REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2025, 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 remotely, contact Christi Vitela at participation by christi.vitela@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2792. telephone. To to speak register CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Angel Carroll Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith The first 5 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 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on October 6, 2025. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department. Biannual Wildfire Readiness Update, Austin Fire Department. 4. Discussion of sexual assault data with Austin Police Department Sex Crimes Unit, Austin Travis County Sexual Assault Response & Resource Team (SARRT), The SAFE Alliance, and the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS 5. Final report and recommendation from the Bylaws Working Group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve amendments to the Public Safety Commission Bylaw regarding purpose and duties and membership. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Safety Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov.
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 6, 2025 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, October 6, 2025 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Austin City Hall, Boards and Commissions Room, 301 W 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Vice Chair Ruttan called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Tim Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Enrique Duran II Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on September 8, 2025. The motion to approve the minutes from the meeting on September 8, 2025, was approved on Commissioner Bernhardt motion, Chair Ramírez’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Hidrogo, Nguyễn, and Sierra-Arévalo were off the dais. Commissioners Carroll and Smith were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Presentation regarding severe weather preparedness and evacuation planning. Presentation by Jim Redick, Director, Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The presentation was made by Jim Redick, Director, Austin Emergency Management. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, October 6, 2025 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, including an update on car burglaries and the G-File Public Information Requests, Austin Police Department. The presentation was made by Robin Henderson, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 4. Update from the Public Safety Commission’s Collective Sex Crimes Response Model Working Group on the progress, risks, and adjustments to reporting schedule of data. Chair Ramírez provided an update. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve the Public Safety Commission’s 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule. The motion to amend the Public Safety Commission’s 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule and replace September 14, 2026, with September 8, 2026, was approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Carroll and Smith were absent. The motion to approve the Public Safety Commission’s 2026 Regular Meeting Schedule as amended above was approved on Commissioner Nguyễn’s motion, Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo’s second, on a 9-0 vote. Commissioners Carroll and Smith were absent. 5. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy. The motion to approve the Recommendation to Council regarding implementation, tracking, and transparency of recommendations made for Austin Police Department’s Cadet Training Academy was made by Commissioner …
Public Safety Commission Quarterly Austin Fire | Rob Vires | Chief of Staff | FY25 Q4 Emergency Response Time Trends 84,473 86,641 89,541 89,563 81,973 86,636 87,935 92,612 89,797 106,282 Incident Volume (All Priorities) 103,626 109,280 110,304 108,750 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 Response Times (Priorities 1-3, 4M) 8:41 8:43 8:51 9:00 9:13 9:12 Response Time Standard: 8 minutes 9:24 9:35 9:58 10:28 9:55 10:28 10:32 10:26 120,000 70,000 11:00 10:00 9:00 8:00 7:00 6:00 5:00 4:00 3:00 2:00 1:00 0:00 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 2 Facility Improvement Projects Recently Completed Projects: Stations 8, 20, 29 Completed May 12, 2025 Station 21 Driveway replacement completed May 13, 2025 Station 23 All units and crews have returned as of May 17, 2025 Final renovations complete as of October 7, 2025 Station 25 All units and crews have returned as of June 27, 2025 Final renovations complete as of October 7, 2025 Station 47 Anticipated completed as of October 7, 2025 Upcoming Projects: Station 17 scheduled to start a 4-month refresh this November 3 Automatic Aid An Interlocal Agreement to dispatch the closest unit to a 911 call, regardless of department or jurisdiction. Auto Aid occurs multiple times per day and greatly contributes to decreased response times for Austin and Travis County. Recent Success: On October 6, Brush Truck 37 was dispatched to Pedernales Fire Department’s territory to assist with a brush fire near SH 71. Over 15 units were dispatched from Austin, Lake Travis, Oak Hill, and CE-Bar Fire Departments. Austin Fire is participating in regional multi- company high-rise training drills through November, alongside Oak Hill, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Manchaca, and Westlake. 4 Overdose Response FY25 Q4 Since 2021, all AFD personnel are trained on Naloxone administration and each unit carries the medication. The increase in FY25 Q2 may be due to new reporting requirements for Narcan use starting Dec 2024. 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 154 115 75 122 117 81 140 106 71 96 72 53 88 63 51 FY24 Q4 FY25 Q1 FY25 Q2 FY25 Q3 FY25 Q4 Total calls where Narcan was given Number of times AFD administered or assisted Patient improvement cases 5 Investigations Percent of …
