HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-06-21 VAC MinutesPage 1 | Veterans Advisory Commission Minutes June 21, 2017
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE
VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA
6:00 pm
A regular meeting of the Veteran Advisory Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to
order at 6:00 pm in the Chula Vista Police Department, 315 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista,
California.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Commissioners Bailey, Perez, Mueller, Sears, Stewart and Torres
ABSENT: Chair Wunder
ALSO PRESENT: Vern Sallee, Staff Liaison
Mariluz Zepeda, Secretary
1. Approval of Minutes
ACTION: Commissioner Bailey moved to approve the May 17, 2017 minutes as written.
Commissioner Stewart seconded the motion, and it carried by the following vote:
Yes: 6- Bailey, Mueller, Sears, Stewart, Torres and Perez
Guests: Lt. Henry Martin, CVPD HOT Team
Public Comments:
ACTION ITEMS:
a. Chula Vista Veterans Park Brick Program update. Update on Recreation
Director, Kristi McClure Huckaby’s discussion with Friends of the Park
regarding sharing of the proceeds from the Veterans Brick program with the
Veterans Home Foundation. (Item was discussed after item b on the agenda.)
Item tabled for next month.
b. CVPD HOT Team’s role with homeless veterans. Discussion and information
on Chula Vista homeless Veterans and the HOT Team’s strategies in dealing
with issues unique to homeless veterans. Lt. Henry Martin discussed the
Homeless Outreach Team (HOT Team). The HOT team goes out every Tuesday
and makes contact with the homeless community. Approximately 5-10% of
homeless population are veterans. Most homeless veterans who seek assistance
are successful. The VAC is welcome to contact Lt. Martin to receive information
on meeting locations and time.
c. Transportation to San Diego Stand Down Event. Discuss possible ways to get
Chula Vista homeless veterans to the event. It is difficult to identify veterans to
transport to the event.
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d. Fallen Veteran Memorial at Memorial Park. Discuss ideas from the student’s
from New School of Architecture and Design and finalize proposal to be
presented to the City. Item tabled for next meeting.
e. Veteran Memorial at Bay Front Park. Discussion of looking into having a
section of the Bay Front Park dedicated to a Veteran Memorial and
formalize a letter to City electives and Port Commission. Vern Sallee
discussed the idea of also having an area for adaptive sports for disabled veterans.
A veteran’s adaptive sports park would also be a unique concept to present to the
City.
f. Fallen Heroes Banners at Chula Vista Mall. Update on the process of
completing the banners for display at Chula Vista mall. No update.
g. State of the American Veterans Program with USC in San Diego. Update on
the discussion on the VAC to possibly approach the City and eventually the
County of San Diego to get a State of the American Veterans program study
done in San Diego. The program consists of various studies throughout the
country regarding the needs of veterans and how their needs have been
addressed. The program is looking into expanding into San Diego and have hired
an Outreach Development Director for San Diego. Co-Director, Asha Jayasinghe
will be asked to attend the August VAC meeting to give time to notify other
Veterans Service Organizations to attend the meeting as well. Per Ms. Jayasinghe,
the San Francisco study that was just completed costs approximately $500,000
however, through their developments and relationships that have been established,
the study in the San Diego area could be at no cost.
h. Veteran of the Year 2017 applications. Discussion of 2017 applications and
discuss any updates. One application has been received with possibly two more
in the works. Deadline is set for June 30, 2017.
i. Chula Vista Veterans Walk update: Discussion of possibly changing the
ending location and the route for the walk. No update.
j. Chula Vista Honor Our Veterans Parade: Discuss ways to support the
parade at Veterans Elementary by possibly using police volunteers and other
contacts. Chief Kennedy waived all the Police Department fees, which is
approximately $3,000. Parade organizers need to raise $3,500 for the Commercial
Parade Route Safety Traffic plan. The parade is set for Friday, November 2, 2017
at 9:00am.
k. Age Friendly Communities Team. Team is looking for “We are CV”
Ambassadors to go into the community and collect interviews and thought
from older adults. Commissioner Stewart suggested the team contact the
Veterans Home for interviews.
l. Commission Activities Report Review for 2016-2017. Review draft of the
VAC Activities report. Commissioner Sears asked commissioners to forward
VAC activities to him to complete the report for the Boards and Commission
presentation.
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m. Veterans Activities Report: Commissioner Torres’ report on Veterans
Activities for the month of June 2017. Commissioner Torres presented
upcoming Veterans Activities report for June.
2. OTHER BUSINESS:
Staff Comments:
None.
Chair’s Comments:
Co-Chair Mueller:
The White House launched a Veterans Complaint hotline 855-948-2311.
The DOD is launching an online program to assist survivors of sexual assault.
Commissioner’s Comments:
Commissioner Perez:
Mobility is Freedom Purple Heart Run will be held on August 8, 2017. The run will include a
mobility equipped 2017 Ford F150 adapted to suit combat wounded veterans. Truck will travel
across the country and will be given away to a wounded veteran at the National Convention in
Dallas.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:24 pm, Chair Wunder adjourned the meeting to the next on July 19, 2017 in the Chula Vista
Police Department, Community Conference Room, Chula Vista, California.
____________________________________
Mariluz Zepeda, Secretary