Veterans Affairs Commission - Regular Meeting

Hi. How are you doing?

Hi.

Load your chances. Alright.

Moving on. The agenda items. FERC agenda is gonna be item number two six dash zero six one five, the Transence Occupancy Act Committee to present a process to utilize a portion of the fund balance held by the Colorado Community Foundation for urgent or emergent needs of veterans and their families in the community.

Have any no? Sure.

I'll take a read on it.

Well, that's that's an agenda. Well, yeah. Go for it. I think was it your

your Yes. It is. Okay. The TOD committee met several weeks ago. Or was it just last Friday? Just last Friday. Just last Friday.

Friday. Great.

Yeah. I five several weeks.

Yeah. Yeah. Lots got it. Anyway, to discuss this process of putting forward an application for onetime funding for veterans or and their families. And we were working with staff on this, and then we reached out to the Illinois Community Foundation and Lynette and Amy. We had a teleconference call with I think, Google, excuse me, from the foundation,

and we think we've come up with a plan.

So what you have and it is distribute distributed to you is the application. Right? And all of its the questions, the things, the amount that you're requesting, and all of the different categories that might be covered by this one time funding. And then, additionally, there's supplemental. And this form will be submitted once you've expended the funds.

Just letting us know how did you spend the funds. Did you spend the funds according to how you requested them? And if not, what did you do? How did you go about doing that? We did not put a not to exceed amount on here because they were reviewed based on the value of of what you're asking for and the urgency and the need of it.

So, hence, we didn't feel like we could put a set amount on there because we don't know what you might need. I mean, there may be an emergency that came up that would require a large contribution from our plan. So we didn't do that. And here's how the process will work. If you approve these two documents today, they will be given to the Oberon Community Foundation.

Their staff will put them into a form that you can actually fill out online through them. It'll be directly submitted to them. They will then vet it for your nonprofit status and whether you are in compliance with California

five

zero one through through fee. And then once they've done that, that's all they're gonna do. Then it'll be given to the TOT committee to review and to determine the feasibility of accepting this application for this donation. We would then recommend or deny, but we would bring that back to the BAC because ultimately, the BAC has to approve this funding. Now having said that, we realize that the first question is gonna be how long is this gonna take from the time you submit an application to the time the BAC gets it.

So we're hoping we're hoping that we will have this available within the next couple weeks for you to submit for funding. K? And if, in fact, we do get several requests, then there would it would require that the TOT would have an emergency meeting probably to discuss it so that it could be on the agenda in May. So those funds may be easily available to us or for any nonprofit by the May. The foundation writes checks once a week, so it's not gonna get it's not gonna get tied up over there.

Once the BSD approves it, we will notify them. They will go through the process of getting the check, and and you can actually go by there and get you the check up rather than it being mailed. So those are the options. Now they've also graciously said they would send out a press release to all the nonprofits that have now today actually submitted applications for mini grants. So it's going to reach out to all of those individuals.

And I prefer that it go on to them rather than us trying to accumulate all those emails and that sort of thing, addresses and things like that. So it'll come from the foundation. And I think that's a good thing because it's gonna alert everybody that there is some one time funding out there that we want to do. Because the ultimate goal, gentlemen, is that we need to spend this fund down. K.

We're coming up on a budget, 2627, and the possibility that it would be reduced because we have such a high balance and we're not spending it, that is something to be thought for. Because if it does, we we most likely would never get that kind of funding back again. So I would like everybody, if you've got questions, if you've had a chance to read through these to give me some ideas of what you might want changed, how you would like to see this done differently. Keep in mind we're on a timeline trying to really get rid of

I I

don't wanna say get rid of. We're trying to get this money out to the families that need this desperately.

So yes, sir? Speaking of timeline, is this, like, a one spent within a certain amount of time?

Or I would really like to see us bring our our our balance down by June 30. Oh. And that's gonna be a combination of this and our mini grants because, you know, we have our mini grants out there right now. And those will be that closes the April. DOT, will be meeting to review those and then bring to VAC for approval. So we're hoping to get all of this kinda wrapped up and really reduce this. Our ultimate goal is to bring that fund down, whether we can do this or not, but the ultimate goal is to bring that fund down to only about 20,000 left at the foundation. Okay?

Now

there is the possibility, and I believe that, Lynette, I think you brought this up before, that there is a budget ad hoc out there that one is put together by the board of supervisors to review the budget for next year. And one of the one of the things that was brought forward was that whatever our balance was with the foundation, they would reduce our our allocation by that amount. So if that would go into fruition, you would not see that money coming back again because there are so many other resources out there that probably would dive into that extra amount of money to extend. We would not see it come back to us. Yes.

Oh, I hate to interrupt, but you would I'm sorry. You're supposed

to be talking during public comments. You can ask your questions during public comment, and then Oh. After public comment, you can address those.

