RESOLUTION NO. 20191205-066 WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to undoing its racist past and combatting and denouncing racism in present-day Austin; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin acknowledges that the history of bigotry and discrimination has contributed to racially disparate outcomes in policing and policy; and WHEREAS, the Center for Policing Equity found in 2016 that the Austin Police Department (APD) was more likely to use force in communities where more African- Americans and Latinos live, and when force was used, APD was more likely to use more severe force in communities where African-Americans and Latinos live, even after controlling for factors such as community crime and poverty rates; and WHEREAS, the APD's state-mandated racial profiling reports consistently show that Black and Latino drivers are more than twice as likely to be searched as their white counterparts during traffic stops despite similar "hit rates", including in 2018 where 6% of traffic stops ofwhite drivers resulted in a police searches compared to 14% for Latino drivers and 17% for Black drivers; and WHEREAS, APD data provided per Council Resolution No. 20180614-073 (one of the Freedom City Resolutions) showed that in 2017 APD police officers made discretionary arrests of Black people at more than twice the rate of either white or Latino residents; and Page 1 of 12 WHEREAS, that same 2017 data also showed Black and Latino residents accounted for just under 75% of those discretionary arrests for driving with an invalid license, although the two groups combine to make up less than 45% of Austin's population; and WHEREAS, that same 2017 data also showed that one out ofthree discretionary arrests for misdemeanor marijuana possession involved a Black resident even though less than one in ten Austinites is Black, though usage rates of marijuana are similar across racial groups; and WHEREAS, per the quarterly report for Council Resolution No. 20180614-073, issued by APD on May 3, 2019, Black people still comprised 32% of persons arrested by APD for offenses eligible for citation, which, proportionally, amounts to more than three times Austin's Black population; and WHEREAS, an anonymous whistle-blower has recently accused an Assistant Chief of the Austin Police Department of using racist epithets and derogatory terms, including "negro" and "nigger," to refer to specific Black elected officials and sworn officers of the Austin Police Department; and WHEREAS, following the public release of the anonymous complaint and subsequent resignation ofthe …
City of Austin Homeland Security & Emergency Management Weather Preparedness Update 6 May 2024 Ken Snipes, Director Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agenda • Know Your Risk: All Hazards Approach • Community Outreach • Neighborhood Guidebook • District Pop-Up Events • Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair • Training • Community Partners • Preparedness • Staying Informed Know Your Risk: All Hazards Approach All Hazards Approach: Being prepared for a multitude of scenarios, not just natural disasters. • Flooding: Austin is in Flash Flood Alley • Wildfire: Dry zones, especially during droughts. • Severe Weather: Includes tornadoes, which can strike at any • Extreme Heat: Soaring temperatures pose health threats • Winter Weather: Icy conditions, freezing temperatures, and • Hurricanes: Coast can bring in storms and heavy rainfall time snow Other Risks • Biological: Outbreak of diseases or bio-terrorism threats • Chemical: Exposure to toxic substances or chemical attacks • Terrorist Threats: Acts of extremism or targeted violence Community Outreach • Neighborhood Preparedness Guide • Ways to help you plan for hazards • Tools to build and emergency supply kit • Resources for making emergency plan for your family • Template for how to help your neighborhood plan for emergencies • Community Events • Monthly Pop-Up Emergency Preparedness Events (January – November) with Spanish and ASL interpreters available Learn about how other City Departments can help during an emergency • Community Outreach Get Ready Central Texas Emergency Preparedness Fair Every September: • Learn about preparedness from different City Departments and other community partners. • Hosted in 2023 at the Austin ACC East Branch and had 200 visitors. • HSEM offered Go Bag starter kits and weather radios. • Austin Water gives away water keys to participants. Training Ready Together: The Basics of Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family & Your Neighborhood • HSEM debuted a new community resource in September with in-person course on emergency preparedness. The community can learn from experts about the 4 steps of preparedness: make a plan, build a kit, know your neighbors, and stay informed. • We are offering quarterly training in 2024. • To register, go to ReadyCentralTexas.org and visit our education and training section. Training Senior Level Training • HSEM has coordinated training for senior leadership, including elected officials. These trainings include the Winter Weather Tabletop Exercise and Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) in College Station. Community Partners • Ascension Seton …
