Item 7. Draft Recommendation- The Sobering Center — original pdf

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. 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: __________________________________________________________