>> Okay. I pledge allegiance to
the flag of the United States
of America and to the republic
for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
>> Bruce. Invocation.
>> Invocation. Thank you.
Heavenly father, we want to
thank you for being helpful
with us and watching our
deliberations and also
supporting our troops as they
are in harm's way to keep the
freedom and democracy that we
all have. In Jesus name we pray.
Amen. At this time, would I ask
board members to have a
momentary pause of silence in
memory of Dan Tarbell? Dannen.
Rest in peace. Thank you.
Comrades.
>> Take your seats. Bruce. Roll
call.
>> Yes, Mr. Chair, roll call of
board officers. 48 Bob Brennan,
present. Alternate. Mark Lacey,
American Legion Post 14, Jean
couture, you're here. Yedda
American Legion Post 44. Jim
Bowen here. Darren Wertz,
American Legion Post 168. Board
chair Bob Nichols here.
American Legion Post 176.
Michael Gibson here. Jonathan
Frederick is excused. American
Veterans Post six. John Lovejoy
here. Vanise Pratt is excused.
DAV chapter four Board
Secretary Bruce Moss here. Roy
de here. Korean War Veterans
Association 321. Patrick Locke
here. Earl Edwards, excuse me.
Marine Corps League 826. Steve
Slegers here. VFW post 4278
Thomas Brandt. Deborah Proctor
here. VFW post 7024. Greg
Gilbertson.
>> Online here.
>> Steve Stewart Bauer, Vietnam
Veterans Post Chapter 512 Greg
Whitsett. Nick Herber, our
members at large, Brian
McGillis here, board vice chair.
Buck Ma.
>> Here online.
>> Larry. Larry Smith here.
Lloyd Bowman here. Michael
Langsdorf here. Tanya Ward here.
Clark County representative
Abby Malloy here. And we have
some people that are joining us
today in the back. And I'll
just run them through for your
names.
>> Angela Sultan, senior
analyst for the. Carol Ross the
Historic Trust. Of America.
Can't hear.
>> Your mic. Did Mike said.
>> That looks like I've got a
dead mic with all of our guests.
Mister chair, you have a quorum?
>> Thank you.
>> Chris. We're here from the
Clark County Veterans
Assistance Center.
>> Hi, Judy.
>> Judy Russell as well, along
with Sonia Woods.
>> My mic's not working, either.
I will entertain a motion for
the approval of June's meeting
minutes. So moved. Second.
>> Second.
>> Seconded. Those in favor I.
Motion carried. Committee
reports. Appeals. Judy.
>> Judy. Russell, do we have
any appeals information?
>> We've got a glitch here
somewhere.
>> Mike's still not working.
>> I will continue. I don't
recall ever hearing about any
appeals, policies and
procedures. Greg, you got
anything?
>> I do not, sir. No, nothing.
>> Thank you. Nominations,
Bruce. Nothing yet?
>> Nothing at this time.
>> All right. Budget workgroup.
Patrick.
>> We did not have a meeting
today at suspended. Until we
get more information.
>> Okay. Hopefully that'll be
today. Yes. Emily, can we have
you? Sure. This will be the
subordinate Levy update?
Hopefully the microphones are
working. Mine doesn't seem to
be.
>> Yeah, it's not coming
through on this system, so
you're gonna have to be.
>> I can hear you. I can hear
you.
>> Okay, so it's just. It's
just not all over.
>> The room.
>> Okay?
>> Let me know if you can't
hear me and I'll. All right. So
happy to be here again. Good to
see you all. What? Abby asked
if we could join today. I think
it'd be great if we could
reframe what the specific
questions are for today, and
I'll be happy to answer those.
I also got the assessor's
office experts here as well.
>> Right. Anybody got any
questions about the update?
Anybody know what what entails
now?
>> Okay, I can I can recap
what's happened so far and.
>> Please do.
>> Okay. So there was a work
session which you guys were
familiar with that happened
back in June on the 4th of June
fourth, where the council was
presented. The options that
House Bill two, four, four two
made possible, which was either
keeping the veterans as well as
the other two said levies
underneath the general fund or
breaking them out and having
them be their own separate
levies. The council gave
general direction during that
work session, saying, yes, we
want to move those levies and
levies out of their own levies.
And then the council did meet
on July 21st, and there's a
copy of the staff report. If
you guys need it, we can get it
to you where the council
actually formalized that
decision and said, yes, for
sure it will be that way. So
now what's happening is the
budget office is working in
tandem with the assessor's
office, and we're putting all
the things together for the
actual 2027 budget adoption.
And we're just right in the
thick of that right now. So I
don't have any other updates
right now other than we're
moving in the direction that
council.
>> Has now, it's going to be
the one on one eighth sense,
right? Yes, yes.
>> It will be. What the House
bill two for, two for Quiring.
>> Just as a memo.
>> Yes.
>> Be nice if we could get it a
little higher. But I understand
the taxpayers need a little
relief.
>> Yeah.
>> Any questions?
>> I have one, yes. And I'm
assuming this process goes
along. We'll figure out how we
ask for money or not ask. We
approve money being spent and
then how it goes through the
treasurer and the assessor's
office, things like that.
>> Right. So kind of just in my
mind to thinking about what
we've talked about this year,
the Veterans Advisory Board has
already come forward with
requests for funding for 2027
and the Department of Community
Services, which is kind of the
liaison for the Veterans
Advisory Board, to submit that
through the budget process, has
been working on those requests,
and those additional requests
are included in what will go
forward to the council for
final approval in December, as
well as the changes, the levies
and additional revenue to all
the conversations, so that for
2027 is kind of like I keep
saying, it's like the railroad,
the train's left the station on
all of that for 2027, but then
you guys will have that
opportunity to start the
conversation and look at things
early next year for the 2028
budget process. And we can have
I'm available anytime you guys
want to start thinking about
that.
>> What's what's a good time
for us to start that?
>> You could start having those
conversations in January.
>> Okay.
>> Thinking about it.
>> Let me ask a question. I
always do, do we we be in Clark
County model any other county
in the state of Washington,
Oregon. That's maybe similar to
us as far as providing a
veterans service assistance
service. Is there anything like
us?
>> I don't know that. Yes, I
don't know.
>> Yes, I think there is
anything. Is it up in the
Seattle area?
>> Well, Catsup County in
particular. I attended their
meeting yesterday and they
operate very similar to this.
They're every county is
supposed to have a veterans
advisory board, so there should
be 39 of them in existence.
Many of them don't operate the
same. Some of them only meet
quarterly. Some of them only
meet biannual or twice a year,
whatever that is. And there's
so there's a lot of variance in
how some of them actually
operate. Yeah. But I'm in the
process of researching that.
Yeah. So I'm attending these
meetings in other counties and
I'll be looking at how they do
things. And, you know, their
whole processes, right?
>> Larry King County, King
County gets the, I think one
one $0.08 plus. They have a
separate levy for veterans.
Yeah. They have big bucks up
there.
>> Yeah.
>> They do. Yeah.
>> There's a lot more veterans
up there.
>> Yeah. Well yeah.
>> But still it'd be nice.
>> Yeah. So there's some models
out there. Okay.
>> Yeah there is. Yeah. They're
one of the things that we know
with what we're doing here and
the, what the county council
just did a meeting that they
had where they approved what
we're doing. It was made to
look like this as a brand new
levy. And it's not a new levy.
And this is something I wanted
to really make sure that
everybody understands, because
it seems to me that's being put
out to the people as a new levy,
a new tax that's being put out
to them, and it's not. And the
one in the eighth sense has
been a minimum since 2005. It's
been the minimum.
>> And I would just say that it
is. You're correct. It's not a
new levy, but the way that it
is going to be taxed will be
separate from the general fund.
So it will be raising taxes to
the property owners.
>> But we it shouldn't be put
out that way. It's not it's not
a new tax that's now just going
to the veterans. It has always
been there, going to the
veterans. What fund it's come
out of has nothing to do with
whether it's a new tax or not.
And I think that's where it's
being deceptive to the people
making the people, the general
public, believe that this brand
new tax that they're having to
pay, and it's not. And I think
that's very deceptive by the
county council.
>> Well, I, I don't speak for
the council, but I don't think
that was the intent at all. I
think the conversation on July
21st was really trying to say
that because it's not a
subordinate levy, it will be an
increase in taxes. It's it's
additional.
>> Money that would say the
words. If we go back and look
at the recording, they did say
new. They used the word new.
>> It will be a different levy.
It won't be part.
>> Of the word new in that in.
>> That I think it's semantics.
And I think we can work on our
ways to communicate that. I
think it is fair to say that it
won't be the same. It's not the
same levy. It's not a
subordinate levy. Being its own
standalone levy is is different
than what it was before.
>> I and I understand that and
I agree 100%, but from the
public looking at it and
hearing the word new gives the
impression that this is a new
tax that they're paying, and
it's not a new tax.
