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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board October 1 2019Whatcom County Council as the Health Board COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste 4105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Committee Minutes - Final Tuesday, October 1, 2019 10 AM Council Chambers COUNCILMEMBERS Barbara Brenner Rud Browne Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Carol Frazey Satpal Sidhu CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council as the Health Board Committee Minutes - Final October 1, 2019 Call To Order Roll Call Committee Chair, Rud Browne, called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. Present: 6 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey and Satpal Sidhu Absent: 1 - Barbara Brenner Director/Health Officer Report Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, gave a report about the groundbreaking ceremony of the Crisis Stabilization Facility and introduced an update by Greg Stern. Greg Stern, Health Department, gave a briefing about health concerns and issues of vaping and possible causes of recent vaping-related lung injuries. He spoke about the intervention measures the Health Department has taken, the use of vaping products by youth, the consequences of a total ban of commercial sales, a recent recommendation by the Governor to ban flavors, and the challenge of knowing exactly what substances are used in e-cigarettes. Public Health Advisory Board WHAB) Update Rachel Lucy, Public Health Advisory Board Chair, gave an update about an upcoming report on the Child and Family Action Plan process. Health Protection for Immigrant Families Presentation Public Session Regina Delahunt introduced the presentation. The following submitted and gave a presentation (in the packet). Sterling Chick, Public Health Advisory Board and Clinical Director, Catholic Community Services Lindsey Karas, Public Health Advisory Board and Resident Services Coordinator, Mercy Housing Northwest Browne opened the public session and the following people spoke: Amy Day, State certified medical interpreter, spoke about limited access to resources for non-English speakers as a consequence of fear and lack of help. Sue Weber, spoke about the need of leaders to support community -wide wellness, awareness, and belonging. Wkatcom County Page I Council as the Health Board Committee Minutes - Final October 1, 2019 Michael Betz, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, spoke about families who have been separated because of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.). Bill Elfo, Whatcom County Sheriff, spoke about the importance of building community trust and not getting involved in the civil aspects of immigration law, and the current development of a draft policy that mirrors Keep Washington Working. He answered questions about issues with enstating requirements about informing the public of immigration enforcement raids by the Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). Jessica Sankey, director of wellness for Bellingham Public Schools, spoke about the harm of disrupting families and the need to meet the basic needs of students. Norma (last name not given), case manager at the Bellingham Good Will, spoke about her job working with immigrant families and her own experience of being undocumented. Andy Besabe, Vamos Outdoors Project Executive Director, spoke about working with Spanish-speaking youth, helping them to get needed documents or to access resources, and how to build trust with the families to be more able to help them. Browne closed the public session. Health Board Discussion and Action Regina Delahunt answered questions and Councilmembers discussed the recommended Health Board actions from the Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) from packet page 36, a timeline for the Health Department to put the recommendations in the form of a proposal to the Council, what a culturally and linguistically responsive health navigation system might look like (Recommendation 93(b), packet page 36), creating a Whatcom County Trust ordinance or resolution that states how the County abides by various laws and conveys that citizens can trust law enforcement. The following people answered questions: Steve Gatterman, Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy, answered a question about what a U-Visa certification as referenced on packet page 38. Sterling Chick, Catholic Community Services, stated that one thing that is missing in Whatcom County is a navigation system for families. Families do not know where to go. Councilmembers discussed the need for a County health navigation system, finding out how other communities have established one, and working with an existing agency Whateont County Page 2 Council as the Health Board Committee Minutes - Final October 1, 2019 and providing support for them to establish a central communication and navigation system for services, and working with the Sheriff to establish a Whatcom County Trust resolution or ordinance. Buchanan moved to request that the Health Department work with the Sheriff and legal staff to establish a Whatcom County Trust ordinance or resolution as stated in Recommendation #1(a) on packet page 36. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: 1 - Brenner Councilmembers discussed having the Health Department schedule the proposed legislation for a Public Works, Health, and Safety Committee when it is ready as opposed to waiting for the next Health Board meeting, and the process for getting a proposal to the Health Board for Recommendation #3(b) on packet page 36. Buchanan moved to request that the Health Department work on a proposal for Recommendation #3(b) along with any associated funding requests to bring to the Health Board. The motion was seconded. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: I - Brenner Councilmembers discussed being more specific about who would be required to do mandatory training as referenced in Recommendation 93(a) on packet page 36, and incorporating Recommendation #2(a) into Recommendations #1 and #3 as opposed to making a separate motion. Rachel Lucy, Public Health Advisory Board, stated it would be better to have a separate motion. Buchanan moved to request the Health Department to bring forward a proposal for accomplishing the recommendations for Recommendation 92(a) and (b). The motion was seconded. Councilmembers spoke about concerns with the proposed recommendations and when it is appropriate for local government to act on federal laws. The motion carried by the following vote: Whatcom County Page 3 Council as the Health Board Committee Minutes - Final October 1, 2019 Adjournment Aye: 5 - Browne, Buchanan, Donovan, Frazey, and Sidhu Nay: 1 - Byrd Absent: 1 - Brenner The meeting adjourned at 11:56 a.m. The County Council approved these minutes on October 22, 2019. ATTES,'P � a ,� jj /,per C u ✓ 44 C Q' WHA t' C,0LyA WHA a Dan6j3rown-DavLs, Ooiincil Cli k Rug Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcrip ion SIGNED COPY ON FILE Wkakonu County Page 4 COUNCIL WA Browne, Council Chair