City and County of San FranciscoVeterans' Affairs Commission

Veterans' Affairs Commission - September 9, 2014 - Meeting Minutes

Veterans' Affairs Commission - September 9, 2014

Minutes for Veterans Affairs Commission Meeting: Sep. 9, 2014

 

Call to Order

Having achieved a Quorum (see Roll Call, below), the September Meeting (of the SFVAC) was called to order (in City Hall Hearing Room #416) by President Stephen Noetzel at 6:00pm.  Meeting started with the traditional Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call

In Attendance for the Meeting: Commissioners: Baldonado, Caldera, Dacumos, Gallagher, Guy, Jenkins, Kennedy, Maffei, Marshall, Noetzel, Ramirez, Smith, Wilkerson, Wong (14)
Absent:  Excused (1) Commissioner A. Weeby
Absent:  Un-Excused (1) Commissioner L. Burnette.

Attending Guests: Judge Braden Woods, Rev. Diana McDaniel, George McDaniel, David Schneider, Amanda Davison, James McGhee, Latonia Dixon
City Attorney Wayne Snodgrass was also present.
Note: Commission strength currently at 16 members, with one (Mayoral Appointed) Vacancy.

 

Approval of AGENDA

Motion to accept Agenda was made by made by Comm. Wilkerson,  2nd, Comm. Kennedy.  During discussion, Comm. Caldera protested that his request for an Agenda Item (for discussion of Fleet Week activities) had been inadvertently left off the Agenda by President Noetzel. After discussion the Agenda was APPROVED, as written with all Commissioners voting YEA, save Comm. Caldera who voted NAY.

 

Review of Minutes of Previous VAC meeting.

Motion to Approve draft of Minutes for VAC meeting of May 13, 2014 (as written by Comm. Kennedy and President Noetzel), made by Comm. Maffei (2nd Comm. Ramirez). After some discussion a vote was taken and the subject Minutes were unanimously approved as written.

 

Agenda item 1 – Call for PUBLIC COMMENT

  1. Guest Latonia Dixon spoke to introduce two future events, including: 1) International Day of Peace on Saturday, Sept. 21st

        2) October 10th Take Back the Night Healing Arts Festival.  Event details were included in the handouts.

 

  1. Guest Amanda Davison spoke to introduce a new program she has developed, called TOMTAH.  The new venture is designed to repurpose outdated phones so they can be used by people in need.  Ms. Davison provided details on how the program works, how it can help people and need and how phone donors can participate in the program.

 

Agenda item 2 - Officers Reports  

  1. President’s Report;
    President Noetzel began his Report by thanking Commissioner Ramirez for his work on the 2nd Annual Veterans Mental Health Homeless Summit.  President Noetzel announced that there would be a Latino Heritage Celebration at City Hall on October 9th.  On November 9th the Veterans Day Parade is scheduled if anybody wants to volunteer or participate.
     
  2. Vice Presidents Report; 
    V.P. Maffei announced that he had nothing to report this month, but that he would yield his time for a Report from Commissioner Caldera, on the subject of Fleet Week in San Francisco. Commissioner Caldera discussed emergency preparedness during Fleet Week.
     
  3. Secretary’s Report;
    Commissioner Burnette was absent: No Report.
 

Agenda Item 3.   NEW Business

  1. Port Chicago National Memorial Project.  Lead Comm. Jenkins introduced guest, Rev. Diana  McDaniel of Friends of Port Chicago.  There was a 30 minute presentation regarding the history the Port Chicago Explosion and current status of the 50 sailors that have not been exonerated for their crimes. Speakers described activities designed to bring awareness and improvements to the Port Chicago Memorial.  Commissioner Jenkins volunteered to follow up with action items on during a future VAC meeting.

 

  1. Veterans Court of San Francisco.   Vice President Maffei introduced guest Judge Braden Woods of S.F. Veterans Justice Court. Judge Woods presented a report on the growth and successes of the Veterans Justice Court.  Starting in 2013, the goal of SFVJC is keep veterans out of the criminal justice system and through substance abuse and treatment. Services are provided without regard to discharge status and currently apply to misdemeanor cases that are non-violent in nature.   Judge Woods provided information on outreach efforts details on how their case management system works to provide wrap around services. 

 

  1. Invitation for Secretary Burnette to address Commission. Note: Comm. Burnette was again Absent Without Notice.

 

  1. Formal Removal of Comm. Burnette as Commission Secretary.
    No further action required as Comm. Burnette was absent. Formal Removal of previous meeting stands.

 

      E.  Discussion and appointment of new Commission Secretary.

President Noetzel spoke of the need for a Commission Secretary, to replace former Secretary Burnette, for the remainder of 2014. He reported that Commissioner DWANE KENNEDY had filled in admirably (without title) and performed much of the work of Commission Secretary over the past two months. He suggested that the Commission might want to APPOINT Commissioner Kennedy, as Acting Secretary for the remainder of the Administration Year.

Comm. Caldera suggested that after 9 months of uncertainty in the position of Secretary, the Commission would be better served via appointment of a fully recognized Secretary. Comm. Caldera then made a MOTION to appoint and affirm Commissioner Dwane Kennedy as Commission Secretary for the remainder of 2014. (2nd Comm. Maffei). After some discussion the question was called and a vote taken on the Motion. All Commissioners - save one (Comm. Ramirez: Abstain) voted for the appointment. Commissioner Kennedy closed the matter by thanking the Commission for their vote of confidence.

 

Agenda item 4.  OLD Business  - Committee Reports

Commissioner Ramirez described activities and attendance at the recent Mental Health Summit.  Commissioner Dacumos added information about the continued homelessness outreach. 

 

Commissioner Marshall provided an updated on the effort to create a new City Department dedicated to Veterans Affairs.  Recent communications with the City of Los Angeles had been useful to identify best practices and lessons learned. 

 

Agenda item 5. Veterans Related LEGISLATION.  

Commissioner Dong described the status AB 935 to provide veterans designation on a California Drivers License and asked Commissioners to contact Governor Brown an encourage him to sign AB 935.

 

Agenda item 6.  WAR MEMORIAL VETERANS BUILDING

Legal research continues on the existing lawsuit.  The opening date for the building is scheduled for August 2015.  Future meetings will need to discuss the long term location of the VAC.  Commissioners expressed interest a walk-through of the building.

 

7.  ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

Commissioner Caldera described a recent event that he attended regarding the use of reclamation funds related to the Vietnam War including munitions removal and repairs to airports.  President Noetzel provided additional information on the event and asked if others were interested in the issue.

Commissioner Marshall announced two upcoming events 1) Veterans Start-up School  2) IRAP fundraiser on October 10th. 

Commissioner Ramirez announced October 10th at 3:00 is the War Memorial Dedication

Commissioner Guy announced Eastbay Stand-down is scheduled for September 11-14th at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds.  The Alcatraz Swim starts at 7:00 a.m. on September 28th at Aquatic Park.

Commissioner Caldera noted that employees of Twitter are being threatened by ISIS.

 

8.  Honors Report and Moment of Silence: In memory of American Armed Service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice in all wars and conflicts, plus the passing of homeless veterans and veterans who died while waiting approval of benefits requests and suicides within the veterans and armed services community.  

 

9.  AJORNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 7:45pm.

 

 

Minutes of the 9/9/14 VAC Meeting written by Secretary Dwane Kennedy and approved unanimously (with minor corrections) at VAC meeting of 10/14/14.