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, September 11, 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 ***INSERT ZOOM LINK***.  
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  
***INSERT MEETING ID***. 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  
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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  
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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.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Culver to have Commissioner Culver  
chair the Veteran Affairs Commission September 11th meeting; seconded by  
Commissioner Norton.  
3 - Commissioner Norton, Alternate Mullens-Becker and Alternate Culver  
Yes:  
CALL TO ORDER - PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG - 12:07 PM  
ROLL CALL  
4 -  
6 -  
Present:  
Absent:  
Commissioner Norton, Alternate Mullens-Becker, Alternate Culver and Vice Chair  
Smith  
Alternate Thompson, Commissioner Welch, Commissioner Millham, Alternate  
Fischer, Chair Reynolds and Commissioner Vinton  
Commissioner Mullens-Becker attended the meeting via Zoom. Commissioner Smith  
joined at 12:10 and also attended via Zoom.  
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND WELCOME  
Commissioner Culver welcomed everyone to the September 11th Veteran Affairs  
Commission (VAC) meeting and asked for a moment of silence to recognize the  
importance of the day.  
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  
25-1554  
1.  
2.  
Commission to review and approve mileage reimbursement for Veteran  
Affairs Commissioners for the month of August 2025.  
Attachments: August 2025 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT  
25-1555  
Commission to review and approve Veteran Affairs Commission August  
14, 2025 meeting minutes.  
Attachments: Draft Minutes Veteran Affairs Commission 8-14-25  
A motion to adopt the agenda and approve the consent calendar was made by  
Commissioner Culver; seconded by Commissioner Mullens-Becker.  
4 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Norton, Alternate Mullens-Becker, Alternate Culver and Vice Chair  
Smith  
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR  
AGENDA ITEMS  
25-1556  
3.  
The Veteran Affairs Transient Occupancy Tax Committee (VA TOT) will  
present their recommendations for the TOT Annual Grants. The Veteran  
Affairs Commission (VAC) will vote on the TOT Annual Grants for the  
Fiscal Year 2025/2026.  
Commissioner Mullens-Becker reported that the VA TOT Committee met  
earlier that morning and approved the Annual 2025/2026 TOT Grants to  
be presented to the VAC for final approval. She also noted that the  
committee had additional items under review, which would be brought to  
the VAC at a later date.  
Attachments: FY 25-26 TOT Annual Grants  
Public Comment: C. Armstrong  
A motion was made by Commissioner Culver to approve the 2025/2026 Annual  
TOT Grant; seconded by Commissioner Norton.  
4 -  
Yes:  
Commissioner Norton, Alternate Mullens-Becker, Alternate Culver and Vice Chair  
Smith  
GUEST SPEAKER - VETERAN SPOTLIGHT  
25-1557  
4.  
Caleb Armstrong from Non-Profit Construction Corporation to provide an  
overview of the organization and how they help to serve the veteran  
community.  
Armstrong reported that his company, Non-Profit Construction  
Corporation, was founded in August 2023 and has been actively  
rebuilding homes for the veteran community in El Dorado County. The  
organization has successfully utilized Veteran Affairs Transient  
Occupancy Tax (VA TOT) Mini-Grants and plans to apply for the upcoming  
VA TOT Annual Grants cycle to secure additional funding. Non-Profit  
Construction has partnered with The Home Depot Foundation and  
American Eagle Roofing to provide supplies and labor. They have also  
collaborated with Golden Sierra High School wood shop students to  
construct frames for the homes. Looking ahead, the company aims to  
increase the number of homes built to better serve local veterans.  
Attachments: Non-Profit Construction Corporation Presentation  
Public Comment: D. Zelinsky  
EX-OFFICIO REPORT - RECEIVE AND FILE (Brown)  
25-1632  
Veterans Service Officer (VSO) Brown reported that he and Sharon Neu,  
Veterans Service Representative (VSR) II, will be attending the California  
Association of County Veterans Service Officers (CACVSO) Fall  
Conference. The conference will be held from October 19th to October  
24th in Tuolumne County. Next, Brown reported that the Veteran Services  
Office staff will be attending the El Dorado Veteran Resources (EDVR)  
Veteran Appreciation BBQ on Friday, October 31st, from 11:00 AM to  
1:00 PM. The BBQ will take place at the Veterans Memorial Building  
(VMB). Although costumes are not required, they are encouraged since  
the event is taking place on Halloween. Lunch will be provided, along with  
a costume contest. Brown hopes this event will give veterans in the  
community an opportunity to connect with the Veteran Services Office  
staff. Next, Brown reported that Senate Bill (SB) 694, a bill designed to  
protect veterans from predatory practices by unaccredited individuals and  
for-profit companies, was presented to the Senate on Tuesday,  
September 9th. The Senate has reviewed SB 694 but has not yet reached  
a decision. Brown urges all veterans to contact their representatives and  
request support for the bill by saying, “Help Stop Claim Sharks and  
support SB 694.” Next, Brown reported that for the month of August, the  
Veteran Services Office recorded 127 walk-in visitors, 95 scheduled  
appointments, and 290 incoming phone calls. Lastly, Brown commended  
Tisha Holy VSR II for her great work serving clients in South Lake Tahoe  
(SLT). Holy continues to staff the SLT office on the second and third  
Tuesday of each month. Brown hopes she will be able to connect with the  
new Veteran Representative at Lake Tahoe Community College during  
her next visit, as the office plans to collaborate closely with the college.  
