[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.