Public Safety Commission Wildfire Readiness Update Austin Fire | Carrie Stewart | Division Chief, Wildfire Division | FY25 Q3&4 BE IT RESOLVED... "Provide a progress report every six months to the Public Safety Commission for the following important components of a comprehensive WUI risk reduction plan." Council Resolution NO. 20160512-016 The information presented in this update are maintained in real-time through dynamic data 2 1) The number of local CWPPs completed and implemented is 26. Local level CWPPs are community-led initiatives that Austin Fire facilitates and supports. The Division's FAC team has prioritized re-engaging and supporting these communities. 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 CWPPs By Year 5 4 4 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2004 2008 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2017 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Year 3 2) The number of local CWPPs started but not completed is 22. The Community Risk Assessment (CRA) and Action Plan are important steps in the Firewise USA recognition process. When combined, CRAs and Action Plans act as a supplement to the Austin Travis County CWPP. Engaged Communities by Council District 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 6 4 1 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 CD 1 CD 2 CD 3 CD 4 CD 5 CD 6 CD 7 CD 8 CD 9 CD 10 Engaged Communities by Council District 4 3) The percentage of high-risk WUI areas in which identification of potential local CWPP planning areas is still ongoing is 46%. Of the 14% of Austin classified as high-risk, 54% is covered by a local level CWPP, and 46% are identified as opportunity zones. 5 4) The number of public presentations in the past six months is 31. The number of home assessments provided in the past six months is 352. Property value assessed in SIZE evaluations is at $267,571,069 in the last six months. Number of SIZE Completions by Month (Q3 & Q4) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 April May June July August September Number of SIZE Completions by Month (Q3 & Q4) 6 5) The number, size type and location of fuel mitigation activities in the last six months. 7 prescribed fires completed at over 500 acres, by assisting partner agencies. The Fire Resilient Landscapes staff in the Division are working to coalesce all partner agency fuel mitigation work under one …
Sex Crimes Back Up Data Q2 & Q3, 2025 Austin Police | November 3, 2025 Calls for Service Sex Crimes Calls for Service Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 3 Case Status Sexual Assault Cases Cleared- Internal Status Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 5 Suspended Pending Victim Readiness Subcategories SCU makes at least three distinct attempts to contact all victims Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 6 Victim Demographics Sexual Assault Victim Demographics- Age Q2 & Q3 2025 8 Sexual Assault Victim Demographics- Age Range 9 Sexual Assault Victim Demographics- Sex 10 Sexual Assault Victim Demographics- Race/Ethnicity 11 Arrested Demographics Sexual Assault Arrested Demographics- Age Q2 & Q3 2025 13 Sexual Assault Arrested Demographics- Age Range 14 Sexual Assault Arrested Demographics- Sex 15 Sexual Assault Arrested Demographics- Race/Ethnicity 16 Suspect Demographics Sexual Assault Suspect Demographics- Age Q2 & Q3 2025 18 Sexual Assault Suspect Demographics- Age Range 19 Sexual Assault Suspect Demographics- Sex 20 Sexual Assault Suspect Demographics- Race/Ethnicity 21
Sex Crimes Update to PSC Q2 & Q3, 2025 Austin Police | November 3, 2025 Sex Crimes Reported Cases (Adults Only) Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 2 Reported Cases of Sexual Assault (Adults Only) Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 3 Highlights: Data Data Integrity Projects: Examining cases back to 2019 Assessing proper use of title codes and making appropriate adjustments Updating case status to reflect when arrests are made Future reports may have different data than what we have previously reported Consolidation of title codes Rape, Sodomy, Sexual Assault with an Object= Sexual Assault Will help reduce confusion and ensure a criminal offense is applied to a case when an outcry is made Data Transparency: Launching the Data Dashboard on the Sex Crimes Unit web page Before end of calendar year 4 Highlights: Policies and Procedures Policy and Procedure Updates: Standardized report writing Launched clear guidance for report writing that will help standardize across the unit Plan to adapt and apply to other units within the Special Victims Investigation Bureau soon Expectations for response times Engaging all areas of Austin Police to ensure appropriate response times for sex crimes calls Updating General Orders Training bulletins specific to Communications & Patrol for proper response to cases Annual Case Review: EVAWI just completed the 2nd annual case review covering 2023 & 2024 Already noticing great improvements in these cases Final report will be made available to APD in 2026 5 Highlights: Sexual Assault Reduction Program- Initial Results The Domain: Spoke with bar owners and plain clothes intervention West 6th St: Spoke with bar owners Historic 6th St: Spoke with bar owners 6 Highlights: TCDA Partnership • Engagement: Staffing Meetings- District & County Attorneys • Monthly meetings • Policy needs • Evidence sharing • Quarterly meeting • Case debrief • ADA Unit Assignment: • ADA housed within SCU continues to be successful • Regular staffing meetings occur • Embedded ADA model going into effect for Child Abuse and Homicide units • Tracking Cases: • Developing a case tracker to monitor the life of a case from report to prosecution • Partnering with TCDA to ensure this is a useful tool for all involved Source: Versadex RMS (Current as of: 10/3/25) 7
