Veterans' Affairs Commission - February 8, 2022 - Minutes

Meeting Date: 
February 8, 2022 - 6:00pm
Location: 
REMOTE via MS TEAMS
Related Meeting Content:
Agenda

REGULAR MEETING - DRAFT

Tuesday, February 08, 2022 – 6:00 pm

Hosted Remotely via MS Teams

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CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME/Vice-President Martin-Pinto

 

Vice-President Martin-Pinto called the meeting to order at 6:00pm

 

ROLL CALL:

The VAC Secretary called the roll:

PRESENT: Vice-President Martin-Pinto, Commissioners Joseph Baba, William Barnickel, Douglas Bullard, Hanley Chan, Jason Chittavong, Christopher McDonald, Courtney Miller, Victor Olivieri, Nicholas Rusanoff, Raymond Wong

ABSENT: President Ikram Mansori (excused), Commissioners Matthew Brauer (excused), Deborah Dacumos (excused), Jeff Marshall (excused)

Quorum present.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Officers’ Report:

  • President Martin-Pinto
    • Reminder to Commissioners that before taking independent action on behalf of the Commission, please notify the Executive Committee. If there are things you would like to pursue, the Executive Committee fully supports that, and wants to work together with commissioners.

Committee Reports

  • Legislative Committee
    • No report
  • Finance Committee
    • No report
  • Communications Committee
    • No report
  • Events Committee
    • No report
  • Rules Committee
    • Commissioner Olivieri presented updates to the by-laws that incorporate additional language to note the difference between the former secretary and the current secretary. He reminded commissioners that all changes to by-laws have to be checked by the City Attorney. After commissioners review this draft, it will be brought to the City Attorney, and then put on a future meeting agenda as an actionable item for the Commission to vote on.
    • Commissioner Olivieri took questions and comments.
      • Commissioner Chan asked about Executive Committee remaining now that an administrator has been added to Commission. Commission Olivieri recommended he discuss with the Executive Committee.
      • Question was asked as to why Rules Committee members were not included in drafting changes to Bylaws.  Commissioner Olivieri responded that he was tasked by the Executive Committee to update Bylaws, and reminded that changes are not being presented at this meeting as an actionable item. 
    • Action Items/Next Steps
      • Revised bylaws will be shared with Rules Committee members for their review and input.  Following committee’s review, bylaws will be submitted to the Executive Committee, and vetted by the City Attorney’s Office.
      • Bylaws will be added to future meeting agenda as a business item for commission vote. 
  • Ad Hoc Committee (SF Veteran Center)
    • No report
  • Ad Hoc Committee (Veteran Justice Court Funding)
    • Met with HSA leadership team to discuss funding for two positions in support of CVSO and JVC.  Waiting to hear back.
  • Ad Hoc Committee (Below Market Rate program)
    • Update re BMR Housing Preference Legislation to Prioritize Veterans. The legislation requires MOHCD perform a disparate impact analysis by 2/28/22. Request for the VAC to draft a resolution and send to MOHCD no later than 2/15/22.  BMR Committee will send draft to Executive Team to send to MOHCD. 
  • Ad Hoc Committee (Parks Legislation)
    • The 30 day wait period from Mayor’s signing of Parks legislation expired.  Commissioner Chan tested it, showed law to Park and Recreation and was able to get free admission.
    • Supervisor Mar, BOS Budget and Finance Committee, added all veterans to legislation proposed by the Mayor to provide SF residents free admission to Japanese Tea Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers, and Botanical Gardens.
    • Parks Legislation celebration event this Saturday, 2/12.
    • Request that a list of all access for veterans be distributed to Commission and posted on website. Commissioner Chan will follow up.

Supervisor Liaison Reports

  • District 1: Sup. Chan – Commissioner Baba
    • No report
  • District 2: Sup. Stefani – Commissioner Miller
    • No report
  • District 3: Sup. Peskin – Commissioner McDonald
    • No report
  • District 4: Sup. Mar – Commissioner Barnickel
    • Thanked Supervisor Mar and Legislative Aide Alan Wong for all their support of veterans, particularly citing their efforts on Parks Legislation.
  • District 5: Sup. Preston – Commissioner Dacumos
    • No report
  • District 6: Sup. Haney – Commissioner Rusanoff
    • Noted Supervisor Haney voted in Budget and Finance Committee to support Parks Legislation.
  • District 7: Sup. Melgar – Commissioner Chan
    • No report
  • District 8: Sup. Mandelman – Commissioner Marshall
    • No report
  • District 9: Sup. Ronen – Commissioner Mansori
    • No report
  • District 10: Sup. Walton – Commissioner Martin-Pinto
    • No report
  • District 11: Sup. Safai – Commissioner Bullard
    • Invited Supervisor Safai to attend event on 2/12 celebrating Parks Legislation.  Noted Supervisor Safai attended memorial service for Commissioner George Ishikata.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES

  • Motion to approve January 11, 2022 regular meeting minutes

Motion seconded, and unanimously passed.

