Board of Health

Skokie Board of Health Committee Meeting Minutes March 8, 2018 Present Excused Absent Mr. Abbasi Dr. Sood Mr. Pandya Ms. Black Dr. Dave Dr. Topouzian Ms. Nickisch Duggan Dr. Drachler Ms. Urbanus Dr. Gaynes Ms. Jones Ms. Varma Dr. Prince Dr. Werner Dr. Shim Dr. Vernon Dr. Williams Bruce A. Jones, Staff Guest, George Issakoo - Assistant to the Public Works Director and Staff Liaison for the Environmental Sustainability Advisory Commission A. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Dr. Drachler, Chairman. B. Approval of Board of Health Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the February 8th meeting were approved as corrected. Dr. Drachler introduced new board member Mr. Irtaza Usman. C. Presentation: Jenny Grossman, JD, Chair, Skokie Environmental Sustainability Advisory Commission (SEAC) Progress update: Environmental Sustainability Plan (copy attached) Ms. Grossman spoke about the SEAC and gave a progress update on their work to fulfill the Environmental Sustainability Plan. She mentioned that the SEAC has divided into sub-committee groups, in order to effectively work on each section of the plan. 1. Water Management Objectives: • Reduce commercial, industrial and residential water usage through conservation. • Use natural systems to reclaim used water and storm runoff. Progress to date: • Met with the Park District to review the District’s pesticide management practices • Looking at how the Village regulates and limits impervious surfaces. • Actively monitors accomplishments of rain barrel program. • Will sponsor a tree planting initiative this spring by waiving the 50/50 cost-share on Village planted parkway trees. 2. Air Quality (there is currently no SEAC sub-committee working on this priority area) Objectives: • Hire a contractor to conduct a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for Skokie by 2021. Local data will guide best practices. • Increase the electric, biodiesel, and Flex Fuel vehicles in the Village fleet. • Continue to improve Village infrastructure to increase energy efficiency. • Apply complete streets policies to reduce dependence on motor vehicles.  3. Energy Conservation Objectives: • Create an energy reduction goal for the entire Village. • Promote the use of renewable energy sources. • Increase energy efficiency of new and existing development. • Establish land use policies that maximize energy conservation. • Increase surface cooling shade by updating landscaping design guidelines. • Continue to participate in the Tree City USA program; try to return to the Tree City Growth Award. Progress to date: • Co-hosted a workshop on home solar energy installations. • Looking at how Village code regulates solar power and wind power installations. • Actively monitoring legislation in Springfield relating to solar and wind power incentives. 4. Transportation (most active sub-committee): Objectives: • Implement the Complete Streets Policy and evaluate effectiveness. • Reduce the dependence on automobiles by promoting walking, bicycling, and public transportation. • Enhance biking and walking routes to schools. • Evaluate the feasibility of extending the Divvy bicycle program into Skokie. Progress to date: • Participates in the Village Complete Streets Steering Committee. • Monitored and participated in PACE’s updating of their routing study for the Skokie Service Area. • Monitoring Village bike lane and trail development, provide input on trouble areas within the system. • Reviewed findings of Mark Fenton’s recent walk audit of downtown Skokie and will be providing input on projects relating to Complete Streets. • Participated in “Pop-Up” event at Niles North High School, which involved the placement of temporary traffic calming devices on Lawler Avenue. This was in conjunction with Active Transportation Alliance and the Complete Streets Steering Committee. 5. Waste Management Objectives: • Increase recycling to decrease the volume of trash sent to landfills. • Evaluate disincentives for using plastic bags at stores. • Set a percentage goal for materials recycled as a Village. • Encourage the use of reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste. • Explore expanding recycling to include food scraps, textiles and other materials. Progress to date: • In Skokie recycling lags behind the national trend (23% vs. 34%). In the past 5 years refuse collection in the Village increased 4 % while recycling has declined 2 %, despite marketing and education efforts. Discussed concerns with lack of recycling participation and the SEAC will be conducting a more detailed analysis of recycling participation and program limits. • Is actively monitoring staff’s pursuit of a curbside textile recycling program – currently in concept a joint venture with the City of Evanston and the Village of Lincolnwood. • Sponsored Village’s first pumpkin recycling event. • Successfully encouraged Village Trustees to allow food scrap composting in approved containers, following a pilot study. Ms. Grossman concluded by stating the SEAC would like to engage and work in collaboration with the Board #531019, Skokie Board of Health Meeting Minutes March 8, 2018  of Health on any particular topics of interest within the Environmental Sustainability Plan. Discussion Dr. Counard asked if the SEAC or Public Works has set a target for recycling. Mr. Issakoo and Ms. Grossman replied that while this is great idea they have not established a specific target percentage for recycling. Mr. Issakoo and Ms. Grossman clarified that the diversion rate shown in the presentation does not include businesses. Dr. Drachler stated the BOH is interested in encouraging businesses to recycle, because most businesses in Skokie are not recycling. Mr. Issakoo and Ms. Grossman agreed this was important, and said that the SEAC is working to promote commercial recycling as well. Dr. Counard added that when Ann Tennes, Marketing Director, recently spoke with the BOH the same concern was raised. The BOH would like to encourage smaller businesses to use the one 95 gallon cart that is provided through the Village contract. This cart is insufficient to meet the needs of larger businesses. Dr. Williams stated that residential recycling carts are often filled well before the garbage cart. Skokie should switch the sizes and provide larger recycling carts and smaller garbage carts. Could the BOH help promote this idea? Perhaps it could be as simple as switching the cans and marking the garbage can as recycling. Dr. Topouzian mentioned that the Hyatt Hotel has a garbage collection bin marked for paper, plastic, and cans. Dr. Drachler