Aug 19, 2026 Veterans Affairs Commission

COMMISSIONER VARGAS HERE.

ARE ARE YOU GOING MY DISTRICT OR JUST GOING DISTRICT.

DISTRICT FIRST DISTRICT.

MM-HMM .

FIRST DISTRICT IS HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, COMMISSIONER TECH HERE.

UH, CHAIR OSBORNE.

UH, VICE CHAIR.

ATKINS SLATE.

COMMISSIONER M**K HERE.

COMMISSIONER HARDI HERE.

AND COMMISSIONER EARL HERE.

WE HAVE QUORUM.

FOR THE RECORD.

DID WE HAVE ANYTHING FROM KEN OR AFTER THAT? OR EXCUSE, UM, UH, EXCUSE ME.

UH, VICE CHAIR, THAT MEETINGS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T ASK, UH, VICE CHAIR ATKINS BLADE.

LET ME KNOW THAT SHE WOULD BE HERE.

SO I AM ANTICIPATING HERE BUT HER, BUT I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING FROM, UH, FROM CHAIR HOR.

HE, HE DID THAT.

HE WOULD ATTEND, BUT HE DIDN'T.

WE DON'T LET US KNOW ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

UH, WE ALL STAND

[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

FOR ALLEGIANCE.

GINA, DO YOU WANNA LEAD US? SURE.

READY? BEGIN UNDER 13.

JUSTICE SUPPORT.

AND JUST A CORRECTION.

UM, CHAIR OSBORNE DID LET ME KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE HERE, SO HE SHOULD BE SHOWING UP.

STEPHANIE, MAY I HAVE YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF? YES.

HI EVERYBODY.

NICE TO SEE SOME OF YOU AGAIN.

UH, MY NAME IS STEPHANIE MUL.

I'M THE ACTING COLLECTIVE IMPACT BUREAU MANAGER HERE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO, UM, GINA'S WORK IS ONE OF THOSE MANY PROGRAMS. IS BUREAU THAT I AM.

AND CHRISTINA? UH, MY SUPERVISOR IS .

THE RESOURCE, THE RESOURCE CONNECTIONS.

DIVISION OFFICER WAS GETTING MY TOUGH TWIST.

SAY IT 10 TIMES FAST.

DO YOU WANNA INTRODUCE YOURSELF? YES.

MY NAME IS, UH, COMMISSIONER WILLIAM PATTERSON.

I'M TRANSFERRING OVER TO THE BEDROOM, QUANTUM, THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, UH, COMMISSION.

AND YOU'RE HERE TO OBSERVE OBSERVER.

PERFECT.

OH, SUPER GREAT.

UH, PAPERWORK SHOULD BE CATCHING UP WITH, WITH .

GREAT.

DO YOU MIND REPEATING YOUR NAME? WILLIAM KAON.

WELCOME.

WERE YOU, WERE YOU PRIOR SERVICE? YES.

WHICH ARMY? UH, .

JUST MY WIFE.

UH, SHE'S JUST HERE TO OBSERVE.

CAN WE, CAN WE JUST GO AROUND THE TABLE REAL QUICKLY? COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE JUST YOU CAN GO.

THE FIRST MEETING.

GO.

I'M CHAD VARGAS.

UM, UH, DISTRICT FIVE, UH, COMMISSIONER.

UM, THANK VETERAN, UH, STATEMENT.

UH, JIM GOODIN, DISTRICT ONE, AIR FORCE VETERAN, RETIRED.

MAKE SURE I MAKE, UH, SECOND DISTRICT I VETERAN .

THANK VETERAN .

JERRY EARL, ARMY, VETERANS DISTRICT NINE.

DISTRICT WOULD BE, SORRY ABOUT THE NOISE.

WE CLOSE THAT UP FOR JUST A SECOND.

DISTRICT FOUR.

AND WHAT'S THE DOG'S NAME? CHARLES.

THAT, SO CHARLES? YES.

ALRIGHT.

IS THAT ALL WE HAVE? NINE.

HOW MANY? WE HAVE NINE.

THE KEN IS HERE.

HE'LL DO HIS REPORT.

SOMETHING'S HERE.

THAT'S OKAY, YOUR HONOR.

UH, YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE THE ITEMS OUT OF ORDER IF YOU WOULD LIKE, TAKE THEM OUT OF ORDER.

YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO TO ITEMS ITEM TWO.

TO JUST, UH, GIVE A REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF EVENT SUPPORT, STARTING WITH, UH, THE, THE 2020 FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET.

ITEM

[2. 26-55859 Recommendation to receive and file a report on the activities of the Office of Veterans Support. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

TWO, RECOMMENDATION.

RECEIVED.

WE FINAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE SUPPORT AND, UM, ATION.

WE CAN DO A MOTION A SECOND.

[00:05:01]

SO JUST THE FACTS.

UH, FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET PROPOSED TO ELIMINATE MY POSITION, WHICH WOULD MEAN SUN SETTING THE COMMISSION AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF BENJAMIN SUPPORT.

AND THEN, UH, IT ALSO PROPOSED FULLY FUNDING THE BENJAMINS DAY CELEBRATION, NOT FUNDING THE BANNERS PROGRAM, AND THEN THE MAYORS PROPOSED BUDGET DIVISION THIS SAME DAY.

SO I'M HEARING THESE PIECES OF NEW SIX HOURS OF EACH OTHER.

UM, THE, MY POSITION WOULD BE RESTORED AT HAVE TIME.

THE FINAL VERSION OF THE 2020 SEVENTH BUDGET WILL BE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 8TH.

AND COMMISSIONS AND COMMISSIONERS AND VETERANS FROM OUR COMMUNITY HAVE SHOWED UP TO THE BUDGET HEARINGS, UH, AS WELL AS WRITTEN TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT S RESTORING MY POSITION.

WERE THE S RESTORED.

UH, I'M GONNA FINISH MY REPORT, THEN I'LL START THE DISCUSSION.

SO, UH, STEPHANIE AND CHRISTINA ARE HERE.

YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WHEN WE COME TO THE DISCUSSION? DEPART? SO WHAT I WANTED TO COVER IS WITH HALFTIME UNDER CONSIDERATION, WE WILL NEED TO FIT OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO OUR CAPACITY.

AND KEN AND KEN AND I WERE IN A PRE-MEETING, LIKE SETTING THE AGENDA.

AND SO HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF I WAS CLEAR WITH YOU ABOUT WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU, SO THAT WE CAN KEEP PUSHING AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SO TO ME, THIS MEANS OPPORTUNITY AND IT MEANS THAT YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED AND MORE VALUABLE THAN EVER.

UM, SO I'M ASKING FOR, UM, A DEEPER COMMITMENT, PERMISSION TO, TO VOLUNTEERING AND MAKING OUR EVENT, ESPECIALLY STAY SUCCESSFUL.

SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? I HAVE A COUPLE OF VISIONS HERE.

TO ME, WITH VETERAN DAY SPECIFICALLY AS AN EXAMPLE, I'D LIKE A LEAD COMMISSIONER FOR THE VETERANS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIR, BECAUSE THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF, OF ENERGY EXPENDED FOR THE VETERANS DAY.

AND BASICALLY VETERANS DAY MOVED FROM BEING A PARADE TO MORE OF A, A RESOURCE SPARE, UH, STATIONARY THING BECAUSE PARADES KIND IN POPULARITY, BUT IT'S REALLY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS TO ACCESS SERVICES AND RESOURCES.

SO THE FAIR IS, IS A BIG UNDERTAKING.

SO THE MORE HELP THAT I HAVE AND THAT WE HELP EACH OTHER WITH MAKING THIS , YOU KNOW, MAKING IT COME OFF WOULD BE GREAT.

SO WHAT IT MEANS IS REACHING OUT TO INVITE ORGANIZATIONS AND WE CALL ORGANIZATIONS, VENDORS, A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION, VETERANS SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, VENTURE AND FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS.

THERE ARE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF AGENCIES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA THAT SHOW UP FOR HIRING.

UM, THERE'S ALSO, UM, CITY OF LONG BEACH DEPARTMENTS.

SO IT'S REACHING OUT TO THE SAME LIST THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, SEEING IF THEY'RE INTERESTED, FOLLOWING UP TRACKING THEIR RESPONSES AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE VENDORS.

ALL THE DETAILS SHOW AT SUCH AND SUCH TIME SET UP, TEAR DOWN.

SO THERE'S JUST, THERE'S DETAILED WORK, BUT I'M NOT, I'M, I ASSUME I'M ASKING IF YOU'RE GOOD AT SPREADSHEETS AND GOOD AT COMMUNICATING AND BEING A LEAD ON THE, THE RESOURCES FAIR.

THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR THE SAME THINGS FOR THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY AND THE, AND WITH PROMOTING THAT, BECAUSE YOU DO SOME OF THAT TO CERTAIN DEGREE, BUT I'D LIKE IT TO, TO JUST SEE MORE, YOU KNOW, LEADERSHIP AND EVEN THE ORGANIZING.

YOU KNOW, LIKE IF YOU SAY I'M GONNA TAKE THE LEAD ON PROMOTION, THAT MEANS ENLIST THE OTHER PEER FELLOW, THE MONEY.

BECAUSE THE MORE WE SPREAD THE WORD, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL THE, THE EVENT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BE ONE OF THESE POSITIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE TO REPEAT THEM AGAIN.

A LEAD ON THE, ON THE RESOURCES FAIR.

A LEAD ON THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY OR LEAD ON THE PROMOTING.

JUST TALK TO ME AFTER THE MEETING, EMAIL ME, TEXT EACH, WHATEVER.

BECAUSE I, I, LIKE I SAID, I, WE CAN'T, WE I CAN'T DO WITHOUT YOU.

SO I'M ASKING YOU THE COURT.

