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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM062019JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES Thursday, June 20, 2019 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 Member Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner, District #3 Pamela Adams, Port Townsend City Council Sheila Westerman, Vice Chair, Citizen at large Kees Kolff, Chair, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner Denis Stearns, Citizen at large Staff Members Thomas Locke, Health Officer Vicki Kirkpatrick, Public Health Director Stuart Whitford, Env. Public Health Director Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager Pinky Mingo, Env. Public Health Manager Apple Martine, Community Health Dir Jenny Matter, Clerk of the Board Chair Kees Kolff called the June 20, 2019 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Pamela Adams, Greg Brotherton, Kate Dean, Kees Kolff, Denis Stearns, David Sullivan Staff Present: Michael Dawson, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Thomas Locke, Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo, Stuart Whitford APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Kees Kolff asked for approval of the agenda for June 20, 2019. Member Kate Dean motioned to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Member Denis Stearns. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Kees Kloff asked for approval of the minutes of the May 16, 2019 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health. Member Pamela Adams motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. No further discussion. The motion passed. Page 1 of 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Anderson Lake Closure Update Michael Dawson, JCPH Water Quality Manager, reported on the current status of Lake Anderson. He said there is still a high level of anatoxin so the lake remains closed. He will meet with Fish & Wildlife, State Parks, Department of Ecology, and State Health to figure out if there are feasible options to address the algae toxins issue and make the lake safer for the public. Mr. Dawson explained how toxins fluctuate throughout the year and past attempts to use oxygenation to reduce algae blooms. He also informed the Board that, although a land manager can close access to a lake, technically, fishing is still open. Although rarely done, Fish & Wildlife have issued an emergency closure to fishing at the lake. A public meeting to communicate the status and possible future options for Lake Anderson is planned in the fall. The Board had questions about possible previous use of poison, authority to conduct preemptive closures, and sufficient signage. 2. Jefferson Healthcare Update Chair Kees Kolff informed the Board that JHC: 1) held an open house for the dental clinic and will start providing dental services next week, 2) will open their retail pharmacy in Port Ludlow next week, 3) is planning on putting automated external defibrillators in some of the Chimacum schools, and 4) will launch a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program next week. The Board had questions about training requirements, and communication and outreach for the SANE program. NEW BUSINESS 1. Ordinance to Adopt Revisions to WAC 173-350 - Solid Waste Handling Standards and Revised Definition of Junk Vehicles — Public Hearing and Action Item Pinky Mingo, JCPH Environmental Health Manager, reviewed the revisions of WAC 173-350, which included the definition of solid waste and clarifications for permitting. In addition to formally adopting the state code by reference, Jefferson County Environmental Public Health proposed revisions to the definition of junk vehicles. The Board had questions about the difference between a nuisance and public nuisance and participation from Public Works. Chair Kees Kolff opened the public comment period. Page 2 of 5 Brad Stone, who works for Jefferson County Environmental Public Health and lives on the outskirts of Jefferson County, said the revisions provide clear definitions which makes it easier for him to communicate with the public. Chair Kees Kolff closed the public comment period. Member Kate Dean motioned to approve the Ordinance to Adopt Revisions to WAC 173-350 - Solid Waste Handling Standards and Revised Definition of Junk Vehicles. The motion was seconded by Member Pamela Adams. Chair Kees Kolff asked for a vote. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Jefferson County Syringe Exchange Program (SEP) 2018 Annual Report Lisa McKenzie, Jefferson County Public Health Nurse, said the goals and priorities of the SEP are disease prevention, harm reduction and sustainability. Ms. McKenzie provided information on how the program is funded and noted the uncertainty of future funding. She gave examples of resources provided through the program, some of which are safety education, naloxone training, and internal and external referrals. Ms. McKenzie briefly highlighted the 2018 data regarding number of new clients, syringes exchanged, client visits, and naloxone kits distributed. She also reviewed demographic data, primary drug use, syringe distribution through secondary exchanges, and how a unique identifier is used to track naloxone distribution and could be used in the future to identify visits per client. The Board had questions about the HIV seroconversion rate, visits per client, causes of the rapid increase in services provided from 2016 to 2017, and naloxone distribution. 