Council to restore member to Elder Justice Center board; short-notice coverage arranged

Clark County staff asked the council on Oct. 15 to appoint a council member and an alternate to the Elder Justice Center executive board after the council's standing assignment was inadvertently left off the 2024 roster.

Michelle Fennning, a county staff member, said the Elder Justice Center (EJC) was established by interlocal agreement and began operating Sept. 1, 2011; the interlocal agreement with the Prosecuting Attorney's Office dates to 2013. "So what I'm asking of you today is for you to appoint a member of the council to sit on this board and an alternate," Fennning said, noting the board oversees policies and operational priorities for investigating and coordinating responses to elder and vulnerable adult abuse.

Fennning told the council the EJC historically included a council member on its executive board and that the next EJC meeting was scheduled the following day with a remote option. Several councilors said they were near capacity with existing board commitments; Councilor Belcott volunteered to serve as the alternate. One councilor indicated willingness to attend the immediate meeting if scheduling permitted; others asked for time to check calendars. Councilors also agreed the county would revisit assignments more broadly in January 2026 when annual board and commission assignments are finalized.

Fennning identified prior council representatives as Councilor Mevigy and Chair Bowerman and said the county had unintentionally omitted the EJC assignment for 2024. There was no formal roll-call vote; the council took direction by consensus and directed staff to return with formal appointment language at a later date.

Background: the EJC's executive board is led by the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and includes representatives from Vancouver City Council, health and protective services agencies, law enforcement and other municipalities within Clark County.