SO AT THAT, I'M GONNA OPEN UP FOR CONVERSATION.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IN OUR MINUTES, UM, CAN WE BE PRECISE IN WHAT, WHAT GINA SAID ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS? YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY YOU'LL SAY, YOU KNOW, SHE MENTIONED IT, BUT IT'S PRECISELY THAT SHE'S LOOKING FOR LEADS FOR DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT MINUTES.

SO THE STYLE OF MINUTES THAT THE CITY DOES IS ACTION MINUTES.

AND SO, UH, YOU WOULD HAVE TO REFER TO THE VIDEO TO FIND OUT THOSE DETAILS.

IT AND WE CAN, WHAT IS THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY? THOSE ARE ALL PARTS OF THE BETHANY STATE.

WHICH IT PUT, INCLUDE THOSE IN MINUTES TO, YOU KNOW, SHE MENTIONED FOUR DIFFERENT THINGS.

I UNDERSTAND I CAN SEND OUT AN EMAIL AS WELL, BUT I JUST WANTED, JUST SO WE HAVE A RECORD OF

[00:10:01]

EVERYTHING I MADE PROMOTING THAT EVENT, DOING THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY AND THE RESOURCES, THAT'S ALL PART OF ONE GIGANTIC EVENT.

AND, AND, UH, IT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL.

WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH SPECIAL EVENTS.

THEY TAKE CARE OF THE LOGISTICS.

I LIKE TO SAY FROM THE FOOD TRUCKS TO THE COURT OF BODIES.

THEY'RE WHERE WE, WHERE WE ARE.

UM, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT SUCCESSFUL BY REACHING OUT TO THE VETERANS COMMUNITY, HAVING A ROBUST COMMUNITY FAIR.

WE DO GET SOME OF THE VENDORS TOO.

UM, LIKE WE HAD, UH, THE VETERANS MERCHANDISE VENDOR, SAME ONE THAT DOES THE VA CAME LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS A BIG HIT.

UM, SO THAT IS JUST ONE EVENT AS FAR AS THE, OUR CAPACITY TO DO THE MEMORIAL DAY EVENT.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED.

BUT VETERAN'S DAY IS ON, ON THE DOCK , AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE MOST HELP IS NEEDED.

AND SOME OF YOU HAVE STAFF, THE, WE HAVE OUR OWN THERE, THE OFFICE VETERANS SUPPORT.

WE DO OPPORTUNITY DRAWINGS.

AND UM, UH, KIM HAS BEEN IN CHARGE OF THAT AND GOT SOME RELATED PRIZES.

AND SO, SO I'M JUST ENCOURAGING YOU TO THINK ABOUT HOW YOU WANT TO HELP AND SUPPORT WITH THIS EVENT EACH.

I'M HAVING A FEELING.

CHAD, YOU MIGHT BE A SPREADSHEET.

, MAY I JUST MAKE A CORRECTION? YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THE BUDGET ADOPTION WILL BE SEPTEMBER 8TH AND SEPTEMBER 15TH.

THAT'S CORRECT.

IS THAT A CHANGE THAT ORIGINALLY OH, OKAY.

I SAW SOMETHING THAT SAID THE EIGHTH, BUT NOW THAT'S IF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTS THE BUDGET, WHICH HISTORICALLY, GENERALLY THEY DO, BUT IT COULD, THERE'S A SMALL CHANCE IT COULD ACTUALLY GO PAST THAT IF CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT ACCEPT THE BUDGET ON THAT DATE.

BUT IT'S TO BE EXPECTED THAT IT, WHAT'S YOUR FISCAL USE? OCTOBER ONE.

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 3RD.

SO THE PARENTS DAY CELEBRATION SEND 70 FY 27.

I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT HAD BEEN APPROVED.

BE UNDERNEATH.

I I STILL THERE ARE THE BANNER IN OR WRONG? THE BANNER ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN THE REGION.

THE MAYOR DID MENTION IN THAT ONE BUDGET MEETING THAT WE MIGHT SHIFT TO A PAID BANNER PROGRAM.

BUT AT HALFTIME IT WOULD BE REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER THE THINGS THAT TAKE UP THE MOST ENERGY BY THE VETERAN'S DAY EVENT.

THE BANNER JUST ASKING FOR US TO PICK UP THE OTHER HALF OF THE ONE.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE ASKING, ESSENTIALLY.

WELL, SPECIFICALLY ON VETERAN'S DAY AND VETERANS DAY FOR THIS YEAR, NOVEMBER 11TH.

AND, AND WHILE I MET IT, WHICH I WAS GONNA REPORT ON LATER, IT'S NOVEMBER 7TH, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH, INHOUSE OR 12TH.

I'LL ANNOUNCE THAT AGAIN.

AND OF COURSE, UNLESS YOU, YOU KNOW, UNLESS YOUR SUPPORT, 'CAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE A VETERAN'S DAY COMMITTEE.

THAT'S OKAY.

BUT I'M ASKING TO THINK BEYOND COMMITTEE SPECIFIC GOALS BECAUSE IT, YOU KNOW, GREAT EVENT.

BEEN A LOT OF PROMOTION JUST FOR NINE LAST YEAR.

AND IT WAS ALREADY LIKE WITH MY SCHEDULE NOW ALREADY ROUGH ENOUGH.

AND I SAID, OH, GOT IT.

YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS MEETINGS AND YOU KNOW, AND THEN AFTER THAT WAS ACTUALLY GOT A GROUP TOGETHER AND WENT HOUSE TO HOUSE.

OH, THAT'S GREAT.

SO, SO I COULD DO THAT AGAIN, BUT MAINLY AT NINE.

UM, UM, THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, I COULD STILL LOOK FOR THINGS LIKE, UM, OH, I STILL WANNA SEE IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY TO GIVE THE, HERE I AM.

SO I COULD FILL OUT THE, UH, THE LATE OR FOR, FOR, UH, TICKETS, FREE TICKETS FOR A DRAWING FOR THE LA OUTFIT THING, RIGHT? MM-HMM .

AND, UH, IF THAT'S THE CASE, I CAN STILL SEARCH FOR SOME VENDORS, BUT JUST MORE, YOU KNOW, ON THAT END, IT'S NOT LEADING WITH THE CHARGE, BUT KNOWING I COULD BRING THAT IN.

TRULY SOME KIND OF WAY TO WORK, GET TOGETHER AND OF COURSE ON THE, THE BAND THERE BEEN OUT THERE.

SOUNDS GREAT.

WHAT'S THE DATE OF THE EVENT? SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.

TYPICALLY YOU WANT HELP WITH THAT EVENT OR JUST ALL EVENTS? RIGHT? ALL EVENTS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I, I JUST, AS OF MY EXAMPLE, I FOCUSED ON VETERANS DAY BECAUSE IT'S THE MOST TANGIBLE AND IT HAS MULTIPLE THINGS IN ON THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY.

THE, UM, UH, WELL, THE FLY OVER THAT'S, YOU GUYS DON'T WORK.

THAT DOESN'T MY LANGUAGE.

THE RESOURCES FOR THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY PROMOTION.

[00:15:01]

SO RIGHT.

THE CEREMONY A LEAD FOR THAT.

IT'S LIKE WE'VE JUST PICKED FOUR INDIVIDUALS, UH, WELL, LIKE TWO INDIVIDUALS, TWO ORGANIZATIONS TO HONOR HAS LIKE VETERAN VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, VETERAN ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR.

AND YOU JUST NEED TWO ORGANIZATIONS.

MM-HMM .

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, START THINKING, IS THERE SOME VETERAN IN THE COMMUNITY? YOU KNOW, THAT'S WORKED REALLY HARD AND DONE OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER WORK, THE COMMUNITY.

SO THEY'RE JUST, THEY'RE JUST THINGS THAT MAKE THAT PERSONALIZE THE VETERANS DAY.

I CAN BRING ORGANIZATIONS.

I CAN'T DO THE BETTER THAN THE VETERAN FOUNDATION.

I CAN BRING ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER.

DO YOU THINK THEY'RE WORTHWHILE ORGANIZATIONS TO NOMINATE FOR, FOR THE RECOGNITION? IT'S JUST A, YOU KNOW, A, A TOKEN GIFT THAT, UM, THE FORMER HEAD OF THE LONG BEACH VETERANS STATE COMMITTEE GIVES OUT CINDY .

SO IT'S, I KNOW THAT VETERANS LOVE PO AND CIRCUMSTANCE S SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT THAT'S ABOUT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICES.

UM, PARTICIPATE AT ALL? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

UH, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER, JEFF WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY , EVEN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, THEY'RE ALL INVITED.

AND A LOT OF THEM SHOW UP BECAUSE THE MAYOR LIKES TO GATHER EVERYBODY ON STAGE KIND OF A MOMENT.

SO IS IT, IS IT IMPORTANT FOR US AS, AS COMMISSIONERS AND SUPPORT THOSE DISTRICTS TO REACH OUT TO OUR STATE COUNCIL? A HUNDRED PERCENT.

THAT, THAT DOES, YOU KNOW, WE SEND OUT AN INVITATION TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OF COURSE, BUT YOUR HELP WOULD BE CRITICAL WITH THAT.

AND THEY'RE MORE LEFT TO HAVE TO OUR RSV AND JOIN FOR THE EVENT IF THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMMISSIONER REACHES OUT TO IT.

CERTAINLY HAVE A ING LIST.

SORRY.

DO YOU HAVE A BANKING LIST OF VETERANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LIST OF? YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR, OUR BEST OUR LIST OF VETERANS ARE LARVA.

LIKE WE HAVE A MAIL LIST OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR, AND WE HAVE A, I MEAN, WE DO A NEWSLETTER.

SO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE SUBSCRIBED TO THE NEWSLETTERS, BUT WE DON'T HAVE LIKE A, A LIST OF EVERY BEDROOM THAT LIVES WELL, WE, WE DO, UH, THE DRAWING FREE PROCESS AND WE DO A DRAWING AND THEY GET A TICKET WITH A DRAWING IF THEY SIGN UP.

