Veterans Affairs Commission - Regular Meeting

K.

Yeah. Whenever you're ready.

I'd like to call Veterans Affairs Commission to order. It's 1159. Seth, would you listen to blood to?

Oh

my.

Courtney, will you do the roll call, please?

I can. District one, commissioner Smith. Here. District one, commissioner Fisher. Here. District two, commissioner Reynolds. Here. District two, commissioner Mullins Becker. Here. District three, Commissioner Colder. Here. District four, Commissioner Welch. District four, Commissioner Thompson. District five, Commissioner Norton. Here. And District five, Commissioner Milham.

Thank you.

I'd like to welcome everybody to the meeting this morning. At this time, the commission will make any necessary additions, deletions, or changes or corrections to the agenda, confirming the matters to be added, removed from the consent calendar, and with one motion, adopt the agenda and approve the consent.

Any changes? For public comment?

Do you change any changes? Change no changes? Both of public?

We are now taking public comment on the adoption of the agenda and the approval of the consent calendar. Individuals will have three minutes to address the clinician. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record.

Commissioner Mullins Becker, just one correction to the minutes in regards to the emergency funds. It's not specific to just veterans organizations, that there is a caveat for our nonprofits that could access those emergency funds as well. That was the only thing I had.

K. Perfect. Thank you. Other public comment in the room? No public comment online.

Public comment online? Any further discussion? I call for a motion that will motion?

I make a motion we accept the minutes with the corrections noted and also accept the That's great.

Do I have a second?

Second.

Courtney, do you have poll, please? Yeah.

District one, how do you vote? Aye. District 2, how do you vote? Aye. District 3, how do you vote? Aye. District 4, how do you vote? And District 5, how do you vote? Aye. Motion passes.

We'll move I'll move on to agenda item twenty five eighteen fifty, Commission to approve and vote for a new Veterans Affairs Commission chair.

I will engage with that. I, Todd Smith, District 1, commissioner, vice chair, I would like to recommend Seth as the for chair moving on to the calendar year of '26 and onward.

Any other discussion? You want me to open for public comment?

Open for public summons.

You're now taking public comment on agenda item 20 five-eighteen 50 for the approval and vote for a new Veteran Affairs Commission chair. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment in the room?

I'll say something. Okay. Surprise. David Zlonsky. Seth and I have worked together in a number of jobs. The fact that I've saving on my phone a a voice mail from a a lady who you and I worked together to rescue, and she went to Berkeley Village and I guess, in the department as one of those big happy. So Seth has been there at street level helping. And so I really appreciate it.

She gave him my speed dial now.

Almost memorized.

Thank you, David.

Any additional public comment in the room? And there is no public comment online.

Any further discussion? Okay. Any questions? That's it. Chair will do it.

Oh, we need a motion.

Oh. Go back.

I make a motion that Seth Culver be nominated for chair commission chair.

And a second?

Second.

You want me to do the roll call?

Do a roll call.

Vote, please.

Perfect. District one, how do

you vote?

Aye. District two, how do you vote? Aye. District three, how do you vote?

I vote. No. No. I think

District 5 have you vote. Okay. Perfect. Motion passes. Then have Seth be the new chair.

That's it. I make a motion as we move on to agenda item twenty five eighteen fifty one,

I make a motion for

Todd Smith to the chief vice chair.

Any other discussion?

No. I'll make a motion to vote.

Vice chair.

I'll be vice chair. To be vice chair.

Is there any other discussion we can no?

Excellent discussion.

Open for public comment, please.

It seems you talked about sad data again.

Oh, absolutely. Hey, David. I have to read the instructions first. Hello? Sorry. So we are now taking public comment on agenda item two five dash one eight five one, which is for the commission to approve and vote for a new veteran affairs commission vice chair. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself and called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record.

So also wanna make one of the Todd has also helped me with we call street and the street being like honored by the board of supervisors. She'll save you money.

Thank you, dude. She's a special lady.

She's part of the Yep. Medics are special.

Thank you, Dave.

Any other public comment in the room? And there is no public comment online.

No public comment?

I make a motion that Todd remain as device, the upcoming calendar year, an indefinite position.

Sometimes. Yeah.

I'll suck at that.

You want me to vote? Roll call. Vote. Okay. District 1, how do you vote? I'll stand. You. District 2, how do you vote? I. District 3, how do you vote? I. District 4, how do you vote? And District 5, how do you vote? I. Perfect. Motion passes. Thank you.

Moving on to the third agenda item, Veterans First Commission to approve the date for the annual report presented to the board of supervisors on April 7 or September 15. I make a recommendation, Seth. It's up to you. Oh, okay. Like, for you, September 15. That way it gives you time to put together a PowerPoint presentation, which they want.

Yeah. That's how

we make it a while. And since Tata was kind enough to help me on that. It's up to her to help you, but I'll send you a copy of my presentation. Chop it to whatever you'd like with it. Yeah.

I I think the fifteenth's better because then we have the grants to close. Right. Because we have the. So much better. Right. Excellent. Thank you.

And I'll send you all the instructions. Okay.

And I've got Any

further discussion amongst the commissioners? Opening for public comment? Yeah.

We are now taking public comment on agenda item 20 five-twenty 27 for the annual report presented to the board of supervisors. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the Commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment in the room?

