2020-08-19 Senior Advisory Minutes
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SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUMMARY
August 19, 2020 @ 2:00PM
Via ZOOM
Commissioners Present: Chair Debbie Harvey, Vice Chair Lana Bostic, Hope Elder, Sue Ellebrecht,
Lynette Karasuda, Kevin King, Catherine North, Cheryl Volheim, Frank
Fields (Alternate), Dora “Pal” Leonard (Alternate)
Absent: None.
Staff Present: Council President Susan Honda & Jeri-Lynn Clark, Executive Assistant
Citizens Present: Rev. Colleen Chinen (Assoc. Pastor from Steel Lake Presbyterian
Church)
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
None.
3. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Elder shared that she loves the new resource pamphlet and is very proud of it.
Commissioner North shared that she has restocked the pamphlets at the Federal Way Farmers
Market. Commissioner Fields shared that he has 3 different locations at SHAG and has refilled
them 3 times already.
4. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. APPROVAL OF 7/15/2020 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION TO APPROVE 7/15/2020 MEETING MINUTES BY VICE CHAIR BOSTIC, SECOND BY
COMMISSIONER KARASUDA. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. UPDATE FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. PELLICCIOTTI
Rep. Mike Pellicciotti from the 30th District Representatives shared what his office has been
working on for seniors.
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HB1181
• Modifies income qualifying thresholds for the property tax exemption, valuation
freeze, and deferral programs for low-income senior citizens, individuals with
disabilities, and disabled veterans.
• Expands the property tax deferral program for low-income senior citizens, individuals
with disabilities, and disabled veterans such that heirs and devisees may maintain the
deferral.
• Adjusts the disability rating qualification for the disabled veterans property tax
exemption program to 80 percent
*This did not pass the House Rules Committee during the 2020 Session.
HB1390
• Provides a one-time 3 percent increase to the retirement benefits of retirees in the
Public Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System Plans 1,
up to a maximum of $62.50.
• Applies the one-time increase to eligible retirees on July 1, 2020.
*Signed into law by Governor Inslee. Effective 7/1/2020.
HB141
• Removes the proration of the final month's benefit when a state retirement system
member dies, and instead provides a full month of public pension benefits.
*This did not pass the House Appropriations Committee during the 2020 Session.
Rep. Pellicciotti encourages citizens to reach out to his office if you have any questions or
ideas on how to help seniors.
C. BROCHURE UPDATE
Commissioner will share their updates with staff by Friday, August 21, 2020.
D. NEXT STEPS FOR THE COMMISSION
Councilmember Fields would like to promote disaster preparedness for all businesses to
better plan for pandemics and natural disasters. We shared that King County Health is the
entity to share that training. He would also like to have more parking available near the
senior apartments.
Vice Chair Bostic would like to have a Senior Center more centrally located in Federal Way.
Commissioners agree that they would like to have a closer location to go to in Federal Way.
Federal Way Senior Center is too far out for a majority of seniors. A subcommittee will be
created to research what other cities senior centers offer to see what we are missing, they
will also compare the Federal Way Community Center and Federal Way Senior Center to
see if they are duplicating any activities or can we ask the Federal Way Community Center
to do something that the Federal Way Senior Center is doing. Each facility has their own
unique strengths and offer something special.
Vice Chair Bostic and Commissioner North will check with the area senior centers and report
back at the September meeting.
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5. STAFF REPORT
None.
6. NEXT MEETING
Wednesday, September 16, 2020 @2:00 PM.
7. ADJOURN – The meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
Attest:
Jeri-Lynn Clark
Jeri-Lynn Clark, Exec. Assistant to Council
Approved by Senior Advisory Commission: 10/21/2020