acknowledged he has seen these all over the world, to make it easy for people to recycle. Mr. Abbasi asked why recycling is declining? Ms. Grossman replied that in part the decrease might not reflect a decrease in the number of people recycling, but rather a decrease in the amount of materials recycled, because many companies are reducing packaging. Dr. Dave asked about giving a discount on Skokie vehicle licenses for having energy efficient vehicles. Mr. Issakoo responded that Public Works would look into the possibility of a discounted vehicle license fee. He added that the Village is promoting electric vehicle use by replacing older municipal vehicles with electric vehicles, and adding a second charging station for public use at Village Hall. Dr. Williams asked about take out containers and offering restaurants a cost sharing program to promote recycling. There was discussion about people bringing in their own reusable take-out containers. Mr. Jones said he would look into that possibility. Dr. Werner asked about ornamental lawns and water conservation. Ms. Grossman stated that the SEAC is in favor of using native plants to conserve water. Dr. Drachler asked about bike lanes and combining them with other communities going east and west. Ms. Grossman replied that the SEAC agrees with this concept, and the Church Street bike lane will connect with lanes in Evanston and Morton Grove. Also, there will be continued work to extend the Old Orchard Road paths. A question was raised about cost sharing or Skokie incentives for solar panels on homes. Ms. Grossman replied that Skokie does not offer any incentives but there are State tax incentives. She added that the BOH might assist with the renewable energy priority by considering possible improved health outcomes. Ms. Jones spoke about energy conservation and some basic things people can do to make their homes energy efficient. Ms. Grossman said these are the types of things the SEAC energy sub-committee is looking at too. #531019, Skokie Board of Health Meeting Minutes March 8, 2018  Ms. Grossman concluded the lively discussion by mentioning that on an overall basis the SEAC would look for support from the BOH on any issue they bring to the Board of Trustees. Perhaps there could be further thought and discussion about collaborating? D. Chair’s Report Dr. Drachler reminded the Board about the “Boards & Commissions Appreciation Reception” this coming Monday March 12th. Several BOH members will receive years of service awards: Dr. Drachler – 15 years, Ruth Varma – 15 years, Dr. Gaynes – 10 years, Dr. Topouzian – 10 years, and Mr. Abbasi – 5 years. Dr. Drachler mentioned that just prior to this evening’s BOH meeting he had stopped by the Lincoln Junior High School for a Drug Awareness Facts & Myths program. David Clough from the Health Department was also in attendance at this event. Dr. Drachler added that there was an excellent speaker from the Lake County Health Department who discussed “the truth about vaping”. He suggested we invite her to speak to the BOH. Dr. Dave stated there was a recent issue with junior high students vaping during a basketball game. Dr. Williams spoke about a new pediatric research study that identified additional hazards from vaping because of the heavy metals used within the batteries for vaping units. Dr. Drachler announced that the BOH proposed “Tobacco 21” ordinance change will be presented to the Village Trustees at the April 16, 2018 meeting. At that same meeting the “Public Health Partners in Excellence” Awards will be presented to the Niles Township Food Pantry and the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC), in recognition of their recycling programs. Dr. Drachler commented that he and Dr. Counard will attend the BOH Budget Hearing meeting on the evening of Monday, April 23, 2018. Dr. Drachler concluded his report by asking Mr. Usman to give a quick 5 minute introduction about his personal and professional background at the next monthly meeting in April. E. Health Director’s Monthly Report: Dr. Counard presented the February Monthly Report – a copy is attached. Report highlights: • Chamber of Commerce Supports Board of Health Tobacco 21 Proposal On February 12, the Skokie Chamber of Commerce overwhelmingly voted to support increasing the age to purchase or sell tobacco products to 21 years in the Village. Dr. A. Michael Drachler and Dr. Timothy Sanborn, NorthShore Cardiology, spoke with the Chamber. The ordinance change will be presented to the Village Trustees at their April 16, 2018 meeting. • Health Director invited to give CDC Preventive Medicine Grand Rounds Health Director Dr. Catherine Counard was invited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give a national webinar about the Skokie Community Health Plan – focusing on the process we use for conducting community health needs assessments and creating the plan. Fifty-two public health physicians participated remotely, and were very interested in our work. • South Asian Healthy Lifestyle Initiative (SAHELI ) The SAHELI team conducted its first health fair at the Metropolitan Asian Family Services site in Niles. Twenty-five people qualified for the study and are interested in participating. The first group educational and exercise sessions will begin in April 2018 #531019, Skokie Board of Health Meeting Minutes March 8, 2018  • Turning Point Town Hall Meeting – Health Dept. Participation Susan Reisberg, David Clough and Darlene Codd represented the Health Department at the Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center Town Hall meeting at the Skokie Public Library. The panel of elected officials and local experts discussed mental health care access and the impact of current political and economic factors on mental health services. • NACCHO MRC Challenge Grant The Health Department received a $7,500 grant from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), to support the Medical Reserve Corp efforts to reach the foreign-born population. The funds will cover translation of Emergency Preparedness and communicable disease education material into Skokie’s top six languages (Arabic, Urdu, Tagalog, Russian, Chinese and Spanish). F. Old/New Items of Business None Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m. ******************************************************************************************* Next Board of Health Meeting: April 12, 2018 7:00 p.m. Village Hall – 2nd floor Conference Rooms D & E ******************************************************************************************* #531019, Skokie Board of Health Meeting Minutes March 8, 2018