>> Well, maybe we can work on
some language for conversation
as we move forward through the
budget process. So it it feels
more comfortable. I think it
has to tell both sides of it.
>> Emili it's not a matter of
comfort. It's a matter of what
it really is and putting it out
there in such a way that people
understand this is being
transferred from one line item
to its own line item, right?
And that's that's my concern.
>> I hear.
>> You will get the wrong
impression.
>> That's my concern too, is to
put it out to the public. So
they're not confused. They're
going to look at this and says,
is this a new tax or no tax or
what is how does it fit in to
the whole mechanism of funding
a county and the veterans
center? Right. And this. Emily.
>> Yeah.
>> Emily, this is Buck Ma from
Montana.
>> Hi. How are you?
>> Mark from Montana.
>> Not bad. It's not bad out
here. To support what has been
said the day of that work work
session, the counselor on the
end, the right end, used the
word new.
>> I understand, and I was
remotely attending that. Like I
said, I think we can work on
some language to accurately
describe it and maybe not use
the word new, but describe how
it is being broken out and what
the impacts of that are. Yeah,
because it's not the same
amount of taxation. It's an
increase. So we want to make
sure.
>> It's clear. But the one in
an eighth sense is not an
increase.
>> By law.
>> That's not that's part of my
issue. Right, right.
>> The one yeah this is great.
>> Has been a minimum since
2005.
>> That we have not.
>> Gotten right, which we have
not imposed that right as the
county. So I think that's also
a nuance.
>> For the fund. But yeah.
>> But that has still been the
minimum and they've reduced it
from that.
>> But that.
>> Still has been the mandated
minimum all along.
>> Greg, did you have something
to say?
>> Yeah, Emily just said the
perfect word right there. It
hasn't been imposed right now.
It's going to be imposed. Right.
So the imposed versus new
versus changed, right? That
that's all kind of schematics
what she's saying. So now we
understand. Now we need we need
the public to understand that
it's going to be imposed. What,
what has been on the on the
books before in law on before
now it's going to be imposed.
So we as a board, right? We
need to communicate that out to
our various veterans
organizations that that's
what's happening and to prepare
for it. And hey, these, these,
these like we're on right now,
this is a public hearing, right?
Anybody can log on and listen
to this. Right. Anybody in
Clark County? Yes. So we need,
we need to start getting our,
our membership involved, engage
and understand as best we can.
Does that make sense?
>> Emily? I thank you. Emily. I
think you had it had it right.
You can sense, though, that our
concern, so many things in life
are how they are presented. And
in this case, we are we are
very worried as a board that
this will be misrepresented
somehow, and somebody will
seize upon the opportunity to
take it away.
>> Yeah.
>> I hear you guys. And I think
there's some opportunity in the
budget package that will
actually implement this
financially into the budget. We
can work on that wording and
also in how the presentation is
for the actual budget hearing.
And we've got a little bit of
time to, to come back and, and
talk about how that wording
might tell the best of both
sides of what you guys are
concerned about, as well as the
truth that it will be it will
be an increase to taxpayers.
>> When you put that message
out, folks, look at what is the
return on investment of what
I'm, you know, paying money for?
What do I get in return? It's
trying to package that where it
can sell and people can feel
comfortable with it without
having.
>> Right. And just so we're
clear, this is not going out to
vote for the public to vote on.
This is something that's
council Maddix they are able to.
It's actually. House Bill 2442
is actually pushing that. This
is the decision. And they're
just choosing to break it out,
which that's already been done.
So I do think messaging is
important through the budget
process. And we can talk about
that. I think the council may
talk about it during the
hearings and we'll work on that
language. But it's not
something where the public is
going to be voting on this
happening or changing. It's
already it's already there.
Yeah.
>> Jim, you had something.
>> Yeah. When Larry brought it
up, I thought he was referring
to what goes into maybe some of
the requests and what other
counties are doing within their
their boards. And that seems to
me like something that needs to
be part of the strategic plan
that we're going to talk about
next month is how do we, how do
we baseline or benchmark our,
what we're doing versus other
counties and other other places?
Yeah.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Emily.
Mike.
>> One thing I don't understand.
>> Emberlynn talk into the
microphone, please. Mike.
>> I'll put it in my mouth.
>> Don't swallow it.
>> For a lawyer. You don't
don't do that. Very good.
>> What I don't understand, and
maybe it's just because I'm
dumb. This is, in effect, the
levy is going to be a separate
fund. And that levy is going to
be at one and one eighth. What
I don't understand is how we
transition from being in the
county fund to having a
separate fund for the veterans,
because in the past, we've had
a reserve that we could
transfer over to make sure
we're covered in the first few
months. And if this levy goes
into effect only in January,
are we going to get some of the
reserve that we used to have,
or coming up with about 300,000
to fund for the first 3 or 4
months?
>> I think that's a great
question. And essentially
there's fund 1019, which is
where these funds have been
managed. Historically, they're
levied under the general fund,
but they're moved into 1019
every year based on that
certification amount. So that
is going to be the fund where
all of these funds will go into.
It's not something new. It's
1019 will be where this new
minimum amount will come in.
All the revenue will come into
that fund, and everything
that's existed there will be in
there. Part of what I think
would be helpful, maybe even
next month, Abby, is to revisit
that six year forecast for the
fund, and that's going to show
you guys again, I just I know
if you don't look at it all the
time, it kind of like gets gray.
Mine does too, if I don't check
it all the time. But if we
could revisit that and just
talk about what's planned for
this year, what we're
anticipating is left that will
carry forward in this same fund,
as well as that new revenue
coming in, that additional
revenue coming in next year,
which is all part of that
forecast that Alyssa prepared.
And I just think we should look
at that one more time. I think
that will help just solidify it.
Yeah, absolutely.
>> Good. Absolutely.
>> Okay. Yes.
>> Okay. Next month, we'll hope
to see you again.
>> I'd be happy to come back.
>> Now, does anybody have a
question from the assessor's
office? Have anything to say?
>> Got a question? Okay. Yes.
The the reserve that they're
talking about. Where does where
will that come from?
>> I was thinking about this
just a couple days ago, trying
to remember what our plan is.
And right now that reserve is
not in policy. It's a
recommendation from the
department and from the
county's finance team. I think
when we look at it next week or
next month, we can revisit what
that is. And then it's going to
be a really conversation with
the council during the budget
adoption process. Because if
the new things that the
advisory board is requested for
the Veterans Assistance Center
are approved, that would put us
further below what we would
have needed to have that
reserve available. So it could
be a trade off for the first
year. I know you guys had
recommend maybe phasing that
amount in over the next couple
of years, but I think we can
revisit that conversation. And
again, if the council just
adopts the minimum rate as is
being presented, I think that
will have to be a conversation
about do we phase in that
reserve? And it would come from
the same funding source. It's
really just holding I think
it's three months back of
potential expenses in case of
something catastrophic or it's
like a rainy day fund where it
doesn't go anywhere. It's just
held from being spent.
>> So the way it was described
earlier conversations was that
it this number was going to be
something like $300,000.
>> That's what I remember as
well. Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> So where's that 300,000
right now?
>> It doesn't exist.
>> No, it's in the fund. It's
basically saying, you know, I
have $10 to spend. That's my
whole year's expenditures. I'm
going to spend seven of it, but
I'm going to hold three of that
in the fund. It doesn't get
spun. And just and that's
they're not being allocated and
pushed out. It stays in my
balance, my bank account, in
case there's major like revenue.
>> Yeah, I understand what it
what it is. The question that I
have is where is it initially
coming from to be able to hold
it there?
>> It would come from the fund
balance. It comes from
whatever's in. 1019.
>> Okay. But if that fund
balance isn't that right now,
then it has to come from
somewhere. And if we're saying
that the fund will provide that,
then that would mean that
initially that levy would have
to be increased. Then to get
that fund in there so that the
budget can be maintained.
>> That would be one avenue,
but that is maybe not the most
likely avenue. That's not my
choice. That would be council's
decision to either raise the
rate or supplement that for the
first year to, to, to create
that 300 000. If that's not the
case and that's not what
happens, then we're left with
what the minimum rate is, what
that revenue produces, and what
the expenses that the advisory
board approves. And then we'd
have to look at what's left and
decide, can we hold that
reserve, or would we have to
maybe phase that in and build
it up over the next couple of
years.
>> Then that would affect the
budget. It would. So then we'd
have to increase the budget.
Then to get to the right place.
>> I think we should look at it
again next month. And I think
you're I don't think you're
wrong. I just think it's it's
just a timing thing because
it's we do this with most of
our other major funds in the
county where there's a minimum
reserve that we just hold back
and we're not able to allocate
that in case of something bad
happening so that we have some
time to phase out contracts or
keep people paid or keep
services going until there's
another resolution.
