Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

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 Ramirez were absent. The minutes were approved at the 19 Feb 2025 meeting on Commissioner’s Armando Gonzales’s motion, Patrick Bissett second on a 6-0 vote, Maria Brown-Spence, Mark Balch, and Philip Reichert Christopher Wilson, and Gustavo Ramirez were absent. .