HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Package - VACR_Jan21_2026
Date:Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Time:6:00 p.m.
Location:City Hall, Bldg. C, Conference Room B-112
276 4th Avenue, Chula Vista
Veterans Advisory Commission Regular Meeting
______________________________________________________________________________
In-Person Public Comments: Join us for the Veterans Advisory Commission meeting at the time
and location specified on this agenda to make your comments. Each person will be allotted three
minutes to address the Commission, unless otherwise adjusted by the presiding officer.
Electronic Public Comments: At www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings, locate this meeting and
click on the comment bubble icon. Select the item and click on "Leave Comment." The deadline to
submit e-comments or any comments emailed to VAC@chulavistaca.gov will be noon on the day
of the meeting.
Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request modifications or accommodations in
order to access and/or participate in a Veterans Advisory Commission meeting by contacting the
commission staff at VAC@chulavistaca.gov (California Relay Service is available for the hearing
impaired by dialing 711) at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting.
Pages
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.ROLL CALL
Commissioners Akana, Castro, Jimenez, Nava, and Pine.
3.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
4.PUBLIC COMMENTS
The public may address the Commission on any subject matter within the
Commission’s jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law
generally prohibits the Committee from discussing or taking action on any issue
not included on the agenda. The Committee may schedule the topic for future
discussion or refer the matter to staff.
5.PRESENTATIONS
The following item(s) will be presentations given to the Commission. Action on
these item(s) is typically limited to the Commission receiving the presentation
and providing direction or feedback to staff, as appropriate.
5.1 Veterans Transition Support Presentation 4
Speaker Danny Carreon to present on the purpose and resources that
the Veterans Transition Support offer.
6.CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1 Approval of Excused Absence of Commissioners Castro and Jimenez for
the Special Meeting of October 16, 2025
17
Recommended Action:
Commission to approve the excused absence form for Commissioner
Castro.
Recommended Action:
Commission to approve the excused absence form for Commissioner
Jimenez.
6.2 Approval of Special Meeting Minutes of October 16, 2025 19
Recommended Action:
Commission to approve the meeting minutes.
6.3 Approval of Excused Absence of Commissioner Akana for the Regular
Meeting of November 19, 2025
24
Recommended Action:
Commission to approve the excused form for Commissioner Akana.
City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda Page 2 of 28
6.4 Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of November 19, 2025 25
Recommended Action:
Commission to approve the meeting minutes.
7.ACTION ITEMS
Action items are considered individually by the Commission and are expected to
elicit discussion and deliberation.
7.1 Update on Veteran of the Year Subcommittee
Members of the subcommittee to present an update.
7.2 Update on Outreach Subcommittee
Members of the subcommittee to present an update.
7.3 Review and Address Proper Flag Lightning at City Hall
Commission to discuss current flag lighting at City Hall, identify
deficiencies, and determine corrective actions.
7.4 Discussion on the Process and Criteria for Adding Names to the
Memorial Park War Wall
Commission to examine potential additions of names to the Memorial
Park War Memorial, including eligibility criteria and next steps.
8.STAFF COMMENTS
9.CHAIR'S COMMENTS
10.COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS
11.ADJOURNMENT
to the regular meeting on February 18, 2026.
Materials provided to the Veterans Advisory Commission related to any open-
session item on this agenda are available for public review, please contact the
Fire Department at VAC@chulavistaca.gov.
City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda Page 3 of 28
We Are All Volunteers!
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
How we do it:
➢OSHA 10 Hour Safety Course
➢LEAN Six Sigma Yellow Belt
➢Free Coursera.org Certificates
➢Preparing to File a VA Disability Claim
➢Understanding VA Home Loan Benefits
➢Veteran Resource Briefs
Contact info :
➢Russell Levy JD
o Russell.vts@gmail.com
o 714-322-8789
➢www.veteranstransitionsupport.org
➢Register for classes on VTS Eventbrite
Who we serve :
➢Active Duty & Reserves
➢Veterans
➢National Guard
➢Military Spouses
➢Military Dependents
What we do:
No Cost Military Transition Training
➢Bridge the Gap Between Military
Service and Civilian Life
➢Career Development, Education
Planning and Obtaining Benefits
Veterans Transition Support
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
VTS has 4 Areas of Focus
Career Development
Veteran Benefits
Education Planning
Networking
Veterans must navigate all four areas in their
transition from military service to civilian life.