SO THAT'S HOW WE GET ADDITIONAL .

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT INVOLVEMENT OR THE BUDGET OR, I MEAN, I, I, I'M WILLING TO, I'M WILLING TO HELP, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I CAN'T BE AT THE ACTUAL EVENT.

'CAUSE I'VE GOT A FREE EXISTING, UH, VACATION.

THAT'D BE GREAT.

SO, OKAY.

NO COMMENTS.

I ASK VOLUNTEER TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.

THE HAVE A HANDY.

IF YOU DON'T, IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

I JUST, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT JOBS LAST WEEK.

IS THERE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR THAT? THERE IS AN AD HOC COMMITTEE, BUT I'M ALSO THINKING BEYOND THE COMMITTEE FOR INVOLVEMENT.

WE WON'T GO OVER FORUM.

AND THAT'S WHY I SEE A COMBINATION COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND INDIVIDUAL FUNCTION MEETINGS.

LIKE IF WE HAVE A MEETING THAT'S JUST FOCUSED ON THE CEREMONY.

JUST FOCUSED ON THE .

THAT'S RIGHT.

MEMBERS OF THE 2026 VETERANS DAY EVENT AD HOC COMMITTEE ARE VICE CHAIR ADVOCATES, BLAKE, COMMISSIONER EARL, COMMISSIONER HARDMAN, AND COMMISSIONER SHAMAN HAR AND THE VICE.

SO THAT'S FOUR, WHICH IS, IF IT'S, YOU CAN'T HAVE A COMPLAIN THAT'S .

UM, OR IT'S, IT'S, UM, A, A RUN THAT VIOLATION.

BUT SINCE HELP IS SO NEEDED, SO VALUABLE, I DON'T MIND MEETING ONE-ON-ONE AND COMMITTEE AND FAR ON SPECIFIC BUDGET FOR THIS NOVEMBER 7TH, AS I KNOW.

THE CITY, UM, HAS A BUDGET FOR VETERANS DAY.

THEY DO ABOUT FIVE EVENTS A YEAR.

SO'S THE DAISY AVENUE PARADE, THE STOS, SMART LUTHER KING DAY VETERANS DAY.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE 15 IS.

UM, BUT THE CITY ALLOCATES FUNDING FOR THAT.

AND A PORTION OF THOSE RESOURCES ARE ALLOCATED FOR US TO SPEND, TO HIRE A, TO DO THE FLYOVERS, TO GET AN MC FOR THE RECOGNITION SURVEY.

SOMETIMES WE HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER, CITY PHOTOGRAPHERS.

SO WE OVERSEE A SMALL PART OF THAT BUDGET, WHICH IS STILL PENDING THE BUDGET.

THAT'S, THAT'S CONFUSING.

THIS WASN'T APPROVED ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

NO, THIS IS, YEAH.

THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE APPROVED.

IT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL IT'S,

[00:20:01]

SO WE WON'T KNOW IF IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE A ACTUAL THING UNTIL THE BUDGET GETS PASSED.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO ONCE THE BUDGET PASSED, THEN WE'LL KNOW IF THERE'S GONNA BE A VETERAN DAY EVENT.

SO WE CAN'T REALLY DO ANYTHING UNTIL WE HAVE THE VETERANS STAY.

WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S WAY, THIS WAY WE CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, YOU KNOW, AND BE PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME.

SO THAT, LIKE TO CHECK VOLUNTEERING TO BE A SPREADSHEET TEAM HERE.

I'M SORRY, I'M JUST TAKING, BUT I, I WOULD WANNA SAY HERE'S ALL THE DATA.

HERE'S THE DATA FROM LAST YEAR.

THIS IS HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS WE HAD, LIKE, BY LOOKING AT LIKE, WELL WE, WE HAVE A HEALTHY MIX OF THIS AND THAT, BUT MAYBE WE NEED A FEW MORE MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS.

WE DO DO SOME EVALUATION LIKE ATTENDEES AND THEY SAY, OH, MAYBE YOU WANT, WE NEEDED THIS, OR WE WERE LOOKING FOR THIS.

SO WE TRY TO BE, UH, RESPONSIVE.

WILL SPEAK TO YOU IN ANY WAY AS THE ALTERNATIVE, THE BUDGET, DEPENDING ON HOW THE BUDGET SHOULD, UH, COMES OUT OF DOWN SCALING THE EVENT AND PARTNERING UP WITH THE VA.

I REMEMBER HIM MENTIONING THAT'S, I WAS HOPING THAT WAS GONNA BE HERE.

SO HE WAS GONNA TALK AND DE POSSIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IF WE DON'T GET COMPANY.

AND IT MAY BE TOO LATE FOR THAT, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.

CAN HOPEFULLY, TYPICALLY WHAT IS, WHAT DOES THE COST? UM, THEY, I THINK THE CITY SETS ASIDE AS IT DOES FOR OTHER EVENTS, ABOUT 50,000 BUCKS.

WE DON'T GET THAT.

WE, WE GET MAYBE I KNOW A LITTLE PIECE OF IT JUST TO YOU BECAUSE WE'RE THE EXPERTS.

WE'RE THE, THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, INTERVENTIONS, COMMUNITY.

SO IN ORDER TO, TO PICK THE BEST PERSON TO DO THE MC OR THE, WE HAVE THE CONNECTIONS WITH THE FLYOVER PROVIDER, ET CETERA.

SO THAT'S HELPFUL.

DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, CHRISTINA OR STEPHANIE? NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT.

THE CONTINGENCY, WHAT WE CONTINUE WITH C ALL HAVE, BUT THAT'S REALLY .

SO THERE IS NO CONTINGENCY IF WE DON'T HAVE IT.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A BUDGET, THERE IS NO CONTINGENCY.

SO IT'S EITHER A GO OR NO GO ON SEPTEMBER 15 OR WE RAISE $50,000.

NO, WE'RE NOT PLACING $50,000 WE SEVEN.

EXCUSE ME.

I GUARANTEE IT.

THIS IS, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S BEEN EVERY YEAR.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL, WE ALWAYS STILL PLAN FOR THE VETERAN'S DAY AND WE STILL, WE NEVER HAVE TO BUDGET UNTIL YEAH, EXACTLY.

BUT RAISING MONEY IS NOT AN OPTION.

THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

UM, WE, IF I SAY WE DO DO SOME FUNDRAISING, BUT VERY LIMITED, LIKE WE RAISE, WE GET A GRANT AND YOU GET A SPONSORSHIP GRANT FOR THE MEMORIAL AT THE EVENT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, VERY INEXPENSIVE.

UM, WE'RE NOT REALLY SET UP TO DO MAJOR FUNDRAISING.

I, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY OPINION, BELIEVE THERE WAS A PLAN ON IT HAPPENING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE CITY'S GOING TO TELL US, BUT IN CASE THEY DO, WE TALKING WITH CAN MAYBE WE CAN ALSO TALK.

WE GET LESS OF TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ELECTION.

BUT WE SO WE NEED TO, RIGHT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

AND DO WHAT WE CAN.

SO, I AGREE.

JUST, IT'S MY FIRST MEETING.

I'M JUST TRYING TO I KNOW.

NO, NO.

WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

WE ALL, WE ALL REALLY WANT THIS STAND.

APPROVE THE MINUTES TO THE VETERANS ION WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH, 2026.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, UH, KIND VOTE.

UM, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SET TO APPROVE THE REPORT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? ANYTHING? NONE WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

WE NEED, DO WE NEED TO, UH, INDIVIDUALS OR COULD WE JUST DO IT YOUR PURPOSE? OKAY.

ALL FAVORS SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

ANY ABSTENTIONS? THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES THAT THE RECOMMENDATION TO

[3. 26-55860 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Veterans Affairs Commission meeting of Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

THAT WAS A LAST MEETING.

UM, ANY COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, ANYTHING? UM, NOW CALL FOR THE VOTE.

WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD.

JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.

PUBLIC COMMENT.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION,

[00:25:01]

SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY AB ABSENT? OKAY.

AND, UH, AND I DON'T KNOW, S GO ON AGAIN.

AND THEN DOWN .

GABE, WE'RE JUST IN TIME.

NO, WE'RE GOING DO ONE.

WE'LL GO COME BACK ONE AFTER THOUGH.

NUMBER FOUR.

RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS UPDATES FOR THE, WE NEED DO NUMBER FOUR.

WE JUST REALLY DISCUSSED.

YES, WE GO OUT OF ORDER.

YOU CAN GO OUT OF ORDER.

WHY DON'T WE DO NUMBER FIVE? PARDON ME? WHY DON'T WE DO NUMBER FIVE? OKAY.

RECOMMENDATION

[5. 26-55863 Recommendation to discuss updates on the 2026 Veterans Day Banners Reception and, if appropriate, provide feedback on event planning. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

TO DISCUSS UPDATES.

THE 2026 VETERAN STATE BANNERS, RECEPTION AND APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE, UM, FEEDBACK EVENT PLANNING.

UM, I WILL, UH, WE, WE HOPE TO FINALIZE THE EVENT LOGISTICS AND SEND AN INVITE EARLY NEXT WEEK.

BUT GET READY TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE VETERANS BANNERS RECEPTION ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH AT 5:30 PM ADD THE CHROME ROLL PLEASE.

LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB.

SEPTEMBER 10TH.

SEPTEMBER 10TH, FIVE 30 TO 7:30 PM SO, UM, CHRISTINA RAN THE VETERANS BANNER PROGRAM IN MY ABSENCE, UH, MANAGED TO REALIZE COST SAVINGS THAT'S MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO DO AN EVENT AT THE CLUB.

SO PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT, WORKING OUT THE DETAILS NOW.

UM, AND THE VETERAN HONOREES, SO THAT'S EVERYONE FROM 24 TO 25 AND 26.

THE THREE CLASSES OF VETERANS WILL BE INVITED AND IT'LL BE LIMITED TO A PLUS ONE BECAUSE OF LIMITED SPACE.

