Sep 10, 2026 Veteran Affairs Commission

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HERE TODAY.

[I. Welcome, Roll Call, and Call to Order]

SO, MR. SHERMAN IS NOW PRESENT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GET ON TO BUSINESS.

OKAY.

[III. Public Comments on Items – IV - VIII]

WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OF THE PUBLIC THAT NEED TO BE MADE? GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UH, COMMISSIONERS.

UH, PLEASURE TO BE BACK.

SEE ALL THE FRIENDLY FACES AND NEW FACES.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.

AND, UH, REALLY THIS IS A GREAT, UH, OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO, TO, UH, TO SEE THAT THIS, UH, COMMISSION IS STILL, UH, CONTINUING AND THIS IS REALLY VITAL TO OUR CITY AND FOR VETERANS, UH, SUPPORT FROM ALL, UH, I WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, WE HA WE'RE HAVING A, UH, THE ANNUAL, OUR ANNUAL PICK, BUT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVING A PLAZA BUILT AND, AND I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE PLAZA, BUT, UH, WE'RE HAVING A BUILT, UH, IN WEST DALLAS.

UM, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL VETERANS AND ALL FAMILY MEMBERS.

NOW, ANYONE THAT THAT'S INTERESTED, I HAVE FLYERS FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO PASS OUT.

UH, EVERYONE IS INVITED.

IT'S, IT IS BASICALLY A PICNIC, BUT WITH A GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE PLAZA.

AND, UH, IT'S, IT IS NOT ON DINNER'S DAY.

IT'S GONNA BE A SATURDAY, AND SO IT'LL BE A WEEKEND.

SO YOU, YOU'RE ABLE TO, AND, AND, UH, WE CERTAINLY WOULD APPRECIATE AND WELCOME EVERYONE OF, UH, THEN, UH, AGAIN, UH, I WAS TOLD BY DALLAS, THIS IS, UH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DALLAS, UH, ARTS AND, UH, CULTURE INDUSTRY OR DEPARTMENT.

SO THIS IS PART OF THE CITY OF, UH, EVENT.

AND WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS.

SO WE WERE, WE'RE, WE'RE YOU, I'M EXCITED.

I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THIS COME FRUITION.

UH, IT'S JUST A, A LONG ROAD, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE KNOW THE PROCESS SOMETIMES TAKES A LITTLE WHILE, BUT, UH, THIS HAS TAKEN QUITE A BIT AND, UH, 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

BUT, UH, AS A VETERAN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DON'T QUIT JUST LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE CONTINUE THE MISSIONS COMPLETED AND THEN EVEN AFTER THE MISSIONS COMPLETED, WE STILL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S STILL OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO FOR FILM.

PROBABLY BE AROUND MY BROTHER AND SISTERS, MY BROTHER VETERANS, AND I'LL PASS THESE OUT.

WON'T TAKE ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

UH,

[IV. Approval of August’s Meeting Minutes]

AUGUST MEETING MINUTES.

DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE AUGUST MINUTES? I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES.

ALRIGHT, DO I HEAR A SECOND? I SECOND.

OKAY.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST MEETING.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED, SAY NAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT.

THE MEETING MINUTES FROM AUGUST ARE ACCEPTABLE.

DISCUSSION

[V. Discussion and Approval of VAC 2027 Calendar Dates]

DO I HAVE ANY DISCUSSION FROM ANY COMMISSIONERS, UH, OF CONCERNING THOSE DATES? OKAY, UH, FISCAL FOR JULY, THIS TO BE CHANGED.

THERE WILL BE A MEETING.

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE ONE.

SO, OKAY.

THE ONLY CHANGE WOULD BE THAT THERE WILL BE A MEETING IN JULY OF NEXT YEAR.

ANY OTHER MISSIONERS WANNA COMMENT ON THE DATES FOR NEXT YEAR? IF NOT, DO I HAVE A HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE

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WILL, WE WILL HAVE A MEETING.

UM, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ACCEPT THOSE? I SOLE MOVE.

OKAY.

MOTION IS MADE.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? MOTION? SECOND.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

ALL OPPOSED, SAY NAY.

THEN THE, UH, CALENDAR DATES FOR 2027 HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED.

