HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Works January 29 20131
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee
January 29, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
Committee Member Barbara Brenner called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
(1:34:14 PM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Pete Kremen, and Ken Mann.
Absent: None.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIR (AB2013 -021)
Brenner moved to appoint Councilmember Brenner.
The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Brenner and Mann (2)
Nays: None (0)
Absent: Kremen (out of the room) (1)
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
1. BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CURRENT HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ACTIVITIES THAT
ARE SUPPORTED BY A FIVE -YEAR FEDERAL COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
GRANT (AB2013 -072)
Regina Delahunt, Health Department, stated they provide an update to the
Council /Board of Health annually regarding the community transformation grant. She
introduced Public Health Advisory Board member, Rachel Lucy, Health Department staff
Melissa Moran, and Kathy Berg.
Rachel Lucy, Public Health Advisory Board Member, stated the Advisory Board is
interested in how to meet the need of the community on a larger scale. Chronic disease
rates are rising across the country. It may seem like it comes down to the choices of the
individual. However, research shows that they can provide opportunities for physical
activity. The Advisory Board supports the Health Department's Healthy Communities work
and encourages the Health Department staff to continue targeting specific communities that
have limited access. They also support the Health Department's intent to work across
County departments to provide health expertise and input on how community design can
improve Whatcom county's health.
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/29/2013, Page 1
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Melissa Morin, Health Department, gave a staff report and read from a presentation
beginning on Council packet page 237 regarding the purpose and structure of the program.
Whatcom County works locally, but is also the regional hub of the seven county region of
northwest Washington.
Brenner asked the reason these counties were targeted. Morin stated there is a
combination of factors based on health data. These are the counties considered most at-
risk and also meet the grant criteria in terms of population size.
Morin continued the presentation regarding the core principles of the grant. The
three main risk factors are related to healthy eating, active living, and not smoking. They
are working to improve access to quality foods and enhance opportunities for active living.
They are also working with retailers to reduce the availability and marketing of tobacco
products, especially with youth. There is a link between in -store marketing and tobacco and
alcohol use.
Regarding active living, they are working in communities in east Whatcom county
and Birch Bay because of the rates of injury and obesity. These communities have limited
resources. She described the efforts of the East Whatcom Coalition for Safe and Healthy
Communities.
Brenner asked if the State has made any effort to make it safer to cross a State
highway. Morin stated there is no precedent. The State has to work within its safe highway
standards. The State is considering capital facilities improvements that could happen if
funds were available.
Mann asked about the safety of bikers in bike lanes in the county. Morin stated the
community has been saying for several years that they need safe places to walk and bike.
That need is stated in their subarea plans and are incorporated in the design standards.
They will work with the communities about the actual plans and resources necessary to
make those things happen. Collaborate with other County departments to make it happen.
Morin continued the presentation regarding the Birch Bay Drive pedestrian project.
They've partnered with other agencies, County staff, and citizens to write a grant for the
Washington State Department of Transportation's bike and pedestrian safety program. The
State is interested in supporting the planning, design, and construction of that project.
Brenner stated there is an issue of expanding the right -of -way into people's
property. She asked if they talked about what to do to make narrower areas safe to walk
in. Morin stated there is funding from the National Park Service for trails and park projects.
They've been invited to participate in a national pilot that will provide a tool for site
conditions. When the project is complete, they will be able to evaluate impacts to the
community's health and to the site. They will talk about how to create path and bike lanes
that meet all the needs of the community, including property rights and program planning.
They are also partnering with other agencies to connect different areas for bike users and
pedestrians.
She continued the presentation regarding efforts to promote healthy eating. They
hope to work with small retailers to find ways to stock and market healthy foods. One effort
in Birch Bay is to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) and make it more
affordable and accessible in the community.
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Brenner stated a local seafood company allows people to pay whatever they can
afford. A company like that could be involved.
Mann asked for an example of an incentive for a small store to carry and market
healthy foods. Morin stated there are national examples of healthy corner stores. One
barrier to the market is refrigeration. Find a way to make it more affordable for a business.
It tends to work well in denser urban settings. They're trying to figure out how to adapt
them to rural situations.
Mann stated the bigger problem is market demand. It is the only incentive for
market owners. Morin stated they assessed convenient stores and small markets in the
Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, and Mount Baker highway areas. The stores in east Whatcom
county do sell a lot of produce and don't have a lot of tobacco and alcohol marketing. She
hopes to be able to study how it works for those retailers.
Kremen stated there is a national epidemic of adult and childhood obesity. It's a
cultural problem. Suicide is the main cause of death for young people. One of the main
factors of obesity is the lack of physical activity due to school buses picking up all the kids
at their driveways. Also, kids don't eat good food. People are protecting their children to
death. Parents will drive their kids down the driveway to the bus. Parents are afraid to let
kids walk on the street, but the kids need that physical exercise. Kids don't play outside or
in the street anymore. Instead, they are playing with video games or the computer. Kids
are sedentary. Focus on telling the parents how acute this problem is. Focus on the
message that this is pervasive in society rather than having produce available at
Everybody's Store. Delahunt stated this program is different from past programs. It's
community- based. They won't change things unless the community wants to change.
They've started working in two communities. They are not running programs. They are
bringing people together around these issues. Staff is educating those people about the
severity of the problem. The communities will solve the problem.
