REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT ADVISORY BOARD JULY 18, 2025 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 Karly Jo Dixon Dr. Anu Kapadia, Vice Chair Mikaela Frissell Kergin Bedell Faye Mills Katy Jo Muncie Rev. Dr. Josh Robinson 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 1. Approve ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR CALLED MEETING on MAY 16, 2025. the DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT the minutes of DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Update on Fiscal Year 2025-2026 City of Austin budget engagement opportunities. (Downey Gallatin/Kapadia) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Presentation regarding Violet KeepSafe Storage Program improvement updates with goals to enhance client experience, boost efficiency, and support staff through key changes in spatial organization, communication systems, and clarification of program policies and staff responsibilities. (Downey Gallatin/Kapadia) – Claire Taub, DACC Policy Intern Presentation regarding Mobile Court enhancement updates including case management follow-up processes, building a database of surrounding courts to help with client connections, and geolocation use for partnerships. (Downey Gallatin/Kapadia) - Tori Olivares, Navigator for DACC Mobile Court Program. Status of DACC operational areas including performance measures and services delivered through Community Services, Court Services, Homeless Services and Support Services – Jennifer Sowinski, DACC Clinical Operations Manager, Chris Anderson, DACC Court Operations Manager, and Robert Kingham, DACC Court Administrator. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Internal Review (Downey Gallatin/Kapadia) – Lea Downey Gallatin, DACC Advisory Board Chair Downey Gallatin. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American …
VIOLET KEEPSAFE STORAGE: EVALUATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS DACC Advisory Board July 18, 2025 Claire Taub Policy Intern VIOLET KEEPSAFE STORAGE OVERVIEW Provides secure personal bins to store vital documents, family memories, clothing, bedding, and more Program has been under DACC supervision since December 2020 Employs 8 individuals with lived experience 371 active clients 14.5 thousand check-ins from January 2025 through June 2025 IDENTIFIED AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT 1 Spatial Organization 2 Communication Systems 3 Clarity in Responsibilities and Policies SPATIAL ORGANIZATION Identified by staff members as an improvement area 7 rooms at capacity with additional bins in hallway Disorganized ordering of bins Not enough bins to meet demand SPATIAL ORGANIZATION IMPROVEMENT Transition to new bins Easier for VKS staff members to roll More dignified storage option for program participants Smaller bin footprint increases program capacity Anticipated increase from 350 clients to 500 clients Alphanumeric numbering system to indicate exact bin location As, Bs, Cs, Ds in different sections of the building COMMUNICATION IMPROVEMENT Between Shifts Wipe Board Between Staff and Clients Clear client expectations Updated signage Between Front Desk and Back of House Multi-speaker PA System CLARITY IN RESPONSIBILITY AND POLICIES • Daily Staff Task List List of facility maintenance responsibilities • Ability to keep track of what has been done Job description • Client Agreements • Clear and consistent expectations regarding conduct • Multiple communication touchpoints • Consistent procedures for addressing noncompliance SOP Development • Daily Operations • Client Exit • • • Client Misconduct • Additional Interest Form Shift Communication opportunities CAPTURING DATA New Bin Interest Form Understand the need in the community that is unmet with the current program capacity Client Exit Form to track: Why clients are leaving the program How often 90 days pass without contact with clients Track important documents being stored at VKS Add Optional Demographic Data to Registration Process FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Structured one-on-one time with supervisors Professional development opportunities for staff Team building Optimize the application used by front desk staff Identify permanent location options Continued oversight of new implementations and SOP updates QUESTIONS? Claire Taub Claire.Taub@austintexas.gov clairetaub@utexas.edu
EXPANDING ACCESS THROUGH DATA: MOBILE COURT PROGRAM UPDATES AND EXPANSION DACC Advisory Board July 18, 2025 Tori Olivares Mobile Court Navigator DATASETS AND VISUALIZATIONS DATASETS AND VISUALIZATIONS Citation Types by ZIP Code Outcomes by Citation Types Total Number of Citations by ZIP Code TEXAS COUNTY COURT DATABASE Purpose: Why is it Needed: • Create an information portal with contact information for courts in neighboring counties to equip DACC staff to assist individuals with cases outside of DACC’s jurisdiction • For individuals who know they have a citation from a different county, this database allows us to provide some resources, rather than letting them leave without any guidance CLINICAL DIVERSION PROGRAM (CDP) DATA ANALYSIS CLINICAL DIVERSION PROGRAM (CDP) DATA ANALYSIS CLINICAL DIVERSION PROGRAM (CDP) DATA ANALYSIS Goal: Create a visualization where our current partnerships and potential partnerships are to show where services are now, and identify ideal areas to target for expansion PARTNERSHIPS AND EXPANSION Why: individuals that would benefit from mobile court services exist across the entire community. This data- informed approach will help us effectively provide equitable access to services QUESTIONS? Tori Olivares Victoria.Olivares@austintexas.gov
Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board DACC Service and Data Overview Board Packet – July 18, 2025 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 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 569* FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 – Jun. 2024): 829 o Acreage of Work Completed FY 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 17.8* FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 23.19 *These are missing information regarding work completed from February 1, 2025-February 10-2025, stemming from technical issues from system updates around these measures. While data during this time period cannot be retrieved, issues have been corrected to ensure data will be accurate moving forward. 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 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 517 FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 549 o Number of Interactions with VKS Participants FY 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 22,340 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 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 2,326 FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 2,096 o Number of Cases Docketed FY 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 6,402 FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024): 4,715 Page 1 of 3 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 2025 (Oct. 2024 – Jun. 2025): 277 FY 2024 (Oct. 2023 …
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025 __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 Austin community through 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 (7/1/2024 to 6/30/2025), the Board met six (6) times. Meetings were held as a hybrid of remotely 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 response system on each agenda. - The Board received regular updates from DACC staff concerning Rapid Rehousing efforts, housing placements, current waitlist for services, virtual hearings and warrant confirmation policies, facilities, and the Violet KeepSafe Storage Program. DACC included Community Court News, an internal newsletter Annual Review and Work Plan Year Page # with updates about DACC operations, along with data updates across all DACC units (6 times). - Fernanda Veloz Salas, Intern, presented on DACC data visualization project. - Sarah Rodriguez, Business Process Specialist, gave an update and discussed the services provided and outcomes achieved for DACC’s Mobile Court. - Robert Kingham, DACC Court Administrator, presented DACC’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report - Bailey Gray, Business Process Specialist, presented data maximization and information on new software for the Homeless Services unit. - Robert Kingham, DACC Court Administrator, presented DACC’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget update. - Marisa Malik, Director of Crisis Services and Justice Initiatives, Integral Care, provided information about the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (EMCOT) and the Therapeutic Diversion Program (TDP). - So Yong Kim, Clinical Case Manager Supervisor, presented the Work Study Program overview and future efforts. - …