AND YOU WILL ALSO ALL BE INVITED AND PROBABLY SAY THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A PLUS ONE.

'CAUSE WE'RE AT, WE'RE ABOUT 80 PEOPLE, MAXIMUM CAPACITY.

AND WE DO INVITE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CITY MANAGER, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE HIGHER UP WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ET CETERA.

AND, UH, WE, WE HAD A, A PRETTY ROBUST RUN OUT LAST YEAR AND UH, THE CITY MANAGER DID COME.

ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, BUT BACK UP LAST MINUTE.

BUT BECAUSE IT'S AT A PLACE WITH A LOT OF CACHES, WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA GET POORLY BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE YACHT CLUB.

AND RAY BURDEN WAS ONE OF THE 2025, UH, BANNER.

BANNER HONOREES IS SPONSORING US AT THE VENUE.

SO WE COULD NOT EVEN GET IN THERE UNLESS SOMEBODY STEPPED UP TO SPONSOR US.

SO THAT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

WHICH, WHICH ? UH, THE LONG BEACH YACHT CLUB.

THE ONES ON APPIAN WAY.

AND WE DID LOOK INTO LOS ALAMITOS AND SHORELINE AND WE, AND THE BLENDING C CLUB AND SEVERAL OF OTHER VENUES.

'CAUSE PART OF WHAT THE CITY REQUIRES WAS THAT WE GET THREE VENDORS SERVED MONEY.

SO THERE ARE MANY MORE EXPENSIVE PLACES.

AND ONE OPTION THAT WAS LESS EXPENSIVE DIDN'T HAVE A DATE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH, WHICH IS THE DATE BY WHICH WE NEED TO EXPEND THESE FUNDS.

SO THAT WAS NOT GONNA WORK OUT AGAIN, BEING A SMALLER PLACE INTO A LITTLE, A LITTLE MORE LABOR INTENSIVE TO FIGURE OUT THE .

AND THEN I'LL PUT UP THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS OUT AGAIN.

NOW FOR YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

PARKING WILL BE SOMEWHAT NOT COMPLICATED, BUT WE WANNA HAVE A DA DROP OFF.

SO WE WOULD LIKE SOME VOLUNTEERS TO, YOU KNOW, HANG AT THE GATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S, THEY'RE PUBLIC PARKING.

HMM.

THEY'RE ALL SET UP.

THE YACHT CLUB'S ALL SET UP.

WELL, WE HAD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

YOU, YOU CAN'T BE AN A DA PARKER WITHOUT REPORTING THEM, YOU KNOW, TO THE GATE LIKE THE SPEAKER.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO INTERVENE AND NOT HAVE, YOU KNOW, TRAFFIC.

EXACTLY.

THEY WON'T ALLOW ANYBODY TO TALK TO THE PARK IN THE YACHT CLUB PROPERLY NOT TO PARK.

SO THAT'S ONE VOLUNTEER, UH, OFFER.

AND THEN, UM, THE OTHER ONE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, CHECKING IN, CHECKING IN WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING, GREETING PEOPLE, JUST EASY PEASY JOBS.

SO I'M PUTTING THAT , CAN YOU ALSO PROVIDE AN UPDATE WITH THE, UM, WHAT THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE? OH YEAH.

ALSO GET IT MM-HMM .

AS A, AS A SUGGESTION FROM AND LEAVE, UH, OUR CHAIR.

YES, I WAS GONNA BRING A PICTURE, BUT WE, WE DON'T HAVE ONE PUT TOGETHER.

UM, WE ARE GOING TO DO THE VETERANS BANNER, HONOR A KEEPSAKE FOR THE CLASS OF 2025, THE BANNERS THAT JUST CAME DOWN IN 2026.

AND THAT, UH, IS GOING TO BE A FRAMED PICTURE OF

[00:30:01]

THAT.

IS IT AN AMBER ALERT? IS IT A FOUR? AMBER ALERT.

YAY.

SO, UH, AFTER A, A BIT OF OF WORK WHERE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP DOING IS A, I LOVE THIS WORD, A MAYBE BLUE LEATHER IT FRAME THAT SAYS THEY'VE BEEN FOUND.

OH, THAT'S THIS LITTLE .

SORRY.

THAT'S, UM, SO EACH, EACH BANNER HONOREE FROM LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, IT'LL BE A EFFECTIVELY A COPY OF THEIR BANNER ON THE WHITE BACKDROP WITH THIS BLUE FRAME THAT'S PRINTED AND THE COMPANY PROFORMA GOING FAR AS TO GET US BOXES, TISSUE PAPERS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

SO IT'S GONNA BE A VERY CLASSY GIFT.

AND THAT GIFT, IT'S JUST AS, AS KEN, UH, AND SOME OF YOU SUGGESTED LIKE HAVING A BITE-SIZED VERSION OF THE BANNER INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW, WHERE TO PUT IT AS THE EIGHT PUT BY THREE FOOT PIECE OF VINYL IS THE IDEA.

I MIGHT SUGGEST WE PUT 'EM ON A TABLE WITH THEIR NAME ON EM'S TRYING TO HAND THEM OUT.

SO PUT IT TAKE ALL NIGHT.

WELL THE, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THEY'LL BE DONE ON TIME BECAUSE TURNING TO THE BREAKS YEAH, WE'RE DONE ON TIME.

BUT THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY WANNA FACILITATE HER BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HE WOULD TAKE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA STEAL ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RECEPTION OR THE PROJECT KEYS.

IT'S UNDER AS MEMBER OF THE BANNERS COMMITTEE ALL VOLUNTEERED TO HELP WITH THE, ALRIGHT, YOU NEED A MEETING, SEE THIS THING? OR, UM, WE'RE ONLY JUST GONNA MAKE INFORMAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ANY OF THE ELECTEDS WANNA GET THEIR TEAM.

TWO BITS IN, THEY'LL BE WELCOME TO.

BUT THE VENUE IS JUST GONNA BE A VERY NICE MIXING BELE AND I BELIEVE BE A, A BANQUET MEAL SERVING CELL AND IT'S GONNA BE A HAMBURGER BAR.

WE'LL HAVE SOME VEGGIE BURGERS.

AND IS THAT THE UPSTAIRS ROOM? NO.

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE UPSTAIRS ROOM COSTS? JUST RIGHT OFF THE TOP.

TAKE A GUESS.

COUPLE GRAND.

$8 GETTING TO THE DOOR.

THAT'S NOT EVEN THE FOOD, SO WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SEVERAL, THEY SAVE MONEY, BUT NOT THAT THEY SERVE US UP IN THERE.

WHEN THEY MEET WITH YOU, THEY PUT YOU IN THAT ROOM AND YOU'RE LIKE, THEN, THEN, THEN IT STARTS AND YOU'RE LIKE, WELL YOU HAVE, CAN HAVE THIS ROOM STARTING AT 8,000, NO FOOD.

OR YOU CAN HAVE THIS ROOM THAT'S 250.

SO THERE YOU GO.

I'LL TAKE THE TWO 50 PLEASE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU CAN GO, I, I I'M WILLING TO HELP OUT TODAY.

GREAT.

I WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

I HAVE, UH, .

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

SURE.

WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE SEEING YOU ANY THANK YOU.

THANK FOR BEING HERE.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ON THE 2026 VETERAN STATE EVENT APPROPRIATE.

ANY OPPOSED? THE, UH, ABSTENTIONS? I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO FOUR.

WE DIDN'T COVER FOUR EVEN THOUGH WE COVERED IT REALLY IN GINA'S COMMENT.

UM, RECOMMENDATION TO DISCUSS UPDATES

[4. 26-55862 Recommendation to discuss updates on the 2026 Veterans Day event and, if appropriate, provide feedback on event planning. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON EVENT PLANNING.

KEN, WE, WE REALLY KIND OF WENT IN DETAIL, YOU KNOW, AND, BUT I WAS WONDERING, THE QUESTION CAME UP RIGHT AT THE END, UH, IN CASE IT'S ALL DEPENDS ON THE BUDGET.

BUDGET SET 50 FOR SEPTEMBER.

WE WON'T EVEN KNOW FOR SURE IF GONNA GET, WE ASSUME IT WILL.

I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY DIDN'T IN THE BUDGET.

BUT IF WE DON'T, HAVE YOU TALKED WITH THE VETERANS OR UH, US JOINING ON VETERAN DAY? NOT YET, BUT I'M GOING TO BE EARLIER TOMORROW.

I HAVE A WHOLE DAY OF HEARING.

TRYING TO LEARN MORE.

SO, SO, AND THAT WILL BE, THAT WILL BE IN AN EMAIL, NOT IN THE MINUTES EMAIL.

WE JUST LIKE TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, JUST, I THINK THEY'LL, THAT'S A BACKUP PLAN.

THEY WILL BE FINE.

GUARANTEE YOU THEY'LL BE FINE WITH US TWICE.

OH, OKAY.

UM, NO QUESTION IN MY MIND IS WITH WELCOME US TO TAKE PART AND NOT VOLUNTEER.

WHATEVER, WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO, WHATEVER WE CAN BRING IN THE FACE TO FACE IN THE MINUTES.

WE'LL BE, GINA DISCUSSED ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS WE'VE GOTTA DO FOR THAT EVENT.

AND SINCE SHE'S ONLY PART TIME, WE NEED MORE PARTICIPATION FROM COMMITTEE.

[00:35:01]

WE'LL DO IT IN EMAIL.

I HAVE ALL OF DIFFERENT HELP.

WE NEED PEOPLE ALREADY VOLUNTEERING AND TAKING A LOOK, SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO.

SO I, I SAID, YOU KNOW THE PLAN ON IT.

I'D BE SURPRISED IF THE CITY COUNCIL SAID KNOW, KNOW.

SO IT JUST AS A BACKUP, WE KNOW WHETHER ACTUALLY SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT ON THE VOTING.

WHAT'S THAT? WHY ARE THEY VOTING? WE KNOW THAT'S THE FINAL, FINAL VERSION.

IT SHOULD BE AS LONG AS COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE THE BUDGET, THIS SMALL CHANCE IT WOULDN'T GET APPROVED.

BUT HISTORICALLY IT DOES GET APPROVED BY ANY, ANY CHANGES ON THE SPOT OR NOT.

OH YEAH, THERE CHANGES.

THERE'LL BE CHANGES ALL THE WAY TILL END.

ALL THE WAY TILL THE END.

YEP.

SO ON THAT NIGHT, WILL THERE BE ANY OR THEY DISCUSS POTENTIALLY THERE COULD BE.

SOMETIMES THERE'S CHANGES.

SOMETIMES THEY GO ADOPTED, DONE.

IT JUST DEPENDS.

SO THOSE VICTIM GUILTY FEEL GUILTY.

UM, AND THERE'S CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER 15TH WHERE, UM, COMMUNITY CAN MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THEIR BUDGET PRIORITIES.

I AND THEY'RE NOT DIVIDED.

IF THE VOTE KNOWS , THEY VOTE AGAINST US.

THEY VOTE AGAINST YOUR BUDGET.

NO.

INVITE.

I HAVE A QUESTION.

IS YOUR BUDGET OR THE BUDGET, THERE'S ONLY ONE CONTINGENCY ON YOU KEEPING HALF OF YOUR SALARY THERE, RIGHT? IS THERE A CONTINGENCY TO DO YOUR FULL SALARY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR? FOR THIS ITEM WE'RE DISCUSSING THE EVENT.

WE CAN'T DISCUSS THE BUDGET THAT WAS IN A PREVIOUS ITEM.

THE CLOSE.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT? WE WENT OVER DETAILS SO THAT THAT'S WANTED TO IDENTIFY YOU.

PERFECT.

BUT IF WE HAD WHY DO COMMENT? SO, SO THE, THE PLANNING FOR WHERE AND WHEN WE ANTICIPATE COULD BE CONTINGENT UPON WHETHER OR NOT THE BA AGREE TO, TO HAVE US JOIN THAT.

RIGHT? SO RIGHT NOW, THE ORIGINAL BUDGET AT OUR VETERANS DAY EVENT FUND, WHETHER OR NOT THAT SURVIVES THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER IS QUESTIONABLE.

AND HOW MUCH SUPPORT GINA CAN GIVE US AT THIS POINT IS QUESTIONABLE BECAUSE RIGHT IN THE INITIAL IN THE MAYOR'S UPDATED THE BUDGET, HE PROPOSED TO HALFTIME CONVENE.

BUT WE WON'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT OUR, OUR OUR BEGGING AND PLEADING AND OTHERWISE SPEAKING GET THEM TO GIVE A FULL TIME.

WE DON'T KNOW.

SO THAT'S THE KIND OF WE ARE, SO WE'RE GONNA CHECK THAT THE VA HAS A BACKUP.

GOT IT.

THAT'S A CONTINGENCY.

THEY CUT OUR BUDGET SIMPLY THAT 50,000 GOES BYE-BYE.

WE CAN FIGURE WHERE WE CAN SOMEHOW SUPPORT WHATEVER THE VA HAS PLANNED TO DO.

ONLY THING WE DO STILL FALLS UNDER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

, ESPECIALLY ON THE LAST NIGHT ESPECIALLY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THE CEREMONY.

ESPECIALLY SYSTEM.

THEY HAVE A BIG ROLE, A BIG ROLE IN, IN THE CEREMONY.

BIG ROLE IN PUTTING ON THE VETERANS DAY.

ATION SPECIAL EVENTS.

THE SPECIAL EVENTS, IT, THEY'RE LIKE, LIKE I EXPLAINED IS THEIR LOGISTICS.

SO I'M NOT DOING THE PERMITTING TO HAVE THE, THE EVENT.

I'M NOT HIRING THE ENTERTAINMENT, BUT I'M NOT GETTING THE COMPANY TO BUILD THE STAGE.

THAT'S ALL THEM.

WE MIGHT BE EVENTS SUCCESSFUL BY BRINGING VETERANS TO THE TABLE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW ALL OF THE CITY'S EVENTS EQUIPPED LOCATED.

THEY'RE NOT IN THE PROMOTION BUSINESS.

THEY'RE NOT IN THE UM, UH, YOU KNOW, EMAILING EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, SENDING OUT POSTCARDS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO MAKE PEOPLE SHOW UP OR PERSONALIZING.

LIKE WITH THE RECOGNITION CEREMONY, WE PROGRAM SPACE BASICALLY THEY SET UP AND THAT'S HOW IT IS.

OTHER VENDORS, THEIR BUDGET IS MUCH LARGER THAN OUR, I'M ASSUMING AND IF THEIR BUDGET GOES AWAY THAN, THAN I WOULD THINK THE EVENT WOULD AWAY.

CERTAINLY WE BASIC, THEY HAVE NO BUDGET.

THEY, WE ARE PART OF THEIR, WE TRY TO STEAL LITTLE BITS OF MONEY OFF OF THEIR, BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEIR YET.

'CAUSE THE PRINTING AND ALL THAT CAME OFF OF RIGHT.

MINE ITEMS $50,000.

PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT COSTS US TO DO.

YEP.

WE GET A FEW BIDS.

I GO BACK TO, LET'S SAY WE WANT, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $6,000

[00:40:01]

POSTCARDS, FLYOVERS, WHATEVER THE, THAT STUFF IS.

SO, BUT WHAT IT, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, IT'S JUST PERSONAL.

I, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE KNOW WHO THE, THE, THE, UH, THE VETERAN OWNER OF THE FOOD TRUCK IS OR WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE CONNECTION.

ANY OTHER, OTHER COMMENTS, ISSUES? ANY OTHER, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU.

HAVE A A VOTE.

UH, WE HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

I VOTE ALL FAVOR SAY A.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? OKAY KEN, IT'S ALL YOURS.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

WELL SHOULD I KEEP YOU IN THAT? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK TO NUMBER ONE.

RECEIVE FILE OPENING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIR.

IT IS RECOMMENDATION.

[1. 26-55858 Recommendation to receive and file opening remarks from the Chair. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

CHAIR.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THAT MOTION? SECOND.

MY DAY'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, BUT THAT'S HOW I TRAFFIC.

UM, Y'ALL KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE BUDGET.

I DID ACTUALLY GO ON FIRST TUESDAY.

GOT THE SPEED MY THREE MINUTES OR MY 90 SECONDS OR WHATEVER IT WAS.

FEW, FEW SECONDS THEY GAVE.

IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE I THOUGHT JUST IN WHAT I HAD SAID, LOOK, WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE MAYOR, SEE 'CAUSE HE WAS KINDA LIKE, HUH, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS IN WORKING WITH THE VA.

IF WE DID THAT AND WE SWITCHED IT INSTEAD OF THE EVENTS DEPARTMENT, WE COULD PROBABLY CUT THAT BUDGET.

HAVE EASILY BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T NEED IT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S US BRINGING TO THE TABLE TO SUPPORT SOMEBODY ELSE, WHICH IS WHAT WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING ANYWAYS.

JUST LIKE WE DO WITH MEMORIAL DAY.

WE SUPPORT SOMEBODY ELSE.

IT'S, WE SHOULD NOT BE IN MY GROUP.

THIS CAN DO IS THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE IN THE EVENTS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE WERE CHARTERED TO BE OUR MAIN FOCUS.

AND WE COULD HELP OTHER PEOPLE DO GREAT THINGS.

YOU KNOW, BRING PERMITS AND BRING ACTIONS AND BRING ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE TO THE TABLE TO HELP, WHETHER IT BE THE VA TO BE THE, THE BFW WHETHER IT BE WHATEVER, WHATEVER GROUP IT IS.

IF WE CAN MAKE THEIRS BETTER FOR HELPING THEM THROUGH THE CITY'S NAMES.

IT'S KIND OF OUR THING.

HAVING GINA THERE WHO KNOWS HOW TO WORK THE CITY, HOW TO GET WORKING OUR COUNCIL PEOPLE TO GET FREE PERMITS.

A LOT OF THESE THINGS, THEY CHARGED YOU LOTS OF MONEY FOR PERMITS A COUNCILMAN'S WORDS CAN MAKE THAT PERMIT GO AWAY.

SO FIRST WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL THAT RENTAL 15 BUDGET COMES OUT AND WE GET OUR KEY WORDS SEARCH OUT, GO AT IT.

'CAUSE WE WERE THE ONLY COMMISSION CUT IN THE FIRST BUDGET.

HAD TO SAY WE WERE THE ONLY ONE.

SUNSET IT OUT.

THERE WASN'T MUCH IN IT.

WE WEREN'T PRETTY MUCH MENTIONED ANYWHERE IN THE, IN THE BUDGET PROPOSAL OTHER THAN THERE.

I, I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH IT AND HE RESEARCH THE HELL OUT OF IT AND READ THROUGH SEVERAL SECTIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT PART OF THAT FIRST ROUND.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE HOPES OF SOMEBODY CHAMPIONS US AND WE, IF WE SURVIVE THIS, THIS IS GONNA BE A TELLING MOMENT FOR US' TO KEEP AN EYE ON OUR COUNCIL.

PEOPLE SEE HOW THEY VOTE.

LET'S, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL HERE ON OUR EVENTS.

THEY'RE ALL SPEAKING ON THE STAGE.

THEY'RE ALL WAVING THE FLAG.

BUT NOW WATCH TRUMP SHOW.

LET'S SEE WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE THEY'RE, WHERE THEY'RE FEELING.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S, IT'S SAD.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SAD IF I HAVE TO PRESIDE IT WITH YOU.

THAT'S NOT HOW I WANT REMEMBER THAT I SENT TO SOME OF THE, YEAH, THAT WAS GREAT.

AND I, AND I DID GET SOME REPLIES THAT ACTUALLY THE HEAD OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SENT ME A, A PERSONAL EMAIL, SAID THAT HOW IMPORTANT YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION WAS.

