[00:00:03]
SOMEBODY WAS TALKING TO YOU THROUGH THE WALL OR SOMETHING.
I WAS, UH, ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE THREE OF US.
I MAY HAVE PRETEND NATASHA OVER MADISON AND
[CALL TO ORDER]
WE'RE GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING OUR REGULAR MEETING.UH, TODAY IS THE 10TH OF MARCH.
UM, WE ARE MEETING VIRTUALLY DUE TO CURRENT STAY HOME ORDERS.
UM, THAT'S THE D AND THE TIME IS 3:34 PM.
AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, WE HAVE THREE BRIEFINGS BEFORE US TODAY.
I'M GOING TO MUTE MYSELF, YOU GUYS, AND THEN TURN OFF THIS BEEPING.
IT'S TIMES LIKE THESE, WHERE I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE MY COMPUTER NOT BE THAT ME, THAT REMIND ME THAT I'M NOT QUITE AS YOUNG AS I'D LIKE TO THINK I AM.
UM, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS BEFORE US TODAY AND THEY INCLUDE, UM, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THE MEETING, UH, THE MEETING MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
AND, UM, WE HAVE THREE BRIEFINGS.
ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT.
SO LET'S GET INTO IT, UH, NOW, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 3:36 PM, UM, TO, SO
[1. Approval of Minutes]
YES, SO WE NEED TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 16TH.UM, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES, A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 16TH, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
CASA, CAN WE TAKE A VOTE ON THAT ITEM? IT APPEARS AS THOUGH WE ARE UNANIMOUS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 16TH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MAYOR WHO HAS NOT JOINED US YET, UM, MOVING RIGHT ALONG IN CASE WE
[2. Briefing and discussion on Reimagining Public Safety initiatives: decoupling activities and reinvestment activities]
HAVE A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, DECOUPLING ACTIVITIES AND REINVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.UM, THEN THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A BRIEFING IN DISCUSSION ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER, ALSO KNOWN AS ERIC AND THEN A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION ON THE AUSTIN AREA, WILDFIRE HUB IN RESPONSE TO THE WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS AUDIT REPORT, UM, AUGUST, 2019.
IN WHICH CASE, LET ME CHECK IN WITH CITY HALL.
ARE WE PREPARED FOR OUR FIRST BRIEFING? YES, WE'RE PREPARED.
YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL THEM UP.
I'M GOING TO KICK US OFF, UH, AS, UH, CITY HALL GETS OUR SLIDES.
MY NAME IS NURIA RIVERA VAN DERMYDEN I'M THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AND I AM SO PLEASED TO BE BEFORE YOU TO SORT OF GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE ON OUR RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS A BRIEF UPDATE ON, UM, SOME OF THE REINVESTMENT ACTIVITIES AND A LITTLE NOD TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THE TASK FORCE.
SO IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, I'LL, UH, TRY TO KICK IT OFF, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, AS YOU SEE IN THE ROOM THAT ACTUALLY ARE DOING THE WORK.
AND SO I WILL HIGH LEVEL, UH, SPEAK TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
AND SOME THAT IS IN FLIGHT, UH, AS PER
[00:05:01]
THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, UM, AND INSTRUCTION THAT COUNCIL GAVE TO US IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, WE HAVE STARTED, UM, UH, THIS PROCESS OF DECOUPLING, RIGHT, OF LOOKING AT AREAS WITHIN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD PERHAPS BE STOOD ALONE OR BE SERVICED BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS.AND SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD STARTED THE MOVE FOR SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE FALL, HR AND P I O HAD ALREADY BEGUN AND WERE, UM, ASSUMED WITHIN OUR CORPORATE HR AND P I O I'LL NOTE THAT, UH, UNDER REVIEW OR IN PROGRESS, OUR FINANCE AND BUILDING SERVICES, BUT THOSE ARE TWO IN PROGRESS.
AND WE'LL BE REPORTING ON THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, OUR SPECIAL EVENTS, WE HAD ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL SHIFT OVER TO DSD, UM, IN THE FALL OF 2020 AS WELL.
OUR SWORN PERSONNEL HAD ALREADY REASSIGNED TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TYPE DUTIES IN THE FACE OF PANDEMIC AND WHY WE WILL ALWAYS NEED I'M SWORN TO BE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS PERMIT REVIEW, UM, AND SOME EVENTS AS, AS EVENTS EMERGE IN THE FUTURE, WHICH, UH, WITH THE VACCINATIONS, I THINK WE'RE ALL EXCITED ABOUT EVENTS EMERGING IN THE FUTURE.
UM, BUT THOSE, THOSE PERSONNEL WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE DEDICATED TO, UH, JUST PERMITS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, BUT WILL BE REASSIGNED AS APD LEADERSHIP REQUIRES THE FORENSIC SCIENCE BUREAU, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, UH, WE CAME BEFORE COUNCIL AND YOU APPROVED STANDING THAT AS ITS OWN DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND SO THAT ALIGNS WITH SOME PREVIOUS REPORTS THAT HAD BEEN ASKING TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT DNA LAB IN THE PAST.
AND SO REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT MOVING FORWARD THAT APPROVED AND STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK ON, UM, THE NEXT STEPS FOR THAT WE HAD AS, UH, AS PART OF THE DECOUPLING, YOU ASKED US TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, BUT IN PARTICULAR, THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER IN THE ADVENT OF THE STORM, AND SOME OF THE RECOVERY EFFORTS, MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON RPS ARE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF WE'RE RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE EMERGENCY CRISIS AND THEN SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY ACTIVITIES.
SO WE HAD SOME MEETINGS LINED UP WITH THE NINE ONE, ONE STAFF.
WE WILL PICK THOSE UP AGAIN, AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE SCHEDULED.
AND SO HOPE TO COME TO YOU SOON WITH SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS THERE, BUT REALLY NEED TO SPEAK TO APD STAFF, UM, TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE, UM, ALIGNMENTS AND SOME OF THE ADJACENCIES WITH SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMMINGS.
UM, THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES WE HAVE BEEN TALKING THROUGH WITH VICTIM SERVICES AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
AND AS I MENTIONED, SUPPORT SERVICES, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT, UM, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE KIND OF A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THE PIKE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE COUNCIL IS THAT MOST FORWARD, UM, HAVE NOT YET, UH, TAKEN A DEEP DIVE INTO STRATEGIC SUPPORT COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS OR THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT, BUT THAT IS NEXT ON OUR HORIZON AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FACED THESE QUESTIONS FROM OUR TASK FORCE, AS WELL AS OTHER FOLKS IN COMMUNITY, WHAT WE ARE DOING AS WE PROCEED WITH DECOUPLING OR LOOKING AT AREAS, UH, WHICH PERHAPS COULD BE EITHER DONE BY OTHERS OR STOOD ON THEIR OWN IS REALLY THINKING THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF IT.
BUT AS WE HAVE SHARED WITH FOLKS, THERE WILL BE CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PERHAPS HOW THE SERVICES ARE OFFERED AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY OR THE TASK FORCE TO, TO CONTINUE TO GIVE US INFORMATION.
AS WE DELVE INTO BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS ALONG THOSE NATURES.
NEXT LINE, WE HAVE SEVERAL UPCOMING MEETINGS WITH THE TASK FORCE THAT, UH, WORK CONTINUES TO FLOW.
IT IS A LARGE VOLUME OF WORK, AND I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF IT AND THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP TEAM, UM, AS WE HAVE DONE IT, BUT REALLY IMPORTANTLY APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE WORK, UH, AND THE COMMITMENT THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE TASK FORCE HAVE PUT IN, UH, AS WE MOVE FORWARD, YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL, UM, I BELIEVE IT'S NINE WORKING GROUPS ESTABLISHED, UM, AS INDICATED IN A PREVIOUS MEMO TO YOU, WE WILL BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL ON AUGUST 20TH TO TALK THROUGH BOTH OUR, YOUR REQUEST TO SEE STAFF AND DO A KIND OF A MID-YEAR CHECK-IN.
UM, BUT THAT WAS ALSO ASKED BY THE TASK FORCE TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL TIME FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD MOVE FORWARD AS WELL.
UH, CERTAINLY THEY WERE FEELING SOME PINCH OF TIME AS WE MOVE THAT FORWARD, BUT FRANKLY, THE STORM AND THE RECOVERY EFFORTS WHERE EVERYBODY NOT JUST STAFF, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY WAS HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.
HAS SHE PUSHED SOME OF THOSE OUT? SO WE APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR GRACE AND ALLOWING US TO COME BACK ON APRIL 20TH.
[00:10:01]
TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND YOU'LL BE HEARING FROM THE CHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE DIRECTLY.WE'VE GOT SEVERAL UPCOMING MEETINGS AS YOU KNOW, UH, OUR MEETINGS ARE PUBLIC.
AND SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TUNE IN CAN SEE THAT SCHEDULE THERE.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE THIS VERY, UH, EVENING AFTER THIS MEETING.
UM, AND WE HAVE A COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSION AS WELL ON SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH.
SO AGAIN, VERY HIGH LEVEL UPDATE JUST ON WHERE STAFF IS, IS WE'RE PICKING UP THOSE EFFORTS POST-STORM.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TREMENDOUS WORK DONE BY STAFF, PARTICULARLY ON THE REINVESTMENT PORTION OF THAT.
AND I AM GOING TO PASS THE BATON TO, UH, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ADRIAN STAIR, UP TO GET US KICKSTARTED THERE.
UM, ADRIAN STIRRUP, UH, ONE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS AT AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH TO TALK VERY HIGH LEVEL ABOUT THE REINVESTMENTS.
UM, SO THE FAMILY VIOLENCE SHELTER AND PROTECTION SERVICES, THAT WAS A BULLET BUDGET ALLOCATION OF 2.1 MILLION.
UM, THAT RFA IS OUT ON THE STREET.
UM, THE APPLICATION PROCESS WILL CLOSE ON THE 23RD OF THIS MONTH, AND WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE.
UM, BY MID MAY, UM, 6.5 WAS ALLOCATED FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND SERVICES.
AND WE ARE, UM, IN THIS FIRST YEAR ALLOCATING THAT FOR SUPPORT OF THE HOTEL STRATEGY AND OF THE MAINSTREAM, UH, VOUCHER PROGRAM TO COUPLE THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT NEED TO GO WITH THOSE HOUSING, UH, VOUCHERS OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION WAS 1.8 MILLION ROUGHLY, UH, ABOUT 1.2 OF THAT IS FOR REINVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY.
SO ON THE STAFFING SIDE, WE ARE RECRUITING FOR THE LEAD POSITION.
UM, THAT POSTING ACTUALLY CLOSES TOMORROW.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH, UH, NATIONAL LEADERS IN THIS SPACE TO HELP US, UH, PLAN AROUND THE SETUP OF THE OFFICE AND TO HELP US, UH, MAKE SURE WE SELECT THE RIGHT INDIVIDUAL TO LEAD THAT WORK.
ON THE RE-INVESTMENT SIDE, WE ARE WORKING ON, UH, SEVERAL PILOT PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR.
ONE HAS A FOCUS ON, UM, SEX WORKERS AND THEN THE OTHER ONES ARE, UM, TRYING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN AUGMENT EFFORTS CURRENTLY BEING SUPPORTED BY THE EQUITY OFFICE, REINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC, UH, SAFETY GRANT PROCESS AND ALSO SOME EXISTING PROGRAMS IN COMMUNITY.
SO WE CAN BEGIN TO REALLY GATHER DATA AND SCAFFOLD UP WHAT THE OFFICE WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, UH, FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE, OR THERE WAS $1.1 MILLION RATHER, EXCUSE ME, ALLOCATED TO THE BUDGET.
UM, THREE AGENCIES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND, UH, THOSE AWARDS WILL BE, UM, ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA ON MARCH 25TH FOR FOOD ACCESS.
UH, IT WAS $400,000 IN FUNDING.
WE'RE WORKING WITH EQUITY DOT ATX TO SET UP A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE THEY WILL RETROFIT A CAP METRO BUS TO PROVIDE, UM, GROCERY STYLE SERVICES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
UM, ABORTION ACCESS, A HUNDRED THOUSAND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS WERE ADDED TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND THAT CONTRACT IS THROUGH JANE'S DUE PROCESS AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR WOMEN CONSIDERING, UM, THEIR OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR PREGNANCIES.
SO, UM, WITH THE POT OF FUNDS, AT 1.125, THAT WAS, UM, TARGETED OR AS REINVESTMENT IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, THERE WERE TWO CATEGORIES THAT WERE POINTED OUT.
ONE WAS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE OTHER WAS IMMIGRANT LEGAL SERVICES.
AND SO FOR THIS FIRST YEAR, WE DECIDED TO ADD MONEY TO OUR EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH CONTRACTS WITH SOME OF THAT MONEY.