I I do apologize. No. That's no problem. So that's pretty much it in a nutshell, what we're trying to do. And I'm trying to preserve, meaning just but all of us, are trying to preserve this funding that we receive every year from the county to make sure that our veterans and their families are well served. And, yes, we have had a large balance, and that goes back to COVID when we couldn't distribute funds and things like that, but we just we just haven't kept that ball rolling as soon we possibly could have to. So I have I have a

quick question. Are there any fees gonna be associated from the community foundation between this?

No. It all comes under our point percent administrative fee that we pay to them on a yearly basis. Yep.

Is there do we have to get county council involved to give you

some of those? No. Because

this is a form that's actually going out onto theirs, and it's not an actual county form. So, no, we did not. I did ask that.

Yes. Is it is this gonna be available online?

Yes. Yes. And that's what we're working towards is so that you could actually go out to the foundation, pull up these forms, and actually fill them out, and then they would they would be emailed in just just like the mini grant works. Mhmm. So it would be just exactly like that. But, again, they are not gonna do any determining as to the credibility of your your request and the application or anything other than to verify that you are a five zero one three c and that you are in good standing with State of California.

What about multiple submissions?

Well, it's onetime. It's one It's onetime funding. So Over the year? Per year. As far as I know, at this point, we haven't gotten back that, but we're gonna go with a year. That would make sense. Yeah. Just per year.

Thanks, Donkey. Mhmm.

Thank you, Donkey. I was gonna add one thing. The Community Foundation did ask that once you have approved the the grant, a onetime grant, that it would then be the VAC that would let the recipient know. And I think that's a great idea because then it's clear that this is coming you know, these are TOT dollars coming from the Veterans Affairs Commission and that this isn't El Dorado County Community Foundation's funds. So then you'll you'll just have to kinda figure out what that mechanism is to let the Yeah.

And I talked about actually putting together a email for the Veterans Affairs Commission. So, Seth, you as a chair, once it's been determined, you would then send out the the letter to them acknowledging that we have accepted their their application for onetime funding Okay. And congratulations and that sort of thing. But, yes, we did talk about that. So it is actually then gonna come from us that that correspondence. So

To tack on to that, we, as the TOT committee, we pushed long and hard to expand it down, and it's been it's been difficult. Right.

So we'll we'll know better coming up how our budget's gonna look. As you know, we have one time grants or funding that we or yearly grants that we give out. And we will be looking at those and possibly increasing some of those. We are going to look at salaries and benefit increases there might be for the physicians that we actually fund through the BSO. So that would increase some of that.

So our year, that portion of it probably is gonna increase somewhat, so there may be less money going to the foundation. It's just that what we've already got there needs to be spent. Okay? So keep that in mind. And then the other thing is that it would not hurt for you as commissioners to reach out to their supervisors to really try and reinforce that we we are we are working towards this, you know, that we do need to have that funding so that we can support our veterans and their families on a on a continuing basis.

Just wanna clarify the the process. So email goes out to veterans in in the the county with the application. The application then comes back directly to the foundation. Correct. The foundation then says, okay. These people qualify. It comes to the TOT committee. Correct. We select who we feel is gonna be best and for how much. Then it comes to this commission for approval. Yes. Then it goes back to the foundation to cut the check. Correct. And then the people have to pick it up from from them?

They can or have them mailed. They have them to them. Okay. The choice is theirs. But keep in mind now and and I just wanna clear one thing that you said, Tom. This is this applies to 501 c three. Only.

And c nineteen. It's pardon? And c nineteen? Right. Sorry,

What's a c nineteen? C nineteen is just a subsidiary of a c three. You have to be a c three first, then you become a c nineteen as a member nonprofit organization.

Right. And so, Tom, this is another section of the internal revenue code. Right. So the American Legion, Us, are five one c nineteens. Correct?

Oh, yes. And the AW. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Different type of yeah.

Yeah. It's just a different type of nonchop. It will We have an EIM number and that sort of thing. So that's all they're looking at to make sure that it's

in good stead. And government agency. Pardon? And government agency.

And it does include the government agency. And we did this so that the senior nutrition could look at some of these funds as well because we have talked about that in the future or in the past about making sure that they have some adequate funding to help with veterans of their and their families of their. So any other questions with the commissioners?

Any other commissioner questions? Good job. Thank you, Tom. Madam Ferdinand, open it to the public comment, please.

K. Now I'm taking public comment on agenda item two six zero six one five. Individual will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then 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 and the record.

Bonnie, can can my three minutes be conversation with Donna, or do I just

Normally, it's not supposed to be a conversation.

Okay. I will ask questions and then ultimately your answers. So is there a limit to how much can be asked for, like, 20,000, like, the mini grants? Because I didn't know what the order of magnitude is that we're dealing with it. Now I guess you can't answer yet. And then so I can't use this piece of paper and drop it off today at the community foundation. I have to wait for the electronic. And would it be I I've got 1100% better and I could spend 15,000 on his house just like that. You know? Would that be better for the onetime request, or would it be the usual $100 take a guess?

I don't under I don't know. I could do both. I get 30,000. I spent 20,000 in seven months. So I I I I I'm not quite sure how to what you're looking for or how to do it, but we do have an urgent house thing, $15. I don't know what the order of magnitude. I don't know how much you need to get out the door.