David? No. Just

checking.

There's no public comment on phone line.

No public comments online? I make a motion that we use September 15 as the date for presentation of the board for our annual mission report.

I'll second.

Perfect. All all vote, please.

District 1, how do

you vote?

Aye. District 2, how do you vote? Aye. District 3, how do you vote? Aye. District 4, how do you vote? And District 5, how

do you vote?

Aye.

Motion passes for September 15. Thank you.

Moving on to item number 25 dash twenty thirty, reference first commission to review the duties and reporting requirements with education and employment, please.

Sir?

Have anything?

You have anything? No.

I do not.

Go ahead. I know that was touching right towards me. Yeah.

Go ahead.

Okay. The reason why this is done on the agenda, as you remember, last month, I brought this forward that if looking at the resolution that was founded for our defendant's commission, this particular committee, the description of it is rather ambiguous or vague. And I would like to hear from the commissioners as to what they would like to see this particular committee move forward as far as accomplishments or tasks so that we have a better way of informing what's going on as far as education and employment. Now having said that, what does that involve? So let me read you what it says in the resolution.

The Education and Employment Committee has established conduct the review of county policy, procedures, and programs affecting veterans of the county and to assure compliance with state and federal mandates in the implementation of county policies, procedures, and programs. The Education Employment Committee will meet at the call of the committee chairperson. The committee vice chairperson will keep an informal record of the proceedings of the committee. The Education Employment Committee will report on its activities. Well, gentlemen, please tell me what that means.

I have no idea. What

have we done in the past? And Todd, you probably have more history of what's been done in the past. I know that one of the components was that we were trying to identify that you're nonbusiness. And we can continue to do that if that you think is part of this. I think it's kind of wonky. Well, I I wouldn't say wonky, but I'm not so sure it falls right in here with

It doesn't actually category? That's why I delayed him why I was being asked about comment on this because so on the on the employment part of it, the only thing I was involved in, this was years ago when we started talking to the county about the point system of of employability. So for instance, when I applied for the SAT County Sheriff's Academy, I got points for being a veteran. Right. They would they they went on to my overall score to be hired by SAT County.

Okay? El Dorado County was I don't know exactly where they stand now, but when I first moved up here, there was not a hiring credit for veteran status. And then some counties have five points for veteran status and 10 points of hiring eligibility that goes against your total profile or your application process if you're a disabled veteran. It was a five and ten point system.

I believe they still have that. And I don't know if

they do or don't. I just but that's as much I knew about it. And then with the employment or with the job veteran owned businesses in the county, that's when Chris was involved. Chris Cocker was involved with it. And I did outreach with him and Dan up in Tahoe. We went actually physically out to different businesses that were veterans and talked to them about being business owners and and trying to expand this program. And since then, it's kind of gone stagnant on that end of it. So but the verbiage in that description doesn't make I don't know what that means.

I don't either.

So we should probably I don't know what we need to make recommendations to have it readdressed or be rewritten or proposals.

Well, we we could do that, but it it would be a lengthy lengthy process. So I'd rather commission give Bob and I direction as to what you would like to see and let us interpret it in our own way. I do I do know that we could go out as far as employment is concerned. We could also go out to unemployment office and get statistics of how many veterans in our county are unemployed if it's currently at this particular point in time, how many have been hired, were they hired because they were a veteran, did that particular business, do as county does, give points towards veteran. We can do something to that effect.

As far as education goes, I guess we could be liaisons in the house maybe with Folsom, Colorado, Seattle, South Lake Tahoe campus to see I'm not sure what we'd be looking for, but how many veterans do we have enrolled in these various institutions? What is their primary course objective? Are they looking to get a police officer? Are they looking to, you know, go into I mean, it could be a variety of different areas. And what does the school system or the institution do to help support the veterans?

What what what do they offer them to get a discount? Obviously, they go pay pay, and

they they get their their

their credits that way, and it's paid for. And I'm throwing stuff out, guys. I guess I gotta show

is Donna. I I know I know this because both my boys my oldest is he's finished up his second year for his associate of science in American River, and he'll be done, I think, in the spring of next year. He the the the the veterans office there does tons of stuff with them. They can go there. They can have something to eat, a place to chill, get on the computer, the resources there, all the anything they might need to navigate the campus or their their relationship to a veteran, you know, mother or father, whatever, it's all there on that campus. That's American River. So it's really he uses it all the time. He says it's great. My other son's a freshman at Folsom Lake. Same thing.

The their their veterans office there is extremely well staffed. There's always somebody there. The amenities are really good. If they don't know the answers to questions, my son says they get it for him, and they'll either email him or call him. So in terms of the logistics we're at, both campuses do a pretty good job of helping the veterans that veterans that live in Elroy Academy. They're going to school out of the county. So that's good. But but in terms of real quick, if I can get in terms of the the stats that would be interesting is how many current employees does the El Rutta County have with their veterans is a good stat. And then there's an office I know with the county. We can find out who actively is a registered veteran business owner in the county.

I know that that exists. And I've got that.

Yeah. Yeah. I can get you that. Yeah.