AND, AND I MENTIONED THE THINGS THAT I WAS AFRAID THAT WOULD BE RUDE.

YOU KNOW, THE VETERAN'S DAY, MEMORIAL DAYS AND THE BANNERS.

AND SHE SAID SHE COULD, THAT SHE WOULD IS BEHIND KEITH FROM ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

THAT'S WHY I ASKED IF THE BANNERS HAD GONE AWAY BECAUSE YOU, YOUR BOSS BOSS SAID .

SO I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED THAT THEY WERE MENTIONED AS, UM, ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS LIST.

OH,

[00:45:01]

THEY, THEY WEREN'T.

OH, THEY WERE NOT.

THEY WERE, THEY WERE NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE IN THAT LIST OF, 'CAUSE I WENT THROUGH THAT AND READ IT A FEW TIMES JUST TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WAS ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, WHAT DID YOU DO? WHAT HAPPENED? AND WELL THE ITEM WAS CUT AND THERE WAS NONE OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS LISTED.

LIKE, OKAY, GOT IT.

SENT YOU OUT.

THAT WAS THAT ROUTE.

USUALLY, USUALLY IT'S PART OF THE, PART OF, YOU KNOW, THEY SAY EACH DEPARTMENT DOES THAT BASIC BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO KEEP THEIR MONEY.

SO THEY LIST ALL THE GREAT THINGS THEY DO SO THAT WHEN OTHERS READ IT, THEY CAN GO, OH, THAT'S WHY I SHOULD VOTE TO KEEP THAT MONEY AND NOT THAT MONEY.

BUT I, I TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD SOMETHING, I GOT FOLLOW UP WITH THEM.

WELL SAID.

IT WAS COOL.

I HAVEN'T DONE THAT IN A LONG WHILE.

I STOOD IN THE, WELL IN A LONG WHILE.

I WAS LUCKY I GOT THERE EARLY 'CAUSE THERE WERE A TON OF B MEMBERS THERE.

AND BECAUSE I GOT THERE EARLY, I WAS LIKE THE SIXTH PERSON TO SPEAK AND, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF HIS NAME.

UM, WORKS FOR GARCIA.

WHAT? GU GUS GUSS WAS THERE TOO.

HE SPOKE LIKE TWO PEOPLE AFTER ME.

SO HE, HE SPOKE AND AGAIN VERY WELL.

SO WE GOT OUR MESSAGE ACROSS.

WE WERE NICE.

WE WERE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

SO WE GOT TO HEAR IT.

BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THAT'S ALL I GOT.

IT'S GREAT SUPPORT FOR US.

PROCESS OF COURSE DEPARTMENT.

IT'S ALWAYS THERE FOR US.

THAT BRINGS ACCOUNTS, THAT BRINGS THE, THE CONGRESSMAN THE WAY OF THE CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE.

HOPEFULLY HE HELPS.

WE BOTH HAD TO DO THE SAME THING.

IT'S LIKE I'M NOT SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

I SAID THAT UP FRONT.

I'M NOT SPEAKING AS VOTED TO SPEAK ON THIS, BUT SPEAK ON.

OH, OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, ANY FROM THE PUBLIC? THANK YOU.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? ? OKAY.

WE HAVE A A SECOND.

HAVE A A VOTE.

ALL FAVOR SAY AYE.

I AYE.

ANY YOUR OPPOSED ANY? OKAY.

SO, UM, WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM NUMBER SIX.

LET GIVE GLASSES .

RECOMMENDATION

[6. 26-55861 Recommendation to receive and file a report from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

TO RECEIVE THEM.

FILE WORK CURRENT, ADD TO BOX COMMITTEES, DISCUSS ANTICIPATED AD HO COMMITTEES TO POST FROM THE PROJECTS.

AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO DISSOLVE, CREATE A COMMITTEES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST MEETING.

FIND TO BRING UP.

SO WE OPPORTUNITY AND STATE THAT MOTION.

ANYBODY WANNA START OFF ABOUT AD HOC COMMITTEE? WHICH ONE? WHAT DO WE HAVE NOW? WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DO? IT'S MEMORIAL DAY BANNER.

WE CAN DISSOLVE BANNER.

WELL, BANNERS IS STILL GOING.

SPEAKING OF THE EVENT.

YEAH, SO BANNERS, WHICH WE SOLVE IN OCTOBER, IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY, WE JUST, IF WE NEED TO DO THE SAME THING, WE DISSOLVE IT.

AND IN DECEMBER, WE MEMORIAL DAY WE DISSOLVE THAT AT THE LAST MEETING.

OH, THAT'S DONE.

SO, UM, VETERANS DAY, IT'S THE ONLY OTHER, IT'S STILL, IT SHOULD STILL STAY ALIVE.

IT'S COMING.

I THINK IT, WE STILL HAVE THE LIVE VETERANS STATEMENT.

UM MM-HMM.

I JUST CREATED MAY TOP OF MY HEAD.

SO YEAH.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO REALLY DO ANYTHING WITH THIS UNLESS WE WANTED ANY, ADD ANY ADDITIONAL, UM, SUBCOMMITTEES, IF THAT'S CORRECT.

ANYTHING WE CAN THINK OF OR I DON'T THINK THERE'S A NEED TO CREATE A, UH, A A RECENT BANNERS RECEPTION COMMITTEE.

NO, I THINK IT'S JUST A BANNER COMMITTEE.

THAT'S THE END OF THE END OF THEIR PIECE.

AN AFTER ACTION.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO AFTER ACTION SLASH PUT A GUIDE TO HELP MAKE IT THE NEXT PERSON.

EASY.

WE KEEP ADJUSTING THE GUIDANCE.

LEARN LESSONS, .

[00:50:03]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO WE ONLY HAVE ONE RIGHT NOW.

ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

WE WERE TRYING TO DISCUSS SOMETHING ABOUT MAYBE OTHER WHAT WE WERE DISCUSSING.

, THAT'S WHY WE HAD IT HERE.

IT WAS EACH, SURE.

WE HAD THE RADIO.

I DOT REMEMBER YOU BRINGING UP AN ADVOCACY TYPE COMMITTEE TO, TO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GOVERNMENT STUFF.

LIKE IF THERE'S A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND FEDERAL, THEN WE WRITE A LETTER TO SOME EXTENT SAYING WE SUPPORT THEM.

BUT IT DOESN'T GO ANY FURTHER THAN THAT BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE, THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE IT BEFORE IT'S SENT OUT.

AT LEAST ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AS INDIVIDUALS, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SAY WE'RE DOING THAT LETTER.

WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY CREATE A COMMITTEE WHO IS IN THIS CITY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVAL.

WHAT'S THE PATH IF WE, IF THEY SUDDENLY DID SOMETHING AND WE WANTED A PERMISSION TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

PROBABLY PEOPLE WRITE A LETTER.

THEY HAVE A LEGISLATIVE ANALYST OF, OF SOME SORT.

I MEAN, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS TO GET, I'M NOT SURE EITHER.

YOU NEED, IF THE COMMISSION WANTED TO WRITE A LETTER ADVOCATING FOR WHATEVER A POLICY YEAH.

ARE, DO YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THE LETTER TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THEN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE WOULD THEN PROVIDE IT TO THE COUNCIL FOR THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING THEY WANNA TAKE UP.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

OH, WOULD THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT IF IT'S JUST COMING FROM THE PERMISSION.

IF WE HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE, THAT THE COUNCIL, SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

IF WE DID NOT REQUEST IT TO COME FROM THE COUNCIL, IF WE WERE JUST SENDING IT AS THE VETERANS COMMISSION, YOU COULDN'T, OKAY.

YOU COULDN'T, YOU COULD SEND IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL BUT AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY YOU COULDN'T UNLESS IT CAME THROUGH THE, UH, COUNCIL.

SO COUNCIL HAS TO VOTE ON IT JUST FOR THE GROUPS TO KNOW.

UM, WOULD THEY BE GOING THROUGH THE SAME, UH, TIME PROCESS OR TIME TO GET ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA SO THAT COUNCIL CAN MAKE A DECISION? OR IS THERE A DIFFERENT PATH TO GET ON COUNCIL AGENDA FOR IF THEY WANTED TO WRITE A LETTER? DO YOU KNOW? I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THAT.

BUT I CAN FIND OUT AND OKAY.

GET BACK.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

UM, FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES, IT IS A VERY LONG PROCESS.

SO IF WE WANNA GET ON A COUNCIL AGENDA FOR ANY KIND OF APPROVAL OR ACTION THAT WE NEED THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE, IT'S ABOUT A SIX TO 10 WEEK PROCESS.

SO WE ARE THINKING, WE'RE LIKE, IF WE NEEDED SOMETHING DONE IN DECEMBER, WE'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE GET ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA TWO WEEKS FROM NOW.

UH, SO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING ALSO, ALSO TO KEEP IN MIND IF YOU, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PURSUING IS JUST KNOWING THAT LEAD TIME IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.

BE FIRM.

BUT IT MAY, I WOULD ASSUME THAT IT'S THE SAME.

BUT SO IT'S A TIMELY ISSUE.

PRETTY MUCH.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE A TIMELY ISSUE BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT NEW CYCLE'S GONE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW HEALTH, HEALTH MAY HAVE ISSUES THAT ARE MORE LONG TERM WHERE WE WOULD HAVE ISSUES THAT COME THAT WE FIND OUT ABOUT THAT MIGHT HAVE A SHORTER VIEWS, WHICH IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THE ADVOCACY A HOC ALREADY FORMED SO THAT THEY COULD IMMEDIATELY START THAT PROCESS.

'CAUSE IF YOU AREN'T FORMED AND THERE IS SOMETHING PENDING, YOU LOSE A MONTH.

YOU AT LEAST A MONTH.

DEPENDS ON IF THE PAYER WANTS TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.

AND SO THEN THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO BE, TO CONSIDER.