Okay. So your question in regards to the amount, we did not purposely put a not to exceed the valk in there. In other words, you can request 15,000. Now whether we have 15,000 to give, that would be the question. But at this point, it seems like we would. But we purposely did not want to hinder anyone trying to make a request based on what they're providing to us as far as their justification or the need for that particular amount of money. Now when you're applying, you're applying on behalf of what five zero one three

c are you going to do?

Okay. So it's the Legion. So, specifically, in my mind, you would apply on behalf of the Legion for $15,000, And then you would explain as to what you wanted to use that $15,000 for.

Yeah. So it has to go through the legion first, David. You can't avoid It's

not an individual thing. And that means you can't just purchase it's to help all families. Okay? But you've got 15,000 that you need, so you would apply for 15,000. And you would explain to us what you're gonna utilize that 15,000 foot. Am I am I explaining it well enough?

Brian, you have a Esoptic could be also a 100 different people leaving their car filled with gas too.

Okay. So then you would ask for 20,000, and then you would okay. So for example

Well, yeah, with that, yes, be careful because he gets the money from mini grants too. So you could use the mini grants for

Well, he should have already applied for the mini grants and for the GAP. And so what we were looking okay. So what we were looking at this is because it was brought to our attention that some of the mini grant money that was going up, those funds are dwindling quickly. So I would look at it from a point that you're going to require 15,000 or maybe $20,000 for the specific needs that you've always done for and requested through your MINDS. Okay. Does that make sense?

Sure. Okay. Well, it's more David, it's more like the guy needs his property tax paid, or he needs his rent paid, or he needs his rent property tax and and PG and E paid for as an example. Because if you're using him for to pay his gas, you could do that through mini grants.

But if he doesn't have any money left in the mini grants Well So that's the question. I think the

the communication's gonna be a little lengthy. Maybe it should

take place after the meetings. Because that's okay. It's our app. So, anyway, did I basically, did I cover your questions, though, David? Sure. Okay.

Just see how it all rolls

out tomorrow. Yeah. Okay. It's ridiculous.

Any other public comment in the room?

Yeah. Hi. My name is Ted Gaines. I'm vice chair of the board of equalization. I'm wondering if I could speak in reference to Senate Bill eight eight eight by senator have for this

just on this. So you

can have your open forum at the end of the meeting.

Okay. Yeah.

Alright. Good. Thanks. I think

you found out here, but we would comment.

We've got one here in

the room. Oh, I think is there any more public comment

in the room? Yeah. Kim?

Yeah. So a lot of us are in the room, the commanders of various service organizations. We had been suggesting that we all kinda come together, Matt introduced that at the, house council meeting that, and the proposal is military family support group will be the hub of the request. This is separate from this at the moment, but since this is a part of it to avoid, I'll say, double dipping or somebody taking advantage of each one of the organizations so we all kinda, as a community of service providers, know what's going out there so we're not, like, blindly just giving everybody all the money. So I wanna have a subcommittee discussion about that, this whole concept at some point.

Okay.

I think that could be done during a TOT committee Yeah. Meeting. It should be. Yeah.

I don't know if it would be a separate thing to the house counsel or if

it would be to the TOT.

It'd be the TOT. Remember, the house counsel deal is just for the building. That's the that's the main focus of the house counsel.

Yeah. And I think that would be an appropriate time to to discuss it.

Mean, you're in

the TOT. Yeah. Great idea. Goodness.

Is there any other any other

public comments in the room or online?

No. Looks like we have one hand up.

Jack, you could talk.

I I hope so. I have a cold. And I don't know if this is the appropriate time or

place to

say this, and I'll do

it anyway. We have some improvements we would like to do on the monument, but I don't know if that's quite in line with the TOT. But is that possible or even a thought? That's it.

We're trying to try it.

Yeah.

Could

you hear me?

There you go. Can you you say what

you wanted to say again?

Sorry. For these TOT funds, if there's is it out of line, or is it not in its scope?

We still can't hear you. Please hold the one.

No. It's fine. Yeah. Yeah.

The miles under the bike.

Talk me. Yeah. And, Zach, can you talk closer to your microphone?

Yes. I can. I'm not sure this is the place or the time, but a few if there's extra TOT our TOT funds in what you're talking about, the scope of it possible for improvements to the monument up there, the memorial monument? Is that an an area?

Yeah. That's that's sounds good. I believe if I could hear it, the question is, can this grant be used

for Memorial funding. Memorial, I think. Right. Yeah. That's what I was There's nothing successful. One time funding, I I would prefer that you submit a mini grant application. I think that that would be the best way for the BAC to consider that is through the mini grant process.

Okay. I was just curious if that was even a question that could be answered. Alright.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you, Janet.

Any other public comments?

No more. I don't see any more public comments in line.

Yeah.

If there is any further discussion from the commission members on this item, chair will call for a motion.

I make a motion that we accept the two applications, the application for a onetime Veterans Assistance funding and the supplemental reporting for the Veterans Assistance Program. I'll second.

