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Veterans Affairs Commission

January 8, 2026 ·12:00 PM Final ·330 Fair Lane, Building A Board of Supervisors Chamber Placerville, CA 95667

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/86378230395

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 35 items

  1. 1 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS: The Commission meeting room will be open to the public. The meeting will continue to be live-streamed via Zoom. By participating in this meeting, you acknowledge that you are being recorded. To observe the live stream of the Commission meeting go to https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/86378230395. Members of the public may address the Commission in-person or via Zoom to make a public comment. The public should call into 530-621-7603 or 530-621-7610. The Meeting ID is 863 7823 0395. Please note you will not be able to join the live-stream until the posted meeting start time. If you are joining the meeting via zoom and wish to make a comment on an item, press the "raise hand" button. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *9 to indicate a desire to make a comment. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes. Although the County strives to offer remote participation, be advised that remote Zoom participation is provided for convenience only. In the event of a technological malfunction, the only assurance of live comments being received by the Commission is to attend in person. Except for a noticed teleconference meeting, the Commission reserves the right to conduct the meeting without remote access if there is a malfunction. If you choose not to observe the Commission meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item, please submit your comment in writing. You are encouraged to submit your comment in writing by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday before the meeting to ensure the Commission has adequate time to review. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of the Board at edc.cob@edcgov.us. Your comment will be placed into the record and forwarded to Commission members.
  2. 2 PAGE BREAK
  3. 3 PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
  4. 4 Public comment will be received at designated periods as called by the Commission Chair. Individuals will have three minutes to address the Commission. Except with the consent of the Commission, individuals shall be allowed to speak to an item only once. Individual Commission members may ask clarifying questions but will not engage in substantive dialogue with persons providing input to the Commission. If a person providing input to the Commission creates a disruption by refusing to follow Commission guidelines, the Commission Chair may take the following actions: Step 1. Request the person adhere to Commission guidelines. If the person refuses, the Commission Chair may turn off the speaker’s microphone. Step 2. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order a recess of the Commission meeting. Step 3. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order the removal of the person from the Commission meeting.
  5. 5 PAGE BREAK
  6. 6 CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - 12:00 PM
  7. 7 ROLL CALL
  8. 8 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME
  9. 9 ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  10. 10 All items on the Consent Calendar are to be approved by one motion unless a Commission member requests separate action on a specific item including moving items to or from the Consent Calendar and adopt the Agenda and the Consent Calendar for discussion. At the appropriate time as called by the Chair, members of the public may make a comment on matters on the Consent Calendar prior to Commission action.
  11. 11 CONSENT CALENDAR
  12. 1. Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veterans Affairs Commissioners for the month of December 2025. 26-0057
  13. 2. Commission to review and approve Veterans Affairs Commission December 11, 2025 meeting minutes. 26-0058
  14. 14 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  15. 15 PAGE BREAK
  16. 16 AGENDA ITEMS
  17. 16 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  18. 3. The Education and Employment Committee will present their recommended goals to the Commission. Commissioner Mullens-Becker was unable to attend the January Veteran Affairs Commission (VAC) meeting. Commissioner Fischer requested to move Agenda Item 26-0059 to the February VAC Meeting. 26-0059
  19. 18 EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)
  20. 19 PAGE BREAK
  21. 20 COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  22. 21 • TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds stated there was nothing to report. • RULES (Culver/Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated there was nothing to report. • HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report. • LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated there was nothing to report. • TRANSPORTATION (Thompson/Whalen) - Tim Whalen reported that they receive three to four calls a week requesting rides to and from appointments. Whalen reported that El Dorado Veteran Resources (EDVR) currently has only a handful of volunteer drivers. Occasionally, no driver is available, and EDVR must decline the ride request from the veteran. Whalen reported that EDVR has been receiving many mobility-related donations, such as electric wheelchairs and scooters. Next, Whalen reported that EDVR has a good number of bus passes available for veterans to use for transportation. Next, Zelinsky reported that an email was sent out requesting more information from volunteer drivers, including their driving records, which would require going online and paying a $2 fee to access. Zelinsky stated that he has been in contact with several potential drivers, but many were uncomfortable with the requirement to obtain their driving records. Zelinsky reported that he has liability coverage through his personal auto insurance as a volunteer driver and asked whether this was a requirement for all volunteers, as he had assumed it was an insurance necessity. Zelinsky expressed concern that these requirements were discouraging to potential new drivers. Whalen agreed, noting that the process can be discouraging for individuals who simply want to help and do a good deed. • BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commssioner Reynolds reported that FY 23/24 TOT funds have been distributed as well as most of the FY 24/25. • EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker/Fischer) - Commissioner Culver stated Education and Employment had been discussed previously and would move their agenda item to the February VAC meeting. • OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he was able to connect with Bill Scrivani, who originally created the VAC Facebook page. When Scrivani left the VAC, he turned over the login information to the Veteran Services Office and HHSA Multimedia Department. However, that information has since been lost due to multiple departmental changes since Scivani’s departure in 2020. Scrivani told Reynolds he would search through old hard drives to locate the information Reynolds needs. Reynolds stated if he is unable to retrieve the login credentials from Scrivani, the VAC will remain active only on Facebook, with limited posting on Instagram. Commissioner Culver asked whether Reynolds could delete the existing Facebook account and create a new one. Reynolds was hesitant to delete the current page which has a strong follower base and starting over would mean losing that progress. Culver suggested creating a new Facebook account with a slightly different name and notifying followers from the original page about the new profile. Lynette Stott, HHSA Deputy Director, offered to schedule a meeting with Reynolds to help determine how to connect the two social media accounts.
