REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2026, 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 Enrique Duran II Denise L Eger Daniel Godwin Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Kimberly Hidrogo David Holmes Yasmine Smith Michael Sierra-Arévalo AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL 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 February 2, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Presentation by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services. 3. 4. 5. Discussion regarding the mental health first response system with Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Integral Care. Discussion regarding APD 911 Emergency Communications Division budget and potential consolidation of the emergency 911 call center with input from Equity Action, United Workers of Integral Care, and VOCAL TX. Discussion regarding community feedback at the Public Safety Commission. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. 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 …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 2, 2026 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 2, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, February 2, 2026, 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 4:01 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Enrique Duran II Denise Eger Daniel Godwin Michael Sierra-Arévalo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kimberly Hidrogo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on January 5, 2026. The motion to approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on January 5, 2026, was approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Duran’s second, on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Smith was off the dais. Commissioner Holmes was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire. Presentation by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. The presentation was made by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, February 2, 2026 5. 4. 3. Discussion of community concern around interactions between Austin Police with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Discussed. The presentation was made by Lisa Davis, Police Chief, Austin Police and Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police. from Homeless Strategy Office on Update initiatives. Presentation by David Gray, Director, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations. The presentation was made by David Gray, Director, Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations and Janet Pichette, Austin Emergency Management. inclement weather response and new Presentation regarding the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget, including Public Safety Department allocations, 5-year forecast process, and the budget process. Presentation by Kerri Lang, Director, Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence. The presentation was made by Kerri Lang, Director, Austin Budget and Organizational Excellence. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council regarding inclement weather response and a decentralized intake model. The motion to approve a Recommendation to Council regarding inclement weather response and a decentralized intake model was made by Commissioner Bernhardt and seconded by Commissioner Sierra Arévalo. The motion to amend was made by Vice Chair Ruttan and seconded by Commissioner Duran. The amendment was to strike the first “Now Therefore Be It Resolved” paragraph leaving only the second with an addition of “and report back …
RESOLUTION NO. 20250813-018 WHEREAS, the City's emergency communication operations present many challenges, due in part to the extensive intergovernmental and interagency cooperation required to execute such functions in a city which spans multiple counties and criminal jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, the 2019 Dispatch Equity and Optimization Study, developed at the request of Council in the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget process, identified substantial inefficiencies, including challenges with collaboration across departments and outdated and needlessly segregated computer systems; and WHEREAS, the integration of emergency communications functions has been successful elsewhere in Texas, most notably in the North Texas Emergency Communications Center, an integrated emergency telecommunications center serving the cities of Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, and Farmers Branch; and WHEREAS, the City should explore all avenues to provide excellent service and response times for Austin residents while minimizing strain on public safety employees and City resources; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: The City Manager is directed to study the manner by which the City could establish a Joint Emergency Communications Department (JEC) combining the functions of 911 and emergency dispatch through the Austin Police Department (APD), Austin Fire Department (AFD), and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department (EMS). Page 1 of 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: This integration shall maintain the independence of APD's, AFD's, and EMS' sworn personnel, operational command structures, and agency-specific operational standards while enabling all departments to operate collaboratively. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is further directed to develop a strategic plan for integrating the listed emergency communications functions into a JEC by the end of fiscal year 2025-2026, including a technical and operational feasibility assessment, cost analysis, and an implementation timeline, with recommendations presented to Council. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is further directed to consider the effectiveness of non- emergency crime reporting online and via phone and report to Council on the possibility of consolidating non-emergency crime reporting into the JEC. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is further directed to consult with all relevant external stakeholders, including employee unions, intergovernmental partners, licensing agencies, and community groups, in developing the strategic plan for the JEC. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Manager is further directed to return to Council to present the JEC strategic plan at or before the Work Session on December 9,2025. ADOPTED: August 13 , 2025 ATTEST: 413#d/+ Erika Bra?y City Clerk …
