By TR Robertson
The Vista Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee heard from Gena Knutson, from the Vista Community Clinic and the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, concerning efforts to establish smoke-free dining policies in Vista and a presentation by Aaron Byzak, from Tri-City Medical Center, giving a COVID Update and information about Tri-City Medical Center projects.
Gena Knutson, from Vista Community Clinic and the North Coastal Prevention Coalition, provided an overview of smoke free outdoor dining policies in North County, noting that the City of Vista is the only city on the 78 corridor that doesn’t prohibit smoking in outdoor dining areas. One of the major concerns of exposure to smoke from cigarettes, cigars and other items is the risk of secondhand smoke to customers and employees. She listed the benefits of not allowing smoking including the reduction of litter, protection from secondhand smoke and creating a positive economic environment for customers who will want to frequent restaurants that have no smoking policies.
A recent study from the CDC indicated that over $5.6 billion is lost in productivity from smokers and secondhand smoke and its effect on employees and customers. Another concern is the recreational use of marijuana since the passage of Prop 64 and any effect this might have on outdoor dining area. Knutson listed the dangers of cigarettes and marijuana with thousands of cancer-causing chemicals both smokers and non-smokers are exposed to. Smoking is prohibited in most enclosed spaces and many outdoor spaces in the State of California. Twenty-four Vista restaurant businesses have signed a letter of support to ban smoking in outdoor restaurant areas. Most chain restaurants do have corporate policies against smoking in any eating outside spaces. Of the current 180 restaurants in Vista, 90 of these have outdoor patio areas and 60 of these restaurants have voluntary no-smoking outdoor policies. Knutson hopes the City of Vista will follow the lead of other North County Cities by establishing a no-smoking in outdoor dining area policy.
Next on the agenda was Aaron Byzak, Chief External Affairs Officer for Tri-City Medical Center, who gave an update on how Tri-City Hospital has been handling the most recent surge of patients due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, and provided an overview of several projects Tri-City Medical Center is currently in the process of planning. Since December, like other hospitals throughout San Diego County, Tri-City Hospital has had more than 200 staff members who have tested positive for COVID and missed some amount of work, requiring the hospital to adopt measures to ensure proper staffing to treat patients. Through a partnership with the State of California, the hospital was able to obtain more than 50 temporary nurses through different staffing agencies as well as a variety of other staff members including technicians and clinical laboratory scientists, among others. As part of the partnership with the state, Tri-City was able to relieve other hospitals who were experiencing an overload of patients. Currently Tri-City has approximately 50 COVID-positive inpatients in the medical center, a reduction from their recent high mark of 75 patients.
The hospital will soon begin a Tuesday through Thursday program for administering booster shots, both at the hospital and off site. Registration will be required through myturn.ca.gov. More on this program will be published later explaining the process.
Aaron also provided a progress update for the proposed Psychiatric Health Facility that is planned for the medical center’s Oceanside campus. This adult facility will provide 16 acute care beds for short to mid-term patients for stays estimated at 5-7 days. Along with this, Crisis Stabilization Units are being established around North County, one to be in Vista, which will assist authorities in evaluating whether a person needs additional assistance and care. Town Hall Zoom meetings are being held before these facilities are sent to the Oceanside Planning Commission. It is hoped that building of the Psychiatric Health Facility will begin in late Spring with a completion date anticipated in the summer of 2023.
Phase I and II of a remodel of the Tri-City Medical Center Emergency Department will also begin soon with major funding provided by the David C. Copley Foundation, Conrad Prebys Foundation and the Tri-City Hospital Foundation.
Aaron was especially proud of the new Student Opportunities for Career Awareness & Learning (SOCAL) workforce development program and website that launched in mid-December, offering students in high school and college an opportunity to start an initial exploration of a variety of career opportunities. Currently, the website offers 60+ careers in a variety of industries in 3–4-minute videos providing an overview of careers, including daily activities in those roles and local educational pathways for pursuing those careers. Tri-City Medical Center created the program, in partnership with the San Diego North Economic Development Council and the Chambers of Commerce for Vista, Carlsbad and Oceanside, and offers 21 of these videos about in-demand medical center careers. Also offered are outlooks for the careers and potential income as well as links to education resources. Phase II of the project will expand the careers to over one hundred videos and launch a new online career day program, while Phase III hopes to offer internships, some paid. Go to www.socalworkforce.org for more information.
Amelda – Vista City Manager’s Office – March City Council meeting will present an economic development overview for the City of Vista. The opening of Handel’s Ice Cream is still a month or so away and Chick-fil-A should be opening in March as well. The February 8th Council meeting will include a discussion of upcoming election sign policies. At the February 22nd meeting Innovate 78 funding will be discussed. Also passed out was COVID-19 Non-Profit Grant Program information, application accepted up to February 23rd. The Committee also received a Smoke-Free Laws are Good for Public Health handout (www.tobaccofreekids.org)
Adrienne Cisneros-Selekman from Supervisor Jim Desmond’s Office – The Supervisor is committed to keep Public Safety as one of his main concerns. His Office is also assisting with District 5 stimulus funding for small businesses.
