Board of Supervisors

Chambers

County of El Dorado

330 Fair Lane

Placerville, CA 95667

Minutes - Final

Veteran Affairs Commission

Todd Smith, District I - Alternate Robert Fischer

Roger Reynolds, 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, July 10, 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

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/91249101434. Members of the public may address the Commission

in-person or via Zoom to make a public comment. The public should call into 530-621-7603 or

530-621-7610. The Meeting ID is 912 4910 1434. Please note you will not be able to join the

live-stream until the posted meeting start time. If you are joining the meeting via zoom and wish to

make a comment on an item, press the "raise hand" button. If you are joining the meeting by

phone, press *9 to indicate a desire to make a comment. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.

Although the County strives to offer remote participation, be advised that remote Zoom

participation is provided for convenience only. In the event of a technological malfunction, the only

assurance of live comments being received by the Commission is to attend in person. Except for

a noticed teleconference meeting, the Commission reserves the right to conduct the meeting

without remote access if there is a malfunction.

If you choose not to observe the Commission meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific

agenda item, please submit your comment in writing. You are encouraged to submit your

comment in writing by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday before the meeting to ensure the Commission

has adequate time to review. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of the Board at

edc.cob@edcgov.us. Your comment will be placed into the record and forwarded to Commission

members.

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 -

Present:

Absent:

Commissioner Norton, Alternate Thompson, Commissioner Welch, Alternate

Fischer, Chair Reynolds and Commissioner Vinton

4 - Commissioner Millham, Alternate Mullens, Alternate Culver and Vice Chair Smith

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME

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

25-1212

Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran

Affairs Commissioners for the month of June 2025.

Attachments: June 2025 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT

25-1213

Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission June 12,

2025 meeting minutes.

Attachments: Draft Minutes Veteran Affairs Commission 6-12-25

A motion to adopt the agenda and approve the consent calendar was made by

Commissioner Welch; seconded by Commissioner Fischer.

5 -

Yes:

Commissioner Norton, Commissioner Welch, Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds and

Commissioner Vinton

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)

25-1285

Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that the Veterans Service

Representatives (VSRs) participated in a virtual training session

sanctioned by the California Association of County Veterans Service

Officers (CACVSO) in June to maintain their accreditation status. Next,

Brown shared that the CalVet six-month audit is due by July 31. He

reported that Senior Office Assistant Bonnie Steward has helped

streamline the audit process, and thanks to her efforts, the Veterans

Service Office is expected to report increased retroactive and monthly

dollar amounts for the past six months. Next, Brown also reported on

Senate Bill 694, which aims to protect veterans and consumers by

safeguarding sensitive personal information and preventing unauthorized

individuals from accessing or profiting from veterans' benefit claims. The

bill is currently under review. Next, Brown reported that for the month of

June, the Veterans Service Office recorded 114 walk-in visitors, 70

scheduled appointments, and 265 incoming phone calls. Lastly, Brown

reported that there was no update regarding South Lake Tahoe.

COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE

•

TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that there was

no meeting held in July. He reported that the TOT distributed $90,000 to the El Dorado

Community Foundation, as approved at the June Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) meeting.

•

RULES (Welch) - Commissioner Welch stated there was nothing to report.

HOUSING (Welch) - Commissioner Welch stated there was nothing to report.

LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith was not available to provide a report.

TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - No report was provided for Transportation.

BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Reynolds stated that there was nothing

to report.

•

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker was not

available to provide a report.

•

OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he continues to post updates

on the Veterans Affairs Commission Facebook page. He is in the process of learning how to use

Instagram and may need assistance with navigating the platform. Reynolds expressed gratitude

to Commissioner Welch for providing a program that helps convert documents into JPG format,

which has made uploading files easier.

25-1321

Public Comment VAC Rcvd 7-10-25

Attachments: Public Comment VAC Rcvd 7-10-2025

Public Comment: J. Shuman

COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE

•

VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) -

Commissioner Reynolds reported that the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council

meeting scheduled for the previous week was canceled. He shared that the rescheduled meeting

would take place tonight, July 10, at 6:00 PM.

•

AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky reported that he has been

working with Commissioner Vinton to assist incarcerated veterans in South Lake Tahoe by

connecting them to the Public Defender’s Office. Next, Zelinksy reported that he is working with a

veteran and his child who were recently evicted and referred to him by the Tahoe Coalition for the

Homeless. Zelinsky, in collaboration with Only Kindness, Volunteers of America, and Housing and

Urban Development and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), was able to arrange

overnight accommodations for the family and will continue assisting them over the next few days

to help them get settled. Next, Zelinsky reported that he meets biweekly with a collaborative group

focused on supporting homeless veterans. This group shares information about various

organizations and resources available to help those in need. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is

working with HUD employee Rebecca Yellet, who has been instrumental in providing support for

homeless veterans in the Georgetown area. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is currently assisting a

Marine veteran in securing housing at Victory Village. However, the placement was delayed due

to issues involving the veteran’s dog, which was not neutered, resulting in the veteran being

turned away. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is working with Jean Shuman of Jake’s Journey

Home in El Dorado Hills to provide case management services to homeless veterans. The

Commissioners expressed their appreciation to Zelinsky for his continued dedication and hard

work on behalf of the veteran community. Lastly, Zelinsky reported speaking with a veteran about

obtaining a Service Connection for their time in service and advised them to visit the Veteran

Services Office on a walk-in day to consult with a VSR.

•

EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Commissioner Reynolds reported that the Veterans Alliance

met on July 14 at the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB). The group conducted a recap of the

Memorial Day event and began planning for the upcoming Veterans Day event. Reynolds shared

that he was asked to follow up with a few organizations for the Veterans Alliance’s Veterans Day

event. Lastly, Reynolds reported that the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the El

Dorado County Veterans Memorial Criteria on Tuesday, July 15, at 9:00 AM.

•

VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN

RESOURCES (Whalen) - Whalen was not available to provide a report.

REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Commission Reynolds stated there was nothing to report.

•

GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)

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: D. Zelinsky