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
VTS No Cost Military Transition Training
OSHA 10 Hour Safety Cards
LEAN Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certifications
Preparing to File Your VA Disability Claim
Understanding Your VA Home Loan Benefit
Military Transition Resource Briefs
VTS Focuses on these classes because they
impact every veteran .
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
No Cost OSHA 10 Hour Safety Course
•Introduction to OSHA Regulations that every organization
with employees must comply with.
•OSHA Cards are valid in all 50 states & do not expire.
•Safety Specialists start at $75,000 and Safety Managers
start at $100,000 with no degree required.
•VTS has provided No Cost OSHA 10 Hour Safety Cards to
more than 6,500 veterans since 2014.
•This leverages every veteran’s safety experience so they
can reduce injuries and their company’s insurance costs.
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
What OSHA Cards do for veterans
I just wanted to thank you for your OSHA class
because I will be a Safety Coordinator for an industrial
machine manufacturer for $80,000 salary, Annual
Profit Sharing, full medical and dental benefits, 401k
with 100% match, 16 days PTO, 13 paid holidays and
a credit card for travel.
I didn’t think an HM3 would be capable of landing this
job! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, you have
no idea how much this means for me! David G.
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
No Cost LEAN Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Provides practical application of industry recognized
process improvement methods that translate military
experience into business tools that companies value.
I recently accepted a new position as a Continuous
Improvement Manager in manufacturing thanks to the
Lean Six Sigma certification you provided. I increased
my salary from $63,000 a year to $100,000 with a
10% performance bonus. I have no background in
manufacturing but my Navy leadership experience
combined with the Lean Six Sigma certification
allowed me to bridge that gap and secure the position.
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
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12 Months Free Coursera.org from VTS
Over 800 Certificates from Top Organizations
Construction Management – Columbia University, NY
Patient Safety – Johns Hopkins University, MD
Supply Chain Management – Rutgers University, NJ
Engineering Project Management – Rice University, TX
Healthcare Organization Operations, Rutgers, NJ
Cybersecurity – IBM, Univ of Colorado, Univ of Maryland, NYU
Google Project Management (Qualifies for the PMI exam)
Artificial Intelligence – NVIDIA, IBM, Google, Microsoft Page 11 of 28
City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
What Free Coursera.org Does for Veterans
I sat through the VBA macros course on Coursera
using Veterans Transition Support. The course content
enabled me to upgrade our accounting departments'
legacy VBA scripts, achieving a 1000 work hour
efficiency. I would have otherwise been deterred from
taking the course due to the paywall.
Please thank Coursera on my behalf as this efficiency
resulted in two promotions.USN LT Alberto A.
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
Military Transition Resource Briefs
Transition Resource Briefs help veterans understand how
to utilize and maximize available benefits including:
•Education Benefits
•VA Disability Claims
•VA Home Loan Benefit
•Work Source Training Funds
•Resources available from other non-profits
•Free and Low-Cost Training and Certifications
•Trade Associations, Networking Groups, and MeetupsPage 13 of 28
City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
40 veterans landed for $3,551,000 in 2025
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
How to Access Veteran Transition Support
Any veteran or spouse can register for VTS No
Cost classes at:
www.veteranstransitionsupport.org
Or
Register on the VTS Eventbrite Page
www.eventbrite.com/o/veterans-transition-
support-7544018039
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
January 21, 2026 Agenda
How You Can Help VTS Help Veterans
1.Tell Veterans About the VTS because the
majority of our veterans come by referral.
2.Donate to VTS because we are all volunteers
and 100% of your donations support veterans.
