Speaker 1: Consider sending a letter to the US Department of Veterans Affairs urging a commitment to a firm timeline of action for their proposed health facility and national cemetery. The sign was placed on the agenda at the request of Councilmember Manor SC.
Speaker 3: I think it.
Speaker 0: Matters.
Speaker 3: Yes, I think it speaks for itself. We've. We don't seem to have much movement on this. And most recently, I guess I saw the article about Urban Shield playing out there, and that's the most activity I've seen along. That is a parcel that's promised for a. Facility that serves our veterans a need that grows every day. And also the Columbarium of National Cemetery, which unfortunately is also a need that grows every day. So I placed this for council consideration so that we get a timeline because money has been appropriated and we start getting the public aware of what's happening and put them to the test on how they're meeting the. The delivery of the promise that was made. Oh, I guess it was in 2010 when we had the meeting in the theater where it said the deal has been transferred and it's going to happen. So. Let's move.
Speaker 8: It.
Speaker 0: That emotion.
Speaker 3: Well, yes, I move second.
Speaker 0: We do have speakers on this. Andrew Huntoon and then Richard Banger.
Speaker 3: I apologize for keeping you up so late. Mm hmm. Hear me speak.
Speaker 2: All right.
Speaker 0: We're here anyway.
Speaker 2: We have to go in the back.
Speaker 3: This is an experiment I'm having in legibility here. Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer. Council members especially thank rank batteries for prompting this action. I thank you for allowing me to speak. The federal government has made a practice of foot dragging in any war matter not associated with profiteering. Vietnam veterans are the first to successfully gain results from pointing out the conspicuous irresponsibility of our government to the needs of veterans and the broken promises made as we were recruited. We have noticed as we continue to age the foot dragging associated with this project. That being said, I believe many veterans of all eras would join me in urging the presentation of the proposed letter. The squeaky wheel gets oiled. At the V.A. as we age and in many cases die. How important and urgent the conclusion of inadequate staffing of the hospital is to all surviving veterans. Thank you.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Thank you. Richard Bangar.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Mayor. Members of the council and city. Staff of. There are a lot of analogies I could use, but I'll just go with this one. It's just this project was the property was transferred four years ago. Let's say you had a dinner date at 7:00 at night. You were going to meet somebody at a restaurant and you showed up first. How long would you wait or you decided you were stood up now or 2 hours. When the staff came by your table with the vacuum sweeper, the lights turned out. I mean, how long would you wait? It's been four years. And they've in in my view, they've had money. They had money before they even had the property. 13 million was given to them in the 2011 budget. They only used about 4 million for planning purposes. The other nine or 10 million was diverted to cover cost overruns at another project. Eventually they they got approximately 80 million in 2016. May remember back in that time period the funding was delayed, dragged on because something about funding for the Zika virus or not in any way. Two years ago. But $80 million yet. Where's the action? Well, we don't need. We don't need to wait for them to build the clinic to do the infrastructure work along West Red Line and the new entrance. And if we're talking about a project that I understand we're looking for a tenant or with a was an idea on how we can make use of the BQ bachelor enlisted quarters. Well that's right there. They would that project would benefit from the infrastructure that the Vas could have put in by now. There's there's no survey. We don't need to figure out where West Red Line is. We're not moving it. We it's it's pretty straightforward. You dig up the street and you put the infrastructure in and they can cap it. And when the VA gets there, 400,000 cubic yards of soil to elevate the property in there, then they can continue on. But I just I can't see how you can just sit silent waiting for something to happen. They have money. They have the money. And then there's no new studies that need to be done to run the infrastructure. Like I said, the new entry way at the north gate down Navi way down west red line and we have it and we can make use of it. So I would urge you to send this letter and get a firm commitment on when they're going to start this project. Who knows? Maybe they're not going to start it. Maybe they've diverted this money somewhere else. I mean, you should at least engage with them and demand some firm timeline on when they're going to start. Because it's related to our own development. And, you know, the other previous speakers mentioned veterans. Let's not forget, they're the ones that are going to benefit by this project when it's done.
Speaker 0: Thank you. Member Ody.
Speaker 8: I think it speaks for itself too, but let's just make sure we spell Senator Feinstein's name correct.
Speaker 0: Well, okay. I wanted to finish. So I've had the opportunity when I've been in D.C. to meet with our lobbyist who works with Barbara Lee's office on this. And there has been work being done. And and I'm wondering if maybe we would like to, in fact, ask our lobbyists or the VA to come and give us an update, because then I go to Barbara Lee's office. She also seems to be working on this. And her manager, Dave Reid, that.
Speaker 2: Many members of council staff has advised me this evening earlier that the VA would be available to make.
Speaker 8: A presentation and provide an update and.
Speaker 2: Schedule on the December 4th agenda date. So if we want to.
Speaker 3: Hold off.
Speaker 2: On the specifics of the letter, until then, they're willing to show up on the fourth.
