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County staff recommend slate of advisory-council appointees to bolster public health, aging and homeless services oversight
Summary
Health and human services and partner advisory councils recommended applicants for board appointment on Jan. 28: three to the Public Health Advisory Council, three to the Aging and Veterans Services Advisory Council and four to the Homeless Solutions Advisory Council.
County staff briefed commissioners on recommended appointees to three advisory bodies and outlined recruitment, diversity and representation objectives.
Mara Samantha, director of Health and Human Services, and Alex Coleman, quality systems and performance management coordinator, presented recommendations for the Public Health Advisory Council. Coleman said the council "has been appointed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners to fulfill any federal and state mandated responsibilities and to advise the board and its role as the local health authority for Washington County." Staff recommended appointing Brian O'Connor, Juan Pablo Villalobos Garcia and Christine Legler to regular terms beginning Feb. 1, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2029. Coleman said the council is prescribed to have 15–17 members, prioritize representation from communities experiencing health and social inequities and currently has four vacancies plus three upcoming vacancies because of expiring terms.
Rebecca Miller, supervisor for Disability, Aging and Veteran Services and area agency on aging director, recommended three candidates for the Aging and Veterans Services Advisory Council (AVSAC). Miller said the council "shall include individuals and representatives of community organizations ... and must be reflective of the community and the people we support," referencing requirements of the Older Americans Act. Miller told the board the department received six applications (two later withdrawn) and is recommending Ian Barrett, Matthew King and Michael Perreault for three-year terms ending June 30, 2028. Miller said two of the recommended candidates are veterans and the council seeks majority older-adult representation and people who receive services.
Kim Marshall, chair of the Homeless Solutions Advisory Council and executive director of Project Home Connect, reviewed the Solutions Council's first year and recommended four nominees to the board: Adam Peterson (Healthshare), Danielle Dawson (Good Neighbor Center), Kim Hahn (Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue) and Rachel Duke (Community Partners for Affordable Housing). Marshall said the Solutions Council has standing subcommittees — a performance-evaluation technical subcommittee and a lived-experience advisory committee — and that staff provide compensation to lived-experience advisors for their time.
Commissioners complimented staff on recruitment and the council structures. Board members asked how lived-experience representation would increase over time; Marshall and staff said the lived-experience advisory committee is the targeted place to elevate those voices while the parent solutions council mixes providers, system partners and people with lived experience.
Staff said the recommended appointees will be placed on the Jan. 28 consent or appointment agenda for formal action by the board.
