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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM121219JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MINUTES December 12, 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 Director Jenny Matter, Clerk of the Board Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman called the December 12, 2019 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:38 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Pam Adams, Greg Brotherton, Kees Kolff, Denis Stearns, David Sullivan, Sheila Westerman Staff Present: Michael Dawson, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Thomas Locke, Pinky Mingo, Stuart Whitford APPROVAL OF AGENDA Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman asked for approval of the agenda for December 12, 2019. Member Pamela Adams motioned to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Member Denis Stearns. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman asked for approval of the minutes for the November 14, 2019 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health. Member David Sullivan motioned to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Page 1 of 4 PUBLIC COMMENTS There was no public comment. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Vaping-associated Lung Injury Update Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, said there have been 19 cases of vaping-associated lung injury in Washington State. He said it is unlikely these types of injuries are caused by a single agent or solely from unregulated sources. Biopsies have shown that Vitamin E acetate has been linked to damaged lung tissue and selling vapor products with it was banned in Washington State on November 18, 2019. Dr. Locke said one of the greatest concerns are underground compounds so it is difficult to know what people have been exposed to. The Board had comments and questions about enforcement, black market and regulated cannabis, underage buyers, and the misconception that if the product is legal, it must also be safe. NEW BUSINESS 1. Public Hearing — Draft Environmental Public Health Fee Policy and Proposed Fees for 2020 Pinky Mingo, Environmental Health Manager, said the proposed food fee increase will help fund more staff hours for the food program and the increase in solid waste fees will adequately reflect how much time is spent on facilities. Stuart Whitford, Environmental Health Director, said the proposed fee policy is to formalize an Environmental Public Health division fee policy that aligns with the County for developing and managing fees. It also includes authority to reduce temporary food service permits on a case-by-case basis for 501(c)(3) organizations. Mr. Whitford explained how funding would be handled through the County administrator or Board of Commissioners. The Board had questions about funding sources, food cart permits, rates of reduction for non-profit organizations, variances between non -profits, and criteria for eligible organizations seeking reduced fees. Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman opened the public comment period. There was no public comment. Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman closed the public comment period. Member Greg Brotherton moved to approve the new fee schedule package for Jefferson County Environmental Public Health as amended with the 25% reduction for 501(c)(3) non-profit Page 2 of 4 organizations. The motion was seconded by Member Dennis Stearns. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Criteria for Considering Board of Health Resolutions Dr. Tom Locke asked the Board how to proceed with resolution requests brought to the Board by the public. This was prompted by the recent request from the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society to consider a resolution in support of decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi. The Board discussed the national movement to decriminalize and reclassify certain compounds so they could be researched in hopes of helping with the mental health crisis. They also discussed the process for bringing a proclamation or resolution to the Board and the role and authority of the Board under RCW 70.05.060. 3. Climate Change as a Public Health Emergency Dr. Tom Locke said health impacts due to climate change are already occurring and a growing number within the health care field see climate change as a health emergency that needs to be addressed immediately. Most recently, the Washington Health Care Climate Alliance was established by health care providers and facilities to address how to prepare and respond to the health impacts of climate change. The Board discussed how to raise the level of awareness and partnering with the city and the Climate Action Committee. ACTIVITY UPDATE Debra Murdock, Jefferson County Code Compliance Coordinator, and Austin Watkins, Jefferson County Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, presented an activity update on the current and proposed code enforcement process. Currently there is no single uniform code in Jefferson County and they are proposing to consolidate enforcement efforts into one process. This would be done through an intermediate appeal process and hearing examiner. The Board had questions and comments about the number of violations related to public health, fair rulings for unrepresented people, process fees and affordability, amendments to the rules for code enforcement, effectiveness of the intermediate appeal process, and participation of the health officer in the process. Ms. Murdock and Mr. Watkins will submit a draft of the intermediate appeal process to the Board to review. Vicki Kirkpatrick, JCPH Director, said the Volunteers of America will be responding to the crisis line as of January 1, 2020. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. Page 3 of 4 AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR Topics requested to be discussed at the next meeting are the resolution from the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society, climate change, and changes from Medicaid and the Behavioral Health Organization. NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, January 16, 2020 from 2:30 — 4:30 p.m. at Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend, WA. ADJOURNMENT Vice -Chair Sheila Westerman adjourned the December 12, 2019 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:37 p.m. COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Excused Kees Kolff, Chair Ka P C Member �Wem_ber Respectfully submitted J. Matter Page 4 of 4