Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 5, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, August 5, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, August 5, 2024, at City Hall Building, 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 Rebecca Bernhardt Paul Hermesmeyer David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Timothy Ruttan, Vice Chair Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Carlos León Patrick Jones Sonja Burns APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on June 3, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on 06/03/2024, were approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Smith abstained. Commissioner Reyes was absent. 2. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on July 1, 2024. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 5, 2024 The minutes from the meeting on 07/01/2024, were approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Reyes was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department, including an update on allowing a single stairway for multifamily development up to five stories. The presentation was made by Tom Vocke, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department. 4. Discussion of Workers’ Compensation insurance program with Public Safety Unions and City of Austin representatives. The presentations were made by Deven Desai, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Office of the City Auditor; Susan Sinz, Director of Human Resources, Human Resources Department; Bob Nicks, President, Austin Firefighters Association; Selena Xie, President, Austin EMS Association; Michael Bullock, President, Austin Police Association; Chris Juusola, Lieutenant, Austin Police Department; Dennis Ferris, President, Austin Police Retired Officers Association; and Dawn Hirsch, Firefighter, Austin Fire Department. 5. Update from Public Safety Commissioner on their attendance of the Austin Police Department Police Chief interview panel. Postponed. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. Approve a Recommendation to Council to provide funding for SAFE Forensic Nursing Program. The following amendment was made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Commissioner Hermesmeyer. The amendment was to remove “for forensic nursing compensation” from the final clause. The amendment failed on a 4-5 vote. Those voting aye were Commissioners Hermesmeyer, Holmes, Sierra-Arévalo and Smith. Those voting nay were Chair Ramírez, Vice Chair Ruttan, Commissioners Bernhardt, Nguyễn and Orr. Commissioner Reyes was absent. Questions from commissioners were answered by Emily LeBlanc, Chief Program Officer, CASA of Travis County, Hanna Senko, Collective Sex Crimes Response Model Project Manager, and Nikhita Ved, Vice President of Community Services, SAFE. 2 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, August 5, 2024 The following amendment was made by Commissioner Smith and seconded by Vice Chair Ruttan. The amendment was to strike the word “compensation” which would unencumber the use of funding. The amendment failed on a 5-4 vote. Those voting aye were Vice Chair Ruttan, Commissioners Hermesmeyer, Holmes, Sierra-Arévalo and Smith. Those voting nay were Chair Ramírez, Commissioners Bernhardt, Nguyễn and Orr. Commissioner Reyes was absent. The motion to postpone the item was made by Commissioner Nguyễn and seconded by Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo, approved on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Reyes was absent. 7. Approve the formation of a Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Working Group to devise recommendations in support of the CSCRM’s project objectives until completion. Postponed. WORKING GROUP UPDATES on the review to date and plan. Postponed. 8. Update from Austin Police Department Training Academy Working Group and discussion FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS None Chair Ramírez adjourned the meeting at 6:22 p.m. without objection. The minutes were approved at the 9/9/2024 meeting on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioner Sierra-Arévalo was off the dais. Commissioner Reyes was absent. 3