REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025 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 William Dahlstrom Maria Brown-Spence Armando Gonzales Patrick Bissett Mark Balch Philip Reichert Curtis Wyman Gustavo Ramirez CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES December 18, 2024. AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Staff briefing on social media webpage and veteran resource group. 3. Presentation and discussion by Jason Denny on proposal for a new veteran resource center and creation of a veterans and military affairs office for the effective provision of veteran services. 4. Discussion for the Annual Strategic Planning sub-committee meeting to set goals including budget proposals, special topics, and guest speakers. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and possible vote on proposal for establishment of a veterans resource center and creation of a veterans and military affairs office. 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, Jan 15, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2025, 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 7:00pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Michael Mcinerney Armando Gonzales Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Patrick Bissett Christopher Wilson Amber Schleuning William Dahlstrom Curtis Wyman Commissioners Absent: Maria Brown-Spence Philip Reichert Mark Balch Gustavo Ramirez Staff in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Civil Rights PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL 1. Kim DeLorenzo, Manager for State and Local Government Affairs-Texas with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation introduced herself and mentioned that she will be back in February with a formal presentation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2. The minutes from the meeting of 12/18/2024 were approved on Chair Michael Mcinerney’s motion, second by Armando Gonzales on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, Philip Reichert and Gustavo Ramirez were absent. 3. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, discussed requirements for establishment of a social media webpage as well as updated the commission on the status of the City of Austin Veteran Resource Group. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Presentation was conducted by Jason Denny on proposal for a new veterans resource center and creation of a veterans and military affairs office. 5. Chair Michael Mcinerney discussed getting the workgroup together composed of himself, Amber Schleuning, Christopher Wilson, Patrick Bissett, and William Dahlstrom to discuss strategic planning for the year and set goals including budget proposals, special topics, and guest speakers. The group will meet at the Austin City Library on Cesar Chavez St on 29 Jan at 6pm. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. A vote was taken to accept the proposal with amendments for a veteran resource center and creation of a veterans and military affairs office. Chair Mcinerney made a motion, second by Commissioner Armando Gonzales on a 7-0 vote, Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, Philip Reichert and Gustavo Ramirez were absent. 7. Discussed asking the Homeless Strategy Office to make a presentation along with Tunnel to Towers Foundation on the services offered to veterans. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT END: 7:56 PM 8. Chair Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, A. Gonzales second the motion. Pass unanimously 7-0. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, Philip Reichert and Gustavo …
