GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE 2’. Lse-’CLOCk 92021 Pursuant to his powers as Governor of the State of Texas. Greg Abbott has issued the following: Executive Order No. GA-38 relating to the continued response to the COVJD-19 disaster. The original executive order is attached to this letter of transmittal. Respectfully submitted. July 29. 2021 Mr. Joe A. Esparza Deputy Secretary of’ State State Capitol Room IE.8 Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Deputy Secretary Esparza: /Execjve Clelk to the Governor Attachment POST OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512463-2000 (VoIcE) DIAL 7-1-1 FOR RELAY SERVICES !xnufhur lilhber BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS Executive Department Austin, Texas July 29, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER GA3S Relating to the continued response to the COVID-19 disaster. WHEREAS. I, Greg Abbott. Governor of Texas. issued a disaster proclamation on March 13, 2020. certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all Texas counties; and WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have renewed the COVID-19 disaster declaration for all Texas counties; and WHEREAS, from March 2020 through May 2021, 1 issued a series of executive orders aimed at protecting the health and safety of Texans, ensuring uniformity throughout Texas, and achieving the least restrictive means of combatting the evolving threat to public health by adjusting social-distancing and other mitigation strategies; and WHEREAS, combining into one executive order the requirements of several existing COVID-19 executive orders will further promote statewidc uniformity and certainty; and WHEREAS, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Texans are strongly encouraged as a matter of personal responsibility to consistently follow good hygiene, social-distancing. and other mitigation practices: and WHEREAS, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine under an emergency use authorization is always voluntary in Texas and will never be mandated by the government. hut it is strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one: and WHEREAS, state and local officials should continue to use every reasonable means to make the COVID-19 vaccine available for any eligible person who chooses to receive one; and WHEREAS, in the Texas Disaster Act of 1975. the legislature charged the governor with the responsibility “for meeting ... the dangers to the state and people presented by disasters” under Section 418.011 of the Texas Government Code, and expressly granted the governor broad authority to fulfill that responsibility; and WHEREAS, …
https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-07-25-cdc-withdraws-fraudulent-pcr-testing-protocol-used-to- falsify-covid-positives.html CDC withdraws fraudulent PCR testing protocol used to push the pandemic After 16 month of completely fraudulent PCR tests that were used to drive pandemic hysteria, the CDC has announced it is withdrawing the junk science testing protocol at the end of this year. PCR tests do not deliver quantitative results and can't count viral loads. Therefore, they are scientifically useless at diagnosing any so-called "infection." The entire covid pandemic has been based on this fraudulent, junk science test. And that means the entire pandemic is a fraud. See the full breaking news story here... CDC withdraws fraudulent PCR testing protocol that was used to falsify covid “positives” to push the plandemic Sunday, July 25, 2021 by: Mike Adams (Natural News) After more than a year of committing scientific fraud to push false “positives” via PCR testing, the CDC has announced it is withdrawing the RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel on December 31st of this year: After December 31, 2021, CDC will withdraw the request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel, the assay first introduced in February 2020 for detection of SARS-CoV-2 only. CDC is providing this advance notice for clinical laboratories to have adequate time to select and implement one of the many FDA-authorized alternatives. The use of PCR tests for covid illness diagnosis is a global scientific fraud, since no PCR instrument can produce quantitative results that might indicate a specific viral load. Yet this CDC-approved testing protocol was relied on to fabricate the “casedemic” illusion which pretended that hundreds of millions of people around the world were infected with covid. The entire thing was an elaborate quack science hoax, and anyone familiar with PCR technology (see below) has known this from the very start. The PCR testing approved by the CDC to diagnose covid was fraudulent from the very first day PCR instruments are not quantitative instruments. They cannot tell you how much of something is present in a given sample. Every lab scientist familiar with PCR instruments knows this. Yet they continue to go along with the global fraud of diagnosing “positive” cases via PCR testing. The entire covid “plandemic” has been based on fraudulent PCR testing, and now the CDC is announcing it is pulling the most frequently used test, perhaps in an effort to replace the test …
