REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION November 4, 2024, 4:00 PM Austin City Hall Boards and Commissions Room #1101 301 West 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 Some members of the Public Safety Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live 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. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Paul Hermesmeyer AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith The first five 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 Public Safety Commission regular meeting on October 7, 2024. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department, including an update on the October 2024 wildfire in East Austin. 1. 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentation regarding the new Public Safety Headquarters by Kimberly Olivares, Financial Services Department. Presentation regarding the Death Notification Process within Victim Services by Kachina Clark, Austin Police Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a Public Safety Commissioner to serve on the Downtown Commission as a non- voting member per City Code 2-1-140-C. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Update from the Training Academy Working Group on the training academy cadet class audit reports received. Update from the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Working Group on planned next steps for aggregated sexual assault case data reporting. 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 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 7, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, October 7, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, October 7, 2024, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Paul Hermesmeyer Pierre Nguyễn Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on January 9, 2023 The minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on January 9, 2023 were approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Hermesmeyer’s second on a 7- 0 vote. Commissioners Holmes, Orr, and Reyes were absent. 2. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on March 6, 2023. The minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on March 6, 2023 were approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Holmes, Orr, and Reyes were absent. 3. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on September 9, 2024. The minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on September 9, 2024 were approved on Vice Chair Ruttan’s motion, Commissioner Bernhardt’s second on a 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 7, 2024 6-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioners Holmes, Orr, and Reyes were absent. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. Approve the Public Safety Commission 2025 Regular Meeting Schedule The Public Safety Commission 2025 Regular Meeting Schedule was approved on Commissioner Hermesmeyer’s motion, Vice Chair Ruttan’s second, on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Holmes, Orr, and Reyes were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Public Safety Quarterly Report by Austin Police Department, including an update on the license plate reader program. The presentation was made by James Mason, Assistant Chief, Austin Police Department. Lisa Davis, Police Chief, Austin Police Department introduced herself to the commission. 5. Update on Wildfire Readiness by Austin Fire Department, including an update on the PANO AI system by Austin Energy The presentation was made by Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department; Justice Jones, Chief Mitigation Officer, Austin Fire Department; Jeff Kennedy, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department; and Chris Vetromile, Wildfire Mitigation Manager, Austin Energy. …
AUSTIN FIRE Public Safety Commission Meeting FY24 Q4 Chief of Staff Rob Vires 1 5 5 A c r e W i l d f i r e o n O c t o b e r 1 0 , 2 0 2 4 • Around 12:41 pm, AFD started receiving calls regarding a fire in the 9500 block of FM 969 Road at John Trevino Metro Park. • Drier conditions over the preceding weeks allowed the fire to burn faster and hotter. • This area has previously been treated with a prescribed fire as a preventative effort, which reduced the fire intensity and aided in suppression efforts. • More than 120 firefighters were on scene, including aid from ESDs 11 and 12, as well as two helicopters in the air and multiple drones. • Two firefighters experienced minor injuries. • No structures burned and no evacuation recommendations were issued. • AFD’s training greatly assisted in a safe, effective, and coordinated response. 2 T e x t t o 9 1 1 • The new 911 software has been installed, with no changes to the Text to 911 product. • The current system allows users of 911 system to exchange text messages with AFD dispatchers. • Representatives of the future system, Text to 911, have indicated that it their system includes a multimedia service. • Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) took the lead in implementing the new 911 software. 3 F i r e S t a t i o n 1 G r a n d R e - O p e n i n g Fire Station 1 hosted a Grand Re-Opening event on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024. The units have been back in service at Station 1 since July 30, 2024. 4 Photos from Austin Capital Delivery Services on Flickr N e w F i r e S t a t i o n 5 4 a t C a n y o n C r e e k Located in Council District 10, this will be a shared facility with ATCEMS. Expected completion: December 2024 Updates: • Broke ground on January 30, 2024. • Abatement work and demolition completed mid-January 2024. • Steel is complete. • Interior work is being done. • Texas Gas has been installed. 5 F a c i l i t y I m p r o v e m e …