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767 JOSÉ P. GARZA Telephone 512/854-9400 TRUDY STRASSBURGER DISTRICT ATTORNEY Telefax 512/854-4206 FIRST ASSISTANT Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report July 20251 Case Staffing Snapshot: 7/1/25 to 7/31/25 Cases Staffed Cases Not Filed by LEA Cases Declined by TCDA Cases Pending Further Investigation Cases Accepted Accepted Cases Previously Returned for Investigation APD Cases 20 5 0 9 6 1 Total 27 6 0 12 9 1 Case Prosecution Snapshot: 7/1/25 to 7/31/25 Cases Received for Prosecution Cases Rejected or Dismissed Cases Indicted Cases No Billed Cases Pled Cases Tried Pending Cases By Year Received (as of 7/31/25) Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 # 2 2 5 19 Year 2023 2024 2025 16 13 9 0 9 0 # 28 72 91 1 The data summarized in this report was retrieved for analysis on August 18, 2025. Ronald Earle Building, 416 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Cases Pled by Offense: 7/1/25 to 7/31/25 ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY INJURY ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY INJURY FAMILY VIOLENCE ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SEXUAL ASSAULT INDECENT ASSAULT KIDNAPPING SEXUAL ASSAULT UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT: EXPOSE TO SBI 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 Trial Outcomes: 7/1/25 to 7/31/25 N/A N/A July 2025 Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report Page 2 of 4 About this Report The Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report endeavors to provide a monthly snapshot of adult sexual assault cases that are handled by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office (TCDA). For the purposes of this report, an adult sexual assault case can be any sexual assault case that is either staffed by TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit before it is accepted for prosecution, or that is assigned to TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit and is submitted, accepted, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted as one of the following offenses: Improper Sexual Activity with a Person in Custody or Under Supervision Improper Sexual Activity with a Committed Person Indecent Assault • Aggravated Kidnapping with Intent to Inflict Bodily Injury/Sexual Abuse • Aggravated Sexual Assault • Burglary of a Habitation with the Intent to Commit a Sexual Offense • • • • Failure to Comply/Duty to Register as a Sex Offender† • Hindering the Apprehension/Prosecution of a Known Felon/Sex Offender‡ • Prohibited Sexual Conduct • Sex Trafficking of Persons • Sexual Assault • Sexual Exploitation by a Mental Health Services Provider • Sexual Coercion This includes cases submitted, accepted, indicted or otherwise prosecuted …
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767 JOSÉ P. GARZA Telephone 512/854-9400 TRUDY STRASSBURGER DISTRICT ATTORNEY Telefax 512/854-4206 FIRST ASSISTANT Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report June 20251 Case Staffing Snapshot: 6/1/25 to 6/30/25 Cases Staffed Cases Not Filed by LEA Cases Declined by TCDA Cases Pending Further Investigation Cases Accepted Accepted Cases Previously Returned for Investigation APD Cases 21 5 0 12 4 2 Total 26 9 0 13 4 2 Case Prosecution Snapshot: 6/1/25 to 6/30/25 Cases Received for Prosecution Cases Rejected or Dismissed Cases Indicted Cases No Billed Cases Pled Cases Tried Pending Cases By Year Received (as of 6/30/25) Year 2019 2020 2021 2022 # 2 2 5 22 Year 2023 2024 2025 25 13 16 1 4 1 # 29 79 78 1 The data summarized in this report was retrieved for analysis on July 18, 2025. Ronald Earle Building, 416 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Cases Pled by Offense: 6/1/25 to 6/30/25 Attempt to Commit Sexual Assault Sexual Assault Trial Outcomes: 6/1/25 to 6/30/25† Aggravated Kidnapping Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault 1 3 GUILTY GUILTY † In the one case that was tried this month, the defendant was found guilty on two counts. June 2025 Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report Page 2 of 4 About this Report The Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report endeavors to provide a monthly snapshot of adult sexual assault cases that are handled by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office (TCDA). For the purposes of this report, an adult sexual assault case can be any sexual assault case that is either staffed by TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit before it is accepted for prosecution, or that is assigned to TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit and is submitted, accepted, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted as one of the following offenses: Improper Sexual Activity with a Person in Custody or Under Supervision Improper Sexual Activity with a Committed Person Indecent Assault • Aggravated Kidnapping with Intent to Inflict Bodily Injury/Sexual Abuse • Aggravated Sexual Assault • Burglary of a Habitation with the Intent to Commit a Sexual Offense • • • • Failure to Comply/Duty to Register as a Sex Offender‡ • Hindering the Apprehension/Prosecution of a Known Felon/Sex Offender§ • Prohibited Sexual Conduct • Sex Trafficking of Persons • Sexual Assault • Sexual Exploitation by a Mental Health Services Provider • Sexual Coercion Please note that criminal case data compiled in …