Minutes approved.

Absent: Mansori, Brauer, Dacumos, Marshall

AGENDA CHANGES

  • No agenda changes

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

  • Amos Gregory from Veterans Alley Mural Project –Resolution Urging Acknowledgment of the Service Disparities of Transgender and Repatriated Veterans and Building of Strategies that Address these Disparities – [Discussion] – (See Attachment)
    • Mr. Gregory discussed Resolution passed by Board of Supervisors in November 2021.
    • Mr. Gregory requests the VAC form an ad hoc committee to work with deported veterans and the Veterans Administration, and share this information with the veterans community.
    • Commissioner Martin-Pinto advised Mr. Gregory to meet with the Legislative Committee and Veterans Center Ad Hoc Committee.  From this meeting, recommendation for further action will be brought to the Executive Committee.
    • Should recommendation include creating an ad-hoc committee, Commissioner Chan voiced his support to join.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  • Update from Alfred Sims, County Veterans Service Office (CVSO) – [Discussion] - (See Attachment)
    • As per the San Francisco Covid-19 maximum telework mandate, office is currently not open for in-person appointments. Office and remote locations at War Memorial and Fort Miley set to resume in-person services on 3/07/22.
    • Mr. Sims announced he has accepted a position with Solano County as Director of Veterans Services, and will resign as SF CVSO effective 3/28/22.
  • Presentation: Soldier for Life Program, MSG Melody Pavur - [Informational/Discussion] - (See Attachment)
  • Training [Discussion]
    • Ethics Training
      • Ethics Commission to provide link to an online training course.  Commission Secretary will send required link to commissioners.
    • Communication, Emails
      • Drupal training class scheduled for 2/15/22.  Available to all commissioners, Commission Secretary to send sign-up information.
      • Question put forth about the availability and extent of administrative support for committee meetings. Vice-President Martin-Pinto will check on procedures for committee and sub-committee meetings and report back.
      • Inquiry about business card order status.  Commission secretary advised business cards received from printer and will be mailed out shortly.
  • Events Planning for 2022 [Discussion]
    • VSO Outreach at War Memorial
      • Discussed office space at War Memorial building. VP suggested Communications Committee can highlight services at this location through social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
    • Policy Roundtable – August
      • Vice-President Martin-Pinto asked commissioners for opinion of event, location ideas, and suggestions on organizations or people to invite.
        • Commissioner Chittavong offered he can facilitate the use of a large conference room at the War Memorial.  Several agreed this is a good location.
        • Suggestions of organizations to invite: Swords to Plowshares, OneVet OneVoice, CalVet.  Event will be open to public.
        • Next Steps: Vice-President Martin-Pinto will discuss with Executive Committee to set location, date and review organizations to invite.
    • Retreat for Commissioners and Public – TBD
      • Vice-President Martin-Pinto asked for the dates, days of week most convenient for commissioners to attend retreat.  If commissioners cannot attend full event, it was requested they are present for at least one or two hours.
      • Next Steps: Vice-President Martin-Pinto tentatively set the date for either 4/15 or 4/22, 10:00am to 3:00pm.  He will put together a plan and follow up with the commission at next meeting.
  • Return to In-Person Meetings [Discussion]
    • The City set date of February 28, 2022 as return to in-person meetings. Commission meeting of March 8 scheduled for in person at City Hall, Room 416.
    • Commission Secretary met with Department of Technology to review hybrid meeting procedure for public attendance.

 

GOOD WELFARE

This is the opportunity for members of the Veterans Affairs Commission to share special thanks and congratulatory remarks for the good welfare taking place in the veterans community.

PUBLIC COMMENT

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 7:50pm

The next regular commission meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 6:00pm.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Murphy

Secretary to Veterans Affairs Commission

__________________________________________________________

 

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 the Administrator of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force.

 

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.