[VI. Veterans Resource Center Presentation]

SO I, UH, INTRODUCE MS. LADALE, WHO'S GOING TO MAKE THIS PRESENTATION FOR IS YOUR GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.

AND, UM, AGAIN, MY NAME IS IKA RAGSDALE.

I'M FROM THE VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT WHAT WE, UH, OFFERED TO THE VETERANS HERE IN THE BFW AREA.

SO WE ARE, WE ARE A, UH, WE'RE, UH, WE ARE HOMELESS VETERAN SERVICES IN DALLAS, DOING BUSINESS AS VETERANS RESOURCE CENTER.

UH, WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION'S, BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS.

WE'VE BEEN SERVING THE, UM, WE'VE BEEN SERVING OUR VETERANS HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.

WE'RE LOCATED 4,900 SOUTH THUNDER ROAD, WHICH IS DOWN THE STREET FROM THE VA HOSPITAL.

UH, WE ARE VETERANS THAT SERVE VETERANS.

WE SERVE AS, UM, TRANSITIONAL VETERAN, UH, UM, SORRY, VETERANS.

VETERANS AND TRANSITION AND VETERANS OMMUNITY.

AND, UM, RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS AT THIS TIME IS ON EDUCATION, TRAINING AND JOB SKILLS.

MENTAL, SO, SO, UH, WE HAVE A TRAINING CENTER THERE.

WE, WE HAVE OUR, UH, GO, GO TO THE NEXAR, PLEASE.

WE HAVE BEEN DOING WELDING FOR OUR, FOR OUR VETERANS FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, AND WE JUST STARTED A PLUMBING COURSE THIS PAST, UM, MATTER OF FACT, LAST WEEK.

SO WE GOT OUR FIRST, UM, STUDENTS IN CLASS BECAUSE TO THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

SO, UM, WE ARE PARTNERED WITH DALLAS COLLEGE AND THEY PROVIDE OUR INSTRUCTORS AND EQUIPMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE ARE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A FEW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN V AND IN THE BFW AREA THAT HELPS US BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED FOR OUR CENTER.

UH, THE VETERAN TRAINING, VETERAN RESOURCE TRAINING PROGRAM, LIKE I SAID, CONSISTS OF, UH, WELDING AND PLUMBING.

AND THEN AFTER THEY HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE, WE LIKE TO TRY TO GET THEM INTO JOBS THAT WILL, UH, HELP THEM.

NEXT SLIDE.

SO WE ALSO HAVE OUR EMPLOYMENT CENTER, WHICH IS RAN BY JASON SABBATH.

THE GOAL OF THE EMPLOYMENT CENTER IS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND OTHER VETERANS FIND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

JASON WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY SUCCESS STORIES.

HE SENT OUR CLASS, OUR WEATHER CLASS BACK IN 2024.

THEN HE GOT HIS FIRST JOB THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT CENTER AT A, AT A COMPANY CALLED TECO.

AND THEN HE MOVED TO PRO BOX, AND NOW HE'S ACTUALLY RUNNING OUR RESOURCE, I MEAN, OUR EMPLOYMENT CENTER.

NEXT SLIDE.

UM, HVSD.

THE VRC ORGANIZATION.

LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN DOING WORK HERE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.

UH, WE HAVE WORKED WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE THAT VETERANS CAN GET THE HELP AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE THE SERVICES AT OUR CENTER, WE WILL DIRECT VETERANS TO OTHER RESOURCES, UM, THAT CAN GET THEM THE HELP.

UM, UH, NEXT SLIDE.

OUR FUTURE PLANS.

IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE PLAN TO ADD MORE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING CLASSES SUCH AS ELECTRICAL TRAINING, BASIC COMPUTER CLASSES, DEALING WITH MICROSOFT EXCEL, WORD AND POWERPOINT, AND THEN GOOGLE DOC SHEETS AND SLIDES.

I SAID THE OTHER DAY THAT THEY GOOGLE DOCS AND MICROSOFT WORD, IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING, BUT IT'S REALLY DIFFERENT.

