REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, JUNE 1, 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 participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Chelsea Pfeifer at chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2498. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Enrique Duran II, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Daniel Godwin David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Vice Chair Denise L Eger Kimberly Hidrogo Timothy Ruttan 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 May 4, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Quarterly Report from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Presentation by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Discussion of Austin EMS Association budget and sworn staff priorities. Presented by James Monks, President, Austin EMS Association. Wildfire Readiness Update. Presentation by David Skowron, Division Chief, Austin Fire. Discussion regarding The Sobering Center. Presentation by Laura Elmore, Executive Director, The Sobering Center. 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 Chelsea Pfeifer at the Austin City Clerk’s Office, at 512-974-2498 or chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Public Safety Commission please contact Chelsea Pfeifer at 512-974- 2498 or chelsea.pfeifer@austintexas.gov.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 4, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Austin City Hall, 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Chair Duran called the Public Safety Commission Meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Enrique Duran II, Chair Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Vice Chair Kimberly Hidrogo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Rebecca Bernhardt Denise Eger Daniel Godwin David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Léon- Cap Metro APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission Regular Called Meeting on January 5, 2026. The minutes from the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on April 6, 2026 were approved on Commissioner Chair Duran’s motion, Commissioner Ramírez’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Duran was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Austin Fire Quarterly Report. Presentation by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. The presentation was made by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. Discussion of Austin Firefighters Association budget and sworn staff priorities. Presented by David Girouard, President, Austin Firefighters Association. The presentation was made by David Girouard, President, Austin Firefighters Association 1 4. 5. Discussion of Austin Police Oversight Mediation Program and responses to questions from Recommendation 20250908-006. Presented by Gail McCant, Director, Austin Police Oversight. The presentation was made by Gail McCant, Director, Austin Police Oversight and Kevin Masters, Deputy Director, Austin Police Oversight. Discussion of sexual assault data with Austin Police, SAFE Alliance, BRAVE Alliance, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT). Presented by Deanna Lichter, Commander, Austin Police, Marcy Alonzo, Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Police, Andrea Austin, Director, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Alison Kolb, Vice President, SAFE Alliance, Noor Wehbe, Nurse Educator, BRAVE Alliance. The presentation was made by Deanna Lichter, Commander, Austin Police, Marcy Alonzo, Community Engagement Specialist, Austin Police, Andrea Austin, Director, Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Pierre Berastain, CEO, SAFE Alliance, Alison Kolb, Vice President, SAFE Alliance, Crystal Love, Executive Director, BRAVE Alliance, Noor Wehbe, Nurse Educator, BRAVE Alliance. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve a recommendation from the Collective Sex Crime Response Model working group regarding SARRT. The motion to approve the recommendation to Council regarding SARRT was approved on Vice Chair Ramírez’s motion, Commissioner Hidrogo’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Ruttan was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 6. Wildfire Readiness Update. Presentation by David …
Incident and Response Data Austin-Travis County EMS | FY26 Q2 Incidents, Patient Contacts, Transports January 2021 – April 2026 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 1 2 - n a J 1 2 - r a M 1 2 - y a M 1 2 - l u J 1 2 - p e S 1 2 - v o N 2 2 - n a J 2 2 - r a M 2 2 - y a M 2 2 - l u J 2 2 - p e S 2 2 - v o N 3 2 - n a J 3 2 - r a M 3 2 - y a M 3 2 - l u J 3 2 - p e S 3 2 - v o N 4 2 - n a J 4 2 - r a M 4 2 - y a M 4 2 - l u J 4 2 - p e S 4 2 - v o N 5 2 - n a J 5 2 - r a M 5 2 - y a M 5 2 - l u J 5 2 - p e S 5 2 - v o N 6 2 - n a J 6 2 - r a M Incidents Patient Contacts Patient Transports 2 Priority 1 Compliance by District FY26 Q2 81.93% 78.62% 78.13% 70.75% 84.85% 80.88% 78.46% 74.11% 68.18% 65.79% 91.43% 87.79% 78.13% 73.91% 100% 90% 86.67% 83.33% 88.61% 86.96% 80% 76.51% 75.19% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 % Goal Met % Goal Met (Cardiac Arrest) 3 Priority 1 Response Interval by District 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 FY26 Q2 12.65 12.42 12.42 10.75 11.90 11.95 10.97 11.35 11.43 10.45 8.37 8.60 7.68 8.37 8.75 8.67 8.67 8.23 8.43 6.63 4.74% 1 4.29% 2 4.30% 3 4.81% 4 4.44% 5 4.37% 6 4.28% 7 3.18% 8 4.59% 9 4.12% 10 90th Percentile (Minutes) Average (Minutes) % of Total for District 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 4 Priority Percentage by District 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 12.59% 11.32% 12.29% 11.51% 10.84% 12.40% 12.04% 13.22% 10.73% 10.46% FY26 Q2 37.33% 40.21% 41.18% 40.20% 42.05% 37.15% 40.29% 40.75% 45.76% 43.45% 32.37% 31.18% 29.80% …
#TheSoberingCenter #BeSafeBeSoberATX Mission of the Austin/Travis County Sobering Center The Sobering Center enhances public health and safety by providing a safe place for publicly intoxicated individuals to sober up as an alternative to the emergency room or jail and, where appropriate, to provide a bridge to recovery. Numbers Served The Sobering Center has performed more than 16,000 intakes since its inception. Sobering Center of Austin • No jail or emergency room • No citations, fines, or medical bills • No cost for Sobering Center services • Open 24 hours/7 days a week • Complete confidentiality o We do not notify anyone of a client’s admission into the center without consent or subpoena • Connection to community resources and other services • Assistance with coordinating transportation home Admission Criteria • 18 years or older • Suspected alcohol or drug intoxication • No evidence of acute head injury • No untreated lacerations • No seizure within the last 24 hours • No acute gastrointestinal bleeding • Suicidal/homicidal ideation cleared by a MH professional Client is referred/ transported to the Sobering Center by Law Enforcement, EMS or other referral partner NO P.I. CITATION NO FINES Intake Medics do a screening to ensure it’s safe for the client to sober up in our facility Recovery Support Specialists monitor the client and continue to assess their needs SBIRT Counselors conduct an assessment used to link a client to the appropriate community resources How it Started • Founded in 2018 through City/County ILA • Building from County, Operating funds from City • New ILA signed 2024 How it’s Going • Law Enforcement and EMS no longer the only paths to the Sobering Center • Patients are now able to ‘hold over’ for services • Bridge Meds How it’s Going • 2nd Floor Expansion • Medical Director Transition • Central Health Integration National Recognition • IACP Toolkit and Case Study • National Sobering Collaborative • Model for Excellence Strategic Plan Snapshot 2023-2027 VISION We envision a safe and responsible community where substance use is a public health issue that is not criminalized, recovery is supported through early identification, and treatment is accessible when possible. OPERATIO NS Facilities Services Staffing GOALS VALUES Compassion Harm Reduction Advocacy Integrity Respect 1) Maximize the use of the Sobering Center as a first line response to intoxication 2) Develop into an essential community hub for a more integrated system of care 3) …
