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CALL THE MEETING TO[Veteran Affairs Commission on March 13, 2025.]
ORDER.PLEASE IF FOR THOSE PRESENT, PLEASE STAND.
THANK THE PLEDGE OF ALLEG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
COMMISSIONER PERRO PRESENT A MR. WALKER.
PRESENT A COMMISSIONER SHERMAN, NOT PRESIDENT.
UH, RONNIE WAS NOT ABLE TO COME TODAY.
THEY DON'T SEE HIM ON THE HE WAS ON WAS HE? SO WE'LL JUST LEAVE HIM FOR NOW.
I DECLARE THIS MEETING TO BE IN PROGRESS.
FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING.
YOU WANNA HEAR A MOTION? I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MINUTE'S MEETING.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE TO ACCEPT SECOND ION.
OPPOSED? A THE MOTION CARRIES.
THE MINUTES OF LAST MEETING ARE APPROVED.
NUMBER FOUR, WE'RE GONNA HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE VETERAN'S WELLBEING ASSESSMENT BY CHRISTINE.
UM, SO WE HAVE A COUPLE, UM, DIFFERENT UPDATES, BUT BASICALLY WANTED TO SHARE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS WITH A SELECTED VENDOR.
UM, THERE WAS, UM, A DR A DRAFT CONTRACT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE VENDOR.
THEY HAD SOME EDITS AND SO, UM, WE'VE REVIEWED THEM AND HAVE PROVIDED THEM BACK TO THE VENDOR SO THAT IT'S NOW WITH THE VENDOR.
THE UPDATED CONTRACT IS NOW WITH THE VENDOR.
UM, AND AS YOU, SOME OF YOU HERE ARE LAWYERS, SO YOU PROBABLY KNOW THERE'S SOMETIMES A LITTLE BIT OF BACK AND FORTH, BUT I'M ANTICIPATING THAT, UM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONTRACT SIGNED BY THE END OF THE MONTH AND BE ABLE TO HAVE THE CONTRACT STARTING APRIL 1ST.
THAT SOUNDS VERY GOOD, CHRISTINA, THANK YOU.
UM, WASN'T, THERE'S SOME BACK AND FORTH ON THE, ON THE, UH, DELIVERABLES A LITTLE BIT, UH, AFTER YOU PICKED THE VENDOR? DO I REMEMBER THAT FROM THE LAST MEETING? UM, YEAH, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY EDITS TO THE DELIVERABLES, IT'S MORE LIKE, UM, TO THE TERMS. UM, I THINK IT'S OKAY IF I SAY LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH NOTICE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE IN, IN THE CASE OF LIKE, WE NEED TO TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
UM, IT WAS, UM, FOR THE MOST PART, FOR GUESS MORE LIKE PROCEDURAL TYPE EDITS, NOT NECESSARILY EDITS TO THE BULK OF THE, THE DELIVERABLES.
NUMBER F SCHOLARSHIP ON BEHALF
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OF DR.AND SO JUST TO REMIND EVERYONE, THIS WAS A SUGGESTION PROVIDED, UM, TO PROVIDE A SCHOLARSHIP TO, UM, THE LATE DR.
KATINA ROBERTSON, WHO WAS A COMMISSIONER AND ALSO A CITY EMPLOYEE AS WELL AS A SERVICE MEMBER.
AND SO, UM, WE HAVE, THERE IS A PRECEDENT THAT HAS BEEN SET WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION OF ESTABLISHING A, A SCHOLARSHIP.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE FIRST COMMISSION TO START A SCHOLARSHIP AND IT, IT REALLY HELPS WHEN THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP THAT'S ALREADY DONE A SIMILAR PROCESS.
SO, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH THE YOUTH COMMISSION AND WE DID INVITE THEM TO COME.
HOWEVER, THE YOUTH COMMISSION ARE ACTUALLY, UH, ON A TRIP TO DC.
UM, SO THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME AND PRESENT THIS, UM, MEETING, BUT THEY ARE GOING TO BE PLANNING TO COME IN APRIL.
SO THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE THE DETAILS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WENT ABOUT STARTING THE SCHOLARSHIP, UM, WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY PUT IT IN, UM, HOW THEY FUNDRAISED AND, UM, LIKE THEIR PROCESS OF SELECTING THE RECIPIENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIP.
SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT INFORMATION SO THAT YOU ALL CAN SEE WHAT THE PROCESS IS LOOKING LIKE, AND THEN YOU CAN DECIDE, UM, HOW YOU WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I, IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT, UH, NUMBER SIX, THE LETTER THAT, UH, WE ARE GONNA SEND TO THE STU CITY COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF, UH, BILLING THE VACANCIES ON THE PERMISSION.
SO THANK YOU, UM, FOR HELPING US WITH THAT LETTER.
UM, IT WAS SIGNED BY THE CO-CHAIRS AND HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO OUR LEADERSHIP.
UM, AND SO WE ARE PLANNING TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, UM, ONCE IF WE DON'T GET A RESPONSE.
AND THAT WAY, UM, WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S ANY UPDATES.
WHEN DO WE EXPECT FEEDBACK? UM, WELL WE DID SHARE IT WITH THEM.
I THINK IT WAS THE LAST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT COUNCIL IS ON RECESS NOW, SO I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS, WE'LL, WE'LL MAYBE FOLLOW UP AFTER COUNCIL RECESS IS FINISHED AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT IT'S ON TOP OF THEIR, THEIR INBOX.
WHEN WILL COUNCIL, COUNCIL RECESS WILL FINISH.
UM, IT'S, I THINK NEXT WEEK IS, IS THE LAST WEEK.
IT'LL BE THE 24TH IS WHEN THEY COME BACK AND THEY RESUME.
BUT WE SHOULD HAVE A REPORT IN APRIL.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTION?
I ATTENDED A COUPLE DIFFERENT MEETINGS AND, UM, I WAS TRYING TO CHIME IN LAST WEEK WHEN, UH, MEETINGS IN SESSION, BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS ONLINE AND THERE WAS, HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES AND I COULDN'T GET MY MESSAGE ACROSS.
BUT I HAVE AN INTEREST IN JOINING THE COMMISSION AND UH, I TRIED TO REACH OUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES AND, UH, SO I DECIDED TO MAKE MYSELF ON TODAY.
SO IT WAS ON THE AGENDA THE LAST, THE LAST MONTH.
AND SO ANY SUPPORT THAT I COULD PROBABLY GET, I HAVE A RESUME SPEAKING TO MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE VA AND I'M A VETERAN MYSELF.
SO IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT I
YOU HAVE TO BE NOMINATED BY DISTRICT CITY COUNCILMEN AND, UH, WE HAVE SOME VACANCIES.
SO YOU, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO RESIGN IN THAT DISTRICT, DISTRICT THEM TO DENOMINATE, BUT THEY CAN EXPLAIN THE PROCESS.
UH, WE DON'T, WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS OTHER THAN FORTUNATELY APPOINTED BY A CITY.
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QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LETTER? IF NOT, UM, I SEE COMMISSIONER COLE IS ON THE PLAN, SO I WILL CHANGE YOU FROM BEING ABSENT TO BEING TARDY.UM, SO WE'RE READY FOR, UH, NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH IS BUSINESS CARD UPDATE.
CHRISTINA, WE'VE BEEN KEEPING YOU VERY BUSY.
I KNOW, BUT THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE THAT'S YOUR, YOUR JOB IS, IS KEEP US BUSY, KEEP US ACCOUNTABLE.
SO, UM, SO WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF, UH, DESIGNING THE, THE BUSINESS CARDS WITH OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT AND YOU KNOW, WE REVIEWED THEM WITH YOU.
WE WERE ABOUT TO PUT IN THE ORDER AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT SHARED THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF UPDATING THE BRANDING AND I THINK INE HAS THE UPDATED, UM, BUSINESS CARD LOOK.
AND SO WE WANTED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU BEFORE WE PUT IN THE ORDER.
AND THAT EXAMPLE HAS SHEEN'S NAME, BUT YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD HAVE YOUR INFORMATION AND CONTACT AND, AND SO, UM, WE WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU BEFORE MOVING FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, SINCE THESE ARE GONNA BE YOUR BUSINESS CARDS, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY WITH, WITH THAT.
AND THEN, UM, WE PLAN TO, TO PUT IN THE ORDER.
DOES ANYBODY, CAN EVERYBODY SEE THAT SHE'S GOT UP ON THE BRAIN? YEAH, IT LOOKS FINE.
WHAT WAS THE CHANGE EXACTLY? I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.
YEAH, IT'S NOT VERY, UM, DIFFERENT MAIN THING I THINK IS THE BACK SIDE OF THE, UH, CARD, YOU KNOW, HAS THE UPDATED MODEL SERVICE FIRST NOW AND THEN, UM, EVERYTHING ELSE THOUGH, I THINK PRETTY MUCH WOULD STAY CONSISTENT.