Public Safety Headquarters Acquisition Kimberly Olivares, Deputy CFO Public Safety Commission -- November 4, 2024 Background • Current headquarters facilities have exceeded their useful life • Conditions continue to deteriorate • Public access is minimal at best • Public safety departments began requesting a new HQ over a decade ago • Staff previously discussed redevelopment of Rutherford Lane Campus as a potential solution • August 2022 Audit & Finance Committee 2 Current Conditions Technicenter (AFD HQ, EMS, APD) 3 Current Conditions – RBJ (EMS HQ) Current Conditions RBJ (EMS HQ) 4 Current Conditions APD HQ 5 Headquarters Specifications • Public safety headquarters programming analysis (2022) • Examined existing facilities • Interviews with department leadership, key staff, and various units • Employee surveys (approximately 800 responses) • How staff conducts their work today • What they would like to see in new workspaces • Desired improvements/features in a new facility • Requirements for a mix of public/private spaces and approximately 400,000 square feet to meet needs for next twenty years 6 Barton Skyway Details • Location: 1501 & 1601 South Mopac Expressway (D8) • Two 4-story Class A office buildings • Built in 1999/2000 • Approximately 390,000 sq. ft total • 13.83 acres of land • 3 miles to City Hall • Two 5-level parking structures and surface parking • ≈1,550 spaces • Outdoor seating pavilions, tenant lounges, fitness center, volleyball court • Transit access 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Benefits and Opportunities • New HQ for all public safety departments • Improved working conditions for sworn and non-sworn personnel • Meets current space and future growth needs • Easy access to downtown • Improved public access • Collaboration among public safety departments • Environmental improvements to the property • Repurposing and/or monetization of other properties • Technicenter, APD HQ • Avoid cost of continued investment in existing buildings 14 • The City Manager is directed to explore opportunities to improve the facility to be acquired from an environmental perspective, including but not limited to: Council Direction • Solar installation • Green infrastructure • Resilience • Energy efficiency • The City Manager is directed to assess which improvements to existing City facilities and associated costs could be avoided due to this purchase and to prioritize those savings toward improvements at other City facilities in support of City climate goals. 15 Finances and Next Steps • Purchase price: $107.6 million …
Death Notifications Austin Police Department Victim Services Role of the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office (TCME) The TCME is responsible for the investigation and certification of cause and manner of death of all sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious, or unnatural deaths that occur in Travis County. The cause of death is a disease, injury, drug toxicity, or combination of factors that causes a physiologic derangement severe enough to result in death. The manner of death refers to the circumstances surrounding how the death came about and is divided into five categories: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, and undetermined. TCME also investigates similar deaths occurring in 43 Texas counties at the written request of the local authorities. -From TCME website (see also TCCP 49.25) 2 2 Who is considered Legal Next of Kin in Texas? The TCME’s Office is responsible for notifying the legal next of kin in most situations, in collaboration with APD Victim Services. Order of notification: Spouse Adult children Parents Adult siblings Note: The emergency contact listed on a driver’s license is NOT automatically contacted on APD cases. 3 3 Victim Services (VS) may Be Requested to assist with notifying next of kin in the following situations: • Deaths occurring in Austin (includes parts of Williamson and Hays County, but primarily in Travis County) at homes or in the community. • Hospital deaths (typically, hospital social workers handle notifications, but VS may respond if officers are also responding, such as for an accident, collision, violence, or suicides). • Hospice deaths, ONLY if 911 is called and police respond (often, Hospice social workers take the lead in managing these cases). • Requests from other agencies for out-of-office cases when the next of kin is believed to reside in Austin (received via teletype). 4 4 How Notification Requests are Initiated: • TCME pages VS Crisis Response Team via APD Communications once they identify the • APD Dispatch pages VS when requests come from another jurisdiction via teletype. • Detectives (Homicide, Vehicular Homicide, Cold Case, or Special Investigations Unit) • Dispatch may contact the person who called in a welfare check for updates, potentially allowing for tentative notifications. • VS may identify and locate next of kin while on scene (e.g., assisting a witness in a decedent. pages VS directly. traffic fatality). 5 5 Information to have before making notification (ideally): • Full name and date of birth of …
