3. COVID-19 Agency Impact Updates and Discussion of Delay of Cadet Classes for Public Safety Agencies 4:35-4:55 pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis, Harris, and Hausenfluck In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFD took actions to ensure proper staffing of frontline units and a safe training environment for our cadets. At the time the pandemic struck, AFD had two separate classes (Classes 128 and 129) in session (approximately 75 cadets total). To minimize exposure between students instructors and bolster social distancing at the Academy, AFD was able to accelerate those cadets in Class 128 who were already pre-certified and graduate them early. The benefits realized from this action included increasing our Operations’ staffing (saving ~$90,000) and reducing the number of individuals at the Academy by 50 percent. Class 129 will graduate July 31, 2020. The next cadet class will begin in late October 2020. Applicant processing of the next 200 candidates (the final list of which will make up Class 130) has been delayed due to the shifting of staffing resources at our Wellness Center. Several of those members are deployed in support of COVID-19 testing for public safety personnel across Travis County and critical City of Austin infrastructure personnel. In mid-May, we re-evaluated testing needs and adjusted scheduling to continue testing in the morning. This freed up the remainder of each day to resume applicant processing and regularly scheduled physicals. AFD is currently on track to fill two cadet classes in FY2021. 4. Sexual Harassment Policy Updates 4:55-5:15 pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Webber AFD’s revised Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation policy was distributed on May 6, 2020, with a corresponding Information Bulletin. Points to note: o Although the final version of the policy was ready for distribution in March, it was held due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic. o Battalion Chiefs are required to dedicate time to discuss the policy with their crews, ensuring it is fully understood and questions regarding the procedures are addressed. All reviews of the revised policy must be completed by July 2, 2020. AFD began revising its existing E202 Harassment policy in 2019. Revisions to the independent harassment policies across all three public safety departments for both uniform and sworn personnel focused on aligning those policies with the legal language used by the City of Austin. This was initiated by inquiries from the Public Safety Commission. The City’s Legal and …
CITY OF AUSTIN EMS DEPARTMENT 208 CHAPTER 2 – Code of Conduct POLICY MANUAL POLICY TITLE: General Workplace Standards – Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO), Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Retaliation APPLICATION: All Personnel Effective Date: AUTHORIZED BY: Rescinds: Revision: 208 – General Workplace Standards – Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO), Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Retaliation .01 Purpose Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department (ATCEMS) is committed to provide a work environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or retaliation. Discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation based upon a protected class, in any form, as defined in federal, state or local law, will not be tolerated. Protected classes includes classes as defined by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII and the City’s Personnel Policies. Every employee is responsible for maintaining a professional environment free of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation, and for bringing to the City’s attention conduct that interferes with providing a work environment free of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and retaliation. The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines and expectations for general workplace standards to further equal employment opportunities and prevent discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or retaliation. In addition, this policy establishes guidelines in reporting concerns regarding alleged violations of City policy, or local, state or federal law. Sustained allegations/findings of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment or retaliation against an employee may result in discipline up to and including indefinite suspension (termination of employment) or discharge. .02 .03 Exceptions / Exemptions None Definitions A. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department (ATCEMS) Executive Management team – ATCEMS Executive Management team includes the EMS Chief, Assistant Director, Chief of Staff, Assistant Chiefs and Division Chiefs. B. Chain of Command – The order in which authority delegated within ATCEMS. The Chain of Command is as follows: CAAS Standards: 202 - 1 of 6 POLICY TITLE: General Workplace Standards NUMBER: 208 Chain of Command (Sworn) Chief Chief of Staff Assistant Chief Division Chief Commander Captain Chain of Command (Non-Sworn) Chief Assistant Director Manager Supervisor C. Discrimination – The unequal or different treatment of an individual in any employment and/or personnel action on the basis of a protected status. D. Emergency Medical Services Department Human Resources (EMSHR) – EMSHR receives any complaints and investigates complaints again non-sworn personnel. E. Human Resources Director (HR Director) – Director of the City’s corporate Human Resources Department. F. Human Resources Department’s (HRD) …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200601-002 June 1, 2020 Recommendation that Council Approve ATCEMS Budget Requests Date: Subject: Motioned by: Meghan Hollis Seconded by: William (Bill) Kelly Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the ATCEMS budget should include funding for: (1) an analysis of overtime with the corporate budget, (2) Phase II of the Meadows Foundation, (3) Warehouse and Inventory Control to support asset inventory and controlled medication program, (4) billing personnel and software upgrades, (5) an additional finance team support supervisor, (6) twelve additional FTEs so that Demand 1 and Demand 3 can be converted to 24-hour ambulances, and (7) twenty-four additional FTEs and two ambulances to better staff the area around Dove Springs and the Rundberg corridor. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with reviewing public safety agency budgets and providing recommendations to the Austin City Council. The ATCEMS provided backup materials and a briefing in the March 2020 Public Safety Commission on budget requests. The Public Safety Commission found that there are five initiatives that Commissioners feel should be funded. Therefore, The Public Safety Commission recommends that ATCEMS includes the following items in the budget submitted to the Austin City Council: 1. Corporate budget should review and fund overtime based on current pay rates. 2. $642,200 to fund Phase II of the Meadows Foundation study for 6 new sworn FTEs to staff 3. $150,500 for warehouse and inventory control to support asset inventory and controlled Paramedic Consult Line. medication program. 4. $146,000 for billing personnel and software upgrades. 5. $109,500 for a finance team support supervisor. 6. $1,199,832 for 12 new sworn FTEs to staff conversion of two demand trucks to 24-hour. 7. $3,130,976 for 2 ambulances ($982,884) and 24 new FTEs to staff them ($2,148,092) The Public Safety Commission also recommends that the Austin City Council funds these items in the budget. Rationale: The Public Safety Commission has reviewed the requests from ATCEMS for additions to the budget for the seven items outlined above in the March, May, and May Special Called meetings of the Public Safety Commission. ATCEMS has kept this community safe during this COVID-19 crisis. And they have done so while putting their own lives at risk. This pandemic has entirely changed the way ATCEMS operates from adjusting the workflow of each medical call all the way down to requiring each medic to have a second pair …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200601-005 June 1, 2020 Recommendation that Council Eliminate City of Austin Open Container Policies Date: Subject: Motioned by: Meghan Hollis Seconded by: Bill Kelly Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the City Council eliminate Open Container ordinances across the City of Austin. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin City Council passed Resolution No. 20191205- 062. This Resolution tasked the Public Safety Commission with reviewing the City of Austin’s Open Container Policies. The Public Safety Commission reviewed these policies at the June 2020 meeting and found that these policies (1) only apply to certain areas of the city, and (2) could contribute to disparate treatment by race, ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status due to the sociodemographic composition of areas where open container policies apply compared to those where they do not. Therefore, The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin City Council eliminates all Open Container prohibitions in the city. Rationale: The Public Safety Commission has reviewed Resolution No. 20191205-062 and all related ordinances. The Public Safety Commission has also reviewed available data on enforcement of Open Container statutes and the socio-demographic properties of the areas of the city subject to open container prohibitions compared to those that are not subject to open container prohibitions. The Public Safety Commission found that there is great potential for open container policies and prohibitions to be applied in a discriminatory manner due to the way those ordinances are written. To promote rule of law and equal protection under the law in the City of Austin, it is essential that laws apply equally across population subcategories – including different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status/class groups – in the City. The designations of areas where Open Containers are permitted compared to those where they are prohibited reflect underlying socio-demographic differences. This does not afford citizens equal protection under the law and equal probability of being subject to the law. This could have adverse effects in perceptions of procedural justice based on the research evidence presented before the Commission. Therefore, we recommend that any open container laws must be consistent across all geographic areas in the City. Additionally, the Public Safety Commission found that there are other tools available to handle concerns that arise from the presence of the open container itself. It is not the open container that is the behavioral and societal concern. Concerns emerge when the presence and consumption …
Comments to the Austin Public Safety Commission June 1, 2020 Meeting I was on your Commission when it launched in 2009 appointed by Councilwoman Sheryl Cole. I was elected Chair and served until 2013. I have worked with the City of Austin in many ways and have provided University classes for city and country employees in public safety and leadership over the years. One of the more intensive efforts I was involved in was the Federal Demonstration Grant: Restore Rundberg that used community policing to address high levels of crime and disturbances in the Rundberg area of the City. That was a very successful effort and was seen as that year’s most successful award of the DoJ’s national innovation awards. What The Police Do Police perform three basic social services for a city and the residents. The first is where officers spend their most time and that is direct service. Your car breaks down at night and a patrol officer stops to provide assistance. You fall in the home and need assistance. A child is lost. A call to 911 is usually first responded by a police officer. The police unlike Fire and EMS are on mobile patrols rather than at a station house and can get there first and provide initial assistance. The second basic social service is order maintenance. Heavy rains cause a street to flood. Police place barriers and re-direct traffic. Electricity goes out and so do traffic lights. Police direct traffic. The third basic function is crime control. Police respond to crime calls, seek to take suspects in custody, prepare reports and then respond to grand juries and county and district attorneys in criminal proceedings. The first two basic functions are where officers spend most of their time. Only on the average is crime control ever more than 10 percent. We must select, train and supervise officers in terms of these basic functions. Current thinking and research use the model of “community policing” to best meet these functions. Community policing means the officer builds and maintains partnerships with all people in the community. They are not a paramilitary force. They do not impose order. Getting out of the patrol car and meeting citizens on the street is important. So is contact with schools, churches, businesses, people walking in the parks, clubs, etc. The funding and authority of the police officer comes from the community. Community policing …
Special Meeting of the Public Safety Commission Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3:00 PM CST Public Safety Commission to be held Monday, May 18, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Sunday May 17, 2020 by Noon CST). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the Monday, May 18, 2020 Special Public Safety Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at Janet.Jackson@austintexas.gov or (512)924-9947 no later than noon, Sunday, May 17, 2020, (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Janet.Jackson@austintexas.gov by Noon CST the day before the scheduled meeting (Sunday, May 17, 2020). This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public Safety Commission Special Called Meeting Monday, May 18, 2020 at 3 PM CST VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Meghan Hollis, Chair Daniela Nunez Rebecca Bernhardt Kathleen Hausenfluck Rebecca Gonzales Rebecca Webber, Vice Chair Selena Alvarenga Bill Kelly Chris Harris AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 3:00pm-3:05pm PUBLIC COMMENT (From those signed up to speak on an agenda item prior to the deadline) 3:05pm-3:20pm 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (May 4, 2020 minutes to be voted on at the June 1, 2020 meeting) Items for Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action 2. Austin Fire Department Budget Review and Recommendations 3:20pm-3:40pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Hausenfluck - Discussion of Overtime to cover Operations backfill - Discussion of Adding a third Cadet class - Discussion of Maintenance for Records Management Software - Discussion of and Vote on Recommendation for AFD Budget 3. ATCEMS (Austin/Travis County Emergency …
Austin Police FY2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget May 18, 2020 City of Austin, TX Police Department Budget Overview FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget $446.8 Million* FY2021 Positions 1,989 Sworn 737 Civilian Police FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget Highlights Personnel Cost Drivers Interfund Transfers Contract & Operating Increases Capital & Non-Capital Replacement Items $9.6M $802K $1.3M $641K Total $12.3M* or 2.8% *Estimate: The FY2021 Budget Forecast is still under development, pending CM review and City Council approval. Council Initiatives & Other Budget Items Under Review Addressing Violent Crime in Austin Cadet Salary Increase 4 Civilian FTEs Records Management System Replacement $1.5M Helicopter Replacement Total $5.5M $1.5M $406K $1.3M $10.2M Police Sworn Attrition Rate by Month for FY 2016-2020 APD Sworn Attrition Rate by Month for FY16-FY20 October November December January February March April May June July August September YTD Totals: October - March April - September Annual Average FY2016 2 3 9 5 3 4 5 2 8 11 4 7 63 4.3 6.2 5.3 FY2017 5 3 9 3 6 6 4 5 3 11 8 11 74 5.3 7.0 6.2 FY2018 1 6 33 6 2 11 8 1 5 9 3 6 91 9.8 5.3 7.6 FY2019 9 12 9 10 2 5 5 3 1 8 6 9 79 7.8 5.3 6.6 FY2020 7 5 9 18 19 5 11 74 10.5 Police Cadet Classes 141st 142nd M 143rd 144th 145th 146th 147th 148th M Orientation 5/21/2019 9/17/2019 1/21/2020 6/22/2020 10/12/2020 2/1/2021 5/24/2021 9/13/2021 Start Date 6/24/2019 10/14/2019 2/18/2020 7/20/2020 11/9/2020 3/1/2021 6/21/2021 10/11/2021 Graduation 1/31/2020 1/31/2020 9/25/2020 2/26/2021 6/18/2021 10/8/2021 2/4/2022 2/4/2022 Police Sworn Position Justifications City Council Resolution No. 20181213-043 acknowledges the APD Chief’s recommended staffing plan for sworn personnel and recognizes the staffing plan as a core component for consideration in FY2020 and subsequent budget proposals and sets a goal and commitment to approve future budgets that address sworn officer staffing with the aim of meeting public safety outcomes outlined in SD20203. If the 30 Sworn positions (6 months funded) are removed from the Fy2021 budget, it impedes APD’s ability to recruit and plan for the 147th, 148th and future cadet classes . 6 of the Sworn positions are specifically authorized for Investigations (Detective positions), so the removal of those positions affects the workload, investigation and clearance rates of …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200518-002 May 18, 2020 Recommendation that Council Approve Austin Fire Department Budget Requests Date: Subject: Motioned by: Rebecca Webber Seconded by: Kathleen Hausenfluck Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin Fire Department budget should include: (1) overtime to cover Operations backfill, (2) adding a third Cadet class, and (3) funds for maintenance of the Records Management Software. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with reviewing public safety agency budgets and providing recommendations to the Austin City Council. The Austin Fire Department provided backup materials and a briefing in the March 2020 Public Safety Commission on budget requests. The Public Safety Commission found that the Records Management Software for Austin Fire Department requires maintenance at this time. The Public Safety Commission found that a third Cadet class is needed to attain necessary staffing levels. The Public Safety Commission found that the Austin Fire Department needs additional overtime budget allocations to address staffing challenges. Therefore, The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin Fire Department includes the following items in the budget submitted to the Austin City Council: 1. $3.8 million for overtime to address Operations backfill. 2. $818,000 to add a third Cadet training class. 3. $225,000 for maintenance of the Austin Fire Department Records Management Software. 4. $1.6 million to add staffing for additional aerial apparatus. This recommendation was made and approved by City Council for the FY20 budget. This item needs to be added back to the FY21 budget. The Public Safety Commission also recommends that the Austin City Council funds these items in the budget. Rationale: The Public Safety Commission has reviewed the requests from the Austin Fire Department for additions to the budget for the three items outlined above in the March, May, and May Special Called meetings of the Public Safety Commission. The additional staffing for the additional aerial apparatus was approved in the FY20 budget. Funding of this item was delayed multiple times and is no longer included in the budget. The Public Safety Commission is recommending that this funding is incorporated in the FY21 budget. This recommendation was made and approved by City Council for the FY20 budget. Vote: For: Meghan Hollis Rebecca Webber William (Bill) Kelly Rebecca Bernhardt Chris Harris Kathleen Hausenfluck Daniela Nunez Selena Alvarenga Against: Abstain: Absent: Rebecca Gonzales Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] __________________________________
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200518-004 Part 4 May 18, 2020 Recommendation that Council Approves $1.5 million to replace the current Date: Subject: Records Management System at the Austin Police Department Motioned by: Meghan Hollis – Motion was to vote individually on each of the five budget requests; therefore, each individual vote will be presented as a separate recommendation under this motion. Seconded by: Selena Alvarenga Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin Police Department budget should include funding to replace the existing Records Management System and that Council should approve this funding. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with reviewing public safety agency budgets and providing recommendations to the Austin City Council. The Austin Police Department provided backup materials and a briefing in the March 2020 Public Safety Commission on budget requests. The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin Police Department include the $1.5 million for replacing the current Records Management System (RMS) in their current budget and that Council funds this budget item. Rationale: The Public Safety Commission has reviewed the requests from the Austin Police Department for additions to the budget for the item above in the March, May, and May Special Called meetings of the Public Safety Commission. The Austin Police Department is requesting $1.5 million to replace the current Records Management System which is 15 years old. The technology with this system is antiquated and results in excessive time spent on officer report writing, as well as, system maintenance down- time. Commissioners find that a new records management system will aid in records retention improvements, and will make it easier to extract data and link data across datasets for better and more timely data analysis. This will allow improvements in APD’s capacity to make data-driven decisions. Vote: For: Meghan Hollis Rebecca Webber William (Bill) Kelly Rebecca Bernhardt Kathleen Hausenfluck Daniela Nunez Selena Alvarenga Against: Abstain: Chris Harris Absent: Rebecca Gonzales Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] __________________________________
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20200518-005 – Part 2 May 18, 2020 Recommendation that Council Approve the Austin Fire Department Base Budget Date: Subject: Motioned by: Rebecca Webber Seconded by: William (Bill) Kelly Recommendation: The Public Safety Commission recommends that the Austin City Council approve the Austin Fire Department budget including the additional FTEs from Recommendation 20200518-002 in the budget. Description of Recommendation to Council: The Austin Public Safety Commission is tasked with reviewing public safety agency budgets and providing recommendations to the Austin City Council. The Austin Fire Department provided backup materials and a briefing in the March 2020 Public Safety Commission on budget requests. The Public Safety Commission found that the base budget should be approved with the additions from Recommendation 20200518-002. The Public Safety Commission also recommends that the Austin City Council consider these recommendations in the budget. Rationale: The Public Safety Commission has reviewed the requests from the Austin Fire Department for the base budget and recommends full funding. It has been a long time since the Austin Fire Department last added an aerial apparatus. This item was approved in the FY20 budget but was not implemented in that budget or included in the FY21 budget. The cost for this item is $1.6 million. We are recommending that this item is incorporated into the FY21 budget for the Austin Fire Department in accordance with Recommendation 20200518-002. Vote: For: Meghan Hollis Rebecca Webber William (Bill) Kelly Rebecca Bernhardt Chris Harris Kathleen Hausenfluck Daniela Nunez Selena Alvarenga Against: Abstain: Absent: Rebecca Gonzales Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] __________________________________
Special Meeting of the Public Safety Commission May 4, 2020 Public Safety Commission to be held May 4, 2020 with Social Distancing Modifications Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (Deadline: Sunday, May 3rd at noon CST). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the May 4, 2020 Public Safety Commission Meeting, residents must: •Call or email the board liaison at Ms. Janet Jackson (512) 924-9947 or janet.jackson@austintexas.gov no later than noon CST May 3, 2020 (the day before the meeting). The information required is the speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, and a telephone number or email address. •Once a request to speak has been called in or emailed to the board liaison, residents will receive either an email or phone call providing the telephone number to call on the day of the scheduled meeting. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to janet.jackson@austintexas.gov by Noon CST May 3, 2020, the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If this meeting is broadcast live, residents may watch the meeting here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public Safety Commission May 4, 2020 at 3:00 pm CST VIA VIDEOCONFERENCING CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Meghan Hollis, Chair Daniela Nunez Rebecca Bernhardt Kathleen Hausenfluck Rebecca Gonzales Rebecca Webber, Vice Chair Selena Alvarenga Bill Kelly Chris Harris AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 3:00pm PUBLIC COMMENT (FROM THOSE SIGNED UP PRIOR TO DEADLINE TO SPEAK ON AN AGENDA ITEM) 3:05pm-3:20pm 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3:20pm-3:25pm Items for Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action: 2. Election of Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair) 3:25pm-3:30pm 3. Budget Proposal Review and Discussion for City of Austin Public Safety Agencies 3:30pm-3:45pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Hausenfluck -Austin Fire Department (AFD) -Austin Police Department (APD) -Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) 4. COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Discussion with Agency Representatives 3:45pm-4:00pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Hausenfluck 5. Review and Discussion of Tatum Investigation into APD Allegations 4:00pm-4:25pm Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Harris 6. Future Agenda …
` William (Bill) Kelly Kathleen Hausenfluck PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 2, 2020 The Public Safety Commission convened a meeting Monday, March 2, 2020 at City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Meghan Hollis called the Board Meeting to order at 4:00p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Meghan Hollis Daniela Nunez Rebeca Bernhardt Rebecca Gonzales Selena Alvarenga Chris Harris Board Members Absent: Rebecca Webber Preston Tyree Staff in Attendance: Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services Citizen Communications Carlos León, Citizen – Commission for Women, Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, and Margaret Moore, District Attorney Julianna Gonzales w/ Safe Alliance - Monthly status from Safe Alliance to Public Safety Commission for the months of January and February 2020 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Commissioner Hollis asked for any discussion/edits of the February 4, 2020 minutes; hearing no comments, Commissioner Bernhardt motioned approval of the minutes and Commissioner Gonzales second the motion. The minutes were approved with a unanimous vote. 1 2. Quarterly Stats from Public Safety Departments authorized strength, vacancies, overtime hours, call volume, response times of Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Hollis introduced this item and COS (Chief of Staff) Troy Gay begin presenting APD’s quarterly stats for October 2019-December 2019. COS Brown and COS Vires followed with presenting their quarterly stats for EMS and AFD. All three agencies presented their department’s current vacancies, responses times, budget nd future cadet classes and recent graduations. There was one person signed up to speak on this item. Carlos Leon – spoke to APD, AFE, and EMS inquiring about their plans to address SXSW 2020 and the threat of COVID-19 being spread during such a large international event held in Austin, Texas. Several commissioners had comments/questions at the end of the presentation: Commissioner Nunez question APD stats of reported uptick of violent crimes in the Edwards sector and APD’s plan/s COS Gay responded, the majority of the crimes reported involve gun violence and currently there is a taskforce in place looking at possible was to reduce gun violence. Commissioner Harris questioned the recent APD graduation of 67 officers and how it is reflected in the number of vacancies reported during this quarter by APD. In …
Austin – Travis County Emergency Medical Service Response to COVID‐19 Department Operation Center Opened before EOC Dept Logistics and Pre Planning Scheduling Information Communications Center ILI since the beginning of the event o Alert Responders Updated screening protocol (Card 36) Pandemic COVID Clinical Consult Line (C3L) EMS staff: 12 (organized into shifts) 911 calls – conferenced into active 911 calls to triage risk to responders and to attempt to right‐ size the response to potentially infectious patients. This can include navigation to alternate care options which decreases exposure to responders, the healthcare system as a whole, and to the patient. This also includes consultation for on‐scene resources regarding level of PPE to use, correct facility to transport to, or clarification of interim guidance regarding COVID operations (in other words subject matter expert on pandemic response Consultation and risk stratification of first responders (exposure pathway) – all agencies in RAC contact us for post exposure risk stratification and determination of if quarantine is necessary Sick call and return to work – navigation of ill providers to testing; coordination with Public Safety Wellness Center for testing and results; tracking of sick employees with reporting to HR/Wellness/Scheduling/Supervisors and Chain of Command and all associated issues (i.e. exposure paperwork packets, RTW documents, Telework or LD options/placement) COVID Positive patient contact tracing – receive notifications from ME, OMD, hospitals, and APH. Perform contract tracing from destination back to caller to determine all agencies/responders involved and ensure notifications and risk stratification EMS has been contacted by other cities in Texas as well as NAEMSP statewide, other states (Colorado, Florida, Maryland to name a few) and the DoD for our protocols as we are currently considered a “best practice” in this area of medicine. Isolation Facility (ISOFAC) EMS staff: 9 employees o EMS functions: Incident Command, Operations, Safety, Logistics, Care Coordination & Planning o Also have limited staff from AFD and APD Facility dedicated to housing individuals that have either been exposed, developed COVID‐19‐ like symptoms or have been confirmed to be COVID‐19 positive. Current facility has a capacity of 204 people (currently have 21 people) Available to public safety/critical infrastructure employees and the general public that cannot safely isolate. Mobile Testing EMS staff: 5 Provides mobile testing for situations that require the resource comes to them (i.e. nursing …
Public Safety FY2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget May 4, 2020 City of Austin, TX Austin Police FY2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget May 4, 2020 City of Austin, TX Police Department Budget Overview FY2020 Totals at a Glance FY2020 Approved Budget $434.5 Million FY2020 Positions 1,959 Sworn 737 Civilian FY2020 Budget by Program FY2020 Budget Highlights Year 2 Sworn Staffing Plan: 30 Sworn FTEs Outsource DNA Contracts Body Worn Camera Program Cloud Storage 6 Civilian FTEs Police Department Budget Overview FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget $446.8 Million* FY2021 Positions 1,989 Sworn 737 Civilian Police FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget Highlights Personnel Cost Drivers Interfund Transfers Contract & Operating Increases Capital & Non-Capital Replacement Items $9.6M $802K $1.3M $641K Total $12.3M* or 2.8% *Estimate: The FY2021 Budget Forecast is still under development, pending CM review and City Council approval. Council Initiatives & Other Budget Items Under Review Addressing Violent Crime in Austin $5.5M Cadet Salary Increase 4 Civilian FTEs Helicopter Replacement Total $1.5M $406K $1.3M $10.2M Records Management System Replacement $1.5M Austin Fire FY2020-21 Preliminary Proposed Budget May 4, 2020 City of Austin, TX Fire Department Budget Overview FY2021 Totals at a Glance FY2020 Approved Budget FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget $200.7 Million 1,220 Sworn 131 Civilian & 60 Cadet $215.0 Million 1,241 Sworn 137 Civilian & 60 Cadet $1.2M for staffing of temporary fire WUI Code implementation, 5 sworn and station in Del Valle 6 civilian positions $586K for partial year staffing & Travis Country fire station, 16 sworn equipment at new Del Valle fire station positions for engine $277K for 3 civilian positions in Wildfire Annualized costs for engine staff at Del Division Valle fire station $600K for fuels mitigation in the Wildfire Division Fire Department Budget Overview FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget FY2020 Approved Budget FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget $200.7 Million $215.0 Million* Fire FY2021 Preliminary Proposed Budget Highlights Personnel Cost Drivers includes sworn 2% increase Interfund Transfers WUI Code implementation Del Valle engine staff annualized and Travis Country engine staff & operating Items Under Review (next slide) $3.9M $2.4M $1.2M $2.0M $4.8M *Estimate: The FY2021 Budget is still under development, pending City Council approval. Total $14.3M Other Budget Items Under Review 1. Overtime to cover Operations backfill 2. Adding a third Cadet class …
` William (Bill) Kelly Kathleen Hausenfluck Rebecca Webber PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 4, 2020 The Public Safety Commission convened a videoconferencing meeting Monday, May 4, 2020 at City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Meghan Hollis called the Board Meeting to order at 4:00p.m. Board Members in Attendance: Meghan Hollis Daniela Nunez Rebeca Bernhardt Rebecca Gonzales Selena Alvarenga Chris Harris Board Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services Citizens signed up to speak on agenda items only: • Sue Gabriel – with Communities of Color United- spoke on item #3 in opposition to funding for Austin Police Department in the FY20-21 budget. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Commissioner Hollis asked for any discussion/edits of the March 2, 2020 minutes; hearing no comments, Commissioner Alvarenga motioned approval of the minutes and Commissioner Kelly second the motion. Vote was taken by roll call and the minutes were approved with a unanimous vote. 1 2. Election of Chair and Co-Chair to serve on Public Safety Commission from May 2020 through April 2021. Commissioner Hollis opened the floor for nominations. Commissioner Kelly nominated Commissioner Hollis for second term as Chair, and Commissioner Harris seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the vote was unanimous for Commissioner Hollis as chair for second term. The floor opened for nominations for Vice-chair and Commissioner Harris nominated Rebecca Webber and Commissioner Nunez second the motion. Roll call vote, and the vote was unanimous for Rebecca Webber as Vice-chair for May 2020 to April 2021. 3. Budget Proposal Review and Discussion for City of Austin Public Safety Agencies The Chair opened the floor for discussion and there were questions. Commissioner Hausenfluck where are we on officers current and authorized and AC Gay responded with currently 150 vacancies and 1959 authorized with an expectancy to be fully staffed in Spring 2021. Commissioner Harris asked for month-to-month breakdown of retires and how that affect the numbers. AC Gay committed to emailing attrition rates to the PSC, Chair. Michelle Schmidt elaborated on the personnel listed in the FY20-21 budget and the records mgmt. system and the need to replace a 2001 helicopter. Commissioner Hausenfluck had questions for Austin Fire Department’s overtime issues in 2020 and Dr. …