I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANY OTHER EDITS.
THE, I GUESS OTHER, ONE OTHER COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE, IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT SPECIFIC ON YOUR CARD, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE HAVE LIKE A, A SPECIFIC EMAIL THAT YOU WANNA PUT ON THERE, PLEASE LET SPEND KNOW SO THAT WHEN WE PUT IN THE ORDER WE HAVE ALL THE ACCURATE INFORMATION.
UM, I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE ALL OF YOUR EMAILS AND CONTACT INFORMATION, BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT EMAIL THAT YOU WANT US TO USE OR DIFFERENT PHONE NUMBER OR FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WANT YOUR NAME TO BE, YOU KNOW, YOU GO BY A CERTAIN NAME AND YOU'D WANT THAT REFLECTED ON CARD, PLEASE LET US KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN ORDER IT NEEDS TO SAY GO ARMY, BE NAVY,
IS THERE ANYONE THAT, IS THERE ANYONE THAT Y'ALL ARE STILL MISSING INFORMATION FROM? 'CAUSE I WAS KIND OF LATE TO TURN MINE IN, BUT I'M DONE NOW.
SO YEAH, THERE'S ABOUT THREE, I THINK FROM THE COMMISSIONERS WHO UH, HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THEIR INFORMATION.
BUT SINCE THERE IS THIS, EXCUSE ME, IT'S NEWLY BRANDED CARD, UM, IT WOULD BE GOOD.
JUST AS CHRISTINA IS SAYING THAT IF ANY OF YOU MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, CHANGED SOMETHING OF YOUR INFORMATION THAT UH, TO PLEASE GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT IT THEN WITH THE NEW COMMISSIONER, UH, UH, COMMISSIONER HUNTER, UH, JUST TO CONFIRM THE INFORMATION THAT UH, I BELIEVE MAY HAVE BEEN SENT.
WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT YOUR INFORMATION'S GONNA BE REFLECTIVE OF WHAT YOU'D LIKE AS WELL.
UH, BUT THIS CARD, SO WHAT THE, THE CITY, UH, COMMUNICATIONS EXPERIENCE IS SAYING THAT THE CITY'S GOING THROUGH A NEW BRANDING.
SO THIS IS ONE OF MANY THINGS TO BE, UH, REALLY REDONE.
SO THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE LEANING TOWARDS.
THEY HAVEN'T CONCLUDED THEIR, FINALIZED THEIR DECISION, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THIS MAY BE IT.
SO IF YOU ARE GOOD WITH THIS, THAT'S FANTASTIC.
UH, BUT OTHERWISE WE WILL CONFIRM ONCE THEY HAVE FINALIZED.
THE MAIN THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PHONE NUMBER, YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT THAT'S SORT IS GOING TO BE CORRECT.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUSINESS CARD? IF NOT, WE'LL GO ON TO SECTION EIGHT, WHICH IS THE OPENING OF THE NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM OVER IN ARLINGTON.
YEAH, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE, UM, A NEW NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR MUSEUM.
YOU'LL BE HAVING THEIR GRAND OPENING ON, UM, SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND FROM SEVEN TO 9:00 PM AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING
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REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSION ATTENDING THAT GRAND OPENING.UM, WE HAVE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A CITY VAN TO BE RESERVED.
UM, ANYONE WHO IS NOT CITY STAFF WILL NEED TO FILL OUT A LIABILITY FORM.
WE HAVE SOME COPIES,
SO WE NEED, AND THAT'S, I THINK AS I'M SURE YOU PROBABLY WERE LIKE, IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, YOU DON'T, YOU, YOU CAN'T SUE THE CITY, UM,
SO, UH, SO, UM, IF YOU ARE ONLINE, WE WILL SEND THAT TO YOU VIA ADOBE SIGNATURE SO THAT YOU CAN SIGN IT VIRTUALLY.
UM, UH, COMMISSIONER VO, HE HAS VOLUNTEERED TO BE THE DRIVER.
HE'S DONE DEFENSIVE DRIVING COURSES, SO THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE A DRIVER FOR THE CITY STAFF VANS.
UM, SO I THINK THAT THERE, I THINK THERE WAS ALREADY SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO RIDE IN THE VAN TO MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL AT 6:00 PM SIX 30.
