REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS On Wednesday April 15, 2026 at 7pm City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1401/1402 Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Commission on Veterans Affairs may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or email at jesus.simental@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Michael Mcinerney – Chair Amber Schleuning – Vice Chair William Dahlstrom Armando Gonzales Bryce Laake-Stanfield Jose Reyes Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Lucas Castillo Fansu Ku VACANT – D1 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Mar 18, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Gary Aaron from the City of Austin Equity and Inclusion office on developing a data-informed report designed to help the City of Austin better understand and address disparities in community conditions across neighborhoods. 3. Presentation and discussion by Jesus Simental regarding roles and responsibilities as the Veterans Administrator for the City on Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and election of a Chair and Vice Chair for the Commission on Veterans Affairs. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Please call Jesus Simental at (512) 974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov at Equity and Inclusion Department to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Veterans Affairs, please contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS On Wednesday March 18, 2026 at 7pm City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1401/1402 Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Commission on Veterans Affairs may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or email at jesus.simental@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Michael Mcinerney – Chair Amber Schleuning – Vice Chair William Dahlstrom Kimberly Frantz Armando Gonzales Bryce Laake-Stanfield Jose Reyes Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Lucas Castillo Fansu Ku CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Jan 21, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Christopher Anderson, Homeless Strategy Office Deputy Director, to provide information on access to Veteran-specific housing resources as well as updates on Tunnel to Towers Foundation and other non-profits seeking to build housing for homeless veterans in Austin. 3. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran working group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Discussion and possible vote on proposed recommendation for the Austin Economic Development Department and Austin Small and Minority Resources include service disabled veteran owned businesses in all goals and programs to ensure service disabled veterans in Austin have affirmative access to city procurement opportunities. Discussion and possible vote on a recommendation by the Commission on Veterans Affairs that City Council again direct the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Please call Jesus Simental at (512) 974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov at Equity and Inclusion Department to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Veterans Affairs, please contact Jesus Simental at …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260318-04 Service Disabled Veterans Affirmative Access WHEREAS, the City of Austin seeks to be a national leader in supporting its veteran and military community; WHEREAS, the Commission on Veterans Affairs has accumulated information concerning the needs of veterans in the Austin community through testimony from community members, veteran service organizations, non-profit groups, and city employees as well as the Texas Veterans Needs Assessment indicating that economic opportunity for Veterans in Austin is insufficient; WHEREAS, the City Council has previously recognized the great need for Veteran services in Austin; WHEREAS, Austin Small and Minority Business Resources helps small, minority-owned women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses compete for City of Austin contracts, administers the City’s minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprise procurement programs, and works to expand access, equity, and economic opportunity for local businesses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs recommends the Austin Economic Development Department and Austin Small and Minority Resources include Service Disabled Veteran owned businesses in all goals and programs to ensure Service Disabled Veterans in Austin have affirmative access to city procurement opportunities and show productive growth. The Commission recommends the following: 1. The City should certify businesses that meet eligibility criteria, monitor utilization of certified firms on City contracts, provide resources (workshops, training, and webinars), meet with local Veteran service and trade organizations, and educate stakeholders on program requirements. 2. The City should include Service Disabled Veteran owned businesses in all goals, certification and compliance programs, initiatives, outreach efforts, education programs, communication, awards ceremonies, performance measures, and monitoring efforts. 3. The City should ensure adequate resourcing to manage Service Disabled Veteran programs as part of existing programs serving minority owned business enterprises, women owned enterprises, disadvantaged business enterprises, airport concession disadvantaged business enterprises, and small business enterprises. Date of Approval: March 18, 2026 Motioned By: Michael Mcinerney Second By: Armando Gonzales Vote: 7-0 For: Jose Reyes, Lucas Castillo, Amber Schleuning, Christopher Wilson, Fansu Ku, Michael Mcinerney, Armando Gonzales Against: 0 Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Kimberly Frantz, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Anita Roberts, William Dahlstrom Attest: _______________________________________________________ Michael McInerney - Chair, City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260318-05 Veterans Affairs Action Plan WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution No. 20240814-021 on an 11-0 vote directing the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan, and to present the completed Veterans Affairs Action Plan to Council within six months: WHEREAS, the City Manager did not develop or publish a Veterans Affairs Action Plan as directed by the City Council; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs recommends the City Council again direct the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan, with a focus on Veterans Homelessness in the city of Austin and the needs of Veterans in the Austin metro area, and to present the completed Veterans Affairs Action Plan to Council within six months. Date of Approval: March 18, 2026 Motioned By: Michael Mcinerney Second By: Lucas Castillo Vote: 7-0 For: Jose Reyes, Lucas Castillo, Amber Schleuning, Christopher Wilson, Fansu Ku, Michael Mcinerney, Armando Gonzales Against: 0 Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Kimberly Frantz, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Anita Roberts, William Dahlstrom Attest: Michael McInerney - Chair, City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs
REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS On Wednesday January 21, 2026 at 7pm City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1401/1402 Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Commission on Veterans Affairs may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or email at jesus.simental@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Michael Mcinerney – Chair Amber Schleuning – Vice Chair William Dahlstrom Kimberly Frantz Armando Gonzales Bryce Laake-Stanfield Jose Reyes Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Vacant – D4 Vacant – D6 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Dec 17, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Jolene Grajczyk, Veterans Court Administrator, Travis County Veterans Court on the services they provide to veterans. Veterans Court is a pretrial diversion program for veterans charged with non-violent, misdemeanor offenses that may be related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health problems resulting from their military service. Presentation and discussion by Kevin Dietz, Deputy Director Texas Legal Services Center on 3. the services they provide veterans and the local community. 4. Discussion on holding a community input meeting for input on FY27 budget priorities. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran 5. working group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Please call Jesus Simental at (512) 974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov at Equity and Inclusion Department to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Veterans Affairs, please contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov.
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, January 21, 2026 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, January 21, 2026, at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. Chair Michael Mcinerney called the COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEETING to order at 7:15pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Michael Mcinerney Armando Gonzales Fansu Ku Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Jose Reyes William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Commissioners Absent: Kimberly Frantz Bryce Laake-Stanfield Sta(cid:431) in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, O(cid:431)ice of Equity and Inclusion Ryan Johnson – City of Austin Department of Equity and Inclusion (Intern) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 12/17/2025 were approved on Commissioner Christopher Wilson motion, second by Armando Gonzales on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Kimberly Frantz, and Bryce Laake-Stanfield were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation conducted by Jolene Grajczyk, the administrator for the veteran’s court of Travis County. She helps veterans with legal matters on diversion from the traditional courts to a 12-24 month program. 3. Presentation conducted by Texas Legal Services Center. They discussed the Veterans Legal Assistance Program (VLAP). This program is designed to help veterans with claims and discharge upgrades. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Postponed until following meeting. Discussion on holding a community input meeting for input on FY27 budget priorities. 4. Postponed until following meeting. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran working group. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 5. Chair Michael Mcinerney discussed a budget item to discuss for the FY27 budget. 31 March is the deadline. The group will get together and vote on things brought forward for the budget. The commission will vote during the March meeting and present to the City. ADJOURNMENT END: 8:12 PM 6. Chair Michael Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, Christopher second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Kimberly Frantz, and Bryce Laake-Stanfield were absent. The minutes were approved at the 18 March 2026 meeting by Commissioner Jose Reyes motion, Lucas Castillo second on a 6-0 vote, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Kimberly Frantz, Anita Roberts, and William Dahlstrom were absent.
