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Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy Advisory Board
The King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) Advisory Board was established in September 2018. King County Ordinance 18792 amends the King County Code to create the Board.
The VSHSL Advisory Board’s purpose is to oversee the distribution of VSHSL proceeds and to advise King County on matters that uniquely affect each of the VSHSL’s priority populations. The board consists of 30 members organized in three 10-member committees. Each committee represents a VSHSL priority population.
In addition to meeting requirements specific to each committee, members of the VSHSL Advisory Board must reside within King County. Elected officials are ineligible for board membership while they hold office.
When will the VSHSL Advisory Board meet?
The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy Advisory Board regularly meets every other month. Typically, these meetings occur on the third Thursday of the month, from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Meetings are held in a hybrid format. Members of the public and members of the board are invited to attend either virtually or in-person. You can find Zoom room information and physical meeting locations for upcoming meetings on this website.
VSHSL news and updates
Next Advisory Board
Monthly Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 18, 2024
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location (Hybrid): 645 Andover Park W, Suite #100, Tukwila, WA 98188
Zoom link for virtual attendance:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/87481067239?pwd=Ylo1OG5sZTRaTldPejh4cG1IVWt2Zz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 874 8106 7239
Passcode: VSHSL2024
Attend by Phone: +1 253 215 8782
Written public comments can be submitted by email to VSHSL@kingcounty.gov. Please use the subject line: VSHSL Advisory Board Public Comment.
Join our mailing list for meeting details, materials, and updates about the VSHSL Advisory Board.
VSHSL Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
These meeting minutes capture the attendance, actions, presentations, and votes conducted by the VSHSL Advisory Board.
2023
2022
January | February | March | April
2021
January | February | March | May | July | September | November2020
February | March | April | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
2019
VSHSL Advisory Board Committees and Members
Eligibility
The members of the VSHSL Advisory Board’s Veterans Committee also constitute the King County’s state-required Veterans Advisory Board. All members of the committee must be veterans as defined in RCW 73.08.005(5). A majority of the committee’s members must be members from nationally recognized veterans service organizations.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the 1/3 VSHSL funding for veterans
- Advise the County on matters and policies affecting veterans, servicemembers and their families
- Serve as King County's RCW 73.08 Veterans Advisory Board
Board Members
Carrol Stripling
Carrol Stripling
Carrol is a veteran, has extensive experience serving on committees that are dedicated to assisting veterans and is a former board member of the King County Veterans Advisory Board.
Executive appointee on the Veterans Committee.
Contact: VSHSL4@kingcounty.gov
Chuck Murrell
Chuck Murrell
Chuck is a veteran, retired from the United States Army and NAPA Auto Parts. He served in the former King County Veterans Advisory Board since 2012 and volunteers for the Veterans Administration where he has completed almost 2,500 hours working with veterans. Chuck has been the American Legion Commander of Seattle Post 1 for the past 7 years.
Representing King County Council District 7 on the Veterans Committee.
Contact: VSHSL7@kingcounty.gov
David Waggoner
David Waggoner
David is a veteran and served as a member on the King County Veterans Advisory Board for 11 years. As an individual veteran volunteer, David championed the Veterans and Human Services levy during its passing and renewal in 2005 and 2011, and volunteered to support the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy when it was renewed and expanded by voters in 2017. David is also a member of the Puget Sound Honor Flight Board of Directors since 2013.
Representing King County Council District 3 on the Veterans Committee.
Contact: VSHSL3@kingcounty.gov
Faisal Akhter
Faisal Akhter
Faisal Akhter (he/him) is currently an attorney at Microsoft. He also leads the company's legal department veterans network. Prior to his current role, Faisal served eight years on active duty military service with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He has served in two overseas assignments and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Today, he continues to serve as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. He is currently assigned as a criminal defense counsel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Representing King County Council District 2 on the Veterans Committee.
Contact: VSHSL5@kingcounty.gov
Peter Lewis
Peter Lewis
Peter is a Vietnam veteran and has worked with veterans on a city, county, state and federal level. Peter is self-employed at both Pete Lewis Consulting and EL Consulting. Peter served on the Regional Policy Committee, Sound Cities Association and Puget Sound Regional Council.
Representing Sound Cities Association on the Veterans Committee.
Vice-Chair of the VSHSL Advisory Board representing the Veterans Committee and Chair of the Veterans Advisory Board.
Contact: VSHSL6@kingcounty.gov
Eligibility
The Seniors Committee is comprised of seniors, caregivers of seniors or other community members with relevant expertise or experience serving seniors or their caregivers. A majority of the committee’s members must be 55 or older.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the 1/3 VSHSL funding for seniors
- Advise the County on matters and policies affecting seniors, caregivers and healthy aging
Board Members
Patrice Thorell
Patrice Thorell
Patrice is retired from the City of Des Moines where she served as the Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Director, managing programs and services for vulnerable children, families and senior citizens. Patrice is a founding board member of the Des Moines Legacy Foundation (DMLF) serving as the board secretary from 1999 to 2018. The mission of the DMLF is to raise funds to provide equitable programs and services for all citizens.
Representing King County Council District 5 on the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL15@kingcounty.gov
Cynthia Snyder
Cynthia Snyder
Cynthia has spent her career and retirement working, volunteering and advocating for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Representing the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services on the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL11@kingcounty.gov
Nancy Colson
Nancy Colson
Nancy is a Managing Broker of Windermere Real Estate in Auburn with many years of experience serving on boards, commissions and task forces.