UM, THE OTHER THING WAS TO BEEF UP THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE WITH AMERICAN GATEWAY, WHO HAS BEEN DOING A GOOD WORK WITH DEPORTATION ASSISTANCE AND ALSO WITH CATHOLIC CHARITIES, UM, WHO HAS BEEN DOING GREAT WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CITY PROVIDING, UM, ALL TYPES OF LEGAL SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT POPULATION.
THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION FOR THE BULK OF THE MONEY WE ARE LOOKING AT, UM, BEEFING UP SOME EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS IN COMMUNITY AS WELL, AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UM, YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND, UM, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, UH, MENTAL
[00:15:01]
HEALTH SPECIFICALLY TARGETING YOUTH.AND ALL OF THAT IS AROUND THE STRATEGY ABOUT HOW CAN WE GET TO THIS PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO PREVENT, UM, THOSE POPULATIONS FROM ENTERING INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM UNNECESSARILY, AS FAR AS OUR EPI AND DISEASE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMMING, UM, WE ADDED THE FOUR EPI POSITIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT HAS INCREASED OUR CAPACITY, NOT ONLY FOR COVID-19, BUT FOR OTHER REPORTABLE CONDITIONS.
AND IT HAS ALSO IMPROVED OUR EPI RESPONSE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE STAT THERE ABOUT HOW MANY MPS, A GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS PER 100,000 OF THE POPULATION.
EARLY CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN A FOCUS FOR THE CITY, UM, FOR A LONG TIME.
AND WITH THESE, THIS FUNDING, WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE COORDINATOR POSITION, UH, MOVE IT FROM A TEMP TO A FULL-TIME FTE.
UM, AND DURING THE COVID RESPONSE, THAT PERSON HAS, UH, BEEN WORKING WITHIN THE SOCIAL SERVICE BRANCH OF THE EOC TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY CHILDCARE AND SCHOOLS, BUT, UM, FAMILIES, UM, AND FIGURING OUT WHAT EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE DURING THIS TIME.
UM, BUT THE, AND THE BULK OF THIS PERSON'S WORK IS REALLY FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING THOSE OUTCOMES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN SD 2023 AND, UH, LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST AS PART OF, UM, THE REINVESTMENTS, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE WORKFORCE FIRST PROGRAM.
UM, AND SO THAT CONTRACT NOW TOTAL IS ABOUT $1.2 MILLION, AND IT SUPPORTS FOR WORK CREWS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH PARD WATERSHED AT AN ARR, NOT ONLY PROVIDING A VALUABLE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO SUPPORTING PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND I BELIEVE THOSE ARE ALL OF MY COMMENTS.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR AT THE END, I AM AVAILABLE.
I THINK WE'LL HOLD OUR QUESTIONS TO THE END, UNLESS OF COURSE, UM, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND, UM, ADRIAN, UNLESS OF COURSE THAT WAS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION MAYOR PRO TEM.
AND SO WE'LL CONTINUE IF WE DO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE'VE GOT A ROLLING GROUP HERE OF, UH, REALLY TALENTED FOLKS TO ADD MORE TO THE SLIDE DECK.
SO BRIAN, HI EVERYONE, BRIAN OAKS, CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UH, SO THE EQUITY OFFICE, UM, WAS ASSIGNED WITH A $400,000, UH, AS PART OF THE RE-ENTRY SERVICES FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED POPULATION.
AND WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH, UM, THE PROCESS TO DO AN RFP FOR THE SERVICES.
ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY IS THAT WE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT NONE OF OUR STAFF HAD DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH BEING PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED.
AND SO BEFORE WE ACTUALLY WON THE RFP PROCESS, WE PUT IN PLACE FOR CON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, UH, THAT WE STARTED BACK IN DECEMBER.
AND THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS IS ACTUALLY BEING FORMED.
UM, BEING SORT OF ACTUALLY PERFORMED BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED.
UH, THEY ARE LEADING A SERIES OF FOCUS GROUPS, UH, WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND ISSUES PEOPLE FACE WHEN THEY REENTER INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THEY ALSO ARE DOING FOCUS GROUPS WITH, UH, FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED.
THE FAMILIES PLAY A REALLY HUGE ROLE IN A SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY.
AND SO WE'RE BETTER TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, UH, WHAT THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE AND THOSE CHALLENGES ARE, UH, WE GOT SORT OF SET BACK A LITTLE BIT BY THE WINTER STORM.
WE ACTUALLY HAD SOME FOCUS GROUPS THAT WERE SCHEDULED FOR THAT WEEK, UH, THAT NEEDED TO BE RESCHEDULED NOW.
UM, BUT ONCE WE STARTED GATHERED THAT INFORMATION, WE'RE SORT OF PROJECTING, UH, THE LAUNCH OF THE RFG A IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.
AND JUST SOME INSIGHT ALSO, UH, IN TERMS OF HOW WE SORT OF STRUCTURE, UM, THE REQUEST FOR GRANT PROCESS.
WE WANT TO SORT OF PULL IN SOME OF THE SAME, UH, SORT OF STRATEGIES THAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR EQUITY MINI GRANT PROGRAM, WHICH IS THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE WOULD ACTUALLY HOPE AND WANT TO TRY TO INCENTIVIZE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BEING LED BY PEOPLE, UH, WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUS INCARCERATED TO REALLY APPLY, HOPEFULLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING SOME OF THIS FUNDING.
SO WE WILL BE LOOKING TO DO THINGS, UM, LIKE LOWER LIABILITY LIMITS, UH, WHEN APPROPRIATE AND NECESSARY.
ALSO LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR SHORTER, UH, OR MORE SIMPLE CONTRACTING OPTIONS, AS WELL AS APPLICATION TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDING AS WELL.
AND THEN ALSO THE CONSIDERATION OF HOW WE MAKE FUN, UH, A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF FUNDS AVAILABLE
[00:20:01]
ON THE FRONT END OF BEING AWARDED A PROJECT, AS OPPOSED TO SORT OF OUR TRADITIONAL FEE FOR SERVICE APPROACH THAT WE DO WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION.AND NEXT FIVE, WE WILL PASS THAT OVER TO ASSISTANT CHIEF.
UH, CHIEF GAY WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REPORT ON APDS RE-INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES, UH, FOR VICTIM SERVICES.
UM, WE REINVESTED ABOUT 500,000 HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THAT INCLUDED FOUR FTES FOR VICTIM SERVICES, ONE SUPERVISOR AND THREE COUNSELORS, THOSE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT FOR VICTIM SERVICES.
ALSO, WE WERE ABLE TO USE ABOUT 30,000 TO PROVIDE STIPENDS TO OUR GRADUATE STUDENTS FOR BOTH TEXAS STATE AND UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.
UH, WE ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO GET SEVEN STUDENTS FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER AND THEY WILL BE OUR FIRST RECIPIENTS OF A $2,500 STIPEND.
WE DO ANTICIPATE WE'LL HAVE SOME GRADUATE STUDENTS FOR THIS SUMMER AS WELL.
ALSO WE, UH, INVESTED 15,000 INTO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIMES.
WE HAVE BEEN USING THOSE FUNDS FOR FOOD AND FOR CLOTHING FOR, UH, FOR OUR VICTIMS. SO, UH, THAT HAS BEEN VERY USEFUL.
UH, THE NEXT IS THE TARGETED TRAINING FOR A TRAUMA INFORMED RESPONSES.
UH, THIS IS REALLY AN INVESTMENT OF ABOUT 50,000 FOR A MDR.
AND THIS IS WHERE WE ARE TRAINING, UH, LOCAL, UH, CLINICIANS OR, UH, IN THE AREA, UH, THAT ARE TRAINED WITH EMDR, UH, BECAUSE OF THE TRAINING THAT THEY WERE RECEIVED IS THEY DO 50 PRO BONO, UH, COUNSELING SESSIONS WITH, UH, VICTIMS OF CRIMES IN OUR AREA.
THIS IS BOTH FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS, AS WELL AS OTHER, UH, VIOLENT CRIMES.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 110, UH, COUNSELORS IN THE AREA THAT ARE DOING PRO BONO WORK.
SOME OF THEM HAVE ACTUALLY DECIDED TO STAY ON, UH, BEYOND THEIR COMMITMENTS.
AND WITH THIS 50,000 RULE, I HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER 45 TO 50 ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS IN THE AREA, UM, REGARDING THE UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND RACIAL AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY.
UH, THIS IS REALLY OUR WORK WITH THE EQUITY OFFICE.
UH, THE TWO REPORTS FROM MS. JAMES, AS WELL AS THE, UH, EQUITY ASSESSMENT THAT WAS, UH, RECENTLY RELEASED.
UH, WE WERE USING THAT AS A BASELINE AND, UH, HOPE HOPEFULLY WE'LL BRING A CONTRACT TO COUNCIL ASKING FOR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT, UH, FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO, TO OFFER TRAINING TO OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, AS WELL AS TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, IN THIS ARENA.
SO VERY EXCITED TO, UH, BRING THAT FORWARD HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO A COUNSELOR FOR APPROVAL.
UH, WE HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED, UM, THIS FOR ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS TO CARRY IT.
UM, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH THE, UH, MEDICAL EXAMINERS OFFICE ON A TRAINING, UH, TO PUSH OUT TO ALL OF OUR OFFICERS.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL BE FINALIZED AND OUR OFFICERS WILL BE CARRYING THIS, UH, TOOL IN, UH, WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS.
SO EXCITED TO REPORT THAT, OH, THANK YOU.
I'LL PASS IT ON NOW TO, UH, I BELIEVE, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, UH, JASPER BROWN, CHIEF OF STAFF WITH THE AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS. AND, UH, UH, ALSO WITH ME WILL BE, UH, ASSISTANT CHIEF, ANDY HOFFMEISTER DAY OUT, UH, GO OVER A FEW OTHER BULLET POINTS, UM, UH, IN AUGUST COUNCIL, UH, INVESTED IN OUR COVID-19 RESOURCES AND, UH, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR NINE 11 RESPONSE.
THERE WAS TWO AMBULANCES, UH, ADDED TO THE SYSTEM.
ONE WAS ADDED IN MARCH OR OCTOBER OF 2020, AND WE JUST ADDED THE SECOND AMBULANCE IN MARCH.
UH, HERE YESTERDAY CAN WENT ONLINE, FULL DUTY.
UM, IT WAS DELAYED A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THE ICE STORM, BUT, UH, IT IS ON DUTY 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AS OF YESTERDAY.
UM, AND SO I'LL NEXT SLIDE FOR CHIEF HOFFMEISTER
THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS, UH, PROGRAM, AND THE INTENT WAS TO DEPLOY THEM TO BEGIN BEING
[00:25:01]
RESPONSIVE TO THOSE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CALLS THAT, THAT, I MEAN, ONE, UH, WE'RE DEPONING, UH, TO CHP AIDS, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, YOU'RE WE'RE STARTING NEXT WEEK.UM, THOSE THAT ARE GONNA BE ASSIGNED TO BUILD, SO YOU NEED TO HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED OVER 40 HOURS OF MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, UH, COLLABORATIVELY PROVIDED, UH, INTEGRAL CARE, AND THEY'VE DONE MULTIPLE LOCATIONS WITH SOME OF THEIR SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION.
UH, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, THE ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS THAT WILL BE COMING ALONG WHEN THEY LEARN THOSE SKILLS POSITIONS ARE FUNDED EITHER MID YEAR OR YEAR.
AND, UM, AND BASED ON STAFFING LEVELS, WE WILL, UH, WE'LL BRING THEM OVER AND GET THEM OUT ON THE STREETS AS WELL AS UPDATE ON THE T3 PROJECT, UH, THE EMERGENCY TRIAGE TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT.
UM, IT WAS ORIGINALLY SLATED TO SCHEDULE IN 20 START IN 2020.
THE PROGRAM BEGAN JANUARY 1ST, 2021.
UH, WE DO HAVE OUR PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT COMPLETED WITH, UH, THE CMS, WHICH IS THE CENTER FOR MEDICAID, MEDICARE.
UM, THEY, UH, APPROVED THE PLAN.
WE'VE, UH, HAVE A PARTNER AGREEMENT WITH, WELL, AND THEY HAVE ABOUT 17 ALTERNATE, UH, DESTINATION SITES.
AND WE'RE, UH, COMPLETING SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR ALTERNATE TRANSPORT.
UH, WE'RE ALSO TESTING SOME TELE-HEALTH, UM, RESOURCES AND INTO THE FIELD.
AND WE ACTUALLY, UH, DID QUITE A FEW OF THAT DURING THE ICE STORM.
UM, WHEN WE WERE HAVING OUR, UH, CONSULT LINE OF PARAMEDICS THAT WERE DEALING WITH COVID ORIGINALLY, THEY BEGAN TO TAKE ON LOCAL HEALTH ALONG WITH THE, UM, UH, THE MEDICAL DIRECTORS AND WERE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME AND THEY'RE TRANSPORTING.
SO WE STARTED TO TELEHEALTH, UM, ACTUALLY DURING THAT STORM AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPAND UPON NEXT SLIDE.