SO WE LIKE TO TRY TO GET, UM, SOME HANDS ON HELP FOR VETERANS, UM, THAT ARE KIND OF EITHER OLDER OR EVEN YOUNGER THAN ME THAT STILL HAVE PROBLEMS NAVIGATING, UH, UH, BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS.

AND WE ALSO PLAN TO HAVE HOW TO INTERACT WITH AI, CPR AND FIRST BASE PRACTICE.

AND THAT IS ALL FOR ME.

IT CAN BE FOUND AT, UM, OUR, OUR WEBSITE IS WWW.VRCDALLAS.ORG.

WE CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON FACEBOOK.

ANY QUESTION, SIR? I HAVE A QUESTION, SIR.

ON THE PLUMBER'S TRAINING, JUST

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THEY CAN EITHER CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION WITH DALLAS COLLEGE OR THEY CAN JUST, UH, PICK UP A JOB AND CONTINUE YOUR EDUCATION ON THEIR OWN.

THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

MR. DISTRICT SEVEN? YES, SIR.

WHAT ARE THE DISQUALIFICATION, OR CAN YOU NAME FIVE GENERAL DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR A VETERAN NOT TO MEET YOUR, UH, YOUR SERVICES? SO OUR, UM, SERVICES AS A WHOLE, QUALIFICATIONS IS HONORABLE OR UNDER HONORABLE CONVICTIONS TO RECEIVE THE, UM, FROM OUR PROGRAM, OUR CLASSES.

UM, THE MAIN THING IS YOU GOTTA BE A DALLAS COUNTY RESIDENT BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE FOLLOW UP UNDER WITH DALLAS COLLEGE.

SO, UM, IT'S, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.

AND THEN BE WILLING TO BE IN CLASS FOR 10 WEEKS, UH, WITH THE PROGRAM OR SIX WEEKS WITH THE, UH, PLUMBING PROGRAM.

HOW MANY, UH, A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

HOW MANY VETERANS DO YOU GUYS DO INTAKES ON A, ON A YEARLY BASIS OR ON A QUARTERLY BASIS? SO THE CENTER ALONE, UM, AND WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE TALKING OUR VETERANS THAT ARE HOUSED AND COME IN FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY.

UH, THE, UH, THE VETERANS THAT ARE IN NEED, THEY COME IN ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO I CAN GIVE YOU A MONTHLY, I CAN GIVE YOU A MONTHLY ABOUT, WE SEE ABOUT 500 VISITS, THAT'S A, THAT'S APPROXIMATE 500 VISITS A, UH, A MONTH.

AND THEY COULD BE REPEATS.

SO IF I GO INTO THE INDIVIDUAL SEVEN TWO A MONTHLY, THAT'S, UM, NO, THAT'S ABOUT 60 VETERANS.

IF I, IF I BREAK IT DOWN MONTHLY, UNLESS IT'S A SINGLE VISIT.

BUT LIKE I SAID, I HAVE, WE HAVE MULTIPLE VISITS THAT COME IN.

AND DO YOU GUYS RECORD THAT BASED ON THEIR SOCIAL OR JUST BY FIRST, LAST NAME OR HOW DO, HOW DO YOU GUYS KEEP THOSE METRICS? SO WE, AS, AS VETERANS, AS AS VETERANS COME IN, WE CHECK THEIR CREDENTIALS, WHETHER IT'S A VA CARD, B TWO 14 WITH A STATE ID, AND WE HAVE A RUNNING DATABASE OF, UH, THEY SIGN IN AND WE JUST HAVE A RUNNING DATABASE AND THAT'S HOW WE KEEP, UH, OUR NUMBERS.

YEP.

THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO US.

THANK YOU.

UH, COMMISSIONER ORTEGA, WHEN YOU LEAN FORWARD, ALL WE SEE IS HERE.

SO LEAN BACK AGAIN, SIR.

LEAN BACK, PLEASE.

OH, YES SIR.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, MR. HUNTER, UH, COMMISSIONER HUNTER, DISTRICT NINE, UM, TWO THINGS, UH, ONE WHERE IS, WHAT IS YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND WHERE DOES YOUR FUNDING COME FROM? AND THEN THE SECOND THING, AND FORGIVE ME IF YOU MENTION THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH YOUR WELDING PROGRAM AND HOW MANY ARE NOW WORKING IN THE TRADES? OKAY, SO AS FAR AS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET, I DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER ON THAT.

