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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-20 VAC MINUTES Lt VETERANS ADVISORY COMMISSION CITY OF CHULA VISTA MINUTES February 20, 2001 Human Resources Conference Room TUESDAY, 6:10 P.M. City Hall Building 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER—6:00 p.m. 3. ROLL CALL—Stephen Arends P , Carmen Fedje P , Agustive Hermes, Jr. P William Poindexter P , Robert White P ,A.Y. Casillas E Stephen Millikin A Other Attendees: Armando Buelna—Mayor's Office Matt Flock.—Veterans Cultural Arts Commission 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - An amended copy of page three was given to all. The November 2151 minutes were accepted as amended. (White/Hermes) 5. ACTION ITEMS • Unfinished Business a. Street Names Trevor Angood could not attend tonight but asked Chair Arends to let the commissioners know he is working with someone in the City to get the 36 biographies onto the City's website. Trevor assured Chair Arends that we would have the finished essays soon turned in to the commissioners to review before being archived by the Planning Department. The biographies will be prominently displayed and open to visitors at the Veterans Home also. Mr. Poindexter advised that he has had contact with the San Diego Historical Society and they have expressed a definite interest in having copies of the biographies. Mr. Hermes inquired whether this project could continue through next year for the additional veterans whose biographies have not been done. There has been an increase in the number of streets to be named honoring veterans, bringing the total to 53. This information was reported in the Spotlight city newsletter. It is the hope of the Commission that Trevor Angood and other students from Eastlake High could be recognized for theirwork and that perhaps it could tie in to the date of the Mayor's State of the City address to be held in late April at the Veterans Home. Mr. Buelna felt that this was very possible. It should be noted that the concept of naming streets in honor of local veterans has gone nationwide. Local media coverage has instigated phone calls from various parts of the country. Discussion turned to the local citizen,J. L. Hudson,who strongly objects to"Deceased War Veteran"on the street signs in the Sunbow Housing Development in Chula Vista. Mr. Hudson was invited to attend this meeting today but did not. The invitation was again extended by Armando Buelna via e-mail to attend the next meeting on March 20th. The Commissioners voted six-to- one to leave the signs as they are. If there is a need to change the signs, the City Council then becomes involved as there would be tremendous cost. 1 Mr. Matt Flock(Cultural Arts Commission)attended the meeting. He and Chair Arends met in January to discuss what could • be done to design an appropriate monument for the war veterans. Mr. Flock presented a proposal to his Cultural Arts Commission regarding a monument at the Veterans Home. The Cultural Arts Commission was in agreement and Mr. Flock advised the Commissioners about the process of getting a site,developing a model,and gathering funds. Chair Arends shared some photos of possible sites at the Veterans Home. Discussion continued on the possibilities for the monument and Commissioner Fedje (Vice Chair of the Veterans Advisory Commission)was recommended by Chair Arends to work together with the Cultural Arts Commission,and if necessary,setup a sub-committee to work on this project. Mr. Flock suggested talking to the Mayor to keep her informed. He will contact Mr. Buelna to schedule. Chair Arends informed the Commissioners of two names to be added to the granite monument. The Parks and Recreation Commission will advise the Parks and Recreation Dept. to move forward to get this completed. b. Veterans Memorial in Rolling Hills Ranch Chair Arends met with Jim Sandoval who advised him that the naming of the City parks is done by the Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Sandoval promised to follow up, and also advise Chair Arends. c. Chula Vista Veterans Home Support Foundation Update. Chair Arends advised that there was a good turnout at the last meeting on February 15`h. He brought hellos from Bill Ayers and gave an update on Bill's status. A donation to the Foundation was received in the amount of$5,000 from the North Island Financial Credit Union. This month's issue of the Veteran's Journal is running a feature article written by our very own Chairman along with photos of the Foundation, trying to get money from veteran's organizations and individuals. • d. Veterans Home Update There are now 130 residents in the Independent Living and Assisted Living buildings. The Skilled Nursing Facility is still not certified. The Veterans Home at Barstow must be recertified before the one in Chula Vista is certified. Tom Arnold feels that by sometime this summer Chula Vista will be certified. The first issue of the Veterans Home newsletter is being readied for distribution. Chair Arends asked the commissioners for suggestions on a printer. Commissioner Poindexter advised that he had been successful with Officer Depot after contacting several other printing companies. e. Veteran of the Year Award An article about Bob Lind as Veteran of the Year was featured in the Spotlight newsletter. This item is tabled until Spring when it will be time to advertise for next years Veteran of the Year. Per Chair Arends, Jeri Gulbransen will take care of running the article in the newspapers for the Commission. f Goals and Objectives The Chairman stated that the Commission would continue to be focused on their ongoing projects for 2001. g. Legislative Reports San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy, who is a veteran, has appointed Rudy Fernandez to handle all veterans affairs matters • Chair Arends informed the Commissioners of a bill which speaks of a plan to donate land at Glen Abbey and Eternal Hills(in San Diego)to hold 70,000 caskets that the cemetery would own but the V.A. would actually upkeep the land. 2 A e t Several bills regarding veterans affairs working their way through House and Senate now. Mr. Hermes received information regarding Tri-Care for Life. He will keep the other commissioners informed. The Oral History item was not included on the agenda for February as a new item, in error. Mr. Poindexter reported that he had made informal contact with Chula Vista High School. They would be willing to work on the project, The San Diego Historical Society will provide all that is needed and will do the training that is required. Mr. Poindexter will keep the Commissioners informed. 6. COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR'S COMMENTS - Chair Arends has been attending County meetings in Bill Ayers' absence. All are invited to attend. John Smith now chairing United Veterans Council, held 4'h Saturday at 9 a.m at the Veterans Memorial Center in Balboa Park. New editor at Star News is Manny Crews. Chair Arends will be meeting with him soon. . COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS-None STAFF COMMENTS—None PUBLIC COMMENTS—None. 7. ADJOURNMENT—7:20 p.m. To the next regularly scheduled meeting at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday, April 17,2001 in the Human Resources Conference Room at City Hall, 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910 • Trudi Ford Clerical Support • 3