BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250804XXX: Recommendation Supporting Focused Staffing for Immigrant Affairs WHEREAS, we commend the establishment of the Human Rights Officer Division and the appointment of a dedicated officer overseeing Immigrant Affairs, Veteran Affairs, and ADA, all under the Office of Equity and Inclusion; and WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that the current scope of work for Austin remains too vast for a sole Immigrant Affairs Program Manager to focus on all the aspects of Immigrant Affairs; and WHEREAS, in Austin, more than 18% of the population are foreign-born1; and WHEREAS, Austin’s immigrant population comes from over 120 different countries2; and WHEREAS, according to City data at iSpeak Austin, more than 85 languages are spoken throughout the City, 31% of Austinites speak a language other than English at home and 11.4% of Austinites speak English “less than very well”3; and WHEREAS, the recommendation to establish an office with staff exclusively dedicated to immigrant Affairs, is supported by multiple reports, including “Advancing Immigrant Incorporation in Austin, TX.”4 by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, which found that an Immigrant Affairs Office is necessary and recommended its creation; and WHEREAS, presently, the Human Rights Officer is tasked with balancing multiple duties, which at times overlap and, at other times, diverge from immigrant affairs; and WHEREAS, there is only one position that is entirely focused on Immigrant Affairs, with the individual in this role being uniquely and solely able to be the best advisor on this account; and 1 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/austincitytexas 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=430901 3 https://www.austintexas.gov/iSpeakAustin 4 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=367457 WHEREAS, the current Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has served in this role for the past five years, during which they have built strong partnerships and collaborated with numerous nonprofit organizations as well as community members within the immigrant community; and WHEREAS, the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has been providing monthly briefings to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regarding their efforts within the immigrant community and should continue to do so; and WHEREAS, given the complexities of the current political climate, it is essential that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager receive additional, focused support dedicated entirely to their role and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, we strongly believe that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager should be present at every meeting related to immigrant affairs, alongside the Human Rights Officer, to ensure comprehensive and focused advocacy for immigrant …
REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Monday, August 4, 2025, 4:00 PM Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, #1101 301 West 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Public Safety Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely or in person, call or email Christi Vitela, 512-974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Angel Carroll Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 7, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department. 3. 4. Discussion of the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget and impact on public safety departments. Update on the 89th Texas Legislature and impacts on public safety. Presentation by Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Officer, Austin Office of Intergovernmental Relations. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 5. Training Academy Working Group recommendation to the Public Safety Commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department, at 512-974-2792 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Public Safety Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at (512-974- 2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov).
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, July 7, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, July 7, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Tim Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Angel Carroll Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Soto – Community Advancement Network Rubén Rivera Clemente – Harassment APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 2. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on May 5, 2025. The minutes were approved at the July 7, 2025, meeting on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on June 2, 2025. The minutes were approved at the July 7, 2025, meeting on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve the Public Safety Commission 2024-2025 Annual Internal Report. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, July 7, 2025 The motion to approve the Public Safety Commission 2024-2025 Annual Internal Report was approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Nguyễn, Orr, and Sierra-Arévalo were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police Department and update on the Automated License Plate Reader Program. Presentation by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department. The presentation was made by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department. 