The Clark County Veterans
Advisory Board to order. Pledge
of allegiance. I pledge
allegiance to the flag of the
United States.
>> Of America, of America.
>> And to the Republic.
>> For which it stands one
nation under God.
>> Indivisible.
>> Indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
>> Two. Give us a prayer there,
please.
>> Yes, Mister chair, I will.
Oh, Heavenly father, thank you
for joining us and overseeing
our meeting today. As we know,
the month of May is the time
for Memorial Day, for
remembering our veterans as
well as family members during
across our community during
this special time of need. And
that's all we're going to be
asking in your God's name.
Blessing. Amen. Amen. Amen.
>> And would you give roll call,
please? Bruce?
>> Yes, Mister chair, I'll give
roll call of board officers.
Roll call of board members 40
and eight primary. Bob Brennan
here, Mark Lacey here. American
Legion Post 14. Jean Kutcher
here. American Legion Post 44.
Jim Bowman, I believe is
excused. Darren Wertz, American
Legion Post 168 board chair Bob
Nichols here. American Legion
Post 176. Mike Gibson here.
Jonathan Frederick, excuse
American Veterans Post six.
John Lovejoy here. He's online.
Vanise Pratt yes. Is excused.
Excused. Yes. DAV. Chapter four
board Secretary Bruce Moss here.
Roy de.
>> Here.
>> Korean War Veterans 321.
Patrick Locke here. Earl
Edwards. Marine Corps League
826. Steve Slegers here. VFW
post 4278 Thomas Brandt, Debbie
Proctor here. VFW post 7024.
Thomas is Here online VFW 7824
Greg Gilbertson here. Stewart
Bauer is excused. Vietnam
Veterans Chapter 512 Greg
Whitsett. Nick Herbert members
at large. Brian McGillis, board
vice chair. Buck Ma here. Larry
Smith here. Lloyd Bowman here.
Michael Langsdorf here. Tanya.
Walk. Clark County
representative Abby Malloy here.
Clark County Veterans
Assistance Center who's present,
please. Nobody from the
assistance Center is online at
this moment. So they may be
joining us. In the back gallery.
Our guests are. Would you
please just say your names and
I'll relay it. Sieanna. Excuse
me. Diane, Diane arc and the
other gentleman, Steve
Hammacher and Mister Chair, you
have a quorum.
>> Thank you. I will. Entertain
a motion for approval of the
minutes from last month.
>> Move to approve. Second.
>> It's been moved and seconded.
Those in favor?
>> Aye, aye.
>> Those opposed? Motion
carried. Minutes approved. Jean.
Anything on appeals.
>> In here that says some folks
were eligible, but no one has
called.
>> Okay then. No. No appeals.
Greg, you got anything on
policies and procedures?
>> I do not.
>> I do not, Mr. Chair. No.
>> I thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Bruce. Nominations. Nothing
yet?
>> Nothing at this time.
>> Okay. Budget workshop.
Patrick.
>> Yes. We had a few items that
we discussed. We talked that it
will bring up after a while
here. And we also had a little
bit of discussion on the
meeting that we're going to
have with the council on the
third. So there's some old
business items for particular
things that we'll be talking
about later on in the meeting.
>> Okay. Next item, David
Puente, you're on, sir.
>> Good afternoon. So first, I
just want to say thank you for
the invitation to sit down and
have a conversation with you
all. I did turn it on, so maybe
I just need to get the mic
closer to myself just to get it
closer to myself, so I
apologize for that. So I just
want to say thank you for the
opportunity to, to show up and
provide an update on what's
going on at your WDVA. So what
I'd like to do now is she's
already got it up. So just kind
of walk. I have a PowerPoint,
but what I'd like to do is if
you have any questions as I'm
walking through this data,
please let's have a community
conversation so that I can
answer and we can. Next slide
please. So so here, what you're
looking at is our strategic
plan for the agency that we've
worked on over the last couple
of years. And the one thing
that I will say that for our
state DVA, we are one of the
largest portfolios when it
comes across to the US, to our
peer agencies, to other states.
We have a large portfolio and a
lot of work that we do, and
that's one of the reasons why
for us, as we continue to work
and try to focus, focus on
strategically, we want to take
a look at where do we want to
spend the money that we're
receiving from the legislature
and the federal government? We
want to make sure that we're
strategic about that. And what
I'd like to discuss are the
four goals that we have, and
that is sort of our primary
vision that we're working for.
So save and transform lives,
respect, empower and inspire
everyone. Be the leading state
veteran service delivery agency
and the outcomes. And then
lastly, operate effectively and
efficiently. So in order to do
some of this work, we currently
have established four goal
teams and they're members of
the agency, and they have been
working hard at evaluating our
goals, objectives and
strategies and having
conversations. So, for example,
this morning we had a
conversation about goal three
and four, trying to figure out
how we're going to target those
and where do we want to spend
some time and energy and focus.
It's important for us to
continue to work with you all
as well, internal and external
customers, so that we continue
getting feedback so that we can
focus on the primary work that
we need to be doing. Next slide
please. So here I'd like to
talk about the four state
veteran homes that we have
located throughout the state.
This is primarily where we
spend about 78, 80% of our
budget that we get from the
state. And the federal
government is that our four
state skilled nursing
facilities, the oldest one that
we have is obviously a
Washington Soldiers Home in
Orting. And the next one that
we have is in Port Orchard, the
Washington Veterans Home, and
then is our Spokane veteran
home, and the newest one that
was opened last, I believe,
around 2018 is the Walla Walla
Veterans Home. We have a total
of about 517 beds where we
provide skilled nursing care
for our veterans. Other
eligible individuals are
spouses, goat widows of
ineligible veteran, and then
also Gold Star. Parents are
also eligible as well. We
currently partner with all of
the VA medical centers located
throughout the state, so the
one in Seattle, Spokane and
Walla Walla. We have sharing
agreements where we can take
our veterans there to receive
health care and any other
specialty care that's that's
unique. Also, the other thing
that for us, when our state
veteran homes that's unique is
when you look at the the
residents that we have
primarily we have mail. We do
have some female in our
facilities. And if you look at
the outside in private industry,
there are more female than
there are male. So for us, the
reason I'm bringing that up is
the staff that we have are
trained in dealing with our
military veterans. They receive
training on competencies, on
how to interact with them. And
then the other thing that's
good about our facilities is
that residents can connect to
each other, veterans, to
veterans or spouses to spouses,
and have that camaraderie that
we all need and we all seek
when it comes to living in one
of our facilities, challenges
that we have, that we address
is because the population that
we have is higher mail is
typically, when it comes to
long term care, individuals
need higher level of nursing
care and skill care. So that
may require two individuals to
potentially lift to use chair
lifts or lifts. So we do have a
little bit higher when it comes
to daily hours that we spend on
number of veterans that we have.
The other thing that I would
like to mention that's not
commonly known is, and I want
to this is something that's
important for veterans that are
rated 70% and higher service
connected disability and the,
and the level of care that we
provide in our facilities. If
the reason that we're caring
for you, it's related to your
service connection, disability,
the cost of care can be fully
covered in one of our skilled
nursing facilities. What does
that mean for the veteran and
their family is they get to
keep and retain their income,
their disability, their
retirement, their social
security. So if they're rated
at 70% or more, and the reason
we care and provide service for
them is because of that service
connected disability, they have
a high potential to keep their
disability, social security
retirements. If you go to a
private nursing home, you're
going to have to spend that
money. You're going to have to
pay for that out of pocket. So
that's one of the benefits of
coming to our skilled nursing
facilities to be able to do
that. Each one of our homes has
admission staff that can help
with any questions that you may
have, and I'll be glad to help
you and connect you with that.
If that's something that you
would like to hear more about.
The other thing that I want to
bring about is two of our
nursing homes. So over in the
Port Orchard, the Washington
Veterans Home, and the Walla
Walla veteran home, so one on
the east and one on the west
side. They provide memory care,
as we all know. We all know
nationally this is an important
issue for us that we need to
ensure that we have memory care.
Two of our other homes do not
currently have that. I will say
that our population, some of
them do have a level of memory,
care or needs for that type of
care. The individuals that are
in our memory care units and
those units are typically
secured because they're trying
to exit, or they may have
issues that require higher
level of care and those types
of things where we want to make
sure that we're providing that
level of service. I will add a
little bit more where we're
going to increase the number of
beds that we have in the future.