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? Aye. District 5, how do you vote? Aye. Motion passes. Thank you.

Moving on to agenda item two six zero six one six. The patient's meeting to review obstacles for items they have found that have hindered their ability to provide transportation to the veterans to the Veterans Affairs Commission. We don't have anybody from the transportation committee?

So it would be Tim Thompson. If he's Okay. Not here we wanna table it.

Yeah. Let's table this for the next meeting.

Okay. Let's do public comment, and then we can do have a motion. Okay. So we're now taking public comment on item two six zero six one zero six. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then 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 of 10? As

a duly elected member of the subcommittee on the transfer day. We have not met the

three of us, David Zielinski and

Thompson and I have not met together to have the discussion. We will, and there will be several line items, pros and cons to, you know, the successes that we've had through, military families that are through Alvarado Veteran Resources, the email volunteer list, and then sometimes, it will be the VA, the federal VA level medical transportation services. So we'll have that discussion and report soon.

Thank you. We can have a sheet of table.

Is there any more?

Oh, any

follow-up? No. Anyone follow-up comment in the room online?

Okay. Where? So no further discussion from the commission members on this item. All promotion. Do you table agenda item two six zero six one six until the May meeting? I'll make the motion.

I'll second it.

Who was saying? I'm sorry. I'll go. Right. 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? Aye. District 5, how do you vote? Aye. Okay. Motion. Table of.

Thank you. But we don't have any sufficient paperwork.

Report. A letter and service update. The med been due. Service representative office has been completed. It took about two weeks for the facility to complete the bill with little to no disruptions to the veteran services office. I wanna say thank you to mister and missus clerk of Wadiag, the estate of mister Don Hoare for donating a large portion of the

cost of the of the bill. I would also like to thank

the Veterans Moore Building House Council for their donation to the Veterans Services office to cover the remaining balance. The office is a wonderful addition to the veteran services space with the additional office. All ESRs now have a private office to meet with clients to discuss personal information. This

could not have

happened without Don Harn, the Wadiac, and the house counsel. So thank you. Legislative updates. There are a few bills that I would like to bring to your attention. First, there is s p one five I think this is from fourteen o seven.

It's it is attempting to change the tax exemptions for military retirement pay and for life insurance payments and in order to make them completely exempt from taxes. There's also a b twenty sixteen. It is also trying to amend the existing tax law so that military retirement and survivors' payments are fully exempt from income tax. At this time, California is one of 12 states that do not fully exempt military retirement and survivors' interview payments from income tax. Also, there's a d twenty twenty two.

This bill deals with property taxes. It is attempting to exempt from taxes the property of 100% disabled veterans. It must be the veteran's primary place of residence. Even if the veteran is in a care home or a hospital, if the veteran would return to the residence when released, it still qualifies as a primary residence. Therefore, it'd be exempt from taxes if a b 22 goes through.

Please read the additional information I've attached to my report, and a b twenty sixteen and a b 22. I contact your representatives, and let them know that you'd to see this change. Monthly contact report from March, we had a 150 phone calls, 83 scheduled appointments, a 132 walk in visitors, and five approved college fee waivers. South Lake Tahoe updates. Starting this month, April 2026, the veteran's services office will return to in person appointments in the South Lake Tahoe office.

However, it will not only be VSR to Tisha Holly, assisting the veteran of South Lake Tahoe. BSR one Chris Dignans and BSR one Sharon New will also be rotating through the South Lake Tahoe office, performed the responsibility scene veterans. 04/21/2026, Sharon and Chris will meet with Tisha at the San Antonio office to allow her time to show them where everything is and how the office operates so they don't have to worry about that the first time. That's the team's file report. Thank

you. And I'll do media reports. DOT report, think we've beat that one.

We can get that predict, though. You know what mean?

That's taken care of.

That's taken care of.

Rules? Nothing. Amy, did we bring this up? We talked about the rules.

I thought you're gonna bring it up doing a good of the order.

Sure. But

whatever you wanna do.

It seems like kind of a rule thing to me. Well, we can also bring it up under good of the order. Amy reached out to me and discussing something that she found in the policy and the rules for the committee, the new reports. And one of them is you cannot have more than two people on a standing committee.

Well, you have to have less than a quorum.

Less than a quorum. So my under my understanding was that two districts could be the max we could have on a on any standing committee. Because if we ended up with three districts, now all of a sudden, you would have, in theory, a quorum who could vote on something, and it'll be outside of the Brown Act. Currently, the TOT, I think you said we have five different committee members on there that represent was it three different districts or four different Yeah. Three districts.

Three different districts, which would be kind of a violation of that. So I think what we need to do is possibly reassign people to committees. That'd be the would that be kind of a solved issue? We would definitely define who would be assigned to what committees. Yeah. That kind of leaning towards.