4. 5. Chair Ramírez requested the most recent Berry Dunn Report. Commissioner Bernhardt requested the next quarterly update include attrition rates for each of the academies and progress towards the 30 by 30 goal. Vice Chair Ruttan asked if the increases in Kidnapping/Abduction (100) and Drug/Narcotic Offenses (35A, 35B) and Pornography/Obscene Material (370) could be attributed to changes in enforcement patterns or whether it was a random variation. Discussion of bylaw amendment process, current bylaws, and potential changes. Discussed. Discussion of sexual assault data with Austin Police Department Sex Crimes Unit, Austin- Travis County Sexual Assault Response & Resource Team (SARRT), The …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION Recommendation 20250804-006: Date: August 4, 2025 Subject: Motioned by: Seconded by: Implementation, tracking and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy D RAFT WHEREAS, The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with reviewing public safety agency budgets and providing policy recommendations to the Austin City Council; and WHEREAS, The City of Austin in conjunction with Austin community members developed a comprehensive plan for reimagining public safety; and WHEREAS, in 2018, multiple former cadets from the Austin Police Academy notified the Austin Police Department of academy curricula they believed was strongly focused on dominance, aggression, and violence in keeping with a “warrior” approach to policing; and WHEREAS a 2020 lawsuit against the City of Austin, the Austin Police Department, and the chief of the Austin Police detailed at least 8 cadets fell ill in APD academy training as a result of policy violations and improperly implemented “Stress Reaction Training,”; and WHEREAS, City Council Resolution 66, the work of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, and the 2020 Strategic Plan of the APD Training Academy articulate the goal of realizing an Austin Police Academy that transparently addresses issues of racial and gender equity, emphasizes de-escalation tactics that minimize the use of force, and moves away from a regimented, paramilitary culture into an academy which incorporates community partnerships and current evidence-based strategies for the learning of current and future officers; and WHEREAS, on November 12, 2020, the City of Austin’s Office of Police Oversight (OPO), in consultation with the City Manager's Office, retained Kroll Associates, Inc. to review and evaluate the Austin Police Department on the extent to which forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination are present in the protocols, practices, and behaviors of the APD, beginning with an assessment of the APD training academy; and WHEREAS, Kroll’s assessment of the APD Training Academy recommended: 1. The APD academy shift away from stress-oriented military-style curricula toward a resiliency- based approach supported by adult learning and student-centered instructions 2. That adoption of a “guardian” approach that emphasizes service to the community 3. That APD become an evidence-based learning organization that rigorously tests changes to its training and shares research findings with Academy staff to continually improve Academy curricula; and WHEREAS, Kroll’s assessment recommended several measures for immediate implementation, including (but not limited to): 1. Hiring and onboarding a Training Supervisor to work with the Division Manager in …
REGULAR MEETING of the MUSIC COMMISSION August 4, 2025 6:30 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL 301 W 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701 Some members of the Music Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Shelbi Mitchell, 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Nagavalli Medicharla - Chair, Pedro Carvalho – Vice Chair, Joe Silva – Parliamentarian, Scott Strickland – Secretary, Nelson Aguilar, Tami Blevins, Clayton England, Cornice “Ray” Price Jr., Celeste Quesada AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Music Commission meeting on July 7, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Live Music Fund collections briefing by Kim McCarson, Program Manager, Music & Entertainment Division, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment. 3. FY23 Austin Live Music Fund final reports briefing by Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division. 4. History of AUS Airport music programming and transition to future programming with ACME briefing by Ramonika Carr, AUS Airport Guest Services Manager and Erica Shamaly, Division Manager, Music & Entertainment Division. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. ACME funding guidelines update by Morgan Messick, Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music & Entertainment. 6. 2026 Bond Program public engagement and awareness update. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please the Economic Development Department, at 512-974-6318, call Shelbi Mitchell at Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Music Commission, please contact Shelbi Mitchell at 512-974-6318, Shelbi.Mitchell@austintexas.gov.