https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2021/07/30/physician-group-rejects-ama-support-for- vaccine-mandates/ Physician Group Rejects AMA Support For Vaccine Mandates July 30, 2021 ADI Staff Reporter The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons is rejecting the Joint Statement by the American Medical Association (AMA) and others supporting mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for all health care workers. American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) president Paul Kempen, M.D., Ph.D. outlined the reasons the group believes the mandate is not only a violation of individual rights, but wholly unnecessary: • As of mid-July, 30 million people have recovered from COVID-19 in the U.S. and have natural immunity. Vaccination of these persons confers only risk with little to no benefit, yet these mandates do not exempt them. • Serious side effects have been identified, including paralysis and inflammation of the heart muscle, which may not resolve and may cause death. • As variants multiply, “booster” shots may be required, with increasing risk of allergic phenomena. AAPS statement in opposition: “The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) declares that all human beings have the right to liberty, which they do not forfeit when they serve the sick or the disabled. The ethical commitment to protect others does not require workers to surrender their bodily integrity and self-determination…. “Risks and benefits differ in individual patients and differing circumstances. Achieving a stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—premature because studies are not scheduled to be complete before the end of 2022—does not confer safety or effectiveness. FDA-approved products have frequently been withdrawn…. “The Joint Statement recognizes only a medical exemption, and omits mention of a religious exemption though many workers object to receiving these products based on their religious beliefs. Medical exemptions are virtually never recognized for the COVID vaccines because there is improper denial that they cause harm to anyone. “Long-term effects of these novel, genetically engineered products cannot possibly be known at this point. These could include autoimmune disorders, antibody-enhanced disease, infertility, cancer, or birth defects…. “AAPS favors insistence on fully informed, truly voluntary consent for all medical intervention. This includes full disclosure of all risks, and a diligent effort to identify and track risks…. Our medical organizations should be advocating for free and open discussion and opposing censorship…. “Without freedom, there is no safety for either workers or our patients.” On Wednesday, nearly 200 people gathered at the Arizona Capitol to protest forced vaccinations of healthcare workers. Hospital workers were joined by …
https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-05-11-masks-proven-to-be-about-control-not-safety.html# WORTHLESS MASKS: We always knew the masks were about control, not safety… now we’ve been proven right Tuesday, May 11, 2021 by: S.D. Wells (Natural News) Recently, the hosts of ABC’s “The View” apologized for the CDC having failed to trick people better about getting vaccinated, by letting people who have gotten vaccinated take off their masks. Referring to all people who are opposed to vaccination as “dumb hillbillies,” the bigoted shills showed their true colors. The so-called “lone conservative” co-host, Meghan McCain, indirectly called the CDC’s move psychotic and questioned the entire premise of vaccination, in that dumbfounded way that epitomizes daytime television talk shows, “If the vaccine works, why do we have to wear masks?” The answer is that communism only works if people have no value except as proletariat (working class) clones, so the masks will never come off, with or without vaccines, but of course, they can’t say THAT live on the air, or everybody gets fired. Liberal talk show idiots are paid to regurgitate the CDC-scripted narrative for Covid-19 and they can’t even do that right According to Google and Wikipedia, a “hillbilly” is defined as a person who dwells in rural, mountainous areas in the USA, primarily in the southern Appalachian mountains and down in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. The hosts of “The View” believe that anyone who studies science and understands how dangerous vaccines can be, well, that person must be a redneck who lives on a dirt road somewhere in the backwoods of Hick town, USA. You’re just not tricking people correctly if you continue to force people to wear masks post- vaccination, McCain argued. In other words, you can’t fool all the toothless lumberjacks, their wives and children too, into getting the shot if they think they still have to wear their useless, bacteria-laden Covid-19 masks everywhere they go, even after they get the inoculation. Meaning it’s all just psychological, and these hosts think we’re all rednecks, including every land owner and every gun owner who knows better than to let the government control our genes and immune systems. Also, the hosts added that the U.S. will NEVER reach herd immunity because of the huge swaths of people who believe in God, and who are mostly whites and Republican. Can anyone be any more of a racist, bigoted pig than these American talk show hosts? She also fessed …
