Minutes for Veterans Affairs Commission Meeting: April 14, 2015

Call to Order

Having achieved a Quorum (see Roll Call, below), the April 14, 2015 General 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:  (13) Commissioners: Baldonado, Dacumos, Dixon, Guy, Jenkins, Kennedy, Maffei, Marshall, Miller, Noetzel, Rogers, Weeby and Wong.   

Absent:  Excused (2) Commissioners J. Gallagher, and B. Smith (Work Commitments).

Office of City Attorney was represented by Mr. Wayne Snodgrass.

Note: Commission strength currently at 15 members, with one (Mayoral Appointed) Vacancy, and one BOS Appointed vacancy.

Approval of AGENDA

Motion to accept Agenda was made by made by Comm. Maffei (2^nd, 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 March 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) Nelson Lum, American Legion War Memorial Commission (ALWMC) Commissioner, and Finance Officer, introduced himself and reserved further comments for presentation in other areas of Agenda.

• Guest (and Veteran) Wallace Levin (Commissioner, ALWMC) introduced himself as the sole surviving founding member of the SFVAC. He reviewed the history of the annual Memorial Day Commemoration Event at the Presidio, including how it has traditionally been funded, organized and supported. He distributed Flyers for this years’ event (on Memorial Day, Monday the 25^th of May, 2015), and urged all members of the Commission to attend and/or volunteer.

• Guest (and Veteran) Joseph Koppel again 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  

A.   President’s Report;

         President Noetzel presented “Thumb-nail Introductions” of the three newly appointed VAC Commissioners and officially

         welcomed them aboard. They are:

• US Army veteran Ms. LATONIA DIXON, who served active duty for 7 years, attaining a final rank of Sargent, and qualifications as a Registered Nurse, among other titles. Ms. Dixon was appointed to a 4-year term, succeeding former Comm. Ramirez, in BOS Seat #1.

• US Marine Corps veteran KEVIN MILLER, who served active duty for 4 years, attaining a final rank of Sargent and served tours in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Africa. Mr. Miller was appointed to a 4-year term, succeeding former Comm. Wilkerson, in BOS Seat #7.

• US Coast Guard veteran BRENDAN ROGERS, who served active duty for 9 years attaining a final rank of LTJG and served on Coast Guard Cutters in the Bearing Sea, Western Pacific, South Atlantic, and Caribbean Sea. Mr. Rogers was appointed to a 4-year term, succeeding former Comm. Caldera, in BOS Seat #4.

The Commission welcomed each new Commissioner with a round of applause. Pres. Noetzel closed by noting that there is now a new Vacancy Posting for BOS Seat #3, formerly held by Comm. Burnette, and that all qualified candidates should make immediate application.

B. Vice Presidents Report; 

         Vice President Michael Maffei stated that he had nothing to report this month.

C.  Secretary’s Report;  Secretary Kennedy stated that his ‘Report’ consisted of an opportunity to take a group PHOTOGRAPH of the assembled Commissioners. An assistant served as photographer.

Agenda Item 3.  NEW Business – 

1. Veteran Mental Health Issues.  Continued discussion and potential appointment to specific Research Teams to study additional areas including, (but not limited to) Depression, Suicide, PTSD, etc.

     B.  Decline of the San Francisco Veterans Day Parade: Prognosis and Potential.  Discussion and potential appointment of Research team or committee to examine History and current Sate of subject Parade, and potential alternatives.

Agenda Item 4.  Old Business

1. Restorative Justice for Port Chicago Sailors.   Research team leader Comm. A. Jenkins reported on progress on this issue during the past month, including a scheduled 4/16/15 meeting with staff of Congresswoman Barbara Lee in her Oakland CA office. Attendees will include Friends of Port Chicago representatives in addition to Pres. Noetzel and Comm. Jenkins. Primary effort, at this point, is to press for a Presidential Proclamation that would posthumously exonerate the Port Chicago Sailors. This issue continues to gain traction and Research Team will continue to report on progress.

2. VAC letter Requesting for Support for Establishment of a Veterans Affairs Commission in City of San Jose, CA.

Vice President Maffei reported that Mr. Sam Pandey presented the authorized VAC letter to San Jose Government leaders. Response from City of San Jose Administration was not positive and City staff is unlikely to create a Veterans Affairs Commission at this time.  Mr. Pandey will continue to follow up with the City of San Jose Human Rights Commission.

       C.    Development of Veterans Advocate Position in City Government

Research Team Leader on this initiative J. Marshall reported on the continued effort to determine if a Veterans Advocate Position within the City of San Francisco could be viable.  Mr. Marshall described similar efforts and work by private consulting firms to study and analyze funding sources, veterans’ services and publication of the analysis findings.

        D.   VAC Research Team on Moral Injury.  Team leader Comm. B. Smith was unable to attend meeting and forwarded a message to team members and Commission leaders, that he is WITHDRAWING his leadership role in this area, to afford him opportunity for further independent study and research in this area.   In subsequent discussion, Comm. D. Guy volunteered to accept Team Leadership with the proviso that the Research Team title be broadened to: VAC Research Team on Veterans Mental Health.

       E.    Potential for Veterans Issues Panel at U.S. Mayors Conference, in S.F., June 2015.  Comm. J. Marshal reported that likelihood of an official Mayor’s Conference Panel was, at this point unlikely however he continues efforts to establish an informal “break-out” meeting on Urban Veterans Issues while Mayors and staffs visit San Francisco.

       F.    Protocols for Equitable Assignment to Veterans Housing   President Noetzel reported on his April 8 meeting with Director Bevan Dufty of the San Francisco HOPE (Housing Opportunity, Partnerships & Engagement). Director Dufty informs us that because the Federal Government funds the vast majority of housing for homeless persons, the Placement Protocol is based on a system that recognizes Total Life Need and that the first element of substance addiction for the homeless is to get them a roof overhead.  Director Dufty is working hard to keep a City and Federal promise to end chronic homelessness for S.F. Veterans by the end of this year. He offered to come to a VAC meeting in near future to present details of this plan and to answer questions on Homeless Placement Protocols. He also invited Commissioners to attend a RECEPTION in City Hall, on 4/20/15, to honor S.F. Landlords who have designated rental units for Homeless Veterans.

Agenda Item 5.  Veterans Related LEGISLATION.  Commissioners invited to inform Commission on new or potential Legislation regarding Veterans or Veterans Community. No comments offered

Agenda Item 6.  WAR MEMORIAL VETERANS BUILDING 

As we have new Commissioners onboard, President Noetzel asked guest Nelson Lum of the American Legion War Memorial Commission (ALWMC) to present an update report on our ongoing struggle to retain a fair allotment of space within the War Memorial Veterans Building, for use by, and for the Veterans Community of San Francisco. Commissioner Lum gave a full presentation of the history of our decades-long struggle with the S.F. Board of Trust and the decline of Veterans Space Allotment in the building, including potential for the filing of a lawsuit to retain such rights.

Agenda Item 7.  ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Floor opened for short announcements of veteran related events and/or activities

Agenda Item 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.

Agenda Item 9.  ADJORNMENT   (At 8:05pm)

Minutes of the 4/14/15 VAC Meeting written by Secretary Dwane Kennedy, and approved, after minor corrections, by unanimous vote at VAC meeting of 5/12/15