Austin Fire Rob Vires | Chief of Staff | Public Safety Commission Quarterly Presentation FY25 Q3 Central Texas Flooding Response • AFD’s first deployment was on July 4, sending three rescue swimmers to serve with the Texas Task Force 1 helicopter search and rescue team (HSART) to perform water rescues in San Angelo, Kerrville and Seguin. • During July 5-8, AFD deployed additional units and personnel, including: • On July 5 and 6, one battalion chief, a rescue truck and an AFD boat were assigned to assist ESD 1 with water rescue and search efforts. • Six additional personnel to augment Texas Task Force 1 • One Engine for drone assistance to Williamson County • Four Engines to Marble Falls/Burnet County to assist search and rescue • One Battalion Chief to Texas Department of Emergency Management to assist with communications infrastructure • Two-person drone team to Liberty Hill and Leander • During July 8-9, AFD sent a battalion chief and six units per day in support of search efforts in Marble Falls. Texas Task Force 1 performing search and rescue. Photos courtesy of AFD Public Information Office. FY25 Q3 | AUSTIN FIRE | PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION QUARTERLY PRESENTATION 2 Emergency Response Time Trends As the City of Austin grows – and the demand for fire services increases – response times continue to increase. 84,473 86,641 89,541 89,563 81,973 86,636 87,935 92,612 89,797 Incident Volume 103,626 109,280 110,304 108,750 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 89,101 FY25 YTD *incomplete year: Jan 1-July 18 8:41 8:43 8:51 9:00 9:13 Response Time Standard: 8 minutes Response Times 9:35 9:24 9:12 9:58 10:28 9:55 10:28 10:32 10:26 120,000 70,000 11:00 10:00 9:00 8:00 7:00 6:00 5:00 4:00 3:00 2:00 1:00 0:00 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 Q2 | AUSTIN FIRE | PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION QUARTERLY PRESENTATION FY25 YTD *incomplete year: Jan 1-July 18 3 Facility Improvement Projects Recently Completed Projects: • • • • Station 8 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 20 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 21 – Driveway replacement completed May 13, 2025 Station 29 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 25 Projects Nearing Completion: • Station 23 • • All units and crews have returned as of May 17, 2025 Renovations complete pending a small number of warranty items • Station 25 • …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: T.C. Broadnax, City Manager Ed Van Eenoo, Chief Financial Officer Eddie Garcia, Assistant City Manager FROM: Kerri Lang, Director, Budget and Organizational Excellence Chief Joel G. Baker, Austin Fire Department DATE: July 28, 2025 SUBJECT: Proposed Adjustments to Fire Staffing Model The purpose of this memorandum is to provide additional context to the proposed adjustment to the fire staffing model as included in the FY 2026 Budget. It is important to note that the proposal does not recommend rescinding the four-person staffing model. Rather, it is the intent to maintain the four- person staffing model while providing flexibility to maintain continuous operations and avoiding unnecessary service reductions or excessive overtime. A draft of the recommended changes to the existing four-person staffing ordinance is attached for your reference. Current Staffing Model. Austin Fire Department’s operations staffing model is designed to ensure that an adequate number of sworn personnel are scheduled and available to provide fire/emergency response 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Austin Fire operates three firefighter shifts across a 19-day work period. Each shift is scheduled on-duty for 24 hours and then off-duty for 48 hours. The department currently has 54 fire stations across the city, with 50 engines and 17 specialized apparatuses strategically assigned at these stations. In total, the department has 67 firefighting units. Four firefighters are currently required to staff each unit on each shift. With a total of 67 firefighting units, the department must staff 268 positions for each of the three firefighter shifts. The Department currently assigns 355 firefighters to each shift, which is 87 firefighters (32%) above the required 268 positions to meet four-person staffing levels. The current staffing model allows for 25% of firefighters to be absent from their scheduled shift before the Department needs to begin backfilling absent positions—often using overtime—to ensure four-person staffing on each apparatus. High Absentee Rate. Over the past several years, Austin Fire has begun to experience significant increases in the rate of firefighters absent from their scheduled shifts, with the absentee rate reaching 39% in FY 2023 and remaining above 36% since FY 2022. Although the Department schedules 87 more firefighters than the