UH, ALSO IN THE SPOT'S BUDGET, THERE WAS AN INVESTMENT MADE FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, UM, THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM THAT WAS THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE GALVON HOSPITAL ALLIANCE AND INTEGRAL CARE.
AND, UH, IN THAT, TO THE ROLE OF THIS RESOURCE OUT TO WORK WITH POST, UM, IT WAS COMING ONLINE, BUT ALSO TO WORKED WITH THE TEAM OR THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE ON BOARD, THEY'VE IDENTIFIED FIVE CLIENTS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING AWAY.
AND SHE SPOKE, HER HAS THREE TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY ON BOARD AND ACTIVELY WORKING IN THE STREETS AND WORKING WITH, WITH THE HOST TEAM AND THEN WORKING TO FILL THE REMAINING POSITIONS.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE THAT DEPENDING COMING ON BOARD WITH IS WORKING HAND IN HAND WITH WILL SNOOP RESOURCING AND FAMILIARIZING THEM WITH THE PROCESS AND THE SYSTEM, AND ACTUALLY HELPING TRAINING AND GETTING OUT IN THE STREETS AND WORKING WITH SOME OF THE PATIENTS.
SO THEY WILL EXTEND THAT RESOURCE.
THAT'S SIMPLE ROBERT WITH THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT, UH, TALK, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND JUST WANT TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE REGARDING THE, UH, CONTRACT, WHICH IS EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS TEAM INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT.
CAN I GET YOU TO HOLD JUST ONE MOMENT, PLEASE? THERE'S SOME FEEDBACK.
IF YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING, CAN YOU PLEASE MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE? THANK YOU MUCH BETTER, PLEASE PROCEED.
UH, SO THIS IS AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY INTEGRAL CARE, UH, THAT HAS BEEN HOUSED AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT SINCE FYI 19.
UH, THE NEW FUNDING THAT WAS PROVIDED IN 21 WAS AN INCREASE OF $1.5 MILLION WITH SPRINGS.
THE TOTAL CONTRACT 3.2 MILLION, THE THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES DURING THIS, UH, BUDGET PERIOD WITH THE INCREASED FUNDING WAS TO DEPLOY IPADS, UM, TO PROVIDE TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENTS WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS AND EMS ON SITE WITH A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.
UM, ONE OF THE PRIMARY GOALS OF THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS ALSO TO PROVIDE STAFFING 24 SEVEN AT THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER TO RECEIVE CALLS REGARDING INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND DIVERT AN APD OR EMS RESPONSE AND, AND PROVIDE A RESPONSE ONSITE WITH A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.
AND THEN THE LAST ITEM WITH THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS TO PROVIDE FULL-TIME ACCESS TO A MEDICAL PROVIDER, UH, UH, INCLUDING
[00:30:01]
A PSYCHIATRIC, UH, CARE, UH, PROVIDER TO SUPPORT, UH, EXPANSION OF SERVICES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED THOSE THROUGH THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER, AS WELL AS THE ONSITE COD, UH, CREW MEMBERS.UM, AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT BACK OVER TO CHIEF HOFFMEISTER WITH US FOR THE NEXT ONE.
UM, SO, UH, MYSELF AND WHEN BJ WAGNER FROM THE MEADOWS MENTAL HEALTH POLICIES ARE, UH, JUST TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE TO IMPLEMENT THE MEADOWS REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM 2019.
IF YOU REMEMBER THAT REPORT, UM, UH, CAME ALONG ON THE HEELS OF THE CITY AUDITOR'S REPORT AND IN 2019, MAY OF 2019, UH, THE METALS INSTITUTE PROVIDED, UH, SIX RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, UH, FOR US TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY, APRIL 9TH, WE BROUGHT THE MEDICINES TO BACK AND KICK OFF THIS WORK IN, IN OCTOBER OF 2020.
SO JUST TO, JUST TO GO RECOMMENDATION BY RECOMMENDATION, UH, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER ONE, UH, STAY LIT LIT, UH, WHICH I REALLY RECOMMEND THAT THE ADVISORY FUNCTION SHOULD BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT COULD PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION AND ADVICE AND SOME SORT OF OVERSIGHT TO SOME EXTENT IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW, UM, THE POLICE AND OTHERS RESPOND TO CRIMINAL OR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY THAT THAT, UH, RECOMMENDATION IS COMPLAINT, UH, LAST MONTH, UH, CHIEF
SO, UH, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE WORKING ON GETTING NOTES REPORTS QUARTERLY, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THE FORMAT AND SOME OF THE FORMALITIES, THEIR RECOMMENDATION NUMBER TWO WAS, UH, MADE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE'D BE ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR FALL TAKERS IN THE NINE ONE ONE CENTER.
UM, AND SO CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS THE MEADOWS INSTITUTE IS, IS HELPING US IDENTIFY, UH, BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THIS PARTICULAR TOPIC.
UM, THERE ARE, THERE ARE VERY FEW LOCATIONS THAT HAVE, OR PROVIDE THIS TYPE OF TRAINING.
SO IT'S NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO PICK OFF FOR SHELL, BUT A METALS INSTITUTE HAS STAFF WORKING ON DEVELOPING AND REACHING OUT TO DIFFERENT SERVICES OR DIFFERENT LIKE PATIENTS THAT HAVE TRAINING THAT MAY FILL SOME OF THESE GAPS, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK AND WE'LL PUT IT TOGETHER AND PULL IT BACK.
I MEAN, RECOMMENDATION NUMBER THREE, MAYBE RECOMMENDATION THAT, UH, MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS, UH, INTEGRATED INTO THE NINE 11 PROCESS.
AND SO, UH, AS WE HEARD FROM ROBERT KINGDOM, UH, INTEGRAL CHARACTER HAS BROUGHT ON SEVERAL CLINICIANS AND THEY ARE NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM THE APD AREA OF DISPATCH AND ONE ALSO STATIONED OVER IN EMS SECTION OF THE DISPATCH OR THE COMMUNICATION CENTER, WHAT ERNIE LAST MONTH WE LAUNCHED, WHAT WE, WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO IS THE FOURTH OPTION.
SO WHEN SOMEONE CALLS NINE ONE ONE, SO THERE'LL BE ASKED WHETHER THEY NEED POLICE, FIRE, EMS, AND NOW THERE'LL BE TO HEALTH SERVICES.
APD HAS WORKED OUT AND HE'S WORKING ON THE PROCESS.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT BRINGS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN EACH BOOK AIR CONTINUES TO ROUTE AND FILL THE POSITIONS FOR THE, UH, CONDITION IN THE, IN THE CENTER, IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO STAFF 24 SEVEN RIGHT NOW, BUT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'LL BE UP AND RUNNING IN 24 HOURS WITH A CLINICIAN IN THAT CENTER.
UM, BY MAY 1ST THAT'S LIKE RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FOUR, UH, SPOKE TO THE SUSTAINABILITY EVENT POD.
AND IN THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION, UH, ROLLING OUT TELEHEALTH AND EXPANDING THAT CAPABILITY TO INCLUDE, UH, APE AND EMS UNITS.
THIS IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, UM, INTEGRAL CARE REPURCHASE NUMBER OF IPADS, AND THOSE ARE CURRENTLY BEING DISTRIBUTED TO APD, UH, STAFF.
AND THERE'LL BE A VERY SHORT DURING OF TRAINING PROVIDED.
AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS RESOURCE WILL BE UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
RECOMMENDATION NUMBER FIVE, UH, RELATES TO DEVELOPING A FORMAL COLLABORATION IN PROCESS WHERE APD CRISIS INTERVENTION OFFICERS
[00:35:01]
AND THE TEAM HAVING A CONNECTION TO THE EMS COMMUNITY HEALTH KINEMATICS, SO THAT, UM, APPROPRIATE CASES CAN BE REFERRED OVER AND, AND, UH, WORK WITH EVEN OUR MEDICS OR THE INTEGRAL CARE CLINICIAN THAT WE MAKE PART OR A BIT MORE PARTNER, UH, THAT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING, UM, UH, MEMORIALIZED BEEN FORMALIZED THROUGH POLICY.THERE'S ALREADY VERY CLOSE CONNECTIONS ANYHOW, UH, BETWEEN THESE TWO TEAMS, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON, I'M GETTING THAT FORMALIZED AND, UH, SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO ENHANCE THAT PARTICULAR REFERRAL STREAM PROCESS RECOMMENDATION, NUMBER SIX, RELATES TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WORKING WITH NAMI AND, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO, UM, TO GET INFORMATION OUT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
WHAT, UH, WHAT AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR SITUATIONS LIKE THAT, LIKE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, WHAT TO EXPECT THAT THEY HAVE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY SERVICES SYSTEM FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
I WE'RE CURRENTLY WOULD BE MATERIAL.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT POPULATIONS, WHAT AREA IS WE ARE, WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION IF YOU'RE THE MEDICAL REPORTING IN OTHER AVENUES, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT MEDIA OUTLETS CAN WE NEED LINES AND, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL MEDIA, RADIO, TELEVISION, WHAT CONNECTIONS, WHAT WHOOPS, DO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP TO? UH, ONCE WE, ONCE WE GET ALL THE RESOURCES TOGETHER AND THE MATERIALS THAT WE CAN ENGAGE THE ROLLOUT ON, I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE THAT I READ ARE THINGS THAT I HAVE.
AND, UM, AND JUST WANTED TO ALLOW BEFORE WE GO TO QUESTIONS, MAYOR PRO TEM, UM, TO ALLOW MS. WAGNER, IF SHE HAD ANYTHING TO ADD, UH, TO THAT LAST, UM, PRESENTATION REALLY ABOUT THE MEADOWS REPORT AND THE GREAT WORK THAT SHE AND HER TEAM DID THAT, BUT CERTAINLY WE STAND READY FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.
AND LET US KNOW, I KNOW WE PUT THIS PRESENTATION AS PART OF BACKUP, LET US KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE IT DOWN SO THAT WE CAN SEE EACH OTHER, UH, MORE FULLY MS. WAGONER.
I THANK YOU AND VICKI FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
UM, I THINK CHIEF HOFMEISTER COVERED IT REALLY WELL.
YOU KNOW, THIS WORKS HOOK A LOT OF DIGGING INTO WHEN WE FIRST GOT STARTED BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW THINGS AROUND THE WORLD, BUT CERTAINLY IN AUSTIN ARE VERY DIFFERENT NOW THAN THEY WERE IN 2019.
SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD HIGH FIDELITY TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE DATA INFORMED ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED, WHICH THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE CREATED TO ADDRESS.
SO MAINTAINING THE FIDELITY TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE ALSO ADDRESSING MANY OF THE CHANGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS SEEN SINCE THE REPORT WAS ISSUED WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
FOR INSTANCE, UH, ON THE LAST RECOMMENDATION, NUMBER SIX ORIGINALLY, BECAUSE WE IDENTIFIED, UM, STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE AND USE OF FORCE INSTANCES IN, UH, SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES WHERE THE POVERTY LEVEL WAS 200 WAS, UH, UM, BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL.
WE HAD DESIGNED, UH, INTIMATE, BUT INTENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS TO TAKE PLACE AT CULTURALLY RELEVANT LOCATIONS ACROSS THOSE AREAS IN PERSON.
AND WE KNOW NOW THAT'S NOT AN APPROPRIATE OUTREACH ACTIVITY NOW IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO WE'RE REEVALUATING HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL CAN GET OUT TO THOSE THAT WE CAN ENSURE OFFICERS WHO ARE WORKING IN THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE THE APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, THE NAMI, UM, WHAT TO DO KIND OF INFORMATION THAT IT'S ALL TRANSLATED AND DISTRIBUTED IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE.
NOW IN 2021, I WILL SAY THAT THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NATIONAL INTEREST IN THE FOURTH OPTION THAT WAS ADDED TO THE NINE 11 ANSWERING, BUT ALSO IN A UNIQUE WAY THAT THE, WE ARE IMPLEMENTING MENTAL HEALTH TRIAGE AND CONSULTATION AND THE CALL CENTER, UH, WE'RE WORKING TO FINISH A RISK MATRIX CALL TREE, IF YOU WILL, TO DETERMINE WHEN THOSE CALLS CAN BE TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARENA, BUT ALSO LOOKING TO DETERMINE WHEN AND HOW TO ENSURE A CLINICIAN IS AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION, UM, AND GUIDANCE ON THOSE CALLS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO REQUIRE SOME KIND OF A PUBLIC HEALTH, OR I'M SORRY, REQUIRE A PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT IS WHEN THOSE PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE HAS HAPPENED, THAT WE OFTEN SEE TRAGEDY, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAXIMIZE UTILIZATION OF THOSE CLINICIANS TO ENSURE CONSULTATED ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO THOSE RESPONDERS TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE THE RISK OF TRAGEDY AND LOSE CALLS.
AND THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NATIONAL INTEREST IN HOW OFTEN IS, UH, WEAVING BOTH OF THOSE INTO THE CALL CENTER, TRIAGE DIVERSION IN CONSULTATION, ALL INTO ONE, WHICH, UM, IS, UH, REALLY TAKING HOLD.
