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Veterans Affairs Commission

August 8, 2024 ·12:00 PM Final ·330 Fair Lane, Bldg A BOS 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. A. CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - 12:05 PM
  7. B. ROLL CALL
  8. 8 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME
  9. C. 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. D. CONSENT CALENDAR
  12. 1. Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran Affairs Commissioners for the month of June 2024. 24-1426
  13. 2. Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission July 11, 2024 meeting minutes. 24-1427
  14. 14 END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
  15. E. EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)
  16. E. COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  17. 17 • TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker reported that the VA TOT Committee met that morning to review VA TOT historical data of the mini grants they have given out over the last 10 years. The VA TOT Committee took no action on this data, but the data provided information on why grants were approved in the past. Additionally, the VA TOT Committee would like to see some of the recipients of the mini grants attend a VAC meeting to report on how their grant processes went, how funds were spent, and the results and achievements from receiving the funds. Mullens-Becker also reported that Kathy Haven, with the El Dorado Community Foundaton, will work with the VA TOT Committee to host a session on how to write a mini grant proposal with the El Dorado Community Foundation. The VA TOT Committee would like to have a session in both South Lake Tahoe and Placerville. Mullens-Becker reported that the VA TOT Committee would inform the VAC when the dates for the sessions would be available. Mullens-Becker also reported that they would like Maggie Williams, HHSA Veteran Services Program Manager, to create a chart with the VA TOT Annual Grants, with information to include the status of the grants, progress reports, funding spent and remaining, etc. The VA TOT Committee hopes to receive this information by October or November to report back to the VAC. • RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report. • SPECIAL COMMITTEE – HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report. • LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith was not available to provide a report. • TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Commissioner Thompson was not available to provide a report. • BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he wanted to work with Timalynn Jaynes, HHSA Assistant Director of Human Services, on the House Council budget for the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB). Reynolds wanted a general clarification on the overall budget to find out where the funds for maintaining the building were coming from, including what the county was paying for and what the House Council was supposed to pay for. Williams said she would check in with Jaynes on the budget to help answer some of Reynolds’ questions. • EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker stated before leaving that there was nothing to report about Education and Employment at this time. • OUTREACH (Reynolds/Carlson) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that there has been significant activity on the VAC Facebook page. Next, Reynolds reported posting about Sergeant Sagen Maddalena, an Army veteran, who won a silver medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Positions event at the 2024 Paris Olympics on the Facebook page. Lastly, Reynolds reported that there has been considerable activity regarding the Stand Down event on September 13th and 14th on the Facebook page.
  18. G. COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE
  19. 19 • VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that there was a change in staff at the VMB at the July 11th VMB House Council Meeting. The current building manager, Anita Patti, was requested to step down in her role as building manager at the meeting. The VMB House Council then took a vote to remove Anita as the building manager and then voted to have Leonard McAdams as the new building manager. Additionally, there was a request at the meeting that either the building manager or volunteers be present at the building daily since the Veteran Services Office was being bombarded with questions from the public about the hall, whether they could rent the building and who to talk to with questions. Next, Reynolds reported that painting was partially completed in the building; the dining room, downstairs and restrooms have been painted, but painting was still needed in the lounge area. The painters had also started painting the outside of the building. Reynolds reported there was still talk about lowering the ceiling and dimming the lights and there have been discussions on where the funds to complete those tasks would come from. Lastly, Reynolds reported Diane Muirhead is now the Treasurer of the VMB House Council and she is working with the bank on an audit. • AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky reported that a Marine veteran had to evacuate from their home because of the Crozier fire. Zelinksy referred the veteran and his family to El Dorado Veteran Resources (EDVR) and to Only Kindness for housing. Next, Zelinsky reported that a veteran who is working with horses is looking into a program to help him with employment. Next, Zelinsky reported that he helped a veteran and his family since the veteran lost his job and needs some help making ends meet. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is working with a combat veteran who is in the South Lake Tahoe Jail. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is working with the Coalition for the Homeless to help homeless veterans and has been sending the homeless veterans to the Veteran Services Office for additional help with benefits. Zelinsky reported that there are four basic ways to get housing for homeless veterans, but there are only two options for homeless veterans if they have a pet. Tahoe Coalition and Grant Per Diem program, do not allow pets, and Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD VASH), are pet-friendly. Lastly, Zelinsky reported that another veteran is leaving the South Lake Tahoe Jail and Zelinsky is helping this veteran get services. Zelinsky has helped schedule this veteran an appointment with Tisha Holy, VSR II, when she is at the SLT Office to help the veteran get services. • EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE (Wolfe) - Commissioner Wolfe reported that they have started initial planning for the November 11th Veterans Day event. Wolfe also reported that they are still working on securing a new monthly location for the Veterans Alliance meetings. • VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN RESOURCES (Whalen) - Diane Muirhead filled in for Tim Whalen and reported that EDVR was still conducting their food giveaway at the VMB on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays in August and September. The El Dorado Food Bank was providing food, and it could be picked up between 10 AM and 2 PM. Muirhead also reported that the Stand Down event would be held on September 13th and 14th. Organizations could register online to have a booth at the Stand Down at: eldoradoveteransstanddown.org. • REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - No additional Regional Events were mentioned.
  20. H. GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)
  21. F. EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)
  22. I. OPEN FORUM
  23. 21 Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that the Veterans Services Office is fully staffed, with all Veterans Service Representatives (VSRs) fully accredited with Cal-Vet. Brown reported that Bonnie Steward, Senior Office Assistant, would begin training to be the backup clerk for the VAC meetings for Clerk/Administrative Technician Courtney Frame. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services Office has completed all of its responsibilities pertaining to the Cal-Vet 6 month audit covering the period of January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. The office is waiting for Cal-Vet to inform them of any corrections that may need to be made before the final audit results are posted. Brown reported that the Stand Down was scheduled for September 13th and 14th at the VMB. Brown planned to have some of the VSRs working the event to help answer questions for veterans and make appointments. Next, Brown reported that for the month of July, the office had 334 incoming phone calls, 79 scheduled appointments, and 182 walk-in clients. Lastly, Brown reported there had been no changes to services provided to South Lake Tahoe by VSR II Tisha Holy. 24-1492
  24. 22 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. 23 NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME September 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM 3368 Sandy Way HHSA Large Conference Room South Lake Tahoe, SLT 96150
  26. 24 ADJOURNMENT - 12:58 PM