REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, February 21, 2024 7:00 PM – Adjournment City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1406 Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Commission on Veteran Affairs may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by 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 comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, email the board liaison at Jesus.Simental@austintexas.gov Amber Schleuning Patrick Bissett Mark Balch Philip Reichert Michael Mcinerney AGENDA CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Christopher “Cam” Wilson, Chair Kevin Lenau, Vice Chair William Dahlstrom Maria Brown-Spence Armando Gonzales Curtis Wyman CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES 18, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of January 2. Staff update regarding Sexual Harassment Training, FY25 Budget Recommendation process, and Attendance/Sign-In Sheet requirements. 3. Update on the City of Austin Internal Work Group initial meeting. Presentation by staff liaison, Jesus Simental. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation and discussion by Amanda Afifi, Chair Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission and Chair of the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) about having the Commission of Veterans Affairs join the JIC. 5. Presentation and discussion by Christian Duran and Julie Smith from the City of Austin Housing Department which would present on the housing department’s federally-funded programming and solicit input/discussion from Commissioners on needs and priorities that our federal funding should address. 6. Presentation and discussion by Jim Darwin, Chair of the nonprofit Austin Veterans Parade Foundation about discussing future collaboration between the City of Austin and the Austin Veterans Parade Foundation. 7. Continued discussion and update on nonprofits that service veterans of Austin and Travis County. Chair Wilson agreed to research these nonprofits. 8. Discuss results and findings from Commissioner Marc Balch on his talk with the Veterans Administration on what they are doing for veteran outreach and solicit them to speak at the Veterans Affairs Commission meeting. 9. Discuss results and findings from Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence on a list of nonprofits in our area that service veterans. 10. Discussion on findings from all commissioners on status of Recommendation Number 20230719-006 Recommended Study to Understand Real-World Needs of Travis County- Based Veterans. DISCUSSION …
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024, at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. Chair CHRISTOPHER WILSON called the COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEETING to order at 7:07pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Christopher Wilson (Chair) Armando Gonzales Curtis Wyman Michael Mcinerney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Lenau (Vice-Chair) Mark Balch Maria Brown-Spence Patrick Bissett William Dahlstrom Commissioners Absent: Amber Schleuning Philip Reichert Staff in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Civil Rights PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 1/17/2024 were approved on Chair Christopher Wilson’s motion, second by Patrick Bissett on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Amber Schleuning and Philip Reichert were absent. 2. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, Veteran Administrator with the Office of Civil Rights briefed requirement regarding Sexual Harassment Training, FY 25 Budget Recommendation process and attendance/sign-in requirements. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation by Amanda Afifi, Chair Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory Commission and Chair of the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) about having the Commission of Veterans Affairs join the JIC. 4. Presentation by Christian Duran, Senior Research Analyst with the City of Austin Housing Department. Discussed federally-funded programming and solicited input/discussion on veteran needs and priorities that federal funding should address. 5. Presentation by Jim Darwin, Chair of the nonprofit Austin Veterans Parade Foundation. Discussed future collaborate efforts between the City of Austin and the Austin Veterans Parade Foundation. 6. Continued discussion and update on nonprofits that service veterans of Austin and Travis County. Chair Wilson has put together a list of about 20 nonprofits and will forward to staff liaison, Jesus Simental, to disseminate to rest of the Commissioners with the intent of soliciting these nonprofits to present at the monthly meeting and see how the Commission can aid these nonprofits in assisting veterans. 7. There was no update from Commissioner Marc Balch on his talk with the Veterans Administration on what they are doing for veteran outreach and solicit them to speak at the Veterans Affairs Commission meeting. 8. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence wills secure a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin and will forward to staff liaison, Jesus Simental for dissemination to the rest of the commissioners. 9. There …