THAT'S NOT MY LAND OF EXPERTISE AND I DIDN'T, WASN'T PREPARED FOR THAT.

AND HOW WE ARE FUNDED ARE THROUGH DIFFERENT, UM, DONATIONS.

WE HAVE DONATIONS, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE LIKE TWO, THREE FUNDRAISERS A YEAR, A GOLF TOURNAMENT, AND, UH, THE PLAY SHOOTS.

SO THOSE ARE FUNDRAISERS THAT WE, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING FOR THE PAST, WHAT, FIVE FOOT YEARS, I BELIEVE.

AND, UM, YOU ASKED ME ABOUT MY WELDING CLASS.

SO SINCE 2005, WE HAVE HAD 206 VETERANS GO THROUGH THE CLASS AND I'M AT 64 THAT HAVE GOTTEN A JOB WITH THAT TRADE.

SO THE, LIKE I SAID, THE PLUMBING JUST STARTED, SO I DON'T HAVE RUNNING RECORDS OF THE PLUMBING.

THIS WELL, DO I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO.

WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

VERY INFORMATIVE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YES, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

IF YOU GUYS OUT THERE IN TV WILL WAIT.

WE'RE

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GOT THE FUN STUFF OVER WITH.

[VII. Veteran Affairs Commission Working Group Reports]

WE'LL START WITH, UH, TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ALONG, UH, COMMISSIONER PRECIADO.

YES.

SO I MET WITH DALLAS COUNTY'S, UH, VSO VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE AND I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM, ASK 'EM A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT VETERANS THAT ARE TRANSITIONING AND OR, UH, DISABILITIES AND BENEFITS THAT THEY APPLIED FOR.

SO, UM, I ASKED THEM HOW ARE THEY CAPTURING NEW VETERANS THAT MOVE INTO DALLAS? THEY SAID THAT THERE'S NO ONE SYSTEM THAT CAPTURES NEW VETERANS.

UM, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY KIND OF ORGAN OR ANY KIND OF GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT DOES THAT, THAT CAPTURES NEW VETERANS THAT MOVE INTO THE CITY.

SO MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION COULD LOOK AT.

HOW DO WE CAPTURE THOSE NEW VETERANS? MAYBE, UH, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER A VETERAN GETS OUT, THEY HAVE TO GET A LICENSE, RIGHT? DRIVER'S LICENSE.

SO MAYBE WE COULD WORK WITH THE COUNTY ON THAT.

HOW HAVE THOSE NEW VETERANS AND UH, MAKE SURE, UH, THEY'RE AWARE OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM.

UM, I ALSO ASKED THEM WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST, UH, UH, BENEFITS OR WHAT, WHAT KIND OF, UH, RESOURCES DO VETERANS ASK FOR WHEN THEY COME SEE THE VSO? AND THEY SAID, NUMBER ONE, IT'S, UH, DISABILITY CLAIMS AND HELP WITH THAT.

SO, UM, THE SECOND WOULD BE, UH, HOW TO APPLY FOR THEIR GI BILL, USE THOSE BENEFITS.

SO I'M GONNA KEEP, CONTINUE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE VSO, UM, SEE HOW WE COULD SUPPORT THEM.

UM, AND THEN I'M ALSO GONNA REACH OUT TO THE VA OF NORTH TEXAS, DALLAS COLLEGE AND THE TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION AND SEE WHAT KIND OF, UH, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATIONS WE CAN HAVE WITH THAT WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSITION AND FOR VETERANS APPLYING FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS AND, UH, EDUCATION BENEFITS AND WHAT THE CITY OF DALLAS DO TO HELP THAT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VERY GOOD REPORT.

OKAY.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MISSION ORTEGA, WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO, UH, WELL, I REACHED OUT AN EMAIL TO DALLAS COUNTY, UH, FOR THE VETERANS, UM, DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY EMAIL.

SO COMMISSIONER RIO, CAN I CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY AFTER THIS CALL SO WE CAN MAYBE TALK OFFLINE AND BE ON THE SAME PAGE? MO MOST DEFINITELY.

