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
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE LIBRARY COMMISSION August 2, 2025 – 12 P.M. Central Library, 4th Floor Director’s Conference Room 710 W. Cesar Chavez Street Austin, Texas This meeting is being held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online virtual participation. Some members of the Commission may be participating via video conference. 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 Laura Polio, 512-974-9624, laura.polio@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Pamela Carlile Kezia Frayjo Sara Gore Andrea Herrera Moreno CALL TO ORDER AGENDA Sheila Mehta, Vice Chair Magen Davis Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Melissah Hasdorff Edward Selig 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 Library Commission regular meeting on June 30, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing: “The Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Digital Content and Print Resources” by Christina Nelson, Customer Access Division Manager. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Poet Laureate Program by Zell Miller, III, Poet Laureate. Staff briefing on the 2026 Austin Public Library Centennial Celebrations by Baylor Johnson, Public Information and Marketing Program Manager. Staff Briefing on the Austin Public Library FY2026 Proposed Budget, by John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Facilities Updates and Capital Improvement Projects, by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. Staff briefing on the July APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. DISCUSSION ITEMS 8. 9. Presentation by Kathy Mitchell, Senior Advisor, Equity Action: “Waiting for Library Books: Can We Reduce Wait Times to Improve This Core Service?” Discussion on Recent Library Article by Zac Bissonnette in The Free Press. 10. Discussion of the Library Commission 2024 Annual Internal Review and Report. 11. Discussion on Long-Range Objectives and Advocacy Strategies to Support Austin Public Library Priorities for the Next Year. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to …
AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY PROPOSED 2025-26 BUDGET John Cabiya, Acting Financial Manager II FY 2026 BUDGET TIMELINE DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS . Austin Public Library (APL) provides access to books, technology, and information across a network of library locations serving the Austin community. Through dedicated staff and engaging programs, the Library supports learning, creativity, and connection in a welcoming and inclusive environment. APL is committed to equity, inclusion, and service for all residents. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR Circulation Per Capita is a key performance measure that compares the total number of items circulated at all library locations to the City's full-purpose population for a given period. OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – PUBLIC SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – SUPPORT SERVICES OPERATING PROGRAM BUDGET – TRANSFERS, DEBT SERVICE, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS SIGNIFICANT CHANGES SIGNIFICANT CHANGES CAPITAL BUDGET BY PROGRAM Thank you! Questions?? John Cabiya Acting Financial Manager II John.Cabiya@austintexas.gov
August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) $ave Recycled Reads ($107K): Against Decentralization Against: $11.5M (Cut 12 New FTEs = Encampment Management) Item 5: FY 2026 Proposed Budget (p. 35) S.M.A.R.T. vs. Permanent Segregated Housing Joint Audit and Public Health Committee Meeting July 31, 2025 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) Against: $11.5M Mayor Watson’s Marshalling Yard/8th St. shelter; 12 FTEs (p. 34) APL/PARD: Industrial microwaves YMCA: $8.9M 2006 Bond PARD ILA vs. $10 Showers; Chargers APL: Phone Booths; Recycled Reads $4.7M Samsung-Apple Transit $avings: Use Pickup = job access 392-Braker Urbana I, II 558 Units Ghetto Graham ES Bus 45 min 6-8 UT August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY 2025-26 COA Budget: “Blacks are over 6 times more likely to be homeless” (ECHO, 2023) Goodwill-Norwood Encampment: 13 baskets $ave Recycled Reads ($107K): Against Decentralization Against: $11.5M (Cut 12 New FTEs = Encampment Management) June 30, 2025 Library Commission #2. Against Welcoming City Designation Zenobia C. Joseph Title VI (Item 2 Backup, p. 5 of 18) August 2, 2025 Library Commission/Title VI Testimony Zenobia C. Joseph FY25-26 COA Budget: Prioritize N. Lamar equitable safety (PHBs, red sidewalks, new signals) July 27, 2025 Imam Islam Mossaad Killed Sunday 11900 North Lamar August 2, 2025 Zenobia C. Joseph Library Commission Special-Called Meeting March 4, 2025 FY 25-26 Budget Title VI: $1.5M Black Literature African-American Resource Advisory Joint Inclusion Commission Recommendation Carver Museum: $650K ($7M PARD Bond: 2018)
Library Commission Meeting Minutes June 30, 2025 THE LIBRARY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2025 The Library Commission convened a regular meeting on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Yarborough Branch Library in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Infante Huerta called the Library Commission meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Lynda Infante Huerta, Chair Sheila Mehta, Vice-Chair Pamela Carlile Magen Davis Sara Gore Melissah Hasdorff Edward Selig Commissioners Absent: Kezia Frayjo Dr. Suchitra Gururaj Andrea Herrera Moreno PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Library Commission regular meeting on May 19, 2025. Library Commission Meeting Minutes June 30, 2025 The May 19, 2025, minutes were approved at the June 30, 2025, regular meeting on a motion by Commissioner Selig, seconded by Commissioners Gore and Hasdorff. The motion passed on a 7–0 vote. Commissioners Frayjo, Gururaj and Herrera Moreno absent. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Immigrant Services, provided by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian III, Austin Public Library. The briefing was presented by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian III. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. 3. Staff briefing on the June APL Public Programming Highlights and Facilities Updates, by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. The briefing was presented by Hannah Terrell, Interim Director of Libraries. Carlos León provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. Zenobia Joseph provided public comment to the Commission regarding various concerns. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 4. Discussion and Approval of the Date, Time and Agenda for a Special Called Library Commission Retreat. The Commission unanimously approved to hold a special-called retreat on a Saturday afternoon in July or August 2025. The final date will be based on availability. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Poet Laureate Budget Library Commission Annual Report Bond and Advocacy Strategic Plan I.D.E.A.L ADJOURNMENT Chair Infante Huerta adjourned the meeting at 7:19 p.m. without objection.
1 APL Public Programming Highlights & Facilities Updates Hannah Terrell, Interim Director July 2025 HIGHLIGHTS Carver Library Hosts Austin African American Book Festival The Austin African American Book Festival (AAABF) returned to the Carver Library and Museum on Saturday, June 28, celebrating Black literature, history, and culture. This year’s theme, “Our Stories, Our Voices,” emphasized the importance of honoring and amplifying African American narratives. Festival highlights included a conversation between best- selling author Walter Mosley and Paul Coates, as well as a presentation by historian Peniel Joseph on his upcoming book, Freedom Season. Austin’s Poet Laureate, Zell Miller III, performed original work, and the Carver Library hosted an engaging children’s program featuring story time, crafts, and readings led by author Alice Faye Duncan. Nature Smart Libraries Initiative Earns Grant and National Spotlight Austin Public Library’s Nature Smart Libraries initiative continues to serve as a model for integrating literacy, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. In June 2025, APL received a $75,000 Special Projects Grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to support new StoryWalk® installations, multilingual and sensory-inclusive programming kits, staff training, and systemwide nature programming. The initiative was also featured as a national case study in Nature-Smart Libraries: A Toolkit by the Children & Nature Network and highlighted in Library Journal’s July 2025 article on innovative partnerships between libraries and parks. Literature Live! Presents: Wild and Wacky Weather This summer, Literature Live launched Wild and Wacky Weather, a playful puppet show exploring Texas’s famously unpredictable climate. Through three imaginative stories, each told in a different puppetry style, audiences are taken on a journey filled with sunny songs, windy whimsy, and frigid folly. Recommended for ages 3 and up, the show began its run on June 9 and continues through July 24, traveling to library branches across the city. APL Awarded $15K from Austin Community Foundation’s Forever Austin Fund The Forever Austin Fund is a permanent community resource that enables investment in Austin’s most pressing needs and greatest opportunities. The Forever Austin Fund supports the giving of a collection of field-of-interest funds, unrestricted funds, and donor advised funds. Austin Public Library, specifically Austin History Center, was recently awarded $15,000. This grant will fund a project in partnership with Austin History Center Association for “Creating Community: A Digital Twin of Historic Austin,” which aims to develop 3D historical models and related technologies. Special Events Updates In June 2025, Central Library …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 _______________Library Commission__________ (Official Name of Board or Commission) Mission Statement: The Library Commission shall make recommendations to the city council on matters relating to the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the public libraries. City Code Section 2-1-150 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. a. Commissioners were briefed about the library operations so as to be able to answer questions from the City Council members and their constituents. i. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library FY25 APL Proposed Budget by Wendy Harrison, Financial Manager II Annual Review and Work Plan 2024/2025 Page | 2 ii. Staff briefing on the Austin Public Library Bond Projects and Advocacy Timelines by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager, and Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager iii. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Security by St. John Requejo, Facilities Services Manager, Ida Garza, Central Security Supervisor, and Lloyd Black, Branch Security Supervisor. iv. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Partnerships by Jennifer Peters, Division Manager, Programs & Partnerships and Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian. v. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Summer 2024 Programming by Alanna Graves, Librarian III. vi. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Bond Progress Update by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager. vii. Staff briefing on Library Community Engagement by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library viii. Presentation by Tim Staley, Executive Director, The Library Foundation, regarding The Library Foundation programs and services. ix. Presentation by Charles Peveto, President, Austin History Center Association, regarding Austin History Center Association programs and services. x. Staff briefing on City of Austin Bond Update by Cody Scott, Facilities Process Manager, and Baylor Johnson, Public Information & Marketing Program Manager, Austin Public Library. xi. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library School Partnerships by Jenny Stirrat, School Partnerships Librarian, Austin Public Library. Annual Review and Work Plan 2024/2025 Page | 3 xii. Staff briefing on Austin Public Library Nature Smart Libraries Initiative by Laura Tadena, Community Engagement Librarian, Austin Public Library. xiii. Presentation by Wendy Woodland, Director of Advocacy & Communications for the Texas Library Association, on legislative issues impacting libraries and TLA’s work in this area. xiv. Staff briefing on Summer at Austin Public Library and …
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: INTEGRATING DIGITAL CONTENT & PRINT RESOURCES August 2, 2025 WELCOME Christina Nelson, MSIS Customer Access Division Manager christina.nelson@austintexas.gov TODAY'S AGENDA Selection Process Factors to Consider Licensing Models Borrowing Privileges Circulation Trends User Hold Analysis Director’s Dashboard SELECTION PROCESS Materials Selection Policy Submit a Suggestion Availability of highly anticipated releases Community needs & trends Support for programming & events Multiple formats Contracted vendor inventory Budgetary allocations FACTORS TO CONSIDER Cultural & Local Trends Fluidity of Target Purchasing Models Pay-per-Unit Pay-per-Use Average Cost of Materials $20.75 / print book t $60.00 / digital content Holds Ratio Goals Licensing Models LICENSING MODELS: PAY-PER-UNIT Overdrive (Libby) LICENSING MODELS: PAY-PER-USE Hoopla Kanopy Check out 4 items per month Movies & TV shows check out for 3 days Music CDs check out for 7 days Audiobooks, eBooks and comics / graphic novels check out for 21 days BingePasses check out for 7 days Videos use different ticket amounts depending on running time Videos have different viewing gg periods depending on running time Each video is labeled with ticket amount, viewing period and running time hh Tickets reset on the 1st of each month tto Unused tickets don't roll over to the next month COLLECTION 411 Check out limits Print – 50 / Digital –10 Holds limits & Pick-up Time Frames Print – 15 / Digital – 7 Print – 10 days / Digital – 72 hours Average wait time Print – 15 days / Digital – 33 days Renewals Assistive tech tools CIRCULATION TRENDS FY23 (10/01/2022 - 09/30/2023) Print Circulation-- 4,271,321 Digital Circulation --3,108,163 FY24 (10/01/2023 - 09/30/2024) Print Circulation -- 3,898,850 Digital Circulation --3,859,682 FY25 so far (10/01/2024 - 06/30/2025) Print Circulation -- 2,744,463 Digital Circulation -- 2,981,925 USER HOLD ANALYSIS DIRECTOR’S DASHBOARD T HANK T YOU Austin Public Library