Public Safety Commission - Questions & Answers PENDING QUESTIONS: May 6, 2024 Item 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department. 1. Are there fire extinguishers being distributed to encampments? If so, how many and can you provide some additional information on that distribution. 2. When will an analysis of the most recent overdose uptick be available for the community and updated to the dashboard? 3. Cancer PFOS/foam mitigation and tracking information
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, May 6, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, May 6, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, May 6, 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 4:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt Cory Hall-Martin Paul Hermesmeyer David Holmes Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Kristy Orr Michael Sierra-Arévalo Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on April 1, 2024. The minutes from the meeting on 04/01/2024, were approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Hall-Martin’s second on a 6-0 vote. Commissioners Orr and Sierra-Arévalo were off the dais. Vice Chair Ruttan and Commissioners Nguyễn and Reyes were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department Presentation was given by Jeff Kennedy, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, May 6, 2024 Commissioner Smith asked if fire extinguishers are being distributed to encampments. If so, how many and can AFD provide some additional information on that distribution. Commissioner Smith asked for a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis for the most recent overdose uptick be available for the community and updated to the dashboard. Commissioner Bernhardt asked for information on Cancer Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)/foam mitigation and information tracking. 3. Overview Cadet Training/Academy Update and Kroll Report Review with Austin Police Department. Presentations were given by Rob McGrath, Program Manager III, Austin Police Department and Michael Chancellor, Commander, Austin Police Department. The motion to approve to allow the speaker to finish their comments was approved on Commissioner Smith’s motion, Commissioner Hermesmeyer’s second on a vote of 8-0. Vice Chair Ruttan, Commissioners Nguyễn and Reyes were absent. 4. Update on the Weather Preparedness and Inclement Weather Procedures with Public Safety Departments and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Presentation was given by Ken Snipes, Director, Office of Emergency Management. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Use of known carcinogens and cancer monitoring at AFD (Chair Ramírez, Commissioner Bernhardt) Worker’s Compensation for all sworn personnel Community Police Review Commission, Office of Police Oversight Department demographics Wildfire Preparedness as it relates to those experiencing homelessness Homeland Security and Emergency Management update on communications 2 Public …
1. 2. REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION April 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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, call or email Christi Vitela, 512- 974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt, Vice Chair Cory Hall-Martin Paul Hermesmeyer David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Angelica Reyes Timothy Ruttan Yasmine Smith AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first five 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 Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on March 4, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police Department 3. 4. Overview of Downtown Austin Community Court and Mobile Court Pilot Program from Robert Kingham, Court Administrator and Christopher Anderson, Court Operations Manager. Update on the Biannual Wildfire Readiness provided by Division Chief Carrie Stewart and Wildfire Mitigation Officer Justice Jones of the Austin Fire Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. 5. WORKING GROUP UPDATES 6. CSCRM Joint Working Group update on Commission for Women's recommendation and status. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 Christi Vitela at the Office of the City Clerk Department, at 512-974-2792 for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Public Safety Commission, please contact Christi Vitela at (512-974- 2792 or christi.vitela@austintexas.gov).
