Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

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