SO MEETING HERE AT CITY HALL AT 6:00 PM UM, MIGHT WE'LL PROBABLY SEND AN EMAIL TO CONFIRM THE EXACT LOCATION AT CITY HALL, MAYBE DOWNSTAIRS IN THE BASEMENT WHERE YOU ALREADY, OR GARAGE WHERE YOU ALREADY PARK AND, AND THEN, UM, AND THEN, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHAIRS BRING YOUR OWN CHAIRS OR BLANKETS OR SOMETHING.
YEAH, SO, UH, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE A PROVIDED SEATING FOR US, SO IT'S KIND OF, IT'S GONNA BE ON A LAWN THAT MAKES SENSE.
SO THEY, THEY SUGGEST BRINGING YOUR OWN, UH, LAWN CHAIRS, BLANKETS, SOMETHING COMFORTABLE FOR YOU TO SIT ON.
UM, 'CAUSE THERE'S NOT GONNA BE PROVIDED TO YOU IN THERE.
UM, AND ALSO I JUST WANNA MAKE AN UPDATE.
SO I SEE RIGHT HERE SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND.
IT'S ACTUALLY TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE DAY I HAVE, UM, IT'S, IT'S NOT ON SATURDAY.
IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK.
THANK YOU FOR YEAH,
'CAUSE I, I'M ON THEIR WEBSITE NOW AND I SEE YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
MAR INTERRUPT HERE FOR A SECOND.
I THOUGHT IT WAS THE 22ND, SO I CAN GO, BUT IF IT'S THE 25TH, MAYBE I COULD, UH, IS IT FOR SURE ON A, ON A WEEKDAY? YES, IT IS FOR SURE.
YOU COULD LOOK IT UP RIGHT NOW.
YEAH, WELL, UH, I MAY SO APOLOGIES IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF MISCOMMUNICATION ON THAT.
UM, IT IS GONNA BE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH.
WELL, LET ME CHECK MY CALENDAR AGAIN AND, AND I MAY JOIN YOU ON THE, IN THE VAN, ALTHOUGH DOES THE DRIVER GONNA, IS HE GONNA HAVE A MAP? YES, I'LL HAVE A MAP.
GPS
I CAN TELL HIM HOW, WHERE TO GO.
I, I MAY AGENT BY THE WAY, SO I I CAN GET 'EM THERE TOO.
YEAH,
SO AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF MISCOMMUNICATION ON THAT, BUT IT IS FOR CERTAIN TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH.
CHRISTINA, HAVE YOU GOTTEN 15 PEOPLE TO FILL THE VAN YET, OR, OR, OR I THINK WE HAD ONLY SIX PEOPLE CONFIRMED, SO WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE SPACE OKAY.
HAS BEEN RECEIVING THE, THE CONFIRMATION.
SO IF YOU ARE WITH THE UPDATED DATE, MARCH 25TH, TUESDAY, MARCH 26TH, 25TH.
AND, UM, IT'LL BE FROM, WE'LL BE MEETING HERE SEA HALL SIX, AND THEN THE EVENT LASTS UNTIL 9:00 PM SO PROBABLY WON'T BE GETTING BACK TO CITY HALL UNTIL NINE 30.
MAY I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? UH, WAS THE DATE RECENTLY CHANGED BECAUSE THE MORNING NEWS HAD A FRONT PAGE STORY TODAY OR YESTERDAY? NO, IT SATURDAY.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN TUESDAY, UH, MARCH 25TH.
WELL, THEY SAID IN THE, IN THE FRONT PAGE.
IT'S ON THE SATURDAY THE 22ND.
SO I THOUGHT, OH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO REALLY, SO THAT'S, THAT'S WRONG.
WELL, WELL THE DOWN, MAYBE WE SHOULD CHECK, LET'S CHECK ON THEIR WEBSITE.
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THE 25TH.BUT WAIT, HOLD A SEC, THERE'S, OKAY, SO THE MUSEUM OPENS THE 25TH TUESDAY, BUT THE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION'S THE 22ND.
LET, YEAH, WE GOTTA FIND OUT THEN.
WE'RE, WHAT'S, UH,
THAT'S, THAT HAS THE EVENT FROM SEVEN TO 9:00 PM THOSE ARE TICKETS I RECEIVED.
LET ME, LET ME, UH, DOUBLE CHECK.
NOW YOU SAYING IT'S THE 27TH? WELL, THE, NO, THE WEBSITE SAYS THERE'S A GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION MARCH 22ND, 22ND.
SO THIS WAS RIGHT AFTER, BUT THE MUSEUM OPENS MARCH 25TH.