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 4, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, March 4, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, March 4, 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 4:00 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt, Vice-Chair David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Angelica Reyes Timothy Ruttan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Stephanie Ryan – support for APD Ruth Moonesinghe – death of her son, Raj Moonesinghe Carlos Leon – APD and CapMetro complaints APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on February 5, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 02/05/2024, were approved on Commissioner Bernhardt’s motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Hall-Martin and Hermesmeyer were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation by Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) Chief of Staff regarding the Austin Travis County EMS Quarterly Report. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, March 4, 2024 Presentation was given by Stephen White, Acting Assistant Chief of Integrated Services. 3. Presentations by Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt, Austin Police Department; Chief of Staff Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services; and Chief of Staff Rob Vire, Austin Fire Department; Texas Harm Reduction Alliance and Vocal Texas on opioid use hot spots, prevention, and education efforts. Presentations were given by Stephen White, EMS Acting Assistant Chief of Integrated Services; Angela Carr, EMS Division Chief; Mike Sasser, EMS Captain; Cate Graziani, Vocal Texas; and Gaby Libretti, Texas Harm Reduction Alliance. Commissioner Smith requested EMS follow up to include: -geographical locations of the Pop Up Resource Clinics (PURC) and their outreach strategies -a map of the interventions administered through the Buprenorphine Bridge Program (BBP) -zip code data for where the rescue kits are distributed and where Narcan is administered prior to EMS arrival -data included on the Austin Public Health Opioid Overdose Dashboard for overdose calls that result in an arrest 4. Presentations by Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt, Austin Police Department; Chief of Staff Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services; and Chief of Staff Rob Vire, Austin Fire Department regarding electronic payroll system rollout. Presentations were given by Jeff Greenwalt, Chief of Staff, …
Austin Police Department Public Safety Commission – FY2024 Q2 Presentation • • • Section 1: Crimes Against Persons Section 4: Community Engagement Section 2: Crimes Against Property/Society Section 5: Budget Section 3: Response Times & Call Volumes Section 6: Staffing & Vacancies • • • APD Public Safety Commission – FY2024 Q2 Data compiled by APD Research & Planning unit Slide 1 Crimes Against Persons by Offense Type FY2024 Q2* vs. FY2023 Q2 | FY2024 Q2* vs. 5-Year Mean (Q2) Crimes Against Persons Offense Type 5-Year Mean (FY2019-2023 Q2) FY2023 Q2 FY2024 Q2* 1-Year Change Difference from 5-Year Mean Assault Offenses (13A, 13B, 13C) 4,477 4,233 3,500 Homicide Offenses (09A, 09B) Kidnapping/Abduction (100) Sex Offenses (11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 36A, 36B) Other Crimes Against Persons (64A, 64B) 16 46 232 3 22 52 202 3 12 46 148 1 -17% -45% -12% -27% -67% Total Crimes Against Persons 4,774 4,512 3,707 -18% -22% *Data for FY2024 Q2 only available through March 20, 2024 APD Public Safety Commission – FY2024 Q2 Data compiled by APD Research & Planning unit -22% -25% 0% -36% -67% Slide 2 Crimes Against Persons by APD Sector FY2024 Q2* vs. FY2023 Q2 Crimes Against Persons APD Sector FY2023 Q2 FY2024 Q2* Adam Baker Charlie David Edward Frank George Henry Ida Other Total 446 392 494 501 769 641 347 499 376 48 381 312 407 383 630 493 262 462 345 33 4,513 3,708 Percent Change -15% -20% -18% -24% -18% -23% -24% -7% -8% -31% -18% APD Public Safety Commission – FY2024 Q2 Data compiled by APD Research & Planning unit Change from FY2023 to FY2024 (Q2) *Data for FY2024 Q2 only available through March 20, 2024 Slide 3 Crimes Against Persons by City Council District FY2024 Q2* vs. FY2023 Q2 Crimes Against Persons City Council District FY2023 Q2 FY2024 Q2* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Percent Change -20% -20% -10% -16% -27% -22% 4% -30% -28% -14% 454 445 626 625 223 158 356 106 520 168 569 557 696 741 307 202 341 151 721 196 4,481 3,681 -18% APD Public Safety Commission – FY2024 Q2 Data compiled by APD Research & Planning unit Change from FY2023 to FY2024 (Q2) *Data for FY2024 Q2 only available through March 20, 2024 Slide 4 Crimes Against Persons Density (“Hotspots”) FY2024 Q2* vs. FY2023 Q2 Crimes Against Persons FY2023 Q2 …
A U STI N FI RE DEP AR TMENT Wildfire Readiness Update Jeffrey Kennedy– Assistant Chief Justice Jones – Wildfire Mitigation Officer BE IT RESOLVED... "Provide a progress report every six months to the Public Safety Commission for the following important components of a comprehensive WUI risk reduction plan." Council Resolution NO. 20160512-016 The information presented in this update are maintained in real-time through dynamic data 1 Wildfire Readiness Update 1. The number of local CWPP’s completed and implemented. 2. The number of local CWPP's started but not completed. 3. The percentage of high-risk WUI areas in which identification of potential local CWPP planning areas is ongoing. 4. The number of public presentations and home assessments provided. 5. The number, size, type and location of fuel mitigation activities conducted. 6. The number of training hours received and conducted. 2 1) The number of local CWPP's completed and implemented is 23. Local level CWPP’s are community led initiatives that AFD facilitates and supports. The Division has hired a new FAC coordinator that is working to engage new communities for FY24. AU STI N CW PP ’s 3 2) The number of local CWPP's started but not completed is 23. Local level CWPP’s are community led initiatives that AFD facilitates and supports. Three of these communities have re-engaged with AFD in the last six months. Acti ve & Eng aged Sentence or subheading goes Here on the page in the header box. 4 3) The percentage of high-risk WUI areas in which identification of potential local CWPP planning areas is still ongoing is 49%. Of the 14% of Austin classified as high risk, 51% is covered by a local level CWPP, 49% are identified as opportunity zones. H igh R is k A reas 5 4) The number of public presentations and home assessments provided in the past 6 months. 8 Presentations and events, including virtual events such as the annual Wildfire Symposium held virtually, and 3 home assessments provided. O utreac h Acti vitie s 6 5) The number, size, type and location of fuel mitigation activities conducted in the past 6 months. 5 Prescribed fires (1,056 ac) completed, by assisting partner agencies. F u e l M i t i g a t i o n 7 6) The number of training hours received and conducted in the past six months. 40 Training hours received and 2,233 training hours conducted …
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN RECOMMENDATION Commission for Women Recommendation Number 20240306-004: Fiscal Year 2024-25 Funding for Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Actions WHEREAS, the Commission for Women (“Commission”) of the City of Austin (“City”) serves as an advisory body that advocates for and inspires the City Council (“Council”) and City Manager to prioritize women’s quality of life, so that Austin becomes the most equitable city in the nation for women and girls; and WHEREAS, in September 2019, the City Manager’s Office contracted the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), in conjunction with the Women’s Law Project and the Wellesley Centers for Women, to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the way sexual assaults reported to the Austin Police Department (APD) are investigated and processed; and WHEREAS, sexual assault lawsuits were filed and settlements were approved for Smith et. al. vs City of Austin and Senko et. al. vs City of Austin; and WHEREAS, on November 14, 2022, the final PERF report was released, Austin Police Department (APD) Review, Reported Sexual Assault Comprehensive Evaluation, and included comprehensive findings and over one hundred recommendations; and WHEREAS, the Austin Police Department worked with the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team (SARRT) to address the PERF recommendations and take actions, including revisions to APD policies and procedures; and WHEREAS, the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) was established in early 2023 to coordinate the full response to the PERF report, and includes representatives from APD, SARRT, nonprofit and community organizations, survivors and survivor advocates; and WHEREAS, the Commission for Women and Public Safety Commission formed a joint working group in 2023 to support and track the work of the CSCRM and report progress to their respective commissions; and WHEREAS, the work of the CSCRM is significant in scope, spanning multiple working groups, and has identified serious unmet funding requirements and additional needs for fiscal year 2024- 2025; and WHEREAS, funding has been allocated to support APD comprehensive sexual assault/trauma curriculum development and delivery, additional detective hours on misdemeanor and cold cases, the hiring of a CSCRM project manager, the implementation of a survivor survey and a stipend for volunteer project members, among others; and WHEREAS, law enforcement staffing shortages and hiring challenges are impacting support for survivors of sexual assault, and training and increased financial support and innovative approaches are needed to overcome these shortfalls; and WHEREAS, the SAFE Alliance forensic nursing program is …
M E M O R A N D U M TO: Mayor and Council Members THROUGH: Bruce Mills, Interim Assistant City Manager FROM: Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, Downtown Austin Community Court DATE: March 27, 2024 SUBJECT: Staff Response to Resolution No. 20230816-016 regarding Downtown Austin Community Court Mobile Court Pilot This memorandum provides a staff response regarding the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) Mobile Court Pilot, initiated in response to Resolution 20230816-016. Included as an attachment is a third-party analysis of the Pilot conducted by Sultan Justice Consulting Corp. The Report includes research on mobile court and community court models and a detailed account of the Pilot’s development, implementation, and outcomes. Additionally, the Report includes the following recommendations: 1. Implement a sustainable, fully-staffed, DACC Mobile Court Program. 2. Continue and expand upon stakeholder engagement to scale Mobile Court implementation. 