Board of Health and Human Services

CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM Milton Smith, Chair Miles McNeeley, Member Silene St. Bernard, DVM, Vice Chair Christopher Robson, Member Sylvia Betancourt, Member Barbara Schwerin, Member Ralph Brooks, RN, Member Nasir Tejani, MD, FAAP, Member Reena Curtis, PharmD, Member Susan Temple, Member Manorama Gupta, MD, Member Lydia Vaias, MD, Member Troy Ha, DDS, Member FINISHED AGENDA AND DRAFT MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER At 7:45 a.m. the meeting was called to order. Vice Chair St. Bernard presiding. ROLL CALL Commissioners Sylvia Betancourt, Reena Curtis, Manorama Gupta, Troy Ha, Present: Miles McNeeley, Christopher Robson, Nasir Tejani, Susan Temple, Lydia Vaias, Silene St Bernard and Milton Smith Commissioners Barbara Schwerin Excused: Commissioners Ralph Brooks Absent: Also present: Kelly Colopy - Director of Health and Human Services; Dennis Keith - Executive Assistant. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 20-073BH Recommendation to approve the minutes of the Board of Health and Human Services meetings held Friday, August 14, 2020. Page 1 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM A motion was made by Member Robson, seconded by Member McNeeley, to approve recommendation. The motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 11 - Sylvia Betancourt, Reena Curtis, Manorama Gupta, Troy Ha, Miles McNeeley, Christopher Robson, Nasir Tejani, Susan Temple, Lydia Vaias, Silene St Bernard and Milton Smith Excused: 1 - Barbara Schwerin Absent: 1 - Ralph Brooks The Board held a moment of silence in memory of the nineteenth anniversary of 9-11. 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. STAFF REPORTS 2. 20-074BH Recommendation to receive, discuss and file a report from the Director of Health and Human Services. Kelly Colopy, Director of Health and Human Services, provided the Board with an update on the following items: • The Department received two new grants. A $1 million grant for a regional communications campaign for the Black Infant Health Program, and a Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) grant for $1.1 million over the next three years, for a Violence Interruption Program focusing on the Washington Middle School Neighborhood. • The City Manager has indicated that staff will remain telecommuting through January 4, 2021. • The City has implemented 26 furlough days for all City staff. Starting October Page 2 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM 2, 2020, these furlough days will typically be taken every other week on City payroll Fridays. • The Office of Equity will be relocating to the City Manager’s Office on October 1, 2020. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 3. 20-075BH Recommendation to receive, discuss and file a report from the City Health Officer on Communicable Disease Control activities. There was no City Health Officer's report this month. This BH-Agenda Item was laid over. REGULAR AGENDA 4. 20-076BH Recommendation to receive and file an update from the Director of Health and Human Services on the 2021 Health Department budget. Ms. Colopy provided the Board with an update on the 2021 City Budget as follows: • The 2021 Budget was passed by the City Council on September 8, 2020. There were no Health Department cuts. • The Department received $1.5 million for racial equity and reconciliation. The Department will be opening an Office of Youth Development, and expanding Department capacity in violence prevention and reentry, as well as hiring specifically focus on health equity, and black health equity. The City Council also requested that the Department take on housing equity. Approximately $400,000 in funding will be invested in community-based organizations who are already providing these types of services in the community. • Received $100,000 in one-time funding for the creation of Public Health Councils for businesses, which establishes a mechanism for employees to confidentially report when businesses are not complying with COVID-19 health orders. • Proposal to move the Fire Department’s HEART team to the Department of Page 3 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM Health and Human Services in 6 months to ensure transition plan and no interruption in services. • Loss of approximately $300,000 in realignment funding. Originally, there was a projected cut of over $800,000 but over $500,000 is being backfilled by the State. • Approximately $11 million in CARES Act funding was provided to the Health Department to address community needs. It must be awarded and spent by December 31, 2020. $3 million will be used for food insecurity, with remaining funding for early childhood providers, early childhood education kits, and support for older adults, among others. Boardmember St. Bernard inquired about funding for this year’s flu vaccination clinics. Ms. Colopy indicated that flu pods will be scheduled twice a week beginning October 1st and continuing through Thanksgiving. Drive-through clinics will be held on Thursdays, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Veteran’s Stadium, and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Cabrillo High School. The public is requested to obtain a flu shot through their primary care provider, or through other local providers, such as CVS to ensure sufficient vaccine for vulnerable populations and those who are uninsured. A press release will be issued providing additional details and guidance. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 5. 20-077BH Recommendation to receive an update regarding the Department's COVID-19 activities. Ms. Colopy provided the Board with an update on COVID-19 activities: • The State redesigned the COVID-19 reporting system, implementing a series of color-coded tiers and redefining the criteria for each tier. Although Long Beach is tracking its own case rates, the City is included into LA County and will not be allowed to move to a different tier until the County does. • School waivers are not being considered at this time. Los Angeles County is not supportive of issuing waivers, and the City of Long Beach is following Los Angeles County’s decision. Long Beach Parks and Recreation is currently offering after-school programs for students. Currently, the school district has announced that it is not planning on opening up the schools for in-person education until the January 2021 semester. Page 4 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM • Scheduling three pop up COVID-19 cases for the Latinx population. • A brief discussion ensued regarding safe social distancing on beaches during the Labor Day weekend and regarding potential safety issues related to polling during the upcoming elections. • 1,500 COVID-19 tests are available each day. Currently administering approximately 900 tests per day. A recent Health Order also requires local healthcare providers to offer COVID testing. • A brief discussion ensued regarding the varying severity of COVID-19 infections. Ms. Colopy indicated that in Long Beach, all COVID-19 deaths can be attributed to individuals with underlying health conditions. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 6. 20-078BH Recommendation to review and approve a letter to the Mayor and City Council regarding enforcement of the Health Order to wear a mask in public. The Board reviewed a draft letter to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager encouraging the City to take steps to actively enforce the Health Order regarding wearing a mask in public. The Board discussed the issues related to enforcing the order, and what methods might be employed. It was suggested that a warning be issued first, and a mask provided to those not in compliance. An administrative fine could be imposed for repeat offenders. A brief discussion ensued regarding concerns about enforcement, and the potential for issues that could arise if enforcement was not equally applied. Boardmember McNeeley indicated he had concerns and would not be able to endorse this letter. Boardmember Robson requested that this item to carried forward on the agenda as part of the Board’s ongoing business. Approve the letter to the Mayor and Council, with edits, and forward to the City Manager for review and release. Yes: 10 - Sylvia Betancourt, Reena Curtis, Manorama Gupta, Troy Ha, Christopher Robson, Nasir Tejani, Susan Temple, Lydia Vaias, Silene St Bernard and Milton Smith No: 1 - Miles McNeeley Page 5 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM Excused: 1 - Barbara Schwerin Absent: 1 - Ralph Brooks 7. 20-079BH Recommendation to approve the scheduling of a presentation from the Rose Park Neighborhood Association on the Safe Streets and Sidewalks Program. Boardmember Robson briefly discussed a video presentation that the Rose Park Neighborhood Association had created on the safe navigation of streets by seniors. He inquired if the Board would have an interest in having this presentation shown at a future Board of Health meeting. Approve the Rose Park Neighborhood Association to provide a presentation at a future meeting on the Safe Streets and Sidewalks initiative. Yes: 11 - Sylvia Betancourt, Reena Curtis, Manorama Gupta, Troy Ha, Miles McNeeley, Christopher Robson, Nasir Tejani, Susan Temple, Lydia Vaias, Silene St Bernard and Milton Smith Excused: 1 - Barbara Schwerin Absent: 1 - Ralph Brooks 8. 20-080BH Recommendation to discuss Board goals and infrastructure. There was no new information to provide on this item. This BH-Agenda Item was laid over. 9. 20-081BH Recommendation to discuss reimagining City support for the Health Department. There was no new information to provide on this item. This BH-Agenda Item was laid over. ONGOING BUSINESS Page 6 of 7 CITY OF LONG BEACH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 BOARD OF HEALTH AND WEBEX VIRTUAL MEETING HUMAN SERVICES MINUTES PHONE: 1-213-306-3065 ACCESS CODE: 146 310-8156, 7:45 AM 10. 20-082BH Recommendation to receive and file an update on the status of the City's implementation of the legalization of cannabis. Boardmember Temple indicated that she was currently working with Eipryl Tello in the Department’s Tobacco Education Program on educational curriculum. A brief discussion ensued regarding the marketing and advertising of cannabis edibles. This BH-Agenda Item was approve recommendation. 11. 20-083BH Recommendation to receive and file an update on Community Hospital. There was no new information to provide on this item. This BH-Agenda Item was laid over. ANNOUNCEMENTS There were no announcements. ADJOURNMENT At 9:14 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, 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 7 of 7