When I talk about some of the
projects, the other thing that
I'd like to mention that in our
homes that we have, each of our
skilled nursing facilities have
different types of activities
that they provide so that our
residents can connect to their
well-being and their quality of
care. So, for example, at our
Soldiers Home, we have a
fishing pond. Every year. We
have fishing derbies and
fishing opportunities for our
residents to be able to come
out and connect with with the
community. We also, it's an
opportunity where our
volunteers can come and provide
assistance and continue to do
that and volunteer. In Spokane,
we have our partnership with
the Cattlemen Association,
Combat Veteran motorcycles and
a lot of barbecues that take
place at that facility. And our
veterans service organizations
are very active at each one of
these homes. So I think it also,
it's important for us about
volunteerism to make sure that
we're keeping track of that.
The Walla Walla home has a lot
of activities where communities
come in and do a lot of arts
activities, music, dancing,
choirs, and these types of
musical things. And one of the
advantages in Walla Walla home
is our licensed nursing home
administrator, administrators,
a pianist, and she's a vocalist,
so she's able to provide that
level of service and care for
our residents there as well.
Talking about volunteerism,
there's always opportunity for
the community to come out and
volunteer for our any of the
state veterans homes that we
have throughout the state. If
you need some assistance, I'll
be glad to provide directions
on that as well. Next slide
please. I was talking about
memory care and some future
needs. So what I'd like to do
now is talk about two of our
big projects that we have
moving forward currently on the
capital side. So this is the
Spokane Veteran Home
replacement project. So these
are two things that we're
focusing on. So we're looking
at replacing two of our current
nursing homes. The first one
that we're going to focus on is
Spokane. Next on the list is
the Washington Soldiers Home.
So that is on our list, and
it'll be in a couple of years
down the road as we continue
working on that. I think the
things that I want to do first
is I'd like to thank the
legislature for giving us the
$10.9 million in the capital
budget so that we can continue
doing the Pre-design work at
the Spokane Replacement Home
Project. The previous year,
they gave us $8 million so that
we can purchase the land so
that we can continue moving
forward. Currently, right now,
we have a lot of support from
the legislature and our
governor and the Spokane
community to continue focusing
on the replacement home that
we're going to be building in
Spokane location. Some things
and challenges that we
currently have at our Spokane
home right now, the existing
facility, it's located on 1.75
acres. And essentially it's a
hospital that we repurposed and
turned into a skilled nursing
facility years ago. It doesn't
have any outdoor space. It's
basically a parking lot and
some storage buildings and etc.
and each one of the residents
share a room. So there's a
curtain that divides them. And
the lack of privacy is one of
those issues. The growing need
for space storage is another
issue. The lack of outdoor
environment where residents can
go outside and look at the
playgrounds or do some type of
activities outside. So these
are some things that we're
looking at for the future that
are going to be added to the,
the, the location that we're
going to be building. The next
slide please. So here's an
overview of the parcel that we
have purchased. It's right next
to the Dwight Marchel sports
complex. And it's about a
quarter mile away from the
grand Staff VA Medical Center
in Spokane. So proximity to the
VA Medical Center is ideal,
less than a quarter mile. The
thing for us that it's going to
do is it's going to enhance the
ability for our residents to be
able to receive their care
right next door at the VA
Medical Center. It's going to
enhance our response time. It's
going to reduce our travel
costs. And then for us, it's
going to allow us the ability
to retain our staff, because
that was one of the things that
we were looking at of where
were we going to build. We
looked at locations that was
owned by the state. Some of
that property that we had
looked at in the previously
before making this decision was
in Medical Lake, and some
conversations that were had
with us by staff is the
location locality of where
everybody resides. Because of
this location that we've
elected to purchase and to
build on, our staff are going
to be able to be retained. The
other interesting thing for us
is that we're probably going to
be able to attract new health
care providers, new health care
staff, because of the new
location that we're going to
have and the new facility. So
this location is a total of
41.5 acres. It's going to
definitely allow for us to have
outdoor activities, definitely
going to improve the ability
for our volunteerism and our
community to interact with our
residents to come and visit.
It's going to allow us to build
a small home model that the VA
is sort of requiring us to do.
They encourage us to do the
small house model. What does
that mean? It means that each
resident is going to have their
own room, their own bathroom,
their own facilities, their own
locations and everything. So
it's going to be like a small
studio apartment that they'll
have, and they'll have
everything in that room.
Individually, we're looking at
building about 120 beds
facility. And currently right
now we're evaluating of those
120, whether we're going to
have either 20 or 40 beds that
are going to be for memory care.
Currently, we do not have
memory care at the Spokane
Veterans Home. So this is a
we're going to be adding this
to Spokane and the ability to
do that. We recognize there's a
need because currently, right
now we are. If a resident is
trying to move in and get
admitted, admitted into our
facility, if they have that
higher level of care right now
for memory care, we're not able
to accept that because we don't
have the facility that's built
to currently do that. This is
why one of the things that
we're going to be focusing on
in the future, to ensure that
we're able to provide that
higher level of service. Some
things that I can share about
the Pre-design study. We
completed that in October of 24.
We submitted our capital
request in 2025 to 27, the
biennium for the total of the
construction costs, which is
about 162 $165 million. To
replace that home is what the
the total cost is. The VA will
reimburse us for 65% of that.
So that's almost about $98
million. The state has to come
up with about 35%, which is
about $65 million. So currently,
right now, the legislature and
the governor did grant us $10.9
million to continue with the
Pre-design work. We will be
we've submitted our request for
Grant in order to be able to
build this facility, we still
have to come up with the 35%
matching fund. So that will be
the next future asks that I
will be submitting to the
legislature in the next cycle
to ensure that we continue
moving forward with this.
Currently, because of the money
that we received, the 10.9,
we're going to currently
continue to work on offsite
improvements. So the things
that we have to do is the
Pre-design work for that
structure. Right now. We've got
a really good collaborative
partnership with the city of
Spokane, the school district,
especially the Parks Department,
because they are currently
working on updating the sports
complex there. They've passed a
levy together, Spokane recently.
As a result of that, they're
going to be making some
infrastructure upgrades. We are
going to partner with them. We
should be invited to a couple
meetings starting at the end of
May, early June as we work on
this. So what we're trying to
do is we recognize that as a
state, when it comes to
replacing this home, we're
going to have to do a lot of
infrastructure work water,
sewer, gas, power, internet,
all of these things. Currently,
the city of Spokane and the
Parks Department are going to
be doing that as well when it
comes to updating their parks.
So what we want to do is make
sure that we're working smartly.
And if there's things that we
can share some costs, we'd like
to do that. And they are
working very well with us and
they're inviting us to the
table so that we're going to be
having some really good
conversations about trying to
figure out how best we can
share the cost for some of the
infrastructure work that's
going to be needed. The other
thing that I wanted to share
about is our existing structure,
the spoke, the current Spokane
veteran home, some of the ideas
that we're contemplating right
now are turning that into a
transitional housing program.
We do not have transitional
housing over on the east side
of the state. We do have
transitional housing on the
west side. And I'll talk a
little bit about that. Another
potential idea that the VA is
incurring, encouraging us to
consider is adult day health
care. What that means is that
we would be providing health
care and services for veterans
and residents that can come in.
We would either pick them up or
family member could drop them
off, or we would again, charter,
you know, with vans go by the
residents, pick them up, bring
them to the facility in the
morning around eight. And then
at the end of the day, we would
take them back home, back so
that they're living in the
residence. So that's some
possibilities. The other things
that we've been having
conversations with is the
county, city and nonprofits.
They're very interested in
partnering with us when it
comes to housing options for
veterans, because we do have
homeless veterans on the east
side of the state. And this is
an opportunity for us to kind
of take a look at all of the
surroundings and some options
that we do have. So I just
wanted to share some ideas that
we're contemplating for the
current state veteran home over
there once we build the new one.
Next slide please. The second
large project that we're
working on currently right now,
and is to build our second
state veterans Cemetery in
Eastern Washington. Currently,
right now, we have one state
veteran cemetery that serves
about 500,000 veterans in our
state. We recognize that the
one federal cemetery that we
have in Tahoma and then ours
over in Medical Lake on the
east side, is not sufficient.
