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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Veteran Services Office is recommending the Board approve changes to the El Dorado County Veterans Monument Criteria for Military Honoraria and Civilian Recognition (last adopted by the Board on September 11, 2007), which adds a process to ensure that all federally chartered veteran’s organizations in El Dorado County are given the opportunity to review applications for honoraria for placement at the Veterans Monument, with an opportunity for objection if needed prior to placement.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On September 11, 2007, the El Dorado County Veterans Memorial Monument (Veterans Monument) was authorized by the Board with their passage/adoption of Ordinance 4743, pursuant to Chapter 9.54 of Title 9 of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code (Legistar file 07-394). The Veterans Monument honors and remembers the Nation’s Veterans who served the cause of freedom. Ordinance 4743 stipulates that the Veterans Monument shall forever be a place of dignity and honor, intended to provide a place for individuals to hold quiet reflection of veterans and their service. Ordinance 4743 also established regulations for the public’s use of the Veterans Monument. The Board also approved the Criteria for Military Honoraria and Civilian Recognition (Criteria) for the Veterans Monument.
As a result of this Board action, the El Dorado County Veterans Alliance (referred to herein as “Veterans Alliance”), a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation whose purpose is to foster cooperation among veteran groups, was designated to oversee the purchase of materials for the monument's maintenance and improvements and has been designated by ordinance to host two annual ceremonies (Memorial Day and Veterans Day) at the Veterans Monument. To preserve the Veterans Monument’s purpose, no other organized activities other than the two commemorative ceremonies can be held on the grounds of the Veterans Monument.
The Criteria (adopted September 11, 2007) authorized Special Bronze Plaques, benches and bricks within the Veterans Monument to be available for purchase to honor veteran events, units, or heroes, as long as they met specific honoree conditions; however, it is stipulated that the County shall be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the Veterans Monument, including installation of any plaques, benches and bricks that are provided by the Veterans Alliance.
As outlined in the 2007 Criteria, the procedure to resolve disputes related to the Criteria (which could not be resolved) included an appeal to the Board. Consequently, on July 27, 2021, HHSA held a public hearing for the Board to consider an appeal related to a dispute that arose regarding the placement of a Bronze Plaque on the Veterans Monument (Legistar file 21-1168). At this meeting, the Board directed HHSA to meet with members of the veteran’s community to review possible changes to the existing criteria for resolving disputes related to the Veterans Monument. Simultaneously, the Board also requested that HHSA remove the Board from the appeals process for disputes related to placement of memorials on the Monument.
Subsequently, HHSA staff held community meetings on July 6, 2022, and June 12, 2024, and upon consideration of the requested changes to the Criteria, it was noted the existing appeal criteria should remain as written, with changes to clarify processes and to ensure commanders of all federally chartered veteran’s organizations in El Dorado County (hereinafter referred to as “committee”) are given the opportunity to review applications for honoraria with the option for objection prior to placement at the Veterans Monument. If warranted, the Veteran Services Officer will hear objections to the approval of an application and render a decision.
Attached to this agenda item is the revised Criteria being presented to the Board for approval (redline and clean versions attached). A summary of the key updates made to the Criteria are as follows:
- The recognition of Civilian Contributors has been updated to indicate new civilian recognition will no longer be added to the Veterans Monument.
- The section that allowed appeals to be presented as agenda items to the County Board (regarding committee decisions related to honoraria disputes/issues) was removed, and a new “Application Approval Process” section was added to clarify how objections can be made and how the Veteran Service Officer can bring an appeal to the Board of Supervisors.
- The section titled "Eligibility for Recognition through Military Honoraria" was updated to detail the requirements that a veteran must meet to be eligible to be memorialized at the Veterans Monument.
- The section titled "Types of Military Honoraria" was revised to update titles and definitions of honoraria types.
- The section titled "Application Requirements" was added to outline the application process for honoraria.
- The section titled "Modification and Maintenance of the Monument" was updated to outline the responsibilities of the County for performing upkeep and maintenance and minor changes were made in this section to update the titles of the Veteran organization participating in the purchase of materials for the Veterans Monument.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this recommendation, there would be no updates to the processes detailed in the El Dorado County Veterans Monument Criteria for Military Honoraria and Civilian Recognition approved by the Board on September 11, 2007.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 09/11/07, 07-394, CAO - Veteran's Memorial Monument
2) 07/27/21, 21-1168, HHSA Veterans Monument Appeal - Capt Jacobs
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Approved by County Counsel
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to this agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency