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Home My WebLink About2022/09/27 - Board of Health MASON COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS 411 North 5te Street,Shelton,WA September 27,2022 Attendance: Randy Neatherlin,County Commissioner;Kevin Shutty,County Commissioner;Sharon Trask, County Commissioner;Dr.Keri Gardner,Health Officer;Darrin Moody,Hospital District No. 1;Peggy VanBuskirk,Hospital District No.2;Kathy McDowell,City of Shelton;Keri Davidson,Shelton School Board; Ian Tracy,Environmental Health Manager;Todd Parker;Haley Foelsch;Tim Wood,FCS Group;Steve P, Central Mason Fire Commissioner;Mike Shults,Compliance Supervisor ORCAA;Jeff Johnston,Executive Director ORCAA;Odelle Hadley,Senior Monitoring Specialist ORCAA;Todd Chase,AICP,LEED AP FCS Group;Lauren Whybrew,Engineer ORCAA;McKenzie Smith,Clerk of the Board;and Dedrick Allen, MasonWebTV. 1. Chair Peggy VanBuskirk called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. 2. Approval of Agenda Kathy McDowell/Dr.Keri Gardner moved and seconded to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried. 3. Approval of the July 26,2022 Minutes Kathy MCDowell/Cmmr.Neatherlin moved and seconded to approve the July 26,2022 Board of Health minutes as presented with the addition of Kathy McDowell as an attendee. Motion carried. 4. Health Officer Report Dr.Gardner shared that COVID-19 cases have been less frequent and milder but encourages constituents to get another booster shot. The latest booster has been updated to cover the BA4 and BA5 variants. Focus will be pivoted back to Foundational Public Health Services(FPHS)such as screening and treatment of Hepatitis C. Partnerships are being ramped up with Mason Health,the tribes,Corrections departments,and other community stakeholders. The response to the opioid crisis is also being improved. Mason County has the highest rate per capita of opioid fatalities in Washington state. The biggest contributors include opiates and methamphetamines. Successes include lowering the Monkey Pox outbreak and having vaccinations available to those who are high risk. The City of Shelton brought Public Health into the Homelessness Task Force which was created to address the housing needs of the community. 5. Administration Report The administration report is available in the Board of Health packet. Keri Davidson asked when the guidance for schools may be updated? Dr.Gardner answered that changes are expected but the Department of Health has not shared when that information will be released. 6. Environmental Health Report Ian Tracy shared that due to delays and spending out water quality grants from COVID impacts to operations,the Department of Health has extended several grants through December 31,2022. 7. Community Health Report Melissa Casey shared the July through August health report. As a new manager,her focus is working with staff and understanding their day-to-day work. 8. Other Business and Board Discussion No other business or board discussion. 9. ORCAA Presentation Jeff Johnston,Executive Director at the Olympic Region Clean Air Agency(ORCAA),shared an air quality report. ORCAA,with authority from the Washington Clean Air Act,oversees six counties (Clallam,Grays Harbor,Jefferson,Mason,Pacific,and Thurston)and enforces local,state,and federal clean air laws and regulations. ORCAA has a nine-member board consisting of County Commissioners and City Council members from the three largest cities(Lacey,Olympia,and Tumwater)in the Olympic Peninsula jurisdiction. 90%of revenue comes from fees(permits,asbestos notifications,and per capita assessments)and state and federal grants. The Department of Ecology provides the on-the-ground air quality work. Particulate pollution is a main focus which includes home heating sources such as wood stoves. There is a wood stove replacement program in place that is open to individuals in Thurston County and parts of Mason County. Individuals,when replacing a non-compliant stove,are eligible for $750 when replacing a pellet stove and$1,000 when replacing a wood stove with a natural gas or propane appliance or$1,800 for an electric heat pump. There is also a wood stove recycling program that will give individuals$500 for their wood stove. Education outreach is another main focus of ORCAA. The ORCAA website will be redesigned and relaunched around February 2023. Lauren Whybrew,ORCAA Engineer,shared that,under the Clean Air Act,ORCAA is responsible for reviewing air permit applications and reviewing implications for proposed businesses or facilities. These permit applications for outdoor air emissions are referred to as notice of constructions. A permit is needed when fuel is burned(boilers,crematories,and coffee roasting),when liquids are treated or stored (auto body shops with spray booths,gas stations,breweries,and wastewater treatment plants),when there is potential for dust or particulate(sawmills,abrasive blasting,and gravel pits),or when products are manufactured or processed(chemical manufacturing plants,mechanical paper mills,commercial composting,food processing plants,veneer and plywood production,and landfills). ORCAA is also involved with soil vapor extractions(air sparging). Marijuana facilities do not require a notice of construction application. Odelle Hadley,Senior