APD Training Academy Audit 149th Cadet Class May 22, 2023 – December 30, 2023 Community Involvement Co-facilitated Coursework • 8 courses taught by or in cooperation with outside SME’s and/or community partners • Key topics: Sexual Harassment Recognition; U.S. & Texas Constitution and Rights; History of Policing and Race in Austin; Mindfulness & Resilience Techniques; Professional Policing; Non-Consensual Language; Traumatic Brain Injury; Crisis Intervention Training • Co-facilitators represented the University of Texas, Texas State University, Neill-Cochran House Museum, Austin Community College, the Centre for Neuro Skills, and Integral Care 149th Cadet Class Community Involvement Community Connect & Engagement – 36 hours completed Cadets received lectures, participated in group discussions and performed other community-focused activities. Austin Public Library Sobering Center Neill-Cochran House Magdalene House Out Youth Jail to Jobs Mothers Against Drunk Driving Downtown Austin Alliance SAFE Alliance ADL: Hate Crimes Education Seedling Foundation Language Access AISD Restorative Practices Austin Groups for the Elderly Central Texas VA Community Resource Fair 149th Cadet Class Culture of Adult Learning Staff began incorporating Adult Learning Theory concepts into curriculum in mid-2021 • 24 classes have been revised to include Adult Learning Theory concepts between mid-2021 and the conclusion of the 149th cadet class in December 2023 • Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy, concepts include: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate and Create 149th Cadet Class Culture of Adult Learning Professional Development for Training Academy Staff • Instructors are encouraged to seek out and attend training courses that will further improve Cadet Training and Advanced Officer Education • Examples of courses attended/scheduled to attend: • The RITE Way “Responsibility and Integrity Through Ethics; Managing the Training Function; IACP Women’s Leadership Institute; Finding the Leader in You; (TEEX) Advanced Instructor Development; FBI LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute; VirTra Advanced Trainer Certification Course; ABLE Train the Trainer Certification; Reality Based Training Instructor Course. 149th Cadet Class Transformative Change Belonging & Inclusion • All Cadets completed Groundwater Analysis training provided by Joyce James Consulting (JJC) • Field Training Officers (FTO’s) who train newly graduated cadets are required to take Groundwater Analysis training (75% of current FTO’s have completed training) • Future FTO’s must complete training prior to FTO school • In addition to Groundwater Analysis, FTO’s are required to complete a 2-day recertification training with courses including: Teaching Methods; Force Review; Red Dot Transition Pistol Course; updated Groundwater Analysis curriculum 149th Cadet Class Demographics Class Dates: May 22, 2023 – December …
APD Training Academy Audit 151st Cadet Class September 11, 2023 – April 19, 2024 Community Involvement Co-facilitated coursework community partners • 8 courses were taught by or in cooperation with outside SME’s and/or • Key topics: Sexual Harassment Recognition; U.S. & Texas Constitution and Rights; History of Policing and Race in Austin; Mindfulness & Resilience Techniques; Professional Policing; Non-Consensual Language; Traumatic Brain Injury; Crisis Intervention Training • Co-facilitators represented the University of Texas, Texas State University, the Neill-Cochran House Museum, Austin Community College, the Centre for Neuro Skills, and Integral Care 151st Cadet Class Community Involvement Community Connect & Engagement – 36 hours completed Cadets received lectures, participated in group discussions and performed other community-focused activities. Austin Public Library Sobering Center Neill-Cochran House Magdalene House Out Youth Jail to Jobs Mothers Against Drunk Driving Downtown Austin Alliance SAFE Alliance ADL: Hate Crimes Education Seedling Foundation Language Access AISD Restorative Practices Austin Groups for the Elderly Central Texas VA Community Resource Fair 151st Cadet Class Creation of Academy Operations Manual Academy Staff created the Academy Operations Manual in February 2024 during the 151st Cadet class, covering topics for: • Creating a Culture for Adult and Active Learning • Improving cadet curriculum through SME expertise • Improving co-facilitation of Academy Instruction • Providing a guideline for reporting Academy production to internal and external stakeholders 151st Cadet Class Culture of Adult Learning Staff began incorporating Adult Learning Theory concepts into curriculum in mid-2021 • All Cadet classes are currently under review for TCOLE compliance • 24 courses were previously revised to include Adult Learning Theory concepts between mid-2021 and the conclusion of the 151st Cadet Class • Curriculum and Instructor Development team begins observing cadet curriculum for improving Adult Learning beginning with 153rd cadet class in August 151st Cadet Class Culture of Adult Learning Professional development for Training Academy Staff • Instructors are encouraged to seek out and attend training courses that will further improve cadet training and advanced education • Examples of classes attended/to be attended 2024: • The RITE Way “Responsibility and Integrity Through Ethics; Managing the Training Function; IACP Women’s Leadership Institute; Finding the Leader in You; (TEEX) Advanced Instructor Development; FBI LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute; VirTra Advanced Trainer Certification Course; ABLE Train the Trainer Certification; Reality Based Training Instructor Course, Managing the FTO Unit. 151st Cadet Class Transformative Change • Pre-Academy established for the 153rd Cadet Class, which includes: …