YEAH.

I'LL CONNECT YOU TO THE PERSON FIRST.

PERFECT.

AND THEN, UH, ALSO REGARDING INTERNALLY REGARDING THE, THE CITY OF DALLAS, UM, OUR INTERNAL EMAILS HAVE NOT BEEN RESPONDED TO.

UM, I KNOW MR. SPENDUM WAS, WAS GONNA SUPPORT US ON THAT.

UM, AND I KNOW THE CITY OF DALLAS IS CURRENTLY UNDER BUDGET RESTRICTIONS, SO THAT COULD BE THE ISSUE.

BUT, UM, NOTHING ELSE TO REPORT, SIR.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD.

UH, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, MR. HUNTER.

UH, THANK YOU.

UM, I'VE REALLY JUST BEGUN GETTING INTO THIS, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH IN THIS REALM.

UH, BUT I ATTENDED A COUPLE OF EVENTS, UH, JOB TYPE FAIR, UH, THINGS.

ONE WAS AT PARKER UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS A HEALTHCARE, A PRIVATE HEALTHCARE TYPE UNIVERSITY, UH, UP IN NORTH DALLAS.

THEY HAD A VETERAN'S CAR CAREER FAIR, A NUMBER OF COMPANIES, A NUMBER OF, UH, VETERANS GROUPS.

AND THE ATTENDANCE, IT WA IT WAS AN AFTERNOON EVENT, SEVERAL HOURS, AND THE ATTENDANCE WAS PRETTY BAD.

I THINK THERE WERE MAYBE ONE OR TWO VETERANS WHO CAME THROUGH IT AND THEY, THEY HAD A GOOD ORGANIZATION, A GOOD SETUP, AND THEY SAID IT'S HARD TO GET THE WORD OUT.

AND UH, THEY WERE VERY DISAPPOINTED AT THE TURNOUT.

UH, SO THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ON THEM IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY DID TO, TO OUTREACH.

BUT, UH, THE, THE TURNOUT WASN'T GREAT.

UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER AI, UH, UH, SESSION, THE US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND A VETERANS GROUP PUT ON IN, IN NORTH DALLAS AT, UH, THEY CALL IT AN

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THEY HAD A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS WHO TOLD, AND THE NUMBER OF VETERANS ATTENDED THIS.

THERE ARE ABOUT 30 OR 40 PEOPLE THERE.

THEY DESCRIBED WHAT AI IS, HOW YOU USE IT.

IT WAS KIND OF AN ELEMENTARY TYPE OF THING.

AND THEN THEY ALL HAD APPETIZERS AND DRINKS, AND IT WAS A NETWORKING TYPE OF THING.

SO THOSE WERE A COUPLE OF, UM, AND I HAD CONTACT WITH AT THOSE GROUPS AND I'M INTENDED TO FOLLOW UP AND, AND PROBE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S NEEDED, UH, WHERE THINGS COULD, SHOULD GO FROM THERE, UH, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE WORD OUT, UH, AND JUST THE WHOLE EMPLOYMENT REALM.

IT'S SO VAST.

THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF GOING ON.

BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW.

I THANK YOU.

VERY GOOD.

I JUST WANTED, THIS IS, THIS IS, UM, MATTHEW AND, AND DISTRICT 14.

I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR CANDID ASSESSMENT OF THE EVENT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF LIP SERVICE AND I, I, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING A CANDID ASSESSMENT AND FOR FLYING UP WITH THEM ON WHAT KIND OF OUTCOMES WERE THEY REALLY DRIVING WITH THAT.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENT? OKAY, WE'LL GO DOWN HERE TO HEALTHCARE.

MR. WESTROM.

YEP.

SO FOR HEALTHCARE, REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE, UM, SENIOR VA OFFICIALS PENDING RESPONSES FROM THEM.

UM, LOOKING AT SOME OTHER AVENUES TO KIND OF GET AHOLD OF, OF THE VA AND GET THEM IN THE ROOM.

AND ALSO, UM, CONNECTED, UM, WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER COMMISSIONS HERE AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, RAY SMITH AS AN EXAMPLE.

