Veterans' Affairs Commission - March 10, 2015 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
March 10, 2015 - 6:00pm
Location: 
City Hall, Room 416
San Francisco, CA 94124

Minutes for Veterans Affairs Commission Meeting: March 10, 2015

 

Call to Order

Having achieved a Quorum (see Roll Call, below), the March 2015 Meeting (of the SFVAC) was called to order (in City Hall Hearing Room #416) by President Stephen Noetzel at 6:04pm.  Meeting started with the traditional Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call

In Attendance for the Meeting:  (9) Commissioners: Caldera, Guy, Jenkins, Kennedy, Maffei, Noetzel, Smith, Weeby and Wong.   

Absent:  Excused (5) Commissioner Baldonado & Dacumos (Illness); Comm. Marshall (Schedule Conflict); Commissioners Ramirez and Wilkerson (Commissions Expired).

Absent:  Un-Excused (2) Commissioners L. Burnette and J. Gallagher

City Attorney W. Snodgrass was also present.

Note: Commission strength currently at 14 members, with one (Mayoral Appointed) Vacancy, and two opened BOS Appointed seats formerly held by Commissioners Ramirez and Wilkerson who previously announced that they will NOT be seeking re-appointment.

 

Approval of AGENDA

Motion to accept Agenda was made by made by Comm. Maffei (2nd, Comm. Guy). Without objection, the Agenda was APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, as distributed.

 

Review of Minutes of Previous VAC meeting.

Motion to Approve draft of Minutes for VAC meeting of February 10, 2015 (as written by Comm. Kennedy), made by Comm. Guy, (2nd Comm. Maffei). Without objection, subject MINUTES were APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, as written.

 

Agenda item 1 – Call for PUBLIC COMMENT

  • Guest (and Veteran) Sam Pandey introduced himself to the Commission, spoke of his background and announced that he was interested in the work and proceedings of the Commission, and that he had submitted application for appointment to one of the vacant (BOS Appointed Commission seats.

 

  • Guest (and Veteran) Joseph Koppel introduced himself to the Commission, spoke of his background and announced that he was interested in the work and proceedings of the Commission, and that he will be submitting application for appointment to the next vacant (BOS Appointed) Commission seat.

 

Agenda item 2 - Officers Reports  

  1. President’s Report;
    President Noetzel announced that the new BOS Rules Committee has scheduled a Hearing (at 11am on Thursday, March 12, 2015) to interview and consider applicants for the five (5) BOS appointed seats that currently stand as ‘expired’. Commissioners Baldonado, Caldera and Noetzel are seeking re-appointment. Subsequently at least two new applicants will be selected (by Rules Committee). Candidates recommended by Rules Committee will be voted on by full Board of Supervisors, hopefully by end of March.
     
  2. Vice Presidents Report
    Vice President Michael Maffei provided an update on the status of the S.F. Veterans Court.
     
  3. Secretary’s ReportSecretary Kennedy stated that he had nothing to report this month.

 

Agenda Item 3.  NEW Business – 

  1. Request for Support of SFVAC in establishing a Veterans Affairs Commission for City of San Jose, CA. 

Guest, Mr. Sam Pandey, (a Veteran and CORO Fellow, working in the office of Mayor Lee as a Special Assistant on Veterans Affairs), made his presentation, on the potential for SFVAC Support of an ADVICE LETTER to City Government of San Francisco, to advocate for establishment of a Veterans Affairs Commission for the City of San Jose, California. After some discussion, Mr. Pandey read proposed text of a LETTER that might be used as a basis for the subject Advice Letter to S.F. Mayor and BOS. As this was an Agenda ACTION ITEM, a MOTION was made by Comm. Kennedy (2nd, Comm. Maffei) to use the quoted text as a basis for writing the subject Advice Letter to S.F. City Government. After further discussion, the question was called and the Endorsement MOTION passed unanimously. Mr. Panday will forward proposed text to V.P.Maffei, who agreed to author the final version of the Advice Letter to S.F. Government.

 

  1. Discussion: City Hall or Veterans Building? 

Agenda item included potential for appointment of a Research Committee to develop recommendation on best meeting location after re-opening of Veterans building (Estimated September, 2015). As Comm. Caldera had left the meeting early, this issue was TABLED by Pres. Noetzel, so that it could be considered while Comm. Caldera was present.