[00:40:01]
WE'RE MAKING REALLY GREAT PROGRESS THERE AS WELL.AND AS FAR AS THE TRAINING PIECE, WE KNOW THAT THOSE DISPATCHERS HAVE RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST DAY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEED HERE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO RE REPLICATE ANY KIND OF TRAINING THEY'VE ALREADY HAD.
SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME OF THE ELEMENTS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST DAY THAT WE DON'T WANT TO REPEAT AND HOW WE CAN NOW ADD ON EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH DISPATCH AND RESOURCE TRAINING, UM, IN A MORE TRUNCATED FASHION.
AND AGAIN, CREATE A TRAINING, NOT ONLY FOR THE DISPATCHERS, BUT FOR THE CLINICIANS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TYPE TRAINING.
WE WILL SEEK ACCREDITATION THROUGH TIKO FOR THE CLINICIANS WHO GO THROUGH THEIR PART OF THE TRAINING AS WELL AS BE ABLE TO LIAISON WITH TIKAL ON THE CREATION OF A NEW EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH DISPATCH TRAINING FOR YOUR CALL TAKERS AND DISPATCHERS, AGAIN, SETTING A STATE AND NATIONAL STANDARDS.
SO I'M PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY BEGAN TO MAKE ON THIS PROJECT.
AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO UNFOLD.
WE'LL HAVE OUR INTERIM REPORT, UH, DUE TO THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF APRIL.
AND I THINK THAT YOU GUYS WILL BE PLEASED TO SEE THE CHANGES AND THE PROGRESS THAT YOUR CITY IS MAKING AS WELL.
AND WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR PRETEND COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TWO OTHER PRESENTATIONS, BUT KNOW THAT STAFF STANDS AT THE READY FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, I THINK WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS ON THIS, UH, PARTICULAR PRESENTATION.
I NEED TO FIGURE OUT MY LAYOUT, CAUSE I CAN ONLY SEE THREE PEOPLE, BUT I KNOW.
ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ASSUME I HAVE A QUESTION.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PRESENTATION AND ALL THE REALLY HARD WORK DONE SO FAR.
I THINK THAT, UH, OUR CITY IS REALLY A LEADER ACROSS THE COUNTRY AROUND THIS YEAR, TRYING TO MAKE, UH, COMMITTED INVESTMENTS IN THINGS THAT WILL MAKE OUR, OUR COMMUNITY MORE SAFE.
UH, AND SO I APPRECIATE IT WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE PRESENTATION.
AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I, UM, THAT, THAT MAYBE Y'ALL CAN ANSWER FOR ME IF ANY OF THESE, UH, INVESTMENTS, IF I DON'T HAVE THE TIMELINE, RIGHT.
BUT ON HOUSING FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, I KNOW WE'VE MADE SOME INVESTMENTS IN THE HOTEL STRATEGY.
THERE'S STILL MORE INVESTMENTS TO MAKE.
I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT.
AND MAYBE MY QUESTION AT THE END OF THIS IS LET ME KNOW IF I'M, IF I GOT ANY OF THIS WRONG FROM THE PRESENTATION, BUT ON HOUSING FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, WE'VE STARTED TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENTS IN THE HOTEL STRATEGY, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO BRING MORE TO US ON THE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAM.
YOU'VE ESTABLISHED THAT MENTAL HEALTH, UH, AT NINE ONE ONE, UH, LAST MONTH, BUT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN ROLLOUT IN THAT PROGRAM AMONGST STAFF AND TRAINING, AND THEN ON, UH, THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE THAT I DIDN'T SEE ON THE POWERPOINT, BUT THAT I THINK WAS PART OF, UH, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST MONTH.
UM, UH, WE PASSED THE ABORTION ACCESS EXPANSION, I THINK THIS MONTH.
SO I THINK THAT ONE'S DONE FROM THE SLIDES.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ALREADY HAVE EXPANDED THE JOB PROGRAMS FOR WORKFORCE FIRST.
LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S STILL EXPANSION TO DO, OR IF THAT'S COMPLETE FAMILY VIOLENCE SHELTER, YOU SAID IT'S COMING IN MAY OF 2021 AND SUBSTANCE USE SERVICES, IMMIGRANT PROTECTION AND FOOD ACCESS WOULD BE COMING THIS MONTH TO COUNCIL THE FORENSIC SERVICES DEPARTMENTS BEING INDEPENDENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING SUPPORT SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS HAVE BEEN DECOUPLED ALREADY TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE A, AND THEN THE VICTIM SERVICES, PROFESSIONALS AND RESOURCES.
IT SOUNDS LIKE HAVE ALL THAT'S ALREADY COMPLETED AND HAS BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT.
DID I GET ANY OF THAT WRONG UNDERSTANDING TO SYNTHESIZE A BIT OF A TIMELINE COMING OUT OF THE POWERPOINT THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN TO US? SURE.
I WILL SAY THAT YES, WE WERE RUMPUS AND NOT ADDING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE.
CAROL JOHNSON IS OUR NEW CIVIL RIGHTS DIRECTOR.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR YOU ALL TO GET TO KNOW HER, UH, AS SHE HAS NOW JOINED US IN THE CITY.
UM, AND I WILL SAY THAT, UM, UH, WITH REGARDS TO SOME OF THE, UH, ON THE UNDER REVIEW PORTIONS, WHICH INCLUDES VICTIM SERVICES, WE ARE CERTAINLY CONTINUING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, UM, AS WELL AS SOME OTHER ASPECTS THAT WERE ASKED TO BE DECOUPLED AND WE, UH, NOT QUITE FINISHED, BUT WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD WITH FULLER RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SORRY, WHEN I SAID VICTIM SERVICES, I GUESS I MEANT TO A CHIEF GAZE POINT ABOUT HIRING THE ADDITIONAL STAFF THAT WERE PUT IN THE BUDGET THAT THAT WAS, THAT IS COMPLETE, OR IS THAT SORT OF STILL IN PROCESS OF THE NEW FOUR FTES HAVE BEEN HIRED? WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER BANK AND CS IN VICTIM
[00:45:01]
SERVICES, BUT THOSE HAVE BEEN OKAY.OH, AND THEN ON THE EMS DRUNKS AND WE FINISHED THAT AND THEN MAYBE A DIRECTOR OF STRIPE WOULD BE ABLE TO MODIFY SOMETHING I SAID ON THERE TOO, BUT ALSO ON EMS, I MISSED WHETHER OR NOT THE NEW INVESTMENTS IN EMS HAVE ALL BEEN COMPLETED AND HIRED, OR IF THAT'S STILL IN PROCESS, THE UNITS HAVE STARTED IN THE HIRING IS IN PROCESS.
WE STARTED THE UNITS AHEAD OF THE HIRING PROCESS.
SO THE CLASS WILL BE HIRED AND PROMOTIONS WILL OCCUR THROUGHOUT THE FISCAL YEAR.
AND JUST A, A SMALL CLARIFICATION ON THE WORKFORCE.
FIRST, ALL OF THE, UH, MONEY PAY FOR FISCAL YEAR 21 HAS BEEN ADDED TO THAT CONTRACT.
SO THAT PROCESS IS COMPLETE GREAT.
I JUST THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, UM, UH, COME TOGETHER AND, AND PUSH ON THE CITY COUNCIL AND FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER, TO TRY TO, UM, GET A LOT OF THESE NEW PROGRAMS OFF THE GROUND.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT THIS PRESENTATION REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW, HOW QUICKLY THE CITY HAS MOVED TO GET A LOT OF THIS, UH, RUNNING ACROSS SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS UPDATE.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF INVOLVED IN LIFTING THIS HEAVY LOAD OF REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
I KNOW YOU ALL ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO PUT THE RIGHT PROGRAMS IN PLACE TO, TO MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL.
I WANTED TO BACK UP FOR A MOMENT TO ASSISTANT CHIEF GAZE PRESENTATION AND BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THE TARGETED TRAINING FOR TRAUMA INFORMED RESPONSE THAT WE HEARD ABOUT.
UM, ASSISTANT CHIEF GAYE MENTIONED EMDR MULTIPLE TIMES.
I'D LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT EMDR STANDS FOR EYE MOVEMENT, DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING.
IT'S A CLINICAL TOOL THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HEAL FROM THE DISTRESS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAUMATIC MEMORIES OR DISTURBING LIFE EXPERIENCES.
AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO HELP VICTIMS OF CRIMES.
AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT ASSISTANT CHIEF GAYE WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH US TODAY ABOUT THAT AS PART OF RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT ASSET FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.
NO, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, GIVING THE, UH, THE, OF THE PROGRAM.
COUNCIL MEMBER COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS UPDATE.
UM, UH, IT'S IT'S UH, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, COSARA SAID I'M SEEING SOME SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS AND I APPRECIATE THE, UM, REPORT ON THE, UM, EFFORTS IN THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER, WHICH, UM, WHICH ACTUALLY WAS BEGAN, BEGAN LAST YEAR.
IT WAS NOT A NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR, BUT YOU'VE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT OR EXPANSION, I SHOULD SAY, A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION THIS YEAR.
AND SO, UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN MADE, APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU ALL ARE DOING AND, UM, WORKING WITH, UM, MS. WAGNER AND, AND, UM, AND EMS AND APD, IT'S TRULY A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ACROSS, UH, SEVERAL AREAS.
UM, AND I APPRECIATE THAT REPORT AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE, UM, THE, UH, MORE DETAILED PROGRESS REPORT.
I THINK YOU SAID AT THE END OF APRIL OR IN APRIL, THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTERING, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN.
UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THIS, YOU KNOW, PULLED TOGETHER AND, AND I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER KITCHEN JUST MADE UNDERSCORE THAT THIS IS WORK THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WELL BEFORE AUGUST, WELL, BEFORE JUNE OF LAST YEAR, UM, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE, THE FOURTH PART OF THE CONCERT LINE.
WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION ABOUT NEEDING MORE POSTS TEAMS. WE'VE HAD, UM, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IMPROVING VICTIM SERVICES.
UM, WE MADE SOME DECISIONS IN THE BUDGET THAT ALLOWED US TO MAKE SOME OF THESE INVESTMENTS, UH, OR ACCELERATE THEIR PROCESS.
UM, BUT, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE HAD A LOT OF THOUGHT AND A LOT OF, UM, RESEARCH BEHIND THEM THAT WE ARE FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH A LOT OF THEM AT ONCE.
UM, I WANTED TO FIRST JUST HIGHLIGHT TWO THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE LEFT OFF IN TERMS OF THE REINVESTMENTS, UM, THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ARE IN THERE.
UM, WE INVESTED IN THE WHAT'S NOW CALLED THE REWORK NOW PROGRAM FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING LIKE A 1.9 MILLION.
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UM, LIKE WORK REPAY BEFORE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.BUT, UM, THIS IS THE PROGRAM FROM WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THAT IS HELPING US TO TRAIN PEOPLE IN TRADES, LIKE PLUMBING AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE REALLY SEE THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN OUR UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS OVER THE, THE, UM, AMERICA RECOVERS FUNDING TO, TO THINK ABOUT DECELERATING, THAT TYPE OF PROGRAM.
SO I WANTED TO JUST SAY THAT WE SHOULD BE ADDING THAT TO OUR LIST.
UM, AND CHIEF BROWN MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC CONSULT LINES, UM, BUT WE PROVIDED FULL FUNDING FOR THOSE CONSULT LINES IN THE BUDGET AS WELL OUT OF THE REINVESTMENT.
UM, AND AS, AS, AS CHIEF BROWN MENTIONED, THOUGH, THAT SERVICE WAS REALLY CRITICAL DURING THE STORM, UM, AND AS CRITICAL TO OUR EFFORTS, UM, TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE MOVING FORWARD.
SO I THINK WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS HERE.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK THOUGH ABOUT, UM, THE THIRD BUCKET.
SO WE HAD THREE BUCKETS, WE HAD THE REINVESTMENT DECOUPLING, AND I'M TOTALLY BLANKING ON WHAT WE CALL IT THE THIRD RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, THE STUFF THAT WAS LESS CLEAR SORT OF HOW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
SO I WANTED TO ASK IF YOU COULD, UM, SPEAK TO THAT.
UM, AND IF YOU COULD ALSO SPEAK TO, UM, THE PROS CHANGES FOR INTERNAL AFFAIRS, UM, AND THEN FINALLY KIND OF A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE PROCESS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN APRIL, CERTAINLY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT THIRD WEEK, IT WAS THE ACTUAL RE-IMAGINING BUCKET, IF YOU WILL.
AND THAT IS THE BUCKET THAT WE REALLY HAVE, UH, FOCUSED WITH THE TASK FORCE, UM, THAT INCLUDED THINGS LIKE, UH, PARKS, IT INCLUDED THINGS LIKE TRAINING.
IT INCLUDED, UM, A VARIETY OF ITEMS THAT CERTAINLY THE TASK FORCE IS LOOKING INTO IT MORE ON THE, HOW SERVICES DELIVERED, THEN THE MORE ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, WHAT CAN BE SHIFTED, BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY WORK THAT WILL COME FORWARD.
WE HOPE WITH SOME OF THE WORK GROUP, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE TASK FORCE AND WE AS STAFF DIDN'T WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THAT AS REALLY, THAT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION WE WANTED TO HAVE COMMUNITY HAVE WITH COMMUNITY.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE OTHER PORTION OF THAT IS THAT SOME OF OUR ENGAGEMENT GOES BEYOND THE TASK FORCE.
AND WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT, UM, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN EFFORTS TO REALLY TALK A BIT MORE BROADLY WITH COMMUNITY.
UH, ALICIA DEAN ON OUR TEAM HAS BEEN AMAZING.
AND CPIO ALONG WITH, UM, CARRIE AND ALBANY FROM THE INNOVATION OFFICE, ALBA, WHO IS NOW LEADING OUR RESILIENT EFFORTS, SORENTO, UM, THEY AND BRIAN, THEY REALLY HELPED CREATE A COMMUNITY'S DIALOGUE CONVERSATION THAT WAS SCENARIO BASED NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT, UM, RPD OR, BUT JUST ANY SCENARIO WHERE YOU REALLY, AS I HAVE MENTIONED IT A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, WE ASK COMMUNITY, HOW DO YOU WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO SHOW UP OR NOT? UH, WHEN YOU ARE IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
AND WE WILL BE ADDING THAT TO THE DISCUSSION AS WE COME FORWARD WITH THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE TASK FORCE HAS BEEN MEETING NOW FOR A WHILE.
AGAIN, THOSE MEETINGS ARE PUBLIC FOLKS CAN CERTAINLY GO SEE THOSE.
UH, WE HAVE MEETING TONIGHT, WE WILL BE FOCUSING ON ONE OF THE WORK GROUPS, UM, WHICH IS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PIECE.
UH, BUT WE HAVE OTHER WORK GROUPS COMING DOWN, UH, ROOTED IN THE TASK FORCE MEETINGS HAVE BEEN MAKING SURE THAT WE HEAR FROM FOLKS THAT ARE AT, THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY MOST IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND SO THAT SATURDAY SESSION REALLY IS A LISTENING SESSION BROADER WITH COMMUNITY, AND WE WILL HEAR FEEDBACK.
THEN THE TASK FORCE WORK GROUPS WILL PRESENT, UH, SOME OF THE REMAINING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TASK FORCE AS A BODY TO VOTE ON.
UH, I BELIEVE THE TENTATIVE DATE FOR THAT IS APRIL 14TH.
AND THEN WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD AS PART OF OUR MID-YEAR, UM, UH, SORT OF FOLLOW UP THAT YOU HAD ASKED US FOR, UM, IN THE BUDGET, UH, DIRECTION ON APRIL 20TH.
UM, SO THAT IS HOW THAT IS MOVING FORWARD ON THE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU ASKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN PARTICULAR, I'LL SAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIEWING THAT WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THAT.
UH, WE ARE CERTAINLY WE ARE TOUCHING BASE WITH LAW BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SENSITIVITIES TO, UM, THINKING THROUGH A POTENTIAL DECOUPLING, UH, BUT WE WILL, AS SOON AS WE FINISH THAT AND WE MAY NEED TO COME INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT AS WE FINISH THAT AND MOVE THAT FORWARD, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE COMING TO COUNCIL TO HAVE A MORE THOROUGH DISCUSSION, BUT WE ARE NOT FINALIZED WITH THAT YET.
[00:55:02]
I THINK I SAID, I DO I COUNCIL MEMBER ELLISON, THEN COUNCIL MEMBER TOVA, THAT'S A HAND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CONVERSATION WAS FINISHED.UM, CAN I HEAR A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW THE INITIAL WEEKS OF THE T3 MODEL ARE WORKING? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAD WORKED ON DURING THE BUDGET, AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAD DONE WORK TOO ON THE STAFFING AND INCREASE VEHICLES FOR EMS. HAVE YOU SEEN ANY EARLY SUCCESSES OR IS IT STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL HOW, HOW THAT IS HELPING ALLEVIATE CONCERNS ABOUT EMERGENCY ROOMS AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BE TRANSPORTED TO? I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.
UH, SOME OF THE AGREEMENTS JUST HAVE BEEN FINALIZED AND WITH THE, UH, ICE STORM THAT DELAYED SOME OF THAT PROCESS.
UM, ALTHOUGH, LIKE I SAID, WE DID USE THE TELE-HEALTH AND OUR, UH, CONSULT LINE, UM, ALONG WITH, UH, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS, UM, IN DEPARTMENT AND, AND CLINICIANS TO, UM, KEEP PEOPLE AT HOME.
SO THERE WAS SUCCESS STORIES THERE AND KEEPING PEOPLE AT HOME INSTEAD OF BEING, HAVING TO TRANSPORT DURING A VERY LOW OR, UH, UH, MINOR EMERGENCIES THAT, UH, DID NOT NEED, UH, UH, MERCHANT, UH, RESPONSE DURING THE, UH, SNOW.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW, HOW WELL THAT PROGRAM DOES MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE MENTION FOR THE WORKFORCE FIRST PROGRAM.
THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN DISTRICT EIGHT BEFORE I WAS IN OFFICE AT THEN HAPPY TO LEAD ON IT AS HAVE A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO HELP PEOPLE IN NEED OF EMPLOYMENT TO, TO HELP IN THE CITY.
SO THANKS A LOT FOR THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TIMBO AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ULCER.
AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU, STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK.
UM, AND ALSO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR MAKING THE POINT THAT, THAT MANY OF THESE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN IN, IN CONVERSATION AND SOME IMPLEMENTED, UM, PRIOR TO THIS LAST YEAR.
AND I THINK WHAT WOULD HELP ME, THIS IS A VERY HELPFUL LAYOUT OF INFORMATION.
IT WOULD HELP ME TO HAVE SOME DOLLAR AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN REALLY SEE WHAT THE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED BY PROGRAM BY PROGRAM.
I HAD SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
ONE OF THEM IS, WELL, A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
WE'VE, WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE HOTEL STRATEGY AND WHERE THE, AND, AND THE ORIGINS OF THE MONEY.
SO COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHEN IT, OH, I SEE.
I DID NOT PRINT OUT THAT PAGE, UM, WITH REGARD TO THE SUPPORT FOR HOTEL STRATEGY AND MAINSTREAM VOUCHER PROGRAM.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE USING BOND FUNDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE HOTELS AND REINVESTED FUNDING FOR THE SERVICES.
IS THAT STILL ACCURATE OR IS IT CONTEMPLATED THAT WE WOULD FOR ADDITIONAL HOTEL PURCHASES, WE WOULD GO BEYOND THE BOND FUNDING.
SO THESE DOLLARS ARE NOT FOR THE PURCHASES OF THE HOTELS, BUT FOR THE STAFFING AND THE SERVICES AND THE CONTRACTS THAT WOULD HAPPEN ONCE THEY ARE GREAT.
AND, UM, FOR, AND I WANT TO TURN TO THE PROGRAM INVOLVING, UM, THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT WITH REGARD TO THE EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
I'M NOT SURE WHO IS BEST TO SPEAK, SPEAK TO THAT PROGRAM.
UM, IS THAT, IS THAT THE ONE THAT RESPONDS TO THE RESOLUTION THAT I BROUGHT ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES IN DECEMBER THAT RELIES ON FUNDING THAT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN COMMUNITY COURT HAD AVAILABLE AS WELL AS THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
AND THESE ARE SHORING UP MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, UM, FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE WAITING LIST AT THE DAC, OR IS THIS A DIFFERENT, THIS IS A DIFFERENT INITIATIVE.
HI, ROBERT RUBBER KINGDOM HERE WITH A, THAT'S AN ALSO CREATED COURT.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT INITIATIVE.
THE, UH, THE RESOLUTION FROM DECEMBER WAS FOR, UM, UH, HEALTHCARE, UH, SERVICES AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UH, WITH INTEGRAL CARE, AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE VA ALSO FUNDING PORTION OF THAT.
CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROGRAMS AND, AND HAS THAT OTHER PROGRAM STARTED YET? I KNOW THE HOPE WAS TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING BEFORE THE, AS THE NEW YEAR STARTED, BUT THEN OF COURSE, WITH A STORM AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DELAYED.
IT WAS A BIT DELAYED AND WE JUST GOT THE FULLY EXECUTED CONTRACT LAST WEEK.
AND INTEGRAL CARE IS CURRENTLY IN PROCESS OF HIRING STAFF TO RAMP UP THAT PROGRAM AND GET IT OFF THE GROUND AND ASAP, UM, THE PROGRAM AND THE PRESENTATION WAS THE EXPANDED,
[01:00:02]
UH, EXPANDED MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM.SO THAT, THAT WAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PERSONNEL EMBEDDED IN THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER, AS WELL AS HAVING A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IN THE FIELD TO RESPOND, UM, TO, UH, TO RESPOND IN, UH, EITHER IN CONJUNCTION WITH APD AND EMS OR WERE, UH, BY THEMSELVES.
THIS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE THAT A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST CAN RESPOND TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND WITHOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENT THERE.
SO AS WE LOOK AT THE SLIDE ON PAGE NINE, UM, THERE ARE MUCH, MUCH NEEDED OUTREACH INDIVIDUALS AT BEING ADDED TO HOST AND TO EPCOT.
AND SO THE, THE ADDITIONAL, UM, HOST TEAM MEMBERS, THE THREE ADDITIONAL TEAM MEMBERS THAT INTEGRAL CARE HAS HIRED FOR HOST ARE IN IT.
AND IT SAYS THAT THEY'RE ACTIVELY RECRUITING TO FILL OTHER POSITIONS.
HOW MANY OTHER POSITIONS WILL THERE BE WITHIN THAT HOST PROGRAM? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER? UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THERE A TOTAL OF FIVE POSITIONS FOR THAT PARTICULAR, UH, TEAM OR THAT PORTION OF THE TEAM? UH, THEY HAVE THREE THAT ARE ON BOARD AND ARE, YOU KNOW, ARE ACTIVELY WORKING OUT AND THEY'RE WORKING ON FILLING THE LAST TWO POSITIONS.
AND SO M CAT CAN BE EPCOT WILL BE DISPATCHED THROUGH THE NINE ONE ONE, THE STEM POST WILL BE, WE'LL BE MORE PRO AT, I GUESS THIS IS REALLY A QUESTION.
I MEAN, IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND OUT IN THE FIELD, UM, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND MEETING NEEDS, UM, AS POSSIBLE.
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHETHER, WHETHER THAT ROLE HAS CHANGED FOR HOST, UM, AND IT WILL TO BE DISPATCHABLE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO NUMBER THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL HOST IF THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S WHO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS A NEED OF, OF THAT CONTACT, REALLY, THIS IS MORE OF A PROACTIVE APPROACH.
SO HAS THAT MISSION CONTINUED ALONG THE SAME LINES AND IS THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF HOSTS AS IT EXPANDS GOING TO STAY THE SAME AS WELL, OR ARE THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES EXPANDING BEYOND WHAT THEY CURRENTLY ARE, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN AND, AND, UM, UP THROUGH WEST CAMPUS UP TO 29TH, THOUGH, I UNDERSTAND HOST HAS BEEN DISPATCHED, UM, WELL OUTSIDE OF, OF THE DOWNTOWN AND, AND UNIVERSITY AREA.
I'M SORRY TO BUNDLE ALL THOSE QUESTIONS TOGETHER, BUT NO, NO, NOT A PROBLEM, NOT A PROBLEM.
UM, SO JUST SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO HOSTS, WE HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO KEEP IT IN THE DEFINED AREAS, AND IT IS A PROACTIVE RESOURCE.
IT'S NOT A RESPONSIVE RESOURCE.
UM, SO JUST LIKE IT STARTED OUT AND IT WAS THE WAY IT WAS INTENDED TO BE SET UP.
AND, UH, AFTER MANY LONG CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW YOU AND I WERE IN QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT MEETINGS WITH BILL BRYCE AND OTHERS.
UH, WE'VE TRIED TO REMAIN IT'S STRICTLY TO THAT, THAT MISSION AS WE CAN, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SITUATIONS WHERE, WHERE, OR THERE HAS BEEN A, UH, YOU KNOW, EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THE RESOURCE HAS BEEN REQUESTED IT, YOU KNOW, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA OR WHEREVER.
SO, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY BEHIND IF WE CAN HELP IT.
UM, SO WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE STAYED TO THAT, TO THE FIDELITY OF THAT PARTICULAR CONVERSATION IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
UM, BUT WE ARE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS RIGHT NOW THAT YOU BROUGHT DEZ AND HIS TEAM, LAURA WILLIAMSON, UM, AT COMMUNITY WORK OR HELPING US GO THROUGH AND COME UP WITH A NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
I BELIEVE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A REQUEST THAT CAME FROM YOU, UH, EARLIER IN THE YEAR TO DOING THE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS FOR HOSTS, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU, I THINK IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR MONTHS TO, UH, TO PRESENT THE, THE DISCUSSION AND WHAT THOSE FINDINGS ARE.
