Board of Supervisors  
Chambers  
County of El Dorado  
330 Fair Lane  
Placerville, CA 95667  
Minutes - Final  
Veteran Affairs Commission  
Todd Smith, Vice Chair, District I - Alternate Robert Fischer  
Roger Reynolds, Chair, District II - Alternate Donna  
Mullens-Becker  
Christopher Vinton, District III - Alternate Seth Culver  
Ken Welch, District IV - Alternate Tim Thompson  
Gary Norton, District V - Alternate Thomas Millham  
Jon Brown, VSO, Secretary Ex-Officio  
Courtney Frame, Recording Clerk of Veteran Affairs  
Commission  
Thursday, August 14, 2025  
12:00 PM  
https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/91249101434  
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS: The Commission meeting room will be open to the  
public. The meeting will continue to be live-streamed via Zoom. By participating in this meeting,  
you acknowledge that you are being recorded.  
To observe the live stream of the Commission meeting go to  
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Although the County strives to offer remote participation, be advised that remote Zoom  
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assurance of live comments being received by the Commission is to attend in person. Except for  
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PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT  
Public comment will be received at designated periods as called by the Commission Chair.  
Individuals will have three minutes to address the Commission. Except with the consent of the  
Commission, individuals shall be allowed to speak to an item only once.  
Individual Commission members may ask clarifying questions but will not engage in substantive  
dialogue with persons providing input to the Commission.  
If a person providing input to the Commission creates a disruption by refusing to follow  
Commission guidelines, the Commission Chair may take the following actions:  
Step 1. Request the person adhere to Commission guidelines. If the person refuses, the  
Commission Chair may turn off the speaker’s microphone.  
Step 2. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order a recess of the Commission  
meeting.  
Step 3. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order the removal of the person  
from the Commission meeting.  
CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - 12:00 PM  
ROLL CALL  
6 -  
4 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Commissioner Millham, Alternate Mullens, Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds,  
Alternate Culver and Vice Chair Smith  
Commissioner Norton, Alternate Thompson, Commissioner Welch and  
Commissioner Vinton  
Commissioner Millham attended the meeting via zoom. Commissioner Smith arrived after  
roll call.  
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME  
Commissioner Reynolds welcomed everyone and the two guest speakers, Kim May and  
Caleb Balbuena, to the meeting.  
ADOPTION OF AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR  
All items on the Consent Calendar are to be approved by one motion unless a Commission  
member requests separate action on a specific item including moving items to or from the  
Consent Calendar and adopt the Agenda and the Consent Calendar for discussion. At the  
appropriate time as called by the Chair, members of the public may make a comment on matters  
on the Consent Calendar prior to Commission action.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
25-1367  
Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran  
Affairs Commissioners for the month of July 2025.  
Attachments: June 2025 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT  
25-1368  
Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission July 10,  
2025 meeting minutes.  
Attachments: Draft Minutes Veteran Affairs Commission 7-10-25  
A motion was made by Commissioner Culver, seconded by Millham to adopt the  
agenda and approve the consent calendar with the following changes: correct  
Rebecca Yellets name and move 13517 item from Guest Speaker section to  
Agenda Items.  
4 - Commissioner Millham, Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds and Alternate Culver  
Yes:  
A motion to correct the original motion item number from 13517 to 25-1371 on  
the agenda to be moved to the Agenda Items section was made by Commission  
Culver; seconded by Commissioner Millham.  
4 - Commissioner Millham, Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds and Alternate Culver  
Yes:  
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR  
GUEST SPEAKER - VETERAN SPOTLIGHT  
25-1369  
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).  
Attachments: Food Bank Powerpoint  
Public Comment: D. Zelinsky  
25-1370  
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.  
Attachments: Combat Veteran Hunts  
Public Comment: D. Zelinsky  
AGENDA ITEMS  
25-1371  
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. Commissioner Culver supported keeping the original date, citing  
scheduling conflicts with the South Lake Tahoe Health and Human  
Services Agency (HHSA). Commissioner Smith also agreed,  
emphasizing the importance of a moment of silence while maintaining the  
scheduled meeting. Timalynn Jaynes, Assistant Director of Human  
Services, inquired about the meeting location and whether a quorum  
would be present. Frame confirmed the meeting would be held at 3368  
Sandy Way in the Large Conference Room, and after checking with the  
Commissioners, verified that a quorum would be met.  
A motion to keep the September 11th VAC Meeting as scheduled and have the  
provision that the VAC hold a moment of silence to recognize the importance of  
the day was made by Commissioner Culver; seconded by Commissioner Fisher.  
3 - Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds and Alternate Culver  
1 - Commissioner Millham  
Yes:  
Noes:  
EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)  
25-1488  
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. Next,  
Brown reported that for the month of July, the Veterans Service Office  
recorded 157 walk-in visitors, 55 scheduled appointments, and 200  
incoming phone calls. Lastly, Brown reported that VSR II Tisha Holy was  
doing a great job providing service to the veterans in South Lake Tahoe.  
Holy continues to staff the South Lake Tahoe office every second and third  
Tuesday of each month, weather permitting.  
