Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, August 20, 2025 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, August 20, 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 7:14pm CST. Commissioners in Attendance: Michael Mcinerney Armando Gonzales Jose Reyes Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Amber Schleuning Bryce Laake-Stanfield William Dahlstrom Commissioners Absent: Maria Brown-Spence Anita Carmichael Roberts Staff in Attendance: Jesus Simental – Veterans Administrator, Office of Equity and Inclusion PUBLIC COMMUNICATION – GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. The minutes from the meeting of 7/16/2025 were approved on Chair Michael Mcinerney motion, second by Bryce Laake-Stanfield on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Maria Brown- Spence and Anita Carmichael Roberts were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion by Patricia Morgan on the 4 day Leading to Win Bridging the Gap event at Dell Diamond. Talked about who should attend and the whole goal of connecting the many resources in the community. Patricia was asked to come back in September to present on her Texas Veterans Network/Combined Arms Program. 3. Discussed the current budget proposal and how it affects veterans. Chair Mcinerney talked about the current unfunded status of the commission recommendation but a proposed tax rate increase would increase revenue by $100 million. Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield talked about allocating $1.5 million to Homeless Strategy Office targeting homeless veterans with a goal of housing 75 veterans the first year which would be a 15% reductions in veteran homelessness. 4. Discussed the 2025 Veterans Day Parade including date, time, location, and route for the event, Commissioner Amber Schleuning asked what the commission can do to support the event by getting the word out and there was discussion on the Texas Book Festival going on at the same time. 5. Discussed upcoming “Get to know your commissions” events, Commissioner Bryce Laake- Stanfield discussed dates for the JIC Committee on 15 and 22 September and Chair Mcinerney would be forwarding out other dates that were previously emailed by Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 6. Presentation by Combined Arms/Texas Veterans Network and presentation by City of Austin Department of Equity and Inclusion. Commissioner Jose Reyes also recommended we bring in local colleges and universities in October to see how the city can best support them. ADJOURNMENT END: 8:12 PM 7. Chair Michael Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, Bryce Laake-Stanfield second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Maria Brown-Spence and Anita Carmichael Roberts were absent. The minutes were approved at the 17 September 2025 meeting on Commissioner Bryce Laake- Stanfield’s motion, Christopher Wilson second on a 7-0 vote, William Dahlstrom was absent.