HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025_03_20_BOH_Minutes_ExecutedREGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Jefferson County Board of Health
Thursday, March 20, 2025 @ 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
Heather Dudley-Nollette, County Commissioner District #1
Celeste Dybeck, Tribal Representative
Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner, District #2
Amanda Grace, Chair, Community Stakeholder
Dr. Kees Kolff, Public Hospital District #2 Commissioner
Monica MickHager, Vice -Chair, Port Townsend City
Council
Gabrielle Vanwert, Consumer of Public Health
Staff Members
Denise Banker, Community Health Director
Dr. Allison Berry, Health Officer
Lara Cittadini, CHIP Manager
Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager
Alisa Hasbrouck, Environmental Health Manager
Apple Martine, Public Health Director
Pinky Mingo, Environmental Public Health Director
Jenn Mitchell, Finance Manager
Veronica Shaw, Public Health Deputy Director
Chair Grace called the March 20, 2025 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Health to order at 2:31 p.m.
Members Present: Chair Amanda Grace, Members Greg Brotherton, Heather Dudley-Nollette, Celeste Dybeck,
Heidi Eisenhour, Monica MickHager and Gabrielle Vanwert.
Excused absence: Dr. Kees Kolff.
Staff Present: Staff Members Denise Banker, Dr. Allison Berry, Michael Dawson, Alisa Hasbrouck, Apple Martine,
Pinky Mingo and Veronica Shaw.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Chair Grace called for a motion to accept the agenda for March 20, 2025.
MOTION: Member Brotherton moved to approve the agenda. Member Dybeck seconded the motion, which
carried by a unanimous vote.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Grace requested a motion to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2025 meeting.
MOTION: Member MickHager moved to approve the minutes. Member Brotherton seconded the motion,
which carried by a unanimous vote.
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G. Gilbert
NEW BUSINESS
PUBLIC HEARING for adoption of revised JCC 8.15 On -site Sewage Code and SEPA Determination of Non -
significance
Staff Presentation
Carter Erickson, Environmental Health Specialist at JCPH, provided a presentation describing significant
revisions to JCC 8.15, with an emphasis on efforts to bring county rules into alignment with the state's
January 2024 rules revisions, to increase clarity of code requirements and to reduce costs for residents. He
also presented a brief history of work on the revisions, enumerating consultations with concerned authorities,
and outreach to the public in an effort to obtain feedback on proposed rules.
Carter described the SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) process, which identifies environmental impacts
of governmental actions. It was determined that updates to JCC 8.15 will not have a probable significant
impact on the environment.
Public Testimony
Chair Grace called for public testimony. There was none.
Board of Health Deliberation and Possible Vote on Adopting Code
Board members reviewed the draft ordinance and SEPA determination. Feedback expressed by the Board
concerning the new rules was largely positive. It was proposed, and the Board concurred, to strike section
8.15.150(6) c.iii. "Has a pump or siphon;" as unnecessary, which renumbered the subsequent subsections (iv)
and (v) (as new subsections (iii) and (iv)).
MOTION: Member Brotherton moved to adopt ORDINANCE NO.02-0220-25 re: In the matter of
repealing and replacing Chapter 8.15 JCC (On -Site Sewage Code) for Jefferson County Environmental
Public Health, and the SEPA Determination of Non -significance, as amended. Member MickHager
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Chair Grace called for public comment. There was none.
OLD BUSINESS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
1. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) Report
Staff member Martine evoked recall of the start of the pandemic, on its fifth anniversary, and expressed appreciation
for front-line workers. She also reported on new hires and vacancies at JCPH, and mentioned current Public Health
events, including the successful Connectivity event, and the approaching opening of the Blue Heron School -Based
Health Clinic.
2. Jefferson Healthcare Report
In the absence (excused) of Dr. Kolff, there was no Jefferson Healthcare update.
3. Public Health Legislative Update
Member Eisenhour reported on health -related policies upon which the legislature is currently focused, including the
"Child Fatality" bill, a reprocurement bill concerning funding of behavioral health services, and a bill to allow
counties to raise the rate of increases to property tax. The state budget will be released on March 25, 2025, and the
revenue forecast is "not as bad as it could have been."
4. Infectious Diseases Update
Locally, influenza is down -trending though transmission remains elevated; federally, there has been little transparency
concerning this year's flu vaccine formulation. COVID and RSV activity is relatively low. There have been 4 cases
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G. Gilbert
of pertussis in schools in Jefferson County; the best protection against pertussis is to stay up to date on vaccination.
The pertussis vaccine is packaged with the tetanus vaccine, known as TDaP or DTaP, depending on age.
Avian flu is still largely found among wild birds. There is concern that production of a new vaccine for bird flu, which
could protect poultry, has been held up at the federal level.
Concerning measles: there have been 2 cases in WA, and none so far in Jefferson or Clallam counties. The best
protection against measles is to stay up to date on measles vaccines. The measles vaccine is a 1-2 dose series,
generally delivered in childhood. Those born before 1957 are considered immune because measles was so widespread
during that time. Those born before 1968 should get a booster. If you were born after that and cannot track down
records of your vaccination, you can get a blood test to determine if you are immune or simply get a dose of the
vaccine.
FUTURE POTENTIAL AGENDA TOPICS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
AGENDA PLANNING CALENDAR
The Agenda Planning Meeting for the next regular meeting of the Board will be held on April 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m.
The next regular Board of Health meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting on Thursday, April 17, 2025 from
2:30 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Grace adjourned the March, 2025 Jefferson County Board of Health meeting at 4:29 p.m. until the next
Regular Meeting or Special Meeting as properly noticed.
JE SON NTY.B OF HEALTH
Amanda Grace, Chair r Glenn Gilbert, Public Health Assistant
1,
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G. Gilbert