fullTF

Monday, September 22, 2008

1:30-3:30pm, City Hall, Room – 278

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, SF CA 94102

Karen updated the TF re. Planning Committee’s agreement to support two SF ordinances proposed by Supervisor Ammiano, one concerning land use/ air quality conflicts in infill development and one consolidating noise regulation.  Rajiv Bhatia is involved as an advisor to both legislative proposals.  Karen will be writing letters from the TF to Planning and Building Inspection Commissions outlining our support.

RAMP/CAFA Policy Associate Brandon Kitagawa gave a brief presentation on his role to promote statewide asthma policy.  He is visiting each local coalition to get a sense of their priorities, specifically around housing habitability issues.  The statewide CAFA group may advocate for more proactive code enforcement and/or increased penalties for code violations.  CAFA has also been responsive to unplanned requests, such as State Senator Orepeza’s hearing August 20th on the environment and asthma, and was able to provide speakers for testimony, as well as broaden the agenda beyond outdoor air quality, to include indoor air quality in school and housing settings.  The CAFA Policy Committee has its conference call Wed. 3:30-5 pm, and Karen Licavoli will be representing the ATF.

ACTION ITEM VOTE (no quorem present) and Discussion: Asthma Task Force Policy on Grant Application Coordination was discussed, accepted in full, with one clause proposed for addition.  Gloria Thornton will update the policy to include steps needed in RUSH situations.  The final version will be included in our next mailing, and posted with our meeting minutes.

Committee Updates and Announcements:

• Peg Strub, Clinical Comt. chair, mentioned the upcoming Asthma Network meeting, Oct. 3^rd Friday at Kaiser site, as well as ongoing projects for CPMC and Kaiser grants, and review of the TF website and propose additional content. 
• Marie Hoemke, Schools/Child Dev/Home-Based Childcare Comt. chair, mentioned current work with School Health Programs to scope the Board of Ed required Accountability Report on implementation of Emergency Care Plans and Tools for Schools Program.  Karen Cohn, Environmental Comt. chair, mentioned proposed Housing Code changes to upgrade exhaust ventilation required in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, and to further define maintenance of heating devices, to include filter changes.  Karen also reviewed upcoming Healthy Housing stakeholder trainings, and new Env. Comt. working group focused on CAFA III workplan for toxic use reduction in homes.
• Tina Cosentino, Californians for Pesticide Reform, introduced herself and her agency’s work to reduce pesticide use.  They will be part of the CAFA toxic use reduction in homes work group, and have envisioned a pilot program to promote integrated pest management protocols.
• CAFA III workplan for Schools was reviewed, with scope of work focused on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing for asthma-safe cleaning products and methods, and toxic use reduction in general.

Budget:  Karen Cohn announced that all spending is in progress, including Contracts for Breathe California-GGP and Asthma Resource Center Inc.  However, we must wait on the DPH Contracts officer to process everything, so no date of certification can be promised.

Asthma Task Force has purchased a Roundtable News Briefing from New America Media focused on ethnic media reporting to ethnic audiences (NAM is part of Pacific News Service), and our theme this year, toxic use reduction.  Event will be November 13 Thursday.

TF Membership openings were reviewed.  No specific recruitment decisions were made.