REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, Aug 21, 2024 7:00 PM – Adjournment City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1401/1402 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 CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Michael Mcinerney, Chair Amber Schleuning, Vice Chair Christopher Wilson Kevin Lenau William Dahlstrom Maria Brown-Spence Armando Gonzales Patrick Bissett Mark Balch Philip Reichert Curtis Wyman CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2024. AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of May 15, DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Glenn Towery on his upcoming event, AVAFEST and seek support by identifying and securing city owned facilities to host AVAFEST events 2024 as well as possible recognition for Jim Darwin, Austin Veterans Parade Foundation. 3. Presentation and discussion by Johanna Wynne from Patriot’s Hall Dripping Springs on experiences and best practices with connecting central Texas veterans with veteran service officers, services, and each other. 4. Discussion on the status of joining the Joint Inclusion Committee. 5. Discuss and update on Recommendation 20240320-004 requesting a study to understand real world needs of Travis County-based veterans and Recommendation 20240320-006 To create a department of Veterans 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.
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, Aug 21, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, August 21, 2024, 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 7:05pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Michael Mcinerney (Chair) Armando Gonzales Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Patrick Bissett Christopher Wilson Curtis Wyman Mark Balch Commissioners Absent: Kevin Lenau Maria Brown-Spence Philip Reichert William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Staff in Attendance: Tamela Saldana – Interim Director, Office of Civil Rights Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Civil Rights PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 5/15/2024 were approved on Chair Michael Mcinerney’s motion, second by Patrick Bissett on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Kevin Lenau, Maria Brown-Spence, Philip Reichert, William Dahlstrom, and Amber Schleuning were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Glen Towery on upcoming AVAFEST events as well as seek support to find city owned venues to host these events. 3. Presentation by Lieutenant General (3-Star) Scott McKean, Executive Director of Patriots Hall of Dripping Springs to inform the Commission on their upcoming grand opening and to share information about innovative best practices to serve Austin-area Veterans and their families. 4. We followed up on our bid to join the Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC). The request has been working its way through the system at various meetings all Summer to approve our inclusion and amendment of the JIC's bylaws to include the Veterans Affairs Commission. The next and final step is approval by the City Council. 5. Discussed status of Recommendation 20240320-004 requesting a study to understand real world needs of Travis County-based veterans and Recommendation 20240320-006 To create a department of Veterans Affairs and Military Affairs. Chair Mcinerney mentioned that the proposal had made it on District 8 Council Member’s agenda Paige Ellis, believes the recommendations are getting traction and making progress. Commissioner Wilson discussed his conversation with his council member Paige Ellis on the needs of veterans in the City of Austin. ADJOURNMENT END: 7:59 PM 6. Chair M. Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, P. Bissett second the motion. Pass unanimously 6-0. Commissioners Kevin Lenau, Maria Brown-Spence, Philip Reichert, William Dahlstrom, and Amber Schleuning were absent. The minutes were approved at the 18 Sep 2024 meeting on …
