Commission on Veterans Affairs Regular Meeting of the Commission on Veterans Affairs

Agenda — original pdf

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS On Wednesday January 21, 2026 at 7pm City of Austin Permitting & Development Center 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1401/1402 Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the Commission on Veterans Affairs may be participating by video conference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via 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 their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or email at jesus.simental@austintexas.gov CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Michael Mcinerney – Chair Amber Schleuning – Vice Chair William Dahlstrom Kimberly Frantz Armando Gonzales Bryce Laake-Stanfield Jose Reyes Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Vacant – D4 Vacant – D6 CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Dec 17, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Jolene Grajczyk, Veterans Court Administrator, Travis County Veterans Court on the services they provide to veterans. Veterans Court is a pretrial diversion program for veterans charged with non-violent, misdemeanor offenses that may be related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health problems resulting from their military service. Presentation and discussion by Kevin Dietz, Deputy Director Texas Legal Services Center on 3. the services they provide veterans and the local community. 4. Discussion on holding a community input meeting for input on FY27 budget priorities. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran 5. working group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Please call Jesus Simental at (512) 974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov at Equity and Inclusion Department to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Commission on Veterans Affairs, please contact Jesus Simental at 512-974-7742 or jesus.simental@austintexas.gov.

Approved Minutes — original pdf

COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, January 21, 2026 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, January 21, 2026, 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 7:15pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Michael Mcinerney Armando Gonzales Fansu Ku Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Anita Roberts Christopher Wilson Jose Reyes William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Commissioners Absent: Kimberly Frantz Bryce Laake-Stanfield Sta(cid:431) in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, O(cid:431)ice of Equity and Inclusion Ryan Johnson – City of Austin Department of Equity and Inclusion (Intern) PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 12/17/2025 were approved on Commissioner Christopher Wilson motion, second by Armando Gonzales on a 8-0 vote. Commissioners Kimberly Frantz, and Bryce Laake-Stanfield were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation conducted by Jolene Grajczyk, the administrator for the veteran’s court of Travis County. She helps veterans with legal matters on diversion from the traditional courts to a 12-24 month program. 3. Presentation conducted by Texas Legal Services Center. They discussed the Veterans Legal Assistance Program (VLAP). This program is designed to help veterans with claims and discharge upgrades. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Postponed until following meeting. Discussion on holding a community input meeting for input on FY27 budget priorities. 4. Postponed until following meeting. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran working group. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 5. Chair Michael Mcinerney discussed a budget item to discuss for the FY27 budget. 31 March is the deadline. The group will get together and vote on things brought forward for the budget. The commission will vote during the March meeting and present to the City. ADJOURNMENT END: 8:12 PM 6. Chair Michael Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, Christopher second on a 8-0 vote. Commissioner Kimberly Frantz, and Bryce Laake-Stanfield were absent. The minutes were approved at the 18 March 2026 meeting by Commissioner Jose Reyes motion, Lucas Castillo second on a 6-0 vote, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Kimberly Frantz, Anita Roberts, and William Dahlstrom were absent.