And then

the other other one that you mentioned was the employability about how do we how does the county encourage veterans to apply, You know, make sure that those veterans have to know that if they have this if you're a veteran and you meet these requirements that, you know, please apply because we encourage them. But that's those are three kind of things that are important.

Those are all good things, and I can't and we can report that each month if those just just exchange, but at least gives us an idea of direction. We'd like to see us go with this.

And there was an optional sticker made of.

Yeah. Yeah. I have I have all of that. John Howard gave me all of that. Gave me the letterhead and everything as far as the business.

Yeah. Because I did deliver two.

I know you did to Chris.

Well, I delivered one to Chris and one to an actual business. And

Oh, Chris.

Oh, I I meant No. Don't worry. I'm sorry. I take that back. Chris is in business too.

Okay. So yeah. Right. So, you know, really, misspoke, I don't think it's rocket science type thing, but I think we could restart it and reground it. Right. Get a foundational base.

Well, it gives us some ideas. We do. But

Yeah. Okay. Is there a way we

When you mentioned South Lombo, we have used. We could.

I mean, that that's something to or maybe through maybe through the unemployment office, they could give us usually just to be open. And, yes, they give points to veterans and that sort of thing. Yeah. We could probably do some research on that as well. Well, it gives us a little bit of

are you listening to this? No. I I

You're supposed to say no. I'm just kidding. Oh, that's the problem. Once you investigate her, you hear everything. So that's it. Good.

All good. You mentioned Sao Paulo. We have 12 beds up there now going to that college. Yeah. You know, you gotta find out first what they did in the

service. What kind

of education did uncle Sam actually give? And this way, you have a chance to oh, wait a minute. I got Harry down the street that just does this. He's a Wilson. Are you a homeowner? Are you a electrician? And then you can actually go to those companies and say, hey. They got a veteran here that's got three years, five years, or whatever in that particular field. So that boss is gonna say because the first thing the boss has been I was one for over forty years. I've had kids come on to high school, and with their first thing on, I says, what are you gonna do?

Oh, I'm gonna be a superintendent. And I says, tell me why. Because I have high school education. I says, no. The school just passed you for two reasons. One, they figured you're gonna make it. The other reason, they just wanna get rid of you. But you've gotta find out what trans vets are actually doing before then you can even go out and say, hey. In your area, we have this, this, and this to offer you.

Yeah. And and I I know I do understand where you're going, but I wanna make sure that that's our responsibility as a commissioner. Is that our responsibility? Are you telling me that you want us Everyone's responsibility. Have a job.

It's everybody's who's responsible.

I know, but I know.

That's someone's child. That's someone's husband. That's someone's wife.

I get that.

That's what I'm arguing.

But I'm asking you, are you telling us that as part of that committee, we're the ones that are gonna go out there and find those people. And logistically, you can't

Well, that's not our mission. Our our we they need an overview. Are you

telling me that that's our mission?

We we need to understand what each institution's offering to veterans and what is the best programs and what what's working in general and then and then report back to the commission. These programs are working. This is, you

know, hard

numbers, basically, how many unemployed veterans we have and what's the what they use for the different prop for the hiring process, the different point system, what have you. We can report on those general statistics for their permission. But to drill down into the weeds like that, it's too comprehensive, too dead, and so good.

And it's kinda always post job openings. You can go online and do what's you know, every department.

And every job opening on the bottom, it says veterans be encouraged to apply. Right. Exactly.

At each posting. Correct.

Right. Correct.

And that doesn't preclude us from maybe putting together a sheet. But if you're looking for a job Yep. Here's here's the the other one. Here's the county's website. Right. And that sort

of thing.

I'd like to tie

that small little work at least you could just handle.

Work with self-service. Okay. And

so I'd like to tie that into the Facebook too. But that's got Thursday.

That's another

That's another That's outreach.

That's your job.

Yes. That's out

Oh, I

know it's out there.

Well, I

know it's out For

me, this this committee is just too You guys are talking about education and employment. That's massive pleasure talking about businesses. Correct? I think it should be split. I think it should be you should have an education committee and a and a business slash employment committee. Yep. Because for they aren't that large. Yeah. I mean, it just it's that unresumedly amount of data. It's Yeah. Employment, education, who's the

business who's the

veteran of business. Right. I would like to see these two committees split, or you could almost move education into outreach. That does well, for for that point of view, that's fine. Yeah. I you know, if you think about it, you're gonna ever have education. Like, college, you know, classes start June 1, you know, whatever the case may be.

And I have no problem with that. Yeah. It it would be

easy for or if you ever figured out how

to do the get our our stuff

straightened out. Yeah. I know. It's just not But, no, on technology because this is gonna be easier for, I think, also for outreach to reach out to employees to go on that employee, but our business to go to next door. Yeah. Please contact the law of mechanic business affairs commission if you're a veteran owned business.

Well, no, you can get that information from the county.

I've already gotten that.

She's but some people well, this is a

well, I know some people don't don't

I hear what Seth's saying is put it out there in the public.

Right.

Yeah. And let them respond to us. If you are, contact

Right. You you can't go door to door to

No.

No. No. Yeah. 100 and a thousand square house.

And that you know, that's like a cold call.

It is. Yeah.

Yeah. You know? Exactly.

And can

be difficult because, you

know Especially now with all the fraud that's going on.

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Don't bother.

You gotta.