The VA gave us some data back
around 2016, 2017, and we
conducted a study and an
assessment to determine if the
area that you're looking at
right now online that's shaded,
you know, yellow or dark green
that you're looking at is sort
of the area that the VA would
like us to build a new veteran
state cemetery. So it's a 75
mile radius that is all of that
area. That's, that's in that
circle. And the location that
we've looked at is in the
Tri-Cities right now. The
cemetery would service about
46,000 veterans, and again,
that 75 mile radius would go
into Northern Oregon, as you
can see there in the northeast
corner as well. What we're
looking at is potentially is
about 400 interments a year at
this location. Next slide
please. Preferred site. We
looked at a lot of state
property, a lot of local
property, private property. We
narrowed it down to two
locations, one that was
privately owned in West
Richland, and the second one
was owned by the City of
Richland. We've identified the
property owned by the City of
Richland as the ideal location
for us to build our new State
Veterans Cemetery. There's a
lot of things that we look at
when it comes to considering.
We definitely work with the
National Cemetery
Administration, use their
requirements. So for example,
things that we're looking at is
access, public roadways,
availability of utilities,
suitability of the land, and
just the landscape in general.
We've conducted a pre-design
with the 500,000 that the
legislature gave us to take a
look at this thing right now.
We made a decision on the
location. We are going to go
with the City of Richland
location, and it's about 130
acres right now that we're
looking at. The city is going
to be donating that land to us.
Once we continue moving forward
with these projects, we are
going to have to do some
infrastructure work. And again,
that cost is going to be borne
by the state. So I will be
coming back to the legislature
to ask for some funding to be
able to do some of that work.
We have to run again all the
water, sewer, light, power and
everything to this property,
and currently it's a good
distance from where the
property, I mean, where those
utilities are currently located.
We also are going to have to
work on some road improvements.
We're looking at building a
traffic circle near this
location. Some of the things
that we've done is working with
the City of Richland and
working closely with them.
We've submitted some requests
with our congressional
delegation to ensure that if
there's possibilities for us to
receive federal dollars to do
some of that work. So we're
moving forward with those
requests. The City of Richland
has submitted those requests
with both Congressman Newhouse
and Senator Cantwell, to be
able to ask for those federal
dollars, to be able to do some
of this infrastructure work
that we need to get done before
we start doing this. We have
submitted our grant application
with the National Cemetery
Administration. They're aware
that we're going to be doing
this. Some next steps that we
have is the request to to take
care of the site improvements
that's going to be borne by
100% by the state. So I will be
asking the state for that.
We're going to be working very
closely with the City of
Richland to transfer that
property over to us as we
continue working on this. And
then we're going to be
submitting the federal grant
for the design and construction
to the National Cemetery
National Cemetery
Administration to be able to
build this new cemetery, the
grant dollars, the VA will pay
for 9,090% federally funded.
The state has to come up with
10% state match funds. The
other good thing about this is
once we complete the build of
the cemetery and they give us
the keys to to open the
cemetery, as long as we've done
everything correctly, the VA
may pay us back for the 10%
that the state provided. So
ideally, what we're looking at
is 100% reimbursed for building
a cemetery, which is very ideal
for the state. It's also an
opportunity for us to be able
to serve the 46,000 veterans
that are living in that tri
cities area in northern Oregon
as well. The other thing that
I'd like to talk about is
funding for this. Currently,
how many of us have the armed
Forces license plate on your
vehicles? Okay, there's only a
couple here in the room that
I'm seeing with your hands. So
what I wanted to share is that
right now, if you were to
purchase a Armed forces license
plate for your vehicle, part of
those fees come back to us to
be able to maintain and operate
the cemetery that we currently
have and the future cemetery
that we're going to be building.
So $28 of the fee that you pay
for the armed forces license
plates, come back, comes back
to your WDVA, so that we can
operate our state veterans
cemetery. The current budget
that we have that we currently
have is not going to sustain
the second cemetery. So we are
going to have to come back to
the legislature and ask for
additional funding to be able
to operate. So I'm going to be
asking for the FTEs and funding
to maintain and operate this
cemetery. So again, this is an
opportunity for the community
to continue to support us. If
you take a look and purchase
those license plates. So my ask
is the next time you renew your
license plates, if you have if
you don't have it, please
consider that because it does
support us and continue to help
us. Next slide please. So here
I'd like to talk a little bit
about our veteran service and
counseling and wellness program.
We currently have 23 counties
that we currently work with
that have county Vsos
accredited through your w d VA.
We contract with five of the
nonprofit veterans service
organizations. We also have a
memorandum of agreement with
ten of the Indian tribes in our
state. They also have tribal
veteran service officers that
are all accredited through us.
There are six additional
counties that contract directly
with us for VSO services. And
then currently right now, Steve
Gill, who manages these
contracts, has been they've
reached out to him. So we have
a couple other counties that
want to partner with us. So
we'll be working on that in the
next coming year to ensure that
we increase the number of
counties to ensure that we're
trying to cover all 39. I do
want to say thank you to Clark
County and to this advisory
board for the ongoing support,
the contract that we have, and
then the subcontract we have
with the Vietnam Veterans of
America. The work that we do
with Clark County is amazing,
and we continue to partner. So
I just want to say thank you
for that ongoing support.
Currently, right now in our
state, we are at about 33%
service connected with the
total number of veterans that
we have. Nationally, the
average is about 34%. So we
continue to do that work. So
what does that mean? Does that
mean that there are 67% of our
veterans that are not service
connected? I will say that
probably not to that level, but
there are a certain percentage
that would be an eligible for
for disability and pension. Not
every veteran is going to be
eligible for some type of
disability pension. There's
there's got to be some service
connection disability in order
to connect and be able to be
receiving those benefits. There
are other benefits that are
veteran may be eligible for. So
education V R, E and some other
things. But when it comes to
disability, as we all know,
there's got to be some service
connection. We recognize we
have work to do, especially in
our rural communities. So that
is an area that your w d VA is
really focused on as we travel
around the state and meet with
our counties, such as yourself,
to ensure that we're making
sure that we're having an
impact in those areas where we
have the vulnerable population
and our veterans decide to move
to. The other thing that I want
to say thank you to is that we
work with the the current four,
five veterans service
organizations that help us
connect veterans to their
benefits. Currently, right now,
we're bringing in about $3.7
billion into the state of
Washington throughout our
counties and our veterans and
their families, as we all know,
are spending those dollars in
the local community. So that's
3.7 billion that we're bringing
in to this state as a result of
service connection and pensions.
So I just wanted to talk about
that. Next slide please.
Transitional housing program.
And I mentioned this a little
earlier. We currently have
about 135 beds that we have for
transitional housing at two of
our facilities, one at the
Washington Soldiers Home in
Orting and the second over at
the Washington Veterans Home.
Total of 135 beds. We do not
have anything on the east side,
and this is the east side of
the state. This is why we're
looking at that model and
transferring it over to the
Spokane location. Once we're
able to move out from there, I
will be meeting with the
Spokane VA Medical Center next
week to talk about this idea
and hopefully get Garner some
interest. So I just wanted to
talk a little bit about that.
Also at our campus at the
Washington Soldiers Home in
Orting, we have a public
private partnership with New
Horizons. They have built 35
tiny homes on our campus. We've
leased five acres to them, and
they currently have 35 of those
tiny homes in our our property
that they lease. And they're
built for veterans. So it's a
supportive housing. The intent
is for them to stay. They can
stay there as long as they'd
like. But typically our
residents that live in the
transitional housing, what
typically happens is they go
through our program, they go
next door to the transitional
housing or locally to a
community where we're able to
find the goal for us is to get
them connected to their
benefits, get them connected to
any other type of benefit that
they've earned to get them
housed, to get them employed.
How do we go about doing that?
We have staff and we offer
wraparound services currently.
So when they come in, the first
thing that we do is make sure
that if they can get service
connected, that we do that. If
they haven't signed up for
Veterans Health Administration,
we make sure that we connect
them to their medical benefits.