SO AS I UNDERSTAND THAT HOST IS, IS KIND OF YOUR TENANT.
I'M GOING TO USE THAT TERM IN THE FUTURE.
UM, SO HOST WILL CONTINUE TO BE, TO BE A PROACTIVE RESOURCE, UM, USING, USING THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, BUT IT IS EXPANDING TO BE KIND OF A LARGER, A LARGER NUMBER OF RESOURCES ON IT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE STRUGGLE BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW THE WORD'S GOTTEN OUT.
SO CERTAINLY PEOPLE KNOW, AND THEY, THEY WANT US TO HELP WHERE WE CAN, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER, UH, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, APD AND INTEGRAL CARE THAT WE WORK WITH THE PATH TEAM OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN.
UM, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO KEEP TO THE MODEL THAT WE AGREED TO IN THE VERY BEGINNING.
UM, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TEAM HAS EVER LEFT, IT'S NEVER LEFT THE BOUNDARIES OF DOWNTOWN WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE CONSCIOUS DECISIONS TO TRY TO BRING IN RESOURCES FROM PATH OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, UM, TO KEEP HOST IN THAT DOWNTOWN, THAT'S
[01:05:01]
THEIR FOCUS.I MEAN, THEY, THEY DO MAINTAIN, UH, A VERY PROMINENT, PROMINENT, UH, PRESENCE IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND WEST CAMPUS, THAT'S THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER OF THEIR WORK.
AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THE POINT IS CLARIFIED, THAT IAN TAUGHT, SERVES, UH, IS NOT SPECIFIC TO HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND THAT SERVES THE OVERALL COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND SO, UM, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS AWARENESS, UH, TO THAT POINT.
AND CAN I ASK ONE LAST QUESTION? AND THAT IS, AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE EXPLAINED THIS IN THE PAST, BUT CAN YOU PLEASE JUST REMIND US WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS WE'RE PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE AND THE M COT RESPONDENTS, UH, NOT RESPONDENTS RESPONDERS.
SO THE PARAMEDICS ARE THE, UH, THEY'RE THEY'RE PARAMEDICS WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.
THERE, THEY WORK UNDER THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDIC PROGRAM UMBRELLA.
UM, AND THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, THEY WORK IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, BUT THEY WILL BE WE'RE WORKING ON MAKING THEM THE RESOURCE THAT WOULD BE FIRST IN LINE FOR RESPOND TO APPROPRIATE PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCIES.
UH, THOSE THAT ARE NON-VIOLENT DON'T INVOLVE WEAPONS, UH, AND THOSE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE DEEMED APPROPRIATE FOR THAT.
SO WE'RE GETTING ROLLED OUT INTO THE FRONT LINES HERE VERY SOON.
MOBILE CRISIS OUTREACH TEAM IS, UH, THEY ARE EMPLOYEE VENTRICLE CARE.
THEY ARE ALL MASTERS LEVEL CLINICIANS, CLINICIANS.
THAT TEAM SPECIFICALLY WORKS WITH, UH, POLICE AND EMS IN RESPONDING TO REQUESTS WHEN AN POLICE OFFICER OR AN AMBULANCE WHO IS ON SCENE WITH SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS THIS PARTICULAR CRITERIA.
UM, AND WE DISPATCH THEM ACTUALLY, UH, FREQUENTLY THROUGH EMS. WE DISPATCH THOSE RESOURCES TO OUR CREWS.
UM, AND SO IT'S VERY, IT'S ALMOST IN THE INTEGRAL CARE STAFF WITHIN HOMESTAR ARE KIND OF IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THEIR ORGANIZATION, AND IT IS A DIFFERENT PART OF THEIR ORGANIZATION AND THEY RESPOND TO ONE RELATED INCIDENTS.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH ALL CHAIR, UH, HOVER MADISON HAD TO STEP AWAY.
SO I THINK WE CAN MAYBE TAKE ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE INTO, UH, LAST PARTS OF THE PRESENTATION.
I SAW YOU BOTH COUNCIL MEMBERS, KITCHEN, AND ALTERNATE, BOTH RAISE YOUR HANDS.
UH, I CAN, I CAN, I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT MINE NOW.
SO THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER, WE JUST STILL HAVE A COUPLE PRESENTATIONS LEFT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
IT MIGHT NOT HOPEFULLY BE QUICK.
I WAS HOPING THAT, UM, MS. STARK COULD SPEAK ABOUT WITH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
UM, THEY GOT VIOLENCE PREVENTION ASPECTS, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE KEY REASONS FOR SETTING UP THE OFFICE.
IT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, SO I WAS WONDER IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT BRIEFLY, AND I'LL JUST FLAG THAT MY OFFICE WILL WANT TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING WITH YOU SOON ON, ON THAT TOPIC AS WELL.
UM, AND SO THE TEAM HAD A GOOD MEETING, UH, AND I'M GOING TO FORGET THE PERSON'S NAME, BUT WITH A MEMBER OF APD, THE DATA ANALYST, AND HE GAVE US SOME INFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT APD HAS HAD FOR, UH, TO PROVIDE, UM, SAFE INBOX.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND ON THAT AND PLAN A COMMUNITY EVENT TO DISTRIBUTE THAT PART OF THE PROGRAM.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THAT CONSULTANT TEAM THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT THE NATIONAL EXPERTS TO GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE AROUND WHAT A CAMPAIGN AROUND GUN SAFETY WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UM, WE DID GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THE THEFT OF GUNS AND WHERE THEY'RE CONCENTRATED, CONCENTRATED IN THE CITY.
UM, IT WAS IN THE AREA OF THE DOMAIN.
AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE GATHERING THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A FOCUSED STRATEGY AROUND THE NEED FOR SAFETY AND, AND PLAN THOSE EVENTS IN THAT WAY.
BUT YES, THAT, THAT IS PART OF THE PLAN.
THE SECOND PIECE TO THAT IS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON TWO CONSULTANT AGREEMENTS TO DO A DEEPER DIVE INTO, UM, THE POLICE DATA TO HELP US PINPOINT AREAS WHERE, UM, GUN VIOLENCE IS MORE PREVALENT AND THEN WORK ON STRATEGIES THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH APD WORK AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF SOME OF THAT, AND THAT TIES TO THE, UM, YOUTH MOM LUNCH PROGRAM THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO, TO PILOT IN THIS YEAR.
BUT YES, WE'LL BE, I'LL DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
I WOULD FORWARD FORWARD TO THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS A GOOD WORD.
[01:10:01]
WELCOME.Y'ALL I KNOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK AND AFTER SOME TIME AT THE CITY, IT'S WE KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THESE THINGS TAKE LONGER.
UH, AND I APPRECIATE THAT ACTUALLY, MANY OF THESE THINGS HAVE GONE A LOT FASTER, UM, TO GET IMPLEMENTED.
UM, BEFORE I MOVE US INTO THE NEXT ITEM, SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE WE PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO GO PAST 5:00 PM TO GET BOTH ITEMS IN.
I WANTED TO CHECK WITH STAFF IF THERE IS ONE OF THE TWO ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE UP FIRST, WE HAVE, UH, THE BRIEFING ON THE, UH, REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER, AS WELL AS THE AUSTIN, YOUR WILDFIRE HUB.
AND I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS TO ME, WHICH ONE WE TAKE UP FIRST, BUT I WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY STAFF THAT REALLY WOULD PREFER TO US TO TAKE ONE UP OVER THE OTHER, I BELIEVE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, AND I'M GOING TO, UH, BE WITHDRAWING MYSELF AT SOME POINT HERE TO GET READY FOR OUR TASK FORCE MEETING.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT ERIC ITEM WOULD GO FIRST AND THEN WE WILL FINISH WITH THE WILDFIRE PRESENTATION.
[3. Briefing and discussion on the Austin Police Department’s Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC).]
WELL, THEN I'LL LET, Y'ALL TAKE IT AWAY WITH THE ERIC, PLEASE.I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH OUT.
SO GIVE US A MOMENT TO SWAP SOME STAFF IN AND OUT, AND THAT SHOULD GOING, AS SOON AS FOLKS ARE IN CHAIR, I'M HANDING IT BACK TO YOU AND WE'RE JUST HEADING ENTITLED.
A MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JOE CHUCK ON AND ASSISTANT CHIEF WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE ERIC AND THE IMPORTANT WORK WITH BAYVIEW AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, I KNOW THAT TIME IS RUNNING A LITTLE BIT SHORT.
I'LL KEEP MY OPENING COMMENTS, UH, PRETTY BRIEF, UM, SO THAT I CAN TURN IT OVER TO SOME OTHER PANEL MEMBERS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'LL BE GIVING A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE AVERY.
BUT ONE OF THE AREAS OF THAT CURRENTLY OVERSEE IS OUR INTELLIGENCE DIVISION, AND THAT INCLUDES THE HOSPITAL FOLLOW-UP ITSELF.
UM, THE ERIK WAS OPENED IN DECEMBER OF 2010, AND CURRENTLY INCLUDES 21 PARTNER AGENCIES, UH, THAT ARE COVERING A 10 COUNTY REGION.
UM, THIS RESOURCE REALLY PLAYS A STRONG ROLE IN CENTRAL TEXAS IN PROVIDING INFORMATION AND INTELLIGENCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO BATTLE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND TO COUNTER VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN DOMESTIC TERRORISM.
UM, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TODAY.
ERIC'S DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, LIEUTENANT MICHAEL EARLY, YOU'LL BE GIVEN AN OVERVIEW OF THE ERIC AND ITS ITS MISSION AND ITS OPERATIONS AND HAS A SHORT PRESENTATION, AND I WILL SEE NOT A BURNING QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, CHIEF FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE COMMITTEE FOR HEARING, UH, OR FOR ALLOWING US TO COME PRESENT AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALSO BEING PRESENT AND LISTENING.
UM, WE ARE HERE AT THE ERIC AND I HAVE MY DEPUTY DIRECTORS PRESENT AS WELL.
UM, LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, UH, THE EIRICH WAS STOOD UP IN DECEMBER OF 2010, UM, AND IT IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FUSION CENTER.
SO IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND POWER UP THE POWERPOINT THAT I HAVE PREPARED.
SO WHAT IS A FUSION CENTER? THE FUSION CENTER IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF TWO OR MORE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE RESOURCES, EXPERTISE, AND INFORMATION TO THE CENTER WITH THE GOAL OF MAXIMIZING THEIR ABILITY TO DETECT, PREVENT, INVESTIGATE, AND RESPOND TO CRIMINAL AND TERRORIST ACTIVITY.
SO THE KEY WORDS THERE DETECT AND PREVENT, UH, AS FAR AS THE FUSION CENTER GOES, THAT'S, THAT'S.
OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO INTERRUPT, DISRUPT MAJOR INCIDENTS, BUT BEFORE THEY EVER OCCUR, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HOW DID FUSION CENTERS BEGIN? UH, SHORTLY AFTER NINE 11, UM, OCCURRED, THERE WAS, UH, UH, THE NINE 11 COMMISSION WAS DEVELOPED AND ONE OF THE FAILURES, UH, THAT WAS DISCOVERED WAS THAT EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WAS OPERATING WITHIN SILOS AND HAD THEY BEEN SHARING INFORMATION AND COLLABORATING AND COOPERATING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE, THE CHANCES OF, UH, DISRUPTING THAT EVENT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
SO THAT THAT'S WHAT KICKED OFF THE FUSION CENTER, UH, EVOLUTION OR CREATION, AND, UH, PUT US WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
[01:15:03]
THIS IS OUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY AND YOU'LL HEAR US CALL IT AN AOR.THIS IS THE CAPILLARY OF, UH, CAPITAL, UH, COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS, UH, AREA.
UM, AND IT'S 10 COUNTIES, 8,600 SQUARE MILES.
AND INCOMES IS SOMEWHERE AROUND 2.2 MILLION PEOPLE, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S OTHER COLORS ON THE STATE OF TEXAS MAP.
UH, THE OTHER COLORS INDICATE, UH, OTHER FUSION CENTER LOCATIONS.
SO THERE'S EIGHT FUSION CENTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
WE ARE CO LOCATED WITH THE STATE FUSION CENTER HERE AT TEXAS DPS HEADQUARTERS.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THIS, WE ARE A RECOGNIZED FUSION CENTER, UH, BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND DISSEMINATE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
WE ASSIST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH CASE INVESTIGATIONS AND ANALYSIS.
A LARGE PORTION OF OUR WORK LOAD HAS TO DO WITH THE CASE INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE.
WE ALSO VET SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING, AND WE ASSIST THE JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE, WHICH IS ASSIGNED TO THE FBI HERE IN AUSTIN.