How can we do that with the reason I'm asking, Amy, is how can we do that with only five commissioners? I mean, it's a heavy load that we do on the TOT committee right now on on mini grants and things like that. I'm not disagreeing. I'm just saying with mini grants and things like that. That take that eats up a lot of our time to go over all those applications and things like that. And

you could you could, in theory, have four people on a committee. You would have the primaries and the alternates. However, the alternates would not have the ability to vote on anything. That'd No.

I think what it is is you can have you can't have more than two districts. So you could have the primary and the alternate because that's not a form the same district. Yeah. In the same district. Right? So but you can't have more than two

districts run by Districts

of alternates count. Only for review. Not for making

because I'm thinking because, like like Roger says, you know, you're we're gonna go through these applications. That would be a lot for two people to handle, but but we have the primary and the alternate from District 1 and the primary and alternate District 3 Yeah. On the TOT. So that would Yes. Be four Yeah. Eyeballs. We do that. So to speak. Okay. So we cannot have a fifth push. No. Because it they represent the district state. You have three districts represented on committee.

Does does it have to be somebody who had to yeah. Never mind.

A committee has to have it has to have commissioners on it. It can't have noncommissions on Yeah. Okay. Two masks per district. I mean, one for district. Two masks two districts masks.

Right? Two districts masks.

Yeah. Yeah.

Eric and I are on it. Yeah.

We'll change that, or how does that get how does that request get processed and through the to moving forward with future At least the concern is if you have more than the form, now you're creating as potentially a separate legislative body. Right. It's brown out.

Right. The brown. I get it. I have a question. Yep. If we go through this, we have to go through these committees again. Because if you have standing committees and need commissioners on those standing committees, you have multiple alternates on these standing committees and no commissioners. Or one an example is education employment. It's just It's

fine because you're still a member of the commission. Doesn't have to be I don't know if it has to be a primary. You can't vote on anything. Well, it all goes to the BAC to vote on the Right.

We had some. Okay.

So the

but in the case like the TOT, we vote on things that we agree on. Okay? So we we vote on each, for example, Minigrain. Okay? So we're either that way, it keeps you at a level playing field. I mean, that's how we do it. Now if we don't have to vote on it, then I understand. But we vote on it because you're voting to bring it to here. We're voting to bring it to here.

We're making a recommendation.

Right. So but like she's saying, you got two alternates over there without a commission.

She's somewhat saying discounts. So they don't know. Okay.

Well, I misunderstood you. As

long as we, on standing committee, do not have to have a commissioner on it, it's okay. It's if you do have a standing committee and you you cannot, because there's only five of you, you cannot have more than two commissioners on that committee. And in within that committee, you would be the only ones to vote on what what the recommendation is to be brought back to BAC. The alternates would not have voting power in that situation.

So the bottom line is you'd only have two commissioners on that committee. Yes. Because if

you had three, you'd have four.

Right. So when you guys make a recommendation in the committee, that's a vote. It's not just a recommendation to bring it here or a vote.

Well, that was gonna

be my that would be my issue would be that they're they're not really voting on anything. They're more just reviewing Correct. Right. And and advising. So it yes. There would be

no action taken. No action taken. Yes. Exactly. It would just be to review and recommend. Period. Oh, okay. So so It's just the way we've been adjusting the agenda item. The recommendation and action?

No.

Mean, if you're recommending a certain item to go before the VAC, that's a that's an action, the way I look at it.

But it's not it's not a action. It's not a Okay. This this is a ground act issue. So Right. You need a commissioner to

take the question with the patient council to get further clarification. It makes sense.

Yeah. Yeah. Because we could have them define that the standing committee is doing recommendations only Right. And not a a policy or procedural rule. Not a final authorization. You know?

Well, it never has been.

It never had been.

Right. The standing committee has never been the final termination. It's always been a recommendation Right. Back to the PAC as it should be. Yeah.

As it should be. Mhmm. Good. Alright.

So maybe it's just the the matter of the way we word our agenda item so that it doesn't leave Yeah. That m b u.

And I think what we I think what we wanna review with counsel is specifically to a situation where a committee has two alternates and not a you know, the the commissioner themselves. So that's the question. That But counsel question. Council has already said that you can't have more than a form of two. You can't have more than a form of two districts on a committee. Okay. So that doesn't need to be

So because I think our bylaws might come into play on that when you look at what each one of these committees stands for and what the the definition of those are within our bylaws. So maybe we do need a commissioner, at least one on each one of these standing committees. And when you've got the number of standing committees that we have, that puts a lot back on to the commissioners.

Ready to move on? Oh, yes. I have no updates. Legislative? Negative. Transportation is not present.

Budget. I'll go Oh, I'm sorry.

Alright. Just to refresh. I got your. I just wanna add

EDBR under MFSG is doing bus passes, continue with a volunteer ride, email, post where people request rides, and we take them to and from. We also assist with auto repairs for the veteran community. We provide gas cards. And if you wanna get real deep about it, we're doing the electric wheelchair and scooter transportation project. So that's an ongoing effort. Thank you.

