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HomeMy WebLinkAbout021623M BOHis Health REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Jefferson County Board of Health Thursday, February 16, 2023 @ 2:30 p.m. Jefferson County Courthouse — Commissioners' Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA Hybrid Meeting Board Members Greg Brotherton, County Commissioner, District #3 Kate Dean, Chair, County Commissioner District #1 Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner, District #2 Amanda Grace, Community Stakeholder AJ Hawkins, Consumer of Public Health Dr. Kees Kolff, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner Libby Wennstrom, Port Townsend City Council Staff Members Denise Banker, Community Health Director Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager Alisa Hasbrouck, Environmental Health Manager Barb Jones, CHIP Program Manager Apple Martine, Public Health Director Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health Director Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director Chair Kolff called the February 16, 2023 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:30 p.m. A quorum was present. Members Present: Chair Dr. Kees Kolff, Members Greg Brotherton, Kate Dean, Heidi Eisenhour, AJ Hawkins and Libby Wennstrom. Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Michael Dawson, Barb Jones, Apple Martine, Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw. PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Kolff called for public comment. The following is a summary of comments made by individuals in attendance (virtually and in person) at the meeting and reflect their personal opinions: • Commenter queried whether Washington death statistics for 2021 and 2022 are available; also, is the county submitting related data to the state? • Commenter asked the board to consider instituting multiple public comment periods at each meeting for important agenda items, also to extend the public comment time and to allow follow-up discussion. They also asked for clarification about the rules for electing the Chair of the Board of Health. They also asked for Board comments on the recent Cochrane Review conclusions about mask wearing. Board members addressed comments and concerns raised during the Public Comment Period. Respectfully submitted Page 1 of 3 G. Gilbert APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Kolff requested a motion to approve the agenda for February 16, 2023. MOTION: Member Brotherton moved to approve the agenda. Member Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Kolff requested a motion to approve the minutes for the January 19, 2022 meeting. MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the minutes (with the amendment that the reference to "approve the agenda for January 19, 2022" be corrected to "approve the agenda for January 19, 2023.") Member Dean seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Jefferson Healthcare (JH) Report Chair Kolff addressed issues currently impacting the hospital and clinics, including the recent hospital board retreat, groundbreaking for hospital expansion scheduled for summer (with a "Dig it" plant rescue sale on March 25). He also presented Dr. Berry and Apple Martine with sculpted viruses in appreciation for the collaborative relationship between Public Health and Jefferson Healthcare during the pandemic. 2. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report Staff Member Martine announced commemoration of National Public Health Month; Public Health is now accepting nominations for "Public Health Heroes." She also introduced Barb Jones, Public Health's new CHIP Program Manager. 3. Infectious Diseases Update Dr. Berry addressed respiratory disease, both locally and nationally. Still significant transmission of COVID but no surge of severe disease, due to high level of bivalent vaccination. Masking is still recommended: one should evaluate one's own health status, and risks posed by different venues. Influenza and RSV transmission has also dropped dramatically. NEW BUSINESS 1. Annual Update for Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) Karen Obermeyer, assisted by Susan Taylor, narrated a presentation describing the WIC program, the requirements for participation, benefits provided and recent innovations. Also discussed was the Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program. 2. Climate Change — Adoption of Wildfire Smoke Policy Staff member Michael Dawson explained revisions to the policy, aligning it with state guidelines. MOTION: Member Eisenhour moved to approve the Wildfire Smoke Policy, as presented today. Member Brotherton seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 3. Report of Subcommittee for Onboarding New Board Members Member Brotherton described plans to disseminate relevant documents via the Board of Health website. Respectfully submitted Page 2 of 3 G. Gilbert 4. Avian Influenza, an introduction Dr. Berry presented concerning avian flu, a variation of Influenza A, naturally occurring in aquatics birds, highly transmissible and deadly. There are periodic outbreaks, a potential for antigenic shift (infecting other species) and there is a potential for zoonotic transmission, though rare. The current outbreak has only produced one reported human case (treatment is available). 5. Planning topics for the year ahead Open discussion produced the following suggestions for future agendas: Healthcare system capacity CHIP and CHA Climate Subcommittee Community Wildfire Prevention Planning Strategic planning for the county Behavioral Health The Healthier Together Initiative The Child Development Center Sewer projects / wastewater Diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice Sexual/reproductive health and justice Environmental Public Health Legislative updates (March - May) ANNOUNCEMENTS Member Dean briefed on legislative activity. Chair Kolff suggested adding legislative updates to the agenda throughout the legislative session. Staff members Martine and Shaw will be attending Public Health on the Hill and will report thereon in March. Staff member Banker reported that the Prevention Team is monitoring the legislature including all tobacco, cannabis and alcohol related activity. AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next Board meeting will be held on March 7, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. The next Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m. ADJOURNMENT Chair Kolff adjourned the February 16, 2023 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:13 p.m. until the next Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed. JEFFE4SON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH Dr. Kees Kolff, Ch r �m Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant Respectfully submitted G. Gilbert Page 3 of 3