Speaker 3: I think. Go ahead. I'm sorry.
Speaker 5: Well, I was glad that I don't think they're mutually exclusive. I do.
Speaker 0: Both.
Speaker 6: Right.
Speaker 5: But it's councilmember matter, as is.
Speaker 3: My request to the council, is that we communicate. That we don't have a timeline and that there's no work being done. I appreciate that Congresswoman Lee is really pushing, but Congresswoman Lee is not going to build the facility. The VA is supposed to be building the facility. The money has been appropriated and we need to hear from them. Why? Why isn't this not moving?
Speaker 0: Well, I think that's what we're hearing. So I think it's not just Barbara Lee. I think it is, in fact, the VA that the lobbyist meets with that I've met with. And I think maybe they're just hasn't been updated the council, but I think work has been occurring. And personally, I think we should give them the opportunity to come here and update the community and all of you. And I would prefer that before sending the letter. Vice Mayor.
Speaker 6: I think it's one thing to hear from our lobbyist. I think it's another thing to hear from the council directly asking questions. I didn't read the letter to be overly aggressive or to to be out of line. I think the intent of it is really especially if they're going to come and make a presentation, I think that's great. But rather than just have them come and give us some sort of general presentation, I think that sending a letter like this can really inform them about what questions might exist in terms of what are we, what are we asking for? We're asking for what their timeline might be. What it looks like of a specific portion of the letter is a question. I mean, to me, if there's a question, I would like to send a letter. I think if there's you know, if if the rest of the council feels like perhaps portions of the letter, they would like to ask the writer to change. I think that that's one thing. But to not send a letter and to just have them come, I think, sends this passive message that perhaps we as a council are looking towards getting this thing rolling. We're looking for specific answers. And I think what we've been hearing from the community is that there are specific questions that are out there. And the one piece of feedback, I mean, I go to DC often to to do direct lobby work for my day job. And I think one thing that does help is when our elected officials in DC hear directly from the governing bodies. One of the things that I've heard is feedback from our our U.S. senators and from our congressional members is, you know, where's X Council on this? We're hearing from these groups, but where's the council? Where's the county? And I think to that end, I think sending a letter could be effective.
Speaker 0: So they have I have personally and on behalf of council go back to DC. However, the part that I take exception to that I'm concerned about is that the VA can regain the confidence of the community. I would rather not say suggest that we don't have confidence in them. I think, you know, so to me, I think it's the you know, I honestly don't want to say that they've actually come out and they have meetings here to help the veterans get their benefits. We've tried really hard to improve the relationship and get more services for our community, and I think they have in fact been responsive . So I would be okay. Just saying, you know, that we request response or something like that, but I don't support the suggestion that we don't have confidence in them. I work very well with them.
Speaker 3: I wouldn't hang that up, but I wouldn't hang up the letter. I could finish. I wouldn't hang up the letter on that line. I'm willing to take that out. But the fact is, we were promised the veterans here in this community, in this region were promised this. The money's been appropriated. And we want to see money being put in the ground and that facility being constructed. And we've never we've never gotten a timeline. It's always we're working on it. The money's been there and that's really unacceptable. And that's different from the people who provide the direct services to our veterans. They're doing a fine job. And it's it's one of the better medical systems in the country. But. The fact that we've this has been taken and it goes back to 2010, it really does. And we've had the money all along. It's just not moving.
Speaker 0: All right. So I appreciate that you want to get hung up on that because I prefer staying positive. Remember, Ashcroft.
Speaker 5: I was going to say, I think the letter is just fine as written. I understand what you're saying about representatives of the VA who come out and speak. I think you and I were both at a session at the library a few months back, but this is the VA in Washington, DC. Trust me, they've heard this and worse. And this is something that is concerning to our community and, you know, of our homeless population. A significant percentage are veterans. And so I think we have a duty. And I don't think that the letter that was written is is overly strong. I think it's just fine as it's.
Speaker 8: So I'll just throw my $0.02 in since we're micro editing. I think it's fine as it is, too. I mean, if the maker of the letter is fine to send it without because of the overall tenor of it. And I think we should be fine to send it with it in. But you know, if we did ask for the VA on the second, second write forth, you know, to provide these things, you know, staff could probably somehow work that into the letter that these are these are the answers to the questions we're going to want to hear on the fourth.
Speaker 0: So if we could add that additional language, remember already he just suggested something like that and strike this part about regain the cards.
Speaker 3: That's fine.
Speaker 0: And I didn't happen to support it. So then I'll make that motion.
Speaker 3: And substitute motion going and.
Speaker 0: All those in favor I motion carries unanimously. Thank you.
Speaker 1: I.
Speaker 3: No substitute. I want you to do it.
Speaker 0: Okay. The Council communications.
Consider Sending a Letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Urging a Commitment to a Firm Timeline of Action for Their Proposed Health Facility and National Cemetery.  (Councilmember Matarrese)