>> I understand. Okay. And all
I'm saying is that in order to
have that, then we can't take
it away from what we're
allocating. It has to come from
some other source, right?
Either increase or from some
other place to be able to be
there instead of taking it away
from what's being budgeted and
allocated.
>> Right. And I don't know that
that will be the case. That's a
conversation to be had. Okay. I
don't know that there'll be
supplemental funding put in or
decided for that purpose for
this. It may be that the money
that's coming in based on this
new legislation and the
separate levy, that that's all
that the fund will get based on
the council's determination. If
that's the case, sometimes it's
a trade off to say, okay, well,
maybe we can't spend quite as
much this year as as we wanted
to, or we say that minimum fund
balance. You guys have talked
about this. We're going to
build up to that three month
reserve over the next three
years. I'm not sure how that
would work. That's that's a
collaborative thing we have to
do. Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> All right. This is Bob.
>> Yeah. Bob, this is Buck.
Yeah. For Emily. All this
conversation is wonderful. And
Emily, we thank you all for
coming and helping, you know,
bring some clarity to the
situation in a summary way. I
would just say that we were
tasked to look at services by
the organizations that are
funded by the vet fund. We did.
And we made one one
recommendation, and that was
the mental health issue,
largely the mental health issue
at the Cvac. It was explained
to us about a month or so ago
that if the depending upon how
you implement a $300,000
reserve, that would in effect.
And it kind of verified by
informal conversation with some
of the Council members that
would wipe out the opportunity
to achieve a $222,000 amount of
money to hire a mental health
capability at the center.
That's putting it in very blunt
language. This this county,
Clark County, has a a fairly,
fairly bad record for providing
mental health services, only
exceeded by the inability of
the VA to come through. So, you
know, that is why we're fairly
adamant today. And I want to
put it in plain English. We're
trying to provide a service to
the veterans, and we. We may
not get it depending upon what
the Council says about the
budget. Thank you.
>> I appreciate that, but I do
think we should talk about it
again next month. Just make
sure we have those numbers in
front of us. And that is the
truth. There's there's always
the possibility of a trade off
for services versus the
available funding. And that's
why I think we might be able to
collaborate on building up that
minimum fund balance to, to
meet that threshold. That's a
good conversation with DCS
talking about the risk of that,
but I do think that's something
we can consider. I would also
just ask, I don't think that
there was an application put in
for the mental health sales tax
was there for this particular
need.
>> I don't think so.
>> Okay. Because that's always
something that we should talk
about. Like in January, if
there's additional mental
health services, if there's
funding available in that fund,
it's called 1033. That would be
a good avenue to pursue as well,
because that funding is
specifically for mental health
services and might be a good
candidate again, if there's
funding available.
>> Right.
>> Excellent. Thank you. Emily
G. Do you have any comment
about that?
>> Well, that's great.
>> The mental health, the
mental health fund goes. We
have not applied for it yet
because it is a reimbursable
fund. And without having the
funds to spend, you can't get
reimbursed. So that's always
been an issue. So hopefully
moving forward with the new
amount in the levy, that won't
be an issue or it won't be as
much of an issue. But Buck,
you're absolutely correct.
Without. Phasing in that
reserve, we will lose the
ability to get our mental
health professional in 2027.
>> And it should be noted for
the board that we have a PhD
level person, a 30 year veteran
of working mental health in
this area who has volunteered
to come into the center and
help Judy and her cohorts put
together a reasonable program
based upon need that's
informational for the board.
>> Just one last thing. I
wanted to leave. And then again,
I'll be back next month and we
can get that six year forecast.
If the decision is made to
collaborate in phase in the
minimum fund balance, part of
what the advisory board should
consider, that that may limit
new things for the next several
years until that revenue starts
to increase, unless you ask for
more in the council were to
raise that rate. But just based
on that kind of standard
baseline minimum rate, there
may be some trade offs, but I
think we could look at that and
see if raising that minimum
fund balance in can still allow
enough room for these new
requests that you've put
forward this year. But again,
there may not be anything
available for next year. We've
got to watch the cost of
increase on everything else too,
so we can talk about it.
>> Yeah. But they're they're in
there adding this after we came
up with a budget, then they
come up and say, now we're
going to add a reserve and
we're going to take from you to
make it a reserve.
>> Well, I would just say I've
we've been talking about a
minimum fund reserve since last
year. So I don't know if that's
a conversation all of you guys
have had, but it is a
conversation that that the
budget office and the finance
team for the county. Those are
standard, best, best practices.
And it's something that we've
been starting to talk about,
which is why I think we can
look at phasing it, because.
>> It is. Fairly new, because
we were never privy to that
prior to coming up with this
budget. If we would have known
that that could be a budget
line item to say if there has
to be a reserve, then we've got
to take that into account. It's
got to come from somewhere.
>> Right? Well, with the
forecast, you can see, like I
said, I don't want to keep
repeating myself, but we can
look at it. It is something new.
But I would say a lot of the
stuff we're looking at is
something new. I think seeing
the six year forecast and
really understanding that
transparency and how things are
managed, I think is a positive
thing. And also, of course, the
House bill giving, you know,
the authority for the minimum
rate. That's a good problem
because last year we were
talking about not having even
enough to pay for the
assistance center cost of lease
increase. So, I mean, I think
there's a lot of positive
things happening and we can
work through getting things
lined up over the next couple
of years. I just, I just want
us to be realistic about the
revenue that's available.
>> But the, you know, the
authority for the minimum levy
has been there since 2005.
>> I know, I know, I know that.
>> People keep saying that it's
not.
>> Well, the county's had the
ability to reduce the one and
one eighths based on.
>> But that wasn't that's not a
permanent thing. That's for a
year. And then it has to go
back to the thing. If you read
the RCW, that's what it says.
It's not it's not a reduce it.
And then and then that becomes
the new minimum. That's not the
way the law is is stated.
>> But when it was when it was
in the general fund, they could
do that.
>> They could do it by an an
annual basis, not permanent.
>> Exactly. So that's changed
now.
>> Still the minimum and it has
been since 2005.
>> It's been it's been that way
since before then.
>> Yeah. But 2005 was when the
RCW was put in place, right.
>> Thanks a lot, Emily. We
appreciate we appreciate you
being here.
>> And thank you. Emily.
>> Yeah.
>> Again, does the assessor's
office have anything to add?
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. I think the
biggest thing is, is it's not
perfect. And it might be a
little while before it's
perfect, but at least we're
having the discussions right.
And going in a positive
direction.
>> Definitely not perfect. Okay,
next item Marchel leadership.
>> Budget for the county County
budget office.
>> Good afternoon.
>> Good afternoon.
>> There you go.
>> My name is Carol Ross. I'm
development and outreach
manager with the Historic Trust.
And I'm so grateful that you
gave us time on the agenda
today to come talk about the
Marchel Leadership Awards. The
trust is the nonprofit that has
the great honor of caring for
the buildings in the stories
that are a huge part of
Vancouver's history, including
Officers Row and the West
Barracks. And we also put on
Vancouver's Veterans Day parade
coming up on November 11th. But
one of the ways we shine a
light on probably the most
famous resident to live on
Officers Row is the Marchel
Leadership Awards. General
George C Marshall lived in
Vancouver from 1936 to 1938,
and his principles of
leadership are timeless, and
we'll take a look at them in a
minute. But I wanted to mention,
would you mind advancing the
slide that the City of
Vancouver is our partner in
this, and we've been putting on
the Marchel Awards since 1989.
It's to recognize youth in
Clark County who are leading
today. Right now, they don't
just exhibit leadership
qualities that, like George
Marshall had, but they are out
doing the work in the community.
There's two awards, one for a
high school senior and one for
a young adult age 35 and under.
And so it's more than just a
scholarship program. The youth
recipient is a high school
senior and does receive a
college scholarship. But the
recipient of the public award
also receives a scholarship
they can use for. Professional
development, whatever that
looks like for them. They can
use those funds to become an
even better leader and do more
of the work they're already
doing. If you could advance the
slide, we're actually at the
tail end of this year's kind of
schedule for the Marchel
Leadership Awards. We announced
our recipients for 2026 in
February. Now we're leading
into nomination period for the
2027 awards. Those will open up
October 1st, and this is a
nomination based program. So we
ask members of the public to
nominate folks who qualify who
they believe are worthy of this
award, who are out showing
those leadership qualities. The
nominations close in early
December, and at that point, we
ask the nominees to accept
their nomination by putting in
an application saying that
they'd like to be considered in
January. Aside from the
committee review, we have a
workshop that's free to
everyone who has been nominated,
where local leaders present the
different ways that Marshall's
principles directly still apply
to leading in today's world.
And then in February, the final
decisions are made and we honor
the five finalists and one
recipient in each of those two
categories. Next slide please.
And those are General
Marshall's nine leadership
principles. And we could all
benefit by following them today.
I think all of our candidates
tend to hit one or more often.
Many of these leadership
principles. And again, it's
becomes evident, especially in
the workshop that we host, how
relevant these leadership
principles are to leading today
in today's world. So I'd like
to have the opportunity to
introduce you to our Marshall
Leadership Award recipients for
this year, our youth recipient,
can you advance, please? Is
Estelle contrast Montell and
I'm not sure if she's on
remotely. She's away at school.
She just moved away to Reno
this week, and I don't hear
anybody popping in, so she
might not have been able to
join us, but I would.
>> Like right here.
>> Oh you are. Yay, yay.
Wonderful. Well, first I'm
going to have Rashawn Williams
machine. Yeah. No, I don't
think so. I'm going to have
Rashawn Williams come up to
tell you a little bit about
himself. Award recipient for
this year with Shifted Theory.
He's actively prepping the
leaders of tomorrow here in
Clark County. So Rashawn,
please join me.
>> Hello, everyone. Hello,
Itzel. Congrats and hope you're
having fun out there in Reno.
Yeah, my name is Ro-shaun
Williams. I am the leader or
owner of an organization
locally called Shifted Theory
Youth Mentoring. We support
youth in the after school
program. We have a third space
in East County right next to
the Margarita factory, where
we're open Monday through
Friday, about 4 to 7 p.m. and
we're serving our youth and
young adults, middle school
ages through high school. I
work as well with Evergreen
Public Schools in Vancouver
Public Schools, and we run a
leadership program where we
just focus on behavior
management, goal setting, and
just overall skill development
for our youth and young adults.
And so I was honored to receive
this award. I like to just
continue to work thinking
people who ever nominated me as
well. But this work doesn't
stop. It continues with our
young adults. It's as well, and
just people who are coming up
under her and under ourselves.
I was a youth in this area who
would have loved some extra
support and guidance, and
that's just all I'm trying to
do is provide that. And, and
we're doing a good job. We have
a lot of community members who
support us. We're able to get
some youth out in front of
small business owners and, and
the business owners get to talk
to them about certain sectors
that they can see themselves in.
And that's all we're looking to
do. So thank you for having me.
And if you all have any
questions, I'm here to answer
them. I don't know how good
I'll be able to answer some of
them. I was listening back
there, but I'll try my best.
>> Thank you. Do you have
something, Jim?
>> What age youth do you do?
You do this with?
>> My age is right now are
typically 14 to 24 working with
youth and young adults. But we
support younger siblings as
well. So if there's a middle
school age student or
elementary age student of a
sibling, they're in the center
with us. We're at one
elementary here, Ogden
Elementary. And so we support
third, fourth, and fifth
graders. But typically it's our
middle school and high school
students. Yeah.
>> Is it possible to get your
contact information and have a
conversation with you later?
Also?
>> Yes, sir, admin at shifted
theory.com. And we have a
website shifted theory.com as
well. Abby.
>> Can you put that out?
>> Thank you.
>> So are you actually in the
schools or where are the
centers that they go to in the
schools?
>> We're actually in not all
schools. I'm at four of the
high schools in Evergreen
Public Schools and Union
Mountain View, Evergreen and
Heritage. We're at Fort
Vancouver High School as well
as Ogden Elementary. And so
those are the the only schools
I'm supporting locally, but
also teens can come from
Richfield or battleground area
to our after school space in
which they do.
>> Go for it.
>> All right. Go ahead. Yeah.
Mountain View Thunder. If
anyone else graduated from
Mountain View, I'm here with
you. Yes, sir.
>> It may be noticed I go all
the way back to 1989, when I
was involved with the Marchel
ward, because I was a member of
the 104th Division, but one of
the only one of the things
that's kind of a neat to see
what's changed over time, when
initially started out in 1989,
started out by Bruce Haagenson,
Bruce was the mayor. He
acquired officer's role and
Bruce went back personally to
the Marshall Foundation in
Lexington, Virginia, to learn
something about Marshall.
Because the Marshall House and
his history of living here and
so forth. But it was initially
pushed that the Marshall
Leadership awardees would be
military veterans. That was an
initial push that came from the
start. And then it was Bruce
Haagenson that said, no, we
don't want to do that. We want
to make this broad swap all
over. Everyone can compete with
its male. Female makes no
difference what sex or anything
like that. So that's how it
wound up there. And then the
other thing was to be active in
the community, always stressing
the active because Marshall, I
don't know how you guys feel
about it, but as far as I'm
concerned, he's one of the
greatest leaders we've ever had
in this country for all the
things he did. If you go back
and look at some of his history
and what he did to the Second
World War, it's unbelievable on
it tonight. So it's so
important to get these young
men and women out and let
people see them, what they're
about, and then learn something
about Marshall leadership and
so forth. And this is what he
does. He gets out there and
talks about it, which is
important.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Thank you Larry.
>> Thank you.
>> Advance it for.
>> Okay.
>> Next.
>> Next slide.
>> Thank you all.
>> Go ahead. Nitzel.
>> All right. So as you guys
know, my name is Itzel
Contreras Montiel. I am a
recent graduate from Prairie
High School in Vancouver,
Washington. And now I'll be
attending the University of
Nevada in Reno, which that's
where I'm at right now. I start
my orientation in a couple days,
so unfortunately I couldn't be
there. But I just wanted to
start off by saying, just thank
you, thank you, and just
showing how grateful I am for
the opportunity that I was
given by the Marshall
Leadership Award. That's why
I'm here. That's why I can pay
for college. 5000 might not
seem a lot when you're paying
for tuition, but when you're
paying out of state, when
you're wanting to go places in
life, you need that money. And
especially right now. And
because of the Marchel
Leadership Award, I am here.
I'm in another state, and I'm
learning from others around
this community, a new community
that I've never been into. I've
only lived my whole life in
Washington. So coming to a
whole new place, because I was
given the wonderful opportunity
from the Marshall Leadership
Award was great and it was
wonderful. And it was kind of a
push of confidence to come here,
come to another state, learn
new things, and make a change
in a new community. I, back in
Vancouver, I did a bunch of
nonprofit organizations. I
organized something called
Winter Carnival at Prairie High
School, where we gave free toys
to every kid who walked into
our school. Everything at the
event was free. I had planned a
levee march for one of our
levees in the battleground
school district, as well as
being a student representative
of the battleground school
district. I sat on the board
for two years, which was really
amazing. But I'd also want to
point out that not only was the
leadership just an award, but
it was a push of confidence. It
was a push to show me that I am
possible and that I it is
possible to complete the goals
that I have, the tasks that I
want to complete, and just
overall, knowing that I have
confidence in myself.
>> Thank you and thank you
again for giving us this
opportunity to come and speak
to you. Does anybody have any
questions for Itzel?
>> Can I just say something? Hi,
Ezell, I'm Tanya and I just
want to say congratulations.
What you're doing is amazing.
And keep that confidence and go
for what you want. Don't be
scared. It can be scary, but,
you know, don't let that stop
you from doing what you want to
do.
>> Thank you.
>> So I noticed on your slides
it says City of Vancouver. So
is it limited to is there any
geographic limitations on this?
>> The geographic limitation is
Clark County. So the recipient
or candidates must reside
within Clark County.
>> And I would suggest
especially that many of you
military units you belong to,
or even homeowners associations
and so forth, invite them. You
know, let them talk about
George Marshall. What's that
about? And the award itself,
because it speaks of Vancouver,
it speaks of our community,
speaks of our military, and
speaks of our young folks. And
that's how we get get these
folks out into the public and
be exposed and expose them to
some history about our fort and
what it stands for and so forth.
But it also what the individual
stands for.
>> Thank you.
>> Absolutely.
>> Thank you again.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you both. Yeah. Great
job.
>> Okay, Abby, you're on the
hook.
>> Thank you.
>> Contractor reports.
>> Thank you Bob. And oh, is
this. Yeah. And thank you,
Carol. And it's all for being
here today. We really
appreciate your time and
congratulations on the awards.
All right. So this is the May
2026 contractor and fund
reports. I'll also be sharing
June on the next slide. Since
we skipped a month of meetings.
So for the Clark County
Veterans Assistance Center,
there were 656 visits to the
center for Essentials and Food
in May, with 881 sack
breakfasts and lunches, and 112
food boxes provided, for a
total of 6,443 pounds of food.
Provided. There were 485
volunteer hours, totaling
$19,536 in value, and there
were 44 veterans served through
Vet fund in May, with services
totaling $26,572.55. Of these,
38 were male veterans, four
were female veterans, and there
were two widows and zero others
served, and there were 11
denials, zero of which were
subject to appeal. At the free
clinic, there was one veteran
served in May, services totaled
$1,021 in value, and they build
$696.70 to the fund. For May,
there was a revenue of
$55,059.36, with $113,759 in
expenditures. And at the end of
May, the fund balance stood at
575,843, which was a $58,700
decrease from the previous
month. And here we have the
June 2026 contractor and fund
reports. At the assistance
center. There were 791 visits
to the center for Essentials
and Food, with 1166 sack
breakfasts and lunches, and 105
food boxes provided, for a
total of 4290 total pounds of
food. There were 579 volunteer
hours, totaling 2020 $3,322 in
value. There were 50 veterans
served through vet Fund in June.