minimum of 268 firefighters required per shift, the number of firefighters actually in attendance for their scheduled shift is frequently less than the number of personnel …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Commission on Immigrant Affairs Recommendation Number: 20250804-009: Recommendation Supporting Focused Staffing for Immigrant Affairs WHEREAS, we commend the establishment of the Human Rights Officer Division and the appointment of a dedicated officer overseeing Immigrant Affairs, Veteran Affairs, and ADA, all under the Office of Equity and Inclusion; and WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that the current scope of work for Austin remains too vast for a sole Immigrant Affairs Program Manager to focus on all the aspects of Immigrant Affairs; and WHEREAS, in Austin, more than 18% of the population are foreign-born1; and WHEREAS, Austin’s immigrant population comes from over 120 different countries2; and WHEREAS, according to City data at iSpeak Austin, more than 85 languages are spoken throughout the City, 31% of Austinites speak a language other than English at home and 11.4% of Austinites speak English “less than very well”3; and WHEREAS, the recommendation to establish an office with staff exclusively dedicated to immigrant Affairs, is supported by multiple reports, including “Advancing Immigrant Incorporation in Austin, TX.”4 by the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, which found that an Immigrant Affairs Office is necessary and recommended its creation; and WHEREAS, presently, the Human Rights Officer is tasked with balancing multiple duties, which at times overlap and, at other times, diverge from immigrant affairs; and WHEREAS, there is only one position that is entirely focused on Immigrant Affairs, with the individual in this role being uniquely and solely able to be the best advisor on this account; and 1 https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/austincitytexas 2 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=430901 3 https://www.austintexas.gov/iSpeakAustin 4 https://services.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=367457 WHEREAS, the current Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has served in this role for the past five years, during which they have built strong partnerships and collaborated with numerous nonprofit organizations as well as community members within the immigrant community; and WHEREAS, the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager has been providing monthly briefings to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs regarding their efforts within the immigrant community and should continue to do so; and WHEREAS, given the complexities of the current political climate, it is essential that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager receive additional, focused support dedicated entirely to their role and responsibilities; and WHEREAS, we strongly believe that the Immigrant Affairs Program Manager should be present at every meeting related to immigrant affairs, alongside the Human Rights Officer, to ensure comprehensive and focused advocacy for immigrant …
MUSIC COMMISSION MEETING 8/04/2025 H O T E L O C C U P A N C Y T A X C O L L E C T I O N S L I V E M U S I C F U N D Kim McCarson Program Manager UPDATED 7.30.2025 FY 25 Year-to-Date Hotel Occupancy Tax Collections – Live Music Fund June 2025 w/ Encumbrances $16,485 FY25 Year-to-Date w/ Encumbrances $3,233,024 % Change in Year–to-Date Total -.58% $17,874 $312,748 $827,586 $19,399 $338,773 $854,923 $12,938 $323,076 $798,287 $5,509 $217,400 $744,461 $4,573 $472,660 $716,095 $36,835 $335,537 $782,771 $19,180 $288,001 $856,608 $5,354 $172,557 $754,925 $16,485 $352,635 $816,197 $48,397 $316,607 $809,445 $17,407 $159,710 $696,141 FY 23 FY 24 FY 25 October April November May December June January July February August March September
FY23 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot - Compliance Austin Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (AACME) Music Commission Meeting August 4, 2025 FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 367 Awardees for “Specific Future Projects” o 41 $5,000 Grant Awards o 326 $10,000 Grant Awards • Grant Agreements executed Oct–Dec 2023 • Agreement extensions provided to ensure 12-month terms and for compliant Awardees needing more time for awarded “Specific Future Projects” FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot Pilot Program Challenges • • Flawed Economic Development Department (EDD) Portal Large number of grant agreements Application / Reporting System • Switching from EDD Portal to Google reporting forms for static reporting templates • Awarding “Specific Future Projects” when music industry activities are fluid and often subject to change • Awardee inexperience with grant processes and expectations • Awardee personal