3. Revised Timeline for Modifications to the Jefferson County Clean Air Ordinance to Prohibit Vaping in Public Places and Places of Employment Karen Obermeyer, JCPH Community Health Educator, explained events leading up to the current status of revising the Clean Indoor Ordinance to include vaping. Ms. Obermeyer said the County learned that a consultant was available to provide guidance so the ordinance is amended to align with state law along with rules adopted by neighboring counties. It seemed prudent for Jefferson County to avail itself of this consultation. With the approval of the Board Chair, the public hearing scheduled for today's meeting was deferred pending further revisions of the draft ordinance. Once this is complete, the legal team for Jefferson County will review the changes and a pre -adoption briefing will take place at a future BOH meeting. 4. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program Efforts to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Local Families Karen Obermeyer informed the Board about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, which provides supplemental food, health care referrals and nutritional information to low income families. Ms. Obermeyer also provided information about the WIC Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, along with other services JCPH provides to increase the intake of fresh, healthy, unprocessed, locally grown fruit and vegetables. Ms. Obermeyer reviewed the number of families served and funding sources. Page 3 of 5 Kathy Anderson, Nutritionist for JCPH, said the system will change in October so clients will receive a card instead of checks for purchasing food. She also said it can be a lot of work for vendors to participate in these programs and asked the Board to sign a letter of appreciation. Chair Kees Kolff read the letter of appreciation. Member Kate Dean motioned to approve the letter as read. The motion was seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. A discussion ensued regarding grammar of the letter, the option to get organic produce, and the intended recipients of the letter. 5. Washington State Department of Health Guidance on Closing Outdoor Public Events Due to Unhealthy Air Quality Pinky Mingo reviewed the guidance from the Department of Health for closing outdoor events due to poor air quality. Ms. Mingo said Jefferson County Environmental Public Health is working on a draft policy and communication strategy that will be presented at the next BOH meeting. Ms. Mingo also explained the differences between the Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) and the Air Quality Index (AQI) used by the EPA, along with information about local air monitors. The Board had questions about the availability of masks, updates to the Air Quality Index categories, purple air monitors, and the quality of data from low-cost air monitors. 6. Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, informed the Board about the bipartisan effort to support the Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act. Nationally, this year has been the worst for measles in decades. A letter written in support of the Act to the Members of the Washington State Congressional Delegation was presented for the Board to sign. The Board questioned if there were any deaths due to measles this year and what area currently has the highest number of measles cases. Member Pamela Adam motioned to approve the recommendation to sign the letter in support of the VACCINES Act. The motion was seconded by Member Kate Dean. Chair Kees Kolff asked for a vote. The motion passed unanimously. There was no activity update. ACTIVITY UPDATE PUBLIC COMMENT Amanda Funaro, resident of Jefferson County and employee of Goodman Sanitation, said that everybody deserves the integrity of safe sanitary restroom facilities and she is interested in working with the County to find a way to provide monitored sanitary facilities for the homeless and transient population. A discussion ensued regarding public restrooms in Jefferson County and lack of hygiene related services for the homeless population. Page 4 of 5 AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Stuart Whitford, Environmental Public Health Director at JCPH, said he plans to present: 1) a revised draft of the clean indoor air ordinance, 2) a new policy on emergency septic holding tanks, 3) the current status of regulatory reform, and 4) changes to the drinking water program policy at upcoming BOH meetings. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2019 from 2:30 — 4:30p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Chair Kees Kolff adjourned the June 20, 2019 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:22 p.m. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Kees Kolff, Ch Kate Dean, Wmber Excused Sheila W s rm ice -chair 4 Davi Sulliv , Member S �te s, Member Member Respectfully submitted J. Matter Page 5 off 5