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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM072017JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, July 20, 2017 Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368 Board Members Kate Dean, County Commissioner District #1 David Sullivan, County Commissioner, District #2 Kathleen Kier, County Commissioner, District #3 Catharine Robinson, Chair, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Citizen at large Jill Buhler, Hospital Commissioner, District #2 John Austin, Vice -Chair, Citizen at large Staff Members Thomas Locke, Health Officer Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Dir Stuart Whitford, Env. Health Dir Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Dir Michael Dawson, WQ Manager Jenny Matter, Clerk of the Board Chair Catharine Robinson called the July 20, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: John Austin, Kate Dean, David Sullivan, Jill Buhler, Kathleen Kler, Sheila Westerman, Catharine Robinson Staff Present: Vicki Kirkpatrick, Stuart Whitford, Michael Dawson, Jenny Matter APPROVAL OF AGENDA Jill Buhler requested to present a short update on the activities of Jefferson Healthcare under Activity Update. Vicki Kirkpatrick requested to add the following items under Activity Update: 1) status of hiring the Community Health Improvement Plan executive director, and 2) changes to the law with the creation of the Behavioral Health Organization. Chair Robinson asked for approval of the Agenda of the July 20, 2017, as amended. Member Kathleen Kler motioned to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was seconded by Member Jill Buhler. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES John Austin identified a typo to be corrected on page 2 of the June 15, 2017 minutes. Chair Robinson asked for approval of the minutes of the June 15, 2017 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health, as amended. Member Jill Buhler motioned to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by Member David Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Port Townsend Leader — Letter to the Editor re: Flu Vaccine The Board discussed the letter Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, wrote in response to a previously published letter (Port Townsend Leader) that claimed the flu vaccine increases the chance of dying from the flu. The Board expressed their appreciation for Dr. Locke in writing the letter and disappointment that the full version of the letter was not published. The Board discussed writing another letter closer to the school year that could be published in the Perspectives section of the Leader instead of a letter to the editor. They also talked about upcoming meetings where vaccinations would be discussed. NEW BUSINESS 1. 2016 Healthy Youth Survey Report Siri Kushner introduced herself to the Board. She currently works for the Kitsap Public Health District as an epidemiologist. She reviewed the characteristics of the Healthy Youth Survey, including grades surveyed, levels of participation by grade and school, and effects of low participation on survey results. Vice -Chair John Austin expressed his concern about one of the questions regarding suicide incidents. He felt it unintentionally implied that attempting suicide was expected behavior or becoming a community norm. Siri reviewed the results for marijuana and alcohol use and suicide rates between counties and the State. Jefferson County had higher rates than Clallam and Kitsap counties in all three areas. The Board discussed possible explanations for higher reported use (e.g. legalization of marijuana, community norms of acceptance, more truthful reporting). They also questioned why rates would be higher in Jefferson County, when high school graduation rates were higher and opioid use seemed to be lower than the other counties. The Board discussed the importance of community norms or stories around excessive and proper use of marijuana, using tobacco to cope with anxiety, low rates of vaccinations, suicide attempt rates, and feelings of hope. Siri informed the Board that the Hope Scale will be on the next Healthy Youth Survey. 2. Hood Canal Shellfish Growing Area #3 Downgrade Michael Dawson reported on the status of downgrading the Hood Canal shellfish growing area #3 to conditional during the months of May through October for commercial harvesting. The area of closure would be a portion of the growing area near the mouth of the Duckabush River. Recreational closures would follow suit, although the recreational closure area has not yet been defined. Mr. Dawson reviewed genetic analysis of fecal bacteria counts obtained by the Port Gamble S'Klallam tribe. Potential sources of bacteria include seals, elk, deer, and humans. The Board 2 had questions about on-site sewage systems. Stuart Whitford informed the Board that there is a program in place, funded by state grants, to help homeowners repair or upgrade on-site sewage systems. Mr. Dawson explained the process and timeline for downgrading the area, including the draft addendum, comment period, closure (expected late August), and response plan. He said JCPH is working with DOH and, possibly, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group to coordinate the closure. Commissioner Dean asked about recent closures. Mr. Dawson said they recently closed Kilisut Harbor, Mystery Bay, and Port Townsend Bay due to paralytic shellfish poisoning. Mr. Dawson added that there will be a public meeting for the Central Hood Canal PIC in August. 