challenges FY 2023 Live Music Fund Event Program Pilot • 4 Awardees forfeited before receiving any funds • 1 Awardee did interim report evidencing the 1st payment but paid back the 2nd payment (40% of award) and did not receive the 3rd payment of (10% of award) • As of today, 41 remaining non-compliant Awardees o 20 submitted an interim report evidencing the 1st payment, but incomplete or no final report o 21 submitted incomplete or no interim report ACME Awardee Non-Compliance Steps • STEP 1 - 1st Notice sent via e-mail to Awardee who is at least 15 business days delinquent in submitting report. Awardee has 10 business days to submit report or contact ACME. E-mail sent by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. • STEP 2 - 2nd Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who is at least 30 business days delinquent or has submitted an incomplete report after the first delinquent notice. Awardee has 5 business days to submit a complete report. Letter signed by ACME Grant Agreement Manager. *Applicant will not be granted program extension request after second notice. • STEP 3 - Termination Notice sent by certified mail to Awardee who has not responded to and/or provided corrections or additional information. Letter signed by ACME Music & Entertainment Division Manager. Copy of Termination Notice sent to ACME Department Director. FY 2024 Austin Live Music Fund • 136 grant awards accepted out of 136 total grant awards (100%) • 135 signed agreements out of 136 total grant agreements (99%) • 134 completed Grant Agreement Orientations out …
Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment ACME Funding Programs - Update Presented by Morgan Messick Assistant Director, Office of Arts, Culture, Music and Entertainment (ACME) Music Commission Meeting | August 4, 2025 Recap on where we have been The Creative Reset: Phase 1 Starting with the 2023-2024 Guidelines for all ACME programs Community Engagement/feedback Enhanced guideline drafts, starting with redlined guidelines/feedback from Arts/Music Commission Working Groups Iterative feedback process/edits Updates to engagement and drafts available at PublicInput throughout the process Public feedback ended on Sunday, July 20 Staff have collaborated to get a final draft Draft is now with internal City staff for review, working towards a final See additional information at publicinput.com/thecreativereset Measuring Program Impacts Category What the City Measures Metrics Reach & Engagement Community reach and public participation Attendance counts, demographic data Promotion Visibility and marketing efforts Event flyers, social media screenshots, VisitAustin.org listings, Tourism Marketing training attendance satisfaction, marketing plan analytics Impact Access Expression Resiliency Economic and cultural benefits for the creative workforce Number of jobs supported, amount of funding distributed Accessibility and inclusion for audiences and participants Diverse locations, ADA features, free/low-cost tickets/creative space, multilingual options Support for authentic artistic and cultural expression Artist reflections, new work created, creative risks taken Organizational growth, adaptability, or long- term community benefit beyond City funding New partnerships, diversified revenue, business training and professional development Austin Live Music Fund For-Profit Applicant Award Amount Professional Musician & Independent Promoter Professional Musician & Independent Promoter $20,000 w/24-month Grant Agreement term $5,000 w/12-month Grant Agreement term Live Music Venue with atleast an operating budget of $60,000 $70,000 w/12-month Grant Agreement term Grant Awards are for one and two-year terms and are based on the amount the awardee selects in their application that most appropriately matches their needs. Scoring Criteria Austin Live Music Fund – Professional Musicians & Independent Promoters Category Criteria – Evidence Documentation from the last three years is prioritized Available Points Music Industry Accomplishments Music industry recognition Public shows at live music venues with capacities of 300 or more Audience data, i.e. music streams and downloads; distributed recordings; local, national and international music festival placements; regional and national tours; radio & TV broadcasts Artist Development Austin Music Economy Development Cultural Tourism Marketing & Outreach Career training and professional development Participates in music programs for schools, cultural centers, youth, private lessons, camps, workshops, etc. Performs / volunteers at benefit concerts to raise awareness …