WE'RE JUST ALIGNING ON A, ON A GOOD TIME TO MEET ONCE WE CAN GET SOME PARTICIPATION FROM THE VA.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

LEGAL SERVICES.

MR. ? YES, I'VE, UH, RESEARCHED AND IDENTIFIED AN ORGANIZATION HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA.

IT'S CALLED DALLAS VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PROGRAM.

AND THEY'VE GOT A WEBSITE, DVA WEBSITE, DEVIATE.

ER I REACHED OUT TO THE MANAGING, UH, DIRECTOR, UM, AND CONFIRMED THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE AND, AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE SPECIFICALLY FOR VETERANS.

THEY HOLD A, UM, ACTUALLY THEY HOLD CLINICS AND ALL FOUR QUADRANTS OF THE DALLAS AREA.

THEY HOLD ONE ON THE, LET'S SEE, THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH DOWN IN THE, THE VA CENTER IN SOUTH DALLAS.

AND THERE'S A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN FILL OUT A FORM TO UH, GIVE 'EM A LITTLE PRE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOUR ISSUES ARE, ET CETERA.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 500, ALMOST 500 ATTORNEYS IN THE DALLAS AREA THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.

AND IT LOOKS, UH, FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE.

SO I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO COMMISSIONER HOUSTON FOR THE HUB AND I'M STILL LOOKING AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

THERE ARE SOME OTHERS.

THERE'S ONE FOR THE DALLAS AREA.

I MEAN THE U AUSTIN AREA.

THERE'S ONE FOR NORTH DALLAS, BUT THIS ONE LOOKED LIKE IT FIT THE BILL AS FAR AS DALLAS ITSELF.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT.

UM, WHENEVER YOU HAVE LIKE THE, UH, SOMETHING THAT, THAT NEEDS TO GET PUBLICIZED OR THAT YOUR REPORT, PLEASE PROVIDE THAT TO, UH, MR. HOUSTON SO SHE CAN PUBLISH THAT ON THE HUB OR IF CAN'T GET AHOLD OF HER, UH, OUR OIL BRAND OVER HERE, UH, AND POST IT SO THAT, UH, WE CAN START GETTING THE WORD OUT AND SO THAT WE CAN LET VETERANS KNOW THAT THIS HUB IS UP AND RUNNING AND IT'S A RESOURCE THEY COULD COME TO TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL OF THESE AREAS.

ALRIGHT, DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANNA ADD TO, UM, THE WORKING GROUP REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON.

[VIII. Discussion Item: The Annual Report]

THAT SECTION, UH, EIGHT, UH, THE ANNUAL REPORT, UM, IT SAYS HERE THAT THE, UH, COMMISSION WE PROVIDED, WE PROVIDED A DRAFT REPORT AND THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE, UH, FEEDBACK AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN OCTOBER.

UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE THE REPORT APPROVED, UM, BY JANUARY SO THAT THAT CAN BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

UH, PLEASE, UH, LOOK FOR THAT AND HAVE YOUR COMMENTS READY, UH, AT THE NEXT MEETING, UH, IN OCTOBER.

OKAY.

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MONICA, CAN I ASK, WELL, ONCE THEY, THEY TURN IN THE ANNUAL REPORT, WHAT HAPPENS TO IT? DO, DOES, DOES EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER READ IT OR WHAT, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF IT? WELL, IT'S GIVEN TO THEM AND WHETHER THEY READ IT OR NOT, I CAN'T GUARANTEE.

OKAY.

BUT THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THE ANNUAL REPORT ALONG WITH THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF ALL THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSION.

SO, YOU KNOW, BUT WE TRY TO JAZZ IT UP.

THESE PICTURES THAT WE MAKE ARE PART OF THAT AS WELL.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? WELL, JUST TO ADD TO THAT, I MEAN, I THINK WE'RE ALSO, YOU KNOW, EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO OUR, YOU KNOW, C OUR, UM, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS.

RIGHT.

AND WE CAN USE THE REPORT AS SORT OF EVIDENCE FOR SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UH, ANNOUNCEMENTS, UH, HE MADE HIS ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO, UM, THERE'S A ANNUAL VA STAND DOWN IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 29TH.