I BET THE 22ND IS A, UM, DONORS, UH,
THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO IS HAVE A LARGE CONTRIBUTORS HAVE HAVE A PREVIEW BEFORE THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT YOU HAVE TICKETS.
SO WHATEVER I HAVE ARE THE TICKETS.
AND THE TICKETS SAY, UH, NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, GRAND OPENING, PATRIOTIC PUBLIC CELEBRATION.
AND THAT IS ON MARCH 22ND AT 7:00 PM SO THAT IS SATURDAY.
SO WE'RE BACK TO SA JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE BACK TO SATURDAY.
THIS IS WHAT THEY DID WITH THE D-DAY INVASION.
THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHICH DAY UNTIL, UNTIL THEY WENT, THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA MEET HERE AROUND 6:00 PM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND.
WILL THE GARAGE DOWN BELOW BE OPEN? IT'S A SATURDAY NIGHT.
THAT, THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
WE COULD ALWAYS MEET IN THE HORSESHOE.
YEAH, WE CAN VERIFY THAT AND WE'LL, WE'LL SEND AN EMAIL ABOUT WHERE EXACTLY WHAT PARKING LOT SPECIFICALLY, AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE MEETINGS.
SO I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS MARCH MEETING BEFORE THE ACTUAL EVENT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNING? SO JUST A REMINDER, UM, CONCERNING THIS EVENT OR NO.
SO JUST A REMINDER, UM, IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND, PLEASE LET INE KNOW.
WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR LIABILITY FORM SO YOU CAN REVIEW IT AND SIGN IT.
AND THEN, UM, WE'LL SEND THE DETAILS ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WANNA RIDE TOGETHER IN THE PASSENGER VAN.
DID YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UH, COMMISSIONER SHERMAN, DISTRICT FIVE? I DID, UH, NOT CONCERNING THAT, BUT, UH, SOMETHING NEW.
UH, OKAY, WELL I'M GETTING READY TO DO THAT.
SO IF THERE'S NO MORE COMMENTS ON THAT, WE'LL GO TO NEW BUSINESS AND TAKE IT AWAY.
COMMISSIONER SHERMAN, DISTRICT FIVE, UH, I HAD A NEW, UH, SITUATION I WAS DEALING WITH, UH, OVER 20 SOMETHING YEARS DEALING WITH, UH, WELL, I WAS IN THE NAVY AND, UH, THE UPGRADE, MY DISCHARGE, I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THEM, UH, BEING JUSTICE.
UH, I THINK IN 2018 I WENT TO, UH, PAY MY OWN EXPENSE, UH, TO WASHINGTON DC TO THE NAVY YARD WHEN THEY HAD A, LIKE A MASS SHOOTING.
AND SO I TESTIFIED AT THE NAVY OR MARINE BOARD TO, UH, CORRECT JUSTIFY UPGRADE.
AS I TOLD 'EM, I NEVER WAS GONNA SIGN IT UNLESS THEY CORRECT IT.
UH, THEY HAVE ON THEIR, UH, ERRONEOUS ENTRY AND UN CHARTERIZED.
AND SO I WAS LIKE, THEY ENDED MY MILITARY CAREER MEDICALLY, BUT DIDN'T DO, UH, LIKE A MED BOARD OR WHATEVER THEY SUPPOSED TO DO.
SO, UH, I WAS ALSO DEALING WITH THE VA, SO IT'S A TWO PORTION PART TODAY, UH, FINALLY GOT VA UH, APPROVAL AND THEY CORRECTED EVERYTHING, GAVE ME A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR THE CONDITION THAT THEY ENDED MY MILITARY CAREER FOR.
AND, BUT DOD LIKE, LET'S VA WE NOT VA WE DOD.
AND ONE TIME AFTER THEY, AFTER THE, UH, I CHALLENGED THEM AGAIN, WELL, THAT WAS MY LAST TIME CHALLENGING THEM, SO I HAD TO GO IN FEDERAL COURT.
SO I FILED IN FEDERAL COURT AGAINST, UH, DOD THE NAVY.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY THEY SAID, WELL, DOD IS NOT GONNA HANDLE THE PACE.
WE'RE GONNA SEND IT TO DOJ DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
AND SO ALL THAT, AND I WAS DOING IT ALL MYSELF BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE, UH, COULDN'T AFFORD, UH, THE PAYER REPRESENTATIVE.
