REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the COMMISSION FOR WOMEN July 10, 2024 AT 12:00 PM CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1401 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752 Some members of the Commission for Women may be participating by videoconference. 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 Christi Vitela, 512-974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. Diana Melendez Pam Rattan Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Julie Glasser Angela Harris CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first ten 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 Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on June 5, 2024. 1. DISCUSSION 2. Austin Police Department’s Special Victims Intervention Unit (SVIU) on an overview of the work of the unit and identified limitations. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the Commission for Women’s annual report. 4. Approve Commissioner Scheihing as a representative to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan planning team. Election of the primary and secondary representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. 5. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the Quality of Life Working Group on the progress of the Quality of Life study. 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, or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Commission for Women, please contact Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department at 512-974-2792, or email christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 5, 2024 Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, June 5, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commission Room-1101 301 West 2nd Street, Austin, Texas, 78701 Chair Tau called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:37 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Jocelyn Tau, Chair Angela Harris Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Rebecca Austen Katrina Scheihing Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on May 1, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on 5/1/2024 were approved on Chair Tau’s motion and seconded by Commissioner Harris on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, June 5, 2024 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Update on the 2024 Women’s Hall of Fame Ceremony and Reception. Vice Chair Bullard provided a summary of the ceremony and reception. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group, define the scope and approve membership. The motion to approve the creation of a Women’s Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group was approved on Vice Chair Bullard’s motion, Chair Tau’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. The Recognition Working Group for the 2025 Hall of Fame will establish timeline and goals for 2025 Hall of Fame, including but not limited to: • reviewing and updating nomination process and application • determine marketing plan for nomination process and Hall of Fame event • updating Commissioner review process • determine date for applications/nominations to go live and when they will close. • determine date for 2025 Hall of Fame • continue collaboration with D3 office to prepare for Hall of Fame • expected final result will be 2025 Hall of Fame event. Chair Tau and Vice Chair Bullard volunteered to join the 2025 Hall of Fame Recognition Working Group. 4. Election of primary and backup representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. The motion to postpone to the next meeting was approved on Chair Tau’s motion, Commissioner Austen’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth, Glasser, Melendez and Rattan were absent. 5. Approve Recommendation 20240605-005 supporting affordable childcare in the greater Austin area. The …
APD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE UNIT/ SPECIAL VICTIMS INTERVENTION UNIT (SVIU) Sergeant Tammy Varkony Tammy.Varkony@austintexas.gov APD Domestic Violence Unit • 2 Sergeants • Unit Management & Logistics • Case Assignment • Review of cleared investigations • SVIU • 16 Detectives Investigate cases • • Collaborate with Prosecutors • Alert SVIU to elevated threats • 1 Victim Services Counselor Supervisor • Case Assignment • Liaison with other agencies • 7 Victim Services Counselors • Contact victims of Family Violence • Safety planning • Coordinate resources to victims • Alert SVIU to elevated threats • 4 Officers (SVIU) • One detective position has been reassigned Investigative support for high-risk cases • • Safety planning support- install cameras, GPS checks • Serve arrest & search warrants • Attend weekly DVHRT meetings Types of Cases Investigated • The DV Unit is responsible for investigating approx. 27 different offenses/ title codes, including: • Any Family / Dating Violence Assaults • i.e. Assault w/ Injury, Aggravated Assault, Agg Assault Strangulation, Agg Assault – Motor Vehicle • Violation of Bond Conditions / Protective Orders • Kidnapping / Agg Kidnapping – Fam / Dating • Stalking (including stranger stalking cases) • Assault on Pregnant Woman • Burglary of Residence - Fam / Dating • Interference w/ Emergency Phone Call – Fam / Dating • Terroristic Threats – Fam / Dating • Unlawful Restraint – Fam / Dating • Injury to Elderly / Disabled – Fam / Dating SVIU MISSION • The SVIU is a plain clothes (no uniforms) investigative support unit under the Domestic Violence Unit. • SVIU’s priority are cases with an ongoing or escalating victim safety risk, or risk to the public. • The unit is comprised of one sergeant, one detective, and four officers. UNIT ORIGIN & PURPOSE • Originally known as CRASH • Established in 2015 with the primary goal of HOMICIDE PREVENTION • By taking a victim-centered approach the unit provides services to victims in all stages, from safety planning and investigative assistance all the way to suspect apprehension and protective order / bond condition enforcement. 6 THE SVIU ROLE IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK TEAM (DVHRT) • Two overarching themes of the DVHRT model: If intimate partner homicide is predictable, it should be preventable. The gaps in information are where homicides occur. The SVIU is an innovative model unique to APD that provides a coordinated response to high-risk cases through a The SVIU …
Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 10, 2024 Commission for Women REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, July 10, 2024 The Commission for Women convened in a regular meeting on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, Texas, 78752. Chair Tau called the Commission for Women Meeting to order at 12:06 p.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Becky Bullard, Vice Chair Jocelyn Tau, Chair Angela Harris Rebecca Austen Vanessa Bissereth Julie Glasser Diana Melendez Pam Rattan Josephine Serrata Maria Veloz Salas PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Commission for Women regular meeting on June 5, 2024. 1 Commission for Women Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 10, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 6/5/2024 were approved on Commissioner Rattan’s motion and seconded by Chair Tau on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Serrata was off the dais. Commissioner Scheihing was absent. DISCUSSION 2. Austin Police Department’s Special Victims Intervention Unit (SVIU) on an overview of the work of the unit and identified limitations. The presentation was made by Tammy Varkony, Sergeant, Austin Police Department; Deanna Lichter, Commander, Austin Police Department; and Christopher Leleux, Lieutenant, Austin Police Department. Hanna Senko, Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) project manager answered commissioners’ questions. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Approve the Commission for Women’s annual report. The motion to approve the Commission for Women’s annual report was approved on Vice Chair Bullard’s motion, Commissioner Harris’ second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Scheihing was absent. 4. Approve Commissioner Scheihing as a representative to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan planning team. The motion to approve Commissioner Scheihing as a representative to the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan planning team was approved on Commissioner Glasser’s motion, Commissioner Melendez’s second, on a 10-0 vote. Commissioner Scheihing was absent. 5. Election of the primary and secondary representatives to the Joint Inclusion Committee. The motion to approve Commissioner Glasser as the primary representative and Commissioner Melendez as the secondary representative to the Joint Inclusion Committee was approved on Chair Tau’s motion, Commissioner Austen’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Bissereth and Serrata were off the dais. Commissioner Scheihing was absent. 6. Update from the Quality of Life Working Group on the progress of the Quality of Life study. Update was given by Commissioner Austen. WORKING GROUP UPDATES FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 2 Commission for Women …