3. 2016 Family Health Performance Measures Yuko Umeda, Public Health Nurse, reviewed the Planned Performance Measures 2016 Report. She reported that, overall, the numbers were fairly stable from the previous year. Two items that decreased were the number of completed ACE questionnaires and referrals from CPS. Over the year JPCH has changed the practice for administering ACE questionnaires. Where they use to have them completed in the first or second visit, they found it better to wait until subsequent visits after a more trusting relationship was developed. Although the number of completed questionnaires is lower, they frequently talk to clients about the effects of ACES. The number of referrals from CPS for the Early Intervention Program (EIP) decreased primarily due to staff overturn at CPS. JCPH long time nurse and primary contact for CPS, Dennis Langlois also retired, but the number of referrals had started to decline prior to his retirement. JCPH has continued to meet with CPS and brainstorm about other ways JCPH could help (e.g., staffing a position at the CPS office, offering more services). Ms. Umeda said that some of the discrepancies in numbers may also be due to how information has been documented or reported in the new software for electronic medical records. Vicki Kirkpatrick added that a picnic will be held on August 2nd at Chetzemoka Park in celebration of World Breastfeeding Day. 4. Washington State Legislature Update Vicki Kirkpatrick informed the Board that the operation budget included one-time funding for local and state public health under the rubric of Foundational Public Health Services. Although $50 million was requested, 10% ($5 million) was granted, which equates to approximately $40k for Jefferson County. Stipulations for funding include using shared services and focusing on communicable disease and/or chronic disease prevention. Ms. Kirkpatrick reviewed other requirements, how funds would be used and dispersed, and issues surrounding the imbalance between funding and expected deliverables. Ms. Kirkpatrick said that the State has not agreed to a capital budget, except for re -appropriation of existing projects. Therefore, there is no funding for the solid waste response program for JCPH / Environmental Health (EH). EH Director, Stuart Whitford, said they would still respond to spills (oil, gas, etc.) and raw garbage complaints which represent a public health threat, but not junk vehicles, debris, etc. where there is no threat to human health. In addition to lack of funding for solid waste response, there are two Centennial grants from the Department of Ecology that EH will not be able to execute until the capital budget is passed. Mr. Whitford said that, since the legislature was unable to reach an agreement on legal changes to address the impacts from the Hirst decision, JCPH and DCD may need legal guidance on if and how to modify the building permit process, as it relates to water adequacy and potability reviews. Kathleen Kler added that Patty Charnas, the Director of DCD, has requested that all calls or questions pertaining to the Hirst decision be routed to her. Michael Dawson informed the Board that the Conservation District is going to be without funding also. Kathleen Kler commented on how this may cause a loss of trust with the community that may be hard to re-establish. ACTIVITY UPDATE Vicki Kirkpatrick informed the Board that, due to recent legislative changes, a Substance Abuse Advisory Board (SAAB) is no longer a County mandate. However, there is an ordinance that requires the SAAB to provide representation to the Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Advisory Board, which makes recommendations on 1/101h of 1% funding. Ms. Kirkpatrick discussed the possibility of connecting the SAAB with the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Ms. Kirkpatrick reported that they are finishing their interviews for the CHIP Executive Director and hope to make an offer by next week. Jill Buhler reported on the status of Jefferson Healthcare. Due to the lack of agreement on a capital budget, establishing a dental clinic will be put on hold. The Dermatology Clinic is staffed and open. A new General Surgeon will be starting in mid-September. They just finished a rigorous cancer accreditation survey by the American College of Surgeons and made job offers to two MDs, one Internist, and three Advanced Practice Providers. Stuart Whitford said there will be a proposal to change the scanning and technology fee in next month's Board packet. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Kathleen Kler and Stuart Whitford will be discussing how sections of the code for on-site sewage are applied at the next Board meeting. Jill Buhler requested to have the Jefferson Healthcare report as a reoccurring agenda item. 11 Kate Dean would like to include an article on how Iceland is responding to the opioid crisis in the next Board packet. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Catharine Robinson adjourned the July 20th, 2017 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:32 p.m. JEFFE ON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Ka e D , Me r Ji Buhler, Mem nav, u 1 a _ em er Sheila Westerman, Member Catharine Robi n hair John ustin, e -Chair Kath een Kler, Member Respectfully submitted J. Matter