SO I WAS ASKING FOR MEDIATION AND I WAS ASKED FOR
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YOU AN APPOINTMENT LEGAL COUNSEL.'CAUSE I'M LIKE, THE SKILLS UNJUST, I CAN'T, I'M NOT A LAWYER.
AND MOST LAWYERS I TALK TO, THEY SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T EVEN PRACTICE IN FEDERAL COURT.
SO I LIKE, OKAY, I, I CAN'T PRACTICE EITHER, BUT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA DO MY BEST.
AND EVENTUALLY THEY REMANDED MY CASE WITH WITHOUT JUSTICE BACK TO THE, UH, TO THE, UH, BOARD OF CORRECTION NEIGHBOR RECORDS.
AND SO I SAID, WELL, ON VETERAN'S DAY, I FOUND A MILITARY LAW FIRM, THEY JAG AND THEY WERE LIKE, HEY, WE'LL TAKE THE CASE.
UM, THEY TOLD ME HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE.
I SAID IT VETERANS DAY, I'M READY TO PAY A, YOU KNOW, MILITARY LAW FIRM TO TAKE THIS CHALLENGE.
AND SO THEY DID GIMME A, A DEAL TO, UH, ASK FOR SOME, UM, MEMORANDUMS, UH, FROM CHARACTER WITNESSES OR PEOPLE THAT MAY KNOW ME OR YOU KNOW OF ME OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO A PART OF AMERICAN LEGION.
I'M THE JUDGE ADVOCATE OF AMERICAN LEGION.
I'M DAV, I'M ONE OF THE VICE COMMANDERS THERE AS WELL.
SO I'M CONNECTED IN THE MILITARY COMMUNITY, DIFFERENT VETERANS IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS, UH, WITH BENEFITS, SO DIFFERENT AVENUES.
AND SO I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THE MEMORANDUMS. UH, AND SO I, UM, TALKED TO THE BOARD AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT UP.
AND, UM, THEY, SOME OF THEM, UH, INFORMATION OF WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE COURSE OF 20 SOMETHING YEARS OF, UH, TRYING TO GET THAT, YOU KNOW, CORRECTED.
UH, I ALSO ASKED THE VA, HEY, SINCE Y'ALL CORRECTED, CAN Y'ALL GIMME WHAT Y'ALL, UH, DID TO CORRECT IT? AND MAYBE THAT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND SO THEY, I WAS, UM, ASKED THE, THE BOARD, UH, CHAIR, UM, SINCE HE'S NOT HERE, BUT I WAS ASKING HIM AND SOME OF THE OTHER MEMBERS IF THEY COULD DO MAYBE A MEMORANDUM AND ALSO SHOW YOU THE, UH, THE, UH, BRIEFS THAT THE ATTORNEY, UH, DID FOR ME.
AND, UH, BEFORE I SIGNED IT, I HAVEN'T SIGNED IT YET.
I WAS GOING TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION ON THAT AS POSSIBLE BEFORE I DO SIGN MORE OUTLOOKS THAN PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LAWYERS OR MEMBERS OF ANY KIND OF LEGAL AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SAY, HEY, IT MIGHT BE A GOOD SITUATION OR LOOK GOOD OR, SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WITH Y'ALL AND GET Y'ALL ASSISTANCE ON SOME THINGS OF THAT NATURE AS WELL.
SO ANY ASSISTANCE OR QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE COME UP.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, IF WE COULD HAVE A VA REP COME NEXT MONTH AND TALK ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN THE VA.
IS THE VA GOING AWAY COMPLETELY? UH, AND YEAH.
AND UH, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET CUTS AND PERSONNEL CUTS, HOW'S THAT GONNA AFFECT VETERANS HERE? YEAH, YEAH, WE CAN.
UM, I KNOW WE HAVE STILL CONTACT WITH, HOPEFULLY THEY'RE STILL THERE.
HOPEFULLY THEY'RE STILL THERE.
YEAH, I HAVEN'T, I WAS LIKE THINKING ABOUT WHO WE HAD SPOKEN TO, BUT IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE.
SO, UM, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK TO MAKE CONTACT, UM, AND WE'LL SEE WHO WE CAN BRING TO ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT ANY CHANGES, ANY BUDGET CUTS AND HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT DALLAS VETERANS.
IT MAY BE JUST AN IDEA, BUT I JUST WENT TO AUSTIN THIS PAST WEEK TO LOBBY ABOUT AN EDUCATION ISSUE.