Attachments: Veterans Services Ex-officio Report September 2025  
COMMITTEE REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE  
TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) (Reynolds) - Commissioner Culver reported that the TOT  
•
Committee met earlier that morning to discuss and approve the 2025/2026 Annual Grants for the  
VAC to review and approve. The committee also discussed the possibility of conducting a  
second round of Mini-Grants.  
•
•
•
•
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 to report.  
TRANSPORTATION (Thompson) - Commissioner Thompson was not available to provide a  
report.  
•
BUDGET (Reynolds/Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker stated there was  
nothing to report.  
•
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT (Mullens-Becker) - Commissioner Mullens-Becker stated  
there was nothing to report.  
OUTREACH (Reynolds) - Commissioner Culver reported that Commissioner Reynolds is still  
posting on the Facebook Veterans Affairs Commission page regularly.  
•
COMMUNICATIONS' REPORTS - RECEIVE AND FILE  
VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING – VETERANS HOUSE COUNCIL (Reynolds) -  
•
Commissioner Culver reported that the VMB House Council held its regular meeting on Thursday,  
September 4th. He stated that the House Council is working with El Dorado County to redo the  
downstairs flooring and relocate the bar. Next, Culver reported the House Council is awaiting the  
return of funds from an insurance policy administered through El Dorado County. Next, Culver  
reported a change to a budget request concerning an office addition to the Veterans Services  
Office upstairs. The original request was for $6,000, but it has been updated to $6,500, which  
reflects the correct amount. Lastly, Culver reported that the Sky Mote ceremony, hosted by the  
Marine Core League, took place the previous evening with approximately 85 to 100 attendees.  
The ceremony also honored those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  
•
AMERICAN LEGION SERVICE OFFICER (Zelinsky) - David Zelinsky reported that  
Commissioner Millham was hosting a September 11th ceremony and doing a great job helping  
veterans in the South Lake Tahoe area. Next, Zelinsky reported that following the September  
11th VAC meeting, he planned to visit the County Jail at South Lake Tahoe to meet with a veteran  
he has worked with several times. He has been trying to connect this veteran with a Veterans  
Affairs social worker. Next, Zelinsky reported that he is assisting another local South Lake Tahoe  
veteran in securing housing through programs such as Nation’s Finest, Volunteers of America,  
HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing), and the  
State of California Veterans Home. Next, Zelinsky reported he is working with a veteran for  
placement at Victory Village in Auburn. However, placement has not been successful as the  
veteran's pet does not meet the facilities requirements. Lastly, Zelinsky reported that he is  
preparing to work with another veteran who is currently incarcerated and facing criminal charges.  
•
EDC VETERANS ALLIANCE - Commissioner Culver reported that El Dorado County  
Veterans Alliance will be hosting an event after the November 11th Veterans Day Ceremony at  
the El Dorado County Veterans Monument. The event will be a BBQ open to the public to attend  
with various veteran organizations present. Next, Zelinsky reported that he was interested in  
nominating a veteran for the Veteran of the Year Award. Culver suggested Zelinksy contact Joe  
Thuesen from the Veterans Alliance for his nomination.  
•
VA VET CENTER/MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP/EL DORADO VETERAN  
RESOURCES (Whalen) - Zelinsky reported that he was working with Diane Muirhead to help a  
veteran pay their PG&E bill. Next, Culver reported that EDVR was still holding their food drive  
every other Wednesday from 11 AM to 1 PM until Wednesday, October 22nd. Lastly, Culver  
reported EDVR was hosting a Halloween BBQ as an appreciation lunch for veterans. Courtney  
Frame, Veteran Services Office Administrative Technician, and Bonnie Steward, Senior Office  
Assistant, confirmed the event would have free food, dessert and costume contest for those who  
choose to dress up.  
•
REGIONAL VETERAN EVENTS - Commissioner Culver reported that the Sacramento Stand  
Down would be September 30th - October 2nd. Lastly, Culver reported that the California  
CalForce would be hosting a Free Health Care Clinic on October 10-12, 2025. The event will  
provide dental, medical, and vision services.  
Public Comment: C. Armstrong  
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: C. Armstrong, D. Mullens-Becker, C. Frame. J. Brown  
NEXT MEETING LOCATION, DATE & TIME  
October 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM  
330 Fair Lane, Building A  
Board of Supervisors Chamber  
Placerville, CA 95667  
ADJOURNMENT - 1:13 PM