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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-17 Community Health Commission Minutes Edina Community Health Committee Tuesday, May 17, 2005 Mayors Conference Room City Hall Members Present: Richard Olson, Spencer Anderson, Bill Alldredge, Tolu Oyelowo, Brad Montgomery, Idelle Longman and Lynn Moline Members Absent: Debbie Cook, Robert Scott Guests: None Staff Present: Sherry Engelman , Edina Health Department CALL TO ORDER Chair, Richard Olson, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Changes to the Agenda were made. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Introductions were made. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion made and seconded to approve minutes from March 15, 2005 meeting with some corrections. Motion carried. CHAIR REPORT FROM MEETING MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER Richard Olson, Spencer Anderson and Sherry Engelman met with Mayor Hovland and City Manager Gordon Hughes on April 21, 2005 to obtain an understanding of City Council needs and expectations of the community health committee. Discussions included consideration of a complete business smoking ban and use of the Bloomington Smoke Free Ordinance as a starting point, concerns and needs of the senior population in the community, proactive accessible immunization programs, and suggestions made in the 2002 Edina Senior Study completed by Human Rights & Relations Commission. These issues will be considered during the committee goal setting process. COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE SELF ASSESSMENTS Committee self assessments were mailed to all committee members prior to the May 17 meeting. The assessments were collected during the meeting and will be tallied to determine committee strengths and weaknesses and help define improvements needed to make committee work rewarding and productive. Committee members were encouraged to use this assessment as a tool for progress. COMMUNITY HEALTH COMMITTEE INFORMATION PACKETS Committee membership packets were distributed. Each packet included a membership list, committee member job description guide, committee by-laws and SCHSAC Chapter Six Working With Advisory Committees. These packets will serve as training tools for committee members to identify local health issues and priorities, and offer ideas to advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the policy makers. After reviewing the information, members indicated a need to develop a mission which gives a clear purpose to the committee. They also discussed reviewing the by-laws to determine if changes are necessary. In addition, suggestions for committee improvement were to provide official name cards for every committee member at committee meetings, to provide refreshments for committee meetings, and to invite guest speakers from University of Minnesota School of Public Health and City of Bloomington Public Health and Emergency Preparedness to our meetings. A suggestion was also made to arrange an interactive meeting with the Mayor and City Council to hear their priorities on health issues. Possibly this meeting could be held prior to a scheduled council meeting. It is understood that the community health committee does not have budget monies available. Also mentioned was the need for a total community health assessment. An assessment, the Edina Senior Study, was completed in 2003 for the Human Relations Commission. This document is available on the City Web site and all members were encouraged to review it. There was discussion about surveying residents to obtain their perspective on Edina health issues and service gaps. It was determined that surveys included in water billing statements would not give timely data because the bills are sent out at different times for different regions of the city. A good start however may be the information available in the Edina Senior Study. 2005 GOALS After lengthy discussion, the group decided to set moderate goals for 2005. The following goals were established: Define the mission/purpose of our committee Review and update the by-laws where necessary Review the 2003 Edina Senior Study for the Edina Human Rights & Relations Commission for health issues which our committee may consider for study Survey other groups studying health or senior issues in the City of Edina in attempt to identify common efforts on health issues, define gaps in the health system, and develop partnerships to work together toward health related goals. All committee members agreed to interview at least one of the groups and expressed desire to choose the group they wanted to interview. Sherry Engelman will assemble and distribute the group list and questionnaire to committee members by May 31. Members will complete interviews by mid to end of June and return collected information to Sherry. The information will be tallied during July and distributed back to committee members by August l. The questions will be 1) What is your mission? 2) What services do you provide and to whom? 3) What current concerns or areas of community health do you think are not being addressed? 4) How can we partner with your group? Identify one community health issue and develop a recommendation to City Council for their consideration. Three key areas identified were elder care, a broad perspective on prevention, and fitness for health. Identify gaps in provisions and delivery of community health services to Edina residents. (This may be identified in the Edina Senior Study.) JOINT MEETING WITH BLOOMINGTON & RICHFIELD HEALTH COMMITTEES Staff proposed the idea of holding a joint meeting with Bloomington and Richfield community health committees in September. Members were receptive to this and willing to host the meeting in Edina. Sherry Engelman will take information back to the other two groups for their considerations to go forward with this meeting. SMOKE FREE RESTAURANTS UPDATE Kathy Iverson, Edina Chemical Health Program Coordinator, was unable to attend however sent written information which was distributed at the meeting. Information noted that restaurant employees enjoy the smoke free environment and believe that it is a healthier work environment. Staff reported that the Health Department has not received complaints regarding violations of the Smoke Free Ordinance which recently went into effect for restaurants in Hennepin County. It is unknown if there is revenue loss to Edina businesses because of the ordinance. SENIOR WELLNESS FAIR Staff reported that Edina Federated Women are interested in establishing yearly Senior Wellness Fair. More information will be available after the first meeting which is planned for May 23. There will be opportunities for the community health committee to be involved. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 9PM. Respectfully Submitted, ____________________ Sherry Engelman