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MILITARY & VETERAN’S AFFAIRS COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 10, 2022
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Dalpe called the meeting to order on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Members in Attendance:
Chair Robert Dalpe
Vice-Chair Cassandra Facciponti
Commissioner Carol Farabee
Commissioner Shane Levinson
Commissioner Michael Simon
Commissioner David Waltzer
Members Absent:
Commissioner Nancy Dunn
Staff Members Present:
Andy Bass, Deputy City Manager
Thomas Allen, Assistant City Attorney
Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary
Others Present
Scott Strubbe, 873 S Gardner Dr., Chandler, AZ 85224
Ireland Strubbe, 873 S Gardner Dr., Chandler, AZ 85224
2. SCHEDULED/UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES
a. None
3. ACTION AGENDA
a. Approval of the Minutes from the April 12, 2022, Military and Veterans
Affairs Commission
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Chair Dalpe requested approval of the minutes for the April 12, 2022, Military
and Veterans Affairs Commission meeting. Commissioner Farabee
made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2022, minutes. Vice-
Chair Facciponti seconded the motion.
The minutes were approved 6-0 by all Commission members present.
b. Discussion on the creation of two new sub-committees under the Military
and Veterans Affairs Commission to address the issues for military and
veteran’s mental health and veterans outreach programs.
Commissioner Simon made the motion to table the discussion until the Military
and Veterans Commission Retreat on May 20, 2022. Commissioner Farabee
seconded the motion.
The motion was approved 6-0 by all Commission members present.
4. DISCUSSION
a. 2019 City of Chandler Needs Assessment – Vice-Chair Cassandra Facciponti
Vice-Chair Cassandra Facciponti presented information from the 2019 City of
Chandler Needs Assessment. Information included Social Determinants of
Health with specifics around Finance, Mental and Emotional Health, Physical and
Functional Limitations, Healthcare and VHA Utilization, and Substance Abuse.
Recommendations to the Commission included Mentoring and Networking, Peer
Support, Environment, Access to Resources and Taught Resilience. Vice-Chair
Facciponti detailed Veteran demographics into sub-categories including Arizona
Veteran Population, Education, Period of Service, Age Distribution, and Race and
Ethnicity. Lastly, Vice-Chair Facciponti shared information on Veteran Sub-
Populations including challenges for minority veterans and women veterans.
Commissioner Levinson asked if the goal of the Commission was to ensure that
veterans received disability. Vice-Chair Facciponti responded that there is no
clear path in Arizona to apply for benefits. Discussion ensued.
b. Protocol for Suicide Intervention -Vice-Chair Cassandra Facciponti
Vice-Chair Facciponti presented on the issues around the protocol for Suicide
Intervention. Multiple veterans’ organizations try to assist veterans with suicide
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prevention, but we need to encourage individuals who are in crisis to reach out
to emergency services for immediate help. Discussion ensued.
c. Presenter Gina Ruggiero from Creative Drill Sergeants – unable to attend
5. MEMBER COMMENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Commissioner Farabee shared information that was to be delivered by Gina
Ruggiero President of Creative Drill Sergeants. The mission of Creative Drill
Sergeants is to help prevent homelessness and suicides and lead to success for
re-integration . They deal with four components: comradery, mentoring, family,
and economic stability. Music and art programs are used to assist veterans with
PTSD and other reintegration issues.
b. Vice-Chair Facciponti announced that the Chandler Elks will be hosting an
Armed Forces Day breakfast on May 24, 2022.
c. Commissioner Simon announced that Valley of the Sun, Post 35, will have a 9
a.m. ceremony on Memorial Day and it would be good to have some
Commissioners there.
d. Chair Dalpe announced that the speaker for the VLMC luncheon on November
10, 2022, will be Patrick Henry Brady.
6. CALENDAR ITEMS
a. Next meeting will be Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
b. Military and Veterans Affairs Commission Retreat, May 20, 2022, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
at the Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive., Chandler, 85226
7. ADJOURNMENT
With no further items, Chair Dalpe adjourned the meeting at 5:37 pm.
_________________________________________ _____________________________________
Robert Dalpe, Chairman
Sandy Popovich, Recording Secretary