TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ryan J. Alsop - County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Paulette Cooper - Deputy Clerk of the Board II
SUBJECT: Appointment to the Veterans’ Commission
RECOMMENDATION
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Clerk of the Board requests the appointment of Fred Sallam to represent the position of At Large to the Napa County Veterans’ Commission with a term of office to commence immediately and expire March 20, 2024.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There is currently one opening on the Napa County Veterans’ Commission due a resignation. The County Executive Office advertised the opening and received one appointment request from Fred Sallam.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
On January 30, 2018 the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2018-16 creating the Napa County Veterans' Commission.
The purpose of the Commission is to serve as an advocate for people who have served in the Military (“Veterans”) and their families by helping them to maintain a good quality of life and to remain independent by increasing awareness of the issues facing Veterans in Napa County and by influencing public policy through regular reports to the Board of Supervisors. The Commission educates and raises awareness to the public, County staff and the Board of Supervisors regarding issues affecting Veterans and their families, including, but not limited to, Veterans’ physical and mental health, transportation, benefits, and ways to generally improve the lives of Veterans. Further, the Veterans’ Commission makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisor’s Legislative Subcommittee regarding needed changes in State law for incorporation into the County’s legislative platform.
In order to achieve its general purpose, the Commission shall, among other things:
a. Study, investigate and research Veterans' matters in Napa County and surrounding counties so that services to Veterans can be coordinated and maximized;
b. Review annually the status of Veterans' benefits and services;
c. Submit recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding programs, plans, goals, policy, and procedures dealing with Veterans' services;
d. Submit annually a strategic plan outlining focus areas for the subsequent year; and
e. Assist where needed in Veterans' observance days during the year.
The Veterans' Commission shall be comprised of nine individuals as follows: A minimum of five Veterans serving on the Commission and four representatives from the community who fulfill any of the following categories: they are local Veterans, local family members of Veterans, and members of local organizations serving the needs of Veterans. Commissioners shall serve four-year terms.
On March 26, 2019 the Board adopted Resolution No. 2019-44 amending the bylaws to revise the language to reflect that the Commission serves as an advocate for Veterans, not spelled out in the original bylaws. The amendment eliminates the Supervisorial District residency requirement allowing applicants to be ranked according to merit and needs of the Commission, rather than residency, and eliminates the verbiage relating to the startup of the Commission. The amendment also changed the Conduct of Meetings/Order of Business to include:
• Veterans Service Officer Report;
• Veterans Service Office Staff Report;
• Standing Committees Reports; and
• Commissioner's Report
Staff requests the Board appoint Fred Sallam to the Napa County Veterans' Commission.