https://www.naturalnews.com/2021-07-27-authorities-order-the-vaxtermination-of-city-workers- doctors-and-nurses.html# Authorities order the VAXTERMINATION of city workers, doctors and nurses as spike protein MURDER injections target government and health care sectors Tuesday, July 27, 2021 by: Mike Adams (Natural News) Government authorities and large health care groups are ordering the vaxtermination of their own members and workers, demanding spike protein murder shots be injected into millions of victims who work in the government and health care sectors. NYC mayor Bill de Blasio, for example, just announced covid mandates (vaccinate or endure daily tests with high false positive rates) for all 314,000 city workers. This is government targeting government in the vaccine depopulation war. What it means is that if covid vaccines produce any significant number of fatalities or hospitalizations, NYC will suffer personnel losses and large increases in health care costs for its own workers, plunging the city into a dire situation where there are no longer enough city workers alive to keep the city running. Similarly, the American Medical Association and dozens of other medical groups have colluded to call for mandatory vaccines of all health care workers. Their public demand falsely claims that covid vaccines are “safe and effective,” even though the FDA has made no such determination, and the manufacturers of the vaccines openly admit in their own documents that these vaccines have unknown consequences and are experimental medical interventions. Both the State of California and the Veterans Administration have announced mandatory vaccine requirements for all their workers. In California alone, 15.4% of the workforce is employed by the government, according to 247WallSt.com, and there are 2.5 million government workers in the state of California (although not all of them work for the state itself and may instead work for county or city governments). In Arizona, a large health care group known as Banner Health has announced mandatory vaccine requirements for its 52,000 employees. Any who refuse the vaccine will be fired after November 1st, right as the winter flu season is rising, likely increasing the demand for health care services. In all, we are now seeing governments and health care “authorities” ordering the vaxtermination of their own workers and employees on a scale never witnessed in the history of human civilization. This is a genocidal self-culling operation that clearly seeks to murder as many people as possible as a way to collapse the nation. Watch this Maryland nurse warn the world about what’s really …
https://www.rt.com/usa/530741-cdc-vaccine-delta-study-masks/ CDC releases study showing 3/4 Delta cases are among the vaccinated, says masks are the answer 30 Jul, 2021 20:18 / Updated 1 day ago The CDC has released a study backing up its decision to recommend indoor masking for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans. The study examined one outbreak and found three-quarters of people testing positive were vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revised its masking guidelines on Tuesday, urging all Americans in areas with high Covid-19 transmission to mask up when indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Mask mandates in companies, government departments, and certain local jurisdictions followed, as CDC Director Rochelle Walensky insisted the decision was made on the back of fresh scientific evidence. The CDC released that evidence on Friday. In a study of 469 cases of Covid-19 that broke out in the resort town of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, earlier this month, 74% occurred in “fully vaccinated persons.” Four out of five patients hospitalized were fully vaccinated, and on average the inoculated had completed their two rounds of doses only 86 days before infection. The cases studied occurred in people vaccinated primarily with Pfizer and Moderna shots, with a smaller number having received Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose jab. No one vaccine was singled out as providing better or worse protection, and none appeared to prevent symptoms from developing. Some 79% of vaccinated patients were symptomatic, the study noted. Lab testing revealed that 90% of all the Cape Cod infections involved the Delta variant of the coronavirus. The report lends weight to the argument that the current crop of vaccines aren’t as effective against the Delta variant, although the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) both insist that vaccination is effective against “severe disease and death” from the virus, to quote WHO technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove in a briefing earlier on Friday. However, the CDC study noted that similarly high viral loads were found in vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Walensky stated on Friday that “high viral loads suggest an increased risk of transmission” and raised concern that “vaccinated people infected with Delta can transmit the virus.” The study itself is less alarmist, stating that “microbiological studies are required to confirm these findings.” Walensky said that the Cape Cod study was “pivotal” in informing the CDC’s decision to recommend indoor masking. Previously, the agency drew flak from Republicans for using an extremely limited Indian …
