Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) Minutes

Tuesday, April 10, 2017, 1800
Location: Room 416; San Francisco City Hall

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, Joiner, Kennedy, Miller, Noetzel, Olivieri, Wong, Wyatt (13).
Excused: Maffei, Marshall, Weeby, (2).

 

Review of Meeting Agenda

Motion to review agenda: (Wyatt/ 2nd Barnickel). Vote: unanimous pass.

 

Review of Draft Minutes of SFVAC meeting of March 13, 2017.

Motion to review minutes: Wyatt/ Joiner.

Commissioner Noetzel: change date at top from 2017 to 2018. Correction to Supervisor Ronen’s name. 1st Chasteen/ 2nd Joiner. Noetzel votes “no” and Miller abstains. Vote passes.

 

Call for Public Comment

None given.

 

Officers’ Reports:
President’s Report

Report on Rules Committee. Next meeting is 4.25.

Vice President’s

Nothing to report

Secretary’s Report
Nothing to report

 

Update on Candidate Forum: Commissioner Oliveri reports on delays regarding a possible veteran’s candidate (mayoral) forum and makes suggestion that VAC should take this on. Commissioner Miller adds that the candidates have limited availability but reports alternatives. President Kennedy asks for advice from Mr. Snodgrass, who was in attendance. Mr. Snodgrass instructs the VAC that the forum is acceptable so long as the VAC doesn’t show support to the individual candidates. President Kennedy opens to a vote. Campbell 1st/ Flaherty 2nd. Motion passes. Noetzel abstains and Miller votes “no."

 

Old Business: Commissioner Noetzel updates VAC on WWI Veterans Memorial Committee and the issues around the stone in Golden Gate Park. The Committee is not looking to have it moved, but do want to improve the standing of the memorial itself. This issues is closed out for the purposes of the VAC.

 

New Business: Nomination and vote for Commissioner Barnickel to be the VAC liaison to the County Veteran’s Service Office. Commissioner Barnickel will have first meeting on upcoming Friday. Motion to nominate: First: Joiner/ Second: Chasteen. Unanimous pass.

 

Commissioner Oliveri reports on VAC participation in 9/11 Remembrance Day. Motion to participate: 1st Chasteen (no second). Unanimous pass.

 

Communications

Commissioner Flaherty gives update on her attendance of veteran’s events to include a Women’s Veteran’s Leadership Summit in Washington, DC.

 

Veterans Related Legislation:
Commissioner Wong gives update on court ruling related to veterans benefits (pain issues). Commissioner Campbell reports on executive action from March 23rd related to new presidential transgender policy. Commissioner Miller reports on VA leadership. Commissioner Joiner wishes to have this topic as a recurring topic @ VAC. Commissioner Miller to take this on.

 

Honors Report and Moment of Silence:

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

 

Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 1838.

 

Minutes prepared by Secretary Tristan Wyatt