Budget? I just yeah. Nothing really to report on what I already reported out in TOT. I just would really encourage you, each of you commissioners, to speak to your supervisors. Yes. Please. We'll be clear to supervisors. Yeah. So other than that, nothing. Because there's there's right now, in the midst of trying to develop the budget for 2627. So there's not really much to talk about.

Education and employment.

The only thing I have is count that as there are some seminars coming up. So if you go out to the website, pull some of those webinars off. That might be very beneficial to veterans, especially those that might be going into a business or being concerned business, that sort of thing. And I think that's all we have to report. Right? Correct. Okay.

Outreach? Right now, I'm still mounting stuff on her. It's being on both Instagram and Facebook. I'm gonna be getting together with Donna to show her how well, how easy it is to actually put it out to her. We've got the part of the Instagram.

We don't need that side of it because it automatically transfers across. So trying to get Instagram to talk back to Facebook, I was not worried about it. As long as it goes across Instagram, that's fine. We do have people over on Instagram looking at so I check that. Other than that, that's funded for outreach.

Thank you. Oh, if you have any posters, Tim, if you have any posters and things like that of events that have been coming, please shoot them to me. And if you have any local events, post those too. As long as the public and veterans are allowed to do it, I'll I'll post them. So I

don't think you did.

Thank you for bringing that up. Wait. Were you at

the house council meeting when they wanted the the school wanted to do the veterans' presentation to their students?

The Vietnam veterans I think I've I think I've got that. I'll have to check it. I'll have to check, man.

Because otherwise, you could take

the or Okay. I'll see you after the meeting.

Right. Madam Burke, get over into public comment on the committee reports.

We are not 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 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? Any public comment on Zoom? Okay. No public comment. Thank you.

Moving on to communication reports. Veterans Memorial Building.

Roger? The Veterans Memorial Building called their meeting on the building. One zero one six five will be merging with VFW one zero one six five will be merging into VFW post twenty six eighty because twenty six eighty has been in existence longer. So they've been,

you know, determined correct me

if I'm wrong. So or, Matt, correct me if I'm wrong because you put her on the house counts. But that's the way I understand it. 10165 will be bursting into 2680 because you've been active longer. Yeah. We And we also have an auxiliary.

So

Well, the deal was I will give him all my money, half my friends, and all my.

Well, he remember that.

Just renewed that number.

Is that? Well, that does never have my. I don't

know where you sit

up. I know. They didn't say that Dick Aiken passed away on Thursday, prior Thursday, June 6, he'll be having a celebration of life at the Veterans Club. There's a stand down coming on September, Memorial Day. Mark will be president up there.

And that was about it. Oh, I'm sorry. Tucker Anderson. He didn't show up here for a presentation. He's an Eagle Scout. He's doing a two two by five foot poster of veterans. And what he's doing is they're gonna be mounted on the light stands in Downtown Plateau. So he's hoping to get his goal is 4,700, of which the house counsel

2,000.

Public comment, David. House counsel donated 2,000 to the proposal. So if anybody would like to contribute, see Matt, or public comment. Okay. Thank you, Tim. So that's all. They need veterans. Oh, they need veterans. Or veterans. Or also. Oh, that includes my name's for you.

American leading service officer, Reed Golda.

Roger. The last couple $100 was raised last night in the Marine Corps League, so he hit his 4,700.

Oh, great.

So I'll go probation, parole, and South Lake Tahoe. Probation story well, in fact, probably these guys bear with me. I go up to jail. This this marine I've been dealing with forever. He self medicates his hip pain with meth. He thinks that's the best and whatever. Also, his mom's dying and things being what it is for him. His life kinda fell apart when his wife and his their young baby died, and, you know, that's where it all started to fall apart. He lives with his mom and his brother, but his mom's dying. His mother is a great human being.

You know, the real foundation of his life. So he's out there in the dark and with his car inside the road. Sheriff's deputy sees him. And, of course, the registration ain't current. They will search for the car. You know? So he's in custody till the May. He's really grateful to the sheriff's deputy. It's $250 a night when they impound the car. That means no more car.

Sheriff's deputy made sure that car is brought back home, so there's no impound. So, you know, thank god for the sheriff's department. Anyway, when he gets out, we're gonna bring his registration current so we don't have that problem again. And, maybe I did some paperwork. John, hopefully, you'll see if there's some more service connected work on him. Alright. So, no harassment. Probation story. This this guy get got out first, Saturday in April. What's gonna happen on the weekend? Right? Nothing good. But, apparently, he had a little plan, so it's gonna be good. I've been contacted the probation officer, interviewed him. I've got a buddy who's a veteran at Christlike services.

They were gonna take him in, but you have to show up at Newmont Church Wednesday morning, and he didn't. So I told the probation officer, they will accommodate you. If you haul him up there, they will do they will accommodate you. You know, they're used to working with this particular probation officer. They're trying to make that one work. Alright. Parole story. Bonnie, you were part of it, I think. Oh, poor parole agent Martinez. But, anyway, there is this sort of not really compassionate police thing.

