VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION

City and County of San Francisco

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

San Francisco, CA 94102

 

 

APPROVED SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

Tuesday, April 28, 2020 – 1800

Virtual via Microsoft Teams

 

VICTOR OLIVIERI, PRESIDENT

MARGO ELLIS, VICE PRESIDENT

GEORGE ISHIKATA, ACTING SECRETARY

WILLIAM BARNICKEL, MATTHEW BRAUER, DOUGLAS BULLARD, HANLEY CHAN, DAVID CHASTEEN (EXCUSED), DEBORAH DACUMOS, DAVID FROMMER (ABSENT), IKRAM MANSORI, JEFF MARSHALL, STEPHEN MARTIN-PINTO, CHRISTOPHER McDONALD (ABSENT), COURTNEY MILLER, MYLES TUCKER, RAYMOND WONG

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

Meeting called to order at 1800 by President Olivieri.

 

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL

 

 

COMMUNICATIONS

            Officer’s Reports

                        President – Thanked commissioners for attending during the current crisis.  The main reason for our meeting is because 10% of all COVID-19 deaths have been veterans.  We have no other data on veterans and they are one of the most underserved and vulnerable populations in San Francisco.  VAC legislative work underway included pushing for a CVSO, legislation for a HUD VASH voucher parcel tax exemption, and reorganization of the VAC.  Unfortunately, based on an analysis by the City Attorney’s Office, the HUD VASH voucher parcel tax exemption will require a charter amendment, and subsequently, Supervisor Ronen is not willing to carry it to the ballot.  Although this is a setback to our legislative agenda, in light of the current crisis, we should focus on the interim appointment of the CVSO, a position open over a year.  Confirmation of supervisorial assignments:

 

	Supervisorial District Assignment
Commissioner Barnickel	4 – Supervisor Mar
Commissioner Brauer	6 – Supervisor Haney
Commissioner Bullard	11 – Supervisor Safai
Commissioner Chan	1 – Supervisor Fewer
Commissioner Chasteen	Not present
Commissioner Dacumos	5 – Supervisor Preston
Commissioner Ellis	2 – Supervisor Stefani
Commissioner Frommer	Not yet assigned
Commissioner Ishikata	4 – Supervisor Mar
Commissioner Mansori	6 – Supervisor Haney
Commissioner Marshall	8 – Supervisor Mandelman
Commissioner Martin-Pinto	7 – Supervisor Yee
Commissioner McDonald	Not present
Commissioner Miller	Not yet assigned
Commissioner Olivieri	3 – Supervisor Peskin
Commissioner Tucker	10 – Supervisor Walton
Commissioner Wong	4 – Supervisor Mar

 

Please contact your supervisor weekly during this crisis.  VP Ellis will generate a tracker to record contact.  Commissioner Marshall asked for talking points to use with supervisors.  Next item: we are postponing the VAC Retreat until the Department of Public Health order is lifted.  This is the last time we’ll check on viewing of the mandatory training video.  Please advise if there are any problems.  Finally, thanks to all commissioners for using your VAC e-mail.  If you’re having problems, please advise our Secretary.

 

                        Vice President – No items to report.

 

                        Acting Secretary – Everything communicated by e-mail; nothing additional to report.

 

            Committee Reports

 

                        Legislative Committee – Commissioner Tucker had nothing additional to report beyond the HUD VASH vouchers addressed in the President’s Report.  An arising issue has been the shortfall of PPE for the staff at VA.  Will draft a letter regarding this issue.

 

                        Communications Committee – Commissioner Brauer reported he had authored an op/ed piece to the SF Chronicle regarding the CVSO position vacancy.  Reached out to Supervisor Haney’s office to reinforce that issue.

 

                        Events Committee – Commissioner Mansori reported they are postponing all events until things return to normal.  Has also been participating in various virtual events in the veterans community.  Agreed to provide information regarding events to the Secretary for dissemination.

 

                        Finance Committee – Commissioner Marshall focus is on two issues: first is to develop a budget for the VAC, and second is generating a veterans fund.  Will meet this week with Commissioner Miller on those two focus areas.  Will also meet with John Givner in City Attorney’s Office on second issue; Commissioner Tucker asked to be involved in that meeting since it involves legislation as well.

