Meeting Information

San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission

11-6-00

Minutes of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission

1. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 1809 hours

2. ROLL CALL: Veronika Cauley, Renie Champagne, Charles Coolidge, Leonard Grube, Wallace Levin, Jim Lineberger, Elizabeth Melnik, CJ O’Mara, Edwin Wilkerson and a quorum was present. Also present was Cheryl Cook, Asst VSO, Nathan Ratner, Sons of the American Legion, Richard A Suarez and Micheal Thompson. The City Attorney’s Representative, Wayne Snodgrass, was also present.

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: All

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was approved with a hand vote.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCT 2, 2000: The minutes were approved unanimously with a hand vote.

6. PUBLIC COMMENT: Nathan Ratner reported that the 91st Division flag and case were apparently not going to be restored in their original location when repairs, etc are completed, but to another place in city hall. Cheryl Cook, VSO Asst, expressed gratitude for the support of the Commission in facilitating her request to the War Memorial Board of Trustees for the use of the Building for the Resource Faire. Others present remarked that she showed extraordinary patience in waiting to be heard by the trustees.

7. REPORTS: A. The secretary reiterated that circumstances may require his resignation in the near future and requested his name not be considered by the nominating committee for 2001.

B. With respect to virtually all of the Commission’s current issues, Commissioner Cauley reported a personal contact with Mayor Willie Brown. Commissioner Wilkerson informed us that Ms Perez from the Mayor’s office had intended to attend our meeting.

C. The Nominating Committee will present their report next month for election of officers,

D. There was no formal report by a Legislative committee or Health and Welfare committee as such.

E. Website Report - Commissioner O’Mara reported a temporary incapacity to service email and the web due to a problem at her residence.
8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Compliance with Sunshine Law - V.Pres Coolidge brought the 3 minute limit on public comment to the attention of the Commission. Attorney Snodgrass noted the length of comment might be extended at the discretion of the chair.

Return of the 91st Division flag and case to City Hall. In addition to the public comment above, an article by Mr. Epstein in a current issue of the Chronicle was mentioned. Commissioner Levin sought and received approval for his draft of a letter from the Commission to the mayor urging the restoration of the flags and case.

¨ Support of the USS IOWA to SF Project - No new information, except that a model of the USS IOWA will be in the Veterans Day Parade
¨ VAC budget request. Commissioner Champagne reported that, due to a late increase in funding, 177 units rather than 150 would be in the Parade.

9. NEW BUSINESS: The election of 2001 officers will be at the December meeting.

10. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned in memory of those killed in the terrorist attack on the USS COLE.