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• JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
MINUTES
February 20, 2020
Jefferson County Public Health, 615 Sheridan Street, Port Townsend WA 98368
Board Members Staff Members
Pamela Adams,Vice Chair,Port Townsend City Council Michael Dawson,Water Quality Manager
Greg Brotherton,County Commissioner,District#3 Vicki Kirkpatrick,Public Health Director
Kate Dean,County Commissioner District#1 Thomas Locke,Health Officer
Kees Kolff,Public Hospital District#2 Commissioner Apple Martine,Community Health Director
Denis Stearns,Citizen at large Pinky Mingo,Interim Env.Public Health Director
David Sullivan,County Commissioner,District#2 Veronica Shaw,Public Health Deputy Director
Sheila Westerman,Chair,Citizen at large
Chair Kees Kolff called the February 20, 2020 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, Sheila Westerman
• Staff Present: Michael Dawson, Vicki Kirkpatrick, Thomas Locke, Pinky Mingo
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Kees Kolff asked for approval of the agenda for February 20, 2020. Member Greg Brotherton
requested to update the location of the meeting.
Vice Chair, Sheila Westerman motioned to approve the agenda as amended. The motion was
seconded by Member Greg Brotherton. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Kees Kolff asked for approval of the minutes for the January 16, 2020 meeting of the Jefferson
County Board of Health. Vice Chair Sheila Westerman asked for clarification of roles for the meeting
on January 16th. Chair Kees Kolff requested the minutes reflect the current roles as the complete
procedures according to Robert's Rules in the election of Chair and Vice Chair were not followed at
the last meeting.
Member Denis Stearns motioned to approve the minutes as amended. The motion was seconded by
Member Pamela Adams. No further discussion. The motion passed unanimously.
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• REPEAT ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chair Kees Kolff called for nominations of officers for 2020.
Member Greg Brotherton nominated Sheila Westerman for the position of Chair. The
nomination was seconded by Pamela Adams. No further discussion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Member Greg Brotherton nominated Pamela Adams for the position of Vice Chair. The
nomination was seconded by Member David Sullivan. No further discussion. The motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Don Tucker, owner of two mobile home parks in Jefferson County, said seniors and those with low
incomes are disproportionately affected by Ordinance 8.15.060. He asked the Board to modify section
3 of the ordinance and exclude replacement mobile homes within manufactured housing communities
from compliance with current code as a permit requirement.
Cindy Jayne encouraged the Board to consider how climate change will impact the entire county and to
prioritize it on their agenda.
OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Jefferson Healthcare Update
There was no update.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Public Hearing Environmental Public Health Fee Policy and Proposed Fees for 2020—Repeal and
Replace Ordinance 15-1212-19
Pinky Mingo, Interim Environmental Health Director, reviewed the proposed changes to the fee schedule.
Chair Sheila Westerman opened the public comment period. There was no public comment.
Member Kees Kolff motioned to repeal and replace Ordinance#15-1212-19 with Ordinance#01-
0220-20. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Pamela Adams. No further discussion. The
motion passed unanimously.
411
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Climate Change and Public Health: the State Perspective—Marnie Boardman, Climate Change
Coordinator Washington State Department of Health
Marnie Boardman, Climate Change Coordinator for the Washington State Department of Health gave a
presentation on the health risks from climate change. Ms. Boardman reviewed some of the resources and
activities taking place in the region, recent state legislation supporting energy efficiency, and evidence-
based research results. She said the key messages from the US Global Change Research Program on the
scientific assessment of climate change impacts on health are that changes in the frequency, severity,
duration and location of weather sensitive hazards will amplify existing health problems. Some
populations will suffer more than others (e.g. elderly, outdoor laborers, communities of color,those with
an existing chronic illness, etc.). She also provided examples of how individuals, communities, and
agencies can be affected by dealing with multiple issues at once.
Ms. Boardman said they will be developing community profiles to identify risks, hazards and vulnerable
populations. The results will be posted on the Washington Tracking Network. She also reviewed and
emphasized the importance of partnering with other organizations to included climate change activities in
strategic planning and enhancing surveillance and monitoring systems for the early detection of climate
change impacts.
The Board had questions about future predictions, impacts due 1.5 degrees Celsius change, fossil fuel
impacted communities, causal relationships due to climate change, and similar activities by other local
health jurisdictions.
• Chair Sheila Westerman opened the meeting to the public. Jim Scarantino asked Ms. Boardman if she
was familiar with the research conducted at the University of Washington by Cliff Mass.
3. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update—State and Local Response Plans
Dr. Tom Locke, Health Officer, informed the Board about the latest findings and response plans for
COVID-19. He said COVID-19 has all the characteristics of a pandemic and it is expected to spread
globally. Although the majority of people who have acquired the virus are mildly ill, the death rate is
currently estimated at about 1% and the elderly and those with compromised immune systems and chronic
health conditions are most at risk. Dr. Locke said the main goal is to slow down the rate of transmission
so services are not overwhelmed by a surge of those needing medical care. An effective diagnostic test is
expected to be developed soon.
Dr. Locke gave information about how individuals are being monitored and gave examples of
nonpharmacologic interventions. The Board had questions and comments about future immunity, local
monitoring activity,testing, efficiency of mask use, screening at U.S. borders, and characteristics of the
virus.
4. 2019-20 Influenza Season Update
Dr. Tom Locke said we are still in the peak of flu season and the predominant strain has changed from
Influenza B to the H1N1 strain of Influenza A. Currently, it is estimated that 25 million people have been
infected and the mortality count is between 12,000 and 20,000 people, although it is most likely higher.
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ACTIVITY UPDATE
There was no activity update.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment.
AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR
Greg Brotherton asked for an update on regulatory reform. There was a discussion regarding onsite
sewage systems for mobile home parks.
NEXT SCHEDULED MEETING
The next Board of Health meeting will be held on Thursday, March 19, 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 February 20,2020 Jefferson County Board of Health
meeting at 4:18 p.m.
JEFFERSON COUNTY ABOARD OF HEALTH
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Respectfully submitted
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