So a 79 year old, kind of sort of a veteran gets dumped in our county, wheelchair, blind, neuropathy in the hands, can't use his hands, registered sex offender. Where are you gonna plug him? Right? He can't so he can talk. You know? Still not not fellow to talk to. But, anyway, Bonnie got a wet signature on it, on the s f one eighty application. We now know about his military service. It's enough for us to be charity, but he's not gonna qualify for any VA, benefits. I can't give him VA housing or anything like that.

So for a parole agent, what's he supposed to do with him? We I had him call at APS, but he got a very canned answer. It didn't help. So I called my buddy in the back room, Greg Deluca. He's always good. Greg said, take him to ER. We did. And so Marshall did a good job. They got emergency, Medi Cal going. They kept it they're able to keep him for a few days. They got him a little bit of physical therapy so he could take a few steps, go up and down a little bit of steps. Poor parole agent, he had an he had this guy all set up for six months, but it's on the 3rd Story of a building. And it yeah. Yeah. And then So where so what are you gonna do?

I mean, so he ends up at the nav center. And thank god we still have a navigation center. That's gonna be closed at the end of the year, and then they'll all be on the street. Yeah. Pass one nest of there, Smith, Flatt, and Jakeway. It's a huge stink. But, anyway, he'll this guy'll be on the street. So, anyway, poor Nav said I talked to Haley, the the director of it. We're not licensed. We're not licensed for this guy. He should be in a skilled nursing facility. So it's like, yeah, we both agree. He needs to be on Medi Cal and skilled nursing. So, anyway, he's there now. They're doing their best.

And then, I was Southlake, Bonnie, one of our old favorites, contacted Bonnie. Thank god it's her instead of me. And, hope we got enough data. Thank you. And then my ally, Tom, they're gonna have a snows alright. So this gal, talks forever, worse than me. And he, he's living in his car. He's disabled. His daughter died. You know, the house he was living in is not available to him. And, Tom will put him up for a few nights. We'll be reimbursing. And, but Tom will make the arrangement. I haven't heard back from

him yet.

Well, we can't tell him. He has to make contact, but he will when he's desperate. We're working. When he makes contact, he'll regret it. But, anyway, so there will be a few nights through the snowstorms that Tom will take care of him, and we'll do what we can. I have left messages with Volunteers of America and gave him his phone number. Tom Coalition is already in the loop, works with one of their outreach people. So, hopefully, they'll be able to figure out where he's parked his car because they do have regular people up in Tahoe. So we're doing our best, and that's is that enough time? Say, shut up now. No. I'm good. That's fine. Yes.

I mean I want to apologize to you and Tim too. I need

to catch you guys on.

Oh, no. That's fine. I should I should always be coming on. Thank you.

Thank you, David. Jack, Veterans Alliance.

Jack?

Yeah. I'm here. Can you hear me?

Hello.

It's Anyway,

May 25, it'd be the Memorial Day. We have some plans of looking back two hundred and fifty years at some of our colonists that were revolting and and honoring some of the the soldiers that were although they weren't American soldiers, so to speak, yet honoring them, and that should that should be the theme that's one of the possible themes. If you guys have any any other ideas, they are more than welcome. And that's all I have to say.

Hello. Thank you, Jack. Military Family Support Group, EDV bar.

And vet centers.

And vet center.

Okay. Vet center's

going well. We still have a counselor coming up here every other Thursday. Veteran support groups, I do mine as well, second to fourth Fridays. We're about to be fully staffed. There was a lull in staffing at federal level for a little bit, so we're overcoming that soon.

EDVR, MFSG, we're standing up the stand down committee for 2026. We're gonna be having our meetings every second well, in the beginning, every second and fourth, Wednesday at 09:00 at the Vet Memorial Building, I believe, in the lounge. If you're interested in being a committee member of some sort, be happy to talk with you. If you're interested in volunteering, we'll be more happy to talk with you. A stand down scheduled for Friday and Saturday, September.

And we're gonna have the building on the tenth through the thirteenth, tenth for setup, thirteenth for teardown. Well, breakfast too. Right? We got breakfast. Well, we'll we'll be done on the nap too, but Right. Yeah. So so that's gonna happen, by golly, and we might just use some of this TOT funds for Dental is a problem. If anybody knows anybody that have dental and medical and vision connections, we're all ears. Okay. For that service.

And then plaster Veterans Stand Down, which is at the grounds in Rosedale, the old Rosedale Fairgrounds, is, May coming right up. Do a flyer for that? Or Yeah. So You can Google it, but I Okay. I'll keep.

That's all I have to say about that there.

Yep. So back up one second on Veterans Alliance. Yeah. There'll be a meeting on the April 14 next Tuesday at the Veterans Building for the Veterans Alliance. I think I forgot to mention that. 08:00.

Right? 08:00. It's Yeah. 08:00 in the morning. Coffee and doughnuts will be provided. Yeah.

Marisa part of the stream with coffee. So And,

Jack, do you have another comment? Jeff, did you have another comment?

Yes. Thank you. I was just about to announce I forgot about the meeting. Thank you.