  23. 21 PAGE BREAK
  24. 22 COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  25. 23 • VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council would meet that night, Thursday, January 8th at 6 PM. • AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - David Zelinsky reported that he has been working with Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 10165 to assist several veterans in need, including helping one with rent and supporting another whose family member was hospitalized by providing groceries and essential items in coordination with Only Kindness and EDVR. Zelinsky reported that a veteran was referred to him for a criminal matter. Next, Zelinsky reported he spoken with the mother of a veteran who died due to mental illness that he had been assisting. Next, Zelinsky reported that he had secured hospice care for a homeless veteran with serious medical issues. Next, Zelinksy reported that the Public Defender’s Office continues its outreach efforts and recently discussed challenges maintaining coverage in South Lake Tahoe and the possible need for another grant. Zelinsky stated that he is also working closely with Commissioner Millham and Dan Brown to assist a veteran in the South Lake Tahoe area who was recently released and may qualify for Unemployability and 100% Service Connection. Next, Zelinsky reported the he is working with Commissioner Norton and his wife, Linda, on ways to contact Adult Protective Services and the Public Guardian to help a homeless veteran suffering from mental illness. Zelinsky reported that it is very difficult to get someone conserved, and this was one of the topics discussed at the meeting with the Public Defender’s Office. Next, Commissioner Culver reported that he reached out to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT Team) about changing their questionnaire from “Are you a veteran?” to “Have you ever served in the United States Military?” Culver is also working with the El Dorado County Jail to update their intake question as well. Many veterans do not consider themselves veterans if they were not deployed or in combat. Zelinsky stated that changing the question would be helpful, as he is currently identifying only a small number of incarcerated veterans who need assistance. Lastly, Commissioner Millham reported that American Legion Post 795 helped a veteran with housing and assisted three other veterans with fuel and groceries. Millham added that a homeless veteran arrived during an event, and they were able to provide food and supplies while the veteran waited to begin a job at Heavenly Ski Resort.
  26. 23 Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office is now accepting applications for bricks and stones to be placed at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. The application is available on the El Dorado County Veteran Services Office website and in the Veteran Services Office lobby. Brown hopes to add more locations where applications can be picked up. Next, Brown reported that he and Lynette Stott, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Deputy Director, met with Ted Gaines, Member of the California State Board of Equalization, and his Chief of Staff, Matt Cox, to discuss the El Dorado County veteran community. Gaines was interested in learning how many veterans live in the county and how many veteran-owned businesses operate there. Next, Brown reported that he and Tisha Holy, Veterans Service Representative (VSR) II, will be attending the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) Winter Training Conference from February 9-13 at the Hard Rock Hotel in Wheatland. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office is working on plans for a new office to be built within the current building’s footprint. The proposal is expected to go before the Board of Supervisors in late January or early February. Brown also reported that Senate Bill (SB) 694 will be heard by the Senate in late January 2026. He urged veterans and their families to contact their representatives regarding SB 694. Brown noted that opposition groups are paying veterans and their families to travel to the Capitol to express dissatisfaction with County Veteran Service Offices. He hopes veterans and their families will be able to come to the Capitol on January 20th to show their support. Next, Brown reported that for the month of December 2025, the Veteran Services Office reported 164 walk-in clients, 95 scheduled appointments, and 283 incoming phone calls. He also noted that in 2025, the office received 1,514 new clients seeking assistance with veteran benefits. Lastly, Brown reported that there were no changes in services provided in South Lake Tahoe. 26-0163
  27. 24 GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)
  28. 25 OPEN FORUM
  29. 26 Open Forum is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Veteran Affairs Commission on subject matter that is not on their meeting agenda and within their jurisdiction. Public comments during Open Forum are limited to three minutes per person. The Commission Chair may limit public comment during Open Forum.
  30. 27 NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME February 12, 2026 at 12 PM 330 Fair Lane, Building A Board of Supervisors Chamber Placerville, CA 95667
  31. 28 ADJOURNMENT - 12:51 PM
  32. 28 PAGE BREAK
  33. 31 • EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Commissioner Culver reported that he spoke with Jack Babbitt from the El Dorado County Veterans Alliance earlier that morning. The Veterans Alliance’s January meeting had been moved to February, but a date and time had not yet been set. Babbitt stated that the Veteran Services Office would be handling the applications for the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. The Veterans Alliance is working on streamlining the process with Pool Place, the business that engraves the bricks and stones. Zelinsky reported that there is a John Hidahl Fund within the EDC Veterans Alliance designated for use by the Veterans Alliance. Commissioner Smith shared that Gary Campbell reached out to him regarding the Patriots Tribute Fund, which Smith and Chris Cockrell established some time ago. Smith suggested transferring the funds from the Patriots Tribute Fund to the John Hidahl Fund. He emphasized that he wanted to ensure the funds were being used to support veterans or their families who may need assistance. • VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN RESOURCES (Whalen) - Whalen was not available to provide a report. • REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Commissioner Culver stated there was nothing to report.
  34. 32 PAGE BREAK
  35. 36 Public Comment VAC Rcvd 1-8-26 26-0164