 

                        Rules Committee – Commissioner Ishikata reported draft of revision provided to all commissioners and asked for everyone to review.  Plan to make collective agreement next month and then send to legal for review.

 

            Liaison Reports

 

                        Ad hoc Parks Committee – Commissioner Chan reported the current crisis has halted forward movement on this issue.

 

            Veteran’s Related Legislation – Nothing additional to report.

 

 

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

Commissioner Chan suggested updates to Adjournment Section; President Olivieri tasked our next Secretary to update the information listed.  Commissioner Chan moved to approve both Feb and Mar minutes.  Commissioner Brauer seconded.  Except for one abstention, the motion passed.

 

 

AGENDA CHANGES

            Commissioner Ishikata asked for change to read “Election of New Secretary,” under New Business.  President Olivieri identified two changes: one is a letter of inquiry submitted to the City Administrator by Supervisor Stefani’s office and the VAC’s work to draft a resolution for an interim CVSO nomination.  The second is information received within the last 24 hours that the Blue Angels plan an overflight of San Francisco, and that the ACLU is filing a lawsuit on behalf of veterans that a number who enlisted with a guarantee of citizenship have been denied that citizenship.  President Olivieri made a motion to add his first item to the agenda.  Commissioner Mansori seconded.  Commissioner Chan moved to add the second item, and Commissioner Martin Pinto seconded.

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

            CVSO Search and office staffing.  President Olivieri provided background as outlined in the agenda.  Discussion ensued.  Commissioners felt CVSO should be considered essential workers, since this is initial access to healthcare.  There was conjecture that DPH doesn’t see the CVSO as healthcare, and the EOC has no liaison with them.  Additionally, we’re getting conflicting reports from the City Service Center (the HUB), to include the HUB Director apparently misrepresenting information to the VAC.  Commissioners Bullard and Chan indicated they would speak to Supervisors Safai and Haney respectively to follow up.  Commissioner Brauer noted that the VAC should be involved in the position description as well, since the current PD may only address compensation claims, not healthcare enrollment.  VP Ellis indicated she would formally introduce the VAC to supportive national-level organizations.  Commissioner Martin-Pinto also committed to working with Supervisor Yee on this issue.

 

            Annual Summit.  President Olivieri asked to hold the summit remotely to be in compliance with restrictions, but still conduct it before the budget season, to prevent programs that affect veterans from being cut.  Discussion ensued.  President Oliveri moved to hold the summit remotely on Fri, 22 May.  Commissioner Martin-Pinto seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

            Resolution recognizing CAPT Brett Crozier.  Commissioner Brauer asked if the VAC has ever weighed in on an individual active officer before.  Commissioner Wong indicated he believes it is the first time.  Commissioner Tucker noted he helped draft the resolution in such a way that it recognizes the Captain’s actions, not actions taken against him afterwards, and should not result in subsequent problems.  President Olivieri reported that this is a proposed draft for the BoS to highlight good news in the military during the current crisis.  Opened to public comment; no comments provided.  President Olivieri moves to forward this to the BoS for consideration.  Commissioner Chan seconded the motion.  Motion passes with two “Nays” (Brauer and Tucker) and two abstentions (Ishikata and Wong).  Motion passes.

 

            Veterans Representation in the EOC.  President Olivieri noted veteran status during this crisis merits greater attention than it is currently receiving.  We have no information on veteran infection rate, recovery rate, housing, or use of HUD VASH vouchers.  And there is no weekly report on improvements to the Mayor or BoS.  Also there is no information on mental health or wellness of vets during this crisis.  With the CVSO conducting checks on 300 vets every 10 days (with a population of 27,000 vets), this is sorely ineffective especially since the CVSO is short staffed.  The problem appears to be that there is no CVSO to liaison with, as far as the EOC is concerned.  This should be raised at the next BoS meeting.  VP Ellis noted a shortfall in local support for vets concurrent with no one locally who could address the shortfall.  She called the VA Central Office about the problem.  Although the local problem was eventually corrected, it’s an indicator of a bigger problem.  President Olivieri also introduced the official letter of inquiry written by Supervisor Stefani and sent to the City Administrator.  President Olivieri proposed that the VAC collectively reach out to the BoS to hire an interim CVSO.  The commissioners discussed talking points to support this issue.  President Olivieri suggested that perhaps the VAC should exercise oversight of the CVSO, to ensure veterans issues aren’t minimized.  VP Ellis suggested perhaps the CVSO should have dedicated space, rather than be where they are now.  Commissioners Marshall and Tucker asked for assistance in helping develop the budget from any commissioners available.  VP Ellis offered to provide copies of materials from her previous work with the Secretary’s Budget Team.  President Olivieri suggested two action items: to write a letter to the BoS to reallocate the CVSO under the jurisdiction of the VAC, and a separate letter for the BoS to draft a city ordinance to establish a veterans fund.  Item opened to public comment; no public comment identified.  President Olivieri moved for these actions; VP Ellis seconded the motion.  Commissioner Brauer and Tucker will draft the letters to the BoS.