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING Monday, March 2, 2020 @ 4:00pm City Hall Boards and Commissions Room 301 W. 2nd Street Austin, Texas 78701 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER (4:00pm) CITIZENS COMMUNICATION (4:05pm-4:20pm) The first five speakers signed up prior to the Call to Order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (4:20pm-4:25pm) Items for Presentations, Discussion, and Possible Action: 2. Quarterly Stats from Public Safety Departments authorized strength, vacancies, overtime hours, call volume, response times (4:25pm-4:30pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis, Hausenfluck, and Bernhardt Speakers: 3. Presentation on Critical Incident Video Release Policy (4:30pm-4:50pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Harris 4. Briefing on COPAC Project (Critical Observation Patrol and Community) (4:50pm-5:15pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Harris Speaker: -Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department -Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department -Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services - Office of Police Oversight - Austin Police Department - Robert Miljenovich, Austin Police Department - Taber White, Austin Police Department 5. Briefing on Initial Budget Priorities from All Agencies (5:15 pm – 5:35pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Bernhardt Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services - - Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department - Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department - Robert (Bob) Nicks, President of Austin Firefighters Association 1 6. Austin EmergencyMedical Services(EMS) workload allocation and equipment distribution - Request for Council Action vote (5:35pm – 5:45 pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Bernhardt 7. Briefing Update from the Public Safety Commission ATCEMS/AFD Dispatch Equity Study Scope-of-Work Working Group (5:45pm-5:55pm) Sponsored by Commissioners Hollis and Webber 8. Future Agenda Items (5:55pm – 6:00pm) 9. Adjournment The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Janet Jackson at Austin Police Department, at (512-974-5747), for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Public Safety Commission, please contact Austin Police Department Assistant Chief, Troy Gay at 512-974-5030 2
` PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 3, 2020 The Public Safety Commission convened a meeting Monday, February 3, 2020 at City Hall 301 W. 2nd Street in Austin, Texas. Commissioner Rebecca Webber called the Board Meeting to order at 4:00p.m., and announced the resignation of Commissioner Ed Scruggs. Board Members in Attendance: Daniela Nunez Rebeca Bernhardt Preston Tyree Rebecca Webber Chris Harris Board Members Absent: Staff in Attendance: Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department Brandon Wade, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services Citizen Communications Kathleen Hausenfluck Selena Alvarenga Meghan Hollis Rebecca Gonzales Carlos León, Citizen – Free speech access and equal protection rights safeguarded Paul Robbins, Citizen, Environmental Activist – Toxic building materials used in by constitutional law new homes and apartment 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Commissioner Webber asked for discussion/edits of the January 6, 2020 minutes; hearing no comments, the January 2020 minutes were deemed approved. 2. Introduction of APD Assistant Chief Robin Henderson - Chief Manley introduced Robin Henderson as the new assistant chief with APD and shared how pleased he is to have worked with her in different capacities over her 22 years with her latest role being the Executive Lieutenant. In that role, Robin accompanied him on the majority of his meetings with City Manager and with Mayor and Council. She is very informed on the current and important topics affecting APD. 1 Robin shared briefly about her personal life and 22yr career here at APD. She expressed it was a pleasure to serve the Austin Community. 3. Election of Public Safety Commission Chair – Rebecca Webber nominated Meghan Hollis and Commissioner Tyree seconded the motion. Commissioner Webber asked if there were any other nominations from the board and there were none. Vote- Unanimous Against- 0 Absent - 0 Abstain- 0 4. Lessons Learned Last Summer: Debrief of Commissioners’ participation in City process for hiring an outside consultant to audit APD’s sexual assault investigations Webber introduced this item and invited Patricia Bourenane, Executive Assistant to Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano. Patricia elaborated on the two study groups the request to add two representatives from the PSC to join the working groups. Commissioner Webber invited Amanda Lewis from the Commission for Women to speak on her experience serving on a previous working group. Amanda Lewis, shared her expectations on …