3.Volunteer to support VTS classes and VTS
veterans prepare for their job search through
networking, resume review, and interview prep.
www.veteranstransitionsupport.org
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
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City of Chula Vista
Special Veterans Advisory Commission Meeting
MINUTES
October 16, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, Bldg. C, Conference Room B-112
276 4th Avenue, Chula Vista
Present:Chair Nava, Commissioner Pine, Commissioner Williams, Vice
Chair Akana
Absent:Commissioner Jimenez, Commissioner Castro
Also Present:Fire Captain Martinez, Deputy City Attorney Pietanza, City
Attorney Verdugo
Minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the agenda.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Veterans Advisory Commission of the City of Chula Vista
was called to order at 6:01 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Secretary Aguilar called the roll.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
- Robert
- Mentioned that there is not supposed to be public comments on Special
Meetings.
5. PRESENTATIONS
- No presentations.
6. ACTION ITEMS
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6.1 Approval of Excused Absence of Commissioners Castro and Pine for
the Regular Meeting of July 16, 2025
Moved by Vice Chair Akana
Seconded by Commissioner Williams
Commission to approve the excused absence form for Commissioner
Castro.
Result: Carried Unanimously
Moved by Commissioner Williams
Seconded by Vice Chair Akana
Commission to approve the excused absence form of Commissioner Pine.
Result: Carried Unanimously
6.2 Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of July 16, 2025
Moved by Commissioner Pine
Seconded by Commissioner Williams
Commission to approve the meeting minutes.
Result: Carried Unanimously
6.3 Approval of Excused Absence of Commissioner Stewart and Vice
Chair Akana for the Regular Meeting of August 20, 2025
Moved by Commissioner Williams
Seconded by Commissioner Pine
Commission to approve the excused absence form for Commissioner
Stewart.
Result: Carried Unanimously
Moved by Commissioner Williams
Seconded by Commissioner Pine
Commission to approve the excused absence form for Vice Chair Akana.
Result: Carried Unanimously
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
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6.4 Approval of Meeting Minutes of August 20, 2025
- Commissioners amended October's Special Meeting 's agenda to
remove action item 6.4 due to this action item already being voted on in
September's agenda.
Moved by Commissioner Pine
Seconded by Commissioner Williams
Commission to approve the meeting minutes.
Result: Carried
6.5 Discussion on the Participation on the 2025 Starlight Parade
- Commissioner Pine expressed interest in the Commission joining the
Starlight Parade.
- Chair Nava suggested having the recipient of the Veteran of the Year be
included in the parade.
- Commission agreed on tabling the discussion and details of the parade
for next year in order to have more time to prepare.
6.6 Update on Military Reintegration Program Subcommittee
- No update.
6.7 Update on Outreach Subcommittee
- Vice Chair Akana met with the head of City Library and mentioned that
the commission is interested in placing a picture of the Veteran of the Year
recipient in one of the library branches and change it out every year.
- Commissioners Akana and Pine discussed steps to provide artwork from
Veterans to library branches and the need to submit a formal letter to the
head of the City Library to provide parameters.
- Vice Chair Akana suggested to have an action item to vote on the
formation of a subcommittee to focus specifically on Veteran artwork, or if
he current Outreach subcommittee should take on the task.
Moved by Commissioner Pine
Seconded by Commissioner Williams
Result: Carried Unanimously
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6.8 Update on Veteran of the Year Subcommittee
- Public comment: Robert would like to have the Chair ask for public
comments before any agenda items are presented.
- Vice Chair Akana submitted a draft of the proclamation to City Clerk and
confirmed the date of November 4th.
- Chair Nava will notify the recipient of the details.
7. STAFF COMMENTS
- No comment.
8. CHAIR'S COMMENTS
- Chair Nava expressed interest in presenting at other Veteran organizations.
- Chair Nava motioned to vote on the commission presenting a formal letter to
City Council to place a flagpole outside of the Civic Center Library
Moved by Chair Nava
Seconded by Vice Chair Akana
Result: Carried
9. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS
- Commissioner Pine thanked the commissioners for the ir effort in making a
change.
