HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health February 7 20121
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Board of Health
February 7, 2012
CALL TO ORDER
Council Vice -Chair Bill Knutzen called the meeting to order at 10:31 a.m. in the
Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (10:32:03 AM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Carl Weimer and Pete
Kremen.
Absent: Ken Mann and Kathy Kershner.
1. PUBLIC SESSION
Bill Angel, Bellingham, spoke on getting healthy, local foods to schoolchildren. The
community grant will help in that effort. The Farm to school advisory committee works with
the school district and farmers to get local food to the kids to eat. It's a challenge. The
Board should provide leadership and show the community that these basic things are
worthwhile. He supports the grant.
2. HEALTH COMMITTEE CHANGE
Dana Brown - Davis, Clerk of the Council, stated she would like to talk to the Council
about folding the Council's Health Committee into the Council's Public Works and Safety
Committee. Rename the committee to the Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee.
Kremen stated he supports the change because it will be more efficient, reduce the
carbon footprint in miles traveled, and encourage more participation.
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, stated she is in favor of the change.
There can be a nexus between topics discussed in the current Public Works and safety
committee and health committee issues.
Knutzen stated the Board is in favor with staff developing an ordinance to implement
the change.
The Board concurred.
3. COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION GRANT
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, gave a staff report and described the
grant. The work will build on existing work the Department has been working on. She
recognized two Public Health Advisory Board members who are attending today.
Greg Stern, Health Officer, stated public health traditionally focuses on
communicable diseases, but chronic diseases are the biggest causes of death. People must
make healthy choices. Public health must remove obstacles that prevent healthy behaviors.
Board of Health, 2/7/2012, Page 1
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Education isn't sufficient. The grant addresses how they can use resources more effectively.
Compare the costs of the programs to the societal cost of not addressing chronic disease
from unhealthy lifestyles.
Astrid Newell, Health Department, gave a staff report on the source of the grant
funds, the award process, the award amount for the region, which includes Whatcom,
Skagit, and Kitsap counties. She read from a presentation (on file) in the Board packet
regarding the community transformation grant (CTG) regions, strategic areas, and core
principles.
Nicole Willis, Health Department, continued the presentation regarding policy level
change strategies to improve access to and availability of healthy foods; enhance
opportunities for active living; reduce availability and marketing of tobacco products, and;
incorporate health elements in community planning. They must document their process and
achieve rapid results.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of:
• The grant amounts distributed around the state.
• How this interfaces with the Washington State University food program in the
schools.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Emphasizing all healthy foods, not just local foods.
• The cost of building underpasses versus overpasses.
• Why they aren't including a focus on substance abuse other than tobacco.
• Smoking and tobacco signage.
• Combining the Public Works, Planning, and Parks departments on this effort.
(I1: 06:06 AM)
Kremen asked and there was discussion of:
• The actual funding amount per year.
• How the funding granted to this region will be used by each county in the
region.
• The smoking rate trends and statistics in various age and economic groups.
• Childhood obesity being a bigger problem that affects more people than
smoking.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Interpreting the maps showing smoking and obesity statistics by area.
• What makes local foods better than foods imported from other areas, and the
reasons for creating a local foods resolution.
• The barriers to getting local foods into the market, senior centers, and
schools.
Weimer asked and there was discussion of:
• The money spent on staff versus projects.
• Considering trails as transportation instead of a recreational park.
• The County's actual authority to do certain things such as banning smoking
altogether.
Kremen stated and there was discussion of:
• Supporting the program, but not trying to do too much.
Board of Health, 2/7/2012, Page 2
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smoke.
• Addressing the choices people make, such as choosing healthier foods.
• Discouraging certain practices that contribute to childhood obesity, such as
school buses that stop at every single driveway rather than at gathering
locations.
• Subliminal messages in the movies influencing children smoking.
• Law enforcement concerns about developing over- or underpasses around
major arterials.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of:
• The cost of local foods compared to other foods.
• The cost of addressing the problems of obesity.
• Using the word "reducing" instead of "eliminating" so they have a realistic
target.
Knutzen stated and there was discussion of how extremely poor people can afford to
Brenner stated develop education materials that show the effects of smoking.
Kremen stated there has been a huge consumption of tobacco over the last 40 years,
which is not a long time. They have been very successful overall. The Health Department
will make sure their efforts are focused and on the right track.
Knutzen stated develop a program that helps store owners paint their buildings if
they agree to not display tobacco ads.
Stern stated have a future discussion of examples of successful practices that reduce
smoking and obesity. He stated and there was discussion of balancing safety with exercise,
designing walkable streets, and having a system approach, which includes several county
departments, to balance many factors.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 11:56 a.m.
The Council approved these minutes on February 28, 2012.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council(§-.o.w hatcom .wa.us
Board of Health, 2/7/2012, Page 3