3. Study the impact on existing requests for current DACC services with the addition of Mobile Court to inform further DACC staffing needs and growth. 4. Invest in Mobile Court transportation resources and technology. Mobile Court Pilot Development DACC consulted with the DACC Advisory Board regarding data collection and potential Pilot locations. DACC also engaged with the Austin Homelessness Advisory Council (AHAC) on data, locations, and how to build trust and encourage people to engage in services. Austin Municipal Court (AMC), the Homeless Strategy Office, and staff across DACC’s Court Services, Homeless Services, and Support Services units offered insights to inform program development. In line with direction in the resolution, DACC engaged other stakeholders with a goal of identifying locations for Pilot sites that were geographically dispersed and trusted locations where members of the community were already engaging in services. The Pilot was developed to bring the same level of services provided onsite at DACC directly to individuals in community-based locations. Throughout the Pilot, DACC provided individuals the opportunity to check for open cases and warrants with AMC and DACC, virtual access to a judge and prosecutor to resolve cases and clear warrants, as well as onsite access to a case manager to help with resource navigation and connection to services. When appropriate, individuals engaging in the Pilot were able to enroll in ongoing case management through DACC’s Clinical Diversion Program (CDP). Mobile Court Pilot Implementation Between October 18, 2023 and February 5, 2024, there were 18 dates where DACC provided Pilot services. The service location partners for the Pilot included …
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT Public Safety Commission April 1, 2024 Robert Kingham, Court Administrator Christopher Anderson, Court Operations Manager DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT Established in 1999 • 1st Community Court in Texas • 7th Community Court in United States Mission Statement • Empowering people to thrive by providing impartial justice and compassionate community-based services Address root causes of justice involvement • Intensive and compassionate wrap around services OPERATIONAL AREAS Homeless Services Court Services Customer Service Walk-in Case Management Courtroom Support Intensive Case Management Case Flow Management Outreach Clinical Diversion Program Community Services Support Services Community Service Program Violet KeepSafe Storage Planning & Strategic Development Procurement & Contract Management Communication and Public Information PRIMARY AND EXPANDED JURISDICTION • Class C criminal offenses in Downtown, West Primary Jurisdiction Campus and East Austin Expanded Jurisdiction (Ord. No. 20231214-006) • Citywide jurisdiction for Prop. B & State camping band and DACC Top 10 offenses • Expansion provides more equitable access to resources • Data reflects violations included in expanded jurisdiction are the most likely for people to need access to the services available at DACC HOMELESS SERVICES DACC has helped connect 550+ clients to housing since 2015 through Intensive Case Management DACC has a waitlist of more than 300 individuals MOBILE COURT OVERVIEW DACC MOBILE COURT OVERVIEW How it began: • Previous site visits and best practice research by DACC • Judge Coffey asked staff to develop a mobile court strategy • Created by Council Resolution 20230816-016 Overall purpose: • Community-based program - meeting people where they are already engaging in services • Connect individuals with solutions for resolving outstanding cases and warrants • Immediate connection to services through case manager DACC MOBILE COURT PROGRESS How it works: • Court case checks & education about DACC services • Virtual access to judge and prosecutor • Case manager onsite Service day frequency and locations: • Approximately 5 service days per month during Pilot period • Austin Public Health Neighborhood Centers, Austin Public Library, North Bridge Shelter, Pop-up Resource Clinics, Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center, The Charlie Center at Mosaic Church During the 18 events in the Pilot period of October 18, 2023 through February 5, 2024: 383 individuals had their court case status checked by DACC 125 individuals had one or more open AMC or DACC court cases 35 individuals participated in a DACC Mobile Court hearing 69 cases were …
RESOLUTION NO. 20230816-016 WHEREAS, the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC) is a justice diversion program that provides an alternative to the traditional criminal process, targeting low-level offenses frequently associated with poverty, lack of housing, substance use, and mental illness; and WHEREAS, DACC's alternative adjudication options help prevent citations from becoming part of residents' criminal records, removing potential future barriers for housing and employment, and serves as a critical component of Austin's homelessness response system; and WHEREAS, DACC's case managers provide housing-focused case management and resource navigation services to sign up individuals for public benefits and connect them with existing resources in the community; and WHEREAS, one of the primary benefits of resolving court cases through DACC versus other courts is immediate access to services through DACC's Case Management staff; and WHEREAS, DACC has d 'safe harbor' or 'no arrest' policy allowing defendants with active warrants to come to court to address their case(s) and engage in services without being arrested; and WHEREAS, DACC's approach has resulted in financial savings to the City, from court resources to officer time, when people get connected to support, while reducing defaults and increasing the resolution of pending cases; and WHEREAS, City Council approved Resolution No. 20230608-044 which in part, directed initiation of City Code amendments to expand DACC's jurisdiction Page 1 of 4 citywide to include Section 48.05 of the Texas Penal Code (Prohibited Camping) and covering DACC's top 10 case types; and WHEREAS, it's anticipated that a City Code amendment to finalize the expansion of DACC's jurisdiction will be on a Council agenda in fall 2023; and WHEREAS, mobile court operations in other communities, such as Fort Worth, Arlington and Grapevine have proven successful models for increasing appearance and compliance rates and proactively connecting individuals to services; and WHEREAS, implementation of a DACC Mobile Court pilot (Pilot) would complement the forthcoming jurisdiction expansion by providing more geographically dispersed options for people to resolve their cases and have immediate access to services; and WHEREAS, a Pilot could prioritize City owned and/or operated service centers, and other programs that are already serving community members who may have cases to resolve and/or which are providing homeless services; and WHEREAS, by looking at existing resources and staffing across departments, while also exploring strategic partnerships with Travis County, Central Health, Integral Care, and other partners, a Pilot could be developed and implemented without additional funding allocation in Fiscal …
Public Safety Commission - Questions & Answers February 5, 2024 Item 4. Policing and Disabilities – Austin Police Department - Data Would like additional information from the planning and research department on data that is available around interactions with our disabled community and the police. APD continues to evaluate the recommendations made by the OPO in the Town Hall report on People with Disabilities and Policing. Currently, we do not actively collect any data regarding a person’s disability status. It is critical to us that any steps we take moving forward are carefully thought out and done with respect to every member of our community. Our concern on collecting this type of data, which in many cases may be sensitive or private health information, is that the information is not always known to APD as we interact with the community. In order to get the data, we would have to ask questions which may not be relevant to the call for service we are there for in the first place. In order to further evaluate the feasibility of collecting this data for the purposes of this initiative, we elicited input from our in house subject matter experts on mental, physical, and intellectual disabilities. Although the spirit of the recommendation is well-intended, it was the overwhelming professional opinion that we should NOT make a practice of asking these questions unless there is a legitimate law enforcement purpose for doing so which is related to the current call for service we are responding to. In addition to our in house subject matter experts, we also reached out to the OPO to discuss possible steps forward. The OPO was understanding of our concern, and our discussions continue. Item 3. Overview of Downtown Austin Community Court and Mobile Court Pilot Program April 1, 2024 1. ECHO data to justify a budget increase. 2. DACC Advisory Board budget recommendation See Exhibit A See Exhibit B EXHIBIT A 2016 Social Innovation Fund Pay for Success Feasibility Report: ECHO Austin/Travis County Local Austin/Travis County supportive housing initiatives have observed results similar to those detailed from the national research summarized above. Supportive housing targeted to similar populations in Austin/Travis County demonstrated1213: • • • • • 70% or more reductions in emergency room visits, EMS transports and inpatient and psychiatric hospitalizations after six months in the program; 50% reductions in jail bookings in the year following entry into …
Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, April 1, 2024 PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, April 1, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, April 1, 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 4:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt, Vice-Chair Cory Hall-Martin Paul Hermesmeyer David Holmes Pierre Nguyễn Angelica Reyes Timothy Ruttan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on March 4, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 03/04/2024, were approved on Commissioner Holmes’ motion, Commissioner Nguyễn’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioners Bernhardt and Ruttan were off the dais. Commissioner Orr was absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Police Department Presentation was given by Jeff Greenwalt, Assistant Chief, Austin Police Department. 1 Public Safety Commission Meeting Minutes Monday, April 1, 2024 3. Overview of Downtown Austin Community Court and Mobile Court Pilot Program from Robert Kingham, Court Administrator and Christopher Anderson, Court Operations Manager. Presentations were given by Robert Kingham, Court Administrator, and Christopher Anderson, Court Operations Manager, Downtown Austin Community Court. Commissioner Ruttan requested data to justify a budget increase to fund positions and increase service hours at the DACC. Robert Kingham will work on providing data from ECHO. Chair Ramírez asked for the budget recommendation from the DACC Advisory Board be shared with the Public Safety Commission. 4. Update on the Biannual Wildfire Readiness provided by Division Chief Carrie Stewart and Wildfire Mitigation Officer Justice Jones of the Austin Fire Department. Presentations were given by Jeff Kennedy, Assistant Chief, and Justice Jones, Wildfire Mitigation Officer, Austin Fire Department. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Conduct officer elections for the Chair and Vice Chair. The motion to approve Commissioner Ruttan as Vice Chair was made by Commissioner Nguyễn and seconded by Commissioner Bernhardt, approved on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Orr was absent. The motion to approve Commissioner Ramírez as Chair was made by Commissioner Ramírez and seconded by Commissioner Hall-Martin, approved on a 9-0 vote. Commissioner Orr was absent. 6. CSCRM Joint Working Group update on Commission for Women's recommendation and WORKING GROUP UPDATES status. Chair Ramírez provided an update. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 2 Monday, …
1. 2. REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION March 4, 2024 at 4:00 PM AUSTIN CITY HALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ROOM #1101 301 WEST 2ND STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS 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, call or email Christi Vitela, 512- 974-2792, christi.vitela@austintexas.gov. Pierre Nguyễn Kristy Orr Angelica Reyes Timothy Ruttan Yasmine Smith CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Rebecca Bernhardt, Vice Chair Cory Hall-Martin Paul Hermesmeyer David Holmes CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first three 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 Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Commission regular meeting on February 5, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS Presentation by Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services (ATCEMS) Chief of Staff regarding the Austin Travis County EMS Quarterly Report. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Presentations by Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt, Austin Police Department; Chief of Staff Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services; and Chief of Staff Rob Vire, Austin Fire Department; Texas Harm Reduction Alliance and Vocal Texas on opioid use hot spots, prevention, and education efforts. Presentations by Chief of Staff Jeff Greenwalt, Austin Police Department; Chief of Staff Teresa Gardner, Austin Travis County Emergency Medical Services; and Chief of Staff Rob Vire, Austin Fire Department regarding electronic payroll system rollout. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Approve a Recommendation for the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Budget. WORKING GROUP UPDATES Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) Working Group update on project status and Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Unmet Needs budget requests. Public Safety Wellness Center Working Group update on a tour of the facility. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 …
1. 3. PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 5, 2024 The Public Safety Commission convened in a regular called meeting on Monday, February 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 4:02 p.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Nelly Paulina Ramírez, Chair Cory Hall-Martin Bernard Hermesmeyer David Holmes Lauren Peña Timothy Ruttan Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Pierre Nguyễn Yasmine Smith PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No speakers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING on January 8, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of 01/08/2024, were approved on Commissioner Peña’s motion, Commissioner Hermesmeyer’s second on a 7-0 vote. Commissioner Nguyễn was off the dais. Commissioners Bernhardt and Orr were absent. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. 2024 meeting. Discussion on edit to APD’s Virtual Magistration Pilot Program presented at January 8, Chair Ramírez explained that Chief Greenwalt updated the APD Virtual Magistration Pilot Program slide deck on page 3 to reflect a correction on Travis County’s proposal for the new annual Interlocal Agreement to read $10.9 million. Public Safety Quarterly Report, Austin Fire Department 1 6. Presentation was made by Chief Rob Vires, Austin Fire Department. Commissioner Ruttan asked for clarification on AFD Recruiting’s demographic numbers on slide 19. Discussion of policing and disabilities with the Office of Police Oversight, Austin Police 4. Department. Presentation was made by Lindsay Southard, Community Engagement Specialist and Sara Peralta, Public Information and Marketing Manager, Office of Police Oversight, and Brienz Edwards, Training Specialist, APD Training Academy. Chair Ramírez requested data on police encounters. Commissioner Holmes seconded request for data specifically around the percentage of individuals experiencing force who were perceived to be mentally impaired. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion of Public Safety Wellness Center and potential formation of working group. (Sponsors: Commissioners Nguyễn & Peña) Presentation was made by Heather Arispe, Public Safety Wellness Administrator, Department. The motion to approve the formation of a working group to establish the needs of the Public Safety Wellness Center and potentially form recommendations was approved on Commissioner Nguyễn’s motion, Commissioner Peña’s second on an 8-0 vote. Commissioners Bernhardt and Orr were absent. Commissioners Nguyễn, Peña, Holmes and Ruttan volunteered to join the working group with Chair Ramírez’s approval. Discussion and potential formation of Budget Recommendations Working Group. (Sponsors: Commissioners Ruttan and Peña) The …
RESOLUTION NO. 20220616-053 WHEREAS, the use of opioids, such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, Fentanyl, carfentanil, tramadol, methadone, and heroin can be fatal or cause severe side effects; and WHEREAS, from April 2020 to April 2021 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 100,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses, resulting in a 28 percent increase from the year before; and WHEREAS, Travis County has experienced an upward trend of drug overdose deaths, particularly those resulting from opioids and in March of this year overdoses in Austin doubled from 60, the base average, to 120; and WHEREAS, Travis County ranked fourth among Texas counties for accidental opioid fatalities in 2019 and a report from the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance revealed 262 people died of a drug overdose in Travis County the following year, a 36 percent increase; and WHEREAS, this year the Travis County Medical Examiner released the "Travis County Medical Examiner Annual Report 2021," which shows that drug toxicity is now the number one cause of accidental deaths in Travis County, ahead ofboth falls and motor vehicle fatalities; and WHEREAS, the 2021 Report shows that overdose deaths in which Fentanyl was detected rose by 237 percent -from 35 in 2020 to 118 in 2021; and WHEREAS, drugs, including but not limited to, heroin, cocaine, opioids, and Xanax are being laced with Fentanyl, and while pharmaceutical Fentanyl is 50- 100 times more potent than morphine, illicitly manufactured Fentanyl can contain even higher concentrations, increasing the danger of overdose, with two out of every five pills laced with Fentanyl containing a potentially lethal dose; and Page 1 of 9 WHEREAS, since 2019, the increase of counterfeit pills containing Fentanyl seized by the DEA has increased by 430 percent; and WHEREAS, in 2018, Texas paid $20 billion for non-fatal overdose care in emergency rooms and intensive care units; and WHEREAS, previous studies indicate that it is possible to effectively reduce the impact of opioid use disorder through various approaches, including improved syndromic and disease surveillance, community-based outreach and linguistically accessible public education, expanded access to medically assisted treatment, prescription drug take-back and disposal, use of Fentanyl testing strips, and the increased availability and training on the use of Naloxone; and WHEREAS, harm reduction is a proactive and evidence-based approach to reduce overdoses and overdose deaths, and the harms associated with drug use at both the individual and community levels; and WHEREAS, lack …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Public Safety Commission Recommenda>on Number: 20240304-005: Recommenda>on for FY24-25 Budget Cycle WHEREAS, the Public Safety Commission has discussed topics with the Aus>n Fire Department, the Aus>n Police Department, Aus>n-Travis County EMS, addi>onal city departments, and community organiza>ons that coordinate with our public safety departments; and WHEREAS, throughout the course of those discussions various departments have expressed programma>c and departmental needs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Public Safety Commission encourages the Aus>n Fire Department, the Aus>n Police Department, Aus>n Travis County EMS, and Aus>n City Council to allocate funds and explore all available means to incorporate the following priori>es into the FY24-25 Budget: • • • • • Public Safety Wellness Center - funding for Electronic Medical Records and market salary adjustments to address physician shortage Sobering Center - adjustment of base opera>onal budget alloZed to con>nue 24/7 opera>ons and for expanded use of pop-ups in entertainment districts across the city Language & Interpreta>on Services - budget assessment and addi>onal dollars to expand s>pends for fluency in mul>ple languages, expand wriZen materials to include more languages (including ASL and Braille), and con>nuing educa>on opportuni>es for both sworn and unsworn staff • Opioid use mi>ga>on and educa>on efforts - funding for any needed expansion of self-serve narcan kit sta>ons throughout the city, staffing, and supplies Community Health Paramedics - funding for addi>onal FTEs and/or market salary adjustments to expand and beZer leverage our community health paramedic program Extreme Weather Preparedness - budget assessment of any outstanding unmet needs for public safety departments response and readiness in frequent extreme weather responses • Wildfire - assessment of funds needed to increase outreach in Eastern Crescent and grow educa>on efforts in underserved areas of urban wildfire landscape Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: (Unanimous on a 7-0 vote, 4-3 vote with names of those vo>ng no listed) AZest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
