Board of Supervisors

Chambers

County of El Dorado

330 Fair Lane

Placerville, CA 95667

Minutes - Final

Veterans Affairs Commission

Todd Smith, Vice Chair, District I - Alternate Robert Fischer

Roger Reynolds, Chair, District II - Alternate Donna

Mullens-Becker

Seth Culver, District III - Alternate Vacant

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, November 13, 2025

12:00 PM

https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/86378230395

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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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 863 7823 0395. Please note you will not be able to join the

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

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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

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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

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Step 1. Request the person adhere to Commission guidelines. If the person refuses, the

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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 - 12:02 PM

ROLL CALL

8 -

Present:

Commissioner Norton, Alternate Thompson, Commissioner Welch, Alternate

Mullens-Becker, Alternate Fischer, Chair Reynolds, Commissioner Culver and Vice

Chair Smith

1 - Commissioner Millham

Absent:

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

25-1847

Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veterans

Affairs Commissioners for the month of October 2025.

Attachments: October 2025 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT

25-1848

Commission to review and approve Veterans Affairs Commission

October 9, 2025 meeting minutes.

Attachments: Draft Minutes Veteran Affairs Commission 10-9-25

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

Commissioner Welch; seconded by Commissioner Smith.

5 -

Yes:

Commissioner Norton, Commissioner Welch, Chair Reynolds, Commissioner Culver

and Vice Chair Smith

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

AGENDA ITEMS

25-1849

Veterans Affairs Transient Occupancy Tax Committee (VA TOT) will

present their recommendations for utilizing the fund balance at El Dorado

Community Foundation. The Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) will vote

on the VA TOT Committee recommendations.

Commissioner Mullens-Becker thanked the Georgetown VFW for hosting

the VAC meeting and for providing lunch. Mullens-Becker reported the

TOT Committee met earlier that day and discussed some options for

utilizing the El Dorado Community Foundation (EDCF) funds.

Mullens-Becker and Commissioner Reynolds met with Amy Pooley,

Executive Director from EDCF, a few weeks prior to review scenario

options to spend down the balance other than the Annual Mini-Grants

awards. One idea brought forward previously was a one-time donation of

$75,000 to the El Dorado County Senior Nutrition Program, and the

question was asked how this could be done to help other organizations.

Pooley suggested a one-time emergency-type language that the VA TOT

Committee could add to the draft contract with EDCF. The suggested

language is: "Funds will be used to provide grants to local veteran service

offices or non-profit veteran service organizations in support of their

missions. Applications for funding shall be evaluated by the Veterans

Affairs Commission. In addition to supporting ongoing programmatic

activities, a portion of these funds may be awarded as one-time donations

to veteran service programs that are addressing urgent or emergency

needs of the most vulnerable veteran families. These one-time donations

shall be used to fill critical service gaps, provide emergency assistance

(such as housing stability, food security, transportation, or medical needs),

and ensure timely support to veterans and their families in crisis. The

Veterans Affairs Commission shall review and approve such allocations

to ensure they align with the intent and priorities of the Veterans

Mini-Grant Program". Mullens-Becker asked about the timeline for

approval of a one-time donation since the Annual Mini-Grant cycle can

take up to three months from applying for the grant to receiving approval.

The timeline would need to be shortened to help organizations in

emergency need. Mullens-Becker reported that organizations would be

able to apply for a one-time emergency donation, not just veteran

organizations; individuals are not able to apply for funds. The criteria

would need to be reviewed for organizations that apply for the one-time

donation, including the turnaround time from applying to being awarded

the emergency funds. Mullens-Becker requested the VAC to vote on

having the language added to the contract with EDCF for possible future

use.

Public Comment: D. Zelinsky

EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)

25-1943

Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Jon Brown reported that he and Veterans

Services Representative (VSR) II Sharon Neu attended the California

Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) Fall Training

Conference in Tuolumne County at the Chicken Ranch Casino October

19-24, 2025. Both Brown and Neu gained valuable knowledge they plan

to share with the other VSRs who were unable to attend. Next, Brown

reported on the Veteran Appreciation BBQ, hosted by El Dorado Veteran

Resources (EDVR) on October 31st at the Veterans Memorial Building

(VMB). The event had a strong turnout, with approximately 100 veterans

and their families attending. Guests enjoyed free food, met the Veteran

Services Office staff, and shared camaraderie with fellow veterans. Brown

expressed hope that EDVR will continue to host similar events for

veterans and their families in the future. Next, Brown reported that Senate

Bill 694 will be voted on in January 2026 when the California State

Legislature reconvenes. He encouraged all veterans and their families to

contact their representatives in support of the bill, which aims to protect

veterans from predatory “claim sharks” who charge fees for filing claims

on veterans’ behalf and take portions of their awards. Lastly, Brown

reported that for the month of October 2025, the Veteran Services Office

recorded 100 walk-in clients, 112 scheduled appointments, and 264

incoming phone calls. Lastly, Brown reported that Tisha Holy, VSR II,

continues to provide services to clients in South Lake Tahoe.

Attachments: Veterans Services Ex-officio Report November 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE

•

TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds stated there was

nothing additional to add to the TOT report.

•

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

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

LEGISLATIVE (Smith) - Commissioner Smith stated there was nothing to report.

TRANSPORTATION (Thompson/Whalen) - Commissioner Thompson stated there was

nothing to report.

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

additional to add to the Budget report.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker requested

•

a discussion with the VAC regarding what the Commission would like to see reported for

Education and Employment. Mullens-Becker feels the bylaws for this committee are vague, and

she was only instructed to identify Veteran-Owned Businesses. She feels that the scope of this

committee should be broader. Mullens-Becker reported that she will be working with

Commissioner Fischer on this committee. Commissioner Smith noted that the VAC had

previously been focused on other matters but is now able to turn its attention to the various

committees since those issues have been resolved. Smith expressed willingness to help provide

direction for the Education and Employment Committee.

•

OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Reynolds reported that he is working with Lynette

Stott, Deputy Director of the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), to set up an Instagram

account for the VAC. Reynolds noted that the process has been slow, but they are continuing to

work through the complications.

A motion was made by Commissioner Culver to add an agenda item for the

December meeting to address the duties and the scope of the role for the

Education and Employment Committee; seconded by Commissioner Norton.

5 -

Yes:

Commissioner Norton, Commissioner Welch, Chair Reynolds, Commissioner Culver

and Vice Chair Smith

COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE

VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) -

•

Commissioner Culver reported that the Veterans Memorial Building (VMB) House Council met on

Thursday, November 6th, at 6:00 PM. He noted that the House Council is still waiting for

reimbursement from El Dorado County for insurance. Lastly, Culver reported that the VMB

organized a cleanup field day with 48 volunteers from various organizations who helped clean the

building. During the cleanup, several broken windows and other minor issues were discovered

and quickly repaired. However, the refrigerator continues to leak and still requires repair.

•

AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - Zelinsky reported that veterans are not

identifying themselves as having served in the military when they are arrested or taken into

custody. He plans to work with the county jail to ensure staff ask individuals if they have served in

the military, rather than simply asking if they are a veteran. Zelinsky noted that many people do not

consider themselves veterans if they did not serve in a combat zone or if they are National Guard

reservists. He believes that a dozen inmates may not be properly identified as veterans and

therefore are not receiving the support they are entitled to. Next, Zelinsky reported he worked with

Commissioner Culver and utilized TOT funds to help a veteran secure an apartment for

themselves and their family. In addition, he collaborated with Supportive Services for Veteran

Families (SSVF) to connect the veteran with Housing and Urban Development–Veterans Affairs

Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), which will help cover a portion of their rent. Lastly, Zelinsky

shared that another veteran he has been working with will be utilizing a HUD-VASH Housing

Choice Voucher (HCV) to purchase a home. He plans to learn more about this program and how

it can be used to assist additional veterans in the future. Zelinsky has reached out to Julie Tucker,

El Dorado County HUD-VASH Social Worker, for further information.

•

EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Jack Babbitt thanked all the volunteers for their efforts during

the Veterans Day Ceremony at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument, noting only a few

minor issues such as a lack of power and one bench that had been recently painted. Babbitt

reported that work is still underway to install an atlas at the center of the Veterans Monument,

along with a few additional slabs, and they are currently seeking bids. He also shared that the El

Dorado Veterans (EDC) Alliance is collaborating with VSO Brown on the application process for

bricks and stones at the Veterans Monument. Lastly, Babbitt noted there was a Public Records

Act request regarding a stone placed at the monument in 2006.

•

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

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

REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Commissioner Mullens-Becker reported that Non-Profit

•

Construction Corporation had planned to hold its Key Ceremony in Grizzly Flats on Saturday,

November 15th. However, due to rain, the event was rescheduled to Saturday, November 22nd,

at 10:00 AM at 5083 Sciaroni Road, Grizzly Flats, CA 95636. Mullens-Becker encouraged others

to attend the ceremony to show their support.

Public Comment: D. Zelinsky

GOOD OF THE ORDER (COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCEMENTS)

Commissioner Norton distributed a poem about the American Flag and serving in the

United States military. He encouraged everyone to read it when they had a moment.

Norton expressed his pride in seeing the American Flag flying after a difficult day and the

sense of pride it gave him.

Commissioner Welch reported that the Georgetown VFW and the Native Sons of the

Golden West Parlor 91 will be hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for seniors on

Saturday, November 22nd, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Commissioner Norton also reported that he will be attending the monthly meeting at the

American Legion Post 653 in Colfax at the end of November.

25-1944

Attachments: Public Comment VAC Rcvd 11-13-25

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: L. McAdams, J. Babbitt, D. Zelinsky

NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME

December 11, 2025 at 12:00 PM

330 Fair Lane, Building A

Board of Supervisors Chamber

Placerville, CA 95667

ADJOURNMENT - 12:59 PM