Austin Fire Rob Vires | Chief of Staff | Public Safety Commission Quarterly Presentation FY25 Q3 Central Texas Flooding Response • AFD’s first deployment was on July 4, sending three rescue swimmers to serve with the Texas Task Force 1 helicopter search and rescue team (HSART) to perform water rescues in San Angelo, Kerrville and Seguin. • During July 5-8, AFD assisted with additional units and personnel, including: • On July 5 and 6, one Battalion Chief, a rescue truck and an AFD boat were assigned to assist ESD 1 with water rescue and search efforts. • On July 7 deployed Six additional personnel to augment Texas Task Force 1 (Urban Search and Rescue team) • On 8 July deployed one Battalion Chief to Texas Department of Emergency Management to assist with communications infrastructure • On 11 July deployed One Boat Team to Childress, Tx. • Drone teams were sent to Liberty Hill, Leander, and Williamson County. • During July 8-9, AFD sent a Battalion Chief and six units per day in support of search efforts in Marble Falls. Texas Task Force 1 performing search and rescue. Photos courtesy of AFD Public Information Office. FY25 Q3 | AUSTIN FIRE | PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION QUARTERLY PRESENTATION 2 Emergency Response Time Trends As the City of Austin grows – and the demand for fire services increases – response times continue to increase. 84,473 86,641 89,541 89,563 81,973 86,636 87,935 92,612 89,797 Incident Volume 103,626 109,280 110,304 108,750 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 89,101 FY25 YTD *incomplete year: Jan 1-July 18 8:41 8:43 8:51 9:00 9:13 Response Time Standard: 8 minutes Response Times 9:35 9:24 9:12 9:58 10:28 9:55 10:28 10:32 10:26 120,000 70,000 11:00 10:00 9:00 8:00 7:00 6:00 5:00 4:00 3:00 2:00 1:00 0:00 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 Q2 | AUSTIN FIRE | PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION QUARTERLY PRESENTATION FY25 YTD *incomplete year: Jan 1-July 18 3 Facility Improvement Projects Recently Completed Projects: • • • • Station 8 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 20 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 21 – Driveway replacement completed May 13, 2025 Station 29 – Completed May 12, 2025 Station 25 Projects Nearing Completion: • Station 23 • • All units and crews have returned as of May 17, 2025 Renovations complete pending a small number …
City of Austin 89th State Legislature: Post-Session Briefing Public Safety Commission Government Relations Office Agenda 01 Introduction 02 Special Session 03 89th Regular Session: Public Safety Bills 04 89th Regular Session: Other City Bills 1 89th First Special Session Quick Overview of Upcoming Special Session Before Regular Session Recap 2 89th First Special Session: Basics • 89th First-Called Special Session Began July 21, 2025 • Special Sessions cannot last more than 30 days. They can adjourn early. • Only topics within the Governor’s call may be considered. • However: • Governor can add additional items to the call at any time. • Legislators can still file any bill – it does not have to be on the call to be filed. • Governor can call for additional special sessions. 3 89th First Special Session: Items on Call Flood Warning Systems Flood Emergency Communications Natural Disaster Preparation & Recovery Cut Property Taxes & Expenditure Caps Protect Children From THC Regulate Hemp- Derived Products Ban Taxpayer- Funded Lobbying Police Personnel Records Water Project Incentives Redistricting Title Theft & Deed Fraud Relief Funding For Hill Country Floods Eliminate Staar Test Protect Unborn Children Protect Human Trafficking Victims Protect Women’s Spaces Attorney General Election Powers State Judicial Department 4 89th Regular Session Overview 5 89th Regular Session: Overarching Issues • Many recurring issues: pre-emption on elections, guns, historical markers and inclusion programming • Land use and Housing • Efforts to reduce city funding and limit use of debt • Firefighters pension and collective bargaining • Water future • Homelessness Successfully stopping or amending negative legislation is just as – if not more – impactful to the City as passing positive legislation. 6 89th Session: By the Numbers Stat Bills and Joint Resolutions Filed 9,014 (88th Session: 8,345) Bills & Joint Resolutions Sent to Governor 1,231 (88th Session: 1,259) Tracked by IGRO / Assigned to Departments 1,499 (88th Session: 978) % of Bills Sent to Governor Bills Vetoed by the Governor 14% of Filed Bills & JRS Sent to Governor* 26 (88th Session: 76) *Veto Period Ended June 22 7 89th Regular Session Key Passed Public Safety Legislation 8 89th Regular Session: Key Public Safety Bills Passed HB 2802 (Bucy / Schwertner) SB 777 (Hughes / Lujan) Austin Firefighters Retirement Fund Reform Austin Firefighters Collective Bargaining HB 33 (McLaughlin / Flores) Active Shooter Response SB 1164 (Zaffirini / Moody) Emergency Mental Detention Criteria SB 2570 …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, August 4, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:12 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Tim Ruttan, Vice Chair Enrique Duran II Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Pierre Nguyễn Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Edward Sledge – General railroad crossing DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department. The presentation was made by Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department. 