Urban Renewal Board Austin Economic Development Corporation August 2, 2021 Blocks 16 & 18 HR&A Advisors, Inc. PANYNJ Advertising | 2 Multiple Paths to Success • AEDC represents a series of new tools that now can be used by AHFC as well as URB. Public Real Estate Developer Public & Private Funding Cultural Trust Funding & Expertise Development Expertise Long term inclusive asset management • • • • • • Mixed Use and Mixed Income expertise • Option 1: AHFC led procurement with AEDC support. • Option 2: AEDC led procurement with AHFC support. Critical differences: • • • Timeline Budget BATNA-based negotiation • Structure recommended (applies to both options) Extensive outreach Pre-Development Agreement with “teeth” • • • Ongoing restrictions through title or ground lease AUSTIN EDC Austin EDC Next Steps | 3 Timeline – 18 months from approval of MOU Market Research Aug-Sept 2021 MOU with COA, AEDC, URB Sept/Oct 2021 Pre-Release Outreach Sept/Oct 2021 RFP Release Oct 2021 Responses Due Jan/Feb 2022 Selection & COA Approval Jan/Feb 2023 Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 4 RFP Release Timeline Pre-Issuance City of Austin/AEDC/URB Memo of Understanding (MOU) Contract for Services of AEDC approved by COA Host public information session and conduct outreach Pre-release approval terms agreed (URB, Council, HPD/AHFC) Publish notice of RFP Issue RFP Post Issuance Pre-Response Meeting Receive & Post Responses to Q&A Responses Due – Negotiate at least 2 respondents to fully negotiated documents (everything except signature) Blind Briefing Approvals (URB, COA) Selection and Council Approval Austin EDC As early as August – day-for-day schedule delay until approved Decide what success looks like prior to release Anticipating approximately 12 weeks for responses, 6 months negotiation AEDC | 5 Critical Differences: COA vs. AEDC led process • Timeline: 26 months (COA) versus 18 months (AEDC) In-house outreach • • Aggressive solicitation timeframe • Pre-approvals • Pre-Approval Agreements with COA, URB • BATNA-based Negotiations • Negotiate full set of documents with 2-3 respondents prior to selection so all conditions are met • Ability to act as developer & asset manager • Can simultaneously advance actual project • Can serve as tenant of last resort for cultural trust, reducing risk Austin EDC Next Steps| 6 Next Steps with AEDC • Confirm AEDC Role and Budget • AEDC to utilize existing COA budget • AEDC to receive contract from COA to lead outreach process • All pre-development expenses to be …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210802-002a August 2, 2021 Recommendation to cease citations and arrests of persons experiencing homelessness Date: Subject: Motioned by: Nelly Paulina Ramirez Seconded by: Rebecca Bernhardt Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that City Council, Mayor, and City Manager Spencer Cronk direct the Austin Police Department cease the citations and arrests set forth by the Responsible Public Space Management Plan unless the diversions being offered to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness include a housing option. We also recommend the city invest $1.2M in funding to support non-profits like Austin Mutual Aid to house at least an addition 450 of our unhoused neighbors in hotels or alternative housing for a month while the HEAL initiative acquires more temporary housing. And finally, we recommend Council and the Mayor, direct City Manager Cronk to identify city owned land that can be used as a temporary legal encampment for the remaining sites that do not currently fall into the HEAL Initiative. Description of Recommendation to Council: Whereas the objective set forth by the Responsible Public Space Management Plan is to safely and humanely relocate persons camping in a public area, in a manner that preserves human dignity and respect while promoting voluntary compliance. Whereas the Public Space Management Plan set forth by APD currently allows for citations of our neighbors experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Whereas the Public Space Management Plan set forth by APD will allow arrests of our neighbors experiencing unsheltered homelessness starting August 8. Whereas housing options are not being provided to all experience unsheltered homelessness. Whereas citations and arrests directly impede our unhoused neighbors’ ability to secure housing independently. Whereas the threat of citations and arrests may cause those experiencing unsheltered homelessness to seek shelter in even higher risk areas where flooding and wildfire put them in even more danger. Therefore, The Public Safety Commission recommends that: • City Council, Mayor, and City Manager Spencer Cronk direct the Austin Police Department cease the citations and arrests set forth by the Responsible Public Space Management Plan unless the diversions being offered to persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness include a housing option • the city invest $1.2M in funding to support non-profits like Austin Mutual Aid to house at least an addition 450 of our unhoused neighbors in hotels or alternative housing for a month while the HEAL initiative acquires more temporary housing • Council and the Mayor, direct City Manager Cronk to …