We're gonna give it us some ideas.

Yeah. And let

us mollies around a little bit. I'll wait till this come come back to you and say, this is how it works. This

Yeah. Definitely. I'll definitely take it under Yeah.

I said, I'd like to see it actually come back to two different committees because I think you would be having an easier time No. Narrowing your focus on, okay. If we're gonna do education, we're gonna do, you know, community college level. We're not gonna do we're not gonna go into the state system, the UC system. That's just

No.

There's already somebody's already there for

that. Already is already there.

One yeah. And I think if same thing, you could come back with employ I would make an employment size business. Sure. You you could be a little more focused on what are what we're after, what we'd like to see. Right. You wanna see who's who's an employee of a business as you know, what what are you missing in your business?

Seth? Yeah. If we split this, then we'll have to change our charter to possibly have to change the charter because the paperwork says employment And education. And education. Well I don't know if we have I I I don't know if that'll be a part

of don't think we have to do that. Because I think within our own commission, we can say, okay, Donna, you take education. Trust me. And Bob, you take out or take the employment part of it. Correct. We can report simultaneously to I think it's easier. Okay. Would be easier. That's Because it would take too much time to make a resolution back through the paces. Right. Well because it has to be it has to go before the board one time, then it has to be read again. Right. And then it has to be approved.

Then it

has to a long time. And

do that.

And we're we're not actuality. We're not breaking up No. Committees. We're just putting two people in the position of life. Oh, that's fine. That's And we can do that. That's life. So life as well.

I would us some good direction and some good ideas, and let us Yeah. Drill down a little bit and Right.

With the

closest to you,

if that's right.

And and, again, the the whole restarting or reidentifying just a part of veteran owned businesses and accounting, eating that as simple as it is by words. Exactly. And then reconnecting with those business people and seeing where they're at and then moving on forward from that. So could you

put down the list? I mean, I know about Chris. So But I think Janelle I have a thing.

I think Janelle Horn, if I remember, I think her office there's some nexus between Janelle Horn's office position as elected official in accounting and that particular entity. There's some type of nexus. I can't remember what, but I think she has that data or has access to that data specifically.

Well, her name. You've already recognized? Right. Yes.

Yes. Well, the thing is is they have if they're a veteran at all, like oh, what's his name? He he does earthmoving, not not the trucks that you see all the time. He's in with American Legion. Ziti? Jones. He? Jones. Van Ziti. Van Ziti is a veteran owned business. He hires veterans.

Yeah. He's still at home.

And he's mean, that's all he's got working for them is veterans.

But have we, as a commission, identified them? Like, in the past, the in other words, did we give them a little No. Little sticker or anything like that?

Because it fell through the cracks.

It all kinda got put in a purgatory step.

When? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I think for me, I would be curious to know, I think, first and foremost, what are the goals of these two can be? I mean, I would I would That's a thing to figure out.

Because I think that's the hard part

is there's no there's no direction or goal, or what is the goal of education to me?

Who knows? So I think

that's what you're tasking us to put together for you to bring back and let you I make a motion. Refine it.

I make a motion that we have an agenda item for the next January meeting that the education and employment committee return with their goals. Also, know it's.

So so we have to do public comment before we Oh

my gosh.

Yeah. I'm sorry.

So I would I would like to make a recommendation that on public comments, we will come up with ideas if there is any public comment. What would be the goals, these two committees of this committee?

Yeah. We read public comment?

Read public comment.

Okay. So we are now taking public comment on agenda item two five dash two zero three zero for the duties and reporting requirements for the education and employment committee. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon, and please raise the hand up. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Hi. My name is Bonnie Stewart. I have public comment. So I do believe if I read correctly that the county has a process if you are a disabled veteran, a 100% disabled, or your spouse is a disabled veteran, you have to prove it with a g d two fourteen and an award letter.

There is an examination process for a lot of jobs, and it puts you on the top ranking of the examination process. That is what I understand. And

I think that's the that's where the five and ten point differential comes in Correct. Too for overall score.

You have another

Oh, got it.

Come on. You can talk.

I have to find

my mute button. Hi, everyone. So it is a county personnel rule, and it is a 5% or five point, bonus for veteran status. And then it is 10% of the ranking for, a veteran that is dis a disabled veteran or a qualified spouse. And so it doesn't it doesn't necessarily put them to the top, but it does add veteran status adds 5% and disabled veteran status or surviving or qualified spouse of a disabled veteran, 10%.

Thank you, Timwyn. Thank you, Timwyn. Thank you.

You're welcome. And thank you, Amy, for sending me the personnel role.

You're welcome.

They just don't skate. A couple of points. Call them subcommittees. Maybe you don't have to go to the board of directors that way. So just informal subcommittees. And, also, Roger, you could maybe help with this too. Jim Kay will finally got it through state law. You don't want Jim here for we'll

talk for half an hour. But

but they are the veterans are supposed to get education credit for their military service. Don't quite know how that works. But if they got trained as electrician, that's supposed to count on something. And so maybe that could be put on the website because that could be publicized. Did that pass, David? Yes. It's passed. Getting it no. Enforcing it. But it's an assembly bill.

Right? I I I don't remember if it was a assembly. I don't know if it's any of your recipe. But it's it's now law, and now you gotta keep reminding all the, you know, community colleges and state universities that it is because they would rather get more tuition money instead of letting the kids go straight to the junior year. But so so whatever that law is and how to apply it, anything you can get out of Jim, hopefully by email instead of talking. But, you know, get us so you can

Can you text me his email? Well, when you get a chance right after the meeting.

Yeah. David doesn't have it on him, but I can you remind me, Roger? Sure. He's got a few things I have to do. It's been that long gone. Okay. I'm talking.

Not a problem. Alright.

Okay, darling. Yeah. You help me too. What is it?

No. And and then I'm

just curious with with. Is it which I heard a 100% service connected? And I just heard service connected. Service connected. So so if they put it at a 10% hearing loss service connected, you still get that 10% count.

You can show the channel sample.

Any kind of What's the letter?

What's the official letter from the VA?

What What about 0%, John? So you've had cancer. You're in remission. But that's

not you are service connected.

You should

receive So the 0% service connected. You are service connected.

Because it doesn't say a specific number. It just says service connected.

So any service connected Disable. Tell people 0% is good. It's a win. Yeah. It is. It's wrong. Okay. Alrighty. I guess that's enough on education and employment for the.

Yeah. I just saw Service Connect.

Very good. Very good.

Any additional public comment? No. No additional public comment.

Make a motion.

Now I make my motion. Ready? Yep. I make a motion that the education and employment committee report back at the next meeting on what would be their goals for those two committees. I'll second that.

Please call. Vote call.

District one, how do you vote? Aye. District two, how do you vote? Aye. District three, how do you vote? Aye. District four, how do you vote? And district five, how

do you vote? Aye.

Perfect. Motion passes.

Just a little side note. I have suggested that the commission goes through every single one of the committees that are out dying in within our resolution to determine whether we are following, let's say, that resolution or what direction we should go to either change it or redefine it. Well, that's

a good point. That's that's a

good point, though, because forward in 2026.

I my I I don't know this by any

batch rule. No. By any batch,

but I'll say this is that I'm highly confident that that the resolution does not currently reflect Oh. Where it needs to be. It goes back to the bylaw issues that we dealt with forever to get those bylaws done and completed. The bylaws were written in '96, I think it was. We got it finally Yeah. And the recent past got them

Right.

Firmed up and and finalized. So I'm gonna say that probably we're not in in the same field. That's. So what do you wanna

see just basically? Review these committees and see if we are correct.

I think each month, the commission to take one of these committees and take a look at what it states in our resolution. The criteria was there. Does it apply to us currently? And not that we're trying to change it, but define it or redefine it, if you will. Won't that make sense?

Yeah. That's updated. Correct. So it's changed every year.

We're all thinking the same thing. We're all moving forward in a way to to live within our resolution, but to better establish our resources and connectivity with our veterans.

And the idea intent was probably good then, but verbiage changes. And so it's probably just a few tweaking of some words that still identifies what the mission was, but to bring it to modern day.

Yeah.

Yeah. And once we do all that, it may be something that, yes, we presented let Timna Wonder Network or staff about changing the resolution. Some Like, down the road. Down the road. Down Down

the road. Alright.

Well Anyway, sorry.

Thanks. Good job, my advice. I'm feeling great. Really? Yeah.

And good boy. Support. I'm done. I'll be done. You

owe me lunch. Okay.

China's. Okay. It's only nine. I think I

it's terrible. The ACTIVA will not move into the

exothecia. Pardon? Exothecia report.

Ex I'm sorry. I had foot page.

So I'm not hearing the exo exo please. Alright. Veteran services information.

Senior office assistant Bonnie Stewart and I attended Christmas parade downtown Platzville over the weekend.

We're able

to ride on the reserve association's float.

Oh, pretty happy so. Yeah.

Yep. While Seth pulled it with his truck, other attendees on the float included Mac Adams. He monitored of Warren Warren. He's actually second vice commander? Of? But he he did. Mean, I'm sorry. I changed my report. I'll change yours. Oh, okay. Yeah. You second vice? Of American Legion. Right. Yeah. He's also the commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post one zero one six five. Correct? Eddie Gilstrap from El Dorado County Veteran Resources. Anne Marie, commander of marine auxiliary. And Yolanda Romero and her husband.

That was a great time had by all. However, next year, it would be nice to have more veterans and their families join us in the parade. So keep that in mind for next year.

Alright. Alright.

Veteran services update. We've been moving forward with gathering the financing needed to for the building. We have a new office within our current footprint. This will allow BSR the space they need to conduct client interviews in a private area. This will enable the client to be more open knowing they are not broadcasting their personal business.

Legislation, I will spare all of you that from listening to me go on and on about SB six ninety four again. I just want to ask everyone in here to call your representative and let them know that you support SB six ninety four. This bill is set to be heard again in January 2026 when the legislature reconvenes. So there's not very much time left to tell our representatives how important this bill is. So please call your representatives.

November 2025, PSO summary, we had 93 walk in clients, 94 scheduled appointments, and a 150 phone calls. South Lake Tahoe update updates. There are no updates or changes to service provider in in Bay, that completes my report.

Jonathan, if miss Tinland had anything to add to our discussion with you and I, would she have regarding the have you talked

to the board? Not right now.