Monitoring Specialist at ORCAA,discussed that Washington primarily monitors Particulate Matter(PM)2.5 and ozone concentrations. PM2.5 is any airborne particle with a diameter less than 2.5 micrometers. Total suspended particulate(TSP)matter are particles such as smoke and dust that are small enough to remain in the air. Each County has at least one PM2.5 air monitor to monitor the worst ambient air quality. Data is used to evaluate compliance,determine is a burn ban is required,and allow the public to make informed decisions. The Air Quality Index(AQI)shows if there is any level of health concern. Historically,air quality worsens in the winter due to wood stoves. In June 2019 and June 2020,Purple Air sensors were installed to determine if the current monitor location property represented Mason County. Currently there are eight Purple Air sensors in the County. Also shared were tools to stay informed about the current air quality as well as ORCAA contact information. Mike Shults,Compliance Supervisor at ORCAA,shared there are three main areas of focus regarding the inspection standpoint. Marijuana farms generally have an agricultural exemption;however,odor is still considered an air pollution. ORCAA will not inspect the marijuana facility but will work with the facility to limit or reduce odors. Most commonly ORCAA is known for smoke—wood stove,campfire,land clearing fires,etc.—and will respond to complaints but do not issue permits. Permits go through the Fire Marshal's office. The last area of focus is asbestos and demolition. ORCAA requires individuals to get demolition permits and an asbestos survey for said demolitions and works with the County to ensure all the proper permits have been applied for. An asbestos survey is also required for some remodels. 10. Housing Needs Assessment Todd Chase,Economic Services for FCS Group,gave a Mason County Housing Needs Assessment presentation. Discussion topics included project objectives,emerging trends,stakeholder input,housing needs,and next steps. A Housing Needs Assessment(HNA)analyzes housing data,public input,and existing policies to create or amend the housing action plan and comprehensive plan update. Tim Wood,Assistant Project Manager for FCS Group,discussed the population growth forecast for Mason County. The medium growth forecast equates to 19,686 people and over 10,130 new housing units over the next 20 years. For housing construction permit trends,2,250 new housing units have been built over the past 5 years. Mason County housing inventory showed 34,000 total housing unites with nearly 1 in 3 homes being used for seasonal use only. Home types include single-family detached, townhomes/plexes,multi-family,and manufactured home/other. These dwellings are also categorized by owner-occupied,renter-occupied,and seasonal/vacant. The home value index,based on the Zillow median home value,shows an increase of 23.4%in Belfair and 29.5%in Shelton from January 2020 to January 2022. Severe rent burdens show that nearly 3 in 10 renters pay over 50%of their income on rent. Mason County and Shelton both exceed the State average for poverty and ALICE(asset limited,income constrained,employed)households. 4 out of 10 households meet these criteria. A graph was shared for Mason County at-risk subgroups. This includes victims of domestic violence,senior citizens,persons with disabilities,veterans,individuals with mental illness,and homeless families with and without children. Households identifying as Hispanic or Latino was also shared. Todd Chase shared that community stakeholders include housing non-profits,developers,and real estate brokers which help"ground truth"the data and provide perspectives on existing housing issues and policies. The top barriers are funding for new public housing,voucher navigator staff,timing of public sewer/water and power extensions in the Urban Growth Areas(UGAs),and housing costs rising quicker than incomes. Opportunities are City and County revenue from the Affordable Housing Levy,immediate market demand for rentals and mobile home parks,recent City of Shelton code changes,the Belfair Environmental Impact Statement(EIS),and the veteran's village. The new housing need is 11,573 dwellings over the next 20 years with an immediate demand of over 326 government-assisted units and market demand for 376 rental units. The housing need is then broken down by class(upper,upper middle,lower middle,very low,extremely low,and other). The next step is to refine and accept the HNA then consider policies that promote housing production as part of the Housing Action Plan and Comprehensive Plan update. Strategies include zoning and code changes,reducing regulatory impediments,financial incentives,financial resources,tax exemption and abatement,land acquisition, lease,and partnerships,and other custom options. 11. Public Comment No public comment at this time. 12. Adjourned at 4:34 p.m. ATTEST MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH rnn'' MASON COUNTY,WASHINGTON McKenzie Sm' ,Clerk of the Board Darrin Moody,Hospital 1strict#1 —M011a I YEAh Kathy McDowell,City Commis o er Kevin Shutty,51ommissioner Ran Neather ,Commissioner Sharon Trask,Commissioner Pegg Buskirk,Hospital District#2 N4� Gary Plews,Fire Commissioner 1JA A- u�� IM& Keri Davidson,Shelton School Board