20200803-003A: regarding Austin Police Budget — original pdf

Recommendation

COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFAIRS Recommendation Number: 20200803-003A Regarding: Austin Police Department budget WHEREAS, the Commission on Immigrant Affairs over the years has listened to reports from the community and from public and nonprofit agencies regarding the needs of the immigrant community; WHEREAS, the needs of the immigrant community are often unmet due to budgetary restrictions; WHEREAS, while our Commission has been able to make recommendations regarding the budget, and while we have been asked to look at equities and efficiencies within most departments, we have not been able to look the Austin Police Department’s budget with an eye to equities and efficiencies; WHEREAS, one of the concerns of this Commission has been community trust with the Austin Police Department; WHEREAS, commissions, community leaders and the public are calling for public safety reform and changes in the Austin Police Department leadership and budget in response to local and nationwide police violence; WHEREAS, the community has expressed concerns to us about over policing in areas of Austin where immigrants reside; WHEREAS, we have heard from the community in community budget forums concerns that the Austin Police Department Budget is out of proportion to other department budgets and concerns that APD funds could be put to better use; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That Boards and Commissions receive full information about the Austin Police Department’s budget and be able to make recommendations about it; That in discussing the Austin Police Department’s budget, Council take into account the need for community liaisons with the Austin Police Department, such as the Immigrant Community Liaison, and look into potentially expanding that program to further reach out to the Immigrant Community; That in discussing the Austin Police Department’s budget, Council take into account the need for Victim Services, and take into account whether there are sufficient bilingual or multilingual officers and whether such officers are culturally competent; That in discussing the Austin Police Department’s budget, Council ensures that Austin Police Department has officers on the ground who are bilingual and has officers on the ground who are culturally competent. COMMISSION ON IMMIGRANT AFAIRS Recommendation Number: 20200803-003A Regarding: Austin Police Department budget PASSED by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs on August 3, 2020. Unanimously approved by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs on an 8-0 vote with and Banafsheh Madaninejad, Nicole Merritt, Kate Goldfinch, and Juan Vences-Benitez absent. Attest: Staff Liaison