Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

COMMISSION ON VETERAN AFFAIRS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, October 15, 2025 The COMMISSION ON VETERANS AFFAIRS convened in a REGULAR Meeting on WEDNESDAY, October 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 Jose Reyes Bryce Laake-Stanfield Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Amber Schleuning Christopher Wilson Commissioners Absent: William Dahlstrom 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 9/17/2025 were approved on Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield motion, second by Armando Gonzales on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner William Dahlstrom and Anita Carmichael Roberts were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. St. Edwards University: Dustin Noll presented on the challenges presented by the changing needs of younger veterans. Raised the point that it was well understood what veterans returning from the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan needed, and many were lined up to help — for example, mental healthcare for PTSD. Today, young Veterans are already becoming disconnected from this experience. needs are less clear and resources are more scarce. 3. Austin Community College: Dr. BethAnn Warwick presented on the challenges student veterans face pursuing higher education. Population of 1,600 Veterans at ACC, plus another 1,500 family members and spouses. ACC Military Network & Veteran Resource Center address main challenges of housing affordability, employment, and loss of community. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. The Commission on Veterans Affairs 2026 annual meeting schedule was approved on Chair Michael Mcinerney motion and second by Christopher Wilson on a 6-0 vote. 5. A working group was established on motion by Chair Michael Mcinerney and second by Bryce-Laake Stanfied on a 6-0 vote to address veteran homelessness. The working group will be lead by Bryce Laake-Stanfield and consist of Chair Michael Mcinerney, Commissioner Christopher Wilson, Commissioner Armando Gonzales, and Vice Chair Amber Schleuning. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 6. Commissioner Bryce Laake-Stanfield to add to discussion and action items a creation of a veterans operations working group to focus on connecting the City of Austin with nonprofits that support veterans and also update the commission on the status of the veteran homeless working group. ADJOURNMENT END: 8:16 PM 7. Chair Michael Mcinerney made the motion to adjourn, Bryce Laake-Stanfield second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner William Dahlstrom and Anita Carmichael Roberts were absent. The minutes were approved at the 19 Nov 2025 meeting on Commissioner Christopher Wilson motion, William Dahlstrom second on a 6-0 vote, Anita Roberts, Bryce Laake-Stanfield, and Kimberly Frantz were absent.