If they're eligible for any VA
benefits, we also connect them
to those as well. And we also
work with our state agencies to
find out for employment
connection. We also recognize
that some of the veterans that
we take in are still dealing
with substance abuse. So we do
have a small number of beds
that we handle, that type of
care, and our staff are trained
to be able to do that. Case
management and wraparound
services. We have a pretty good
success rate in making sure
that we house house them and
that they're employed when they
leave. Now, the types of models
that we had, if we go to the
next slide, this slide
describes the type of models
and the type of beds that we
have. So you see bridge
clinical, low demand service
intensive, and then some
contracts that we have with the
VA, Puget Sound that talk with
our medical and recuperative
beds. So there's a variety of
types of models that we have,
and the residents can stay with
us from one day up to two years,
depending on the model. Also,
we have individuals, as I've
mentioned, that require some
service intensive. So some of
them may be still be using. So
we try to ensure that we work
with that and that we provide
that care and that service so
that we can move them forward
and progressing. The things
that make this model work is
that we have staff that work
with our veterans. When they
get admitted to the
transitional housing program,
the residents, our clients have
to do their work as well. They
have to continue to work and
progress on their recovery and
continue to focus on their
sobriety and focus on getting
better. They all have goals,
commitments, and things that
they're doing, just like we
used to when we were in the
military. They have duties that
they have to do in the in the
locations where they're at, in
the facilities. So whether it's
working in the day room,
working at doing some chow hall,
they're always doing something
in order to progress and
improve their ability to, to
continue. Because ultimately
for us, the goal is to get them
housed, employed, and to live
out in the community and have a
high quality of life. So again,
those are some things that we
work on at the facility to do
this. Next slide please. I
wanted to share about our with
our Women's Veterans Advisory
Committee. This is something
that was established several
years back. The intent for them
is to connect women to their
identity as veterans, change
the perception that women
veterans are veterans. Because
I know as I travel around the
state, I continue to hear where
they still have that imposter
syndrome, so to speak. We want
to make sure that women are
connected to their benefits. We
want to make sure that they're
recognized within the
communities. We recently were
over in Eastern Washington. We
went to Clarkston and Pullman,
where our Women Veterans
Committee got together in the
community and invited women
veterans. It's an opportunity
for them to get together,
fellowship, have conversations
about things that they're
dealing with, and also give us
information on areas that we
need to be focusing on
throughout the state. Our women
veterans also work on the
Incarcerated Women Vets program
at state institutions to ensure
that we're helping incarcerated
veterans as well, get service
connected when they're getting
out and providing type of
assistance while they're there
to continue to make sure that
they're being assisted. We also
have in our transitional
housing program, we have ten a
ten bed facility. Betsy Ross,
that specific for our women
veterans to ensure that they're
providing that level of care as
well. We continue to work with
federal VA to improve our
partnerships to ensure that the
women veterans have their
health services and continue to
work with the local VA medical
centers. Next slide please.
This is an overview. I'm not
going to go over all of them,
but these are other state
benefits that we want to make
sure that our veterans that
reside in the state of
Washington are aware of.
Obviously, number one, there's
no income tax in the state of
Washington when it comes to
this. Federal park passes state
park passes, long term care
that I mentioned about this.
The other thing that I wanted
to mention is that the
legislature did pass recently
that changed the tax exemption.
It used to be 80% starting in
December 31st of 2026, it will
be 40% eligibility. It is still
based on your income. But again,
they did change it and update
it. So I just wanted to make
sure that we're aware of that.
And again, these are some of
the other benefits that are
within this. And obviously you
all are aware of the County
Veterans Assistance Fund. You
all do an amazing job of making
sure that you're helping
residents within Clark County.
So thank you for that. The next
slide please. I wanted to
provide a little bit of an
update on, on what impacts that
we've had at your W Dyba for
2026. So we did request some
funding to work on some
projects. The Veterans Estate
Management program, we received
a state auditor's office, and
we had some findings regarding
how we're managing this overall.
Ultimately, what is what it
came down to is we don't have a
platform. We don't have a
software system that that we're
able to show them how we are
managing the dollars and money.
There was no finding on how
we're doing that. It was more
about having a system and
process in place for us to do
that. So we did receive some
funding to be able to work on
that, and I'll talk about that.
We've also had a Legionella
mitigation over at our
Washington Veterans Home that
we've been focusing on and
working for that, we needed to
recover some funding for that
to continue to work on that. We
also asked for some a small
amount of money for the central
office move to study. What does
that look like and do some
assessments. I would like to
would like to talk about the
impacts that the reductions
that we are having to face. So
the 2025 2027 operating budget,
as you can see, we took a
administrative reductions of
$103,000. And what that is for
us is taking a look at where
are we spending our money. So
some of the things that we're
going to be looking at is just
goods and services, how we go
about purchasing things,
replacing things and equipment.
So that was reduced by $103,000.
The next one was our suicide
prevention program, which is
services division that impacted
us. So we had to abolish 2.8
FTEs, which is a total of about
417,000 to that grant program.
So the impacts to this, this is
going to limit the amount of
trainings and stigma training
that we're able to provide and
the amount of outreach that we
do within the suicide
prevention program. So we
currently we have two staff
that are still doing this.
We're still going to be able to
do it. We're still going to be
able to travel around the state.
It's just going to be a limited
amount, and we're going to have
to really strategically target
how we're doing the work that
we're currently doing within
the suicide prevention program.
The next thing that I want to
talk about is another 224,000
that was reduced in the veteran
program definition of veteran.
So this is an area that last
year we were watching and
trying not to spend too much
because we needed to save
dollars. Ultimately, at the end
of the year, the legislature
saw that we were saving some
money. They went ahead and took
that money and future dollars
from us. So it's one of those
we save money, but we're also
they reduced it. So what this
is going to do is reduce the
amount of outreach that we're
doing on definition of a
veteran. This is an area that
we still are going to do this.
It's just reduced the number of
of abilities and interactions
that we're going to be able to
have statewide. The last thing
they want to talk about is
another reduction of 119 000 in
vet services, counseling and
wellness. This is an area where
over in general, again, they
saw some savings. They took the
116. We're going to continue to
do the work that we do. What's
going to happen is you're just
going to see a smaller
reduction of the impacts on the
work that we're doing overall.
We're still going to do the
same thing that we're doing.
It's just going to take us a
little bit more time to get
there, to get to the locations
that we want to get at, the
outreach that we're going to be
doing. It's just going to be
reduced to what we're doing
that. So I just wanted to share
that the impacts that we're
going to be feeling here over
the next couple of years
because of the budget. But I
still want to be able to come
out and continue to visit like
these and have these
conversations. And I think that
was the last slide. Yeah. So
this is a way that you can
connect with us. You have the
links that you can click on and,
and do this to connect with us.
So do you have any questions on
any information that I've
shared or just questions in
general?
>> Yes I do.
>> Okay.
>> If you go, can you go to
slide 14?
>> Patrick identify yourself.
>> Patrick Loch with the Korean
War and defense veterans. And a
few other organizations to at
least a few. Slide 14. Where
are the transitional housing
locations right now
specifically?
>> Sure. Currently we have two
locations. One is at the
Washington Soldiers Home in
Orting. We have a campus there.
And then the second location is
the Washington Veteran home in
Port Orchard. We have a total
of 135 beds at at both of these
locations.
>> So the one that's here is by
up on the hill by the VA
hospital area. Where is that?
>> No, the closest one is
probably going to be in Orting,
which is in Pierce County,
north of here. Okay. Washington
Soldiers home. And then the
second one is over in Kitsap
County, over on across the
Narrows Bridge on the west side
of.
>> Okay.
>> Patrick.
>> The one here is a VA
facility, correct?
>> Yeah, exactly. So how is
this one up here supporting
anything in Clark County?
>> Which one, sir?
>> The one you're talking about
in Kitsap County.
>> Gotcha.
>> So that. Does that support
anything in Clark County at all?
>> So what I will say about
that is the majority of our
referrals are coming from that
area there, whether it's King
Pierce, Thurston, Snohomish, we
take referrals across the state.
So there have been individuals
that have moved from the east
side of the state to come over
into the two transitional
housing programs.
>> And is that facility
available to people in Clark
County?
>> Yes. We would have to have a
conversation and figure out a
way to transport if they're
eligible. We would gladly come
here and move them into the
Clark County, into the
transitional housing program.
Some of the barriers that we
run into is our veterans that
do not reside near the
transitional housing program,
may not want to travel, may not
want to move. So those are some
challenges that we have. But we
do accept veterans that are
eligible from across the state.
>> So is there anything being
done to recognize something in
Clark County?
>> The currently right now your
w d VA is not looking at a
transitional housing program
here. As you mentioned, I do
know that the federal VA has
transitional housing here. So
that's how I can answer the
question for now.
>> So that's not being looked
at from w d VA currently.
>> No. Because some of the
barriers is having land
facilities and going through
the legislature to do this.
Right now. Federal VA will not
provide construction grants for
us to build transitional
housing. We would have to
already have a facility, own it,
run it and operate it, and then
apply for grants through the
local VA MC to be able to do
this.
>> Okay. Can you go to slide 13?