AND YOU KNOW THIS, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE STAFFERS DO THE WORK, UH, FROM THE CITY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
OUR STAFFERS DO ALL THE WORK AND WE MAY WANT TO ALSO ASK IF THEY'RE COMING, IF THEY CAN COME, MAYBE ASK A REPRESENTATIVE FROM OUR DIFFERENT CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES TO ALSO BE HERE AND HEAR WHAT WE'RE ASKING, HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON.
UH, OH MY GOD, I'M BLANKING OUT ON WHO MY CONGRESSMAN IS.
AND JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM ME IS JASMINE CROCKETT, YOU KNOW, AND I CAN, YEAH.
I'VE KNOWN HER SINCE SHE WAS A STATE REP, BUT I'M THINKING IF ANYONE ONLINE AS WELL, IF YOU CAN THINK OF THAT, WOULD THAT BE AN APPROPRIATE THING TO DO? BECAUSE IT'S NOT TO
[00:30:01]
MAKE IT SO MUCH POLITICAL, BUT I THINK THEY REALLY NEED TO HEAR FROM US IN A FORUM LIKE THIS.IS THAT POSSIBLE? WOULD Y'ALL, WOULD Y'ALL GENTLEMEN AGREE TO THAT? I AGREE WITH THAT FOR SURE.
SO IF WE DO GET THAT, UH, LET US KNOW.
IS THERE ANY OTHER CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPRESENTED HERE? I'M IN JASMINE, I'M IN 24.
WHO, WHAT DISTRICT? I'M SORRY.
UM, I WAS GERRYMANDERED INTO 24.
AND WHAT IS MARK VEYS? 30 33? I THINK FOR MARK 33.
ANYBODY LOOKING O CLIFF DISTRICT ONE NAME? I HAVE HIM ON SPEED TELL TOO, BUT YEAH, IF WE CAN JUST MAKE SURE IF OKAY, SO IT'D BE MARK VEYS STAFF, JASMINE CROCKETT, STAFF JULIE JOHNSON STAFF.
AND WHO ELSE DID WE JUST SAY? BETH VAN DINE.
BETH VAN DINE AND BE BETH'S FINE.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HER STAFFER HERE TO HEAR ABOUT IT.
SO, UM, IF Y'ALL WANNA SEND, UM, OUR STAFFERS, YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AND THEN THEY CAN MAYBE WORK WITH THAT, WOULD THAT BE ALL RIGHT? WE ALSO HAVE OUR STATE SENATORS.
NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT WELL, NO CONGRESS.
I MEAN YEAH, FEDERAL SENATORS.
WE ALSO, ARE YOU ABOUT THE SENATE? YEAH.
I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WE DEFINITELY HAVE THEM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL COME LOOK US IN THE EYE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET CUTS AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERVICE TO OUR VETERANS, BECAUSE THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY WHAT TO DO WHEN MOST OF THE MONEY FOR VETERANS DOES NOT COME FROM THE CITY.
IT COMES FROM THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I THINK IF WE HAVE A LITTLE CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER DELEGATION GOING ON AND THEY HEAR FROM THE VA, WHICH WILL PUT THAT POOR KID ON THE SPOT, BUT WE CAN TAKE THE HEAT FOR THEM.
AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE A COOL IDEA IF Y'ALL WOULD AGREE.
I, I GUESS MY QUESTION, ANY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, ANY STAFF GONNA BE IN CHARGE OF FINDING THESE PEOPLE OR ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO IT OURSELVES? WELL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE EMAILS OF, WE RECENTLY REQUESTED THAT INFORMATION, SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE THAT INFORMATION ON HAND SO YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO DO THE HOMEWORK.
WE, WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION ALREADY.
UM, WE'LL REACH OUT TO THEM AND SEE WHAT, UH, IS THEIR ABILITY TO COME, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING MONTHS.
UM, AND WE'LL KEEP YOU ALL POSTED ON THE RESPONSES WE RECEIVE AND THAT WAY, UM, YOU ALL CAN BE UPDATED ON THAT.
AND I ALSO THINK IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING THAT IF YOU WERE, LIKE, IF WE LIVED IN WACO OR TYLER, WE'D HAVE ONE CONGRESS PERSON, BUT I JUST ASKED Y'ALL WHO YOUR CONGRESS PERSON WAS AND I HEARD FIVE DIFFERENT NAMES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF LIVING IN DALLAS IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF REPRESENTATION BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DIVO DIVIDES OUR VOICE IN A WAY, UNLESS WE CAN GET OUR VOICE UNIFIED WITH, UH, MEM STAFF MEMBERS.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING ON THE STATE LEVEL WITH EDUCATION THIS PAST WEEK AND WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLE ON OUR ISSUE.