- Commissioner Williams declared that she will be resigning from the
Commission.
- Vice Chair Akana brought up the Commission's motion to support the Filipino
American Military Park.
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
Minutes prepared by: Karina Aguilar, Secretary
_________________________
Karina Aguilar, Commission Secretary
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1
City of Chula Vista
Regular Veterans Advisory Commission Meeting
MINUTES
November 19, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
City Hall, Bldg. C, Conference Room B-112
276 4th Avenue, Chula Vista
Present:Commissioner Jimenez, Commissioner Castro, Chair Nava,
Commissioner Pine
Absent:Vice Chair Akana
Also Present:Fire Captain Martinez, Deputy City Attorney Pietanza
Minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the agenda.
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Veterans Advisory Commission of the City of Chula Vista
was called to order at 6:02 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Secretary Aguilar called the roll.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
- John Acosta
- Size of flag outside of City Hall is very small.
- Petitions to fly the American flag at the library and to have the commission
participate at the Starlight Parade.
- Robert
- Wants to see more collaboration amongst commissions.
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5. PRESENTATIONS
5.1 Presentation on the Center for Military and Veterans Reintegration
(CMVR) Project from the San Diego Veterans Coalition
- Presented commission with update on the CMVR's partnerships and
petitioned for the commission to endorse the program.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
6.1 Approval of Center for Military and Veterans Reintegration (CMVR) to
be Submitted for City Endorsement and Press Release
Moved by Commissioner Jimenez
Seconded by Commissioner Castro
Commission to approve and endorse submission to the city for
endorsement and press release.
Result: Carried
6.2 Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2025
Moved by Commissioner Jimenez
Seconded by Commissioner Castro
Commission to approve the meeting minutes.
Result: Carried
7. ACTION ITEMS
7.1 Discussion of the City of Imperial Beach's Veterans and Military
Affairs Committee Meeting
- Commissioner Pine stated that the Veterans Committee of Imperial
Beach has a tight relationship with the American Legion and participate in
the Veterans Parade of the City as well as other events.
- The committee has strong relationships with Veteran owned businesses
which donate to help the events by the committee happen.
- Commissioner Pine would like to get more information in regard to
working with the American Legion to get donations.
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- Attorney Pietanza stated that the commissioners themselves need to be
vetted by the commission as a whole to talk about sponsorship and
donations to the public.
- She also stated that one of the main purposes of the commission for it to
make recommendations to City Council and bring up issues to them.
7.2 Update on Veteran of the Year Subcommittee
- Commissioner Jimenez stated that the City Council event for the Veteran
of the Year was very successful and that it was more compared to last
year.
- Thanked the commissioners for coordination and communication.
- Commissioner Pine recommended to alternate color guards for the
Veteran of the Year Award Proclamation.
7.3 Update on Military Reintegration Program Subcommittee
- Chair Nava stated that they would not like this update on the calendar
until further notice.
7.4 Update on Outreach Subcommittee
- Commissioners Pine and Castro would like to work the Communications
team of the City to learn more about the rules for social media.
- Commissioner Pine stated that they would like to get more involved in
Veteran related events like the Memorial Day celebration.
- She also would like to reach out to the city's libraries to recommend
switching to bigger American flags.
- Commissioner Jimenez stated that in the military, flying bigger flags are
reserved for special events only like holidays and Sundays.
8. STAFF COMMENTS
- Captain Martinez stated that Secretary Aguilar will be handling commission
paperwork behind the scenes while he will be attending meetings.
9. CHAIR'S COMMENTS
- No comment.
10. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS
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City of Chula Vista Veterans Advisory Commission
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- Commissioner Jimenez stated that he is still doing research on military
discounts across City facilities.
11. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:22 p.m.
Minutes prepared by: Karina Aguilar, Secretary
_________________________
Karina Aguilar, Commission Secretary
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