And claims assistance through
veteran service officers? We
have a contract through the
county here for providing serve
VSO services that's being paid
through the 1019 fund. Is that
accurate? Okay. I had a
conversation with a person from
Kitsap County that assured me
that the way that the system is
operated up there is that this
contract that is providing
these VSO service officers to
Clark County and being paid for
through the 1019 fund is
actually up in Kitsap County,
is being funded through a
federal program, and I'd like
to have that verified. If that
is the case, I'd like to know
why this couldn't be provided
through the federal program.
>> So I will answer this. I am
aware that Kitsap County
recently hired their county VSO
through the county. I will have
to go back and double check
what you're asking about,
whether there are any federal
dollars going to Kitsap County
on that.
>> Or not, I'd like to know.
>> I will do that.
>> And if there are, where are
they coming from? And is it
something that we can have
available to us here in Clark
County?
>> I will get that response to
you, sir, as quick as possible.
I would like to add to that
question. Federally, the
Elizabeth Dole Act that has not
been enacted yet. The Secretary
of VA, Secretary Collins, had a
committee hearing the other day
where he was asked this
specific question about the
Elizabeth Dole Act. He stated
that they're going to continue
to move forward and start
working on the policies that VA
needs to work on so that that
money that was allotted through
that, that means that county
Vsos may in the future be able
to receive some federal grant
dollars that you're asking and
you're talking about.
>> Okay.
>> So that's still in the
future. It's not happening
right now. It did. It is
included in the Elizabeth Dole
Act.
>> Which was.
>> Passed three years ago.
>> Yes. And VA has to work on
the policies in order to
implement it. So that's what
we're waiting on. The good
thing is, Secretary Collins
stated he is aware and his
intent is to move forward with
this.
>> Okay. And you'll follow up
with this and get us some
information on my questionnaire.
With that.
>> I will follow up and answer
the question about whether or
not Kitsap County is receiving
federal dollars. Yes, yes.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you. Yes, sir.
>> And let's see slide 16, if
you would, please. I believe
that was. Oh, no, go back one.
I'm sorry, is that. No. Go
forward. Forward. That's it.
Okay. The the Women's Veterans
Advisory Committee, that is a
that is a committee that is
under your WVAC organization.
>> Yes, it is it is not a
governor appointed. This was
created by the agency, the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
That's run through our agency.
>> Okay. And how is a person
appointed or elected or what is
the process of a person being
put on that committee?
>> So we currently have a board,
an advisory committee that
works with us. And just like
this committee here, this
advisory board, we have an
application process. Any woman
veteran that would be
interested in applying for this,
we can send you the information,
send them the information, so
that the board and the advisory
committee can have a
conversation about admitting
them to the program, to the
board.
>> Okay. And how would we
access that information?
>> I will send you a link so
that you have that.
>> Okay. Thank you. And slide
18. I think it is the last one.
The budget reductions. It
sounded as though you're saying
that even with all of these
reductions, that you're still
going to be able to do the same
thing. That doesn't make sense
to me.
>> I want to be clear about
this, even though I'm saying
that we're still going to be
able to do some of it. It's
going to be reduced. For
example, the suicide prevention
program, we had five FTEs. We
are now down to two.
>> That seems a lot.
>> It does seem a lot. I don't
disagree with you, but when I
say that we're still going to
continue to do it, we are going
to continue to do so.
>> We certainly can't do what
we were doing before. If it's
down 60%.
>> I agree, sir, I don't
disagree. So we're going to
continue to do what we can with
the resources.
>> We seem to be having a
tremendous amount of tax
increases coming in. And now
we're looking at reducing
programs in a big way. But
there's raising taxes
continuously. That doesn't make
sense to me. I don't know,
maybe others it does.
>> What millionaires.
>> Are leaving.
>> How? What is been going on
that's been reducing these. But
yet they're hollering for more
taxes and doing things that are
going to increase taxes. And
the whole income tax thing. We
know that's not going to be
just applied to millionaires
eventually. But how is this why
is this being reduced like this?
>> Well, I I'll answer it this
way, is that all state agencies
received a reduction, very
similar and administrative
reductions. And if agencies did
not spend funding and there
were savings there, those were
areas that the legislature
looked at trying to reduce. So
for us, it was a challenge
because we were trying to make
sure that we were managed and
we were being good stewards of
public funds. It just so
happened at the end of the year,
this is what we had. So we are
going to continue to do the
work. I recognize that I'm
saying I'm going to continue.
It's just going to be reduced
at the amount of impact that
we're going to have.
>> Okay.
>> So it's impactful.
>> Well, we got a copy of this
presentation. Okay. Thank you.
>> That's good.
>> Okay. That's all I.
>> Have concluded with the
meeting materials that I send
out after the meeting.
>> Okay.
>> Bob, I have a couple
questions I'd like to ask.
>> Okay, Mike. Go ahead,
identify yourself.
>> Speak right into the mic now.
Yes, I'd like to ask a couple
questions.
>> Identify yourself.
>> My name is Michael Langsdorf.
I've been a member of this
board twice each for about
three years. The question I
have to the speaker is how many
veterans are in the area around
Wahler Lodahl, their county?
How many veterans are there.
>> Which county.
>> Where Walla Walla is located?
>> Off the bat, I can't answer
the question. I'll make sure I
get that to you.
>> Well, does it have more or
less than Clark County?
>> Probably less. And that's
why I say probably because I
don't have the number yet.
>> So why are we spending so
much money east of the Rockies
and East state of Washington?
Why are we spending in Spokane
and Walla Walla and not in
Clark County?
>> So the projects that I spoke
about was the Spokane Veterans
Home, and we identified that
one as a priority just because
of the amount and location. So
during Covid, that location was
really impacted in the, the
type of facility that it is,
how it's situated. The fact
that we had two residents in
one room, the lack of privacy.
So the things that I've shared
of one of some of the reasons
why we're doing that. So that
location was a priority for us
to replace and build for memory
care as well. The second
location was the Soldiers Home,
just because of the age and
location. The advantage that we
have at the Soldiers Home is we
don't need to purchase property.
There's 140 acres there. We're
going to be able to build on
site. The reason that we're
building a cemetery in the
Tri-Cities is we received
information from federal VA,
the National Cemetery
Administration, that that is an
area that they would like us to
focus on when it comes to
serving the 46,000 veterans
that live in that in that 75
mile radius.
>> I'm with you. What I'm
trying to say, and we in Clark
County have been saying this to
you for at least ten years. You
do everything in north of us,
everything to the east of us.
But you don't do anything in
Clark County to speak of. In
fact, we've been paying your
agency $135,000 a year for two
vsos. And where's the extra
money going?
>> The extra money is going for
the administrative costs to
managing the oversight of the
contracts, and for us to ensure
that they're accredited,
trained and etc. So that's
where that administrative fee
is going to. The issue about us
doing things in Clark County, I
think we are. I understand what
you're asking us. So an example
is the National Cemetery
Administration. Probably within
the last 30 days, I sent an
email reminding you all that
there was an opportunity to
voice and attend a public
hearing with federal VA because
they're building and expanding
the Willamette National
Cemetery, a reason that we
cannot build one here is the
proximity to the location. They
use that 75 mile radius when it
comes to cemeteries, national
cemeteries. Now, if we in the
state of Washington decide we
want to have a state veterans
cemetery, that's fine, but then
I'm going to have to go to the
legislature and ask to buy the
property, all the
infrastructure and all the
other work that needs to happen.
And the VA may not give us
grant dollars to do that
because of the proximity of the
one in Oregon. So those are
things that we're willing to
have a conversation and talk
about. But again, it's going to
come down to cost.
>> We're having a conversation
right now, and we've been
saying this to your
organization for at least ten
years. Why do you not do
anything other than basically
take a contract from us for
135,000? Pay two of your CSOs,
less than 135,000? That's been
going on for ten years.
>> So I think the thing that
I'll add to the conversation is
we are looking at long term
strategically. Should we look
at building a state veteran
home down in the southwest
southwest corner of the state?
>> You said that.
>> I understand that, but I
need to replace the other two
first, because those are
because it's a priority. Sir.
>> Don't most people, when they
check into you or in a nursing
home, they want to see their
children or their wives, and
they have to drive all the way
to Spokane or to.
>> Right now the. Locations
would be Orting know they can
go to Orting or Port Orchard or
the two closest state veteran
homes. The other thing that the
VA does to meet that need is
they contract with local
private, skilled nursing
facilities to be able to
provide that level of service.
So the VA does reimburse
private nursing homes if they
have a contract with them to be
able to provide that level of
care for our veterans in the
local communities. So that is a
way that it's currently being
done.
>> Well, my my point of I'm
trying to get across and maybe
I'm not doing it. Clark County
is a very growing location.