Public Safety Commission - Questions & Answers PENDING QUESTIONS: October 7, 2024 – Regular Meeting Item 4. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police Department, including an update on the license plate reader program. 1. Can APD help us get a better understanding of violent crime going down, violent crime clearance rates staying the same, and account for APD staffing as it relates to those stats? The data suggests that violent crime over all is slightly treading down. Crime clearance rates vary depending on the type of crime and there is no definitive way to corollate APD staffing to clearance rates. 2. How many people were stopped that did not result in an arrest (false positive stops) via the License Plate Reader Program? See question 4 below. Reader Program? 3. What amount of data was shared to state or other agencies via the License Plate We have received no requests for data sharing/preservation, and we do not share our cameras directly with other agencies (the system is capable of sharing directly, but we do not allow it to be utilized in this way to ensure compliance with the city resolution). 4. Data on demographics of people with false positive arrests via the License Plate Reader Program. During the first two audit periods (Go live/March 28, 2024, to Sept 30, 2024), There were 21 incidents where subjects were detained in connection with ALPR information, but no arrest was made. Of these incidents, the driver in those stops was identified as a female 7 times and a male 14 times. Of these incidents, the driver was identified as black 3 times, Middle Eastern 1 times, and white 17 times. Detaining someone associated with a stolen vehicle/stolen license plate, STOP and ID bolo, etc, will not necessarily result in an arrest. In reviewing the dataset, the most frequent reason for someone being stopped/detained but not arrested is a function of the vehicle owner/driver reporting a stolen license plate but still having the plates displayed on their vehicle. The is one STOP and ID for Public Safety Commission - Questions & Answers a kidnapping suspect (APD identified the suspect, but the case was not ready to be filed as further investigation needed to be conducted). If I were going to look into "false positive stops," it would be a situation in which the ALPR system and Officer made a mistake. For example, the Officer gets …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, November 4, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, November 4, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Ramírez called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Enrique Duran II Pierre Nguyễn Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on October 7, 2024. The minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on October 7, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Nguyễn’s motion, Vice Chair Ruttan’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Holmes was off the dais. Commissioners Bernhardt, Hermesmeyer and Orr were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department, including an update on the October 2024 wildfire in East Austin. The presentation was made by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, November 4, 2024 Vice Chair Ruttan requested a follow up on a suggestion to also include those who rent housing in outreach efforts. 3. Presentation regarding the new Public Safety Headquarters by Kimberly Olivares, Financial Services Department. The presentation was made by Kimberly Olivares, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Financial Services Department. 4. Presentation regarding the Death Notification Process within Victim Services by Kachina Clark, Austin Police Department. The presentation was made by Kachina Clark, Police Division Manager Victims Services, Austin Police Department and Connie Geerhart, Employee Wellness Program Manager Victims Services, Austin Police Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Approve a Public Safety Commissioner to serve on the Downtown Commission as a non- voting member per City Code 2-1-140-C. Discussed with no action. Chair Ramírez indicated the item would be brought back at the next meeting. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. Update from the Training Academy Working Group on the training academy cadet class audit reports received. Chair Ramírez provided an update. Chair Ramírez and Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo requested the training academy cadet class audit reports include more granular data in a spreadsheet format that would include ongoing updates, a compare and contrast and in progress goals. 7. Update from the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Working Group on planned …