Okay. Well Yeah. Okay.

We're still moving on

right I I just that's fine. Cool.

Yeah.

We're gonna probably need That's the other side.

There's no public comment. Oh.

Through the Yeah.

I already know the correction.

I I I you got a D plus. Oh, no.

Camera reads the.

She's not No.

She is auxiliary, but for. I apologize. Here we go.

Sorry. Yeah.

I'll I'll make that correction.

Thank you.

Moving on to Thanks, I can get you. Moving

on to committee reports, TOT, transit occupancy tax. We have to change that. I'm not sure what to change it. We can still call it TOT. There's no report to sponsor. We'll be meeting probably March or April when we open up the branch branch cycle. Rules committee. I'm not just in here. Housing. I'm just in here. Legislative. Dot?

Yes, sir.

Transportation? It's not here. Wait. Both are out. Budget. Status of no change on the budget. Education employment, we covered that. Outreach. Other than not being able to book, it's set up. It's ready to go. I can I'm trying to transmit, but we've got one little glitch. I don't have the password to the Facebook page since it was set

up in 2015 by Bills Barone? Skovani. Skovani? Yes.

We're working on it. Gotcha. That's the only thing that's stopping it from being able to talk to his student. Do you

need me to phone bill?

Well, I had his number, and he brings to a different gentleman. Oh,

he's got a yoga studio.

He was been in yoga for years.

Well, I used to do yoga there in in the building, but I had John MBC, my office.

When's the last time you talked to him? We've done maybe the last year or two. There

isn't I hate to say it, but there isn't an obituary.

There is or there's not.

They don't that. I don't know I don't know how. Well well, I'll continue to work on The reason I'm trying to do this is because Facebook is somewhat considered to be the boomers and some of the millennials, but it's kind of a outdated system, and people are going more to the new Instagram and some of those new ones. And I'd like to be able to put information out to those. If I can't link the two of them, I'm dead in the water.

We did set up the Instagram account, and I did link it from Facebook to Instagram, but I can't link it the other way because it needs the password, the Facebook account.

So password to Facebook is what you're missing?

I need the password. Yeah. It was set up in 2015.

If I happen to have a more recent number, I I don't

I have no idea. I have no idea where Bill's at. So that's that's what can do. That completes the committee reports. Clerk will read Public comment? Public comments.

We are now taking public comment on the committee reports. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment in the room? Any public comment online? No public comment online.

K. Moving on to communication reports. Veterans Memorial Building house counsel. The only thing that transacted at the house council meeting was actually setting up the schedule for the building. They discussed that. They discussed a couple of changes they would like to have made. They did receive their funding for the building. That pretty much covers it. Anything else? I need

to look into it real quick.

I I didn't see anything else that's really

That was other than their yeah. The the Veterans Day event went rather well. Right. Probably put this under the alliance as well. Right. Yeah. They yeah. It's maybe they served a 150 guests. The event took in $2,420. They also received a $110 in cash donations.

It's really that's pretty

much it.

Pretty much it. Yeah.

And was a copy provided?

I I would give this. I'll give you this copy. Oh, okay. That'll be helpful. Right? Yeah.

Okay. Moving on. I'm Regalynchian service officer, David. Okay. Three

minutes. Oh, really? No.

Yeah. Stand up. Alright.

You think when I don't sit on it. So, anyway, I I've had some good interactions with adult protective services. Bonnie, one of our buddies. That's me, I know. But he's you haven't seen him for a while, but he was happily found in Scottsdale at the hotel. And APS has determined that he's functioning way too high for us

to do a fifty one

fifty on him. And, unfortunately, right, because he's still doing what he wants to do. And he kicked it out and kicked out the navigation center because he did he's supposed to leave your your alkaline brush outside of the locker and, you know, bring it inside. So he I I think that was the goal he didn't follow. So anyway. But they're following him, and he's alive, and he's doing well. And they can tell him the health health. I'll let you get some of this. So and then I homework assignment that Gary gave him to email him and Linda the correct name of one of our favorite favorite schizophrenics up in town. Don't forget, I gave out quilts at the Marine Corps League last night.

And, John, I going to try or Seth, I was like, god. Beth, I'm gonna try to deliver to one of your members who's at country right now. He has helped you I don't know what

I can't mention. He's and he's probably gonna get out today.

Yeah. He told me that. I'm hoping he's there for another hour so I can get him to quit. Yeah. Yeah. He sounded like he was interested in getting alright. I don't remember what I meant by this right now. So on the in oh, I know. One of our people we've been working with historically got him out of state prison and kept him going. He's he's doing really well. Tousing contact with probation. He's had both feet amputated due to the. He's in Martinez facility. He's gonna get out pretty soon. We can put shoes on him where it will be enough platform on so he should be able to walk.

I don't know. I'll say he's gonna run, but

he should be able to walk.

And this 100% came through. Hallelujah. Awesome. And I'm sure we got things he was 70 before. I'm sure he got started with through office by, I think, Martinez. We have helped him get over the finish line. And yeah. So I'm not gonna always like all of his decisions, but he's in much better shape now. So that's good. I'm I'm referring some folks for aid and attendance to the county office.