UH, WE'LL PUT THAT OUT AGAIN.

UH, IN OUR OCTOBER MEETING, UH, IT'S GENERALLY PLACE FOR VETERANS TO GO AND YOU SEE INFORMATION WIDE VARIETY OF AREAS.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO ADD TO THAT? I DO.

OH, OKAY.

MR. SHERMAN, DISTRICT FIVE.

UM, I KNOW THAT NORMALLY THE, UH, NORMALLY THE STAND DOWN IT EITHER HELD AT THE VA, WHICH IS EITHER IN ATRIUM OR OUT IN THE PARKING GARAGE AREA, OR IT'S HOSTED BY THE, UH, RESOURCE CENTER AND 4,900, WHICH, UH, ANOTHER LOCATION THAT IS NORMALLY HELD THERE TOO, TOO, UH, DEPENDING ON WEATHER OR DIFFERENT THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THEY DO A GREAT JOB DOWN THERE AT THE RESOURCE CENTER HOSTING THAT AND OTHER EVENTS, UH, WEEKLY.

UM, SO, UM, THAT'S OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM OTHER COMMISSIONERS ABOUT ANYTHING AT ALL? ANY ANNOUNCEMENT THAT NEED TO BE MADE? YES.

OKAY.

CAN I, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPOUND ON THE, UH, ON THE STAND DOWN THAT'S HELD.

IT IS, IT IS HELD BY THE VA AND IT IS AT THE V IT IS AT THE RESOURCE CENTER.

AND YES, VETERANS WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN AND GET, UM, AND SEE A VARIETY OF, UM, RESOURCES ON THAT DAY.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, THERE WILL BE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THERE THAT WILL BE PASSING OUT NEED NEEDED ITEMS, AND IT'S KIND OF PREPARING FOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, NEXT PHASE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S WINTER THAT'S COMING UP AND JUST, YOU KNOW, UM, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'LL JUST GET YOU READY FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF LIFE.

UM, SO WHETHER IT'S TRANSITIONING VETERANS THAT'S COMING IN, HOMELESS VETERANS, UH, VETERANS THAT HAVE HAVE HOUSING, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT.

AND, UH, LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER, UM, LIKE, UH, COMMISSIONER CHARMAN SAID SOMETIMES IT'S HELD AT THE VA HOSPITAL AND OTHER TIMES IT'S HELD DOWN AT, AT OUR RESOURCE CENTER.

SO THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.

ANYTHING ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT THAT CHAIR? GO AHEAD.

CHAIR.

PENDI.

NKU.

SO, UM, JUST WITH REGARDS TO THE VA, UM, AS WELL AS THE SENIOR AGING SUMMIT, SO FOR BOTH OF THESE, THERE IS A, A REQUEST RATE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VAC TO BE PRESENT.

SO FOR THE VA STAND DOWN, WE WILL HAVE A TABLE THERE.

I'LL BE PRESENT AND IF ANYONE ELSE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS, UH, YOU KNOW, WOULD LIKE TO BE PRESENT.

AND PART OF WHAT WE CAN DO IN THAT IS NUMBER ONE, JUST TO INFORM, YOU KNOW, UH, VETERANS AND OTHERS THAT ARE THERE, THAT WE EXIST, WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AND HOPEFULLY WE COULD EVEN SHARE WITH THEM, ALTHOUGH THE, UH, THE HUB ISN'T FINALIZED YET.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT AS WELL AS THE, UH, WELLBEING ASSESSMENT THAT WAS COMPLETED.

AND THEN WITH REGARDS TO THE AGING SUMMIT, THAT'S, UH, SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 8TH, AN EMAIL WAS SENT OUT TO EVERYONE, UH, REQUESTING THAT IF YOU, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN, THAT YOU CAN REACH OUT TO MIRKA NORMAN WHO IS, UH, OVERSEEING THAT PROJECT.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? IF NOT, DO I HEAR A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MOTION TO ADJOURN.

I'LL SECOND.

MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED TO ADJOURN.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY.

THE AYES HAVE IT.

OUR SEPTEMBER MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU FOR

[00:30:01]