To: Board of Supervisors
From: DHHS: Public Health
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Presentation of Public Health Leadership Award to the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors by Health and Social Policy Institute in Recognition of Adopting a Comprehensive Tobacco Retailer License Ordinance
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Authorize the Chair to accept the award on behalf of the Board.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Public Health Funds
DISCUSSION:
The Health and Social Policy Institute - HASPI - is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works independently and in partnership with others to address a wide range of public health and environmental issues including heart and lung diseases, cancer and tobacco control, nutrition and fitness, childhood safety, reproductive health, gerontology, and climate change/degradation.
The mission of the Health and Social Policy Institute (HASPI) is to promote and conduct innovative and effective public health projects and to develop and implement programmatic and policy solutions to public health and public safety challenges.
Since the early 2000s, with the support and encouragement from the State of California Department of Public Health, HASPI has a history of honoring government entities that showed significant or vast improvement with clean indoor and/or outdoor policies. These included city councils, boards of supervisors, law enforcement agencies, the California Air Resources Board, and tribal councils. In total, 42 California Clean Air Awards have been given. In 2012, the principals of the Health and Social Policy Institute gave the California Clean Air Award to the City of Eureka and County of Humboldt for making their low-income housing 100% smoke-free. In 2015, the Clean Air Award was given to the City of Ferndale for making their low-income and Naval Housing 100% smoke-free.
In August of 2023, HASPI decided to honor the Humboldt Board of Supervisors with the California Public Health Leadership Award in recognition of its leadership in adopting a Comprehensive Tobacco Retailer License Ordinance on July 11, 2023. The proposed Public Health Leadership Award for Humboldt County is the first to be given to a northern California government entity. Another Health Leadership Award was given to the City of Calabasas in 2015 for outstanding public health action and efforts to rid the community of vape.
HASPI believes the passage of Humboldt County’s Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance is a victory for all communities and that is why Humboldt County has been nominated for this award. When tobacco retailers are regulated by requiring an annual non-transferable license and by conducting routine compliance inspections to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local ordinances, community compliance with laws improves. These measures significantly reduce sales to minors and minors' ability to access vape, which is creating a huge public health problem. The action taken by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors is appreciated by the community, residents, health advocates, parents, and educators.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
There will be no financial impact to accepting this award.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
There is no staffing impact to accepting this award.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Create opportunities for improved safety and health
New Initiatives: Facilitate public/private partnerships to solve problems
Strategic Plan: 1.4 - Reduce and/or eliminate substance abuse and opioid addiction in our community
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Health and Social Policy Institute (HASPI)
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors can choose not to accept this award.
ATTACHMENTS:
N/A
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-13
Meeting of: 07/11/23
File No.: 23-1011