3. Discussion of the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget and impact on public safety departments. Discussed. 4. Update on the 89th Texas Legislature and impacts on public safety. Presentation by Carrie Rogers, Intergovernmental Relations Officer, Austin Office of Intergovernmental Relations. The presentation was made by Rick Ramírez, Deputy Intergovernmental Relations Officer, and Christopher Coppola, Division Chief, Law Department. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATION 5. Training Academy Working Group recommendation to the Public Safety Commission. Discussed. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy. The motion to approve the Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy failed on a Commissioner Smith’s motion, Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo’s second, on a 4-0 vote. Commissioners Duran and Nguyễn abstained. Commissioners Bernhardt, Carroll, Hidrogo, Holmes, and Orr were absent. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 7, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting on July 7, 2025, failed on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Duran’s second on a 5-0 vote. Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo abstained. Commissioners Bernhardt, Carroll, Hidrogo, Holmes, and Orr were absent. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion of Police Academy Office of Police Oversight Office of Violence Prevention Forensic Science Department ADJOURNMENT Chair Ramírez adjourned the meeting at 6:00 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the September 8, 2025, meeting on Commissioner Duran’s motion, Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Hidrogo, Nguyễn, and Smith were absent. 2
Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes August 4, 2025 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, August 4, 2025 The Commission on Immigrant Affairs convened in a regular meeting on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Austin City Hall, W 3rd St, Room 1101 in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Dorantes called the Commission on Immigrant Affairs Regular Meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Melissa Ortega, Chair Miriam Dorantes, Vice Chair Adrian De La Rosa Alondra Johnson Diane Kanawati Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Aditi Joshi Meghna Roy Yohanna Saucedo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission on Immigration Affairs regular meeting on July 7, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of July 7, 2025, were approved on Commissioner Kanawati’s motion, Commissioner Joshi’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Kaba, and Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding revisions to Austin Police Department’s U-Visa Policy by Lieutenant Robert Smith, Special Victims Bureau, Austin Police Department and Assistant Chief Angie Jones, Austin Police Department. 1 Commission on Immigrant Affairs Meeting Minutes August 4, 2025 Staff briefing was made by Lieutenant Robert Smith, Special Victims Bureau, Austin Police Department and Assistant Chief Angie Jones, Austin Police Department. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Discussion regarding the Travis County Commissioner’s Court vacancy. This item was taken up with item 14. Update on the most recent Joint Inclusion Committee (JIC) meeting held in July 2025, as it relates to the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. Update regarding the discussion during the July LGBTQ Quality-of-Life Advisory Commission Meeting about Immigrant Affairs. Discussed. Discussion regarding the written update on the Naturalization Informational Sessions and Clinics provided by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. Discussion regarding the written update on the Immigrant Quality-of-Life Study provided by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. Discussion regarding the new structure for requesting updates from the Office of Equity and Inclusion. Discussed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. 10. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the staffing support of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the staffing support of the Commission on Immigrant Affairs was approved on Commissioner Johnson’s motion, Vice Chair Dorantes’ second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Edwin, Joshi, Kaba, and Lincoln-Goldfinch were absent. Approve the election of …
