Members Only Minutes

September 14, 2021- Dr. Erica S. Pan, the California State Epidemiologist- via Zoom

September 16, 2021
Sue Harrison

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Hybrid Meeting In-Person and via ZOOM

Minutes

Present:  Deborah Barmack, Peter Barmack, Carole Beswick, Greg Bradbard, Mike Burrows, Rachelle Bussell, Ken Coate, Sandra Cuellar, Michelle Decker, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, Otis Greer, Fran Inman, Mark Kaenel, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, Miguel Mendoza, John Mirau, Dan Murphy, Krista Newkirk, Vikki Ostermann, Bansree Parikh, Steve PonTell, Catherine Pritchett, Thomas Rice, Karen Richmond, Kate Salvesen, Kristine Scott, Paul Shimoff, Phil Southard, Sol Teh, Eric Ustation, Pete Van Helden, Ray Wolfe and Marisa Yeager.

Guests: Michelle Leishman and Michael Rivera.

Announcements:  1) Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO) is applying for an EDA “Build Back Better” grant.  For more information, please contact Michelle Decker at the Inland Empire Community Foundation.  2) The new hospital in Loma Linda recently had their virtual ribbon cutting and is now fully open.  The process to move existing patients took staff 8 full hours and within the following 48 hours the new hospital was at full capacity, reflecting the long term need in the community. 3) The Redlands Passenger Rail, The Arrow Line, is expected to be operational by mid-summer 2022.  Since they have had manufacturer delivery challenges, they now plan to test the clean diesel engines, with tier-4 emissions technology, here in the County which will highlight our area and the new cleaner generation of engines.  The zero-emission version has completed the design stage and manufacturing has begun in Switzerland with expected availability in mid-2024.

Lowell King, Chair, presiding.

Motion by M. Burrows/Second by K. Coate/Passed: Minutes from July 27, 2021

The nominating Committee has proposed membership for the following:

  • The law firm of Crosbie, Gliner, Schiffman, Southard, & Swanson, LLP (CGS3) with offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino. Primary representative would be Michael Rivera. For more information, please go to their web site- https://www.cgs3.com/ .
  • OneLegacy, an organ, eye and tissue organization in Redlands. Their primary representative would be CEO Tom Mone and E’Tiffany Jones would serve as their alternate.  For more information, please go to their web site- https://www.onelegacy.org/about/mission.html

Please direct any question or comments to John Mirau, Chair, Nominating Committee or Carole Beswick.

Approval of new primary representation for the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD), Diana Rodriguez, Chancellor will replace Interim Chancellor Jose Torres.
Motion by T. Rice/Second by K. Scott/Passed: Diane Rodriguez approved to serve as Primary representative for SBCCD.

Karen Richmond introduced Dr. Erica S. Pan, the California State Epidemiologist, the Deputy Director of the California Center for Infectious Diseases, and a pediatric infectious disease specialist in San Francisco.

Dr. Pan discussed transmission rates of COVID-19.  In June California had the lowest rates in the country but with the Delta variant rates steadily increased to high rates, as has happened with all other states.  As of now, California is virtually the only state that has reduced transmissions but remains dangerously high and nowhere near where we were previously.

The key interventions in play include:

  • Federal mandates for all federal employees, health care workers, employers with 100 or more employees and Head Start program employees.
  • Continued statewide outreach and equity efforts
  • Updated masking guidance and local mandates from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
  • Vaccine verification across public and private sectors
    • All State of California employees (beginning Aug 2) and workers in health care and high-rise congregate settings (starting Aug 9) must show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week.

According to the CDPH face coverings must be worn by all who are unvaccinated in indoor public settings, businesses, and workplaces.  Universal masking is required on public transit/transportation hubs, childcare, K-12, youth settings, emergency shelters and cooling centers.  Additionally, surgical masks are recommended in healthcare settings, correctional or detention facilities, homeless shelters, long-term care settings and adult and senior care facilities.

The key prevention approaches like promotion of vaccination through on-site workplace vaccination clinics, paid time off to allow employees to get vaccinated.  Cal/OSHA does not require employers to provide vaccinations but does require training workers on the benefits of vaccination.  Employers must ensure mask or respirator use as applicable and enable hand hygiene and good cleaning practices.  Additionally, indoor air quality should be reviewed with focus on ventilation and appropriate filtration/air cleaning.  Employers should stress and promote that employees must stay home when sick.

Employers that are interested in workplace vaccination support and have 100 or more employees may submit a worksite mobile clinic by using the link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mobilevaccination.  Employers with less than 100 employees are encouraged to reach out by e-mail to mobilevaccinesites@cdph.ca.gov.

Community partners are trusted messengers and can help increase vaccination rates by coordinating with both the CDPH and the Governor’s Office for in-language outreach activities such as:

Employers may require that employees receive an FDA-approved vaccine.  They may also ask employees for proof of vaccination (if they maintain it as a confidential record) or can use self-attestation.   Policies on vaccination cannot discriminate based on a protected characteristic disability or religion and employers must provide reasonable accommodations for employees with a disability-related reason or sincerely held religious belief for not being vaccinated.  At this time no major religious denomination opposes vaccination but religious exemptions may still complicate mandates.

A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 a.m.