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Veterans Affairs Commission

April 10, 2025 ·12:00 PM Final ·330 Fair Lane, Building A Board of Supervisors Chamber Placerville, CA 95667

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/91249101434

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 26 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/91249101434. 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 912 4910 1434. 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. 12 Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran Affairs Commissioners for the month of March 2025. 25-0656
  13. 13 Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission March 13, 2025, and March 26, 2025 meeting minutes. 25-0657
  14. 14 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  15. 15 AGENDA ITEMS
  16. 16 The Veteran Affairs Commission (VAC) in collaboration with Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) will continue to review draft versions of the Veterans Monument Criteria, receive and consider input from the veteran community and identify and compose a single version of draft criteria to recommend for approval by the County Board of Supervisors (BOS), as directed by the BOS on 01/14/2025. Commissioner Vinton reported that the section of the VAC currently reviewing 'Options for Definition of Hero Language' was focused on Captain Paul Jacobs' plaque at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. He reported that Orange County had awarded Captain Jacobs a plaque that refers to him as a hero. However, in his research on the El Dorado County Veterans Monument, Vinton found no mention within the veteran community of concerns regarding this designation or any suggestion that calling Captain Jacobs a hero contradicts military culture. Since this issue had not been raised, Vinton concluded that it was neither a national nor a state-level matter. Next, Vinton reported the importance of unity, stating that everyone is ultimately on the same team. Vinton highlighted that the veteran community seeks to honor their brothers and sisters who have fallen in combat or performed great heroic acts. Lastly, Vinton addressed criticisms regarding the portrayal of the USS Kirk as the sole ship involved in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees. He clarified that an armada of ships participated in the effort, as documented in multiple books and documentaries about the Vietnam War and Captain Jacobs' heroism. He also shared that many Vietnamese survivors named their children after Captain Jacobs and invited him to their weddings once the children were grown. According to Vinton, the Vietnamese community regards Captain Jacobs as a hero and acknowledges his leadership in the mission to save their people. Next, Timalynn Jaynes, the Assistant Director of Human Services at HHSA, began by reviewing what the VAC accomplished during the March 26th VAC Special Agenda Meeting. Jaynes stated that during the Special Agenda meeting, the VAC reviewed pages 1 through 3 of the attached Draft El Dorado County Veterans Monument Criteria (Redline Version) and made updates accordingly. She then proceeded to review the remaining pages of the Draft El Dorado County Veterans Monument Criteria (Redline Version) with the Commission, highlighting the changes made and explaining the rationale behind each one. 25-0658
  17. 17 EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)
  18. 18 COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  19. 19 • TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported the TOT Committee would be meeting in May. • RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch stated there was nothing to report. • HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch stated there was nothing to report. • LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated there was nothing to report. • TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Zelinsky reported that the Marine Core League of El Dorado County would not have a Stand Down this year, but the Marine Core League planned to arrange transportation to take veterans to other Stand Downs in Placer and Sacramento Counties. Zelinsky reported that veterans are still requesting transportation to medical appointments and El Dorado Veteran Resources (EDVR) has been successful in getting veterans to their medical appointments. • BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds stated there was nothing to report. • EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker stated there was nothing to report. • OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that the Veteran Affairs Commission Facebook page has close to 1600 followers with an increase of interactions with the posts.
  20. 20 COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  21. 21 • VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) - Commissioner Culver reported on the Veteran Memorial Building (VMB) House Council meeting held on April 3rd, where guest speaker Karen Wilson from Sew 4 Vets provided an update about their organization. Sew 4 Vets has completed over 13,000 volunteer hours, delivering nearly 1,700 items to veterans and their families across the state with less than 20 volunteers. Culver proposed that the Board of Supervisors formally recognize the organization's contributions to veterans and their families, Alzheimer's and cancer patients. Next, Culver reported that the Facilities Agreement is valid until 2036 for the House Council, and proposals were made to install Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) downstairs at the VMB and to maintain continuous lighting on the Prisoner of War (POW) Table at the entrance to the dining room. Lastly, Culver reported that the Stand Down in El Dorado County had been cancelled due to insufficient medical support. Commissioner Smith suggested adding Sew 4 Vets to the Veterans Affairs Commission's May agenda to bring the recognition proposal to the Board of Supervisors. • AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky reported that his efforts to assist veterans in need included providing transportation, housing, and advocacy for a recently released veteran from jail. Next, Zelinksy reported that he has also been working with a VA social worker in Reno to support an incarcerated veteran set for release, with potential housing assistance from the Volunteers of America. Zelinsky reported that the veteran would not be able to be placed in state veterans home until their probation is completed. Next, Zelinsky reported that another veteran in prison he is working with, is frustrated with their VA social worker’s lack of support. Zelinsky reported this veteran is scheduled for release in May. Next, Zelinksy reported that the care management efforts for a blind veteran has been led by Commander Tracy Wilson from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9241, with additional benefits assistance from VSR Sharon Neu at the Veteran Services Office. Next, Zelinsky reported that he helped additional veterans with different services such as vehicle registration, housing resources, and homelessness support. Commissioner Millham reported that he was working with Zelinsky to assist a couple of homeless veterans in South Lake Tahoe, stating that one veteran reached out to express his progress and gratitude for the help Millham and Zelinsky gave them. Next, Millham reported that he also helped two other veterans secure housing, but one veteran is struggling to find employment due to a lack of a permanent address. Lastly, Millham reported that he connected an additional three veterans with Zelinsky and the Veteran Services Office for benefits. • EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Babbit reported that the Memorial Day ceremony may feature a guest speaker who served during D-Day. The Veterans Alliance is working on improvements for the event and increasing youth involvement, with student volunteers from Ponderosa High School helping to clean up the El Dorado County Veterans Monument beforehand. The Veterans Alliance is also striving for greater transparency in its plans for the monument and collaborating with El Dorado County on future projects. Babbit stated that the Veterans Alliance was working on a backup plan in case of bad weather during the Memorial Day celebration. Thuesen reported that the Veterans Alliance met on April 8th and confirmed cleanup efforts at the monument before Memorial Day with Ponderosa High School student volunteers. Next, Thueson reported that they had discovered drug paraphernalia from homeless individuals at the Veterans Monument and inquired about security patrols. HHSA recommended contacting the sheriff’s department, which monitors El Dorado County parking lots, if such items are found again. • VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN RESOURCES (Whalen) - Whalen was not available to provide a report. • REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - McAdams reported that VFW 10165 hosts a breakfast at the VMB every second Sunday of the month.
  22. 22 GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)
  23. 23 OPEN FORUM
  24. 24 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.
  25. 25 NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME May 8, 2025 at 12:00 PM 330 Fair Lane, Building A Conference Room D Placerville, CA 95667
  26. 26 ADJOURNMENT - 1:16 PM