OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

CHERYL L. BROWN                                                                                                        117 WEST DUVAL STREET, SUITE 425

            DIRECTOR                                                                                                                                                                                 4TH FLOOR, CITY HALL

   OFFICE (904) 630-1452                                                                                                                                                          JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA  32202

     FAX (904) 630-2906                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  E-MAIL: CLBROWN@coj.net

 

 

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES

 

Tuesday January 19, 2010

Tape No.________________________

4:00 PM  

 

Council Chambers 1st Floor,  City Hall

Dana Farris,

Chief of Legislative Services

 

 

 

 

E. Denise Lee, Chair

Legislative Assistant: Jessica Stephens

Clay Yarborough, Vice Chair

Asst. Council Auditor: Janice Billy

Reggie Brown (Arrived 4:11 PM)

Attorney: Peggy Sidman

John Crescimbeni (Excused)

Administration: Sherry Hall

Michael Corrigan

Chief of Research: Jeff Clements

Kevin Hyde

 

Stephen Joost

 

 

 

                        Meeting Convened 4:05 PM                                       Meeting Adjourned 5:25 PM

 

Attendance:

 

Presentation:

 

Charles Griggs, Duval County Health Department – Infant Mortality

Tim Lawther, Duval County Health Department

Thomas Bryant III, Duval County Health Department

Carol Brady, Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.

 

 

Item/File No.

Title/History

 

 

1.  2009-758

ORD Approp $415,633 from U.S. Dept of Justice, no local Match, to Estab a Recruitmt Prog to create Pool of Qualified Job Applicants thru Various Advertising Media & Job Fair Contacts; Apv Position. (BT 10-006) (RC 10-005) (McCain) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 10/13/09

 

1. 9/22/2009 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

    10/5/2009 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    10/5/2009 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 10/13/2009 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, PHS

 

Bill Summary                                  Fact Sheet

F: Defer

 

 

DEFER

 

 

 

2.  2009-877

ORD Approp $210,000 ($168,000 Homeland Security & FEMA Grant - Assist to Firefighters - Fire Prevention & Safety, $42,000 Rsv for Fed Progs) to Purchase Communications Equipmt for Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau & St Johns Counties. (BT 10-026) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 11/24/09

 

1. 11/10/2009 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

    11/16/2009 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    11/16/2009 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 11/24/2009 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, PHS

 

Bill Summary                                  Fact Sheet

F: Defer

 

 

DEFER

 

 

 

3.  2009-927

ORD Approp $700,000 Florida State Courts Drug Court Continuation Grant for Expansion of Adult Post-Adjudicatory Drug Courts for Non-Violent Felony Offenders who would Otherwise be Incarcerated; Auth Funds Carryover to FY 2010-2011; Request Emerg Apv. (BT 10-040) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/12/10

 

1. 12/8/2009 CO  Introduced: R,F,PHS

 

    1/4/2010 F Read 2nd & Rerefer;    1/4/2010 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    1/4/2010 R Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 1/12/2010 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; R, F, PHS

 

Bill Summary                                  Fact Sheet

R: Amend/Approve                        F: Amend/Approve

 

 

AMEND(R)/APPROVE 5-0

 

 

4.  2009-937

ORD Auth Purchase of a Portion of RE# 005099-0000 at $425,000 + Closing Costs from N.G. Wade Investment Co for Constrn of Fire Station #26. (Dist 10-Brown) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/12/10

 

1. 12/8/2009 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

    1/4/2010 PHS Read 2nd & Rerefer;    1/4/2010 F Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

2. 1/12/2010 CO PH Read 2nd & Rereferred; F, PHS

 

Bill Summary                                  Fact Sheet

F: Approve

 

 

APPROVE 5-0

 

 

5.  2010-3

ORD Approp $2,242.26 in Investmt Pool Earnings under Justice Assistance Grant for Juvenile Justice Comprehensive Strategy Grant - Internal Svcs Charges. (BT 10-044) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/26/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

Fact Sheet

F: Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

 

6.  2010-4

ORD Approp $700,000 in Fed Funds from U.S. Dept of Justice, No Local Match, to Acquire Equipmt, Computers, Software, Supplies & Var Accessories for Radiological Monitoring Capabilities for Assessmt & Mgmt of Gaseous Threats. (BT 10-045) (McCain) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/26/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

F: Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

 

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

 

7.  2010-8

ORD Auth Interlocal Agreemts with each Beach City to Formulate & Confirm a Formula to Divide Proceeds from 9-1-1 User Fee to use as 9-1-1 Calltaker Salary Reimbursemt for 10/1/09 - 9/30/14. (McArthur) (Req of Sheriff)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/26/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

F: Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

 

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

8.  2010-44

ORD Approp $600,000 Continuation Grant ($300,000 for FY 2009-2010 & $300,000 for FY 2010-2011) from Substance Abuse & Mental Health Svcs Administration of Dept of Health & Human Svcs for Professional Svcs by Gateway Community Services, Inc for Adult Drug Court for Substance Abuse Treatmt in "Problem Solving" Courts; Auth Funds Carryover to Subsequent FYs. (BT 10-048) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/26/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

Fact Sheet

F: Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

9.  2010-51

ORD Amend Fee Schedule of Medical Examiner, Sec 124.103, Ord Code, to Address Public Records Reproduction Issues; Request Emerg Apv. (Rohan) (Req of Gen Counsel)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 1/26/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: R,F,PHS

 

R: Emergency/Approve                    F: Emergency/Approve

 

 

EMERGENCY/APPROVE 5-0

 

 

 

10.  2010-65

ORD Approp $400,000 from Dept of Finance, Mgmt Miscellaneous Insured Progs, to the Public Works Maint Acct to Reimburse var Vendors for Water Extraction & Dehumidification Work at the Courthouse. (BT 10-076) (McCain) (Req of Mayor)

Public Hearing Pursuant to Chapt 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 2/9/10

 

1. 1/12/2010 CO  Introduced: F,PHS

 

F: Read 2nd & Rerefer

 

 

 

READ 2ND & REREFER

 

 

At the conclusion of the agenda the committee heard a presentation on infant mortality in Jacksonville by representatives of the Duval County Health Department (DCHD) and the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition.  Subcommittee Chairman Hyde introduced Charles Griggs, Communications Director of the DCHD, who in turn introduced Tim Lawther, Assistant Director of the department to provide a background on the basics of infant mortality.  He stated that infant mortality is a fundamental statistic that says a lot about the overall health of a community.  Many previous studies by the DCHD, JCCI, the United Way and others have found that there are substantial health and socio-economic problems and challenges in Jacksonville and that much of the problem can be attributed to underlying root causes such as race, income, education and employment. 

 

Thomas Bryant, Interim Director of the Institute for Public Health Informatics and Research at the DCHD provided a number of specific health and infant mortality statistics for Jacksonville, and comparisons with state and national averages. The Health Department collects its statistics based on 6 health zones and the highest infant mortality in Jacksonville by far occurs in Health District 1 – downtown and near-Northside and Westside.  Infant mortality in Jacksonville varies widely both on a geographic basis and on racial and socio-economic lines, and the racial disparity is especially striking, with black infants dying at a substantially higher rate than white infants.  Jacksonville as a whole falls below both the Florida and national averages on almost all the measures of the causes of infant mortality – low prenatal care rates, low birth weight, premature birth, mother’s use of alcohol and/or tobacco during pregnancy, births to teen mothers, etc.  Part of the problem seems to be a lack of education on the part of pregnant mothers; some is attributable to lack of health insurance and/or lack of access to or use of available health care resources.  The causes of high infant mortality are many and varied, and interconnected in such a way that there is no single, simple solution to the problem.  Mr. Bryant has direct contact with students and teen parents and finds their knowledge of basic human sexuality and their understanding of the consequences of their choices and actions to be disturbingly low.  In part this may be attributable to the community’s past intensely emotional battles over sex education in the public schools and a resultant reluctance on the part of schools, including school nurses, to deal with the subject in anything more than a minimal way.

 

Carol Brady, Executive Director of the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition, stated that the geography of high infant mortality in Jacksonville is exactly the same as the geography of the community’s other problems.  The map of high infant mortality areas exactly mirrors the location of high crime, low educational attainment, high unemployment, and other societal problems.  They are all interrelated and the community has to understand that infant mortality is NOT just a health problem and can’t be solved solely by health care solutions.  Failure to address racism, poverty, poor housing, crime, drug addiction, unemployment, and other societal ills will doom any efforts to solve the infant mortality problem.  The recent JCCI infant mortality study analyzed the problem in-depth, made numerous findings and conclusions, and produced 15 specific recommendations for attacking the problem, several of which were directed to the City of Jacksonville for implementation.  The recommendations to the City included: 1) establish an ombudsman position to represent and advocate for children and families in the City’s budget and operations; 2) expand access to health and social services (Family Resource Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers, etc.); and 3) eradicate food insecurity and “food deserts” (areas with little access to full service grocery stores and other sources of fresh, healthy foods.

 

Ms. Brady described food insecurity and food deserts as a problem of lack of full service grocery stores in some parts of the City, leaving residents, many without cars, to depend on processed, pre-packaged foods bought from nearby convenience stores that don’t carry fresh fruits and vegetables and other staples of a healthy diet.  One recent victory in this area is the Beaver Street Farmer’s Market beginning to accept the food stamp debit card for purchases at the market.  With regard to the ombudsman position, She likened it to the role the St. Johns Riverkeeper plays for the health of the river – someone whose sole job is to advocate for, lobby for, and raise attention about infants and children in all venues and in all contexts where City decisions are being made.

 

The committee agreed that infant mortality is a huge problem in Jacksonville and one worthy of the committee’s further attention and efforts.  Chairwoman Lee stated that the PHS Committee should champion this cause as a fundamental issue relating to the committee’s charge - public health and safety.

 

 

Jeff Clements, City Council Research

630-1405

 

Posted 1.20.10

5:30 p.m.

 

 

c.c.          cityc@coj.net