Thank you, Brooke. Good job, Brooke. Thank you. Regional

veterans events. Anybody? I know you mentioned stand downs. We got that. Okay. Communication reports. Madam clerk, open public comments.

We are now taking public comment on the communication report. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then 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? Any public comment online? No public comment? That's good.

Yeah. Moving on. Go to the order. Anybody maybe even a good in the order? Well, meet all those forces. Okay. Open formal. I understand we have a couple of guests today, so I'd like to welcome them to address the Veterans Affairs Commission.

Gonna read that. But 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 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. Public comment for other forum?

Lighting over here.

You're good right there. I mean, you can stand anywhere you'd like. Okay. You're good.

You guys stand there. Yeah. Thank you

for this opportunity. I'm Ted Gaines. I'm vice chair of the Board of Equalization at March 24. I did a press release in reference to senate bill 88 by senator Saratov. And it's piece of legislation that would exclude service connected disability compensation from the definition of household income when determining out of eligibility for the low income exclusion other than disabled veterans property tax exemption.

And I've always been a supporter of veterans in my twenty plus years to public service, but I'm hopeful that this bill can get through. I hope you don't get bipartisan support support to teach so. But, basically, what it would do is that your disability income that's a debt rent would be excluded if you calculate what your income is.

So

that's a a nice aspect. A lot a lot more veterans will qualify for benefits. So the inflation adjustment now for this is 2025, so I'll make another adjustment. But it's a $180,671 of exemption in the value of your home. And that's with an income of less than $81,131.

So if you're, choosing above 81,000 so if you're making more than 81,000 without the income that you're getting for your disability as being a veteran, you the exemption would be about 180,000. That goes up to 271,000 if your income is below that threshold, so roughly $8,081,000 dollars. Now from a property standpoint, what that does is if you're if you're making more than 81, the tax savings on your property tax would be about $1,800 this year. And for those making less than $81,000, the tax savings would be about $27. So this is a great piece of legislation.

I'm hoping that there's enough members of the legislature that see the value in this. It's already happening at the federal level.

35. One second. Yeah. Thirty? Yeah.

Okay. Great. So now in the federal level, we have has adopted an alternative definition. So it's nice to see it happening at the federal level, happen at the state level. Also, if there's anything that I do to help with legislation that would be property tax exemption related stuff. Would you please let me know? I could make sure you're applying to. Thank you. Thanks for

your time. Think it was. Very appreciated. Alright. That was Senate Building 8.

888.

That's right. 888.

I wanted to see how many of you were gonna notice. Thank you, though. Appreciate the kindness.

I want you.

Help me out. I'm gonna stand here because I have some notes that I wrote last night. Good afternoon. Thank you to the Veterans Affairs Commission for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am Gina Posey, and I'm running for Eldorado County Supervisor here in District 4. Before I say anything else, I wanted to recognize the importance of service. In my life, that understanding comes from my family. My uncle Rich, Richard Jakobiak, served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War for four years. My other uncle, Tommy, Thomas Jakobiak, served in the US Army during Vietnam War. He carried the cost of that service with him every day, walking with a limp from his injuries for the rest of his life.

He was a constant reminder to me that freedom is not free. That message has stayed with me, and it's one of the reasons I care so deeply about our veteran community. District 4 is home to two very important veteran and community institutions. The Georgetown VFW Hall post ninety two forty one founded in 1947 is more than just a veterans building. It's truly a cornerstone of the divide.

It serves as a gathering place, a support network, and a hub for community life. We also have the American Legion Hall in Placerville Post 110, which serves as another key hub supporting veterans while also providing a key vital meeting place for the broader community. Both of those are in my district. These facilities are not just buildings. They are the heart of our communities.

I've had the privilege of volunteering at many veteran events, and I've seen firsthand the strength, resilience, and continued service that our veterans bring to Eldorado County. I truly enjoy listening to their stories. Today, Eldorado County is home to approximately 11,500 veterans, more than 6% of our population. And in parts of District 4, like Coal and Pilot Hill, that number rises to roughly 13%, with nearly half of our veterans having served during the Vietnam era. These are not just statistics.

These are our neighbors, our leaders, and our friends. That's why supporting our veterans is not optional, it is essential. At the Shingle Springs Community Center, where I serve on the board, we offer free membership to our veterans as a small way to give back. In El Dorado County, we are also fortunate to have an exceptional Veterans Memorial here, a place that reminds us of the cost of freedom and the courage of those served. As your supervisor, I would continue to support our veterans by strengthening partnerships to ensure that our county honors the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our freedoms.

To every veteran here in El Dorado County Thirty seconds. I say thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and for everything you continue to do for our community. And finally, Mary Chan, a couple weeks ago, was honored as the El Dorado County Woman Veteran of the Year. And Roger, I'd very much like to know how she could contact to possibly be one of the pictures of the, posters. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Any

other public comment in the room? Any public comment online? No one's on the phone.

No other forum? No.

Our next meeting will be May 14, 12PM at 03:30, a, and board of supervisors meeting. I adjourn the meeting at 01:07.

K. Thank you.