REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, March 20, 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 21, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of February 2. Discussion 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. 3. Discussion on results and findings from Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence on a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin nonprofit. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and vote on resubmitting request for study to understand real-world needs of Travis County-based veterans. 5. Discussion and vote on joining the Joint Inclusion Committee. 6. Discussion, amend, and vote on resubmitting a recommendation to create a department of Veteran Affairs and Military Affairs. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Jesus Simental at (512) 974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS Recommendation Number: 20240320-004: RECOMMENDED STUDY TO UNDERSTAND REAL-WORLD NEEDS OF TRAVIS COUNTY-BASED VETERANS WHEREAS, Texas has the largest veteran population in the United States and Travis County has a veteran population of 56,000+/-; and WHEREAS, veterans are not a monolith and possess a diverse sets of needs, senses of identity, and challenges; and WHEREAS, there remains a great opportunity to better understand the diversity of current needs and estimate future needs for Travis County-based veterans so to design programs, policies, and budgets that are informed by this real-world understanding of evolving needs of this population; and WHEREAS, Travis-county does not currently possess a sufficiently deep understanding of its veterans and thus lacks an ability to make data-driven decisions for and with this dynamic and cherished population; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs encourages the Austin City Council to commission a small study (to include surveys and qualitative research) to better understand the nuanced needs, perceptions, challenges, and barriers facing Travis County-based veterans today, across all demographics. Date of Approval: March 20, 2024 Record of the vote: For: Not Present: Attest: _____________________________________________ Christopher ‘Cam’ Wilson – Chair, Commission on Veteran Affairs
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20240320-006 WHEREAS, the City of Austin seeks to be a national leader and community model in bridging the military-civilian divide by intentionally reintegrating those who have served as well as their families into our communities with purpose; WHEREAS, the Council passed Ordinance No. 20130214-043, creating the Commission on Veterans Affairs to serve as an advisory board to the city council concerning the wellbeing of military veterans in the Austin area; and WHEREAS, the Commission on Veterans Affairs has found that Veteran employment, housing, education, training, family counseling, PTSD/mental health, healthcare, and VA benefits counseling are dispersed throughout Austin placing access to vital services out of reach for many with limited economic and transportation resources; and WHEREAS, City Council has previously recognized the great need for veteran support services, passing Resolution No. 20170622-035 directing the City Manager to draft a business plan to establish a Veterans Resource Center; and WHEREAS, the Commission on Veterans Affairs passed Recommendation No. 20200115-B003 encouraging City Council to create a Department of Veterans and Military Affairs. The Commission's intent is to consolidate all veterans and military-related matters "internal' and "external" under one office. Currently, Veteran's initiatives and programs are dispersed within the City of Austin. The office would serve to engage the Veteran's community by attending local VFW, American Legion, and Disabled Veterans of America post meetings. The Veteran's office must work in partnership with the Travis County Veteran Service office. WHEREAS, City Council has previously recognized the need to provide veterans services, passing Resolution No. 20211209-057 directing the City Manager to explore the establishment of a Veterans and Military Affairs Office. The City Manager's report findings identified the need to create an additional Program Manager II position at an annual cost of $127,000 a year. The City of Austin has a funded vacant Veterans Program manager position under the Civil Right Office and a funded Veterans Consultant position under the Human Resources Department. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED. that the Commission on Veteran Affairs recommends the creation of a Veterans and Military Affairs office. It is recommended that the Program manager II position identified in the report to establish a Veterans and Military Office by the City managers, the current vacant Veterans Program Administrator position under the Office of Civi I Rights, and the Veteran Services Consultant under the Human Resource Department all be placed under a newly …
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 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 7:04pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Christopher Wilson (Chair) Armando Gonzales Curtis Wyman Michael Mcinerney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Mark Balch Patrick Bissett William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Commissioners Absent: Philip Reichert Kevin Lenau (Vice-Chair) Maria Brown-Spence Staff in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Civil Rights PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 2/21/2024 were approved on Chair Christopher Wilson’s motion, second by Michael Mcinerney on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Kevin Lenau, Maria Brown-Spence and Philip Reichert were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Commissioner Marc Balch updated the rest of the commission on his talk with the Veterans Administration on what they are doing for veteran outreach. Individual was identified at the Temple VA that would assist with identifying what the VA is doing. 3. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence was not present at the March meeting so item 3 was skipped on the agenda and will carry over to the April meeting. Discussion on results and findings from Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence on a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin nonprofit. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. There was a discussion and vote to resubmit Recommendation 20240320-004 Requesting a study to understand real world needs of Travis County-based veterans. Chair Christopher Wilson made a motion to approve the resubmission and Commissioner Michael Mcinerney second the vote. Recommendation was passed on an 8-0 vote. 5. There was a discussion and vote on joining the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC). Chair Christopher Wilson made a motion to join JIC and Commissioner Michael Mcinerney second the vote. Passed on an 8-0 vote. 6. There was a discussion and vote to resubmit Recommendation 20240320-006 To create a department of Veterans Affairs and Military Affairs. Chair Christopher Wilson made a motion to approve resubmission and Commissioner Michael Mcinerney second the vote. Recommendation was passed on an 8-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT END: 8:03 PM 7. Chair C. Wilson made the motion to adjourn. M. Mcinerney second the motion. Pass unanimously 8-0. Kevin Lenau, Philip Reichert, and Maria …
