REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, April 17, 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 20, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of March 2. Reminder to complete Sexual Harassment Awareness Training by 10 May and also available in person on Tuesday 23 April at 0930am. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation and discussion by Sergio Torres-Peralta, Office of Sustainability on the Food Planning process and an opportunity to provide feedback on the upcoming Food Plan draft. 4. Presentation and discussion by Kris Vandenberg on veteran needs and how the commission can support veterans in Austin. 5. Discussion on results and findings from Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence on a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin nonprofits. 6. Discussion on Austin Veterans Day Parade. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. 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.
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 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 Michael Mcinerney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Lenau (Vice-Chair) Mark Balch Patrick Bissett William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Philip Reichert Commissioners Absent: Curtis Wyman 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 3/21/2024 were approved on Chair Christopher Wilson’s motion, second by Michael Mcinerney on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, reminded all Commissioners of the requirement to complete Sexual Harassment Training by 10 May 2024. 3. Presentation by Sergio Torres-Peralta from the Office of Sustainability on the Food Planning Process and gave the Commission an opportunity to provide feedback on the upcoming Food Plan draft. 4. Presentation by Kris Vandenberg on veteran needs and how the commission can support veterans in Austin was postponed and rescheduled for the May 15, 2024 meeting. 5. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence was absent for the meeting so discussion on results and findings on a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin nonprofits is postponed and rescheduled for the May 15, 2024 meeting. 6. Commissioners were seeking details on the upcoming meeting for the Veterans Day Parade. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, advised commissioners that the agenda and date for the start of the planning meetings have not yet been released and when they do send it out it will be forwarded to all commissioners. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Michael Mcinerney was elected chair, nominated by Christopher Wilson second by Patrick Bissett on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. Amber Schleuning was elected vice-chair, nominated by Christopher Wilson second by Michael Mcinerney on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Commissioners recommended they follow up with their appointed council member on Recommendation 20240320-004 and 20240320-006 and report findings in the May meeting. ADJOURNMENT END: 7:51 PM 9. Chair …
