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Home My WebLink AboutPHAB 03-05-24 minutes Minutes Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) March 5, 2024 12:00 – 1:30pm Join Zoom Meeting Facilitator Rob Ross, MD, PHAB Chair Staff Coordinator Tom Kuhn, PHAB Coordinator Scribe Aimee Burroughs Next Meeting April 2, 2024 Topic and Lead Gathering 5 minutes Introductions 5 minutes – Rob Ross Approval of January Minutes 5 minutes Announcements and Updates 10 minutes  Any group announcements or updates?  Membership update (Peter Boehm) – Tom Kuhn Dr Boehm has conflicts for the remainder of 2024 and would like to come back for 2025 but needs to take a leave of absence.  Legislative updates – Tom Kuhn Get from recording House bill 5204 (funding bill) Environmental Health Fees Follow-Up 20 minutes – Tom Kuhn See recap of fees sent out. Colleen asked for a clarification on the classes on the fee schedule. Tom answered basically the lower the class the lower the risk. Colleen also asked if there is a number for the gap that we are hoping to fill in the upcoming budget. Tom said we don’t know yet, but will know later this week Might be asked if the county is leaning toward a higher fee structure. “To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.” Updated 9/18/24 Dr. Ross asked about the accommodation increase and if that was a guarantee transfer of funds to pay for inspections and licensing. Tom said yes that is what the charges are for and it goes towards the general EH budget. Sharity asked if we could know from these projections how much would we have to up the fees to make EH a fully funded program. Tom said no, that increase would be way too high. Tom said he will need a letter of support from PHAB in the next 2-2.5 weeks with a recommendation. He also stated that PHAB could just say they support a fee increase and see the need but don’t pick an option. Commissioner Chang commented on Sharity’s questions about how high would fees have to be to cover costs, saying that even with high fees the inspectors in DC is carrying such large inspection loads than those collegues in other counties around the state. The fees that we charge now don’t cover nearly the cost of that understaffed division. The transient room tax (very little) goes to the EH program, but those dollars are getting tighter and tighter and we can’t count on that revenue to fill the gap as much as we have in the past. He stated that it is a very tough situation; and would advocate to raise the fees largely but that his fellow commissioners are going to express sympathy to struggling business charged higher fees. Sharity asked if it was normal for fees to not cover costs in EH. Tom said that each county does it differently and collects fees differently. She asked if the duties that he is outlining for EH is mandated for PH to perform. They are mandated by local PH and the only way local PH wouldn’t have to perform these services is if they gave up their PH all together to OHA. Commissioner Chang added that these are state mandated services that are required. Dr Ross said we should raise the fees up but we don’t have quaram at today’s meeting so Tom will circle back. He will ask for a vote from people Colleen looked at Multnomah county and shared that a 6% proposal was fought and they had to ask from the General Fund for it. Colleen said it was a compelling argument that it comes from county general or a fee increase. Is it possible to propose a multi-year fee schedule she asked? Tom answered that every year is so different it would be hard to propose that. Last year EH increased all fees 10% across the board. Commissioner Chang added that we are not really allowed to make decisions this budget year for next budget year. We could make a plan but no decisions. Tom said that collecting the data on the licensing facilities can be very difficult to collect. Especially with food carts and pods; it is very variable. So many of the numbers he is presenting are estimations. Colleen commented that last meeting was very compelling by showing the staff workload and that really had an impact. Sharity asked about data points on unintended consequences such as outbreaks. It would also be good to show inadequate inspection data and show really WHY we have these inspections. It can show value and the likely impact to the health system Sharity noted. Tom explained that if there is a sickness reported from a restaurant or food pod then that establishment is inspected. Commissioner Chang asked about how the fees are charged and what comes with them (inspections, follow up inspections, etc.). Questions or ideas, send Tom an email. Shared Future Coalition and Drug Free Communities (DFC) 20 Minutes – Lauren Wood See slides “To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.” Updated 9/18/24 Represent community leaders across sectors but the shared mission is reducing youth substance misuse. Funding steam is drug free community grant. Work with many community partners including but not limited to COCC, High School Youth, BBD, etc. Core Measures; youth perception of youth of harm, perception of parent disapproval, perception of peer disapproval. Work is focused on working comprehensively and recognizing it is a complex issue and using comprehensive and strategic solutions. Current and upcoming projects: Policy education and monitoring; school discipline protocols; parent/guardian awareness; parent education and assessment; community engagement. Coalition also has a Youth Committee that is made up of capable and passionate high school students who are able to speak to their experiences. Opportunities to coordinate efforts or collaborate, please consider this a strong community resource. There are also some vacancies on the Coalition Advisory Board, please consider. Lauren will share more info on the advisory board so those who are interested can join. Also noted that Crystal Sully is in the new role as the manager of Coalition. Tom stated that there was a shared member in the past, on PHAB and the Coalition Advisory board. Lauren said that having shared membership on both of these groups is beneficial to speak to both lenses Colleen asked what Lauren saw are going to be the challenges in the upcoming year(s). Lauren said funding and how to fund is a big one. Also strategic planning and creating a sustainable profile with the move from federal funds to COHC dollars. That move also means that there is a move to broaden the focus on ages 18-25(?) substance abuse age group. Dr Ross how they will make that move and how they will focus on that age group. Lauren stated that working with community partners and setting stage from step one on what is the landscape for that demographic, especially with binge drinking. And planning strategically with the resources they have and using evidence based approaches to that program and working to build on the level of capacity. Thank you Lauren, this was very informative and interesting! PHAB Strategic Dialogue Session (reoccurring) 25 minutes – All PHAB Members Colleen noted that Marissa Cummings and Carissa Heinke sent out a great after action report following the winter storm event and she would love for them to come to a future meeting to share that and more info. Tom will work on that for future meeting. Adjourn 1:18pm Members Present: Tom Kuhn Colleen Sinsky Rob Ross Tami Pike Erin Fitzpatrick Sharity Ludwig Commissioner Phil Chang Lauren Wood “To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.” Updated 9/18/24 Sarah Baron “To promote and protect the health and safety of our community.” Updated 9/18/24