09-15-2021 Senior Advisory Comm PacketCITY OF
. Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION
Remote Meeting
September 15, 2021 — 2:00 PM
Notice: Due to rising cases of COVID-19 in King County and the region and pursuant to Governor
Inslee's Proclamation 20-28, all city meetings will be held remotely until further notice. The Mayor and Council
encourage you use one of the following ways to participate in the meeting:
Click Here to submit written comments to the Senior Advisory Commission
Listen to the live meeting: (888) 788-0099 or 253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 967 3314 8653
Watch from the Zoom mobile app with meeting: 967 3314 8653 and password: 640094
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. CITIZEN COMMENT
a. (Comment limit— 3 minutes)
3. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
4. COMMISSION BUSINESS
Topic
Action
Est.
Presenter
or Info
Time
A.
Welcome new Commissioner
Info
5 Min
Chair Harvey
B.
Approval of 5/19/2021 meeting minutes
Action
5 Min
Chair Harvey
C.
South County Senior Centers & Resources
Info
15 Min
Sarah Butler Willis
D.
Pamphlet —Update and Purchase
Action
20Min
Chair Harvey
E.
How Can We Support the FW Senior Center
Action
20 Min
Vice Chair Bostic
F.
Post Pandemic — What does it mean to Seniors?
Info
30 Min
Chair Harvey
G.
Cancelation of November 17, 2021 meeting
Action
5 Min
Chair Harvey
5. STAFF REPORT
None.
6. NEXT MEETING
November 17, 2021 @ 2:OOPM
7. ADJOURN
Jeri -Lynn Clark, Executive Assistant to Council, 253-835-2401
Council President Susan Honda, 253-835-2401
CITY OF
Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
SENIOR ADVISORY COMMISSION
SUMMARY
May 19, 2021 @ 2:OOPM
Hylebos Conference Room
Commissioners Present: Vice Chair Lana Bostic, Sue Ellebrecht, Lynette Karasuda, Kevin King,
Catherine North, Cheryl Volheim, Frank Fields, Ken Pratt &
Absent: Chair Debbie Harvey, Commissioners Hope Elder & Dora "Pal" Leonard
(Alternate)
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 2:00 p.m.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Terri Cleveland Meridian Court apartments are newly renovated and are available at low rent
costs. Thank you for all of the work the Commission does for the Community. They are
located at 31420 23rd Ave S, Federal Way, WA 98003, near Steel Lake Park.
Commissioner Fields asked how often is rent raised at Meridian Court. Ms. Cleveland shared
that they are a Housing Tax Credit low income property and have to follow procedures and will
do not raise the rent during the term of their lease. Example of an income limit for 1 person is
$48,000 annually and the applicant will need to prove a gross monthly income 2x the monthly
rent. Apartment rates are 50%-60% below market value of similar units. If anyone has more
questions, please feel free to contact Meridian Court Apartments.
3. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Fields would like to thank Chair Harvey for accepting the Proclamation for Senior
Adult Month and for sharing what the Senior Advisory Commission is working on.
Vice Chair Bostic shared that Olivia Sullivan did an interview with Chair Harvey, Council
President Honda, Ms. Clark and herself. There will be an article in the Federal Way Mirror in
the next few weeks about the Senior Advisory Commission and encourages everyone to read
it. Vice Chair Bostic has a friend who works with HUMANA and that she found our brochures
and loved them! She would like to offer her help in the future if anyone has any questions
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about HUMANA. The Farmer's Market is open, if anyone is available to drop off brochures,
please let her know.
4. COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. APPROVAL OF 3/17/2021 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION TO APPROVE THE 3/17/2021 MEETING MINUTES BY VICE CHAIR BOSTIC,
SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER NORTH. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
B. UTILITY TAX REBATE — FEDRAC FOLLOW UP
Ade' Ariwoola, Finance Director shared information about the Utility Tax rebate program
and asked if the Commission could provide their input on the program. Currently applicants
(low income seniors and disabled persons) have to supply all of their utility bills (PSE,
Lakehaven, Waste Management, Cell phone and Cable) for the prior year. Some applicants
in prior years have received anywhere from $40 up to $300.
Applicants are only reimbursed on what bills that they submit. If they have any missing
months, they would not reimbursed for those charges resulting in a lower refund. Another
challenge for applicants is they would have to make copies of all of their documents that
they do now want the city to keep; that creates a cost burden on the applicant and extra
work for staff.