UH, AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT AVENUES THAT NEED TO, SO WE HAVE OUR PROCESSES.

YOU ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR COUNCIL PERSON.

SO THAT MAY BE ALSO SOMETHING, 'CAUSE THEY MAY BE ABLE TO EXPEDITE GETTING SOMETHING ONTO THE AGENDA AND IF THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR OFFICE.

SO IT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED IN, IS HAVING THAT A TALK, UM, ADVOCACY WORK GROUP.

UM, SO THAT IT'S READY TO GO AND YOU CAN KIND OF LIKE IGNITE IT AND START IT UP IF, IF, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO BE FOR A SPECIFIC SUBJECT FOR A, A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

SO IT COULD BE POLICY ADVOCACY FOR SIX MONTHS, WHATEVER, WHENEVER IT OPENS.

SURE.

AND THEN WHENEVER WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS FINISHED A PRETTY LITTLE BOW ON IT, THEN WE WOULD CLOSE OUT THE AD.

HO COULD IT BE THREE? UM, YOU COULD PUT IT, UH, BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A SPECIFIC SUBJECT AND ONCE THAT SPECIFIC SUBJECT IS DONE THEN YOU KNOW, PUT SOMETHING UP.

THAT AGENDA HAD, I'M SORRY, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? HOW MANY COUNCIL PEOPLE WOULD IT TAKE? THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING.

[00:55:01]

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF US.

JUST ONLY BECAUSE IT'S HEALTH STAFF.

WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT PROCESS.

UM, SO, BUT IF WE GO TO A COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT MAY BE A QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA ASK THEM.

HERE'S A QUESTION.

WHO CONTROLS THE AGENDA? UH, THE CITY MANAGER CONTROLS THE AGENDA AND THE COUNCIL OFFICES CONTROL THE AGENDA.

SO HOW DO, IF WE WANNA HAVE SOMETHING PUT ON AN AGENDA, WHO IS THE PERSON WE APPROACH YOUR COUNCIL PERSON THAT, SO THE COUNCIL ONE COUNCIL PERSON CAN APPROACH THE CITY MANAGER WITH THAT? THIS NO, THE COUNCIL PERSON CAN PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA ON THEIR OWN.

ON THEIR OWN.

THAT'S THE, SO THEY WOULD JUST HAVE TO, UH, DECIDE THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO BE FORWARD WITH.

WE'VE GOT A COUPLE CHANGES.

SO JUST TO REITERATE, YOU SAID THAT, UM, IT HAS TO BE SPECIFIC TOPIC.

LIKE, LIKE A PARTICULAR BILL IS AN ADVOCACY COMMITTEE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

IT'S NOT LIKE JUST AN OPEN WHATEVER BILLS YOU RISE TO THE TOP IN THE SIX MONTHS.

BECAUSE THAT COULD BECOME ONGOING.

AND THE IDEA AROUND AD HOC SEEMS ARE NOT GOVERNED BY THE BROWN ACT IS TO, UH, FOR A SPECIFIC TOPIC.

AND THEN ONCE THAT IS CLOSED, THEN WE CLOSE THAT .

SO HAS TO BE TOPIC SPECIFIC, LIKE NOT JUST MILITARY ISSUES.

IT COULDN'T BE THAT GENERAL.

IT HAS TO BE LIKE THIS BILL HAS BEEN PROPOSED IN CONGRESS, WHATEVER THE NAME OF THAT BILL IS.

IS THERE, IS THERE SPECIFIC I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO IF I AS AN INDIVIDUAL PROPOSE A BILL OR SAY, UH, LIKE A LOSS OF LIMB AND THAT I HAVE, RIGHT.

I NEED TO GET A, A DEVELOPMENT.

IF I WANT TO GET THAT SUBSIDIZED THROUGH AN INSURANCE AND I'VE MADE A BILL AND I PRESENTED IT UP TO THE STATE, RIGHT.

CAN I GET THE CITY COUNCIL TO MOTION TO, TO SUPPORT IT, RIGHT.

IF I HAD IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT AS PART OF THE COMMISSION, PUT A BILL TOGETHER AND THAT WENT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

CAN THE CITY REPORT THAT BETTER? UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD TAKE UP.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HIS BUSINESS.

UM, BUT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO REACH OUT TO A COUNCIL MEMBER AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO TAKE UP.

IT, THE INDIVIDUAL, UM, YOUR, YOUR INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD, WOULD HAVE A SIT DOWN WITH THEM ON IT, SHOW THEM OR THEIR CHIEF OF STAFF? PROBABLY THEIR CHIEF OF STAFF.

AND THAT WOULD BE AS AN INDIVIDUAL, NOT AS A COMMISSIONER.

AND THEN THEY WOULD TAKE IT UP THE CHAIN AND IF SOMETHING THAT WAS LOCAL RIGHT.

AS PART OF LIKE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

WE CAN PRESENT SOMETHING AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO THIS COUNCIL AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN DECIDE, OR THE COMMISSIONERS CAN DECIDE HOW TO PRESENT THAT.

YOU COULD BRING UP A SUBJECT HERE.

UH, YOU WOULD EMAIL THE CHAIR OR THE VICE CHAIR TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO AGENDIZE THAT.

AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION AROUND IT.

AND IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION WANTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH, UM, ADVISING THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY MANAGER ON YOU COULD, THAT'S WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY.

UM, SO THAT THERE AREN'T ANY SURPRISES.

THERE PROVISION THAT THE CHARTER COMMISSION TO, UM, TO HAVE PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEES OR ARE THEY ALL OH, WE'RE NOT USING SUBCOMMITTEES.

WE'RE ONLY USING AD HOCS BECAUSE OF THE BROWN ACT CONSTRAINTS.

SO FOR CLARIFICATION, WE ONLY HAVE TWO AD HOC COMMITTEES RIGHT NOW.

SO OPEN TO WHATEVER WE FEEL WE NEED.

UM, HOW SPECIFIC DOES IT HAVE TO BE FOR AN AD HOC COMMITTEE? UH, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.

AND I CAN TELL YOU YES OR NO.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S, WELL LIKE YOU HAD JUST SAID, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD MADE A COMMENT THAT SUGGESTION.

WOULD HER SUGGESTION OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE HAVE THIS, IT WOULD BE MORE GINA'S SUGGESTION OF THIS SPECIFIC BILL IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO TAKE UP AND DISCUSS.

AND, AND IT COULD BE, WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS YET.

WE'RE RIGHT.

WE'RE SAYING WE WANNA, LIKE YOU SAID, BE READY FOR IT.

BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW WHY.

EXACTLY.

WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIFIC TOPIC FIRST.

WHAT, SO IT JUST CAN'T BE AN OVERALL LEGISLATIVE? OH, IT HAS TO BE A SPECIFIC YES.

THAT'S WHAT I, BUT I DO THINK, OKAY, WHAT I HAVE MY, THIS IS KIND OF HOW NOTHING IS GONNA BE A SURPRISE AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL.

EVERYTHING TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET TO THE FLOOR OR TO GET IN FRONT OF FOLKS.

SO MAYBE JUST THINKING ABOUT MORE CAPACITY AND HOW MAYBE INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS CAN KIND OF TRACK ON THAT.

UM, SO THAT AS SOMETHING GETS CLOSER TO DECISIONS BEING MADE, YOU SHOULD THEN HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO FORM AN AD HOC SO THAT YOU COULD KIND OF DEEP DIVE AND WRITE THAT ADVOCACY.

BUT, BUT IT WOULD TAKE SOME JUST WATCHING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING,

[01:00:01]

'CAUSE TYPICALLY IT TAKES A VERY LONG TIME FOR ANYTHING TO MOVE TO THE DECISION PROBLEM.

COULD WE CREATE A POSITION NEXT AGENDA IN A, A POSITION OF ONE COMMISSIONER WHO WOULD BE THE, AS A LEGISLATIVE LEASE LIAISON, A PERSON WHO'S, WHO'S VOLUNTEERED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND REPORT ON A MONTHLY BASIS WHAT THEY'VE SEEN OUT THERE.

COULD WE CREATE A POSITION? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN CREATE BECAUSE OF THE CHARTER AND WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS THE OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION WOULD BE.

UM, I MEAN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE BYLAWS.

SO IT WOULD JUST BE WHAT THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE SAYS.

AS FAR AS APPOINTING OFFICERS.

IF YOU DECIDED TO CREATE BYLAWS, THEN YOU COULD INCLUDE THAT IN YOUR BYLAWS.

I THINK SO.

BYLAWS.

SO WE, WE DON'T HAVE BYLAWS NOW.

THERE'S A SUB, THERE'S AN A HOC OH YAY.

WE'LL GIVE YOU 30 SECONDS.

WHEN BOB FOSTER FIRST CAME HERE AND WAS MAYOR, HE PUT TOGETHER A MEMBER, REMEMBER WHAT WE CALL IT? BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS A COMMITTEE.

I LED IT WITH, UH, BARBARA SULLIVAN TO LOOK AT EVERY COMMISSION.

AND THE ONE THING THAT REALLY CAME OUT STRONG WAS EVERY COMMISSION NEEDED A BOOK THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I TALKED ABOUT YOUR DUTIES.

IT HAD BYLAWS IN IT.

AND THEN TO EDUCATE NEW COMMISSIONERS EVERY TIME NEW COMMISSION CAME ON, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE COMMISSIONER.

THAT COMMISSION.

WELL THERE NEEDS TO BE A BOOK THAT REALLY, THEY JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, AND INCLUDES BYLAWS AND HERE'S STRUCTURE OF HOW YOU RUN THE MEETINGS HERE.

WHATEVER ELSE WAS IN THERE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT ALL WAS IN THERE.

BUT THAT WAS ONE OF OUR BIG RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME.

AND THERE IS A HANDBOOK, BUT IT'S NOT COMMISSION SPECIFIC.

WE, WE CREATED THAT GREAT VOLUME, WHICH IS THE, UM, FOR THE VETERANS COMMISSION.

