Board of Health and Human Services

CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES CENTER 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM Milton Smith, Chair Troy Ha, DDS, Member Christopher Robson, Vice Chair Jody Rawles, MD, Member Darshi Balasuriya, Member Silene St. Bernard, DVM, Member Sylvia Betancourt, Member Barbara Schwerin, Member Ralph Brooks, RN, Member Nasir Tejani, MD, FAAP, Member Menchie Caliboso, Member Susan Temple, Member Jose Carillo, MD, Member Lydia Vaias, MD, Member Reena Curtis, PharmD, Member FINISHED AGENDA AND APPROVED MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Board of Health and Human Services was called to order at 7:50 a.m. Chair Smith presiding. ROLL CALL Commissioners Darshi Balasuriya, Sylvia Betancourt, Ralph Brooks, Menchie Present: Caliboso, Troy Ha, Jody Rawles, Barbara Schwerin, Silene St Bernard, Nasir Tejani, Lydia Vaias, Christopher Robson and Milton Smith Commissioners Reena Curtis and Susan Temple Excused: Commissioners Jose Carillo Absent: Also present: Kelly Colopy - Director of Health and Human Services; Anissa Davis, MD, MPH - City Health Officer; Karla Estupinian, Office of 2nd District Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce; and Dennis Keith - Executive Assistant Page 1 of 6 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 19-016BH Recommendation to approve the minutes of the Board of Health and Human Services meeting held Friday, February 8, 2019. A motion was made by Vice Chair Robson, seconded by Member Vaias, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 12 - Darshi Balasuriya, Sylvia Betancourt, Ralph Brooks, Menchie Caliboso, Troy Ha, Jody Rawles, Barbara Schwerin, Silene St Bernard, Nasir Tejani, Lydia Vaias, Christopher Robson and Milton Smith Excused: 2 - Reena Curtis and Susan Temple Absent: 1 - Jose Carillo PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Members of the public are invited to address the Board on items of interest to the public within the Agency Board jurisdiction. Each speaker will be limited to two minutes unless that time is extended by the Chair. There was no public comment. REGULAR AGENDA 2. 19-017BH Recommendation to approve the 2018 Board of Health and Human Services Annual Report. Boardmember Caliboso joined the meeting at 7:55 a.m. Chair Smith presented the final draft of the 2018 Board of Health and Human Services Annual Report, a copy of which was received and filed as part of the permanent record and discussed the most recent edits made to the report based on input received from the Board at the previous month’s meeting. Chair Smith discussed how the submittal of this report could be a catalyst for future budget discussions with the Mayor and City Council. Page 2 of 6 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM A motion was made by Boardmember Rawles, seconded by Boardmember Brooks, to approve the 2018 Board of Health and Human Services Annual Report as edited and forward the report to the Mayor and City Council. Boardmember Betancourt joined the meeting at 8:04 a.m. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. ONGOING BUSINESS 3. 19-018BH Recommendation to receive and file an update on the status of the City's implementation of the legalization of cannabis. Kelly Colopy, Director of Health and Human Services, indicated that it has taken longer for licensing and the industry to move forward, therefore it has taken longer for revenue to be generated. The Department still receives some prevention and education funding, the majority of which is received from the Office of Traffic and Safety and is earmarked for the safe driving campaign. Additional resources are needed for youth cannabis education and prevention campaigns. Ms. Colopy informed the Board that she and Dr. Anissa Davis, City Health Officer, will a State of the City’s Youth and STD information to Long Beach Unified School District biology teachers on Thursday, March 14th. A discussion ensued regarding the need for better data on cannabis use, and any related effects of its use, such is increased emergency room visits, etc. A brief discussion ensued regarding the use of various survey mechanisms to obtain health-related data at the school age level. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 4. 19-019BH Recommendation to receive and file an update on the status of the City's efforts to reduce the rates of HIV and STD's. Ms. Colopy informed the Board that Dr. Davis had attended the March 7, 2019 California State Senate Health Committee meeting, providing testimony on the role of the local health department in addressing STD’s. Dr. Davis provided a brief summary of the Health Committee meeting and the various testimonies provided by public health leaders in attendance from across the State. Ms. Colopy informed the Board that the Mayor has expressed an interest in Page 3 of 6 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM building a HIV/STD prevention campaign and is interested in finding ways to support the work of the Health Department in reducing the rates of HIV/STD cases to functional zero. Chair Smith took a moment to acknowledge 2nd District Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce’s ongoing support of the Health Department on this matter. Boardmember Balasuriya inquired about cases of “Super Gonorrhea”. Dr. Davis indicated that this particular drug-resistant strain of gonorrhea has not been seen in Long Beach, with the closest case occurring in Hawaii. However, Health Department staff are remaining vigilant in their surveillance. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 5. 19-020BH Recommendation to receive and file an update on Community Hospital. Ms. Colopy informed the Board that negotiations were ongoing, and that a number of closed session meetings have been held regarding the future of the Community Hospital campus. Ms. Colopy indicated that the plan continues to include a 40-bed acute care facility, as well as provide sobering center beds, medical detox beds, recuperative care, and reopen, and possibly expand the, 28 psychiatric beds to address community needs. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 6. 19-021BH Recommendation to receive and file a report from the Director of Health and Human Services. Ms. Colopy spoke on the following items: • The City is moving forward with a storage facility for Homeless individuals to safely store their personal belongings while they are engaged in services with the City’s Multi-Service Center and other CES providers. • The completion of the Language Access Program evaluation. The evaluation indicates that more work is needed. The final report will be released soon. • 2020 Budget conversations are ongoing. Kelly is continuing to share the Board’s recommendations with Councilmembers. Chair Smith briefly discussed Boardmembers participation at future Community Budget meetings to advocate for increased health funding. • Public Health Week will be held April 1st. The Department will not be holding a conference this year, as we are switching to an every-other year format. However, the Department is currently working on developing external facing activities for that week including a presentation in the City Hall Lobby and at City Page 4 of 6 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM Council on April 2nd. • The My Brothers Keeper Initiative held its five-year celebration event. Ms. Colopy and several other Department staff affiliated with the program were in attendance to hear success stories from program participants and former President Obama speak on the program. • Homeless counts results are still being tabulated. The report is anticipated to be released at the end of March. This BH-Agenda Item was received and filed. 7. 19-022BH Recommendation to receive and file a report from the City Health Officer. Dr. Davis spoke on the following items: • Dr. Davis shared a flyer providing information on measles vaccination rates for Long Beach, a copy of which was received and filed as part of the permanent record. Long Beach currently has a 97.4 percent measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners. • Dr. Davis responded to a question from last month’s meeting on whether the flu deaths that had occurred were among individuals who had not been vaccinated. Dr. Davis indicated that data were not readily available. However, she was able to determine that one of the individuals who died had been vaccinated but had other severe underlying health conditions. • Rates of pertussis are higher this year, with 10 cases confirmed to date. The Department has sent letters to Long Beach obstetricians advising them on the need for vaccinations. Letters to parents and school principals have also been sent out. This BH-Agenda Item was received and filed. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Chair Smith reminded the Board that the Peoples State of the City will be held on Wednesday, April 10th, at 5:00 p.m., at the 1st Congregation Church of Long Beach. • Boardmember Schwerin spoke to the Board regarding a Friends of Long Beach event she attended on March 7th where Ms. Colopy provided a presentation on the Health Department and the work the Department performs to improve the health and well-being of Long Beach residents. • Boardmember Betancourt spoke briefly regarding “toxic tours”, which expose individuals to what life is like for those living in low-income neighborhoods, allowing those individuals to obtain some personal context into the issues faced by the residents of those neighborhoods. The Board Page 5 of 6 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 BOARD OF HEALTH AND MILLER FAMILY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES 3820 CHERRY AVENUE, 7:45 AM expressed an interest, if possible, in participating in a tour. Staff will investigate whether it is possible for the Board, as a whole, to participate on a tour given Brown Act regulations. • Boardmember Betancourt also advised the Board that the South Coast Air Quality Management District will be holding a Community Steering Committee Meeting on Thursday, March 14th, from 6:00 to 8:15 p.m., at the Wilmington Senior Center. The meeting is part of a series of meetings for the committee and public to provide input on the development of Community Air Monitoring Plans and Community Emission Reduction Plans implemented through Assembly Bill (AB) 617. • Ms. Colopy announced that the results of the Vector Assessment District Survey will be provided to the City Council on March 19th. Survey results indicated a 53 percent support rate to enter into a vector assessment district at the rate of $8.14 annually. The Council will provide input as to whether the City moves forward with a ballot measure issued to all property owners in the City not currently covered by the LA County Vector District. • Ms. Colopy announced that the 2018 Report on Tenant Assistance Polices is also scheduled for the March 19th City Council meeting. • Dr. Davis mentioned that she would be speaking at an event on March 14th, on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), along with special guest educator Raphael Landovitz, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at UCLA Medical Center. • Ms. Colopy informed the Board that she will be attending Big Cities Health Coalition meetings, including hill visits, March 11-13th in Washington, DC. • Chair Smith took a moment to recognize the day as being International Women’s Day and encouraged the men in the room to understand the inequitable issues men are responsible for creating, and to do their part to help correct them. ADJOURNMENT At 9:04 a.m. the meeting was adjourned. Note: A digital recording of this meeting will be available in the Health and Human Services Department. The City of Long Beach provides reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if an agenda is needed in an alternative format, please contact Dennis Keith, Executive Assistant for the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, 48 hours prior to the meeting at (562) 570-4014 or (562) 570-6626 (telecommunications device for the deaf) or by email at dennis.keith@longbeach.gov. Page 6 of 6