AND SO MAYBE WE CAN DO THE SAME.
THAT'S WHY I'M ALL GUNG HO ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, SORRY, I MEANT I WANTED TO JUST GET A CLARIFICATION.
SO YOU'D LIKE FOR US TO REACH OUT TO FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES AND STATE OR JUST FEDERAL FOR NOW? JUST FEDERAL.
AND, AND, AND THE VA AND WHEN YOU CONTACT THE VA, TELL 'EM THAT THERE WAS REPRESENTATIVE TO YOU THAT DID ASK TO THAT, THAT MIGHT SPUR THEM TO COME.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT? ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS? I, I DO WANNA TAKE A MOMENT, UM, TO INTRODUCE, WE HAVE A NEW INTERIM DIRECTOR.
AND WE WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO INTRODUCE HIM AND FOR YOU ALL TO GET TO KNOW HIM AND FOR YOU ALL TO GET TO KNOW.
YEAH, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT YOU ALL SO
SO YEAH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THANK YOU CHRISTINA.
HI, TRAN, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION PREVIOUSLY THE ETHICS OFFICER FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
IT'S MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
UH, I TRULY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE WELFARE OF OUR, UH, THE WELLBEING OF OUR VETERANS.
AND SO I'M FULLY COMMITTED AND DEDICATED.
UM, ANY WAY THAT I CAN HELP, UM, OR LEAD THE WORK, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I AM NOT, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS IN MY FAMILY.
[00:35:01]
ANYBODY WANTS TO BRING UP? I I JUST HAVE ONE MORE ANNOUNCEMENT IF I MAY.UM, SO THE CITY OF DALLAS IS STARTING THEIR BUDGET PROCESS AND ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS THAT THE CITY DOES IS THEY, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GO OUT AND HOST TOWN HALL MEETINGS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS.
SO IT'S, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST, UH, PART OF WHERE RESIDENTS GET THE CHANCE TO GIVE IDEAS OR SHARE CONCERNS.
UM, AND THE DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND I THINK THAT THEY'LL BE DOING A BIG CAMPAIGN TO SHARE THESE, THESE DATES SPECIFICALLY, BUT IT'LL BE BE BETWEEN THE DATES MARCH 24TH AND MARCH 27TH.
SO IT'LL BE THAT LAST WEEK OF, OF MARCH.
AND THE NORMALLY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HOST A TOWN HALL EITHER IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY IN THEIR DISTRICT.
AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO YOUR DISTRICT, YOU COULD GO TO WHICHEVER TOWN HALL.
UM, BUT WE'RE WE'RE ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS OR EVEN OUR COMMISSIONERS TO ATTEND SO THAT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, HEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S USUALLY LIKE A, A GENERAL PRESENTATION AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
SO WANTED TO SHARE THAT TO YOU ALL AND, AND THAT WAY YOU CAN ALSO SHARE WITH YOUR CONTACTS.
UH, IN THAT VEIN, WE MIGHT THINK ABOUT WHAT WE COULD RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS FAR AS BUDGET ITEMS THAT MIGHT PERTAIN TO
AND I, I COULD SHARE THAT SCHEDULE WITH CHRISTINA IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT.
SO YOU COULD SHARE WITH THE REST OF COMMISSION.
ANYBODY WANTS TO DO IT? IF NOT, UH, DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.
UH, CHAIR, DID WE CHAIR, DID WE VOTE ON THE MEETING MINUTES FOR LAST MONTH? I'M SORRY.
DID, OH, BEFORE WE GO, DID EVERYBODY MEET OUR NEWEST MEMBER, MR. HUNTER IS REPRESENTING DISTRICT NINE.
WE WELCOME HIM TO THE COMMISSION.
WHAT BRANCH? WHAT'S THAT? WHAT BRANCH YOU GOT? I, I WAS NOT IN THE, I WAS, UH, CLASSIFIED ONE Y DURING THE VIETNAM ERA, BUT, UH, MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE SERVED IN VIRTUALLY EVERY WAR AND CONFLICT GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO CIVIL WAR AND PROBABLY BEFORE THAT.
UH, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS A WONDERFUL WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE NEEDS OF THE VETERANS IN DALLAS.
WE HERE IN DALLAS AND MY MOTHER PROBABLY.