HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health July 14 2015Whatcom County Council
Board of Health
July 14, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
Council Vice -Chair Rud Browne called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the
County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL
Present: Barbara Brenner, Sam
Mann, and Pete Kremen
Absent: Carl Weimer
1. PUBLIC SESSION
Crawford, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Ken
April Barker stated global and national issues of homelessness, jail inmate rates,
drug abuse, and teen pregnancy come down to how they design communities. She's
excited about planning for healthy and safe communities. Continue to plan for that in the
future. Take a longer term view when making planning decisions.
2. HEALTH OFFICER REPORT
Greg Stern, Health Department, introduced the new Communicable Disease
Manager, Dr. Kristen Janusz, and described her background.
He gave a staff report on the joint investigation with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) on the a -coli outbreak at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden.
The area of contamination was the dairy barn. He described the study results. There was
contamination in the environment prior to the presence of animals at the event. Some
associated behavior includes people's hands not being clean and ending up in their mouths.
To reduce risk in the future, national guidelines provide information on measures to reduce
risk of infection when animals are in public settings. They've met with Fair officials, Health
staff, and the CDC to discuss future safety measures, which include increased staff and
public education, signage, and handwashing stations.
The County has regulatory authority over food services. Washington Administrative
Code 246 - 100 -192 addresses animals in public settings and measures to prevent human
disease. It requires these safety measures in these types of settings. They will enhance
the use and enforcement of that code. The Department is reviewing its processes regarding
food service regulations and is working with the agricultural community on their processes
to reduce infection risk. There have been temporary food services in these animal contact
areas when animals aren't there. E -coli and bacteria can remain in the environment for a
long time. They don't think the animals present during the event were the source of the
infection. Animals that had been in the area earlier for previous events may have
contaminated the area. They haven't fully recognized the risk to the public of having food
Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 1
1 services in these settings. They will review their issuance of temporary food service permits
2 in contaminated settings. That may lead to public feedback to the Council.
3
4 Brenner asked how many sanitizing wipes are around, especially in food service
5 areas. Stern stated they shouldn't serve food in animal contact areas. There should be
6 handwashing stations at the exit points from the animal contact areas and at eating
7 locations. Bacteria can also be carried around on clothes and shoes. Handwashing isn't
8 sufficient.
9
10 Brenner stated some places have sanitizing wipes around, and others don't. It needs
11 to be in more places where there is food.
12
13 Mann asked if the Board has a role in creating guidelines. Stern stated there are
14 existing regulations regarding food service that they can implement without any change in
15 regulations. They may have more stringent local regulations on animals in public settings
16 that would come to the Board of Health for review. Their experience with this event is
17 leading them to review practices.
18
19 Mann stated he is concerned about over - correcting the issue. They can't sterilize the
20 entire planet. Have reasonable guidelines, such as signage and handwashing stations, but
21 don't ban food from the Northwest Washington Fair. He's amenable to making a change to
22 not serve food in a barn.
23
24 Stern stated there are recurring episodes of sporadic enteric infections across the
25 state. He is aware of the importance of balancing risk and activity.
26
27 Kremen stated he appreciates that the Health Department doesn't have a history of
28 overreacting. He's concerned that the public may get the impression that the Northwest
29 Washington Fair is an unsafe place. He asked if Dr. Stern and the Fair officials have
30 developed an approach for more public awareness. Stern stated the meetings with the Fair
31 officials were very collaborative to make it safer and still support the agricultural
32 community. They are good partners who are willing to implement a variety of safety
33 measures to reduce risk and make the activity healthier.
34
35 Brenner stated she attended the Northwest Washington Fair Foundation dinner,
36 where someone spoke about the collaborative relationship with the Health Department.
37 They were very positive about the experience.
38
39 Browne stated the Fair officials understand the reputational risk if they don't deal
40 with the issue. They have their own concern about their reputation. He asked if there has
41 been any consideration of having a place where people can wash their shoes so they don't
42 track animal feces home. Stern stated part of the education and signage has to do with
43 recognizing risk and avoiding taking strollers and wheelchairs into animal contract areas,
44 because of the difficulty of decontamination. They are using an educational approach.
45 People need to have the information in order to act on it. That's what they're focusing on.
46 They're trying to engineer things that take people's behavior into account. They won't be
47 able to sanitize the environment around farm animals. He hasn't heard about shoe baths in
48 those settings. They're used for bio- security for avian flu prevention, but they can't
49 eliminate some risks when thousands of people are going through an area.
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51 Browne stated an idea was for a person to walk through AstroTurf soaked in bleach
52 solution. Also, there could be sanitizing stations on the tabletops in the food service areas.
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Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 2
1 Brenner asked if there have been any cases of West Nile virus locally. They've been
2 hearing about it in other places. Stern stated there aren't. It is usually in Central
3 Washington.
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5 Browne stated they've had unseasonably warm and dry weather this year. He asked
6 if that changes the disease factor profile. Stern stated it does. Wet weather increases
7 mosquitos the following season. He will send local information.
8
9 4. PROMOTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND
10 ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
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12 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, introduced the Healthy Communities
13 program and community planning efforts. They're really trying to work on the strategies
14 that are part of the strategic plan and on the community goals. She referenced and read
15 from the presentation in the Board packet (on file) on the strategic priorities.
16
17 Goals for today are to make sure the Board understands why it's so important to
18 have community health in mind when planning for communities and to make sure the Board
19 is informed and engaged when discussing community planning policy. She described the
20 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) objectives.
21
22 Brenner stated include seniors as a vulnerable population in the CHIP Objectives.
23
24 Melissa Morin, Health Department, continued the presentation on improving
25 population health through policy systems and environmental change.
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27 Brenner asked if they are engaging the school districts and the Planning Department.
28 The community in East County tried to get a nice big grocery store in their area, but the
29 Planning Department recommended against it. Morin stated they must facilitate and
30 collaborate with those partners. They've seen these presentations. She continued the
31 presentation.
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33 Nicole Willis, Health Department, continued the presentation on research and
34 relevant data.
35
36 Morin continued the presentation on working with planning partners.
37
38 Brenner asked if they are working with planning staff in the cities. Morin stated they
39 have focused on the County and Bellingham, partly because they're the largest population
40 bases. They attended a meeting with all planners in all jurisdictions earlier this year to
41 provide this information.
42
43 Brenner stated all the planning commissions have email addresses. The Health
44 Department could send them an email. There is a lot of independent thinking beyond the
45 government level. Morin stated they will take the suggestion into account.
46
47 Browne stated the earlier all participants are involved, the more the jurisdictions will
48 accept final recommendations. Morin stated planning staff have requested Health
49 Department help. The Health Department provided recommendations when new chapters
50 were being drafted. Some of the Health Department recommendations have already been
51 incorporated into the chapters that the Planning Commission is now seeing. They're basing
52 next steps on where that goes.
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Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 3
1 Delahunt stated Ms. Morin is the only staff working on this programs, so although
2 they would like to work with all the jurisdictions, they have to put resources where they
3 can.
4
5 Morin continued the presentation on implementing policies in Kendall and Columbia
6 Valley.
7
8 Brenner stated she would like to see the Kendall and Columbia Valley community
9 survey questions. Brenner asked how many people who were surveyed actually responded.
10 Morin stated that the area population is over 4,000, and they received more than 200
11 responses, which is a good response rate. The survey was distributed by community
12 groups, not mailed.
13
14 Brenner stated it's important to make sure they engage people who aren't involved
15 with the community groups. Also, the survey should ask if people need access, not just
16 want access. Morin stated the survey question asked how important the access is to their
17 daily activities and life.
18
19 The community was awarded a two -year technical assistance grant from the National
20 Park Service to help them plan a trail. They hosted a design workshop in April where they
21 developed a plan and shared data about the existing conditions and vulnerable populations.
22
23 Brenner stated she would like to compare the data with what's going on in Seattle.
24 It seems Whatcom County housing costs are growing. She wants to know where they might
25 be headed. Morin stated they could compare the same census data with Seattle and
26 Bellingham.
27
28 She concluded the presentation. They are working on minor changes to the
29 drawings to develop a plan for implementing the trail. They imagined a grand plan that
30 includes an entire system of parks, trails, and recreation. However, the group working on
31 the trail is focused on safety and bicycle and pedestrian access along the highway corridor.
32
33 3. PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD (PHAB) UPDATE
34
35 Ben Scholtz, Public Health Advisory Board Chair, stated recognize and support the
36 collaboration between Health Department and Planning Department staff. Consider health
37 care as a lens when considering planning questions. Support the healthy community
38 projects. The planners are eager to work with Health Department staff. Healthy planning is
39 recognized as a good idea at national and international levels. Coordination between the
40 Health Department and Planning Department staff is beneficial for both.
41
42 Sidhu stated June 23 was World Yoga Day. Incorporate things like that. Emotional
43 and mental health can be helped if people learn how to breath. It's something they can
44 start talking about. Organize a weekly community exercise session in a local park, for
45 example.
46
47 Mann stated he supports the work of Ms. Morin and this effort.
48
49 Buchanan stated he is a member of the Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) and
50 participated in the workshops with the planners. The Health Board could create a resolution
51 in support of healthy planning and how important it is to integrate public health with the
52 planning process.
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Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 4
Buchanan stated he's interested in getting a list of recommendations as to how they
can identify and eliminate barriers that are under the County's control.
Brenner referenced typos in table headings of the Healthy Plan Making document in
the Board packet. Morin stated they will correct the typos.
Sidhu stated the data on Board packet page 25 indicates more than 50 percent of
the county population is under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. That's high.
Kremen stated glaring issues are housing affordability and wage disparity. Cost of
housing in Seattle is 121 percent of average, but their wages are 110 percent of average.
Housing costs in Whatcom county are about 113 percent of normal, but the wages are 80
percent of normal. The disparity between the two is one of the most glaring in the state.
As they plan for the future, they must develop affordable housing. Consider cost - benefit
factors and whether some of the environmental controls are providing much benefit. Be
more conscious of the policies the County adopts and if they exacerbate the high housing
costs. Morin stated the Health Department is providing recommendations for Bellingham's
Comprehensive Plan by the end of this week. The PHAB helped develop those
recommendations and identified opportunities they should highlight in the Bellingham
Comprehensive Plan. Their biggest issue is housing. They are just beginning to look at the
issue.
Delahunt stated the Housing Advisory Committee has also looked at the
comprehensive plans and affordable housing.
Sidhu stated the cost of healthcare now competes with the cost of a home mortgage.
It never used to be that expensive.
Brenner asked if the average wage affects whether housing is affordable. Morin
stated they are using local census information on the housing cost burden. They are looking
at housing costs that exceed 30 percent of total household income for that locality.
Brenner stated she would like to see Whatcom county compared with Seattle and
Bellingham. The cost of housing is rising and the incomes are sinking. The data about
vacancy rates in the county was surprising. She would like to see the data broken down
into different areas of the county.
Kremen stated the Board is requesting a lot of good information, but they have only
one staff person. He suggested they ask an intern to gather the information. Morin stated
there is a website that maps all the data and filters it by data indicators.
Browne stated he suggests that the Health Department could use university interns
for research.
Delahunt stated she hopes the Health Board will support these efforts in community
planning when the Comprehensive Plan comes before the Council and the Planning
Commission makes its recommendations.
Browne stated he found the information useful. He asked that staff correct the
errors in the documents and return the corrected information. He would like to receive a
link from the website mentioned.
Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 5
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ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:06 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on October 27, 2015.
ATTEST:
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Jill Nixon, Minutes Txankripti`bn
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHA�WOM OQUNTY, WASHINGTON
d Browne, Council Vice -Chair
Board of Health, 7/14/2015, Page 6