Homeless Strategy Division Updates Public Safety Commission August 2, 2021 Dianna Grey, Homeless Strategy Officer Background On Feb. 4, 2021, City Council passed Resolution 2021-204-049 creating the Housing-Focused Homeless Encampment Assistance Link (HEAL) initiative “To immediately house individuals, create a path to permanent housing and over time, eliminate the necessity for unsheltered camping in our city.” “Focus on Housing First and the deployment of actions targeted toward rapid rehousing, emergency shelters, low barrier housing focused shelter and permanent supportive housing.” Core Components Outreach & Engagement • Initial Assessment, Census, Relationship Building, Housing Offer Temporary Shelter • Dedicated single-site shelter; other temporary housing as available Permanent Housing • Primarily Rapid Rehousing, plus diversion and linkage to PSH Voluntary Compliance Strategies • Communication, Built Environment & Amenities, Events, Perimeter Control First Phase: Four High Priority Encampments Priority locations identified by those that pose the greatest risk to public health and safety East Austin South Central Downtown (Central Business District) Northwest Austin Progress to Date Compassionate closure of first two HEAL sites Terrazas Library – June Ben White Bld. and Mancacha Road – July 15 Sites #3 and #4: August/early September 70 of 74 people who were offered housing accepted and moved to bridge shelter 67 of the original 70 guests remain at Southbridge, Of the 67 guests, approximately 50 have been enrolled in housing programs to on a path to permanent supportive housing Housing placements are expected to begin in August First Bridge Shelter • Non-congregate shelter • 75 guest rooms • Opened in June • Front Steps began operating Southbridge in mid-July Terrazas Library Encampment Ben White Blvd and Manchaca Road “Through the HEAL Initiative, we are connecting people to transitional shelter as well as providing primary and mental health care, social services, and substance use services.” Ruth Ahearn Integral Care’s Practice Administrator Housing and Health Care for the Homeless Initiatives
January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Volume Missed 90th Percentile District Volume Missed 90th Percentile District Volume Missed 90th Percentile Austin-Travis County EMS Response Performance by Month District District 01 District 02 District 03 District 04 District 05 District 06 District 07 District 08 District 09 District 10 Priority Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Priority 5 District District 01 District 02 District 03 District 04 District 05 District 06 District 07 District 08 District 09 District 10 Priority Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Priority 5 Volume 564 Met 475 1,949 1,790 2,128 1,997 2,556 2,470 1,173 1,102 66 54 74 81 61 30 45 27 84 36 93 69 80 90 64 32 50 25 113 29 645 14 6 9 14 14 7 6 8 1 10 89 10 6 5 8 8 5 7 6 3 11 69 Volume 651 Met 582 1,874 1,724 2,302 2,167 3,021 2,913 1,329 1,236 00:11:20 00:10:01 00:10:25 00:11:17 00:10:58 00:12:34 00:10:31 00:11:51 00:07:59 00:11:45 00:10:53 Compliance 84.22% 91.84% 93.84% 96.64% 93.95% 93.60% 00:09:46 00:09:47 00:09:46 00:09:44 00:10:30 00:11:59 00:10:17 00:11:15 00:09:36 00:10:04 00:10:12 Compliance 89.40% 92.00% 94.14% 96.42% 93.00% 93.95% All Districts 558 All Districts 555 155 00:14:57 All Districts Overall Response Performance - All Council Districts Overall Response Performance - All Council Districts Overall Response Performance - All Council Districts All Priorities 8,370 7,834 All Priorities 8,426 6,754 All Priorities 8,686 8,238 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Priority 1 Incidents by Council District Volume Missed 90th Percentile District Volume Missed 90th Percentile District Volume Missed 90th Percentile District 01 District 02 District 03 District 04 District 05 District 06 District 07 District 08 District 09 District 10 Priority Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Priority 5 District 01 District 02 District 03 District 04 District 05 District 06 District 07 District 08 District 09 District 10 Priority Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Priority 5 Volume 566 Met 410 2,040 1,510 2,086 1,639 2,447 2,190 1,287 1,005 Compliance 72.44% 74.02% 78.57% 89.50% 78.09% 80.16% 24 18 18 24 22 16 12 9 4 8 15 12 15 11 13 12 15 5 11 8 82 50 70 81 67 40 …
Austin – Travis County EMS Staffing Authorized Strength 643 Sworn FTEs 528 Current Sworn FTEs 115 Current vacancies (7-23-21)* 2 Commander – Field 1 Captain – Field 61 Clinical Specialist Field 40 Medic – Field 4 Clinical Specialist – Communications 7 Medic – Communications *67 Sworn FTEs were funded in this Fiscal Year (24 FTEs funded only in the last two months) *12 Sworn Field FTEs funded in June 2021 *12 Sworn Field FTEs funded in July 2021 Current Academy (July 19 - October 8) 33 Cadets which upon graduation will fill Medic positions (Field and Communications) 31 Field Cadets 2 Communications Cadets Current Hiring Process Field (July – Aug 16) for the January Academy Communications Dates June 7 – July 6 July 12 – August 9 o o o August 23 – September 13 o December 20 – January 10