Most people who have people who
need memory care in their homes
don't want to really travel 120
miles to be able to see their
kids or see their their spouses.
And yet you continue to say,
we're going to put the money up
north, or we're going to put it
in east of the mountains.
You're not doing anything for
Clark County at all. In my
estimation.
>> Understood. Mr. Langsdorf, I
hear you.
>> Well, but what are you doing
about it?
>> I we will continue to
strategize and work on to
ensure that we're meeting those
needs. Now, as I mentioned, for
the nursing home, the federal
VA does contract with local
private nursing homes to
provide that level of care so
that the Clark County veteran
does not have to go up to
Orting or to Port Orchard or to
Spokane or Walla Walla. They
can receive that skilled
nursing care here in Clark
County. If that nursing home
has a contract with VA, that is
a way that that service is
currently being met.
>> Can you provide us the
information so we can pass it
on to some of the nursing homes
down here?
>> Yes, I will, I will try to
get the information about which
nursing homes currently have
contracts with VA so that you
have that.
>> The second thing I'd like to
ask for, and I think we've been
asking for this for several
years now, is your office keeps
telling us that we have
somewhere between 32 and 35
veterans in this county. Is
that correct?
>> I will have I will have to
double check that data, but
it's close to what I remember.
>> So something that a lot of
the service groups have asked
me to ask you is please provide
all the names of people in
Clark County that are veterans
so that they can get in touch
with them and make sure they're
getting offered services by the
different organizations in our
county.
>> I think that's a reasonable
request. And we're still trying
to get that data from federal
VA right now.
>> So with that, when they come
into our county, you your
organization finds out from the
different militaries who is
retiring or getting out and you
get the information to come up
with the number of veterans.
What they would like to do is
when you get that information,
please provide it to us so we
can put it out to all the
organizations in Clark County.
>> Thank you.
>> That's it.
>> G.
>> Gene.
>> I want to maybe.
>> I have identify yourself.
>> I'm sorry. My name is Jean
couture. I'm from post 14,
American Legion. I'd like to
reframe just a little bit of
what you said and say. Is there
something that we can actually
do to get some of these
services down here? We have we
have been underserved partially
because we're next to Portland,
you know, can't do anything
about that. But is there
something we can do actively to
bring some of these services
down?
>> So I will say this, that we
have I have had conversations
with the agency and the
leadership team about any
efforts that we have that
become vacant. Is there a
possibilities for moving them
down to the southwest corner of
the state? So I recognize the
ask and the need, because this
is a similar question that I
get asked. Typically when I
come down to visit you all. I'm
not ignoring you. I'm trying to
figure out a way with the
limited resources that we have
to be able to provide that
service. Currently, it's being
met in other, other avenues,
whether it's nonprofit
organizations, county, VSO, the
contract you have with US or
federal VA is doing some things.
I recognize you don't see a
WDVA body here. I get that we
are working at trying to ensure
that we're doing that. As we
evaluate and look at our
current resources to do that in
the future. Now we also have
members from the Women's
Veterans Advisory Committee
that live down in this area. So
they are, you know, again,
those are things that they
representing the agency and
speak for us. So we're trying
to do the best that we can with
the resource that I have. But I
hear you.
>> Thank you know I appreciate
now a completely different
question. As a certified old
person, I appreciate the things
that you're doing to serve old
people with your presentation.
The cemetery, the old soldiers
home, etc. most of the stuff
you have told us is for older
veterans. One of the problems
that I know we're having at
American Legion, and I'm sure
the other posts are having, is
getting the younger veterans in,
but that's a huge issue. Some
of it's just societal change.
We can't do anything about that.
But I noticed in one of your
goals was serving the entire
population of vets. I wonder if
you could add a goal to that,
of coming up with a service
that would simply attract
younger veterans, child care. I
don't know if I knew it to now,
but you're talking about
setting goals for expanding VA.
I'm asking, could you add
something to serve younger vets?
>> We can, and I think I want
to answer that in a manner that
things that we're doing
currently are right now. We
recognize that challenge that
you just brought up. Because
when I look at the current
contracts that we have with the
five non, with the five Vsos
that are working in this space,
they're wiser. Right? I'm not
going to use the word older.
They're just wiser. Right. And
we're having they're having a
hard time hiring younger
individuals that have
experience working in this
veteran space. So this is an
area that as an agency, we're
taking a look at how are we
going to deal with this in the
future. I don't want to wait
five, ten years down the road
where it happens, and then no
one's doing the work. We're
having conversations exactly
about how to do and attract
that. So I hear you, and those
are things that we're actively
trying to figure out as well.
>> Well, if you figure any of
them out, share those with us.
>> Of course.
>> I'm sorry. There was one
other question.
>> Yes, Mike.
>> We have a piece of property
that is called Camp Bonneville.
We've got a lot of land there.
It wouldn't cost you anything
to acquire that land. You could
probably enter into an
agreement with Clark County.
They've got a lot of acreage
there, and that might be a
place that we would put some
things for nursing home or
something.
>> Thank you.
>> Greg Gilbertson also has his
hand raised online.
>> Yeah. Can you hear me? Yep.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Okay. So I just had a
couple comments and a couple
questions for David, but I
think in reality, this, this
board, the, the four priorities
that David brought to us on his,
one of his first slides, this
committee, this advisory board,
we need to come up with some of
our priorities to take back to
David or get to David before,
you know, we just start
slinging, you know, this or
that or this this question or
that question. The Camp
Bonneville thing. Sure. That's
a great idea, but it's going to
be a long process. And we know
that it's not going to happen
overnight. Yeah. David's
organization is doing a great
job, and I've worked with a
couple of his folks on the on
the suicide awareness training,
Donald Keesee being one of them.
Last spring or last fall, they
came to our post and provided a
suicide prevention training to
about 25 or so VFW memberships
and their spouses. That was an
outstanding training. I put the
word out to this board, and I
didn't see many people come
from this board. So if we're
going to do this stuff and
they're going to provide the
resources we need to be there
willing to commit the time to
be there. So I, I give them
kudos for, for that. And they
are doing the best they can.
And given the reductions that
they're, that they're facing, I
think a lot of it is federal
reductions too. So we have to
realize they are being their
budget is being reduced because
they're they're getting reduced
in some of the federal. You
know, money coming in. Is that
right, David?
>> The federal reduction that
we took was probably less than
18 months ago. That is an area
where we're receiving a grant
dollars, federal dollars to
have. Vet Corps members located
through about 30 campuses,
educational universities and
colleges where they were
working. They're assisting
veterans that are going to
school and their family members
to provide, make sure they're
getting connected, outreach and
having that resource available
in those universities and
colleges. We no longer have
that. Well, we received a call
on on a Friday. I want to say
it was like a 3 or 4:00 and the
federal government just stopped
funding it. So that is one area
that we took a hit.
>> Okay.
>> So yeah, I mean, that's an
example of an immediate drop in
federal funding. So we need to
recognize that they're doing
their best job, but we need to
come up with some priorities
prior to this meeting to to
send back. I mean, that's
that's the reality of it.
Living in this in the
environment. And then the other
question I had, David, was
about and you and I, you and I
have spoken a couple of VFW
conferences and conventions,
and I appreciate your
candidness that those
conventions as well for the VFW.
Maybe I'll see you next month
in Wenatchee for our summer
convention. I.
>> I will be there.
>> All right. Sounds good sir.
Look forward to talking to you
then. The other question I did
have was related to the Women
Veterans Advisory Committee. Is
that a is that a completely
virtual committee or do they do
they rotate throughout
throughout the state to
different counties?
>> So those meetings are
conducted just like this one in
person and virtually.
>> Okay. So in person, where is
that out of Olympia or where is
that out of?
>> It depends on where they
want to have it. They do travel
around the state. So for
example, as I mentioned, part
of our governor, Veterans
Affairs Advisory Committee in
the morning session, the Women
Veterans Advisory Committee has
their breakout session for an
hour. So we have those four
times a year throughout
different locations. And then
the advisory committee
currently meets throughout the
year, 3 to 4 times a year on
their own at different
locations. There will be a
women's veterans conference
coming up in the near future. I
know they're working on
planning that right now, but
anyone that's interested in
attending can participate in
person depending on where the
location is at, or they can
attend virtually like this
meeting.
