Minutes - July 11, 2018

Agenda - July 11, 2018

Call to Order

Roll Call

Approval of Minutes - N/A

Public Comments:

• Bob Piazza requested Veterans Advisory Committee meetings changed to later time to enable veterans who have jobs more opportunities to attend.

Old Business - N/A

Correspondence - N/A

Auditorium and Building Status - N/A

New Business

Veterans Use Policy

• C. Judy reported collaboration efforts for addressing concerns for building utilization. Veterans believing Veterans Use Policy adopted by Board of Supervisors (BOS) in 2005 was not being enforced consistently across all building. Policy charging rental fees for all public events where admission charged potentially causing conflict with state law. Efforts made with advisory committee and stakeholders to make policy clearer and reduce confusion. Current proposed policy expands veterans’ free use of buildings and realigns policy with state law. Explained handout comparing charges identified in BOS 2005 approved policy and detailed current confusion involving fundraisers that charge members of the public. With fee implemented in 2005 policy, current policy confirms events that would benefit veterans or their families would be free. For fundraisers not associated with supporting veterans and their families, charge would remain same as 2005 veterans use policy. New policy would apply a 50 percent discount for veterans personal use events. Governmental and disaster changes, and fee waiver process would remain the same. For non-veterans use events, new policy will enable hard cost recovery for equipment, janitorial and event preparation by County staff. County accepting suggestions for policy modifications with intention to bring draft to next advisory committee meeting for action.
• T. Leen announced opportunity to voice support or objections of veterans use draft policy and inquire about areas needing clarification.
• John Gray expressed consideration of draft policy so long as it mirrors what C. Judy described.
• Frank Plexico shared satisfaction with draft policy so long as Bob Piazza supports it. Suggested needed efforts for protecting veterans’ rights for use of buildings and his belief veterans should not have to pay for their use.
• Deborah De Martini announced ability to represent VFW. Shared objection to policy and referenced letter submitted by VFW objecting to draft policy.
• Bob Piazza disputed County’s ability to charge veterans for fundraising efforts. Referenced Gridley Decision (1929) and stated court case determined veterans groups can use the buildings “gratuitously” for the patriotic purposes. Shared belief that “patriotic purposes” was left undefined and objected to veterans use policy draft stating County does not have right to interpret State law.
• Ted Sexauer supported Bob Piazza’s suggestion, but elected not to comment.
• Gabriel Arevalo objected to veterans use draft policy stating all fundraisers are used to benefit veterans groups and charges should not be applied.
• Bob Kinsey inquired about who has final say in veterans draft use policy when there are differences of opinion on implemented charges. C. Judy confirmed instances would be taken to BOS for consideration through waiver request.
• Ronda Ross-Leen referenced Facility Spaces section and suggested kitchen use should be considered as part of the facility used in events meetings. Requested scheduling for setup be made during time of contract signing.
• Julia Sutton recommended that the waiver request process be outlined and included in the proposed policy to improve consistency and clarification efforts.
• Bob Piazza questioned how many in attendance have read Gridley Decision (1929). Read conclusion of the court case detailing veterans’ “gratuitous” use of building. T. Leen referenced court case decided veterans groups could be charged for use of building electricity.
• J. Uniack requested any written correspondence or legal documentation associated with formation of veterans use policy draft ten days prior to veteran’s advisory meeting. T. Leen confirmed meeting documents for July 11^th’s special meeting were distributed prior to meeting and he will resend to J. Uniack.
• B. Stewart inquired about the “benevolent use” of buildings and questioned how ‘beneficial use’ of veterans group is defined. Asked how fundraisings revenues are distributed.
• L. Nuñez supported Julia Sutton’s suggestions. Agreed correspondence suggested by J. Uniack should be distributed before next veteran’s advisory committee. C. Judy confirmed written correspondence, waiver policy, and Appendix A containing patriotic event days can be provided.
• F. Miller inquired about charges to veterans groups and their families. Discussed scholarships by veterans groups to family members and how certain individuals not having veterans’ family members are ineligible. Questioned why veterans groups should be charged for events that do not benefit veterans or their families, but benefit the community.
• Deborah De Martini expressed concern County does not have right to define what is considered a patriotic holiday.
• T. Leen suggested needed efforts for finalizing draft of veterans use policy to present to BOS. Reminded committee that its role is to provide recommendations to policy, but final decision made by BOS.
• Bob Piazza questioned whether recommendations by Veteran’s Advisory Committee accurately represents wishes of veterans groups. Asked who authored draft of the veterans use policy and who approved draft revision presented to the County. T. Leen confirmed it was L. Nuñez and he that submitted draft after compiling input from last eighteen months of Veteran’s Advisory Committee meetings. F. Miller confirmed viewing past versions of the policy, but expressed concern for complexity of language in it. Supported claim that veterans should not have to pay for use of buildings.
• Katie Smorgan discussed lack of circulation of documentations to veteran’s organizations. T. Leen confirmed documents are distributed to building representatives who are then responsible for disseminating documents to respective veterans organizations. J. Uniack suggested documents be posted on County website in accordance to the Brown Act.