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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12061994 - 1.145 1.144 through 1.1149 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 6, 1994, by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Bishop, Torlakson, and Powers NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisors Smith, DeSaulnier ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE Item No. 1.144 LETTER dated November 4, 1994, from Congressman George Miller III, 7th District, 367 Civic Drive, #14, Pleasant Hill 94523, advising of his support for the Superfund Program, of the failure of Congress to pass legislation to set a nationwide standard for clean-ups, and of his interest in addressing the reauthorization of this matter in the next Congress. ***REFERRED TO HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 1.145 LETTER dated November 1, 1994, from Scott Kennedy, Mayor, City of Santa Cruz, 809 Center Street-Room 10, Santa Cruz 95060, transmitting a copy of a resolution adopted by the City Council relating to Gulf War related illnesses. ***REFERRED TO HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR 1.146 LETTER dated November 9, 1994,from J. W. Callaway,Jr.,45 St. Timothy Court,Danville 94526, advising of the exceptional assistance he received from Ms. Jill Martinez of the Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office. ***ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT 1.147 LETTER dated November 8, 1994, from R. Simon, Chairman, Board of Supervisors, Stanislaus County, 1100 H Street, Modesto 95354, urging the Board to support Federal legislation providing for the regulation of ultra-light aircraft. ***REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR 1.148 LETTER dated November 17, 1994, from V. Johnson, Housing Coordinator, Pleasant Hill Redevelopment Agency, 100 Gregory Lane,Pleasant Hill 94523, commenting on the review procedure of Community Development Block Grant applications. ***REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 1.149 LETTER dated November 21, 1994, from M. Green, Superintendent, Byron Union School District, 14401 Byron Highway,Byron 94514-9251, commenting on certain issues raised in the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Discovery Bay West General Plan Amendment. *** REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR cc: Correspondents County Administrator i Hereby cerci y cttLA the is a true and correctcopyof an action taken and ontered on the minutes of the Health Services Director Board of Su ry Som on the ate shown. Community Development Director ATTESTED n-C --- +--1 144 4 PHIL BATCHELOR, cicrk of the Board Public Works Director �of Supervisors and County Administrator Deputy 4 City of Santa Cruz �. �b9 CITY HALL- 809 CENTER STREET- ROOM 10 SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA 95060 MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TELEPHONE(408) 429 3550 November 1, 1994 RECEIVE® Board of Supervisors Chair NOV 4 1994 County of Contra Costa 651 Pine Street CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Martinez, CA 94553 CONTRA COSTA CO. Dear Board of Supervisors Chair: Enclosed is a copy of a resolution adopted by the Santa Cruz City Council calling for the reinstatement of a ban on blood and tissue donations from Gulf War veterans. The City Council is asking you to consider adoption of the resolution and your assistance in publicizing the resolution. On October 25, a proposed resolution to support a national Gulf War veterans blood ban was brought to the City Council by local veterans and veteran organizations. Some of the veterans who spoke in favor of the ban were Gulf War veterans suffering from Gulf War Syndrome (GWS), an environmental illness apparently caused by multiple chemical exposures during war. The veterans' primary concern is preventing the spread of GWS which may already be responsible for birth defects in children and the deaths of young soldiers. In addition to a blood ban, the resolution also calls for additional research, full treatment and fair compensation for the veterans and family members suffering from the Gulf-War-related illnesses. The two-part resolution was unanimously passed by the City Council. It sends a strong signal that it is not right for a nation to send its young men and women overseas to fight and then ignore, dismiss or trivialize the medical problems which many of these same young men and women suffer as a result of their military service. If you wish further information or an update on which other jurisdictions have passed similar resolutions, we encourage you to contact the California Association of Persian Gulf Veterans, P.O. Box 3661, Santa Cruz, CA 95063-3661, (408) 476-6684. Email: KYPU69A @ PRODIGY.Com or CALGULFVETS @ AOLCOM. I believe that action by cities, counties and states will encourage Federal officials to deal more responsively with a situation which has been devastating for veterans and which has potentially serious public health implications. Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. Thank you. S n erely, Cott Kennedy Mayor /1\MAY0RSK\LETTER\GULFVETS.LT2 ,. � . � q5 RESOLUTION NO. NS-21,899 = 1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ REGARDING GULF WAR SYNDROME WHEREAS, in 1991 a coalition of nations led by the United States participated in Operation Desert Shield/Storm to liberate the oil rich nation of Kuwait from Iraqi Armed Forces; and WHEREAS, upon return home from the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations, many veterans began to experience severe health problems, commonly known as Gulf War Syndrome; and WHEREAS, the cause of the veterans' health problems may have resulted from multiple exposures to smoke, pollution, pesticides, chemical and biological weapons, experimental drugs, depleted uranium, and leishmaniasis; and WHEREAS, several hundred veterans have died of Gulf War Syndrome, and many spouses, children and family members of Gulf War veterans are also experiencing symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz that it supports national and state legislation to pursue research, and provide treatment and compensation for all health problems related to Gulf War Syndrome. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Santa Cruz supports the Veterans of Foreign Wars' campaign to protect the public from possible exposure to Gulf War Syndrome by means of reinstating a ban on blood donations and a ban on other bodily tissue donations from Gulf War veterans until there is general scientific consensus on relevant medical and health questions relating to Gulf War Syndrome are answered. PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 25th day of October, 1994 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers: Beiers, Rotkin, Yokoyama, Rittenhouse, Mathews, Coonerty; Mayor Kennedy. NOES: Councilmembers: None. ABSENT: Councilmembers: None. DISQUALIFIED: Councilmembers: None. APPROVED: Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk o:lcc\cc023ms CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CLERK OF THE BOARD TO: William Walker, M.D. Date: November 4, 1994 FROM: Jeanne Maglio, Chief Cler SUBJECT: Gulf War Syndrome ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- our standard procedure is to list on the December 6, 1994, Board Agenda the attached letter from Mayor Scott Kennedy, City of Santa Cruz, calling for the "reinstatement of a ban on blood and tissue donations from Gulf War veterans" to prevent the spread of the Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) . Although I recognize the seriousness of this illness, I am concerned with the manner in which it would be reported by the press and the fear/panic it might generate among our residents. It would be my suggestion to have a written report from you on the Determination Section of the December 6 Agenda relative to this subject with some possible statistical data as to the number of GWS cases we have in Contra Costa County. There is also the consideration that listing this letter as a correspondence item with referral to the Health Services Director. This may help us garner more support for the Hospital replacement project. Please advise how this is to be handled (Ext. 6-2376) . jm Attachment