>> Okay. Outstanding. Because
the reason why I bring that up
is it's my VFW post. We're
looking to stand up a, a
women's veterans honor guard or
color guard specifically made
up of all women, including
Sarah Fox, Cynthia Ross and
Julie Mikella, a few others so
that they may be interested in,
in, in getting involved with
that. And if others are
interested in a all women's
color Guard honor guard that
may be expanded outside of
Clark County, you know, that
might be an opportunity to
bring it up at that Women's
Advisory committee. So I will
relay that information to them
and appreciate your time. And
thanks for coming to the
meeting, David.
>> So for that color guard, I'm
going to make a note for myself
to share with our chair so that
if that's implemented, maybe
they can attend the conference.
>> Yeah, they they haven't
started that yet. They're
starting some meetings this
summer, but it's been in
discussion for a little while.
So now now they're trying to
move forward with it. So I'll,
I can let you know maybe in
June when I see you, how, how
they're progressing.
>> Yeah. Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. Just. Are you going to
stay? Are you leaving?
>> I can stay as long as you
want me to stay.
>> Yeah, just. And then became
a member at large and vice
chair. And this is a very
specific question. You and I
talked about it before we got
going, but I was afraid. Afraid?
You're going to get away from
me. This committee has is
significantly involved in
making advice regarding
contract budgets for the the
County Council. Matter of fact,
our briefing is being presented
to the County Council on the
3rd of June. A specific
question that I got from one of
the councilors was you the
WDVASO requested money for 2027
is 6.5% increase over the 2026
budget. No other contract
administrator in the county has
had a 6.5 increase. They're
generally run between 3 and
3.5%. And we are, as I said,
it's a very specific, but I've
got to go answer him. Why does
the WDVA contract for veteran
service officers almost double
that in for the other veteran
contracts for 20.
>> I will get you a really good
answer. I will send that to you
so that you have that for your
June 3rd meeting.
>> I'll look forward to your
really good answer. Yeah, yeah.
>> I've got a I've got a
question, or at least a comment.
I'm getting a little backlash
back and forth. Larry Smith I'm
a member at large. And as we go
forward, you got to be
proactive and think ahead about
the growth of this community.
And I worry greatly about it
especially. And I'm very much
read into it, especially about
the new bridge going in. That's
going to have a significant
impact on veterans, on VA
services coming from across the
river over here, where we're
staffed over here to provide
those services and so forth.
I've seen some of the plans of
that bridge, and you're talking
about a project that may go
seven years. It's. And it will
do a dramatic impact of people
trying to commute back and
forth, not only veterans, but
people going to O, H, S, U and
getting those services from
across the river. And how we
plan for that, how we organize
it and so forth. But then I
heard about Bonneville.
Bonneville is a wonderful place.
Yeah, but it's providing the
services to Bonneville and
getting those services out
there. And you want to be close
to those services as we
possibly can. That's why we're
so fortunate to have the VA
build a hospital over here and
and Vancouver, because that
almost didn't happen years ago.
But I just want to caution as
we look forward to be very
progressive and think about the
growth of this area. It is
growing. It's growing very
rapidly and being prepared to
make decisions that compensate
that we live next to a another
community called Portland that
does provide a great deal of
services, just that's all. Just
a heads up.
>> Thank you for that.
>> Also, Larry, I don't know if
you're familiar with, but
there's conversations right now
about a pre toll on the bridge.
So it's not when the bridge is
done that they're going to
start putting tolls on. But
before it's done. And as it
begins they're going to start
tolling that bridge.
>> DAV.
>> Yeah.
>> VA is.
>> So critical to us.
>> I have no idea what it's
going to be.
>> And and Bruce Moss with a
just a follow up question.
There's been some talk here in
southwest Washington about
expanding, having some type of
emergency care services
available through the VA campus
here in Portland, instead of
having to go into downtown
Portland. And once the bridge
gets told, then there's going
to be this great divide where
there's going to be demand of
services similar to available
in Portland to be available
here in Vancouver, Clark County
in the years ahead.
>> So luckily tomorrow I will
be attending the 7570 fifth
anniversary at Seattle VA
Medical Center. And in
attendance is supposed to be
the vision. So Doctor Boyd from
VA and also other members from
federal VA. So I will ask her
that specific question that you
just stated.
>> Anything else? Yes, sir.
>> Yeah. Steve Hamacher.
>> Just a minute, Steve.
>> I'm really in.
>> The dark on this whole issue
and partly partly to do it's
possible to be in the dark
regarding entitlements as a
veteran in the state of
Washington for cemetery or for
nursing home. But coupled with
that, there was a story in the
Willamette Weekly a few years
back about a well-heeled man
that had the state as his
guardian, and he got placed in
a very dive on 82nd Street. If
you remember that story, they
ran it. I don't know if they
did a follow up, but given that
juxtaposition, each of us
should have some understanding
about the use of the cemetery
and the nursing home in the
state of Washington, I, for one,
do not. Okay, how do we get
what you know and what you're
empowering this board to do to
get that information out here
in the resource center. So it's
not just the homeless person
that's being served, but it's
that old timer or otherwise
that would like to know about
this. What, 500? You said
roughly 5 or 600 people. That's
my statement. I would like to
know the cost for each
individual that's housed in
those nursing homes across the
state of Washington, compared
to what could be in a
comparable private endeavor,
whether it be homeshare or or
corporate run building. In
other words, take a look at the
cost. I'd rather have the money
in that. Put it into a nursing
home because our numbers are
going to explode and no one's
talking about that. Thank you.
>> So two things. The first
questions that you asked about
the outreach and education and
understanding the entitlements
for the state of Washington,
we're more than willing to come
back. So if you decide to have
a town hall meeting and
listening session, or you need
us just to create one and
invite Clark County residents
to come and talk to us, I'm
happy to do that like this and
just have tables depending on
what it is that you want and
how you want to model that. So
what I would ask this advisory
board is take a look at what it
is that your needs are, and
then let me know. And then I'm
glad to be able to provide that
service whenever you need to.
And I can work with our team to
make sure that we show up and
that we're providing those
answers for you. The second one,
I can give you information, and
I'll be happy to add that to my
list that I'll be responding to
the board about that. Just
quickly state skilled nursing
homes that provide care for our
veterans, save save federal
dollars. We're a better we
provide a high level quality of
service at a better rate than
federal VA and private industry.
So I understand the question
that you're asking, and a lot
of it is very different when it
comes to reimbursement rates.
And it's hard. So I'll give you
an example. Right now we're
asking the federal VA to, to
reimburse us for medication
that we're taking that when we
care for a resident. For
example, if that veteran has
cancer or some type of
medication, that's highly
expensive. One example that
I'll give you is we have a
resident in one of our nursing
homes on the the west side,
$16,000 a month for the
medication. The state is having
to take that expense. The
federal VA is not reimbursing
us for that medication. Now, if
that same resident decides to
go outside and reside in a
private, skilled nursing home,
federal VA will pay for that
medication. So all we're asking
for is to treat us fairly and
equally and reimburse us for
those medications so that we're
able to provide that service.
Because right now, the state is
taking on that cost. When it
comes to that, I'm not saying
it's it's prevalent, but there
are cases that we have in our
nursing homes where we are
paying that high, higher level
of cost for medication for
residents that do need it.
Right now, we're not turning
anybody down. It's just those
are things that we're
evaluating in our in our
nursing homes. I will say
nationally, other state veteran
homes are taking a hard look at
that. So when it comes to
admission in other states, not
in this state, other states are
taking a hard look at whether
or not they're going to admit a
resident that has that level of
need in our state. We do not do
that. We evaluate when you come
in, if we can provide that
level of service, we will admit
you based on whatever the needs
are.
>> If I can comment.
>> Yes, sir.
>> Met a lady at a stand down
and her dad got placed.
>> Here locally on this campus.
She had she had learned about
an attorney firm back in the
eastern seaboard that all they
do for 900 bucks at the time
was look at your file and give
you options for placing your
dad. And he ends up right here
in our backyard. What it gets,
it gets me that we can pay good
money. That's not a hell of a
lot of money, but good money
and have an attorney tell us
our options. But we want to
know as a resident, what do we
have our options long before we
have to decide that we have
nothing, and we are going to
have to hopefully qualify for a.
>> Once you once this committee
or board decides what type of
outreach you're looking for, I
will be glad to ensure that one
of the members that we bring is
our.
>> Admission.
>> So that they can answer
those questions for you so that
you know what it will entail
and what we can offer. Thank
you. You're welcome sir.
>> That's what we need.
>> Anything else? If not, we'll
move on. And thank you, David.
>> Well, I appreciate the
interactions and the questions.
