Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2024 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2024, at the City of Austin Permitting & Development Center at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752. Chair CHRISTOPHER WILSON called the COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS MEETING to order at 7:07pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Christopher Wilson (Chair) Armando Gonzales Michael Mcinerney Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kevin Lenau (Vice-Chair) Mark Balch Patrick Bissett William Dahlstrom Amber Schleuning Philip Reichert Commissioners Absent: Curtis Wyman Maria Brown-Spence Staff in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Civil Rights PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES     1. The minutes from the meeting of 3/21/2024 were approved on Chair Christopher Wilson’s motion, second by Michael Mcinerney on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, reminded all Commissioners of the requirement to complete Sexual Harassment Training by 10 May 2024. 3. Presentation by Sergio Torres-Peralta from the Office of Sustainability on the Food Planning Process and gave the Commission an opportunity to provide feedback on the upcoming Food Plan draft. 4. Presentation by Kris Vandenberg on veteran needs and how the commission can support veterans in Austin was postponed and rescheduled for the May 15, 2024 meeting. 5. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence was absent for the meeting so discussion on results and findings on a list of nonprofits from I Live Here I Give Here Amplify Austin nonprofits is postponed and rescheduled for the May 15, 2024 meeting. 6. Commissioners were seeking details on the upcoming meeting for the Veterans Day Parade. Staff liaison, Jesus Simental, advised commissioners that the agenda and date for the start of the planning meetings have not yet been released and when they do send it out it will be forwarded to all commissioners. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Michael Mcinerney was elected chair, nominated by Christopher Wilson second by Patrick Bissett on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. Amber Schleuning was elected vice-chair, nominated by Christopher Wilson second by Michael Mcinerney on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 8. Commissioners recommended they follow up with their appointed council member on Recommendation 20240320-004 and 20240320-006 and report findings in the May meeting. ADJOURNMENT END: 7:51 PM 9. Chair C. Wilson made the motion to adjourn. M. Mcinerney second the motion. Pass unanimously 9-0. Curtis Wyman and Maria Brown-Spence were absent.       The minutes were approved at the 15 May 2024 meeting on Chair Michael Mcinerney’s motion, Patrick Bissett second on a 6-0 vote. Maria Brown-Spence, Kevin Lenau, Mark Balch, and Philip Reichert were absent.