They moved to Ponte O'Mearo, and like, the wife fell, and now she needs Boret. And so instead of in the bed, she they're at 1,300 a month. And I'm saying, okay. Go to the county Tuesday and Thursday, and being in the reason they're there is all ATL related. So I'm hoping that all of their income's going out for anti pulmonary that might qualify. I know there's asset pools also.

Jim. Yeah. We'll just evaluate it.

Yeah. So I I did a referral. It's a good referral. Right? Yes. Okay.

Very good. Thank you.

The jail has only five veteran inmates out of almost 300 inmates. And I'm going nuts because how could that possibly be? But I did speak to David Webb, who's the social worker at the public defender's office. And he said, yeah. He hasn't had anyone identified. None of the inmates have identified to him as a veteran in months. I'll I'll talk to the alternate public defender also, see if they something something's wrong. The veterans are not misbehaving. I'm very uncomfortable.

But I

have no problem.

We we do we do get we did have a couple new ones at that court this time. The usual DUI stuff. Already mentioned that. Yeah. That's that's probably enough. It's not quite three minutes, but everybody just

Oh, fuck. Was teasing you. Know, I am. They're fifteen.

Got fifteen. That's a dark minutes.

Next up is Veterans Alliance, which is pretty much covered with barbecue.

At the barbecue. And one thing, don't know if you wanna bring up the metal of water. You can just watch that right now. Remember the metal of water? Yeah.

Go ahead. Bring that up.

Bring that up. It was noted that there was actually a metal of water winner at the monument that only has a stone. It was put in there by Peter Wolf in the initial outgo of the the memorial. It was brought up by friends of the monument, and they were rather upset about it. But it was done personally through Peter Wolf. He is the only Coast Guard member to the one medal of honor. So it is a stone. It's not you know what he meant. No. What's that? Woah. What was that? He's not getting the stars right.

Saint Peter.

Yeah. No. No. No. No. No. Peter.

So Peter was my coast guard.

Yeah. So this this gentleman in World War two won a medal of honor, the only coast guard member to ever win a medal of honor. Wow. And he was honored. He's also the only Coast Guard member to be on that wall of heroes in the United States Marine Corps. Right. Saved 500 marines off the evacuation of Guadel. Wow. Yeah. So it was it was just brought up as they weren't happy that there wasn't a plaque for this gentleman, but he has no connection to the county whatsoever. The nearest connection we have is his father was born in Sacramento in the late eighteen months. And he's he's actually a Canadian citizen who immigrated back into America.

So how did he so what was how did he become a shrine?

He Peter. Well, Peter, were you on the wall of heroes, or how do you get it? One in town. Peter is was a Coast Guard member, and he just wanted to honor this guy. Okay. So he purchased the stone back when it was still Okay. So it was just brought up that there's

a medal of honor when

it was not on the bottle. Slot on the wall, plaque, and little bit of debate about it, but it

was determined that, you know Hope is not his friend.

He was not his friend. He just went on our way. Coast Park over. Okay. So anyway, he was at Murano. So that was Yeah. That was about, you know, we think they had.

And then,

again, they said they've talked about the the dinner, the lunch, and they're talking about doing it again. That's your Oh. Doing a second time because it seemed rather successful. And, also, they are going to email out the list of people who registered for it signed up with me. They're We can gonna email everybody's name so we can do the recruiting driver.

That's it.

And let's see. Veterans military support group. We no one's here.

What we can do their notes from meeting real quick. Well, phone the meeting. Yeah. Basically, what they're gonna do, they had December 6. They did a outreach with Indivisible, a nonheritable food drive. It's rather successful. They they got a lot of stuff going on. The they're gonna do a Christmas dinner giveaway December 21 between eleven and one. It'll be a drive through, and so they people can come through and get their free Christmas dinner.

Have to sign up for the dinner.

They have to sign up for it? Yes.

Oh, okay. I I don't I didn't she didn't tell me that.

Yeah. So I think we have some open they give us all of us, so we

have some slots so they

can contact our office or contact the ER. Right.

But is it the twenty first? Right?

I believe so.

Yeah. That's all day.

That covers that. Any regional records up going on? Has that for us, but it's not here. Anybody else know any other regional? Moving on. So public comment? Public comment.

So we are now taking public comment on the communication reports. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first for those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself when called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment on room? Any public comment on the plane? No public comment?

No public comment.

Are we going on to go to the order? Anything with public commissioners?

Hey. Last Thursday, we had a meeting in. The people up there didn't even know we existed. Or maybe got a whole bunch of these before Thanksgiving, and my wife passed them out. That whole stack of them, they grabbed them up like you would not believe. Most of them had said, we're no one loves us up here. This isn't Pollock Pines. Just hop, skip, and jump off the road. One gentleman is was an Air Force gentleman. He was fully disabled by the military.

And I asked him. I says, well, is your wife on the agenda just in case you go first? He says, what are you talking about? He had no idea what was available for him. So I did give him the information that Courtney gave me and their cards. And the the people looked there, they grabbed it. Then they were asking, well, my dad was in the military. Oh, my or family member was in the military. I says there's all kinds of benefits, especially for the young veterans with the that have children.