Services totaling 43,417. Of
these, 42 were male veterans,
four female veterans, two
widows and two deceased veteran
dependents served through vet
fund, and there were 17 denials,
zero subject to appeal. The
free clinic again served one
veteran in June. Services
totaled $233 in value, and they
build $699.43 to the fund. We
also have a second quarter
update from W d VA in June. For
the second quarter, they served
875 claims, had a 91% batting
average for success, and helped
folks get one. $1,816,401 in VA
payments, and June revenue for
the fund was 9720. Expenditures
were 96,393, and the fund
balance at the end of June
stood at $489,170.42, which was
an $86,672 decrease from the
previous month.
>> Abby, if I may interrupt for
the public who is looking in on
this, look at the WD VA second
quarter, $1,816,401 came into
this county through this fund.
So when you look at your taxes,
think of what it's doing for
you to have this extra money
come into the county. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Bob. Any other
questions or comments on these
reports?
>> Just to add to what Bob was
saying, I'm also taking a look
at some of the numbers that are
being taken out of the VFW
service officer. I'm not going
to say what it is, but I would
definitely say that the
assistance center and and Emory
down at the VA are really
seeing a lot of veterans to
keep the numbers down. So we
don't have a lot of people
calling other areas outside of
our area or even getting to our
DAV chapter, we're doing the
best that we can to have people.
There was a spike a little bit
this couple of weeks of
veterans just frantically
calling this to see somebody.
And like I said, it's over 60
days out just to see somebody.
So it's something that I'm
noticing quite a bit for both
myself and Roy through the DAV.
>> Thank you Bruce. If there is
no other questions, I'll pass
it back to Bob.
>> Okay, Judy, you're on the
hook.
>> Hello, everybody. So I have
quite a few things to tell you
today. First of all, let's talk
about the stand down. It's
going to be September 25th at
the Armed Forces Reserve Center.
It'll be 9 to 2. I will send
the flier to Abby and she can
send it around to all of you.
But we are, as always, raising
money to help make our stand
down bigger and better. So if
your organization has donated
in the past and they want to
donate again, or if you haven't
donated in the past and you
wish to donate, send a check to
the center or call the center.
Someone can come out and, you
know, we can talk to you about
it and give you all the details.
And we we'd love to have your
help. So the second thing I
want to talk about is, as you
probably all know, I stepped
down from the presidency in
April and we elected Sonia Wood
as president. And there were
also some lots of changes in
personnel at the center. And so
that became an 87 hour a week
job for Sonia to do the
presidency and her admin duties
for the vet fund. So Sonia
resigned as the president. And
our vice president, who is
Daviau was in the hospital at
the time, so she was unable to
step up as the president. So we
our board held elections and we
have a new board. We have. Our
president now is of the board
is Kelly Jones. Our vice
president is Sam Whitley. Our
treasurer is Jack Goldberg, and
our secretary is Varun.
>> And I'm not going to butcher
his last name. His last name
begins with a P, and I'm not
even going to attempt to tell
you what it is. Sorry. Anyway,
they are all working with the
our consultant, who is in the
process of doing a strategic
five year plan for the center.
You all know that we have grown
into this or come into this
bigger space. We have 10,000ft².
Mr. Angelo, who rented us the
space, wanted us to increase
services, and that's what we're
working on doing our five year
strategic plan hopefully will
lead us in all the right
directions. It will help us to
bring in more services for our
veterans. We're still hopeful
that our 2027 budget can
include mental health help. And
we are. We have our tentacles
out there everywhere in the
community, reaching out to all
of our sister and brother
organizations, trying to bring
in as many services as quickly
as we can. We also are working
on getting more volunteers, so
we hope to do what Mr. Angelo
asked us to do and that was
increase our services for
veterans. So that's what we're
all working on. If you all have
any questions, you can all
reach out and I'll be happy to
any answer, any questions that
you have that I can answer. And
if not, I will give you someone
who can answer that. So I also.
Hello. Yeah. This is.
>> I didn't yeah, I had it's
just something that is very,
very important to our board.
Will you remain as the vet fund
administrator?
>> I guess as far as I know, I
will be here until I retire.
>> Great.
>> So I, I have no intentions
of going anywhere. Sonia and I
are working as full and part
time vet fund administrators.
One of the things that I'll be
passing on to Sonia and helping
her with is the budget and our
new treasurer of the board has
been in nonprofit boards for 20
plus years. He is a QuickBooks
master. He also is a CPA. So
he's going to bring a lot of
good energy to helping vet,
fund, streamline and be better
at forecasting and budgeting
and all the things that perhaps
I wasn't stellar at in the past,
but I'm going to get there.
>> Okay.
>> So and Judy, is it possible
maybe to set up some type of
event where the advisory board
could meet the people there?
>> Yeah.
>> Of course. And, and this
will happen once it'll probably
be towards the end of the year
because we are working with a
consultant company called Point
North, and they are working on
our five year strategic plan.
And with the new officers in
place, of course, they have
their plates full making the
transition right now. So
absolutely, I will pass along
that. The board wishes to meet
with all of them. And I think
that's a great idea.
>> Okay. And part of it will,
you know, have to do with
strategic planning because we
are going to be looking at the
strategic plan for the advisory
board also.
>> Right.
>> Okay. So what you do and
what we are doing go together
very closely. Okay.
>> I agree. So I definitely
will try to set that up for you.
>> Yeah. Judy, just to add on
and footnote what Patrick just
said, it's an opportunity
whenever you plan to get
together to recognize the
volunteers and folks who donate
money as well, if you can
expand into those particular
areas, I think it's a good time
to do that.
>> I agree with you. We always
are looking for ways to thank
our volunteers and our donors.
>> Yeah.
>> So okay, so the next thing
on my agenda is I wanted to
read to you all a letter, and
this is why we do what we do at
vet fund. It says, Dear Clark
County Veterans Assistance on
behalf of the Clark County
Sheriff's Office and the Morgan
family, we would like to extend
our deepest gratitude for your
generous support in covering
the funeral costs for Deputy
Patrick Morgan. Your kindness
and willingness to assist
during such a difficult time
provided immeasurable comfort
to Deputy Morgan's family and
eased a significant financial
burden as they honored his life
and service. Your compassion
and commitment to supporting
our veterans and their families
are truly appreciated and
reflect the very best of our
community. Deputy Morgan
dedicated his life to serving
others, and your generosity
helped ensure he received the
dignified and honorable
farewell he deserved. We are
sincerely grateful for your
partnership, your
thoughtfulness, and your
support during this time of
loss. Thank you again for your
generosity and for standing
beside our law enforcement
family when it mattered most.
With heartfelt appreciation.
John Hawk, Sheriff. So this
deputy was a veteran and we
were able to help with the
funeral costs for him. So this
is why we do what we do, and
this is why we're all here as
much as we are and why we love
what we do. This is the reason
this letter brought me to tears,
and I I'm so grateful that
someone did reach out and tell
us how much they appreciate the
things that we do every day. So
thank you for allowing me to
read that. And I have one more
little thing that I want to say,
and then I'll kick it back. And
that is congratulations to Abby,
who just got married.
>> You.
>> Thank you Judy.
>> Thank you.
>> There's a lucky guy who
lived here.
>> Congratulations, Abby.
>> All the help that she gives
us. She's amazing. So thank you.
Abby.
>> Yes, she is.
>> And with that, if you don't
all have any questions. I will
turn it back over to Bob.
>> Jim.
>> I've got one quick question.
Judy, have you got some sort of
summary of the tasks that that
Northpoint is doing for you
that would you could provide
before our next meeting, where
we start in talking about our
strategic plan.
>> I'm sorry, I, I, I have to
go. We have an emergency up
front.
>> I'm sorry. Oh, boy. Okay.
Mental health. Yeah. Hey, hey,
I did, I did have I did have
something. I know they had to
leave, but something we
probably should think about,
maybe it sounds like with the
two boards are going to
eventually meet here soon, but
maybe we should have a standing
annual or every, you know,
twice a year standing meeting
with with our board and their
and their board in the future.
Just something, something to
throw out there. And then she's
not on to answer the other
question. So I'll, I'll, I'll
reach out to Judy and Sonya
separately.
>> We'll get Amber and handle
it. I'm trying to figure out
what happened. Joe was good
talking with them.
>> Some things. You got an open
mic. Open mic.
