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Veterans Affairs Commission

September 12, 2024 ·12:00 PM Final ·3368 Sandy Way, HHSA Large Conference Room South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

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

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 27 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 July 2024. 24-1575
  13. 13 Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission August 8, 2024, meeting minutes. 24-1576
  14. 14 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  15. 15 AGENDA ITEMS
  16. 16 Veteran Affairs Transient Occupancy Tax Committee (VA TOT) will provide information about their Grant Writing Workshops for the VA TOT grant application process. (No action required.) Commissioner Reynolds reported that the VA TOT Committee would be hosting two Grant Writing Workshops. One workshop will be held on Wednesday, September 25th, from 1 to 3 PM in South Lake Tahoe, and the other on Tuesday, October 8th, from 1 to 3 PM in Placerville. Reynolds reported that Commissioner Norton and Commissioner Mullens-Becker would attend the South Lake Tahoe workshop, while he and Commissioner Mullens-Becker would be at the Placerville workshop. The workshops aim to assist organizations in writing and submitting grants to the VA TOT Committee and to provide more information on what the VA TOT Committee looks for when approving grants. 24-1577
  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 that the El Dorado Community Foundation had funds in the budget that needed to be spent. The El Dorado Community Foundation only funded seven mini grants for 2024, and the VA TOT Committee will only be funding mini grants once a year in the spring moving forward. Many of the organizations receiving grants were unaware that multiple reports were required to report on how funds were spent. Reynolds reported that the VA TOT Committee might increase the mini grant funds amount up to $15K. A question was asked about the Lake Tahoe Community College Veterans Resource Center and if the VA TOT was still giving an annual grant to this organization. Concerns were raised that the Veterans Resource Center at the college did not have anyone in that position and that funds were not being used accordingly. VSO Brown reported that he would be stopping by the Veterans Resource Center that afternoon and would report back to the commission with his findings. Commissioner Norton reported that he hadn’t had an issues with the Veterans Resource Center but stated he does contact the college before visiting. • RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report. • HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report. • LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated that there was nothing new to report on Legislation. • TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Commissioner Thompson reported a need for drivers but had no additional updates on transportation. Zelinsky reported that he has been helping transport a few veterans to their appointments. Commissioner Norton inquired if El Dorado Transit could assist with transporting veterans, and Commissioner Thompson asked about Dial Ride. Coordinating rides with many of these transit organizations proved to be overly complex. • BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that the VA TOT Committee has $242K in the El Dorado Community Foundation budget, and they are working on spending the funds. • EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker was not available to provide a report. • OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that the Veterans Affairs Commission Facebook page has received more comments, likes, and shares. Reynolds requested that anyone sending him something to post on the Facebook page should provide the image as a JPEG to make it easier for him to post.
  20. 20 COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  21. 20 Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that himself and the Veterans Service Representatives (VSRs) will be attending a virtual training/continued education with California Association of County Veteran Services Officers on 3 different Tuesdays in October: October 15th, 22nd, and the 29th. The Veteran Service Office would still be open, but with limited services to veterans. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office has started posting awards for the next six month audit. So far the Veteran Services Office has posted $472K in retro payments and $53K in monthly payments. Next, Brown reported that there will be two Veteran Services Office staff working at the Stand Down event on both Friday and Saturday, September 13th and 14th. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office staff attended the unveiling ceremony for the Cenotaph located in the lower parking lot of the Veterans Memorial Building on September 11th at 6PM. Next, Brown reported that for the month of August the Veteran Services Office reported 389 incoming phone calls, 114 scheduled appointments, and 203 walk in visitors. Lastly, Brown reported that there have been no changes in services provided to the South Lake Tahoe veterans by VSR II Tisha Holy. 24-1578
  22. 21 • VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he attended the September 5th Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council meeting. The American Legion Post 119 is reviewing their charter since it was dropped, and American Legion Post 119 is being represented by the House Council. The House Council is moving their bank account from El Dorado Savings Bank to Wells Fargo due to issues with El Dorado Savings Bank’s online resources. The House Council is still working on their audit. Next, Reynolds reported that the House Council has a list of items they would like to change at the VMB, such as modifying the bar layout in the lounge and adding a locked door to the pantry. Reynolds reported that there is still a request for volunteers at the building in the morning to help answer questions from the public, as the Veteran Services Office is still receiving constant inquiries. Lastly, Reynolds reported that the VMB would like to add solar panels to the building to help reduce costs. • AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky introduced his guest, Tom Millham, who discussed helping Veterans in the South Lake Tahoe area. • Tom Millham, from American Legion Post 795, discussed resources used to help an evicted veteran and his family. Millham reported that he assisted three different veterans in the South Lake Tahoe community with housing, transportation, and other needs as they arose. • Dan Browne had planned to discuss veterans and criminal justice. Browne was unavailable to provide a report. Zelinsky introduced his guest, Doug Williams, who discussed the Christmas Cheer program in the South Lake Tahoe area. • Doug Williams discussed the Christmas Cheer program. Williams reported that Christmas Cheer organization is open all year and distributes food on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 11 AM and 2 PM at 1120 3rd Street, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. They help around 100 families weekly. Additionally, Williams reported that Christmas Cheer will receive 240 turkeys donated to their organization for families in need during the Christmas holiday. • EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE (Wolfe) - Commissioner Wolfe was not available to provide a report. • 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 reported that the Stand Down was the weekend of September 13th and 14th between 9 AM and 3 PM.
  23. 22 GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)
  24. 23 OPEN FORUM
  25. 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.
  26. 25 NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME October 10, 2024 at 12:00 PM 330 Fair Lane, Building A Conference Room D Placerville, CA 95667
  27. 26 ADJOURNMENT - 1:17 PM