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Veterans Affairs Commission

January 9, 2025 ·12:00 PM Final ·330 Fair Lane, Building A BOS Chamber Placerville, CA 95667

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

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 28 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 - 12:03 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 December 2024. 25-0060
  13. 13 Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission December 12, 2024 meeting minutes. 25-0061
  14. 14 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  15. 15 GUEST SPEAKER - VETERAN SPOTLIGHT
  16. 16 Donna Eckwortzel, the Founder and Executive Director of Hearts Landing Ranch, along with Kaleb Boas, therapist from the Citrus Heights Vet Center, discussed their involvement with the veteran community. Eckwortzel and Boas highlighted the unique and impactful ways they utilize horses as therapeutic tools to promote mental health and emotional well-being among veterans. Through their collaborative efforts, they aim to address and alleviate the mental health challenges faced by many veterans, fostering a sense of healing and connection through equine-assisted therapy. 25-0062
  17. 17 Jon DeVille, Assessor from the El Dorado County Assessor's Office, discussed veterans' property assessment exemptions for disabled veterans. DeVille reported that 100% permanently and totally service-connected disabled veterans with an honorable discharge are eligible for the Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption. Surviving unmarried spouses of a disabled veteran may also be eligible for this exemption. DeVille advised the veteran community to reach out to their office with any questions about the Disabled Veterans' Property Tax Exemption. 25-0063
  18. 18 EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)
  19. 19 COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  20. 20 • TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds was not available to provide a report on TOT. • RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch reported that there was nothing new to report on Rules. • HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch reported that the residents of Grizzly Flat and Georgetown who lost their homes due to the wild fires would like the option to build ADU (Accessory Dwelling Units) compliant houses that are not attached to existing structures. Welch reported that the State of California might be making changes to allow residents of El Dorado County to build ADU homes to replace the ones they lost. • LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith was not available to provide a report on Legislative. • TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Commissioner Thompson reported that there was nothing new to report on Transportation. • BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds and Commissioner Mullens-Becker were not available to provide a report on Budget. • EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker was not available to provide a report on Education and Employment. • OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds was not available to provide a report on Outreach.
  21. 21 COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  22. 22 • VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) - Commissioner Culver reported that the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council would be meeting that night, Thursday January 9th at 6 PM, due to the holiday the previous week. • AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky reported that a veteran on hospice was unaware they were eligible for additional benefits. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is working with a few veterans under conservatorship and is requesting additional training to be able to help more homeless veterans. Next, Zelinsky reported that the Navigation Center was able to house a couple of homeless veterans. Next, Zelinksy reported an older veteran contacted him with concerns about what would happen to his wife when he passes away. Zelinsky advised the veteran to visit the Veteran Services Office for help with his questions about benefits and services. Next, Zelinsky is collaborating with Only Kindness, Housing El Dorado, a couple of VFWs (Veterans of Foreign Wars), and the American Legion to help a veteran who is struggling with housing. Lastly, he reported that he is working with a few veterans in Veterans Court. • EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE (Wolfe) - Commissioner Culver reported that the Veterans Alliance would be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, January 14th, at 8 AM at the VMB. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Next, Culver reported that the Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday, January 14th, at 10:30 AM at the Board of Supervisors Chamber to discuss the El Dorado County Veterans Monument criteria. • VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN RESOURCES (Whalen) - Whalen was not available to provide a report on VA Center/Military Family Support Group/El Dorado Veteran Resources. • REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Commissioner Welch reported there was nothing new to report on Regional Veteran Events.
  23. 22 Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office will be holding its second round of interviews on January 10th to fill the new Office Assistant position. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office team would be attending Dementia Gatekeeper Training on January 29th at 2 PM. This training will be provided by Snowline Hospice. Next, Brown reported that for the month of December, the Veteran Services Office received 497 phone calls, 77 scheduled appointments, and 166 walk-in visitors. Next, Brown reported the Veteran Services Office assisted 1,440 new Veterans and/or their family members in 2024 who had not previously received assistance from this office. Lastly, Brown reported that Veterans Service Representative II Tisha Holy has continued to provide services to South Lake Tahoe veterans via phone appointments. 25-0186
  24. 23 GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)
  25. 24 OPEN FORUM
  26. 25 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.
  27. 26 NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME February 13, 2025 at 12:00 PM 330 Fair Lane, Building A BOS Chamber Placerville, CA 95667
  28. 27 ADJOURNMENT - 1:04 PM