REGULAR MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026, 4:00 PM PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM #1405 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS 78752 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 August 3, 2026. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. Quarterly Report with Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Presented by Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services. Discussion with Auditor’s Office regarding recent Mental Health Audit. Presented by Kathie Harrison, Assistant City Auditor, Austin City Auditor’s Office and Mariel Dempster, Auditor II, Austin City Auditor’s Office. 4. Discussion regarding the TRUST act and its application to public safety technologies and data sharing between governmental entities. Presented by Mackenzie Rhine, Attorney and Board Member, Electric Frontier Foundation. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding public safety surveillance technology and data sharing. Approve a recommendation to Council regarding the Mental Health Audit. 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 …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, August 3, 2026 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, August 3, 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 Michael Sierra-Arévalo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Daniel Godwin David Holmes Kimberly Hidrogo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León- Law breaking and gangstalking David Girouard- FY 27 Proposed Budget (Fire) Stephanie Ryan- general remarks APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission Regular Called Meeting on July 6, 2026. The minutes from the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 6, 2026 were approved on Chair Duran’s motion, Vice Chair Ramírez’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioners Eger and Ruttan were absent. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MONDAY AUGUST 3, 2026 DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. Quarterly Report from Austin Fire Department. Presentation by Chief Tom Vocke, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire. The presentation was made by Tom Vocke, Chief of Staff, Ausin Fire. Presentation by Austin Equity Inclusion regarding the Human Rights Impact Review. Presented by Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. The presentation was made by Dr. Lindsey Wilson, Director, Austin Equity and Inclusion and Shafina Khaki, Human Rights Officer, Austin Equity and Inclusion. Discussion regarding the TRUST act and its application to public safety technologies and data sharing between governmental entities. Presented by Mackenzie Rhine, Attorney and Board Member, Electric Frontier Foundation. Withdrawn without objection. Discussion regarding Key Performance Indicators as a part of the City Budget for Safety Departments. Presented by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police, Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County EMS, Tom Vocke, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire. The presentation was made by Lee Rogers, Chief of Staff, Austin Police, Wesley Hopkins, Chief of Staff, Austin-Travis County EMS, Tom Vocke, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a recommendation to the Austin City Council Regarding Austin Police Department’s 2027 Budget and Lack of Performance Metrics for the Austin Police Department Training Academy. The motion to approve a recommendation to the Austin City Council regarding Austin Police Department’s 2027 Budget and Lack of Performance Metrics for the Austin Police Department Training Academy was …
Sworn Public Safety Employee Mental Health Audit Austin City Auditor’s Office | September 8, 2026 Background Public safety employees are critical to the safety of Austin 3,300+ sworn employees September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 2 Image sources: City of Austin Digital Asset Manager. What we found 2 Findings 1 Additional Observation 5 Recommendations September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 3 Finding 1 The City provides mental health supports for public safety employees, but some employees are hesitant to use them or feel they do not address the root causes of stress. September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 4 Austin provides resources in line with peer cities and best practices Public Safety Wellness Center Image source: City Auditor’s Office. Peer Support Teams Licensed Mental Health Providers Medical Services Chaplains Fitness Services Pet Therapy Team September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 5 Despite some satisfaction with resources employees may not feel supported % of survey respondents who felt their peers versus department leadership cared for their mental health and well-being AFD APD EMS 95% 88% 78% 21% 25% 21% Peers Leadership Peers Leadership Peers Leadership September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 6 Some employees reported concerns about using resources 30% had concerns about the confidentiality of City resources “[The resources] come from the sources of the stress, so the same offices that are causing the issues are pushing out the solutions.” -APD Employee “No one really trusts those services and there is a general feeling that it does not matter.” -AFD Employee “We can’t speak up if we're afraid of being stigmatized” -EMS Employee September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 7 Significant sources of stress may not be addressed by available supports Workload and schedule Sleep and rest Cumulative stress September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 8 Finding 2 Public safety employees may not receive consistent or proactive mental health support across departments. September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 9 Resources and access may vary across departments September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 10 Resources and access may vary across departments September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 11 Resources and access may vary across departments September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 12 Resources and access may vary across departments September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 13 Resources and access may vary across departments September 2026 | Austin City Auditor 14 Proactive interventions could be enhanced • More than 50% of respondents …