 

 

Agenda Item 4.  Old Business

  1. Progress Report on our February Resolution on Restorative Justice for Port Chicago Fifty.  Pres. Noetzel reported that his Transmittal Letters (forwarding the approved VAC Resolution on this subject) were well received by the offices of Senators Feinstein and Boxer, as well as Rep. Barbara Lee. Research Team leader, Comm. Jenkins reported that she and Pres. Noetzel had meetings with Field Representatives in both Senator’s offices, and both made commitments to follow up with Senatorial Legislative Staff in Washington D.C. – to determine potential for new Federal Restorative Justice Legislation on the issue can be developed. She noted that both Senate staffers advised that Mirror Resolutions or Endorsements from San Francisco Mayor and/or Board of Supervisors, and/or descendants or families of the Port Chicago 50, would lend significant support to the potential for new legislation. Commissioner Caldera reported on his progress in negotiations with S.F. Supervisor Cohen to that end. Comm. Jenkins concluded the Report by stressing the importance of close coordination with leadership of the Friends of Port Chicago coalition, to insure that we all move forward, in lockstep, on this issue.
     
  2. Status of BOS Seat #3 of SFVAC (formerly held by Commissioner L. Burnette). Pres. Noetzel reported that the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors has written a Letter (dated 2/25/15) to Mr. Burnette, informing him that if they do not hear from him by 3/27/15, the BOS will move forward with vacating the seat in order to begin the new appointment process.

 

 

Agenda Item 5.  PROGRESS REPORTS on VAC Goals and Initiatives .

Leaders of Study Teams on previously defined Initiatives to Report on Progress.       

      

       A.    Research Team on Development of Veterans Advocate Position in City Government

In the absence of Comm. Jeff Marshall (Research Team Leader on this initiative), Vice President Michael Maffei provided an Update Report and once again introduced meeting Guest, Mr. Sam Pandy, who works daily, in the Office of the Mayor, as a full-time Veterans Advocate. The appointment, however, is Short Term, as the CORO Fellowship that Mr. Pandy works under, will expire some time in April. The goal is, to demonstrate, to the Mayor, and the City Administration, that establishment of a permanent City Advocate for Veterans Affairs, would be a great benefit to the City of San Francisco.

 

       B.    Research Team on Potential for Veterans Issues Panel at U.S. Mayors Conference, in S.F., June, 2015.

Vice President Maffei reported that he and Comm. Marshall continue in their efforts to develop some form of Group Meeting or ‘Forum’ of visiting City Officials on the subject of Common Urban Veterans Issues, during the National Mayors Conference in San Francisco, June 19-22, 2015.

 

  1. Research Team on Protocols for Equitable Assignment to Veterans Housing  In the absence of Comm. Gallagher,

       further discussion on this item was Tabled as Pres. Noetzel announced that he had a meeting scheduled with Project

       HOPE Director Bevan Dufty in early April.

 

  1. Committee on Veterans Mental Health Issues

Pres. Noetzel opened discussion on this broad area by suggesting establishment of small Research Teams that might take responsibility for specific issues within the broad Mental Health framework. When polled on the subject, Commissioner B. Smith volunteered to become Lead Researcher on a tem to study the area of MORAL INJURY. Commissioner D. Guy asked to join in that effort, and Comm, D. Dacumos was added as she had earlier expressed interest in this issue. Comm. Smith distributed copies of a 12-page article (as published in the Clinical Psychology Review), titled: “Moral injury and the moral repair in war veterans: A preliminary model and intervention strategy.”  Pres. Noetzel then tabled till next meeting, further assignments for Study Teams on additional Mental Health issues.

 

Agenda Item 6.  Veterans Related LEGISLATION.

Commissioner Wong provided an update on the Clay Hunt Anti-Suicide Federal Legislation. 

 

Agenda Item 7.  WAR MEMORIAL VETERANS BUILDING 

President Noetzel polled the Commissioners present at the meeting on the Question: “Would your preference be to continue to hold VAC meetings at City Hall, or Return to the War Memorial Veterans Building (for meetings) after re-opening of the building. Commissioners present offered a mixed response. Further discussion tabled for future meetings.

 

Agenda Item 8.  ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Floor opened for short announcements of veteran related events and/or activities

 

Agenda Item 9.  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.

 

Agenda Item 10.  ADJORNMENT   (At 7:25pm)

Minutes of the 3/10/15 VAC Meeting written by Secretary Dwane Kennedy, and approved by unanimous voten at VAC General Meeting of 4/14/15.