REGULAR MEETING of the COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS Wednesday, Feb 19, 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 2025. AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Jan 15, STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Staff briefing on creation of a social media webpage. 3. Presentation and discussion by Kim DeLorenzo from Tunnel to Towers Foundation on programs and services offered to veterans. 4. Presentation and discussion by David Gray from Homeless Strategy Office on addressing homelessness in the City of Austin. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and possible vote on budget resolutions for FY 2025. 6. Discussion and possible vote on proposal for veteran resource center and establishment of a military affairs office. 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 RECOMMENDATION Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250219-006 WHEREAS, the City of Austin seeks to be a national leader in supporting its veteran and military community by providing comprehensive services and addressing critical issues such as housing, employment, mental health, and community reintegration; WHEREAS, the Commission on Veterans Affairs has accumulated information concerning the needs of veterans in the Austin community through testimony from community members, veteran service organizations, non-profit groups, and city employees as well as the 2024 Texas Veterans Needs Assessment indicating that current support and access to Veteran services in Austin is insufficient; WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20240814-021 directing the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan to address recommendations for staffing, budget, organizational structure, and resources necessary for the effective provision of services; WHEREAS, the Interim Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion reported to the Mayor and City Council in January 2025 that she reviewed and concurs with the 2024 Texas Veterans Needs Assessment that barriers exist in the City of Austin to ensuring local veterans have access to services and support; WHEREAS, the City Council has previously recognized the great need for Veteran support services and adopted Resolution No. 20211209-057 directing the City Manager to explore the establishment of a Veterans and Military Affairs Office, identifying costs, possible funding sources, and steps associated with establishing this office; WHEREAS, the Commission on Veterans Affairs passed Recommendations No. 20200115-B003 and No. 20240320-006 encouraging consolidation of all veteran and military-related initiatives, programs, and personnel dispersed throughout the City of Austin government into a single office to improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery; and WHEREAS, establishing an Office of Military and Veterans Affairs reporting to the City Manager, as is found in most large cities in Texas, will strengthen the City’s commitment to addressing the needs of Veterans in our community and supporting the Veterans and currently serving National Guard and Reserve members working in the City of Austin government. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs recommends the creation of an Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. The Commission recommends the following: 1. The Office should report to the City Manager. Employees will engage with Federal, State, and County government officials and across the City of Austin government. 2. The Office should seek to maximize Federal and State funding available for Veteran programs to support City activities. 3. …
COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, Feb 19, 2025 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, February 19, 2025, at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. Commissioner Armando Gonzales called the COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEETING to order at 7:07pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Armando Gonzales Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Patrick Bissett Amber Schleuning William Dahlstrom Curtis Wyman Michael Mcinerney Commissioners Absent: Maria Brown-Spence Philip Reichert Mark Balch Gustavo Ramirez Christopher Wilson Staff in Attendance: Beverly Davis – Deputy Director, Office of Equity and Inclusion Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Equity and Inclusion PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 1/15/2025 were approved on Commissioner Armando Gonzales’s motion, second by Patrick Bissett on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, Philip Reichert, Gustavo Ramirez, and Christopher Wilson were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS the March meeting. 2. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, discussed the use of social media under the newly established Office of Equity and Inclusion. At this point it’s too early to determine how that process is going to work and the use of the Equity social media to get veteran information out to the public, more to follow. 3. Presentation by Kim DeLorenzo from Tunnel to Towers Foundation was rescheduled to 4. Presentation by David Gray from Homeless Strategy Office was rescheduled to the March meeting. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS the agenda. 5. The only budget resolutions for FY 2025 that was discussed and voted on was item 6 of 6. The Commission discussed the need for a Veteran Resource Center, who it will serve and what agencies would be part of it. Additionally there was discussion on establishment of a veterans affairs office. Recommendation 20250219-006 was generated to stand up a Veteran Resource Center and create a veterans affairs office. A vote was taken to put forth the Recommendation. Commissioner Armando Gonzales motioned and Patrick Bissett second it on a 6-0 vote, Commissioner Maria Brown- Spence, Mark Balch, Philip Reichert, Gustavo Ramirez, and Christoper Wilson were absent. 7. Commissioner Amber Schleuning requested to discuss the veterans survey that was FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS recently disseminated. ADJOURNMENT END: 7:42 PM 8. Commissioner Gonzales made the motion to adjourn, Michael Mcinerney second on a 6- 0 vote. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, Philip …