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767 JOSÉ P. GARZA Telephone 512/854-9400 TRUDY STRASSBURGER DISTRICT ATTORNEY Telefax 512/854-4206 FIRST ASSISTANT Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report May 20251 Case Staffing Snapshot: 5/1/25 to 5/31/25 Cases Staffed Cases Not Filed by LEA Cases Declined by TCDA Cases Pending Further Investigation Cases Accepted Accepted Cases Previously Returned for Investigation APD Cases 27 6 0 13 8 2 Total 34 7 0 18 9 2 Case Prosecution Snapshot: 5/1/25 to 5/31/25 Cases Received for Prosecution Cases Rejected or Dismissed Cases Indicted Cases No Billed Cases Pled Cases Tried Pending Cases By Year Received (as of 5/31/25) Year 2007 2019 2020 2021 # 1 2 2 6 Year 2022 2023 2024 2025 11 7 15 1 11 1 # 23 31 85 68 1 The data summarized in this report was retrieved for analysis on June 11, 2025. Ronald Earle Building, 416 W. 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78701 Cases Pled by Offense: 5/1/25 to 5/31/25 Assault Causes Bodily Injury Attempt to Commit Promote Prostitution Attempt to Commit Unlawful Restraint Expose to Serious Bodily Injury Burglary of Habitation Intend Sex Offense Indecent Assault Sexual Assault Sexual Coercion 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 Trial Outcomes: 5/1/25 to 5/31/25 SEXUAL ASSAULT GUILTY May 2025 Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report Page 2 of 4 About this Report The Adult Sexual Assault Monthly Report endeavors to provide a monthly snapshot of adult sexual assault cases that are handled by the Travis County District Attorney’s Office (TCDA). For the purposes of this report, an adult sexual assault case can be any sexual assault case that is either staffed by TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit before it is accepted for prosecution, or that is assigned to TCDA’s Sexual Assault Unit and is submitted, accepted, indicted, or otherwise prosecuted as one of the following offenses: Improper Sexual Activity with a Person in Custody or Under Supervision Improper Sexual Activity with a Committed Person Indecent Assault • Aggravated Kidnapping with Intent to Inflict Bodily Injury/Sexual Abuse • Aggravated Sexual Assault • Burglary of a Habitation with the Intent to Commit a Sexual Offense • • • • Failure to Comply/Duty to Register as a Sex Offender† • Hindering the Apprehension/Prosecution of a Known Felon/Sex Offender‡ • Prohibited Sexual Conduct • Sex Trafficking of Persons • Sexual Assault • Sexual Exploitation by a Mental Health Services Provider • Sexual Coercion …
BYLAWS OF THE Public Safety Commission ARTICLE 1. NAME. The name of the board is Public Safety Commission. ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE AND DUTIES. The purpose of the board is to serve as an advisory body to the city council on all budgetary and policy matters concerning public safety, including matters related to the Austin Police Department, the Austin Climate Action & Resilience, Austin Emergency ManagementServices, Austin Equity and Inclusion, Austin Fire Department, Austin Forensic Science, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations, and the Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department, Austin Police, Austin Police Oversight, andAustin Public Health, and the Office of Violence Prevention. Make recommendations on matters related to long-range comprehensive planning initiatives, access to and expenditure of state and federal grant funds, and other related public safety matters. ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP. (A) The board is composed of eleven members appointed by the city council. The following boards and commission from the Joint Inclusion Committee shall nominate one of its members for appointment by the Council to serve as non-voting Public Safety Commission members: a. African American Advisory Commission b. Asian American Quality of Life Advisory Commission c. Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Commission d. Commission on Immigrant Affairs e. Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities f. Commission on Aging g. Commission for Women h. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Quality of Life Commission i. Human Rights Commission j. Early Childhood Council (B) A member serves at the pleasure of the city council. (C) Board members serve for a term of four years beginning March 1st on the year of appointment. (D) An individual board member may not act in an official capacity except through the action of the board. (E) A board member who is absent for three consecutive regular meetings or one-third of all regular meetings in a !rolling” twelve month timeframe automatically vacates the member"s position subject to the holdover provisions in Section 2-1-27 of the City Code. This does not apply to an absence due to illness or injury of the board member, an illness or injury of a board member"s immediate family member, active military service, or the birth or adoption of the board member"s child for 90 days after the event. The board member must notify the staff liaison of the reason for the absence not later than the date of the next regular meeting of the board. Failure to notify the liaison before the …
