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25-1367
| 1 | | Agenda Item | Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran Affairs Commissioners for the month of July 2025. | | |
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25-1368
| 1 | | Agenda Item | Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission July 10, 2025 meeting minutes. | | |
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25-1369
| 1 | | Agenda Item | Mike Sproull from the Food Bank of El Dorado to present an overview of the organization and how they help to serve the veteran community.
Kim May, from the Food Bank of El Dorado, reported that the organization has been located in Cameron Park for 25 years as a nonprofit and currently partners with 35 different agencies. These agencies span from El Dorado Hills to South Lake Tahoe, supporting food distribution efforts across the region. May reported that the Food Bank is now serving approximately 12,000 individuals per month through its distribution programs. In addition to general food assistance, the Food Bank offers specialized programs such as Elder Outreach and No Vet Goes Hungry. The No Vet Goes Hungry program serves 70 to 75 veterans each month, providing them with boxes of food that include protein, dairy, produce, and nonperishable items. To enhance support for veterans, the Food Bank has been utilizing annual funding from the Veteran Affairs Transient Occupancy Tax (VA TOT). | | |
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25-1370
| 1 | | Agenda Item | Caleb Balbuena, from Guns Up! Combat Veterans Hunt, and Todd Stevens provided an overview of the organization and its efforts to support veterans in the community.
Balbuena reported that Guns Up! takes veterans on waterfowl hunting trips and has been actively working with them for the past four years. They are currently supporting seven veterans, most of whom were referred by friends or family members. The organization utilizes several different properties for their hunts and provides gear to clients who do not have their own equipment. Guns Up! is seeking to collaborate with the VA TOT to secure funding that would enable more disabled veterans to participate in hunts and other outdoor activities. | | |
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25-1371
| 1 | | Agenda Item | Commission to discuss and vote on changes to the previously approved September 11, 2025 Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) Meeting Date.
Commissioner Millham reported that South Lake Tahoe holds community ceremonies every September 11th, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. These events begin at 11:00 AM and typically draw around 150 attendees at the American Legion Post. Millham expressed concern about scheduling the VAC meeting on September 11th, suggesting that the meeting be postponed by a week to avoid conflicting with ceremonies in South Lake Tahoe and other locations. Commissioner Reynolds noted that he, Vice Chair Commissioner Smith, Veterans Service Officer Brown, and Veterans Service Office Administrative Technician Courtney Frame had met earlier that morning to discuss the September 11th VAC meeting date. During that meeting, they agreed to proceed with the scheduled date due to conflicts that would arise from rescheduling. Reynolds acknowledged that September 11th is not a federal holiday but recommended observing a moment of silence to honor the significance of the day. Comm | | |
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25-1488
| 1 | | Agenda Item | VSO Brown reported that the next California Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) conference will be held from October 19th to 24th. VSO Brown will be attending with a Veterans Service Representative (VSR). Next, Brown reported that the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has a new Program Manager for the Veterans Service Office: Amy Higdon. Next, Brown reported that the Veterans Service Office completed its first six-month audit. The Veteran Services Office is reporting $2.9 million in retroactive and recurring payments. Brown thanked Senior Office Assistant Bonnie Streward for her hard work diligently posting awards, which helped make this audit more successful than previous ones. Next, Brown reported that Senate Bill (SB) 694 passed the Senate and will be presented by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, August 20th. SB 694 aims to: protect veterans from financial exploitation, keep benefit dollars in local communities, reinforce long-standing federal protections, and send a strong message that California defends its veterans. | | |
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