Veterans Affairs Commission

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/83629551304

Agenda — 13 items

1. 1 Special Meeting: Pursuant to Government Code section 54956, the Chair of the Veteran Affairs Commission does hereby call a special meeting of the Veteran Affairs Commission, as more specifically set forth herein.
2. 2 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/83629551304. 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 836 2955 1304. 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.
3. 3 PAGE BREAK
4. 4 PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
5. 5 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.
6. 6 PAGE BREAK
7. 7 CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - 12:00 PM
8. 8 ROLL CALL
9. 9 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME
10. 10 ADOPTION OF AGENDA
11. 11 AGENDA ITEMS
12. 12 The Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) in collaboration with Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) will 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. Timalynn Jaynes, Assistant Director of Human Services at HHSA, expressed gratitude to Commissioners Reynolds and Mullens-Becker for organizing this Special Meeting and thanked the veterans who have provided their input on the Monument Criteria to date. She recounted that at the March 13, 2025 VAC meeting, Commissioner Smith raised significant concerns about the Monument Criteria verbiage in all drafts, citing contradictions and insufficient information distributed, and that he made a motion to pause recommendations, opting instead to seek further guidance from the BOS. This motion passed with a unanimous 5-0 vote. Jaynes emphasized that the BOS provided clear instructions for the veteran community to collaborate and resolve differences regarding the Criteria. She reminded the Commission of their responsibility to provide timely recommendations and adhere to their advisory role. Highlighting procedural expectations, Jaynes outlined the VAC’s standard practice of distributing Agendas and documents the Friday before meetings and stressed Commissioners’ responsibility to prepare in advance. She noted that over the past two years, the Criteria had been agendized five times, yet a lack of engagement by the Commission and late-stage criticism of HHSA’s work were deemed unacceptable. Jaynes reinforced the expectations for public servants to act with integrity and accountability, upholding public trust as outlined in the Code of Ethics. She detailed the exhaustive efforts by her staff to review materials, collaborate with stakeholders, and meet with various County offices to meet the standards required to bring to the BOS. Despite facing unfounded accusations and defamation, her team remains committed to resolving this complex matter. Jaynes addressed fiscal constraints, explaining that Veteran Services operates on General Funds and faces budget challenges. The Veteran Services Office cannot repeatedly bring this issue to the BOS without compromising resources and programs. She urged the Commission to be mindful of the financial impacts of their decisions and to avoid reducing vital services for the veteran community. Finally, Jaynes encouraged the Commission and the veteran community to adopt a collaborative and solution-oriented approach. She stressed the importance of compromise and resolving the Monument Criteria issue to refocus efforts on the overarching mission: serving the veteran community effectively. Next, Jaynes reviewed the Draft Revised Veterans Monument Criteria (Redline Version) with the Commission, highlighting the changes made and explaining the reasoning behind each of them. 25-0611
13. 13 ADJOURNMENT - 1:58 PM