Kremen stated adults use the trails, not kids. Kids are too busy on the internet and
with video games. The rate of suicide for young people is alarming. Physical activity would
make a positive impact. Go tell the school districts. Requiring kids to walk to and from
school would be enough to get the chemicals going in their brains so they aren't depressed.
Delahunt stated things like that will happen. The State is embracing the Healthy
Communities movement. High level officials talked about these things at a recent meeting
and what they can do statewide. Whatcom County is far ahead of other communities.
Brenner stated kids develop their habits from their parents.
Greg Stern, County Health Officer, stated this discussion points out the problems,
and it seems discouraging. The system is complex that involves individual choices and also
the influences on those choices. Public health agencies must be clear about the system that
leads people to making poor choices, and look at what they can do to change those
conditions. When parents let kids get away with certain behaviors, it happens within a
certain context. Find ways to intervene through building relationships and aligning
messages and incentives. Create fewer obstacles to doing the right thing and have bigger
obstacles to doing unhealthy things. Step back and work together.
Brenner stated that before introducing solutions, they have to reduce impediments.
Kremen stated it will work to make children walk to and from school or to a bus stop
farther away. Two factors will make it impossible to get kids to walk to or from school or a
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bus stop, which are that parents are afraid their children will get hit by a car or kidnapped.
He's skeptical that he can get parents to be willing to let their kids walk to and from school.
Stern stated there are examples in suburban areas of kids walking together to be safer.
Innovations can change behavior. If people are worried about the safety of their kids,
figure out how to have safe places to walk. Balance safety and physical activity.
Brenner stated schools are eliminating their physical education programs. Brains
work better when there is a physical education program.
Mann stated he is skeptical they can influence healthy eating and incentives for the
market because the County doesn't make those decisions. The County decides where trails
and sidewalks go. Healthy eating is a market demand and education problem, which is not
within the County's purview to impact. If the County has to work on healthy eating or
active living, it should work on active living, because it can spend money on and make
decisions about those things.
Brenner stated the County can work with the people in the communities. She is in
favor of doing it all. She likes what the staff is doing, although it doesn't have enough
specificity.
Morin stated this is a complex problem. They work with many community partners.
These strategies don't stand alone. As a Health Department, they must decide where to
focus their resources. They can have a great impact on removing impediments and
barriers. The community partners will implement programs. Her role is to convene those
conversations and bring people together. She concluded the presentation on the staff's
work with the Planning Department and Public Works Department on countywide strategies
and on the role of the Health Board.
Brenner stated concentrate more on incentives and less on paths and trails. Also,
contact the churches.
Kremen stated work in Kendall and the east Whatcom area to build a gym at the
Kendall Resource Center, and provide safe places for physical activity.
Kathy Berg, Birch Bay resident, stated the Birch Bay pedestrian project has been
planned for a long time. It's slowly moving forward. She realized that this project will
benefit the health of the people who live in the community, in addition to the tourism and
environmental benefits. The partnership with the National Park Service and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will allow them to quantify the conditions before the
project and after the project is done. They will be able to measure the impact of this
transformation. The Healthy Communities program allows the Health Department to advise
in designing a pedestrian trail that may include challenge stations, for example. Also, they
need to find additional funding. This partnership will be great for the Birch Bay community.
Brenner stated that there may be opportunities for health - related grants to fund the
project. She supports the berm project. She is completely opposed to eminent domain.
Berg stated eminent domain will not happen. There must be respect for property rights.
Eminent domain isn't necessary. If someone doesn't want to participate, the facility will
have to be narrower. Also, there should be a primary school in Birch Bay so all those kids
aren't bused to Blaine.
Delahunt stated the Health Department will keep the Board updated.
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Kremen stated staff could contact the Boys and Girls Club and establish a club in the
East Whatcom area and also in Birch Bay.
OTHER BUSINESS
Brenner asked for an update on the norovirus flu outbreak.
Greg Stern, County Health Officer, stated it is a common gastrointestinal virus. The
new strain is from Sydney, Australia. They will occasionally get an outbreak at a nursing
home.
Brenner asked if it's a big deal. Stern stated it isn't like severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) or pandemic flu. A person will have an illness for 24 to 48 hours. The
contagion is aerosol -ized. It's on surfaces. The standard alcohol wipes don't clean it. It
must be cleaned with bleach. There are several hundred deaths per year in the country.
They should not be alarmed. It's within the range of things they see. Prevention is hand
washing, washing foods, and isolating people who are sick. If it becomes a big deal, staff
will notify the Health Board.
Kremen stated it's estimated that 21 million Americans will be inflicted with the
norovirus this year, but only about 70,000 hospitalizations and 800 deaths are expected.
Soap and water for 30 seconds does better than Purell. The number one method of
transmission is from eating at salad bars. The number one cause of death from the
norovirus is from poultry. Stern stated that is a summary of food borne illnesses.
Salmonella is found in poultry and eggs. Norovirus is found in vegetable foods.
Mann asked if it's too late to get a flu shot. Stern stated it's not too late. It takes
two weeks to get full benefits. They are near the peak of the flu season, but it should go on
for a couple more weeks. The Health Department contacts pharmacies and clinics weekly to
update the list of who has the vaccine. There is not a national shortage of vaccine, but
there may be a local shortage if people don't order enough to meet the demand. The
demand this year is higher than previous years. People should get the flu shot as soon as
it's available rather than waiting for it to hit the community.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council(g-.o.w hatcom .wa.us
Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee, 1/29/2013, Page 5