Evaluation of Sexual Assault Investigations April 2021 Update Council Resolution 20190131-077 Patricia Bourenane, City of Austin Sarah Mostyn, Police Executive Research Forum Public Safety Commission August 2, 2021 Background • Council Resolution 20190131-077 and Original Scope • Comprehensive evaluation of how reported sexual assaults are investigated and processed • At a minimum either 200 sexual assault cases or fifty percent of sexual assault cases from each year, whichever number is greater, for each of the prior seven years of sexual assault case reports 2 Challenges • Challenges to project budget and timeline: • COVID-19 and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Clearance • Legal review • Complex case review • Turnover in Sex Crimes Unit (SCU) 3 Proposed Changes to Scope of Work 4 Stakeholder Meetings • March 2021 – Council Member Sponsors • April 2021 – Meeting with Stakeholders • Survivor Justice Project, SAFE Alliance of Austin, and the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) • Stakeholder preference, modify the original project scope to: • Add 2019 and 2020 case files • Review 30 percent of case files per each year 5 Updated Scope of Work Original Project Scope Cases New Project Scope Cases Calendar Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total Sample 240 206 305 260 294 303 321 1,929 Calendar Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Total Sample 144 124 183 156 176 182 192 153 120 1,430 6 Major Milestones and Timeline Kick-Off Meetings • COMPLETE Policy/Procedure Review • ONGOING • Initial phase complete November 2020 Case Review • ONGOING • Delayed to November 2021 from May 2021 Interviews/Site Visit • ONGOING • Originally May 2021/TBD depending on availability Final Report • RESCHEDULED • Originally February 2022/May 2022 Presentation on Findings • RESCHEDULED • Originally February 2022/May 2022 7 Preliminary Observations • Training that SCU detectives receive upon joining the unit should be formalized. New detectives should be required to complete training before being assigned cases. • Training should include a thorough explanation of how to properly clear and classify cases, including an explanation of when to suspend vs. exceptionally clear a case. • Detectives should be required to respond to all scenes where a sexual assault • Detectives should allow victims flexibility in the time and location for recently occurred. interviews. • Detectives should be required to make multiple attempts to contact a victim before suspending a …
87TH STATE LEGISLATURE Intergovernmental Relations Office – Brie L. Franco, Officer 87TH PASSED BILLS: NEGATIVE FOR CITY Disaster Rollback Camping Ban SB 1438 HB 1925 (Bettencourt) (Capriglione) Effective June 16, 2021 Effective Sept. 1, 2021 City Police Funding HB 1900 (Goldman) Effective Sept. 1, 2021 Gas Preemption HB 17 (Deshotel) Effective May 18, 2021 Historic Districts SB 1585 (Hughes) Effective Sept. 1, 2021 No Contracts : Firearm Boycott SB 19 (Schwertner) Effective Sept. 1, 2021 Permitless Carry HB 1927 (Schaefer) Effective Sept. 1, 2021 1 87TH POLICE FUNDING City Police Funding HB 1900 (Goldman) Effective September 1, 2021 • Applies only to municipalities over 250,000 • “Defunding municipality” reduces appropriation to police department compared to previous budget. [lower than the larger of previous two years’ budgets until 2023] • Determined by Office of Governor’s Criminal Justice Division (“CJD”). Some exceptions allowed at discretion of CJD • Penalties: • Dis-annexation elections and prohibition on annexations. • Must use lowest property tax rate (generally no-new-revenue rate) for upcoming year • Annual sales tax distribution decreased by amount determined by CJD that State spent to provide law enforcement services to City. • Increase contributions to APRS such that the combined City and member contributions are no less than the combined City and member contributions in FY2021. • AE & AWU rates capped at January 2021 levels unless utilities stop providing any funding to the City through transfers. County Funding SB 23 (Huffman) Applies only to counties over 1 million Effective January 1, 2022 9 other “defunding” bills did not pass 2 87TH BILLS IMPACTING THE HOMELESS Camping Ban HB 1925 (Capriglione) Effective September 1, 2021 • City must submit a plan for approval by TDHCA to designate a property for encampment. Designation of public parks is prohibited. • Offense is a Class C misdemeanor. Officers must make reasonable effort to connect persons to designated encampment and services. • Local entities cannot have policies that prohibit or discourage enforcement of the ban nor can they discourage peace officers or prosecuting attorneys from enforcing the ban. • Policies that encourage diversion or provision of services in lieu of citation or arrest are allowed. • HB 1925 Contingency Rider NOT included in the final appropriations act. • TDHCA has posted a proposed rule for encampment for public comment Purchase / Conversion: County Approval • SB 646 (Schwertner) • Vote failed in House Committee • HB 1803 …
` Michael Sierra-Arevalo Rebecca Webber Amanda Lewis Rebecca Bernhardt PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, July 6, 2021 The Public Safety Commission convened a videoconferencing meeting Tuesday July 6, 2021 at City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Rebecca Gonzales called the Board Meeting to order at 3:01p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Rebecca Gonzales Kathleen Hausenfluck Nelly Ramirez John Kiracofe Board Members Absent: Rocky Lane and Queen Austin Staff in Attendance: Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department Commissioner Gonzales. Citizen Communications - Citizens signed up to speak: -Carlos Leon spoke on Cap Metro Driver Threat during Citizen Communication -Carlos Leon signed up to speak on item 2a - APD officer response time to his call was within 10 minutes; unable to pay in person at APD Headquarters during regular business hours on June 25th due to building still closed to the public because of COVID-19; reopen APD Headquarters full-time to the in-person public 1. Approval of Minutes – Chair Gonzales called for comments/edits to the June 7, 2021 minutes and hearing no comments, she deemed the minutes approved as presented. 1 Citywide Crimes against Persons, Property and Society Citywide Response Times and Calls for Service Calls for Service and Response Times by Council District Overtime Budget vs. Overtime Spent Staffing (the 144th Cadet Class begin on June 7, 2021) The next cadet class is scheduled for -When was the last time APD met the target response times (8:24 seconds)? (Commissioner Webber) -Does APD run concurrent classes? (Commissioner Kiracofe) -Please add clearance updates to APD quarterly reports? (Commissioner Bernhardt) -How are target times determined? (Commissioner Hausenfluck) -What is definition for Zero Calls (Commissioner Kiracofe) - Are self-initiated calls possibly a waste of time? (Commissioner Lewis) 2a. Public Safety Organizations Quarterly Update – Austin Police Department (sponsors: Commissioners Hausenfluck and Gonzales) Speaker – Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, APD Chair Gonzales invited Chief Gay to begin his quarterly presentation. Chief Gay presented stats from APD on: 2023 after the 144th Cadet Class has ended and results/feedback of the class is presented to city council for a council votes to approve another class in 2023. There were comments and questions from the Commissioners over the quarterly information presented and Chief Gay committed to following up with additional information regarding: …
Austin Music Budget Overview Creative Space Bond Contingency Fund HOT Tax Funding What are the Sources? ● $12M approved November 2018 ● Joint Working Group with Arts Commission ● Guidelines from commissions utilized by Economic Development Office ● Will be overseen by ● Administered by AEDC ● When will grants be AEDC offered? American Recovery Plan Act Funds ● Federal Government allocated $188,482,478 to the City of Austin. ● City Council has dedicated: ○ $4M for Music, ○ $6M for Arts, ○ $2M for Nonprofits EDD launched the Austin Arts and Culture Non-Profit Relief Grant, which is funded by the $2M for creative non-profits. EDD contracted with the Austin Better Business Bureau to administer the program, and with the Austin Revitalization Authority and Mission Capital to offer application assistance for non-profits. ● The $4M and $6M for Music and Arts - who will administer? ● When will these grants be offered? ● $2.4M from HOT Taxes allocated. ● $1M of this Dedicated to preservation of iconic venues - will be overseen by AEDC ● Administered by ● When will grants be Whom? offered? ● Live Music Fund ● $2.5-$2.9M available at start of fiscal year (Oct 1) ● $2.5M Budget for FY22 Live Music Fund program cultural contracts ● Administered by Whom? ● Application Portal opens Fall 2021 Notes about control of funds ● Advantages of AEDC - ○ Speed in developing new functions once fully staffed. ○ Skill in real estate negotiation. ● Advantages of Economic Development Office - ○ AEDC not yet staffed up - no capacity to administer programs ○ Lower costs (saving 4-10% administrative fees) ○ Access to City-owned properties ○ Strong in administering established functions. ○ Can draw on EDD and City of Austin’s Staffing Capacity. ● Access to philanthropic donations - ○ People can contribute directly to the AEDC ○ People can also contribute to a city-overseen donation fund (like the Arts Donation fund)
Live Music Fund Event Program Community Feedback & Proposed Guidelines Enhancements Music & Entertainment Division Economic Development Department 8/2/2021 MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION T H E L I V E M U S I C F U N D, E S TA B L I S H E D BY C I T Y O R D I N A N C E N O. 2 0 1 9 0 9 1 9 - 1 4 9 O N S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 9 , I S B A S E D O N R E C O M M E N D AT I O N S F R O M 2 0 1 7 ’ S V I S I TO R TA S K F O R C E ' S F I N A L R E P O RT. Live Music Fund Event Program • 2021 Inaugural Music & Entertainment Cultural Funding Program sourced from Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) revenue from Austin's hotel and convention industries. • The Live Music Fund Event Program supports live and virtual music shows and special events that can be marketed to local audiences, potential and visiting tourists, and conventions delegates. Priority will be given to activities that promote a more equitable and diverse live music industry in Austin. C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 00/00/00 2 LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM – Responses to Community Feedback PRIMARY THEMES FOR GUIDELINE ENHANCEMENTS • Eligibility Criteria • Allowable Uses of Funds • Funding Allocation Schedule • Application Templates for Production & Budget and Marketing Planning • Career Building, Technical Assistance & Training • Enhanced community outreach for reaching 1st time applicants for City of Austin Support C I T Y O F A U S T I N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T 00/00/00 3 LIVE MUSIC FUND EVENT PROGRAM – Responses to Community Feedback 1ST THEME: Eligibility Criteria • Why only Musicians/Bands and Small Independent Promoters? • Why is “Woman-Identifying” a priority? • Why not include musicians who do not perform for live audiences? • Why only 3 or less …
AUSTIN FOOD SYSTEM PLAN PLANNING THE PLAN Overview & deliverables City Council Food Resiliency Item (June 10, 2021) The City Manager is directed to initiate a planning process and multi-lingual engagement strategy for the creation of the Austin Travis County Food System Plan The City Manager is directed to return to Council with an engagement strategy, recommendations regarding the formation and membership of the Community Advisory Board, identified stakeholders, and timeline for finalization no later than August 2021 Memo due to council on August 31, 2021 Nested food planning process Food System Plan Food Resiliency Plan Emergency Food + Water Plan 3 concurrent planning processes Food Policy Team is currently: Reviewing food system plans from across the country to develop list of best practices Interviewing food system plan project managers from across the country to learn about planning process, budget, community engagement & centering equity Interviewing COA staff on planning initiatives (Resiliency Hubs, Austin Climate Equity Plan) to identify lessons learned and building interdepartmental team for planning process Food System Plan Team ● Lead city department: ○ Office of Sustainability ● Supporting city departments: ● Potenial external partners: Development ● Community Engagement: ○ Community Advisory Group ○ Private sector, non-profit, academia ○ EDD, APH, ARR, Housing and Planning, PARD, WSP, Real-estate Services, HSEM, Equity ○ Travis County Health and Human Services, Transportation and Natural Resources, Agri-life, Econmic Food System Plan Budget Funding source: ● $500,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act ● $250,000 from the COA Budget Stabilization Fund (FY 2021 - 2022 pending Council adoption in mid-August 2021) ● This funding will cover: ○ Consulting contracts to deliver final Austin Food System Plan, Food Resiliency Study, and Food Access Appendix to the City Emergency Operations Plan ○ Community Advisory Board facilitation ○ Community stakeholder outreach and engagement ○ Collaboration with key regional partners including Travis County, Healthcare and Social Service providers, UT Dell Medical School ○ Development and implementation of an Equity Tool in collaboration with the Equity Office ○ Communications support, including translation services ○ Creation and management of an online dashboard to monitor progress Food System Plan Examples New York, NY: Food Forward: 10 Year Food Policy Plan San Diego County, CA: Food Vision 2030 Seattle, WA: Food Action Plan Denver, CO: Food Action Plan Pittsburgh, PA: Greater Pittsburgh Food Action Plan Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara County’s 2016 Food Action Plan Minneapolis, MN: Food Action Planning …
Joyce James Consulting Equal Treatment Does Not Lead To Equity Music Venues: “A Groundwater Analysis of Racial Inequities” Training and Technical Assistance Report May 19, 2021 Joyce James Consulting Equal Treatment Does Not Lead To Equity IN THIS REPORT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT A GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS (GWA) DEBRIEF PRESENTATION GWA SURVEYS & EVALUATION RESULTS GWA STRATEGY SESSION PRESENTATION THE TEXAS MODEL FRAMEWORK JJC RECOMMENDATIONS 1 Joyce James Consulting Equal Treatment Does Not Lead To Equity The Problem Joyce James (2010) Acknowledgement “Institutional and structural racism are at the core of racial inequities in all helping systems. Thus, the solution requires a systemic response that transforms the culture and holds all levels of the institution accountable.” Joyce James Consulting, LLC (JJC) gratefully acknowledges the City of Austin’s Economic Development leadership and staff, for their commitment to addressing racial inequities by making the Groundwater Analysis training available to Austin Music Venue owners. We applaud Music Venue owners for their willingness to be full participants in the training sessions, thereby, helping the JJC facilitators to create a liberated space for deeper conversations about institutional and structural racism as major contributors to the lack of diversity in music venues in the City of Austin, TX. About Joyce James Consulting (www.joycejamesconsulting.com) Joyce James, LMSW-AP is the President and CEO of Joyce James Consulting (JJC) She is a nationally recognized child welfare and racial equity expert. With a professional career spanning more than four decades, JJC provides training, data analysis, leadership development, coaching, community engagement support, and technical assistance to community-based organizations, non- and for-profit organizations, systems, and institutions at various levels, in both the public and private sectors. JJC has demonstrated expertise and success in supporting goals and objectives to reduce and eliminate disproportionality and disparities in multiple systems, including child welfare, education, health, housing, employment, law enforcement, juvenile and criminal justice systems. JJC provides a wide range of services focused on undoing institutional and structural racism designed to support increased awareness and strengthen capacity of systems and community leaders, as well as grassroots organizers to transform systems and institutions towards an anti-racist institutional culture. 2 Joyce James Consulting Equal Treatment Does Not Lead To Equity Ms. James most recently served as the Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities (Center) and the Texas State Office of Minority Health at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). She expanded the Texas …
