1. REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD JULY 19, 2024 AT 8:00AM ONE TEXAS CENTER, STE 125, TRAINING ROOM 505 BARTON SPRINGS RD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78704 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION 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 Edna Staniszewski at edna.staniszewski@austintexas.gov or at (512) 974-1260. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: Lea Downey Gallatin, Chair Kergin Bedell Mikaela Frissell Kate Garza Nicole Golden Dr. Anu Kapadia Faye Mills Katy Jo Muncie Lauren Pena Robin G. Sontheimer, Vice-Chair Roy Woody AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 including individuals that wish to share first-hand accounts regarding their experiences being served through Austin’s homelessness system. . APPROVAL OF MINUTES the minutes of Approve ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR CALLED MEETING on MAY 17, 2024. the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. FY24 Annual Internal Review (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Presentation on DACC data visualization project to collect feedback from DACC Advisory Board Members on preferred visualization characteristics and components. (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Fernanda Veloz Salas, Intern, Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) Update on Fiscal Year 2024-2025 City of Austin Budget engagement opportunities. (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Status of DACC operations (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) 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 Edna Staniszewski at Downtown Austin Community Court, at (512) 974-1260), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board, …
Downtown Austin Community Court FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET JULY 19, 2024 City of Austin – Proposed Budget 4% increase in base pay for regular employees hired on or before April 1, 2024 effective as of October 1, 2024 Employee retirement contributions increase from 9% to 10% of base wages on January 1, 2025 No premium rate increase for City medical coverage plans City of Austin – Proposed Budget Living Wage increase from $20.80 to $21.63 Annual Employer Contribution increase of $500 for employees enrolled in Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Paid Parental Leave Program extended from 10 to 12 weeks annually Income eligibility limits for the Childcare Assistance Program have been increased. Timeline 24 July 1 Aug. Budget Work Session & Community Input Session Budget Work Session, Set Max Tax Rate, & Public Hearing on the Budget 8 Aug. Budget Work Session Budget Work Session Budget Work Session Budget Reading (Adoption) 30 July 6 Aug. 14–16 Aug. Advisory Board Recommendations Board recommendations are not included in the proposed budget Recommendations will be considered through the budget adoption process.
Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board DACC Service and Data Overview Board Packet – July 19, 2024 Community Services Community Services Program (CS) – Participants fulfill community service hour requirements through public space cleaning, beautification projects, graffiti abatement, and working at DACC’s Edgar Fincher III Program Garden, which donates all food and eggs to local providers who feed the homeless community. o Number of Community Services Requests Completed FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 – Jun. 2024): 829 o Acreage of Work Completed FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 23.19 Violet KeepSafe Storage Program (VKS) – Free storage located downtown with secure bins to store vital documents, family memories, clothing, bedding, and more. Operates 7:00am- 11:00am and 1:00pm-7:00pm, seven days a week. Program employs people with lived experience to improve service experience and create workforce opportunities. o Number of Active VKS Participants FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 549 o Number of Interactions with VKS Participants FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 19,120 Court Services Restorative justice and problem-solving court – Fine-only court with emphasis on alternative resolutions, and provides an immediate connection to onsite case managers, basic needs, and social service resources. DACC resolves Class C criminal offenses in catchment area, and Proposition B and State camping ban cases citywide. o Number of Cases Filed FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 2,096 o Number of Cases Docketed FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 4,715 Clinical Diversion Program (CDP) – Dedicated case managers serve people engaging in Court Services to improve connection to case management and social services, while also improving appearance and case completion rates. o Number of CDP Clients: FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 216 o Number of Cases Resolved through Participation in CDP: FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 342 DACC Mobile Court Pilot – This Pilot, initiated by Council Resolution 20230816-016, is intended to connect people in the community with solutions for resolving cases while providing immediate connection to services and resource navigation through case managers onsite. o Warrants Cleared during Mobile Court: FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 74 o Cases Docketed during Mobile Court: FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 105 Homeless Services Walk-in Case Management – Provides assistance obtaining identification documents and signing up for public benefits, access to …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 __Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board__ The Board/Commission mission statement (per the City Code) is: The mission of the Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board (“Board”), according to article 2-1-130 of the City Code, is to “advise the Downtown Austin Community Court on policy and operational issues and advise the council on the policies and operations of the court.” The purpose of the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) is to collaboratively address the quality of all residents in the downtown Austin community through the swift, creative sentencing of public order offenders. The Court seeks to hold people responsible while also offering help to change behavior. 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. During the reporting period (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024), the Board met six (6) times. Meetings were held as a hybrid of virtually and in person. All meetings were posted and open to the public. Our actions during this time were primarily educational, including: - The board posted opportunities to receive feedback from individuals with first- hand lived experience being served in Austin’s homelessness system on each agenda. - The Board received regular updates from DACC staff; Rapid Rehousing efforts, housing placements, and the waitlist for services; virtual hearings and warrant Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # confirmation policies; facilities, and the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program. On November 2023, DACC launched Community Court News, and internal newsletter with updates about DACC operations, and provided during board meetings along with data updates across all DACC units (5 times). - Yvonne Mboss, DACC Clinical Case Manager Supervisor, presented on the Clinical Diversion Program, the data is continually being gathered and updated, plus the program has transportation available from Austin Municipal Court (AMC) to DACC office for clients, when needed. - Robert Kingham, DACC Court Administrator, discussed the plan tolaunch DACC’s Mobile Court Pilot on October 18, 2024, and collected feedback from the Board on suggestions for data to be collected and potential locations for services. Mobile Court updates shared at subsequent board meetings. - Kate Ballew, DACC Clinical Case Manager Supervisor, discussed the clinic services provided by Community Care Clinic at DACC’s office, available on Wednesdays. - Jennifer Sowinski, DACC Clinical Operations Manager, …
DACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES (19, July 2024) DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES JULY 19, 2024 The DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD convened in a REGULAR CALLED meeting on 19, JULY 2024, at 505 BARTON SPRINGS RD in Austin, Texas. CALL TO ORDER Chair Lea Downey Gallatin called the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD Meeting to order at 8:25 a.m. Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Lea Downey Gallatin, Katy Jo Muncie and Roy Woody Board Members/Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Vice-Chair Robin Sontheimer, Kate Garza and Faye Mills PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING on MAY 17, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of May 17, 2024, were approved on Board Member Roy Woody motion, Board Member Robin Sontheimer second on an (6-0) vote. DISCUSSION ITEMS FY24 Annual Internal Review (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Discussed with the board and no revisions needed. Presentation on DACC data visualization project to collect feedback from DACC Advisory Board Members on preferred visualization characteristics and components. (Downey 1. 2. 1 DACC ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES (19, July 2024) Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Fernanda Veloz Salas, Intern, Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) Following the presentation, comments were given: o Substitute techniques for mailing addresses or issuing warrants o Rather than jail, if APD notices a warrant status, divert to DACC instead. o Can HOST check their status? HOST can provide resources and follow up with their clients. 3. 4. Update on Fiscal Year 2024-2025 City of Austin Budget engagement opportunities. (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Breakdown presentation given by Albert Castro, Financial Manager III. Status of DACC operations (Downey Gallatin/Sontheimer) – Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) Update including performance measures and services given for Community Services, Court Services, Homeless Services and Support Services. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 9:32am. The minutes were approved at the September 20, 2024, meeting on Board Member Kate Garza’s motion, Board Member Katy Jo Muncie second on a (7-0) vote 2