 

            Bataan Death March Commemoration delayed to Aug 29.  Commissioner Brauer motioned to officially support this event; Commissioner Tucker seconded.  Motion passed unanimously.  Commissioner Mansori tasked to stay in contact with the event organizers.  Commissioner Bullard volunteered to assist.

 

            Blue Angels Flyover and ACLU Lawsuit.  Commissioner Martin-Pinto moved to table the item; Commissioner Ishikata seconded the motion.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

            Election of a VAC Secretary.  Commissioner Chan nominated Commissioner Ishikata, who declined the nominated.  Commissioner Ishikata nominated Commissioner Miller.  VP Ellis seconded the nomination, and nominated Commissioner Martin-Pinto.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the nomination.  Commissioner Miller accepted the nomination and made a brief presentation.  Commissioner Martin-Pinto declined the nomination.  Vote conducted; Commissioner Miller elected to the Secretary position unanimously.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

An opportunity for members of the public to directly address the Commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission, including items being considered today which have not been considered by a Commission committee and excluding items which have been considered by a Commission committee. Members of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes. Each member of the public will be allotted the same number of minutes to speak, except that public speakers using translation assistance will be allowed to testify for twice the amount of the public testimony time limit. If simultaneous translation services are used, speakers will be governed by the public testimony time limit applied to speakers not requesting translation assistance. The President or the Commission may limit the total testimony to 30 minutes.

 

Members of the public who want a document placed on the overhead for display should clearly state such and subsequently remove the document when they want the screen to return to live coverage of the meeting.

 

            No public comment.

 

 

HONORS REPORT AND MOMENT OF SILENCE

In memory of American service members in all wars and conflicts who made the ultimate sacrifice.  We also remember the passing of homeless veterans, veterans who died while awaiting approval of benefits, and suicides within the veteran and armed service communities.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 2013.

 

 

This document is Official Business of the Veterans Affairs Commission, City and County of San Francisco.  It is part of the official Public Record of the City and County of San Francisco.

 

Public Access:

Public Records are covered under the State of California Brown Act, as well as the Sunshine Ordinance of the City and County of San Francisco. These acts ensure that deliberations of City Business are conducted “before the People,” and that City and County operations are open to the People’s review.

 

For information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code), or to report a violation of the ordinance, please contact:  Mr. Chris Ruston, Administrator, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, at (415) 554-7724.

 

Veterans Affairs Commission Meetings:

General meetings of the SFVAC are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month, with the exception for the month of July, when there is no scheduled SF VAC meeting, and are held in Room 416 in City Hall.

 

Meeting confirmation, and specific announcement of general meetings are made via public posting of the Meeting Agenda as required by law, at least 72 hours prior to scheduled meetings. Agendas for SFVAC meetings (and archived meeting minutes) are available on the SFVAC Pages of the City of San Francisco website, and are also available for public view and inspection at the 5th Floor Government Information Center at the San Francisco Public Library, at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.  The documents librarian telephone number is (415) 554-4472.

 

Disability Access:

City Hall of San Francisco is wheelchair accessible via all entrances.  There is wheelchair accessible public parking nearby, including the underground garage at the north side of City Hall.  The nearby BART/MUNI station (Civic Center) is wheelchair accessible as are nearby city bus lines and stops.  For more public transit information services, call (415) 923-6142 or dial 311.