Finance is proposing a flat rate of $100 per applicant per year they apply. They would not
be required to supply all of their utility bills from the previous year. They would need to
provide their photo ID, copy of SSI or DSHS annual payments and a bill showing that they
live in Federal Way. The Finance Department will make sure they are following the
Washington State guidelines.
The Commission discussed the different options and agreed that it would be easier for
everyone to go with the flat rate of $100 per applicant.
C. LOBBYIST DIRECTION
Ms. Clark shared Chair Harvey wanted to see how we could work with the state Lobbyist.
Council President Honda asked if there was anything specific that they would like the
Federal and State Lobbyists to work on.
Vice Chair Bostic would like to make sure there is Medicare for all and would like to the
lobbyist to work on Medicare for all bills. Council President Honda said that she would
share the list of ideas with the Mayor and both Lobbyists. Vice Chair Bostic shared that if
anyone would like more information on the Medicare for all, please contact her.
Commissioner King asked if there were any asks that they could help support? Council
President Honda shared that we are trying to get new fields and scoreboards. Next year
there will be Federal funding available for sport fields. We are also asking to help with the
purchase of electric vehicles, COVID relief and a few more items.
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Commissioner Volheim asked if the Federal government could get funding to help with
the Senior Center purchase food. Council President said that food banks are getting
different types of funding from them. Commissioner Volheim would like to see them get
designated funds so you get more than just cheese. Council President Honda will share
the idea with them.
Commissioner King would like to see what the American Recovery Act has to help seniors.
Council President Honda shared that at the first meeting in June will be a presentation on
the American Recovery Act. Ms. Clark shared Tim Johnson, Economic Development
Director is working on an update to present the commission.
D. SUBCOMMITEE UPDATES
Brochure Distribution — Commissioner North shared that all of the SHAG housing locations,
William J Woods and Korean housing have the brochures. They have left them in the Senior
Lounge at the Community Center, Senior Center and with all of the bags for Meals on
Wheels. Due to COVID is hard to get places to take them. The library is holding them on
quarantine and then will put them out.
What do we want the brochure to say? Do we want the date July 2020-August 2021? Do
we want to change the title and just have a published date on the bottom of the document?
We will need to go through and make sure all of the businesses are still in business.
Commissioner Pratt offered to review and make sure all of the businesses are still open. If
anyone knows of any new businesses that we didn't add last time, now is the time to send
in the information to Ms. Clark.
Tax & Discounts for Seniors — Commissioner Ellebrecht reached out to all of the local
representatives, senators, etc. and she has not heard back from anyone, but will not give
up until she hears back.
Ms. Clark asked if the Commission would like to wait until everything opens back up?
Commissioner Ellebrecht shared that it has been very hard during COVID to contact anyone
during this time. We will do a check in July to see how things are going if they State has
reopened and if things are the same we can wait until September.
Rent Controls — Vice Chair Bostic shared that not much can be found since rent can't be
increased during this time due to COVID. Commissioner Pratt looked online and there isn't
much we can do to make private owners not raise their rent. Commissioner Volheim would
like to share this request to our State lobbyist to work on next session. Vice Chair Bostic
would like to table this topic until the pandemic is over.
Ms. Clark inquired what the Commission would like to work on that is not a part of the
original goals? Commissioner North would like to see a Senior Fair and invite healthcare
partners, senior housing, etc. Commissioner Volheim likes the idea and possibly provide
transportation for seniors to attend.
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Ms. Clark asked for everyone to think about when they would want to hold the event in
2022. It does take time to plan the event and will can discuss more details and vision at the
July meeting.
Vice Chair Bostic suggested discussion post COVID goals at the July meeting. She suggested
that we could go to different places (e,g, Village Green) to see what they need or how we
can help them. Ms. Clark suggested going to the Senior Center and having a Senior Forum
and that could possibly help us know what businesses to have at the Senior Fair. Email Ms.
Clark all of your ideas to share at the next meeting.
S. STAFF REPORT
None.
6. NEXT MEETING
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 @2:00 PM.
7. ADJOURN - The meeting adjourned at 3:21 p.m.
Attest:
Jeri -Lynn Clark, Exec. Assistant to Council
Approved by Senior Advisory Commission:
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