Attachments: Veterans Services Ex-officio Report August 2025  
COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE  
TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that the TOT  
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Committee did not hold a meeting in August. Reynolds reported that he had received a letter from  
Kathy Haven, Community Impact Officer at the El Dorado Community Foundation, regarding the  
TOT Mini-Grants. According to Reynolds, the Foundation has issued 109 Mini-Grants since 2014,  
totaling over $557,000. He also noted that the TOT Annual Grants issued in 2021 amounted to  
over $520,000. Combined, these grants total over $1 million. Reynolds expressed his gratitude to  
El Dorado County for establishing the TOT Committee and enabling them to support veterans in  
the community.  
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RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report.  
HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch was not available to provide a report.  
LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated there was nothing report.  
TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Commissioner Thompson was not available to provide a  
report.  
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BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds stated there was nothing  
additional to report.  
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EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker stated  
there was nothing to report.  
OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he is working on connecting  
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the Veterans Affairs Commission's Facebook and Instagram accounts, so that when he posts to  
one platform, the content will automatically appear on both.  
COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE  
VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) -  
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Commissioner Culver reported that the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council met on  
Thursday, August 7th. He shared that the Council is working on several building updates,  
including moving the bar back to its original location, redoing the flooring or purchasing a more  
effective scrubber for the downstairs area, and adding an extra office to the Veterans Services  
Office. Culver reported that the VMB is currently awaiting a refund from the insurance company.  
He also reported that the building inspection has been rescheduled to August 26th at 11:00 AM,  
as the Building Manager was unavailable on the original date. Lastly, Culver reported that a  
Veterans Day BBQ has been proposed following the Veterans Day ceremony at the El Dorado  
County Veterans Monument. The BBQ would be open to the public and held at the VMB. Culver  
expressed hope that all veteran organizations will be able to participate and host booths at the  
post-ceremony event.  
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AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - David Zelinsky reported that he has  
been working to assist a homeless veteran on probation with securing housing and medical  
support. While the veteran has expressed interest in receiving help, he remains hesitant to begin  
the process of engaging with the VA. Zelinsky noted that he is limited in what he can do until the  
veteran is ready to fully commit. Commissioner Millham reported that he is assisting a veteran in  
South Lake Tahoe who is currently in need of medical support. He referred the veteran to the VA  
Hospital in Reno, noting that it is the closest and most accessible facility for the veteran to visit.  
Millham also mentioned that things have been relatively quiet in South Lake Tahoe. Next, Millham  
reported that American Legion Post 795 hosted the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron from Yuma,  
Arizona. The Squadron, which had been training at Fallon Naval Air Station, was granted a  
weekend off in South Lake Tahoe. Millham shared that both Post 795 and the Squadron enjoyed  
their time together and expressed hope for similar opportunities in the future. Lastly, Millham  
reported that he continues to refer clients to the Veteran Services Office for assistance.  
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EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Commissioner Reynolds stated there was no one available to  
provide a report.  
VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN  
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RESOURCES (Whalen) - Whalen reported that the Military Family Support Group (MFSG)  
continues to provide essential services, including food distribution, mobility equipment delivery  
and pickup, and transportation assistance. Whalen expressed gratitude to Melanie Regan, David  
Zelinsky, Tim Page, and all the volunteer drivers for their ongoing support. Next, Whalen reported  
that the back office at the VMB will soon be used by Jeanne from Jake’s Journey Home, who will  
begin offering services in the near future. Lastly, Whalen reported that Julie Tucker from the  
Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing  
(HUD-VASH) program has also been working out of the VMB.  
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REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Tim Whalen announced that the Yuba-Sutter Veterans  
Stand Down will take place from August 14–16, 2025, at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds in Yuba  
City. The event will offer a wide range of free services to veterans and their families, including  
medical and dental care, housing support, legal assistance, and more. Next, Whalen reported  
that Growlersburg VFW Post 9241 will host a resource fair on August 20, 2025, in Georgetown,  
providing support and information for veterans in the region. Lastly, Whalen reported that Jake’s  
Journey Home Event will held on August 22, 2025, at the Folsom Community Center. The evening  
will feature a catered dinner, music, raffle prizes, and heartfelt stories celebrating the  
organization’s mission to support homeless veterans. Diane Muirhead reported that California  
CareForce would be hosting a Free Healthcare Clinic on October 10-12, 2025. They would be  
providing Dental, Medical, and Vision services. Commissioner Mullens-Becker reported that she  
attended the “Voices for Veterans” fundraiser in San Joaquin County. The event was organized to  
support local veterans in need, offering a day of music, food, and community engagement.  
Public Comment: D. Mullens-Becker, T. Smith  
GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)  
Commissioner Smith reported that he had been contacted by a local business owner  
regarding an upcoming “Ride for the Heroes” event. The ride is scheduled for Saturday,  
September 13th, from 9:00 to 11:00 AM at 3300 Coach Lane in Cameron Park. The  
event is dedicated to raising awareness about veteran suicide, specifically honoring the  
22 veterans who lose their lives each day to suicide.  
Commissioner Millham reported that he spoke with Commissioner Norton, who is  
recovering well from his recent medical procedure. Commissioner Norton expressed hope  
that he will be able to attend the September VAC meeting.  
OPEN FORUM  
Open Forum is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Veteran Affairs  
Commission on subject matter that is not on their meeting agenda and within their jurisdiction.  
Public comments during Open Forum are limited to three minutes per person. The Commission  
Chair may limit public comment during Open Forum.  
Public Comment: T. Whalen  
NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME  
September 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM  
3368 Sandy Way  
HHSA Large Conference Room  
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150  
ADJOURNMENT - 1:16 PM