Draft Minutes-February 8, 2022

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DRAFT ONLY
MILITARY & VETERAN’S AFFAIRS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Dalpe called the meeting to order on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 5:02 p.m.
Members in Attendance:
Chair Robert Dalpe
Vice-Chair Cassandra Facciponti
Commissioner Nancy Dunn
Commissioner Carol Farabee
Commissioner Nicolas Magallanes
Commissioner Michael Simon
Commission David Waltzer
Members Absent:
None
Staff Members Present:
Councilmember, Matt Orlando
Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager
Thomas Allen, Asst. City Attorney
Kim Moyers, Cultural Development Director
Leah Powell, Neighborhood Resources Director
Jody Crago, Museum Administrator
Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary
Others Present
Kelly Cooper
Dhahy Mullangi
Christopher Waltzer
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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Chair Dalpe requested approval of the minutes for the January 11, 2022, Military 
and Veterans Affairs Commission meeting. Commissioner Simon made the motion 
to approve the minutes of the January 11, 2022, minutes. 
Commissioner 
Magallanes seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved 7-0 by all Boardmembers present.
3. ACTION AGENDA
a. None
4. BRIEFING
a. Media Training-Matt Burdick, Communication & Public Affairs Director
Mr. Burdick gave a presentation on interfacing with the media and the 
public.  City Council and city staff are responsible for handling all inquiries 
from the media.  Please direct any media questions to city staff who will 
identify a subject matter expert within the city to speak to the topic.  If you 
do speak to the media, it is as a private individual.
b. Current City of Chandler Military and Veteran Programs
i. Chandler Museum, Jody Crago, Museum Administrator
Mr. Crago gave a presentation on what the Museum has done for
the military and veterans.  The city has a database on its website to 
compile data where veterans can voluntarily answer a form.  The 
webpage is www.chandleraz.gov/veterandatabase.  This is meant to 
document veteran stories and experiences.  This information is 
used to drive programming and recognition. Military and veteran 
donations are accepted and become a permanent record for the 
city. 
Programs 
include 
speaker 
programs, 
interviews,
and 
exhibitions.  Additional outreach programs and collaborations with 
other city departments include a Veteran’s appreciation event, 
assistance with the development of the Veteran’s Memorial at 
Veterans Oasis Park, and the Walk of Honor. 
Commissioner Farabee asked if the museum would like copies of 
the book by Jack Holder.  Mr. Crago responded that they would 
consider have copies of the book available to sell in the museum 
store.  
Chair Dalpe added that the Veteran’s Heritage Project may be able 
to add to the veteran

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data the city is collecting.  
ii. Neighborhood Resources, Leah Powell, Neighborhood Resources 
Director
Ms. Powell gave a presentation regarding veteran programs offered 
in the Neighborhood Resources department.  ‘For Our City’ is a 
program is a collective of different groups including faith-based,
non-profit organizations, city leadership and businesses coming 
together to maximize resources to fill in gaps.  ‘Let’s Pull Together’
works with Code Enforcement to assist veterans that are needing 
help managing home maintenance.  Volunteers team up to provide 
landscaping, painting, etc.  With the For Our City Day multiple 
volunteers come out and do a neighborhood beautification 
including landscaping, painting, pulling weeds, etc.  Ten years ago, 
City Council allocated funds for a ‘Veterans Transportation Program’.  
Low-income veterans are provided with food boxes, transportation 
to the VA and to medical appointments. The city also partners with 
Operation Shockwave to provide benefits mental health support to 
veterans.  We have a Navigation Team that work with people 
experiencing homelessness, court issues, and behavioral issues. 
‘Operation Open Door’ are for medically vulnerable people that are 
homeless.  Shelter is provided at a hotel that also aids in finding 
additional support programs.  
Vice-Chair Facciponti asked Ms. Powell to speak to how the Cares 
Act has impacted services.  Ms. Powell responded that her 
department has had an influx of funds as a result of the Cares Act.  
Additional staff has been hired to assist with the management of 
those grant funds. Despite the additional funds, there is still a need 
within the community. 
5. DISCUSSION
a. Review Draft Rules of Procedure:
A draft of the Rules of Procedure for the Military & Veterans Affairs Commission 
was distributed.  The Commissioners will send comments via email back to Ms. 
Popovich, Recording Secretary and Mr. Bass by February 28, 2022, by 8:00 a.m.  
Those modification will be added to the document with adoption expected at the 
meeting on March 8, 2022.  
Vice-Chair Facciponti asked Thomas Allen, Asst. City Attorney, why the information 
on the number of Commission members and the definition of a quorum was

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removed from the Rules of Procedure.  Mr. Allen responded that that information is 
found in the City Code, Section 2-22.
b. Discuss Possible Commission Projects:
Chair Dalpe asked the Commissioners to speak to projects that the Commission 
may support or initiate.  
Chair Dalpe – In discussion with the mayor, support of the USSAZ submarine in 
Gilbert and recognizing young men and women going into service from high 
school.  
Vice-Chair Facciponti – updated resource directory, Battlefield to Boardroom, 
mental health issues
Commissioner Farabee - Entrepreneurial, small business grants for veterans
Commissioner Waltzer – Improvement of the transition process from service to 
civilian life
Commissioner Magallanes – Improve communication for job placement
Commissioner Dunn – Nothing at this time
Commissioner Simone – Nothing at this time
Mr. Bass said that a list will be compiled for the next meeting for review.  
Commissioner Farabee asked if sub-committees may be formed to work on 
these projects.  Mr. Bass responded that yes, sub-committees of less than 4 can 
be formed with Commission members and report back to the Commission.
6. MEMBER COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. None
7. CALENDAR ITEMS 
a. Veterans Drop Zone Event, Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 10 – 2 p.m. at Tri-City 
Baptist Church, 2211 W. Germann Rd., Chandler, 85286
b. Next meeting will be Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
8. INFORMATION ITEMS 
a. The Conflict-of-Interest form was distributed to Commission members.
9. ADJOURNMENT
With no further items, Chair Dalpe requested a motion to adjourn the meeting at

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6:10 p.m. Commissioner Waltzer made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Vice-
Chair Facciponti seconded the motion. 
The adjournment was approved 7-0 by all Commissioners present.  
_________________________________________             _____________________________________
Robert Dalpe, Chairman
         Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary