The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2017-03-06-minutes-board-of-health-special-meeting11 KdttIIas Coority Public Health Dapar tment To Protect and Promote the Health and the Environment of the People of Kittitas County KITTITAS COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH (BOH) Meeting Minutes March 6, 2017 Commissioners' Auditorium 2:00 P.M. Present Board of Health (BOH): Paul Jewell, Laura Osiadacz, Obie O'Brien, Rich Elliott Absent: John Asriel, M.D. Public Health: Candi Blackford, Holly Myers, Kimberly Sarver Meeting called to order at 2: 05pm Paul Jewell called the meeting to order to conduct a special Board of Health meeting to consider the 5 year path forward plan for air quality in Kittitas County. Holly Myers introduced herself as, Environmental Health Supervisor, to present the PM Advanced 5 year path forward plan for air quality. Kimberly Sarver introduced herself as, Air Quality Specialist, hired specifically for this project through a grant that was funded by the Department of Ecology air quality program. Kittitas County air monitors have routinely shown Kittitas County to be an area for poor air quality during certain seasons. The PM advanced program is a set program by EPA for areas that are targeted but are not yet in non -attainment. The Department of Ecology is looking at this as an opportunity to be able to move forward and create a sustainable plan for education for our community through grant funding and the plan is a deliverable. Ms. Myers introduced Kimberly Sarver and asked that the board direct any questions to her. Ms. Sarver stepped to the microphone and introduced the Air Quality Advisors in attendance today Andrew Lyons, Hope Source, Anne Johanson, Central Washington University Professor, and Bill Hansen, Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Sarver asked how the board would like to proceed. Paul Jewell asked that Ms. Sarver talk about the implementation of the control measures, how the 5 year plan lays out, and how the county plans on rolling this out since the board has discussed this plan at previous BOH meetings. Ms. Sarver noted that the first couple sections (sections of what?) are acknowledgements, background, explanation of PM2.5 and the history. There are no regulatory measures at this point, only voluntary. Ms. Sarver reviewed the following: PM2.5 Voluntary Measures do not include new ordinances or regulations. Voluntary measures focus on education, outreach and programs to provide affordable options to reduce PM 2.5 emissions. The projects are divided into three tiers according to funding and staff time. The following is a list of tiers and what projects they would include: Board of Health Minutes March 6 2017 2 of 4 Tier 1 includes basic education and outreach efforts that are implementable without additional funding, in the absence of a dedicated air quality staff member at KCPHD. Examples include forwarding clean burning information to a neighborhood after receipt of a smoke complaint, distributing brochures and flyers at local businesses, and issuing public information during times of poor air quality. • Smoke complaint response o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agency: Local Fire Departments o Goal: Reduce the number of households with high opacity smoke emissions and improve burning related behaviors in response to complaints • Spanish translation of existing educational materials o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agencies: Washington State Department of Ecology, HopeSource, Environmental Protection Agency o Goal: Broaden awareness of air quality issues in underserved populations Tier 2 projects require a dedicated air quality staff member at KCPHD or greater involvement of the AQAC members. Projects may require small amounts of funding to purchase materials. This section includes partnerships with other organizations for projects not funded by KCPHD or the AQAC. Examples include booths at local community events and educational workshops to provide facts about clean burning best practices and the benefits of certified woodstoves. • Elementary/middle school education program o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agencies: Ellensburg School District, Thorp School District, Kittitas School District, Cle Elum Roslyn School District, Easton School District o Goal: Incorporate the importance of clean air and compliance with clean air laws into school science programs • Air quality education booth o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health o Partner Agencies: None o Goal: Enhance community awareness of current air quality issues and promote PM2.5 emission reduction tasks • Air quality advertising campaign o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health o Partner Agencies: Local news and radio outlets o Goal: Enhance community awareness of current air quality issues and impacts Tier 3 lists projects that are implementable only under specific grants and require substantial amounts of funding. The purpose of this section is to outline project rationale and methods to prepare for future grant applications. This section also includes existing programs and projects that are looking to expand through acquisition of additional grant funding. Some projects cannot be implemented until the necessary funding is awarded. Projects marked "pending" are awaiting approval or funding. An "ongoing" status indicates a pre-existing project Board of Health Minutes March 6 2017 3 of 4 that was implemented before Kittitas County joined the PM Advance program. An "in -progress" designation indicates a project that was implemented as part of the PM Advance program. • Woodstove change out o Lead Agency: HopeSource- Ellensburg o Partner Agency: Washington State Department of Ecology, Armstrong's Stove and Spa o Goal: Reduce PM2.5 emissions and improve local air quality by replacing uncertified wood stoves with certified devices, or more efficient heating devices, at reduced cost ■ Woodstove bounty o Lead Agency: Washington State Department of Ecology -Central Regional Office o Partner Agency: Kittitas County Solid Waste Department, Kittitas County Public Health Department, HopeSource, Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue, WCC Ellensburg and Yakima Crews, Kittitas County Fire District #7, City of Cle Elum o Goal: Reduce PM2.5 emissions from wood smoke by collecting and destroying uncertified woodstoves, effectively removing them from future use • Electronic air quality sign o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agencies: To be determined o Goal: Increase community awareness of current burn ban and air quality conditions • School Flag Program o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agencies: Local schools o Goal: Promote environmental education for students and educate parents about current air quality conditions • Community clean-up day o Lead Agency: Kittitas County Public Health Department o Partner Agencies: Kittitas County Solid Waste Department, Waste Management of Ellensburg o Goal: Provide an alternative to outdoor burning for the community to reduce PM2.5 production from outdoor burning The group finished with brief discussions about recent outreach education projects the health department has done in the community and how burning complaints are handled in Kittitas County. Meeting adjourned at 2:55p.m. Next Board of Health Meetiniz will be held on Marek at 10:00 Board of Health Board of Health Minutes March 6 2017 4 of 4 r� Can ' lackford, Clerk of theUBoar&of Health Le Robin Read, Administrator, Kittitas County Public Health