Representing King County Council District 7 on the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL17@kingcounty.gov
Susan Kingsbury-Comeau
Susan Kingsbury-Comeau
Susan is the Executive Director at the Mt. Si Senior Center. Susan has experience in affordable housing finance, non-profit operations, the needs of rural seniors and increasing equity, social justice and inclusion.
Representing King County Council District 3 on the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL13@kingcounty.gov
Lori Guilfoyle
Lori Guilfoyle
Lori Guilfoyle has 30 years of experience working with seniors, living in Maple Valley, currently a Human Services Planner for the City of Kent.
Representing Sound Cities Association on the Seniors Committee.
Vice-Chair of the VSHSL Advisory Board representing the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL19@kingcounty.gov
Gazel Tan
Gazel Tan
Gazel is a member of the Bellevue Network on Aging, Vice President of the Chinese Information and Service Center and a certified long-term care ombudsman.
Representing King County Council District 6 on the Seniors Committee.
Contact: VSHSL16@kingcounty.gov
Eligibility
The Vulnerable Populations Committee is comprised of individuals who are members of a vulnerable population or other community members with relevant expertise or experience serving vulnerable populations. King County Ordinance 18555 defines vulnerable populations as persons or communities that are susceptible to reduced health, housing, financial or social stability outcomes because of current experience of or historical exposure to trauma, violence, poverty, isolation, bias, racism, stigma, discrimination, disability or chronic illness.
Responsibilities
- Oversee the 1/3 VSHSL funding for vulnerable populations
- Advise the County on matters and policies affecting vulnerable populations
Board Members
Asad Abdi
Asad Abdi
Asad Abdi is currently employed as a Food Access Manager for African Community Housing & Development. Mr. Abdi is a multilingual member of the African Diaspora immigrant and refugee community with hands on experience serving vulnerable populations with a focus on fighting food insecurity in King County.
Representing King County Council District 8 on the Vulnerable Populations Committee.
Contact: VSHSL27@kingcounty.gov
Heidi Shepherd
Heidi Shepherd
Heidi has over 40 years of professional and community experience and commitment to issues of housing, education/training, and access to food and employment.
Representing King County Council District 1 on the Vulnerable Populations Committee.
Serving as Chair of the VSHSL Advisory Board.
Contact: VSHSL21@kingcounty.gov
Natalie Reber
Natalie Reber
Natalie Reber is currently employed as the Executive Director for Attain Housing and has spent her career in support of vulnerable populations specializing in supporting individuals and families experience homelessness or transitioning to permanent housing. She is also a licensed attorney.
Representing King County Council District 4 on the Vulnerable Populations Committee.
Contact: VSHSL28@kingcounty.gov
Olga Perelman
Olga Perelman
As a Human Services Commissioner for Bellevue and a board member, Olga has had an opportunity to see a broad spectrum of needs of our community through needs assessments and interviews with the community organizations and individuals supported by their services, has lead a bi-annual funds allocation process for the City of Bellevue Human Services Commission and has created strategic plans for a non-profits to meet the needs of the community that they serve.
Representing King County Council District 6 on the Vulnerable Populations Committee.
Contact: VSHSL26@kingcounty.gov
Rene Murry
Rene Murry
Rene is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Youth Development Executives of King County. Rene has been in advocacy for children, youth and families for 29 years and currently coordinates advocacy for a coalition of youth serving organizations in King County serving.
Representing King County Council District 4 on the Vulnerable Populations Committee.
Contact: VSHSL24@kingcounty.gov
Current Vacancies
The VSHSL Advisory Board currently has vacancies available for the following nominating entities.
The Veterans Committee:
- Representing King County Council District 2
- Representing King County Council District 8
- Representing the City of Seattle
The Seniors Committee:
- Representing King County Council District 4
- Representing King County Council District 8
- Representing the Seattle-King County advisory council on aging and disability services
- Representing the City of Seattle
The Vulnerable Populations Committee:
- Representing King County Council District 2
- Representing King County Council District 5
- Representing King County Council District 9
- Representing the City of Seattle
- Representing the Sound Cities Association
Interested in Serving?
For positions representing the King County Council, find your district online and contact your Council Councilmember.
For positions representing the City of Seattle, please contact the City of Seattle directly.
For positions representing the King County Executive, please contact Taylor Gaston, VSHSL Advisory Board Interim Staff liaison at tgaston@kingcounty.gov.
If you have questions on the application process or about a particular board/commission, please contact Rick Ybarra, Liaison for Boards and Commissions, at 206-263-9651 or via email at Rick.Ybarra@kingcounty.gov.
Terms and Selection Process
Terms
Board members will serve 3-year terms, with the exception of seven members from each committee who shall be appointed to initial terms of two years.
Selection Process
The King County Executive appoints board members. As the table below depicts, the King County Council, the City of Seattle, the Seattle-King County Advisory Council for Aging and Disability Services, and the Sound Cities Association nominate board members for Executive appointment.
| Veterans Committee | Seniors Committee | Vulnerable Populations Committee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| King County Executive | 2 | 2 | |
| King County Council District 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 3 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 4 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 5 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 6 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 7 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 8 | 1 | 1 | |
| King County Council District 9 | 1 | 1 | |
| City of Seattle | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seattle-King County Advisory Council for Aging and Disability Services | 2 | ||
| Sound Cities Association | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 10 | 10 | 10 |
The VSHSL Advisory Board replaces the former Veterans and Human Services Levy’s Regional Human Services Citizen Oversight Board and Veterans Citizen Oversight Board. Those boards have provided valuable guidance and oversight since the inception of the former Veterans and Human Services Levy. Read the 2017 VHSL Annual Report to learn more.
