REGULAR CALLED MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MONDAY, JULY 6, 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 June 1, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. Quarterly Report from Austin Police Department. Presentation by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department. Discussion of Austin Police Association budget and sworn staff priorities. Presented by Michael Bullock, President, Austin Police Association. Discussion regarding citywide efforts to support vulnerable residents during extreme heat this summer. Presented by Jim Redick, Director, Austin Emergency Management, Greg McCormack, Program Manager II, Homeless Strategies and Operations Marc Coudert, Climate Resilience and Adaptation Manager, Climate Action and Resilience, and Ana Urueta, Emergency Management Manager, Austin Public Health. Discussion regarding the process for requesting future agenda items. 5. WORKING GROUP UPDATE 6. Update from Collective Sex Crime Response Model Working Group. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 7. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding continued funding of 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 …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, February 2, 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 Rebecca Bernhardt Timothy Ruttan Kimberly Hidrogo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: David Holmes Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos Léon- Cap Metro Ruben Rivera-Clement- Harassed by APD APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission Regular Called Meeting on May 4, 2026. The minutes from the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on May 4, 2026 were approved on Vice Chair Ramírez motion, Commissioner Ruttan’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo was off the dais. Commissioner Godwin was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Quarterly Report from Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Presentation by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. The presentation was made by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. 1 Discussion of Austin EMS Association budget and sworn staff priorities. Presented by James 3. Monks, President, Austin EMS Association. The presentation was made by James Monks, President, Austin EMS Association. 4. 5. Wildfire Readiness Update. Presentation by David Skowron, Division Chief, Austin Fire. The presentation was made by David Skowron, Division Chief and Jeff Kennedy, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire. Discussion regarding the Sobering Center. Presentation by Laura Elmore, Executive Director, The Sobering Center. The presentation was made by Laura Elmore, Executive Director, The Sobering Center. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion on EMS Pensions with EMS and EMS Association Discussion with Travis County Defender’s Office and APD- Update on data storage and distribution processes with APD, including body cam footage and related case data Preparation for heat and outreach plans for unhoused residents with AEM, HSO, ACAR Possible Recommendation regarding funding for The Sobering Center Possible Recommendation regarding funding for forensic exams and support for a multi-provider model Chair Duran adjourned the meeting at 5:58 p.m. without objection. 2
Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Project Status Update – Q1 2026 Austin Police | Date Quarterly Performance Summary Progress Snapshot (as of 03/31/2026) 81 of 123 scope items complete; 42 in progress Overall completion is 66% Project team now 33 individuals (20 APD, 13 Non-APD) Quarter Highlights 11 Scope Items completed in Q1 2026 Survivor Survey is now active Data Dashboard ready for publication – pending CoA approval 2nd annual APD SCU Case Review ready for publication – pending CoA approval Looking Ahead Project scope, excluding training, is nearing completion Discussions underway to consolidate and streamline CSCRM for remaining scope Abby Honold grant extended to Sep 2028 but remains at risk of being cut – project timelines not yet adjusted Q1 2026 Status Update 2 Overall Project Status as of 03/31/2026 Q1 2026 Status Update 3 Burndown Timeline Key Takeaways Project is 66% complete 42 items remain: Q2 2026 = 11 Items Q3 2026 = 8 Items Q4 2026 = 2 Items Q3 2027 = 21 Items Timeline Considerations Progress tracked quarterly for each scope item Timelines may shift due to leadership changes, funding, project team capacity, or other constraints. Q1 2026 Status Update We are Here % Complete: 9% 26% 57% 66% 75% 81% 83% 100% 4 Remaining Work Q2 2026 11 Total Q3 2026 8 Total • General Orders Updates (x4) • Patrol Response (x3) • Data Dashboard (x2) • APD SCU Website (x1) • Officer/Employee Wellness (x1) • Populations at Risk of Marginalization (x4) • Victim Services Staffing/Capacity (x2) • Crime Analyst Staffing/Capacity (x1) • Metrics for Culture & Downstream Orientation (x1) Q4 2026 2 Total • Audit & Oversight (x2) Q3 2027 21 Total • New Training Curriculum Development (x21)* * Includes both Abby Honold Grant + EVAWI Contract Q1 2026 Status Update 5 Challenges and Risks Forensic Exam Capacity Capacity constraints have been occurring for 2+ years SAFE Alliance (primary provider) facing budget crisis; services may cease May 31, 2026 CSCRM Steering Committee signed on to A/TC SARRT Call to Action as a Supporting Partner Confidential Community Advocacy Stability of services unknown via AFSSA and SAFE (the only Austin Travis County providers) Budget Dependent Scope Items Victim Services and Crime Analyst Staffing terms/recommendations are budget dependent Staffing …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Public Safety Commission Recommendation Number XXXXXXXX-XXX: Stable Funding for Sobering Center WHEREAS, The Austin Public Safety Commission serves as an advisory body to the city council on all budgetary and policy matters concerning public safety; and WHEREAS, the Public Safety Commission has been monitoring the Sobering Center with regular discussion on its role in public safety in Austin, most recently in June 2026. WHEREAS, in FY25 the Sobering Center served 2715 people while diverting 702 individuals from jail and 1385 people from the hospital.1 WHEREAS, the Sobering Center provides a benefit of approximately $2 dollars for every $1 spent in terms of reduced costs to public safety agencies and healthcare systems.2 WHEREAS, the Sobering Center has improved its minimum wage to $22 an hour to meet City of Austin guidelines for employees. WHEREAS, the direct dollar cost savings do not include the community benefits of reduced crime, healthier communities as well as improving individual health outcomes. WHEREAS, the City has consistently funded the Sobering Center at its requested levels in the final city budgets in prior years. WHEREAS, stability is important for the Sobering Center to be able to plan and continue its partnerships with public safety and healthcare entities in the City of Austin. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Public Safety Commission recommends that the City Manager’s Office include stable funding for the Sobering Center at $3 million for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026-2027 and that the City Council adopt this amount. 1 https://www.flipsnack.com/FD8F55BBDC9/fy25-annual-report/full-view.html 2 https://www.flipsnack.com/FD8F55BBDC9/fy25-annual-report/full-view.html BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Public Safety Commission recommends City Council and City Manager’s Office explore and support maintaining consistent funding options for the Sobering Center in future years to allow sustainable expansion of services and benefits for the people of Austin. Date of Approval: Motioned By: Seconded By: Vote: For: Against: Abstain: Off the dais: Absent: Attest: __________________________________________________________
