### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council met jointly with the Public Health Advisory Board on July 29, 2025, serving in their role as the Board of Health. The meeting focused on public health updates, including a detailed presentation about the county's response to its first measles case in over a decade, and continued discussion about potentially expanding the Health Board to include representatives from cities, tribes, and community members. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Board of Health:** The governing body responsible for public health policy in a jurisdiction. In Whatcom County, the seven County Council members serve as the Board of Health, though state law now allows for expansion to include other representatives. **Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB):** A 21-member volunteer advisory body that provides community input on health matters. Created to meet state requirements when maintaining a council-only Board of Health. **Measles Contact Tracing:** The intensive process of identifying, monitoring, and potentially quarantining everyone who may have been exposed to a confirmed measles case to prevent outbreak spread. **MMR Vaccine:** The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine that provides protection against these three diseases. Requires two doses for full protection. **Herd Immunity Threshold:** The vaccination rate (95% for measles) needed in a population to prevent disease outbreaks from spreading. **Incident Command Structure:** An emergency management system used to coordinate complex responses like disease outbreaks, borrowed from emergency services. **LEAD Program:** Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program that diverts people from the criminal justice system into community-based services. **Mid-Biennial Budget Adjustments:** Changes made to the county's two-year budget at the midpoint to address changing needs or revenues. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Jon Scanlon | Council Chair, Health Board Chair | | Charlene Ramont | Interim Health Director | | Dr. Amy Harley | Co-Health Officer | | Dr. Meg Lelonek | Co-Health Officer | | Kayla Schott-Bresler | Deputy County Executive | | Christine Espina | PHAB Vice Chair | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member District 1 | | Kaylee Galloway | Council Member District 2 | | Todd Donovan | Council Member District 3 | | Barry Buchanan | Council Member District 4 | | Ben Elenbaas | Council Member District 5 | | Mark Stremler | Council Member District 6 | ### Background Context This meeting occurred during a period of significant change for Whatcom County's public health infrastructure. Recent state law changes allow counties to expand their Boards of Health beyond just elected officials to include cities, tribes, and community members. The county has been studying this option for over a year, prompted by recommendations from a consultant's review of their COVID-19 response. Meanwhile, the health department faces ongoing challenges including vacant leadership positions, a complex 50+ million dollar budget without adequate financial staff, and the need to plan for another county-operated winter shelter after receiving no responses to their RFP for nonprofit operators. The measles case discussed represents the first in Whatcom County in over a decade, highlighting both the success of vaccination programs and the ongoing vulnerability of under-immunized communities. ### What Happened — The Short Version Interim Health Director Charlene Ramont updated the board on departmental restructuring, budget challenges, and the successful securing of LEAD program funding. The department moved five staff members between divisions to improve efficiency and is preparing to operate another winter shelter after no nonprofits responded to their RFP. Dr. Amy Harley and Dr. Meg Lelonek presented a detailed account of the county's response to two confirmed measles cases in June. They explained the intensive 320-hour, $24,000 investigation that involved tracking 33 contacts and implementing a full incident command structure. The presentation emphasized how vaccination prevents not just disease but also the enormous cost and disruption of outbreak response. Chair Scanlon continued discussion about potentially expanding the Health Board, presenting three models with 10, 14, or 18 members that would include city and tribal representatives. While some council members showed interest in the 10-member model, others remained skeptical about the need for change, and no final decision was made. ### What to Watch Next - The work group will continue developing more detailed proposals for Health Board expansion, with particular focus on the 10-member model and its relationship to PHAB - Council will receive the county's mid-biennial budget adjustments, likely including health department requests - Planning for winter shelter operations will continue, with the county preparing for a more expensive staffing model - The next joint Health Board/PHAB meeting is scheduled for late September 2025 ---