Board of Health

Skokie Board of Health January 14th, 2016 Present Absent Excused Dr. Dave Ms. Nikitsch Duggan Mr. Nidetz Mr. Abbasi Dr. Drachler Dr. Topouzian Dr. Prince Dr. Gaynes Dr. Luka Ms. Urbanus Dr. Varma Mr. Pandya Dr. Usman Dr. Vernon Dr. Sood Dr. Werner Ms. Jones Thorne Dr. Williams Guest, Hanna Kite, Active Transportation Alliance Nancy Wagner, Active Transportation Alliance Carrie Haberstitch, Planner, Village of Skokie Dr. Counard, Director of Health David Clough, Staff Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:31 p.m by Dr. Drachler, Chairman. Approval of Minutes – Minutes from previous meeting were approved. Complete streets – A copy of the presentation is attached The Village of Skokie is one of eight suburban communities to receive a technical assistance grant for Complete Streets through the Active Transportation Alliance. The goal of Complete Streets is to create local laws to ensure the needs of all users of Skokie’s transportation systems are considered regardless of whether they bike, walk, or drive. All Complete Streets programs have 10 mandatory policy elements that are used to score the program on a 100 point scale. The proposed Skokie policy was intentionally strongly worded to indicate that the work “will” be done rather than “may” be done. This policy will help to meet requirements of the Village Comprehensive Plan as well as the Skokie Community 2012 Health Plan. The 10 Policy Elements 1. Vision and Intent – The Village of Skokie will improve the quality of life for its residents, workers, and visitors by enhancing its existing multi-modal transportation system. This will be accomplished by developing a well-designed, interconnected, and integrated system of complete streets and corridors. 2. All Users and Modes – The Village of Skokie will strive to accommodate and educate users of all ages and abilities by prioritizing the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users; adapting to the needs of emergency responders and commercial vehicle drivers; and acknowledging vehicular use and safety. 3. All Projects and Phases - The Village of Skokie will approach every transportation improvement and project phase as an opportunity to create safer and more accessible streets and corridors for users of all ages and abilities. 4. Exceptions – The Village of Skokie Board of Trustees must approve any exception to this Complete Streets Policy. The exception must be assigned to a specific project, supported by a staff report describing the rationale for the exception. 5. Network – The Village of Skokie will strive to create a comprehensive, integrated, and connected network of transportation options for all modes of travel, designed and operated to enable safe and accessible transportation options for all users. 6. Jurisdiction – The Village of Skokie will adhere to this Complete Streets Policy for all street and corridor design, and construction projects in the Village. 7. Design – The Village of Skokie will use a flexible and innovative approach, balance user needs, ensure a comparable level of safety for all users, and use the best and latest design standards available. 8. Context sensitivity – The Village of Skokie will create context-sensitive Complete Streets that meet or exceed national best-practice guidelines. Design criteria will be based on the thoughtful application of context-sensitive engineering, landscape, architectural, environmental sustainability, and design principles. 9. Performance Standards – The Village of Skokie will collect and analyze data, and coordinate with other entities as needed, to track successes, modify design concepts, and update best practices 10. Implementation – The Village of Skokie will implement this Complete Streets Policy through the Department of Community Development or the Village Manager's designee. Next steps include presenting the program to the Public Safety Commission and the Village Board followed by Ordinance Adoption and finally project implementation. Dr. Drachler asked why the Village chose to do the Complete Streets program and how long they had been working on it. Ms. Haberstitch reported that Skokie is already well designed to comply with Complete Streets making it easy to adopt. The Village has been working on it since September. Dr. Werner asked if improving sidewalks is within the scope of the Complete Streets initiative. Ms. Haberstitch agreed and said that developing sidewalks to promote safe walks to school is a specific goal of the Skokie program. Dr. Drachler entertained a motion to support the proposed Skokie Complete Streets policy and recommend adoption by the Village Board of Trustees. The motion passed unanimously. Community Health Survey Dr. Counard reported that the 2016 Skokie Community Health Survey is ready for distribution. She requested assistance from the Board of Health with spreading the word about the survey in the community, and asked for suggestions for ways to distribute the survey as widely as possible. The IPLAN Committee is also working on survey distribution. A variety of options were suggested, including sending messages out using Text, What’s App, Facebook, etc. Dr. Counard said that an official message including the link to the survey would be e-mailed to Board of Health members and they should certainly use any method possible to share the message with their family, neighbors, colleagues, patients and friends. Paper copies will be produced by the Health Department for anyone who wishes to have them, in whatever languages and amounts are desired. Chairs Report Dr. Drachler thanked Dr. Prince for serving as Chair during the January meeting while he was in Cuba and thanked Margaret Langguth for her participation in the Board of Health. Dr. Drachler mentioned that he met with Mayor Van Dusen, and the Mayor supports increasing the age to sell or purchase tobacco products in the Village to 21 years (Tobacco 21). He is waiting for the right opportunity to present it to the Village Board. Dr. Drachler and Dr. Williams participated in a Northern Illinois Public Health Consortium (NIPHC) Board meeting where regional public health support for Tobacco 21 was discussed. Dr. Timothy Sanborn, Head of Cardiology for NorthShore, presented at the meeting. Mayor Emmanuel is proposing Tobacco 21 for the City of Chicago. Dr. Counard added that the NIPHC Board unanimously agreed to support Tobacco 21at the state and local level. Dr. Drachler proposed a motion to support Chicago’s effort to pass a Tobacco 21 law. The motion passed unanimously. Dr. Drachler reports that the movement is gaining momentum throughout the country. Stopping kids from starting an addictive substance like nicotine is easier than quitting it. Director’s Monthly Report (A copy is attached) Rodent infestations are down by 34% in the Village. Over the past five years an aggressive multi-disciplinary rodent control program has been developed by the Health Department, Village Manager’s Office, Public Works and Property Standards. We have made substantial gains through collaboration, cross-training, strengthening Village ordinances to facilitate enforcement, requiring restructuring of rear enclosures to prevent re-infestation and conducting mandatory landlord educational sessions. Rodent control meeting with City of Evanston staff Environmental Health Supervisor Bruce Jones, Assistant Village Manager Jason Wicha and I met with Evanston staff to discuss mutual issues concerning rodent control. Of note, Evanston hires Certified Pest Control Companies to manage the majority of rodent infestations in the city. Two Skokie residents attending UIUC develop mumps infection Two Skokie residents attending the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) developed mumps infection. Neither student received the third dose of mumps vaccine currently recommended to control the outbreak occurring at the university. The Skokie Health Department has publicized the availability of free mumps vaccine for residents attending UIUC. Skokie resident hospitalized with influenza An 80 year old woman who lives in Skokie was hospitalized in intensive care after contracting influenza. She did not receive a flu shot. The Health Department provides flu shots during the fall for Skokie residents over the age of 6 months. This is accomplished through community Old Business Dr. Drachler distributed articles on e-cigarettes reporting that even "nicotine free" e-cigarettes cause cellular damage. New Business Mr. Clough reported on the Rethink Your Drink program and presented the “Sugar Show” demonstration. The presentation highlighted the amount of sugar in many common beverages, and was followed by a lively discussion. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. The next meeting of the Board of Health will be Thursday, February 11 at 7:30 p.m.