>> Open mic. Oh, she's got
somebody in crisis.
>> There he goes. It's good.
>> Okay. Anyway, hopefully you
heard that about having a the
two boards meet, you know,
regularly. Yes. Twice a year
maybe, I don't know, once a
quarter in the future.
>> Any other comments?
>> Yeah. Just hear with Kelly
Jones and Samantha Whitley.
They're alumni here to our
Clark County Veterans Advisory
Board. So it's really going to
get things a little bit more
streamlined with the leadership
knowing what we're doing.
That's a good thing.
>> Okay. If not, then we'll
move on to old business. Yes.
Patrick.
>> Old business from last from
June. We talked about the
strategic plan, the last
strategic plan that was done
for this organization was 2015.
And Amy was going to send that
to everybody. I don't know if
that did that happen. The 2015
strategic plan?
>> Yeah. I sent out the most
recent version of the strategic
plan, which is about a decade
old. I've been working to
update all of the demographics
in there based on more recent
census data and local data. And
I'm just waiting on a couple
more things, and then I'll send
out the most updated version
that I have with current data.
And then I would love all of
your feedback on more of the
content of the strategic plan
and what goals you all want to
see updated for the next cycle.
>> I'd like to see us have some
kind of conversation on that.
Maybe a subcommittee that would
look into it and then develop
what our elements are of the
strategic plan. So I don't know
how we would do that. Bob, do
you want to.
>> I could appoint.
>> A appoint.
>> I could appoint a committee
to do that, to look at the
strategic plan. Any volunteers?
I got two. Three three, four.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Larry. Jim.
>> Yeah. I'll be.
>> Part of Bob and Tonya. Okay.
>> I can help.
>> Greg. Greg. Greg. Greg.
>> Greg. Thank you. That's five.
Well.
>> I'll be on that also.
>> Okay. Patrick. Thank you.
That's six. So you all. Decide
who's going to be your leader
and and pick a date to meet.
And then we'll discuss the
strategic plan next month.
>> Okay.
>> Real quick, can you repeat
who was on that committee? I
have Tonya, Larry, Jim, Greg,
Patrick. And was there one
other.
>> Bob, Bob Brennan?
>> Great. I will be sure to
send updates about the
strategic plan to you all. And
if you need help facilitating a
meeting, let me know, okay?
>> Okay. Any more old business?
>> Yeah, just one. And it's
come up several times. And I've
mentioned to a couple groups I
go to, I know a lot of police
officers only because of my
work with the City of Vancouver
and City Council and so forth,
and they're very busy. If you
haven't been to a concert
lately, look around. You'll see
police officers walking around.
It's so important. And I tell
folks this, especially folks
with families, go thank them,
walk up there and say, I
appreciate your job. I spent
about ten minutes talking to
two of them at the Columbia
Tech Center Sunday night, how
it's going and so forth. You
know, they got families and
they've got kids and so forth.
And, you know, a lot of these
police officers are very
stressed out. I don't know
whether, you know, I mean, I'm
familiar with some of the calls
they're getting lately,
especially those related to
mental illness and drugs and so
forth. It's it's not good. It's
not healthy. And then all you
have to do is just open up the
newspaper or listen to the news
and, you know, find them a
shooting going on someplace.
But I'm just asking, we can
sort of be the leaders of
reaching out and encourage the
kids and so forth. You know,
when you see police officer
walk by and they usually two of
them at a concert, hey, thanks
for coming out and thanks and
take care of us. It's a little
thing, but it means so much.
And there are a lot of folks
are afraid of police officers,
I'll tell you that. I talked to
a couple of folks that said, I
don't want anything to do with
the police officer because of
all the stuff that's in the
paper lately and so forth. It's
the wrong attitude to have.
Those folks are here to protect
us and so forth, and they need
to be complimented for the work
they've done. And I think most
of them, 99% do good, good work.
But I just want to mention that
because, you know, what's going
on right now is really I live
at Touchmark and that Touchmark,
we're not allowed to watch TVs
if it's on news, Fox News or
CNN, because people get in an
argument. And we had a couple
of doctors there said, we don't
want to stress out some of
these individuals, and they're
in their 90s because they're
getting stressed out with the
war going on in Iran, with the
news and every place else. So
the news is turned off. We try
to degrade a little bit of the,
you know, the anxiety level and
stress that's going on. And
there is stress. Let me tell
you of what's going on in the
country, the world, and then
they care and so forth. But we
have a rule, and the manager
has instructed the staff, if
you're watching cable news, one
of the staff would say, I'm
sorry, we're going to change.
What sports network do you want?
If you want to watch news, go
to your room. And that's
unfortunate, but it's going on
right now. And I've seen
arguments in there that almost
290 year old guys almost got in
a fistfight arguing over Iran.
And I said, God Almighty, can't
we get along with one another?
But I just want to mention that
how important it is to, to get
out there and, and be an
encouragement of bringing
people together. And, you know,
and we've got all these events.
If you look at all the events
we have going on, Columbia Tech
Center had about 2500 people
Sunday night. It was fantastic.
People coming together, all,
you know, young people, older
people having a good time and
so forth. That's the way we
want it. We've got to keep it
like that. We don't want to be
stressed out. That's right. So
but anyhow, I just want to
mention that it's old business.
We mention all the time. We're
catalysts in the community, we
make things happen, and all of
us are pretty well respected in
the community for what we think
and what we believe.
>> So thank you. Larry.
>> Yeah.
>> Hey, Bob, I got one
something to add to what Larry
mentioned.
>> Hi, Greg.
>> Outstanding police, you know,
comment there, Larry. I also
think we need to thank our
wildland firefighters too. This
is a oh, it's terrible in
Oregon, Washington and the
northwest. So even though we
don't necessarily see the fires
right here directly in our
neighborhoods, we had a
significant amount of VFW
members in Spokane affected by
the firefighters over there. So
or the fires over there. So we
need to be thanking them as
well because they're they're
putting it on the line to keep
us safe this summer because
it's, it's bad this year. And
then I, and I have a question
though, and I don't know if we
need to answer the question
right now, but if we're out in
the can this board can all of
us on this board, can we create
like a coin like appreciation
coin that we can give to the
police and fire in? And when
we're out in the community, you
know, Clark County, Clark
County Veterans Advisory
Appreciation coin, something
like that. Maybe, maybe it
maybe it takes funds from us
each individually to put into
to have those designed. But I
know some designers that could
help us with that. So just
something I just thought about
when Larry was mentioning.
>> Yeah, it would be difficult
for us to fund something like
that through the fund because
anything we fund has to go to
veterans. Yeah. So.
>> Right.
>> But what if we if we did it.
>> We would individually
contribute to.
>> That's what I'm that's what
I'm asking. Can we individually
do something like that?
>> I may be able to find a, a
company, a veteran company that
would step up and donate money
for coin. That'd be cool.
Thompson is one of them.
>> He's a great idea.
>> Yeah. We can we can shop
around.
>> Okay.
>> So we don't have to go with
our own back pockets.
>> We. All right. Thank you.
>> Okay.
>> Larry.
>> Larry knows about everybody,
so I figured.
>> You'd have a. Yeah.
>> He does.
>> Good and bad.
>> Okay. Any more old business?
If not, I'll move to new
business.
>> I got one thing. And some of
you don't know about this. Some
of you do. I think it's
tomorrow. The 104th Division
retires.
>> At Fort Lewis, right?
>> Yeah, they're at Fort Lewis.
They weren't the barracks since
1945, 80 years. They will
retire. They're at the building.
They had a brand new building
up at North Vancouver. They're
going out of business. Some of
the units will not. I
understand that the Army band,
their band will be moved to
another unit. They're located
at the Armed Forces Reserve
Center, but they are going to
retire. They retire them
throughout the country. They've
got a couple companies spread
out and they're just going out
of business because of it.
>> That's most of the training
divisions, isn't it?
>> It's most what.
>> Most of the training
divisions that are being
deactivated.
>> Yeah. They're changing. Yeah.
But I just want to mention that
I am working with the
superintendent of the National
Park Service and Temple Linse
to get some kind of monument or
something dedicated to the
104th. They're very reluctant
over there to put monuments and
so forth, because where do you
stop? I've been trying to work
on one for Bob Knight and one
for Royce Pollard, for their
contribution to the barracks
and so forth. But I would like
to get one of the 104th,
probably a plaque or something
that designates that they were
located here and their
contribution. They've got a
great war record. Some of you
may have been in 104th. I
served with them in 1989 and
1991. I've got in the local
area. They got seven, eight,
eight general officers who
commanded the unit. It was
still very active, but I am
working with the National Park
Service and the Historic Trust
for some kind of monument to be
dedicated to the 104th because
of here. Now, here's the issue,
and it's an issue that all of
us face is what do we do with
the stuff? So when they close
up, they're going to have all
the pictures and all the
paraphernalia that goes with
the unit. What do you do with
it? I've been down in the
basement of the Howard Building,
Howard House. I've been down in
the basement of the artillery
barracks. I've been down to the
basement of the hospital. It's
covered with stuff. I mean, a
lot of it's very valuable. I
mean, it's got paintings and
pictures and clothing and so
forth. No one knows what to do
with it. The only thing that
keeps coming up is auction it
off. Because a lot of this
stuff is valuable because it's
been donated by individuals
who've passed away and they've
donated the stuff to the trust.
