REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS On Wednesday March 18, 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 Lucas Castillo Fansu Ku CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION APPROVAL OF MINUTES AGENDA 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Veteran Affairs Regular Meeting of Jan 21, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Christopher Anderson, Homeless Strategy Office Deputy Director, to provide information on access to Veteran-specific housing resources as well as updates on Tunnel to Towers Foundation and other non-profits seeking to build housing for homeless veterans in Austin. 3. Update by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield on the status of the homeless veteran working group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. 5. Discussion and possible vote on proposed recommendation for the Austin Economic Development Department and Austin Small and Minority Resources include service disabled veteran owned businesses in all goals and programs to ensure service disabled veterans in Austin have affirmative access to city procurement opportunities. Discussion and possible vote on a recommendation by the Commission on Veterans Affairs that City Council again direct the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan. 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 …
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260318-04 Service Disabled Veterans Affirmative Access WHEREAS, the City of Austin seeks to be a national leader in supporting its veteran and military community; 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 Texas Veterans Needs Assessment indicating that economic opportunity for Veterans in Austin is insufficient; WHEREAS, the City Council has previously recognized the great need for Veteran services in Austin; WHEREAS, Austin Small and Minority Business Resources helps small, minority-owned women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses compete for City of Austin contracts, administers the City’s minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprise procurement programs, and works to expand access, equity, and economic opportunity for local businesses. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs recommends the Austin Economic Development Department and Austin Small and Minority Resources include Service Disabled Veteran owned businesses in all goals and programs to ensure Service Disabled Veterans in Austin have affirmative access to city procurement opportunities and show productive growth. The Commission recommends the following: 1. The City should certify businesses that meet eligibility criteria, monitor utilization of certified firms on City contracts, provide resources (workshops, training, and webinars), meet with local Veteran service and trade organizations, and educate stakeholders on program requirements. 2. The City should include Service Disabled Veteran owned businesses in all goals, certification and compliance programs, initiatives, outreach efforts, education programs, communication, awards ceremonies, performance measures, and monitoring efforts. 3. The City should ensure adequate resourcing to manage Service Disabled Veteran programs as part of existing programs serving minority owned business enterprises, women owned enterprises, disadvantaged business enterprises, airport concession disadvantaged business enterprises, and small business enterprises. Date of Approval: March 18, 2026 Motioned By: Michael Mcinerney Second By: Armando Gonzales Vote: 7-0 For: Jose Reyes, Lucas Castillo, Amber Schleuning, Christopher Wilson, Fansu Ku, Michael Mcinerney, Armando Gonzales Against: 0 Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Kimberly Frantz, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Anita Roberts, William Dahlstrom Attest: _______________________________________________________ Michael McInerney - Chair, City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs
RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Commission on Veterans Affairs Recommendation Number: 20260318-05 Veterans Affairs Action Plan WHEREAS, the City Council approved Resolution No. 20240814-021 on an 11-0 vote directing the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan, and to present the completed Veterans Affairs Action Plan to Council within six months: WHEREAS, the City Manager did not develop or publish a Veterans Affairs Action Plan as directed by the City Council; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commission on Veterans Affairs recommends the City Council again direct the City Manager to develop a Veterans Affairs Action Plan, with a focus on Veterans Homelessness in the city of Austin and the needs of Veterans in the Austin metro area, and to present the completed Veterans Affairs Action Plan to Council within six months. Date of Approval: March 18, 2026 Motioned By: Michael Mcinerney Second By: Lucas Castillo Vote: 7-0 For: Jose Reyes, Lucas Castillo, Amber Schleuning, Christopher Wilson, Fansu Ku, Michael Mcinerney, Armando Gonzales Against: 0 Abstain: None Off the dais: None Absent: Kimberly Frantz, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, Anita Roberts, William Dahlstrom Attest: Michael McInerney - Chair, City of Austin Commission on Veterans Affairs