I took a lot of notes, so I
will make sure to respond to
what the questions that you
asked. So thank you for your
time.
>> Yes, Mike.
>> Here's the guy.
>> Abby.
>> Make a copy of all those
slides.
>> She's going to she's already
said that.
>> Okay. I was trying to get
you out of here, but this is
the chart. It was pretty like
this guy.
>> Okay, Abby, you want to do
the contractor reports?
>> Absolutely. Thank you. Bob.
Sorry. And thank you so much,
David, for coming down here to
speak with us and for following
up on those questions from the
board. So this is the March
2026 contractor and fund
reports for the Clark County
Veterans Assistance Center.
There were 649 visits to the
center for Essentials and Food,
with 907 sack breakfasts and
lunches and 81 food boxes
provided, for a total of 1,628
pounds of food provided. They
also had 632 volunteer hours,
totaling $25,457 in value. They
served 43 veterans in March,
with services totaling
$24,278.57. Of these, 38 were
male, five were female, zero
were widows and zero others
were served, and there were
nine denial, zero of which went
to appeal. At the free clinic.
There was one veteran served in
March, services totaled $640 in
value, and they build $724.65
to the fund for the w d VA
first quarter, they had 985
claims, with a 91% batting
average for successful claim
reimbursement, and they helped
clients receive a total of
$2,339,511 in VA payments. As
for the Veterans Assistance
Fund, the March revenue was
$60,154.04. Expenditures were
$63,018.51. At the end of March,
the fund balance stood at
$384,148.01, which was a $2,864
and 47 cent decrease from the
previous month. Any questions?
All right. Back to you, Bob.
>> Okay. Veterans Assistance
Center, who's online?
>> That would be myself, Sonya
Wood. Judy is out this week.
>> Okay. Tell us what you got
going.
>> I'm really only here to
report that. Just to remind you
that we have our up Dayley
upcoming gala coming up next
month in June on the 20th, and
we're still working on Stand
Down, which will be on
September 25th. This month or
this year.
>> You have a flier for that
gala?
>> Yes, sir. We do. It's on our
website, and I believe I can
send it to Abby if she needs.
>> Please do send it to Abby so
she can send it out to the
members.
>> Yes, sir. I'll get that done
today. And that's all I have.
>> Okay. Thank you. Old
business. Did you have
something, Patrick?
>> Yes, I do, I regarding the
Veterans Assistance Center,
we'd like to get a current
organization chart and to be
notified of any changes in the
organizational structure of the
assistance center. We would
also like to get a copy of the
last two years of 990 form
filing.
>> Okay. I can get that done
for you.
>> Okay. And a question, is
there a current business plan
in place for the assistance
center?
>> I am not 100% sure I have to
talk with Judy on that. We do
have a meeting coming this
Monday in the afternoon. We
have a consultant coming in to
help us to get a strategic plan
going for the next couple years.
>> Okay. We would like to get a
status on what the business
plan plan is and what the
progress is on it.
>> All right. I will make sure
that we get that to you.
>> Okay. And is there currently
a nomination committee in place
that's working on. I understand
there's some restructuring
going on in the organization.
Is there a nomination committee
that's doing research on
candidates for different
positions in the organization?
>> Not that I'm aware of. At
this time last month, we did
have our I should say, starting
in March, there were
nominations for president, Vice
president, secretary and
treasurer, and those were voted
on at the April meeting and
that I am the current president.
Desha, who is one of our CSOs,
is the current vice president,
and Varun, who is one of our
volunteers, has been voted in
as Secretary and treasurer at
this time. Once we meet with
the consultant and we talk with
them more, we may find that
there might be other people
that are better suited for
different positions, but we
won't know that until we talk
with the consultant.
>> Okay, can we get a report on
that next month's meeting?
>> Absolutely.
>> Thank you.
>> Any more questions for the
Veterans Center? Any more old
business? Have not removed a
new business. What do we have
for new business?
>> Mr. chair, can I just kind
of briefly explain something in
an email that I had Abby sent
out to the board members, Bruce
Moss, board secretary for
everybody here, there's going
to be a change in accessibility
standards when presenting in
public meetings. It's going to
take effect next year. It's a
federal law. I had Abby send
out the email. I'm not going to
get into details of it, but you
can just go ahead and just read
the information and keep it in
back of your minds that when we
do these public meetings, we're
kind of being a little bit more
descriptive because as many of
you know, we've got disabled
veterans in our community who
might be viewing our board
meetings. And if they've got
like TBI or they have some type
of disability to where they can
comprehend what's going on in
the meeting, it just gives them
a chance to be more descriptive
and to get out there and serve
our disabled veterans who view
this program. That's all I'm
going to say about this. The
county will be providing follow
up information by way of staff
as we meet this new federal
requirement going forward in
2026. That's all I have.
>> Okay.
>> Mr. President, can I ask a
question?
>> Yes, sir.
>> There was a bill that we all
read, the engrossed bill of
2442. There was in the minutes
it says that it does not start
until January 1st, 2027. I'd
like the executive to ask the
prosecuting Attorney's office
for written interpretation,
because I read it. It may have
come started sooner than that.
>> We can do that.
>> Can we do that? I'd ask that.
We ask for a because we can't
do it individually. We have to
ask it a board.
>> Yeah. I'm happy to reach out
to our prosecuting attorney for
written interpretation of when
the bill will start, and I'll
follow up with you all on that.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you Abby.
>> I'm going to. Announcement.
>> Yes.
>> Public service announcement.
Don't forget Memorial Day 10
a.m. 11 a.m. It's at 10 a.m. on
Monday, the 25th at the parade
field at the American Flag. The
garrison flag hopefully will be
raised at 930. The ceremony
starts at ten. Captain Marv
Sirhan Shari, a retired Navy
captain, will be the keynote
speaker. Congressman,
Congresswoman Perez has
acknowledged she will be there,
and it's important that we
support these things. I get a
little miffed when I look out
there, and then people make a
thousand excuses why they don't
get their butt out of bed or
out of the couch and come on
down and take part in that
visibility, especially with all
the crap that's going on in the
world right now, especially a
war in Iran. And our American
troops are scattered throughout
the country. It's so important
we remember those folks that
have given their lives to this
country. And as I remind a lot
of folks, we talk about 58,000
that are lost. There are more
people that are lost out of
Vietnam than what you see
because of Agent Orange,
because of wounds and so forth.
When Memorial Day, we recognize
those that killed in combat.
But technically, these
individuals end up dying alone
along the way, especially Agent
Orange. And so there's a hole,
at least what I've been told,
over 140,000 folks have
probably been killed with
Vietnam because of the diseases,
because of Agent Orange and all
the other stuff that went on.
But trying to get people out
there and this is not Memorial
Day is not done for veterans.
It's done for the public. It's
trying to get the folks out
there to appreciate that,
because I often hear folks come
back and say, well, Larry,
that's just for veterans.
That's ceremonies, veterans.
And I said, BS. It's for
everyone in this community to
show up and be part of that and
recognize, especially the Gold
Star families that will be
there and thank them for their
service and thank them for
their loved ones. So just want
to remind you, that's again,
it's Tuesday, it's Monday, it's
at 10 a.m. 9:11 a.m. we started
an hour early and it's at the
parade field at the flagpole.
Okay.
>> Thank you Larry.
>> I'll be there.
>> Yeah, I figured you would be.
>> Any more new business.
>> Yes, Mr. Chair, we're less
than 60 days out from
Independence Day weekend.
There's a lot of festivities
and acknowledgments around our
community that will be going on.
There's also large flags,
displays that will be available
in and around Clark County. The
two big ones are down at the
Fort and also the Clark County
Fairgrounds, and then also some
of our local businesses will be
displaying the big flag as well.
There should be a flag on
display at 10th and Main Street
in downtown Vancouver, and I'll
probably update with more
information as we get closer.
Of course, there's a 250 year
committee through the Clark
County Historical Society going
on, so everybody's looking
forward to whether July will be
here before we know it. Thank
you.
>> Okay.
>> Make a motion. We adjourn
second.
>> Can I make.
>> Some comments? I'll see you
later.
>> Okay? Okay. It's been moved
and seconded that this. Board
adjourn.
>> We have an open forum.
>> Right.
>> Those opposed?
>> I'm good.
>> Adjourn.
>> There you go.
>> Greg's asking for an open
forum.
>> Mister chair.
>> Do we have any other side
conversations that need to be
done? Because we did that last
month before we adjourn. Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Have a good day, everyone.
Enjoy the sunshine next week