So I just wanna let

you know there is an area in El Dorado County, as of last Thursday, had no idea we were even wise. And I did talk to that nice lady over there that lives there. So we're trying to I talked to John. We're trying to get things faded this spring. We should get together with our supervisor, especially Brooklines at her district. Hey. Here we are. Put it out there that that we're gonna be there. Come and listen to what we have to offer. Like I said, that's I was amazed.

One guy says, hey. You know, you figured no one looked at me. I said, oh, we love you. But that's what would happen out there. And I don't know what the other little communities around here even know about. So then maybe we we should get something outside to say, hey. We're alive. If you wore the uniform, you got a d d two fourteen, go on home. Thank you.

Yeah. They're

good in the order. Open forum. Public comment.

You're now taking public comment on open forum. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you unmute your cell phone called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment, David?

So, Gary, thinking about what you said, I I do

know we had a a number

of us for taking, you know, a resident up in Paul Pines to dialysis. They took a took a village, you know, like, that person's past. So we're we're willing to do it. But if you ever have a meeting again there, let me know, and I'll bring up some of my business cards or something.

They've heard it. So hope that's

a little bit.

And that also may occurred to me. So the Popeyes community center did I think they're set up so they hopefully get the Internet. And so that could be a good place to have a meeting for the Veterans Commission one time also. I don't mean instead of South Lake Tahoe, but maybe a petition if that's possible. Okay. That's great. Thank you. And then wanna give a a shout out to Sharon of our of the office. I I believe she has been working with a couple, and the veteran is in Gold Country, And I think she's been out there to see him. I'm talking about. And so it's much appreciated. And that's how he's given a

lot to the community, so it's good to see him getting the service. Thank you.

It was at another or there's prison plats that they'll have a veterans of trying to help the veterans that lost their homes and whatever. Because I remember in September, so there's a gentleman there that talked about it and says he's just below that, and I'm I have a branch of south of that. So they're out there. They just gotta find them, and a lot of them are just too quiet. Like me, I'm 81. They just really put their pride in their pocket. They don't realize what we have to offer.

Maybe another meeting could get pride in our communities, and it's hard.

At Pines Park.

Pines Park. Yeah. That's an

excellent place to do it because it's a nice facility. It's kind of centrally located for.

Well, I think adding that a

location is not a problem. We we I remember when I first started here, we did we did really go to Georgetown much. And Elrondie Hills. We added Elrondie Hills probably at kinda my first term. It was never a logistical place that we met at. So up until recently, it was Lashville and Sao Paulo. Georgetown was added. Cameron Park was added. Sheville Springs, Elbrada Hills. So adding adding a all kinds area, regional area for me to help get it approved or static would not be I don't know if

she's gonna be in

a problem. Courtney, do you? So we would have to get it approved by the board. Yeah. Of course. I believe it's kinda like what we did with Georgetown where we'd go, like, for three times. And then after that, we would to continue going there, we'd

have to To make sure that he's still with Barton's. Correct?

Yeah. So we can go three times without saying anything.

I believe so. Yeah. I believe so.

Is that

within a year or over a period of time?

Over a period of time. So we chose to go to Pollock Pines, like, next year, 2728. From my understanding, when I talked

to KOP when we were

going to Georgetown, that was my understanding.

According to you, we have to make sure that there's the technology is there to enable people that can't

be public. We would have to go beforehand to check to make sure the capabilities because what we ran into the issue with Georgetown was there wasn't enough soft surfaces, so the the sounds just echoed. And then we didn't have a mic, so we had to get really close to the laptop. And then Lynette was meeting the laptop trying to get the camera. Right. So it's Okay. Just making sure we have the equipment. Full deck. Check out.

Find your part.

Okay. Yeah. He needs that. Because, technically, this is District 4, so we don't have a District 2 location. So that could be a District 2 location.

Well, I'm gonna check with the library because they were setting up, but I don't know if it's come through. Did you name Georgetown Blackbird? No. I don't know.

Talking about Georgetown, when we were there last, the lady that was running that organization, she asked to wanna know about joining becoming a post. And I did get a hold of Nick. He's in charge of the 7th District. I I don't know if we're in the 7th District. Anyway, all of our Oh, district. Yeah. Because Rocky turned on to Lincoln Yeah. And worked your way back up. What do mean? But I did give him that lady's number because she does wanna jump be a post up there instead of the foreign borders or whatever. I I don't know how many members they have.

We have gonna be post ninety two forty one. Pardon me? You mean, we have gonna be post

90 Yeah.

The one in Georgetown. The lady that is, yeah, the lady that is commander there, she does wanna become a a a post, someone called an American American. American. I'm trying

to do I was thinking the same thing. Like, they're already

They will also want the American. Right?

Very, very bad.

But Nick Yeah.

He's in charge of that situation. He was the one with white hats.

Yeah. You sell it. District sell

it. Yeah.

So No. Understand.

Courtney, you can we can check the accounting for our CSB as well. They have the there. And then they have the. Right. E. I. And

they also have we we're using what is it? Fire Station?

5. Five?

We were using Fire Station eighty five. Do you have problem?

No. Traditional

one. Just for district one. Oh, that's all. No. Well, district one has got an awful with Wilson, but this one's up. This one was. Yeah.

Any other open forum public comments? No? No? Our

next meeting will be January 8 at 12:00, thirty thirty 330 Fairlane Avenue, Building A. Meeting is adjourned at.