HomeMy WebLinkAboutHealth Board Mar 30 2021Whatcom County
Council as the Health Board
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105
Bellingham, WA 98225-4038
(360) 778-5010
Minutes - Final
VIRTUAL MEETING - VIEW ONLINE
Tuesday, March 30, 2021
10 AM
Virtual Meeting
COUNCILMEMBERS
Rud Browne
Barry Buchanan
Tyler Byrd
Todd Donovan
Ben Elenbaas
Carol Frazey
Kathy Kershner
CLERK OF THE COUNCIL
Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C.
Council as the Health Board Minutes - Final March 30, 2021
Call To Order
Roll Call
Council Chair Barry Buchanan called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. in a
virtual meeting.
Present: 7 - Rud Browne, Barry Buchanan, Tyler Byrd, Todd Donovan, Carol Frazey, Ben
Absent: None
Public Comment
Elenbaas and Kathy Kershner
Buchanan opened the public comment period and hearing no one, closed the
public comment period.
Director and Health Officer Report
Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director, reported on the following:
• Continued work on child and family well-being
• Continued work on a resolution about racism and public health
• Work with Healthy Whatcom on a community health improvement
process
Greg Stern, Whatcom County Health Officer, updated the Councilmembers
on the following:
• Decreased case rate of COVID-19 in Whatcom County
• Improvement in the access to vaccine and a decreased rate of
hospitalizations due to COVID-19 since the arrival of the vaccine
• Increased exposure to COVID-19 variants in the county
He and Lautenbach answered questions about Whatcom County's case rate
compared to national trends, whether the Health Department is working
with Western Washington University as they experience a surge of cases,
reports of a number of immigrants coming into the United States being
positive for COVID-19 and how that might affect our community, a request
to open refugee centers in Whatcom County, whether there is data
regarding hospitalization or death if someone acquires COVID-19 a second
time or after being immunized and the maximum rate of infection in the
population at a given time.
Discussion on COVID Impact Assessment
AB2021-196 Discussion on COVID Impact Assessment from Public Health Advisory Board
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Council as the Health Board Minutes - Final March 30, 2021
The following people briefed the Councilmembers and answered questions:
• Sterling Chick, Public Health Advisory Board Chair
• Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director
• Astrid Newell, Health Department
They answered questions about a countywide health navigation system and
what it might look like, and whether an assessment should include the "why"
as well as the "what" in determining the impacts of COVID-19 particularly
on childcare.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Update on State Legislative Session
AB2021-197 Update on State Legislature from the Whatcom County Health Department
The following staff briefed the Councilmembers and spoke:
• Astrid Newell, Health Department
• Anne Deacon, Health Department
• Erika Lautenbach, Health Department Director
They spoke about bills that may have relevance to local public health and
that fall into the following four main categories:
• Public Health System
• Public Health Funding
• Children and Families
• Health Equity
Staff answered whether the County has the ability to make changes to the
Health Board structure whether House Bill (HB) 1152 (concerning the
creation of comprehensive public health districts) passes or not.
Frazey moved that the Council write a letter in support of the "Fair Start for
Kids Act" (SB 5237/HB 1213 expanding accessible, affordable child care
and early childhood development). The motion was seconded by Donovan.
Councilmembers discussed the motion.
Byrd suggested that Frazey put together a letter and bring it to the Council
at the next Council Meeting.
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Council as the Health Board Minutes - Final March 30, 2021
Dana Brown -Davis, Clerk of the Council, spoke about a possible process
for a letter.
Frazey withdrew her motion and stated they could work on it through email
or phone.
This agenda item was DISCUSSED.
Update on Vaccinations
AB2021-198 Update on COVID-19 Vaccines from Whatcom County Health Department
Adiournment
Amy Hockenberry, Health Department, gave a presentation (on file) and
answered whether allowing more people to set up vaccine appointments
while there will be a lower vaccine allotment will cause a bottleneck and
how people with mental illness will be tracked to make sure they receive
their second dose of a two -dose vaccine or whether they will be given a
single -dose vaccine.
This agenda item was PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED.
The meeting adjourned at 11:36 a.m.
The County Council approved these minutes on April 20, 2021.
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Dana Browny ai is, C6uncil Clerk
Kristi Felbinger, Minutes Transcription
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
rW ATCOM COUNTY WA
Barrt ichanan,fIealth Board Chair
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