefer will follow through with assigning staff to the group, invitations to interested parties to join, and establishing a working schedule for the group Vice -Chair Kler closed the public hearing at 3:40 and moved to approve the Fee Schedule. Member Nelson motioned to approve. Member Buhler seconded. No further discussion ensued. The motion passed unanimously. 2. JCPH Draft Policy: Physical Activity in the Workplace Ms. Obermeyer updated the Board on work being done in regards to policy updates. The effort is motivated by making it easier for people in the work environment to make healthier choices. Steps being taken toward this end include removing barriers to healthy choices, providing encouragement for walking groups, educating employees about insurance benefits that offset the costs associated with gym membership and entrance fees. It was noted that "Sitting is the new tobacco." 3. JCPH Draft Policy: Breast Feeding in the Workplace Ms. Obermeyer told the Board this policy is in keeping with Federal mandates and encouraged the County to adopt a policy as well. Added to the JCPH policy is a Location Support. 4. JCPH Draft Policy: Tobacco Use Ms. Obermeyer informed the Board this policy was updated to include vaping. It was noted that the establishment of "tobacco free campuses" has a positive effect in relation to smoking cessation. 5. JCPH Director Search Ms. Baldwin reported to the Board that a job description had been submitted to the county administrator and that work had been done in deciding how to proceed in a formal Director Search. The search committee will be composed of two members of the Board of Health, the Jefferson County Health Officer, and the County Administrator. Ms. Baldwin asked for volunteers from the Board. Member Austin volunteered as did Vice - 4 Chair Kler. The official search will be announced as soon as decisions have been made in regards to how the search will be conducted. 6. 2016 BOH Calendar The draft calendar for 2016 was presented to the Board. Vice -Chair Kler had concerns about conflicts associated with her schedule. It was decided to further discuss dates at the January meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health. ACTIVITY UPDATE Mr. Keefer stated Water Quality project presentations were well attended by the public. Mr. Keefer updated the Board on inaccuracies in a recent Peninsula Daily News article regarding the number of county septic systems and sewer access. Mr. Keefer said in January he will update the Board on a site in Jefferson County that is in violation of sewage disposal regulations. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. N19XT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2016 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Vice -Chair Kler adjourned the December 17, 2015 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:10 p.m. Phil 7; Mem r BOARD OF HEALTH Y 1B 'B&I ernbe Sheila Westerman, Chair Kathleen Kler, Vice -Chair Respectfully Submitted; Denise Banker 5