Trust doesn't know what to do
with it. Don't have any room.
We've got a room down there
loaded, loaded with Butler,
Congresswoman Butler stuff.
When she was in the Howard
House, she donated when she
left and got out of the
business. So? So I don't know
what to do, but we're trying to
be careful about the 104th and
something where we can
designate it, whether it's a
plaque or something for their
contributions. And some of you
may have served there. There
are a lot of folks in Clark
County who have served with the
104th, or have gone by it on
the way to Vietnam, because it
was an embarkation point and so
forth.
>> As far as clothing, can we
bring that to the stand downs?
>> What's that.
>> As far as clothing? You said
there's a bunch of clothes, I
think. Bring it to the stand
downs.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah, that'd be a great way
to get.
>> Rid of it. But I just wanted
to pass it on. So I am working
with that and working with Curt
Loop, who's one of the local
general officers who commanded
the 104th about 1993, 1995.
He's a helicopter pilot, but
it's just one of those things
that that's happening. And
unfortunately, I hope we keep
the ban. The Armed Forces
Reserve Center will stay there.
There's no reduction in any of
their particular force. It's
just the 104th as a as a
training unit. They were
mission was at Fort Lewis was
to train ROTC cadets up there,
Vance Camp and Basic Camp and
so forth. They don't have a
mission to speak of anymore.
And we're sending some drills
to Fort Knox as well, but it's
changed. So I'll keep you
informed of that. What we could
come up with and so forth. The
last monument we put up there
was a guy named Dan Tarbell and
2014 in front of the Armed
Forces Reserve Center. That
POWMIA was Dan Tarbell's work
of getting $20,000 to build
that monument, and we couldn't
build it at the armed forces.
We couldn't build it at the
National Park Service because
they didn't allow any more
monuments, because we already
have monuments dedicated to war
veterans. But anyhow, I'll keep
you informed. But I thought,
you know, surprisingly enough,
it was nothing in the paper.
And I called the paper and I
said, there's nothing about the
104th. It used to be here at
the barracks. 80 years.
>> I saw it somewhere.
>> Have you seen something?
>> I have, I think it was on TV.
>> Okay, okay.
>> It was in the news on TV.
>> Okay. Yeah. I'll get what
information I can and what
information is covered with the
coverage up there. But I'll
keep you informed.
>> Okay? Thank you. Larry.
>> I have new business. All
right. I'm going to go ahead.
So so I think it's amazing
we're getting our fund under
our control and be able to, you
know, do more things that we
need to do. I'm just wondering,
and I'm just putting this out
there. You know, no answers
today doesn't need to be
answered right now because we
don't have all the paperwork
yet know how things are going
to work, but there's a veteran
organization up north. Some of
you may have heard of them.
Schooley, they're in Olympia.
Anyway. They're willing to give
us a Schauer a Schauer trailer.
It's done. It's put together,
bring down and give it to us.
But we need to be able to set
up the, you know, the gray and
gray water lines and, you know,
everything. I'm assuming it
would go down to Cvac, I don't
know. That's another thing that
needs to be decided. But anyway,
and that's just an example. So
I'm wondering if we can't as,
as a board with the fund, also
allocate money for things like
that. Not everything goes to
Cvac. I think that's, that's we
don't need to do all that. It's
a shower. Trailer for veterans.
>> Schauer trailer.
>> There's like four. Yeah,
there's like four to depends
how big the trailer is. 4 to 6
showers in there. And you can
take a shower and then go to
your job interview, you know,
wash some clothes out in there
or something. Yeah. I mean,
people ask houseless people
just go to work. And I tell
them all the reasons that that
is not possible.
>> That would houseless, that
would be something that would
be up to the assistance center.
We can't do that. Why not? Our
money has to go directly to
help veterans.
>> What is a shower trailer for?
>> No no no no no. Follow the
RCW showers ain't in there.
>> But it's directly helping
veterans.
>> It doesn't make any
difference if it doesn't
benefit a veteran who is needy
or indigent. It can't go there.
>> How does that? We can
discuss the things later, but
I'm just saying as.
>> A suggestion that Judy could
get maybe the center to hook on
to.
>> Right. But we would pay for
that.
>> No, we.
>> Wouldn't for the extra
because.
>> No.
>> We have extra water bill.
They'll have this, they'll have
that. We pay for it out of the
fund by giving them.
>> No we wouldn't. Yes, it
could be paid for out of the
other side of the assistance
center. Yeah.
>> The thing you're talking
about is a capital expense.
>> Is what I'm.
>> Sorry, is a capital expense.
Infrastructure versus something
like rent for a person's
apartment or something, right?
That that's not considered
capital expense, but a trailer,
something like that is what
would be considered capital
expense. And maybe, Mark, are
you online there? Mark. Lacy.
Is he he's not online there
anymore.
>> Just. Greg.
>> No.
>> Greg. Yeah. I'm here.
>> And another Mark.
>> Okay.
>> Mark's there.
>> Mark.
>> Well, capital, did you hear
what Tanya was talking about?
>> Yeah, I heard that there was
a donation of a piece of
capital equipment that was
designed to provide mobile
shower capabilities.
>> Yes.
>> I know it's the issue. Again.
>> I would like, as a board,
could we pass whatever money it
needed to take to get it set up?
Because I'll bring it down to
us for free. But and that's
just an example of things I
don't want to see. And this is
just me and nothing against
this center, but I want us to
be able to.
>> Patrick.
>> I think Patrick was raising
the issue that.
>> It would be a capital
expenditure.
>> To install that anywhere,
because that was a capital
expenditure rather than a
direct assistance to a veteran.
>> Right.
>> All right. Do we have a
homeless shelter or a veterans
shelter somewhere?
>> No.
>> People are sleeping in tents
on the street. If they have a
tent, might just have a
sleeping bag.
>> I'm sure that's true, but is
that necessarily the best
solution to the problem?
>> No it's not. It's not a
solution to homelessness, but
it's a solution to help them be
able to get a job and other
things. I'm just asking the
question. I'm not saying it has
to.
>> And that's okay. You know,
you need to ask that question.
Don't feel, you know.
>> Okay.
>> That that's.
>> Not I see what you're saying.
>> Now, but it's we're, we're
having a conversation. So to
clarify and understand what the
potential is, right. And that's
what I was, you know, asking
Mark to kind of, you know, you
know, bring some comment in
here because, you know, he's a
finance guy. He knows this kind
of stuff. And I just like him
to comment on what his views
would be on something like that.
>> But couldn't the assistance
center that had money on. Okay.
Go ahead. I'm sorry.
>> From what I've heard and
know about the issue, this is
something that clearly we
probably all agree that it
would be of benefit to the
homeless veterans, but is there
any way we can get it done? Is
that the issue then?
>> Well, yeah.
>> I've got a place up North
school, Lee Foundation, they're
all veterans that said, they'll
give us it's done. It's put
together. That's what they do
up there. They went and just
took some stuff over to Spokane
for the fires for fire relief.
And they said they'll bring it
down. We just need to have it
set up where it can be hooked
up again.
>> Tanya, the the other the
other side of the assistance
center, the private side could
pay for that. We can't. So it
would be something that we
would have to ask the
assistance center to do.
>> Okay. So what can we.
>> And that would go. And that
would go to the assistance
center board, right. The board
we were talking about.
>> A little bit ago. Yeah.
>> So that so there, there's a
good topic for our joint
meeting. Yeah. Tanya.
>> Yeah. I think a shower
trailer would be excellent down
there. I also wish we could get
a washer and dryer trailer, but
I don't know how that's going
to work. They have those two.
And then also, but also like
other things like, say, I think
that VFW organizations and tell
me if this already exists, can
put in requests for money from
our veteran fund, like the VFW
needs to help somebody, a
veteran with their mortgages,
which they already do, but
let's say they run out of money
and they need help more.
>> They go to the center for
that.
>> They go to.
>> This, help with it. Other
places help with it. Not
everything's got to go to the
center.
>> Yeah.
>> No, that's my problem.
>> We can't give any money out
like that.
>> We can't we can't
appropriate dollars that are
that are raised through taxes.
That's our vet fund.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> But if you.
>> Have their vet fund, yeah.
>> If you look at the RCW.
>> Does that make sense? I want.