THESE ARE OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, OUR OFFICIAL PARTNER AGENCIES.
WE HAVE 20, 21 OFFICIAL PARTNERS.
I'LL LET YOU GUYS LOOK AT THAT.
AND WHILE YOU'RE BROWN, YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE ONLY PART DEPARTMENT LISTED AS AN OFFICIAL PARTNER.
ARE YOU ON, I GUESS I AM, UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INVOLVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP IN AUSTIN, REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
I AM JEFFREY KENNEDY, THE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF OF THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY AND FIRE PREVENTION BRANCH.
UH, AS I MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS SLIDES BECAUSE OF PRESIDENTIAL POLICY DIRECTIVE EIGHT ON NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND THE NINE 11 COMMISSION REPORT, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY GRACIOUS AND STELLAR AND, UH, EFFECTIVELY INTEGRATING THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE FUSION CENTER.
UH, SO WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO THEM AND COUNCIL AS WELL FOR THE INCLUSION.
WE HAVE BEEN A PARTNER WITH THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER SINCE 2011, AND WE HAVE BENEFITED AS A CONSUMER, A COLLABORATOR AND A CONTRIBUTOR.
AND WHILE ALL OF THOSE OVERLAP, I'LL BEGIN WITH US AS A CONSUMER IN SUPPORT OF OUR OWN MISSION STATEMENT.
UM, WE HAVE USED THIS PARTNERSHIP TO ENHANCE OUR PREVENTION, PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS.
AND, UH, THROUGH THIS PARTNERSHIP, WE'VE HAD ACCESS TO OTHER FUSION CENTER RESOURCES, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, AND TRAINING CLASSES, WHICH HAVE ALLOWED US TO CREATE OUR OWN CONTINUAL EDUCATION CLASSES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION, AS THEY RELATE TO RESPONDING TO TERRORIST EVENTS AND VIOLENT EXTREMIST EVENTS.
SO WE'VE ALSO BENEFITED THROUGH OUR ARSON INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP THROUGH THE MINI, UM, DATABASES, AS WELL AS THE FORCE MULTIPLIER WITH THE OUTREACH AND THE THREAT LIAISON OFFICER PROGRAM, AN APPREHENSION OF, UH, ARSON SUSPECTS AS A COLLABORATOR WITHIN THE, A RICK, UM, OUR NON LAW ENFORCEMENT VOICE ADDS A PERSPECTIVE TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY CONCEPT OF WHOLE NATION, BUT WE KIND OF DIAL IT DOWN AS A WHOLE OF COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE APPROACH IS, UH, UM, UM, DIVERSE IN DRAWS ON THE STRENGTH OF THE DIFFERENCES OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, OPERATING AGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE BUILT TRUST WITHIN THE ERIK AND BUILT TRUST WITH APD THAT OUR PERSPECTIVE IS RESPECTED AND LOOKED AT VERY, UM, CLOSELY WHEN WE'RE ANALYZING OR HELPING TO ANALYZE CERTAIN SITUATIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY, AS A CONTRIBUTOR, UH, NOT ONLY FOR REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY, UH, WE ALSO EDUCATE AND PROVIDE OUTREACH TO OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THAT 10 COUNTY REGION, AS WELL AS NON LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, UM, AND ACROSS THE NATION AS WELL.
THERE ARE OVER 25 FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT INTEGRATED INTO FUSION CENTERS ACROSS THE NATION.
AND WITH OUR DECADE LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH APD, WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST AND CONSULT WITH A NUMBER OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND FUSION CENTERS TO GET THEIR PROGRAM STARTED WITH FIRE SERVICE INTEGRATION.
AND THAT'S NOT ONLY JUST HERE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, BUT IT ALSO HAS BENEFITED US ACROSS THE NATION.
SO, UM, AS I CLOSE WITH THOSE EXPERIENCES AS CONSUMER COLLABORATOR AND CONTRIBUTOR, UH, WE HAVE BENEFITED IMMENSELY WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP.
[01:20:01]
THANK YOU.UH, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE AGRIC, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THEY BRING UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES TO, TO THREATS AND SCENARIOS THAT, THAT POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T TRAINED TO SEE.
UM, THEY SEE DIFFERENT THINGS THAN, THAN, THAN WE DO.
SO WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
UM, AND, AND, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH THEM.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 21 PARTNERS.
THERE'S, UM, MANY OTHER ACTUALLY, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND SHERIFF'S OFFICES THAT WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN TO BECOME MEMBERS, UM, MORE SO PROBABLY THAN WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING IN ALL AT ONE TIME.
SO I THINK WE HAVE A PRODUCT THAT, THAT OTHERS ARE SEEKING NEXT FINE.
AS FAR AS, UH, A LOT OF PERSONNEL FOR THE ERIK.
UH, WE HAVE ONE APD COMMANDER.
WE HAVE ONE LIEUTENANT ASSIGNED TO HERE, AND HE'S ALSO THE DIRECTOR AND THAT'S MYSELF.
WE HAVE ONE SERGEANT, UH, HE'S THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE ONE CRIMINAL, UH, INTELLIGENCE ANALYST SUPERVISOR.
UH, SHE'S A CIVILIAN DEPUTY DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE TWO FULL-TIME DETECTIVES HEALTH HERE.
WE HAVE TWO FBI JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE DETECTIVES, AND DECIDE IF THE FBI AUSTIN OFFICE, WE HAVE THREE FULL-TIME APD CRIME INTELLIGENCE ANALYST HERE, THE ERIC, UH, WITH THE CAPABILITY OF GOING, I BELIEVE UP TO ABOUT 10, UH, WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCY ANALYSTS, UH, WHEN THEY'RE, WHEN THEY'RE HERE AT THE RICK, UH, WE HAVE FOUR FULL-TIME APD OFFICERS WHO ARE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS, ONE FIRE LIEUTENANT ATTACHED TO THE ERIC AND, UH, ONE PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, PERSONNEL.
SO I'LL LET YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SLIDE HERE.
UH, INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES IS ANALYZED FROM ITS, UH, FORCE NEXUS TO THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA, AND THEN DISSEMINATED AS APPROPRIATE.
SO IN A NUTSHELL, THE ERIC IS A HUB FOR INFORMATION, INFORMATION COMES INTO THE AYRIC, IT'S ANALYZED IT'S BEDDED.
IT GOES BACK OUT AS AN INTELLIGENCE PRODUCT.
UH, AS FAR AS THE DAILY OPERATIONS, WE DO, UH, WHAT'S CALLED REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.
WHEN I SAID EARLIER THAT A LARGE PORTION OF OUR WORK PRODUCT HAS TO DO WITH CASE, UH, ASSISTANCE.
THAT'S WHAT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION IS WHEN AN INVESTIGATOR HAS HIT A ROADBLOCK OR NEEDS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT, UH, THROUGH DATABASES THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, THEY CAN REACH OUT TO US.
UM, AND WE WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SEE GIFT.
WE HAVE IT, THEY REQUEST FOR ANALYSIS.
UH, WE DO THIS ON OCCASION, UH, QUITE OFTEN ACTUALLY.
UH, AND THAT IS, UH, WHERE SOMEONE REQUEST FOR US TO DO, UM, LEAKAGE CHARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, WE HAVE A ROBUST, UH, OUTREACH IN TLO PROGRAM.
UM, OUR OUTREACH AND TLO SIDE OF THE HOUSE IS KIND OF OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
THAT IS, UH, IT'S A CORE CAPABILITY FOR A FUSION CENTER.
IT'S AN AREA THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME, UH, IN TEACHING AND EDUCATING.
UH, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE RUBRIC, THE SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY REPORTING.
UH, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE DO VETTING AND WE ALSO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT.
WE DO REAL TIME OPEN SOURCE ANALYSIS, AND WE ALSO DO A SPECIAL EVENT THREAT ANALYSIS, UH, FOR MAJOR EVENTS.
AND I BELIEVE WE'RE DOING ABOUT 13 A YEAR, UH, FOR THREAT ANALYSIS AND MAJOR EVENTS.
AND DOWN BELOW, YOU'LL SEE THE WAYS THAT WE CAN GET INFORMATION THROUGH STATE AGENCIES, OTHER LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS, FEDERAL PARTNERS, OPEN-SOURCE REPORTING PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND TIPS FROM THE PUBLIC.
SO INTELLIGENCE IS RECEIVED, UH, FROM VARIOUS SOURCES ALL THE WAY FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, UH, DOWN TO THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL IS COLLECTED AND ANALYZED.
UH, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR A NEXUS TO THE CENTRAL TEXAS AREA, AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR CRIME TRENDS, TERROR ALERTS, OR BULLETINS, AND THAT CAN BE OFFICER SAFETY, BULLETINS REQUEST APPREHEND, WHICH WOULD BE A FUTURE
[01:25:01]
KIT OR REQUEST TO IDENTIFY, UH, SOMEBODY WHERE LET'S JUST SAY, SOMEBODY COMMITTED A CRIME AND WE HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OR A VIDEO OF THEM.AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO THEY ARE.
WE CAN PUSH THAT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN HOPES OF GETTING THAT PERSON IDENTIFIED.
UM, ANY QUESTIONS FOR, FOR THE RICK OR, OKAY, HERE WE GO.
SO AS FAR AS THE INVESTIGATIVE CASE SUPPORT, UH, LIKE I SAID, IF, IF, UH, AN INVESTIGATOR HITS A ROADBLOCK, UH, AND, AND CAN'T PUSH THEIR CASE FORWARD, THEY'RE LACKING SOME KEY INFORMATION.
UH, THEY CAN SEND US A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO DATABASES, UH, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WE CAN, CAN HELP PUSH THEIR CASE FORWARD THEM.
UM, YEAH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ERIC DOES NOT CONDUCT INVESTIGATION.
WE HAVE NO STAKE IN THE INVESTIGATION.
UM, WE MERELY ASSIST THE INVESTIGATORS IN OBTAINING THE INFORMATION THAT THEY SEEK.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE.
WE APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, KIND OF LOOKS, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTION, SORRY.
AND DO THAT THING AGAIN WHERE I CAN'T SEE IT.
UM, YOU MIGHT'VE TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT I THINK I MISSED THE FINANCING OF AR ERIC THAT WORKS THE FINANCING OF AVIS.
UH, WE RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING EVERY YEAR.
UM, THAT'S MANAGED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING 450,000 IN GRANT FUNDS.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A SUSTAINMENT FUND, WHICH ERIC IS UNIQUE FROM OTHER FUSION CENTERS IN THAT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE AYRIC.
UM, YOU PAY A FEE ANNUALLY AND THE FEE IS $117 PER SWORN OFFICER FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND ANNUALLY, I THINK WE RECEIVED SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF ABOUT 460,000 AND SUSTAINMENT FUNDS, UH, FROM OUR PARTNER AGENCIES.
AND SO THEN WITH ALL OF THAT STAFF COVERED, THEN HOW MUCH ARE YOU RECEIVING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TOWARDS ERIC FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS, WHATEVER OTHER COSTS YOU HAVE? I THINK ABOUT 2.3 MILLION FOR THE APD STAFF AND, UH, SOUTHWOOD SALARY AND BENEFITS.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THE ANNUAL, UM, APD SUSTAINMENT PAYMENT IS BALLPARK 226,000 DANIEL.
AND THEN OUT OF THAT, ROUGHLY 2.5 MILLION IS THE 900,000 IN THE GRANT AND IN THE SUSTAINMENT, UM, PAY FOR THAT, OR IS THAT ON TOP OF THAT TWO SEPARATE ACCOUNTS? UH, UH, MAYBE I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTION.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE ARE PAYING FOR, TO STAND THIS UP AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE REGIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND HOW ALL THAT FLOWS AND WHETHER WE ARE ESSENTIALLY SUBSIDIZING OTHER AREAS OR WE'RE, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO ASSESS THE BENEFITS.
AND ONE PIECE OF THAT IS THOUGH IS THE FINANCIAL ELEMENT.
UM, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES WE'RE PUTTING IN AND THAT DOESN'T COVER IF NONE OF THE SUSTAINING STUFF COVERS THAT, BUT WE'RE MOST OF THE STAFF, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECT.
WE ARE, UH, WE ARE THE, THE STAFF, WE, UH, WE SUPPORT IT WITH PERSONNEL AND WE SUPPORT, UH, IT'S MANAGED BY OUR FINANCE DIVISION.
UM, THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE HERE IS DONE, UH, GENERATED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE ARE A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, AS WELL AS A RESOURCE COUNCIL MEMBER TECHNICAL.
CAN I HELP ANSWER THAT QUESTION? I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE HEADED WITH IT.
SO EVERY EVERYONE THAT CONTRIBUTES PERSONNEL CENTER, WHETHER THAT'S A PD OR A PARTNER
[01:30:01]
AGENCY, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE SALARIES OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.AND THAT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND FOR APRIL, UH, SUSTAINMENT TIME, UH, CONTRIBUTED BY ALL THE PARTNERS, INCLUDING APB, AS WELL AS THE GRANT FUNDING IS FOR, DOES NOT GO TO SALARIES.
