BOARD OF HEALTH

Agenda

1. Chair Dr. Wujie Zhang called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm.
2. Vice Chair Tahira Malik motioned to approve, Board Member Dr. Martin seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor and none opposed.
3. Board Member Ericka Sinclair shared the Move Every Heart Heart MKE event on Saturday, October 4 from 12-4pm, 2159 at Calvary Baptist Church. Board Member Penelope Stewart shared Ascension’s Medical Mission at Home event on Saturday, October 4 from 9am -1pm to provide free medical, behavioral, and dental health services to the under or uninsured. Board Member Dr. Darlene Beck shared ExPOSED Inc’s domestic violence awareness 5K walk/run on October 4.
4. (a) Fall Immunizations Clinics and Plan Commissioner Totoraitis shared that outreach indicated need for immunization support during the MPS exclusion period, so MHD has planned to meet that demand this year with additional evening and weekend hours. Staff will help enter data into MPS’s system for records to be up to date as well as provide immunization education. Commissioner Totoraitis will send the event’s outreach flyers to the Board. Board Member Ericka Sinclair asked if kids were still being tested for lead. Commissioner Totoraitis said MHD recommended to MPS that children be tested regularly; MPS has a contractor. Ongoing testing will help to confirm schools remain safe. An additional push for testing is in planning and will be announced during October’s National Lead Poisoning Preventing Week (October 19-25). (b) Update on MPS Response Commissioner Totoraitis highlighted the successful reopening of the schools this academic year after lots of work over the summer. Commissioner Totoraitis shared that MPS’s website has been updated with timely lead remediation project information, including outstanding projects. Commissioner Totoraitis has been in conversation with MPS about long term maintenance of lead-safe status at the schools. Commissioner Totoraitis shared that on October 8 at 1:30 PM, MHD will be presenting its budget to Council. Commissioner Totoraitis highlighted: MHD’s proposed budget reduces its levy footprint by 4.5%, the largest expense remains salary due to recent market adjustments, and that the Health Food Access Fund will be carried over into 2026. Regarding the Healthy Food Access Fund, MHD will partner with Feeding America to support Farmers Market Match, which provides additional money for fresh produce purchases for SNAP beneficiaries. Additionally, MHD is proposing to change doula services from full time to contract staff, which will help to scale staff to meet demand. Chair Dr. Wujie Zhang asked a question about Ascension leaving United Health Care. Commissioner Totoraitis said MHD had a limited role but shared information about applying for continuity of care for current Ascension patients on UHC and encouraged reaching out to UHC directly.
5. Deputy Commissioner Jefflyn Brown provided an overview of her department, including divisions, services, and the upcoming Scales Neighborhood Nursing Program pilot (including a status update on hiring for nurses and public health educators). Board Member Dr. Ian Martin suggested a lab tour. Board Member Ericka Sinclair thanked the MHD Lab for their work. Chair Dr. Wujie Zhang encouraged collaboration with the local nursing schools. Deputy Commissioner Jefflyn Brown said MHD was considering this and wanted to collaborate on the Scales pilot. Right now, a group of Marquette nursing students come one day a week. MHD currently rotates the nursing schools it works with. Board Member Ericka Sinclair encouraged collaboration with MATC and even hosting different nursing schools at the same time to introduce nurses to each other.
6. Once the Board is fully staffed again, Chair Zhang would like to have a meeting to discuss improving Board collaborations. Commissioner Totoraitis shared that a new board member candidate is being reviewed at Public Safety & Health Committee tomorrow, 10/2. Board Member Penelope Stewart encouraged board members to reach out to their branch partners to establish a relationship.
7. Chair Dr. Wujie Zhang motioned to adjourn, Board Member Dr. Ian Martin seconded the motion, and it passed with all in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 pm.
8. (a) Improving Branch Collaborations / Branch collaboration assignments (b) Built Environment MKE Elevate (confirmed for November)
9. Untitled item
10. This meeting will be in-person with a virtual option. Please join from your computer, tablet or smartphone using the link provided below or by calling the number provided. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86995479556?pwd=5ZDur1AT3dlznN7xsUaUxbbmSqbO22.1 Meeting ID: 869 9547 9556 Passcode: 111270 One tap mobile +13092053325,,86995479556#,,,,*111270# US +13126266799,,86995479556#,,,,*111270# US (Chicago)
11. Untitled item
12. Call to Order
13. Roll Call
14. Approval of Minutes from September 3, 2025
15. Community Updates
16. Communication from Commissioner Dr. Mike Totoraitis
17. Clinical Branch Presentation by Deputy Commissioner Jefflyn Brown
18. Branch Collaboration Updates
19. Future Agenda Items
20. Adjournment
21. 241393 Communication relating to the documents submitted to the Board of Health for its meetings in 2025.
    Communication
22. Untitled item
23. In the event that Common Council members who are not members of this committee attend this meeting, this meeting may also simultaneously constitute a meeting of the Common Council or any of the following committees: Community and Economic Development, Finance and Personnel, Judiciary and Legislation, Licenses, Public Safety and Health, Public Works, Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development, and/or Steering and Rules. Whether a simultaneous meeting is occurring depends on whether the presence of one or more of the Common Council member results in a quorum of the Common Council or any of the above committees, and, if there is a quorum of another committee, whether any agenda items listed above involve matters within that committee’s realm of authority. In the event that a simultaneous meeting is occurring, no action other than information gathering will be taken at the simultaneous meeting.
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