>> The RCW lays the primary
responsibility on the
organizations. All of these
organizations, these
organizations have put into
place the Veterans Assistance
Center to do that. The way that
the RCW reads is that if we put
in an organization in place
like that, the Veterans
Assistance Center, the first
place the veterans should go is
to the organization, and then
the organization is supposed to
refer them to the center.
>> So if they can't help them.
>> Exactly.
>> Right, right.
>> And so they can help them.
But that would come from the
center. Then the way that we've
structured it here in Clark
County.
>> But now we're going to have
different funds. We could.
>> So so here's.
>> Same fund. It's a different
pocket.
>> Money.
>> Same rules.
>> This is money.
>> This is this is a great
conversation because as the
commander of this past year of
the VFW, we had a lot of people
come to us for, for assistance
on various things, rent, pay,
utility bills, you know, fixing
their car, things like that.
Now, here's the deal, right? So
we did it. We do as much as we
can. Sometimes people need more
than what our what our bylaws
say we can provide.
>> Exactly.
>> Right. But here's the deal,
right? If the if, if if someone
and I'm I'm telling you, we
have repeat customers, okay.
And if they do not, and if
they're not and part of the RCW
Patrick and others, they have
to be a resident of Clark
County for at least one year.
Right? Right. So here's the
deal. So if they don't if they
don't get on. If so, if the if
the veterans organizations such
as the VFW, the American Legion,
other organizations that have
funds, if they continue to help
them and their repeat customers,
they don't get on the they
don't get on the Clark County
Veterans Assistance rolls. So
you have people that say, well,
I, I can't I can't wait a year.
So that just needs this needs
to be a further discussion
because I've seen it often
because if they don't, if they
don't go to the assistance
center, then the assistance
center doesn't know about them.
Right? Then they come back to
the organizations that have
veterans relief funds, you know,
because they're because they're
repeat customers. So it's, it's
kind of a revolving circle here,
folks, that we need to, we need
to vet through and talk about,
talk about.
>> You're absolutely right,
Greg, because the system.
>> To Cvac.
>> Because the organizations
don't report what happens in
their organizations, right?
>> That's where we have to do
some educating within the
organizations to understand the
process that we're putting in
place.
>> Yeah.
>> And if I can just jump in
here to provide a little bit of
clarity around requirements of
the Veterans Assistance Fund.
So essentially, the only
requirements of this fund is
that it is used to serve
indigent veterans. So veterans
who are under 200% of the
federal poverty level who live
in Clark County and their
families. This board has
decided to allocate those funds
into our three contracts
through the assistance center,
the free clinic, and the VA.
But the contracts that we have
aren't a requirement of the RCW
that was a determination made
by this board. So if the board
wanted to entertain other
organizations, funding other
organizations within the
funding that is allowed, that
is definitely a conversation
that can happen. And if if we
wanted to potentially open up
funding for applications,
that's also something that we
can definitely do. We have
processes at the county to do
that, but it would mean that
all organizations that come in
for funding have to go through
the application.
>> Process, right? Yeah, yeah.
And I understand I'm working on
one of those right now. As a
matter of fact, I understand
exactly what you're saying. And
we have the authority to bring
things in like that.
>> Okay.
>> So is there a is there an
ability carry this over one
more. To another meeting? Is
there.
>> A out there?
>> Is there an ability, is
there an ability to change that
and, and reduce the requirement
of one year residency?
>> No.
>> Is that something that's in.
The Abbey's going to check.
>> I off.
>> The top of my head. I'm
pretty sure that one year
residency in Washington state
is a requirement of the R C, w,
but I will double check and get
back to you with confirmation.
>> That it is.
>> Check it, check it, check it.
Okay, I was just bringing.
>> It up, so.
>> Thank you for listening.
>> Okay, so it's so it's.
>> So it's a county thing, not
necessarily a state. So if you
lived in the state of
Washington, that doesn't count.
>> Because you're living in a
different county.
>> It's an R, C w. So therefore
it does. Greg.
>> Oh.
>> That's a state requirement.
>> So so.
>> So all right.
>> So so then. Right. Well,
we'll talk about it later
because that that raises
another question is.
>> We can't just beat this to
death. All right. Since old
business, new business got
mixed up with with open forum.
Yeah. I'll move it to open
forum. And Larry.
>> Yeah, I've got one thing.
And, and I hate to bring this
up. If you haven't made any
plans of using I-5 starting in
12th September, you better make
plans. If you go into the VA,
OHSU or some of the medical
facilities, it's going to be
worked on for five weeks. It's
going to be shut down. They put
new lanes in, and I've already
I've heard some complaints.
I've had a couple folks that
had appointments at VA in late
September. They've changed them
because they're afraid they're
not going to be able to get
their. This is this is bad news.
I've seen some Loriz 12th
September.
>> Where's the work being done.
>> Down by the Moda Center, I-5,
right. Yeah. Southbound.
>> Yeah. Probably from the take
off.
>> 4 or 5.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Well it's you have to
go out to 205. You have to go
around to Powell Boulevard.
There's all kinds of routes to
get to the VA. It's just time
consuming.
>> Yeah it is TDY. I did hear
that. Someone told me that the
VA over there is bringing in
some additional services over
from Portland over to Vancouver.
That's good, but I don't know
what those services are.
>> They got room to do it.
>> Oh.
>> All righty. So open forum
continue.
>> Okay, John, according to the
RCW. At the discretion of the
county legislative authority
and in consultation with the
Veterans Advisory Board,
counties may expand eligibility
for Veterans Assistance Fund as
the county determines necessary.
So there there is some.
>> We would have to change our.
Our. Policy policies and
procedures.
>> Yeah.
>> But that's.
>> Just what we. Right. It's
not our right.
>> Well, we can we can no, we
don't write anything. We
recommend the county does it.
Again, we're just an advisory
board.
>> Yep. We. That's right. The
community services would do it.
>> Okay, Tanya, get it out
there.
>> Some of us ladies are
getting together. Deb is one of
them. And me and and Cynthia
and Sarah Fox. Anyway, we are
hopefully starting a women's
veterans group. Our initial
meeting is going to be August
29th up at the VFW. I don't
remember the times. Remember
the times. Thank you. 2 to 4.
Yeah, 2 to 4. So do you guys
know any female veterans? You
know, let them know everybody.
Everybody is welcome. You do
not have to be a member of the
VFW. Females only females. You
know. Female. Yeah. If you men
show up, we're kicking you out.
So.
>> It's all in Clark County?
>> Yeah. Clark County veterans
right now. There's there's I've
had response from across the
country. I put it on some
female websites and I didn't
realize some of them weren't
just local. So but that's for
the future. We'll see. But yeah,
first meeting August 29th. And
if you know any female vets who
want to come together and talk
about stuff, please let them
know.
>> Thank you. Tanya. All right.
Continue open forum anymore.
>> I just have one item and we
can discuss this at a later
meeting. It's not urgent, but
Diane ARP will be coming to our
December board meeting, per the
request of some of the board
members, to give a presentation
and have a discussion with you
all. And she would love to know
if you have any specific
questions or topics for her to
prepare for this. Diane.
>> Me oh, okay.
>> And what what.
>> I.
>> Think we can do that.
>> I'm sorry.
>> I don't know. Yes.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Gotcha.
>> Yeah. Right.
>> Yeah. She's part of that
million dollars that comes into
the county.
>> Yeah. She's a big part of it.
>> Yeah. All right.
>> I just have one more. One
more thing, Bob.
>> All right. Greg.
>> Yeah. I just wanted to let
everybody know. So I'm I'm now
the as of a couple of weeks ago,
the the Oregon, Idaho and
southwest Washington outreach
coordinator and and Portland
MEPs manager. So if anybody is
interested in volunteering for
the USO, United service
organizations, I'm not very
demanding. So give me a holler
if you're interested in
volunteering and I can walk you
through the process and even
give you, you know, show you
the spaces and stuff, it's a
tremendous opportunity to, to
connect with, especially the
young, the youth in, in the
area and, and the new recruits
before they head off to boot
camp and stuff and the staff
down at the met. So, you know,
there's a lot of opportunity.
So I just want to throw it out
there. That's one reason why
I'm not there in person today.
So thank you.
>> Where is it.
>> Based at now, Greg? Where
are you based.
>> The Portland Portland MEPs
is on Airport Road behind
embassy the Embassy Suites
Hotel by the FBI building. Oh,
on Airport Road.
>> Oh, okay.
>> And I've talked to a few
people individually about it
before, but I just wanted to
bring it up in a group. So I'm
already I'm already signing
buck up right now. I can see
he's.
>> Gotta get him out of Montana.
>> Boerke doesn't have enough
to do. Yes, Mike.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Bob, I think it's about time
you make a motion to retire for
the day.
>> I'll accept that. Do I have
a second.
>> Second, second.
>> Those in favor?
>> Aye.
>> Meeting adjourned. Thank you
all for coming.