THAT WAS DONE.

BUT IT DIDN'T, IT WASN'T LIKE THAT.

IT'S VERY GOOD THOUGH.

IF ANYONE DOESN'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT.

YOU SHOULD, YOU SHOULD GET ONE.

IT'S, IT'S A GOOD, IT'S A GOOD STARTING TO CREATE SOMETHING LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU COULD USE THAT AS STARTING POINT.

AND MEL, JUST ADD ON TO IT.

GO, OKAY, HERE'S THE BYLAWS.

AND THE BYLAWS.

WE COULD PROBABLY STEAL FROM ANOTHER C YOU KNOW? YEAH.

AND LET'S NOT GET TOO OFF TOPIC.

'CAUSE THIS ITEM IS JUST ABOUT AD HOC COMMITTEES, RIGHT.

SO MAYBE WE HAVE COMMITTEE, WELL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BYLAWS NOW.

AN AD HOC BYLAWS, AD HOC COMMITTEE.

YOU COULD DO THAT.

BUT AD HO COMMITTEE TO PUT TOGETHER A THIS CREATE BYLAWS ET OUR LAWS FOR THIS COMMISSION.

UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DIS DISCUSS WITH, UH, STAFF AND THEN GET THE ATTORNEY INVOLVED RATHER THAN CREATING AN AD HOC COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE.

EXCUSE ME.

WHO'S GONNA DO IT THEN? THAT'S THE QUESTION.

THE ATTORNEY.

WHY WOULD THEY CREATE OUR BYLAWS? BECAUSE THERE ARE LEGAL COUNSEL.

NORMALLY I WOULD, EVERY NONPROFIT I'VE BEEN WITH, SINCE WE CREATE THE VIOLENCE, IF THEY WANNA REVIEW, THEY'LL BE, GIVE US AN ITEM TO LOOK AT.

'CAUSE HOW ARE THEY GONNA KNOW WHAT WE WANT? ARE THEY GONNA YEAH.

IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DEFINITELY AGENDA AND DISCUSS AFTER.

IT'S ON THE AGENDA THERE TOO.

I ALSO SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE WAITING FOR THE BUDGET STUFF, UH, OUR ENERGY'S GONNA GO INTO VETERAN STATE.

THAT'S WHAT STAFFING .

WE CAN, WE CAN CREATE BYLAW.

WE'LL, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DO IT.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS IN THE HARBOR COMMISSION, WE ACTUALLY HAD AN OFFSIDE AND CREATED A BYLAWS COMMISSION.

WHAT YOU CREATED.

MOVING ALONG.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GOOD DISCUSSION.

DO YOU HAVE, CAN WE GET COPIES OF, OF THE MANUAL OR WHATEVER'S YOU CAN FIND THE LONG BEACH COMMISSION HANDBOOK ONLINE.

YOU DO SEARCH FOR IT.

IT'S THERE.

AND, AND LIKE, LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, IT'S VERY GENERIC.

SO IT HELPS.

LIKE, AND I DID RECENTLY PROVIDE A COPY TO, UH, COMMISSIONER, EXCUSE ME, CHAIR OSBORNE.

I CAN PROVIDE A COPY TO EVERYONE ELSE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT.

GINA.

WHAT THE NEW MEMBERS ALSO NEED IS, BESIDES THE GENERIC, THEY NEED THE SPECIFIC ONE THAT WAS DEVELOPED BY THIS COMMISSION SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

KNOW THAT, UH, THE, THE BOOK, UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVEN'T DEVELOPED OUR OWN, NOT THE BOOK, THE BOOK SEVEN YEARS MAYBE.

OH, YOU MEAN THE STRATEGIC PLAN? YEAH.

OH, OKAY.

JUST 'CAUSE THEY CAN RENEW PEOPLE IF THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

AND THAT IS ONLINE AS WELL.

SO, I MEAN, I CAN SEND YOU A LINK TO THAT.

YEAH, SEND A LINK TO THE GROUP.

[01:05:01]

AND IT'S, AND ACTUALLY IF YOU GO TO LONG BEACH.GOV FORWARD SLASH VETERANS, EVERYTHING IS THERE.

SO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, THE, THE INFORMATION ON THE, ON THE BANNERS, ET CETERA.

SO IT'S, IT'S A VERY NICE WEBPAGE THAT HAS A LOT OF LINKS TO ALL OF THESE THINGS.

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT, MODIFYING IT.

AND AGAIN, LET'S NOT GET TOO OFF TOPIC FROM AD HOS.

I STILL, I THINK THAT'S JUST A, JUST A, A NOTE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WE CAN GO THERE AND GET THE, JUST, YOU KNOW, OFF TOPIC.

SLIDE MY HAND .

JUST NO DISCUSSION AROUND IT.

JUST NO DISCUSSION.

WE CAN MENTION IT, BUT NO DISCUSSION.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? PUBLIC? ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR? THE MOTION SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THANK YOU.

UM, KEN, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF BECAUSE WE ALL INTRODUCED OURSELVES AT THE BEGINNING.

THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY.

BEFORE WE MOVE ON, JUST I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Veterans Affairs Commission on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

I GAVE, DO THAT FIRST.

LET ME DO, I DO STAND, THAT WOULD FALL UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO IT WORKED THROUGH WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENTS SCANNED WHAT SHE, WELL, JUST A SECOND.

DO YOU HAVE ANY, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT THAT'S NECESSARILY ON THE, THE ITEM WE SUCCESS, BUT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENT? THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ASKING OR THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THE MOMENT IS RIGHT NOW ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOMETHING UNRELATED TO ANYTHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE.

YEAH, HE'S GONNA BE A FUTURE.

WE STILL HAVE A MISSION AGENDAS STILL.

YOU ARE WELCOME.

YOU WELL, PHIL.

ALL NINE HAVE NINE GIFTS.

OH MY GOD, IT HASN'T BEEN SINCE I STARTED.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

DO YOU NORMALLY KEEP THE AD HOC? UM, LET ME GO AHEAD AND START YOUR TIME AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN, UH, THERE, THERE CAN'T BE ANY BACK AND FORTH DURING THAT TIME.

YOU COULD JUST MAKE YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN WE CAN, THEY CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AFTER THE FACT.

GO AHEAD AND START.

DID THERE LISTING OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, UH, BEING INSERTED INTO YOUR MONEY AGENDA AND DOES THAT COMPLETE YOUR COMMENTS OR DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANNA ASK? THAT? THAT'S ONE QUESTION.

UM, WHERE DO YOU GET TO SEE THE AD HOC COM? UH, THE AD HOC LOCATION AT? IS IT ONLINE OR DO YOU HAVE, HAVE, UH, DOCUMENTATION THAT YOU HAVE REPORT THAT ANY ANYONE TO SEE AT ANY TIME? ANSWER.

YOU STILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO SPEAK.

ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR COMMENTS OR DONE WITH IT? PERFECT.

GOOD QUESTION.

YEAH, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE ASKING IS YOU HAVE TO BE ON AN AD HOC COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO BE INVITED TO AN AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? LIKE WHICH ONES ARE THE AD HOC COMMITTEES? WE ONLY HAVE BANNERS AND, UM, VETERAN STATE RIGHT NOW, BUT BECAUSE OF THE BROWN ACT, WE CAN ONLY HAVE FOUR PEOPLE ON ONE OF THESE AD HOC COMMITTEES.

SO ONLY THOSE SUPPORT PEOPLE WOULD TAKE PART IN THE, THE AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETINGS, CORRECT? YES.

WHOEVER IS APPOINTED TO IT.

THE AGENDA I BRING ONLY, YOU KNOW, EACH MONTH.

THEIR AGENDA.

EVERYBODY, THEIR AGENDA, THEIR THERE'S SOMEBODY, THERE'S SOMETHING.

COMMITTEE.

COMMITTEE SAY WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE HISTORY OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEES IN TERMS OF THE LIST AND INFORMATION ON THOSE AD HOC COMMITTEES IS ALL IN THE MEETING MINUTES AND, AND S RIGHT? YES.

MONTHLY AND IN YOUR MONTHLY, UH, REPORT HERE.

SO THE, UM, LIKE MR. HARD SAID, THE MINUTES WOULD CONTAIN WHAT AD HOC COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE WHEN THEY'RE FORMED AND WHEN WE DISSOLVE THEM AND WHO, UH, ARE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE AS FAR AS LOCATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S A TOP COMMITTEE, IT'S NOT GOVERNED BY THE BROWN ACT.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PUT OUT AN AGENDA.

THEY CAN MEET WHEREVER IT'S CONVENIENT TO THEM, WHETHER IT'S ONLINE OR AT A COFFEE SHOP, SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.

IT'S THEIR, THE RULES ARE A LITTLE BIT LOOSER AROUND THAT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT'S A SPECIFIC SUBJECT WITH THE BEGINNING OF AN END AND WHAT'S DISCUSSED IN, DURING THE AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING, IF YOU INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETING.

SO WHAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED IN THE, THE MINUTES OR, UH, CAPTURED IN THE MINUTES WOULD BE WHEN THE AD HOC COMMITTEE CAME TO THE COMMISSION AND REPORTED OUT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE AD HOC COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE.

IN, IN, IN YOUR

[01:10:01]

YOU DON'T INSERT THE AD HOC COMMITTEE IN IT SO THAT EVERY VETERAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, UH, PHYSICALLY AND ALSO ABLE TO ASK, UH, DIFFERENT QUESTIONS TO THE ONES THAT'S ON THE COMMITTEE AD HOC COMMITTEE, OR IS THAT A VIOLATION OF GROUND TO HAVE? WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AFTER THE MEETING BECAUSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD HAS CLOSED AND THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT MORE SPECIFICS.

OH GUYS, THAT IT? THANK YOU.

GOOD QUESTION.

REALLY.

I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

OKAY, NOW, UH, THOMAS ANNOUNCEMENTS.