20201119-1a: Recommendation for Relocation of Downtown Austin Community Court — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Downtown Austin Community Court Advisory Board Recommendation Number: 20201119-1a Recommendation for Relocation of Downtown Austin Community Court WHEREAS, the purpose of the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) is to collaboratively address the quality of life issues of all residents in the downtown Austin community through swift creating sentencing on public orders citations, creative sentencing of public order offenders. The Court seeks to hold people responsible while also offering help to change behavior; and WHEREAS, the DACC Case Management team aims to end homelessness by providing comprehensive, long term services to individuals experiencing homelessness; and WHEREAS, DACC services are meaningful alternatives and operate in a less adversarial environment than a more traditional court; and WHEREAS, the DACC is an integral part of the continuum of care provided by an array of local non- profits, and substance abuse and mental health providers and provides much-needed services to individuals experiencing homelessness through stakeholder referrals, HOST referrals, judicial referrals, and peer referrals; and WHEREAS, homelessness is identified as a strategic outcome indicator in Austin’s strategic direction, and was identified by City Council the top priority for the city strategic plan; and WHEREAS, On February 15,2018, Austin City Council endorsed Resolution 20180215-048 regarding the relocation of DACC, and requested staff identify options for the relocation of the Downtown Austin Community Court; and WHEREAS, the location currently recommended is a new facility to be leased at 1719 E2nd street; and WHEREAS, the DACC must be located on or near a transit line, within the geographic boundaries specified by City Code Section 2-10-32(A), include parking options for employees and jurors as well as storage space for vehicles and equipment use for community service, and include in space-planning the possibility of co-locating Austin Municipal Court windows and additional services for the populations served; and