IT ACTUALLY GOES TO SUSTAIN, UH, ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT, THE DATABASE STRUCTURE.
SO AGAIN, NOT QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF ERIC AT ALL.
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOME FOLLOWUP, UM, DATA ON KIND OF THE BREAKDOWN OF WHO'S USING WHAT AND RELATIVE TO WHAT WE'RE CONTRIBUTING IN TERMS OF FUNDING.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT IF WE DO GET THE MAJORITY BENEFIT, BUT WE'RE, DOROTY OF THE COSTS FROM WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING FROM THIS BRIEF OVERVIEW, WHICH AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE IN WRITING, SO I MAY MISINTERPRET.
UM, SO THAT IS NONE OF THAT TO QUESTION I'M JUST SOMETIMES WE NEED TO REVISIT FUNDING MODELS.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE SCARCE RESOURCES AND WE HAVE SCARCE PERSONNEL THAT THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT AGAIN AND, AND ASSESS THAT IN LINE WITH BEST PRACTICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND, AND HAVE WE DONE THAT AND, AND IF NOT, UM, CAN WE SEE SOME ANALYSIS OF, OF THOSE FINANCIALS? ABSOLUTELY.
AND I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES PROVIDE A GOOD AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO ACTUALLY LOOK INTO THE CENTER THAT THEY ARE ALSO, THEY ALSO NEED THE LION'S SHARE OF, UH, THEY'RE THE BIGGEST CONSUMER OF WHAT COMES OUT OF THE CENTER.
SO MORE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION OR REQUEST FOR AN, UH, ANALYSIS, UM, AND INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION THAT, THAT OUR, UH, OUR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS, UM, ARE FULFILLED BY THE ERIC NOW, ALL THE OTHER PARTNERS COMBINED.
SO I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF VALUE AND THEN EVERYBODY ELSE SEES A GREAT VALUE BASED ON WHAT THEY KNOW.
AND AGAIN, AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE VALUE AT ALL.
I JUST NEED, YOU KNOW, IN SO FAR AS WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE, UM, RESOURCES, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA TO BACK UP WHAT YOU JUST, WHAT YOU JUST SAID, WHICH I'M SURE IS PERFECTLY TRUE, BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA FOR THAT.
CERTAINLY THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, KELLY, THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT OVERVIEW OF THE FUSION CENTER.
I HAD THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY PRIOR TO RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO LEARN ABOUT THE ASSET THAT OUR CITY USES.
WHEN I ENROLLED IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
WHAT STRUCK ME THERE WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE FUSION CENTER IS SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED BRIEFLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS PRESENTATION, THAT YOU WILL PREVENT INCIDENTS FROM OCCURRING AND VET INFORMATION RELATED TO INCIDENTS THAT MAY OCCUR.
I THINK THE MOST INTERESTING PIECE OF THAT, THAT WE HAVEN'T REALLY TOUCHED ON IS THE WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
AND OFTENTIMES THAT WORK, UM, GOES ON IN THE RESIDENTS OF THE 10 COUNTY REGION THAT IT SERVES.
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT'S ALL HAPPENING BACK BEHIND THE SCENES AND, AND IT BENEFITS US FROM THAT PUBLIC SAFETY BACKGROUND AND ALL THE AGENCIES, BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO SHARE INFORMATION.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT WITHOUT GIVING AWAY ALL YOUR SECRETS ON SOME EXAMPLES OF INCIDENTS OR INFORMATION SPECIFICALLY THAT THE FUSION CENTER HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET IN FRONT OF.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS UP.
UM, IN 2019 WE SAW IF I MAY INTERJECT JUST A MOMENT, I JUST WANT TO DO A TIME CHECK IT'S 5:07 PM.
UM, SO I CAN APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTION, BUT IF WE CAN KEEP THE RESPONSE BRIEF, WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE BRIEFING.
IN 2019 WE SAW 148 SCHOOL THREADS, UH, TO OUR LOCAL AOR.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, SCHOOL THREATS ARE A HUGE CONCERN, UH, NATIONALLY, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT HERE IN TEXAS.
UH, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY, UM, THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE DO REALLY WELL IS MITIGATE SCHOOL THREAT.
UM, NOTHING IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN OUR CHILDREN, AND WE ARE COMPLETELY DEDICATED TO, UM, SEEING THAT THOSE INCIDENTS DO NOT OCCUR ALSO, UH, IN 2020, UH, WE HAD A SUBJECT THAT WAS TERMINATED, UH, BY HIS EMPLOYER.
UH, HE WAS VERY UPSET BY THIS.
HE MADE, UM, THREATS TO COME BACK AND COMMIT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE WITH A, WITH A WEAPON, A HANDGUN.
UM, WE RECEIVED THE INFORMATION, WE BEGAN RUNNING IT DOWN AND BEDDING IT.
WE CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS, UH, LEARNED THAT THIS SUBJECT WAS IN FACT, UH, IS VERY SERIOUS ABOUT HIS THREATS.
[01:35:01]
WE SENT PATROL OUT AT THE TIME THAT HE HAD SAID HE WAS GOING TO RETURN TO HIS WORKPLACE, UH, TO COME TO CARRY OUT HIS THREATS PATROL WAS ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUBJECT WITH THE WEAPON WITH AMMUNITION AND EXTRA MAGAZINES, UH, ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE WORK SITE.IT'S JUST THAT IN THE INTELLIGENCE WORLD IS DIFFERENT IN THAT IF WE DO OUR JOB CORRECTLY AND WE DO IT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND ALL THINGS HAPPEN THE WAY THEY SHOULD, IT'S NOT NEWSWORTHY NEWSWORTHY, WE'VE PREVENTED IT.
THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING THAT.
I HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION, MAYOR PROTON, IF IT'S OKAY TO SIT NOW ON THE CAP COG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND I'M AWARE THAT A LOT OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT GRANTS FLOW THROUGH THERE.
AND SO I'M WONDERING IF SOME OF THAT IS WHERE YOUR FUNDING COMES FROM AS WELL.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I HAVE A FEW OF MY OWN, RIGHT.
SO, UM, PRACTICE WHAT I PREACH.
SO TO SPEAK, I WANTED TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
DID YOU SAY LINKAGE CHARTS IT'S SORT OF LOW? I THOUGHT MAYBE YOU SAID ONE OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU PROVIDE IS LINKAGE CHARTS.
I THINK ANALYSIS IS WHAT MY DEPUTY DIRECTORS ADVISING LINK ANALYSIS.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT LINK ANALYSIS IS SELF-EXPLANATORY, YOU'RE MAKING A CHART OF HOW THINGS ARE CONNECTED, CORRECT.
IT CAN BE ANYTHING, UH, FROM PEOPLE TO PHONE NUMBERS.
UH, WE'RE JUST MAKING LINKAGES BETWEEN, UH, THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS INVOLVED IN THE CRIME.
I SEE, TYPICALLY WHO ASKED FOR THOSE, IT CAN BE, UH, INVESTIGATORS, ORGANIZED CRIME INVESTIGATORS.
IT CAN EVEN BE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE INVESTIGATORS OR EVEN, UH, PROSECUTORS.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ERIC, UM, IT WAS SORT OF LOOSELY ON MY RADAR, BUT REALLY BECAME ON MY RADAR WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT SEVERAL JUNETEENTH ACTIVITIES THAT HAD BEEN SURVEILLED.
AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY THAT TOOK PLACE.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR DIRECTLY WITH THAT SITUATION AND IF NOT, I CAN ELABORATE.
I'M JUST, I'M VERY CURIOUS WHY COMMUNITY EVENTS, UM, FOR, UH, LIKE, UH, UH, AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CELEBRATION WHERE SURVEILLED, YES.
I'M LOOSELY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UM, WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD SURVEIL BECAUSE THAT INDICATES THAT THAT WE'RE CONTINUALLY, UM, REVIEWING OR CONTINUALLY MONITORING SOMETHING.
UH, IT'S CALLED OPEN SOURCE ANALYSIS.
WHENEVER WE BECOME AWARE OF AN EVENT, UM, WITHIN OUR AOR, UH, WE JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OPEN SOURCE INFORMATION, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY THREATS BEING MADE TO THOSE EVENTS, BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND THE MEMBERS ATTENDING THOSE ARE OUR TOP PRIORITY AND THREATS CAN COME.
UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, THREATS COME ONLINE A LOT OF TIMES.
SO WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD SURVEIL.
WE DON'T LIKE TO USE THE WORD MONITOR.
WE PREFER TO USE THE WORD RESEARCH OR REVIEW.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THREATS TO THE ATTENDEES.
AND, UM, UH, THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT LANGUAGE ALSO.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN ADDITION TO THINGS LIKE A JUNETEENTH, OR LET'S SAY A BLACK HISTORY MONTH OR, UH, UM, CINCO DE MAYO, UM, I'M VERY CURIOUS, ADDITIONAL, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WHAT KINDS OF OTHER KINDS OF COMMUNITY EVENTS ARE RESEARCHED? IT COULD BE SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, UH, ANY PROTEST OR RALLY THAT'S PLANNED, UM, JUNETEENTH, ACL F1, A LARGE CONCERT, UH, ANY PLACE THAT A LARGE PORTION OF OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO GATHER.
[01:40:05]
HMM.I'M GETTING A NOTE THAT, UM, WE REALLY NEED TO WRAP IT UP.
UH, AND SO I THINK VICE CHAIR COSIGN HAS ALREADY TAKEN ASLEEP COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY.
I THINK THAT WILL LEAVE YOU AND I TO MAKE THE DECISION.
I THINK WHAT'S BEING ASKED IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING THE WILDFIRE BRIEFING TO NEXT MONTH.
I WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO POSSIBLY SUGGEST THAT IF WE DO HAVE THESE MEETINGS, MAYBE WE THINK ABOUT SCHEDULING THEM A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE DAY SO THAT WE CAN REVIEW THINGS MORE COMPREHENSIVELY AND LEAVE ROOM FOR QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE SORT OF SET WHERE THEY ARE, BUT I'LL CONNECT YOU WITH YOU OFFLINE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE LINED UP.
UM, THAT TO SAY I ACTUALLY, UH, VICE CHAIR.
DO YOU HAVE ANY, ANY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER OR NOT I'M OKAY WITH, WITH WAITING TILL NEXT MONTH? SORRY.
Y'ALL HAD SOMETHING COME UP HERE AND I HAD TO STEP AWAY DURING THIS BRIEFING, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP AND I'LL, I'LL WATCH WHAT I MISSED.
AND SO IN THAT CASE, UM, UH, FOR THE PARTIES ON THE LINE WHO NEED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR US TO MOVE THAT WILDFIRE BRIEFING TO NEXT MONTH, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GOING AHEAD, INITIATING THAT.
SO, UM, CTM HAS TO SET UP FOR A MEETING AT FIVE 30, IN WHICH CASE I'M GOING TO GIVE US ABOUT FIVE MORE MINUTES TO CLOSE IT OUT.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE SO IN WHICH CASE, THE NOTES GENDA, GIVE ME TOGGLING.
I THINK IN MY RUSH TO CLOSE SOME TABS, I MIGHT CLOSED MY AGENDA TAB.
SO WE'VE COVERED OUR BRIEFINGS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ONE THAT WE'LL MOVE.
[5. Approve the proposed 2021 Public Safety Committee meeting schedule]
LAST THING THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA IS TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED 20, 21 PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULED.I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR.
OH, I CAN SEE, WAS WAVING, BUT, UM, UH, I'LL MOVE THAT WE DO.
SO, AND OF COURSE, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE DATES OR, OR THE, OR THE TIMING, THEN WE CAN DO THAT IN A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UH, VICE VICE-CHAIR CASA MOVES THAT WE APPROVE THEM THE 20, 21 MEETING SCHEDULE.
UM, CAN I GET A SECOND I'LL SECOND THAT THANK YOU.
COUNCIL MEMBER, KELLI SECONDS.
UM, MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COSETTE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER.
CAN WE TAKE A VOTE ON THAT ONE IF HERE'S, WE ARE UNANIMOUS WITH, UM, COMMITTEE MEMBER ADLER, UM, NOT ON THE DICE AND WITH THAT, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, UH, I FIGURE WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UM, NEW BUSINESS AND, UH, POTENTIAL ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION, UM, AT A LATER DATE.
I, UM, I MIGHT'VE HAD ANOTHER QUESTION OR TWO FOR ERIC, BUT GIVEN THE LOW AMOUNT OF TIME AND THAT I HAD TO MISS WHAT Y'ALL ASKED, I WILL I'LL WATCH THE TAPE AND, AND SUBMIT ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS BY EMAIL.
ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, UM, WITH THAT SAID, OH, I'M SORRY.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, UH, YOU DID A GREAT JOB CHAIRING THE MEETING.
Y'ALL SO AT FIVE 17, WE'RE GOING TO ADJOURN THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING.