HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health May 10 20161 Whatcom County Council
2 Board of Health
3
4 May 10, 2016.
5
6 CALL TO ORDER
7
8 Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the
9 County Council Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
10
11 ROLL CALL
12
13 Present: Barbara Brenner, Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Ken Mann, Todd
14 Donovan and Carl Weimer
15 Absent: Satpal Sidhu
16
17 1. PUBLIC SESSION
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19 No one spoke.
20
21 2.. DIRECTOR /HEALTH OFFICER REPORT
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23 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, introduced new Health Department
24 staff Cindy Hollinsworth and Erika Nuerenberg. The Department received its accreditation
25 from the National Public Health Accreditation Board. She described the accreditation
26 process. They are beginning another update of the community health assessment in
27 partnership with Peace Health St. Joseph.
28
29 Greg Stern, Public Health Officer, updated the Board on the upcoming Public Works,
30 Health, and Safety Committee meeting to address lead exposure. He also updated the
31 Board on the Zika virus, including its genesis in Africa, worldwide migration, effects of
32 infection, and modes of transmission. They aren't likely to see this infection from mosquitos
33 locally. Transmission is more likely to occur locally from travelers and through sexual
34 contact. He answered questions about length of contagiousness after receiving medicine for
35 the virus, whether a woman is at risk during her entire pregnancy, the impact of climate
36 change on the virus, and travel advisories for Brazil during this summer's Olympics.
37
38 3. PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD (PHAB) UPDATE
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40 Ben Schultz, Public Health Advisory Board Chair, stated the PHAB has been focusing
41 on the health policy agenda, which the staff will present for the next agenda item. He
42 referenced the Discussion Form in the Board packet and updated the Board on a recent
43 survey and recent PHAB policy discussions about e- cigarettes, the proposed new jail, and
44 addressing topics at the request of the Board of Health. The PHAB supports the Health in
45 Planning approach and policies that will be presented regarding e- cigarettes.
46
47 Weimer asked that the PHAB resend the survey.
48
49 Brenner stated medical marijuana users are having trouble finding quality medical
50 marijuana now that recreational marijuana is legal. The Health Department should know
51 which retailers sell different types of marijuana.
52
53 Amy Hockenberry, Health Department, gave an update on medical marijuana.
Board of Health, 5/10/2016, Page 1
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2 4. 2016/2017 HEALTH POLICY AGENDA
3
4 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, described the Public Health Advisory
5 Board (PHAB) review of priority health issues in the community. She referenced and read
6 through a presentation in the Board packet on the Health Board policy agenda. They have
7 begun working on the e- cigarette issue and would like feedback on the prescription
8 medicine take -back program.
9
10 Brenner stated prescription medication is getting more expensive. It will continue to
11 get more expensive if manufacturers agree to take back medications.
12
13 Amy Hockenberry, Health Department, referenced and read through a presentation
14 in the Board packet on emerging issues that include e- cigarette use and a prescription
15 medication takeback program. E- cigarettes are becoming a problem for schools and bar
16 owners. Federal regulations require producers to register with the Food and Drug
17 Administration (FDA) to report the ingredients and manufacturing process for vaping
18 products. The Public Health Advisory Board discussed the recent data and asked staff to
19 move forward with collecting public input via a survey and community meetings and to draft
20 an ordinance. She continued the presentation on the Extended Producer Responsibility
21 program and answered questions about the problem from landfill leachate and disposal of
22 controlled substances.
23
24 Mann asked why e- cigarettes and vaping are suddenly so popular. Delahunt stated it
25 probably has to do with changes in the tobacco industry from fewer people who smoke
26 cigarettes.
27
28 Weimer stated he would like more information on the leachate from the local landfills
29 and whether individuals can dispose of prescriptions themselves in a safe way. Hockenberry
30 stated there is still a problem with accessibility to disposal sites.
31
32 Mann stated make sure the takeback program isn't a solution in search of a problem
33 locally. Show the data.
34
35 Donovan stated consider bans on smoking, vaping, and e- cigarettes in certain public
36 locations where it's not banned now.
37
38 Brenner asked how dangerous vaping is compared to cigarettes. Hockenberry stated
39 vaping is not as dangerous as smoking, but it's still dangerous.
40
41 Delahunt stated staff will move ahead with the vaping options and do further
42 research on the takeback program.
43
44 The Board concurred.
45
46 Brenner stated see what other jurisdictions are doing for a takeback program and
47 the effect on the cost of the prescriptions.
48
49 Weimer asked if the takeback program would apply in the cities. Delahunt stated it
50 would.
51
52 Donovan asked if vaping regulations would apply to the Western Washington
53 University campus. Delahunt stated she would look into it.
Board of Health, 5/10/2016, Page 2
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Delahunt referenced the priority health issues on Board packet page two and asked if
the Board has input on priority issues and would provide direction to the PHAB to continue
to work on some of these issues.
Browne stated work on the spice problem, which is artificial marijuana. Also work on
e -coli pollution in older septic systems, and prioritize areas based on whether older septic
systems are in compliance by looking at soil type and water table. Finally, address issues
with garbage pollution.
Brenner stated include the construction community in the Health in Planning policy
discussions regarding the Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter. Also, change the term
"substance use" to "substance abuse" in all references. Create a healthy recipe book for
County employees and others.
Weimer stated consider issues around elder care and the lack of services for the
elderly.
Browne stated consider how to deal with the aging population in the most cost -
effective way. Also, determine whether there are pockets of poverty in the community that
don't have access to internet technology and need access to health information.
Donovan stated emphasize enforcement of onsite septic system (OSS) requirements.
Brenner stated consider encouraging healthy aging and allowing the elderly to stay in
their homes.
Delahunt described a Medicaid waiver program. She asked if the Board approves of
the PHAB priority health issues, with the additions of the issues just mentioned.
The Board concurred.
Browne stated he would like to know if there is a correlation between environmental
chemicals and obesity.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
The COUnal approved these minutes on June 14, 2016.
ATTEST,,-
O, c) - a —
if
Dana Brown-Davis; (foun�WClerk
Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
B i Buchanan, Council Chaff-
Board of Health, 5/10/2016, Page 3