Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) Approved Minutes
Tuesday January 9, 2018, 1800 
Location: Room 416; San Francisco City Hall
Vice President Kennedy, Presiding

Call to Order: Meeting was called to order by Vice President Kennedy at 1800, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call: 
Present: Barnickel, Campbell, Chasteen, Dacumos, Flaherty, Kennedy, Marshall, Miller, Noetzel, Olivieri, Weeby, Wong, Wyatt (11). 
Excused: Maffei, Joiner, (2).

Review of Meeting Agenda

Change to agenda by VP Kennedy: move annual report item to President’s report. Noetzel makes motion to approve agenda (Barnickel seconds). Unanimous approval of agenda.  

Review of Draft Minutes of SFVAC meeting of November 14, 2017.

Noetzel makes motion to correct 2 items: 1) “New Business” - First sentence should read “Executive Board” not as opposed to “executive team.” 2) It should be added that Commission Miller accepts nomination for President of VAC. Miller make motion (Flaherty seconds). Unanimous approval of minutes. 

Call for Public Comment

Christopher McDonald who spent 20 yrs in Army addressed the commission about the importance of the veteran services in SF. He provided personal experience that he and his family suffered, resulting in homelessness and ultimately an SRO. Mr McDonald thought it important to bring the condition of the SRO to the attention of the Commission. He will follow up w/ commissioner Flaherty.

Officers’ Reports: 
President’s/ Vice President’s/ Secretary’s Report 
Vice President requests input from entire commission regarding the 2017 annual report. Deadline for first draft is February 1, 2018. Secretary – compliant w/ Brown act. Reminder for commissioners to execute ethics report.

Old Business: None to discuss.  

New Business:

Executive Board election process begins with statements from candidates and instructions. Ballots were handed up in accordance with the guidance. Commissioners filled out the ballots and passed them to Mr. McDonald, who conducted the tally. While the tally was being conducted the Commission moved on with the agenda.

Veterans Related Legislation: 


Commissioner Wong notes an email he sent regarding Senate Bill 2193 (Improvement to VA’s community care program). He will send out another copy.

Commissioner Campbell noted that the President signed an executive order aimed at transition (provides 1 year of mental health care after service). Also noted state law AB360 (No cost legal assistance for low income veterans) as well as legal assistance for non-citizen veterans (SB156). Commissioner Miller added info regarding the executive order resulting in 100% enrollment from DoD to VA. He believes there should be more funding to VA for this expansion. (Commissioner Campbell submitted literature embedded at the end of these minutes).

Announcements

Vice President Kennedy encouraged commissioners to submit pictures for 2017 report: preferably pictures with the Mayor and the BOS. Commissioner Barnickel notes the increase of the VA Home Loan.

Result of the election

The 2018 executive board election was conducted in accordance with appropriate guidance. Mr. McDonald (from public comment) conducted the tally resulting in Commissioner Kennedy elected as President, Commissioner Chasteen elected as Vice President and Commissioner Wyatt elected as Secretary. All votes were read aloud after the tally

Honors Report and Moment of Silence

Commissioner Joiner reads the honors report and asked for a moment of silence.

Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 1840.


Minutes prepared by Secretary Tristan Wyatt