[00:00:03]
SO, UM, IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE QUORUM, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
[CALL TO ORDER 3:00-3:05pm]
SO GOOD AFTERNOON.I AM THE CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
IT IS JULY 6TH AND I OFFICIALLY CALL THE MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION TO ORDER.
SO, UM, REAL QUICK BEFORE WE HAD TO CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO ADDRESS AT THE TOP OF THE MEETING WAS, UM, I'VE HEARD THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A FRUSTRATION.
I FEEL LIKE SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS, UM, MIGHT BE, UH, FRUSTRATED IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT UNFORTUNATELY BEING ABLE TO, UM, ADDRESS SOME TIMELY MATTERS AND SOMETIME THE MATTERS THAT ARE HAPPENING, UH, HERE AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I WANTED TO, FIRST OF ALL, ACCEPT AND UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.
AND, BUT SECONDLY, I WANTED TO REMIND US OF OUR CHARTER AND REMIND US OF THE, UM, AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
AND SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS OUR BYLAWS, WHICH IS AVAILABLE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION, UM, WEBSITE ON THE CITY OF BOSTON'S PAGE, UM, THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT ALL BUDGETARY AND POLICY ITEMS. AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT DOESN'T REALLY LEND ITSELF TO A, UM, WHAT'S IN THE NEWS KIND OF CONVERSATION.
SO THOUGH THOSE AREN'T IMPACTFUL OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE DO OUR BEST TO GET THEM ON THE AGENDA AND TO DO OUR BEST, TO GET THEM ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER.
SOMETIMES WE UNFORTUNATELY ARE JUST NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF OUR CHARTER AND OUR BYLAWS.
SO, UM, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WE, UH, AND OF COURSE WE ONLY MEET MONTHLY, SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH TIME AND ALL OF OUR AGENDAS NEED TO BE POSTED IN A CERTAIN TIME AND BUYS TEXAS STATE LAW.
WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE AGENDA POSTED FOR PEOPLE TO SEE, RIGHT, BECAUSE OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.
SO I WANTED TO LET THE COMMISSIONERS KNOW THAT I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT OUR JUST IN TIME AND EVERYTHING THAT'S IN THE NEWS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO LIVE BY THE RULES OF OUR BYLAWS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS AS UNFORTUNATE IS A MONTHLY MEETING WHERE WE HAVE TO ADDRESS POLICY AND WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES.
SO UNFORTUNATELY NOT A JUST-IN-TIME CONVERSATION.
AND WE'LL ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE, APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO BEING HERE.
IT MAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENCE FOR US AND FOR THE CITY, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, YOUR COMRADERY AND YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS TIME.
SO LET'S START WITH OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS CITIZEN COMMUNICATION.
UM, I BELIEVE WE HAVE A STORY OF CARLOS LEON, IS THAT RIGHT? CHAIR? CARLOS IS ACTUALLY NOT ON THE LINE YET.
WELL, I BELIEVE HE HAD, LET'S SEE, UM, I GUESS WE CAN MOVE
[1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 7, 2021 3:20pm-3:25pm]
TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES SINCE THAT GENERALLY TAKES A QUICK AMOUNT OF TIME.SO I WILL DIRECT THE COMMISSIONERS TO LOOK AT THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 7TH, 2021 MEETING.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, CORRECTIONS.
SO IN LIGHT OF NO COMMENTARY OR QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO CALL THE MEETING MINUTES FROM LAST MONTH'S MEETING AS ACCEPTED.
UM, SHALL WE MOVE FORWARD OR DO WE HAVE MR. LEON ON THE LINE YET? CHAIR? I STILL DON'T SEE A NUMBER AT ALL.
IT'S NOT, OBVIOUSLY NOT YOUR ISSUE.
THANK YOU THOUGH, FOR CHECKING.
UM, MS. JACKSON, SHOULD WE JUST CONTINUE ON WITH OUR AGENDA AND PUT IN MR. LEONE IF HE EVER COMES ONLINE? YES, I THINK WE'LL BE OKAY WITH DOING THAT.
I WAS CHECKING TO BE SURE WHAT'S 3 0 5.
HOLD ON THE TECHNICAL GUIDE CHAIR.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS THE AB TICKETS CITY HALL.
MAY I ASK YOU IF I WENT TO 9, 7, 4? IS, ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? YES, SIR.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE NUMBER.
CARLOS I'M CARLOS LIL, AND I'M A SPEAKER SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING.
[00:05:01]
YOU.UM, MR. LEON, HI, THIS IS CHAIR GONZALEZ.
I UNDERSTAND YOU'D HAVE TWO DIFFERENT POINTS YOU WANT TO MAKE.
WOULD YOU AGREE? ONE FOR ONE FOR CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND ONE FOR ITEM TWO EIGHT.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPLIT THOSE INTO TWO DIFFERENT THREE MINUTES OR DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THEM ALTOGETHER? UM, I MEAN, AS WE ARE GOING TO, TO A RIGHT AFTER YOU SPEAK, THEN LET'S PUT IT AS SIX MINUTES STRAIGHT AND IN THIS WAY I CAN DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
[Citizen Communications 3:05-3:20pm (from speakers signed up to speak)]
RIGHT.YOU ARE WELCOME TO START WHENEVER YOU'D LIKE.
SO AT CARLOS LEON FIRST AND FOREMOST, BUT ALSO SAW THE ALERTS FOR LETTING ME EXPOSE AND COMBAT CONTINUING CAP.
METRO CRIMINALITY, A PUBLIC SAFETY THREAT AGAINST US ALL PER APD GENERAL OFFENSE REPORT 2 0 2 1 DASH 1 2 7 0 3 7 8 OLDER BLACK MALE CAP, METRO BUS DRIVER, DAVID R. HARRIS INTENTIONALLY MADE A DEATH THREAT AGAINST ME ON THE PUBLIC BUS.
HE WAS DRIVING EARLY MORNING, MAY 7TH, 2021 PER UNITED STATES V SOTO MARTINEZ A THREAT OF DEATH, MAYBE IN THE FORM OF A GESTURE, INCLUDING THE DRAWING OF ONE'S HAND ACROSS ONE'S OWN THROAT IN A SLASHING MOTION BECAUSE HARRIS THREAT OF BODILY HARM WAS IMMINENT.
I E IMPENDING HANGING THREATENINGLY OVER ONE'S HEAD.
HE VIOLATED TEXAS PENAL CODE 22.0 1-822-ILLEGALLY COVER HIS ASSAULT BY THREAT HARRIS LIED, TELLING THE COP HE MOTIONED WITH HIS RIGHT HAND FROM HIS CHEST AREA OUT, BUT NEVER MADE ANY THREATS OR MOTION TO ANY THREATS AGAINST ME, KNOWINGLY MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT MATERIAL TO A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, TO A PEACE OFFICER WITH INTENT TO DECEIVE VIOLATING TEXAS PENAL CODE 37.08 A ONE BECAUSE HARRIS COMMITTED BOTH CRIMES ON CAMERA.
I MADE A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST WITH CAP METRO FOR THE INCRIMINATING VIDEO EVIDENCE TO CONVICT HARRIS IN A COURT OF LAW, WHICH CAT METRO AMAZINGLY PROVIDED ME EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON.
IF THE VIDEO IS LEGIT, IT'S EVIDENCE CAT METRO'S NEW COMMUNITY ORIENTED IN-HOUSE POLICING MODEL LED BY CHIEF SAFETY.
OFFICER GARDNER TAYVON IS WORKING FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE A PREVIOUS PIR FOR VIDEO OF A DIFFERENT INCIDENT WITH A CAT METRO SECURITY OFFICER WAS NEVER FILLED BECAUSE THERE CAN BE NO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ANYONE WITHOUT EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW FOR EVERYONE.
THIS TANGIBLE ARTIFACT APPEARS TO BE A FIRST STEP TOWARDS BUILDING REAL TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE HARRIS IS STILL THE ONLY DRIVER ON THE WEEKDAY MORNING, 3 45 ROUTE.
I CANNOT WRITE IT THEN BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRUST A DRIVER WHO THREATENED TO KILL YOU TO SAFELY TRANSPORT YOU.
IN FACT, HARRIS ADMITTED TO BEING A CRIMINAL ON-CAMERA MAY 7TH, THEREFORE FIRING HARRIS AND MAKING ALL CAT METRO BUS DRIVERS COMPLY WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER 36 WOULD BE TRUST STEPS, TWO AND THREE TO REMOVE EVIL AND DEFEAT THE ILLEGAL FACE MASK, TYRANNY BULLYING, AND CONTROLLING PASSENGERS OF CAT.
THAT CAT METRO IS LEGALLY BOUND TO SERVE.
NOW I'M MOVING ON TO ITEM TWO, A FIRST AND FOREMOST.
ALSO I SAW THE OLS FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TO A P D REALITIES ITEM.
TWO A'S REPORT SHOULD ADDRESS AFTER I TOLD APD ABOUT HARRIS'S DEATH THREAT AGAINST ME AND OFFICER RESPONDED ON WITHIN 10 MINUTES, THAT OFFICER WHO DOES NOT CONTRACT WITH CAT METRO RESPECTFULLY AND PROFESSIONALLY HEARD, UNDERSTOOD AND HELPED ME OFFICIALLY SPEAKING WITH QUESTIONING AND I DEAN HARRIS WITH THE BODY CAM ON MY PIR FOR A COPY OF THAT VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM APD GENERATED A $32 PROCESSING FEE.
YET I WAS UNABLE TO PAY IN PERSON AT APD HEADQUARTERS DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS ON JUNE 25TH, BECAUSE THE BUILDING WAS STILL COVID-19 CLOSE TO THE PUBLIC THOUGH.
GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S MAY 18 EXECUTIVE ORDER 36 PREVENTS ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR OFFICIAL FROM REQUIRING ANYONE TO WEAR A FACIAL COVERING EMPLOYEE RODRIGUEZ TOLD ME THERE WAS NO WAY TO PAY IN PERSON THOUGH.
TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 6 5 8 0.0058 SAYS NORMAL OFFICE HOURS OF A STATE AGENCY ARE EIGHT TO FIVE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO RECEIVE VISITORS AND TRANSACT BUSINESS AND SAID CODE
[00:10:01]
5, 5, 2 0.223 REQUIRES APD TO TREAT ALL REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION UNIFORMLY WITHOUT REGARD TO THE POSITION OF THE REQUESTER.NOT ONLY DOES MY INVOICE SAY, QUOTE, IF YOU AGREE TO ACCEPT THESE CHARGES, YOU MAY BRING A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN TO OUR OFFICE AT SEVEN 15 EAST EIGHTH STREET, BUT APDS PUBLIC RECORDS WEBSITE SAYS IN MULTIPLE PLACES I CAN PAY IN PERSON AFTER COMMUNICATING ALL THIS IN WRITING TO APD.
I WAS THEN GIVEN A LIMITED TIMEFRAME ON TWO WEEKDAYS TO PAY IN PERSON.
IF I SAID AHEAD OF TIME, WHEN I'D BE THERE, THOUGH, THAT HELPS THE BOTTOM LINE IS REOPEN APD HEADQUARTERS FULL-TIME TO THE IN-PERSON PUBLIC.
THEY SERVE LIKE THE OFFICER OF THE GOVERNOR HAS TO ACCOMMODATE US NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
RODRIGUEZ TOLD ME TO SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL ABOUT THIS IMPLYING.
THEY DECIDE WHEN THAT BUILDING OPENS NOT INTERIM CHIEF TO CONE.
SIMILARLY, THOSE CITY HALL IS OPEN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND THE LAW DEPARTMENT NEED TO REOPEN IN-PERSON PUBLIC ASSET ACCESS DURING NORMAL OFFICE HOURS.
AND THESE BOARD AND COMMISSION MEETINGS NEED TO AGAIN BE IN PERSON SO I CAN LOOK Y'ALL IN THE EYE.
WHEN I ADDRESS YOU IN REAL TIME AND SPACE, THEREFORE TELL PUBLIC SERVANTS, APD CITY COUNCIL, AND THE CITY MANAGER TO GET HER DONE.
NOW ASK APD TO SPEAK TO THESE ISSUES DURING ITEM TWO, A DISCUSSION IN JESUS' NAME.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CONSTITUTIONAL LAW TRUTH AND ABOVE ALL COMO CM.
GOD'S WORD ABOUT, THANK YOU, MR. LEONE.
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS OUR PUBLIC
[2.a. Public Safety Organizations Quarterly Report – Austin Police Department (sponsors: Commissioner Hausenfluck and Gonzales) 3:25pm-3:40pm Speaker(s): -Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department]
SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS, QUARTERLY REPORT, CHIEF GAY.ARE YOU WITH US? THERE YOU ARE.
HOW ARE YOU? THIS IS A CHIEF TROY GATES' CHIEF OF STAFF WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I HOPE EACH OF YOU HAD A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY.
UM, IS SOMEONE GOING TO PULL THE POWERPOINT UP POTENTIALLY? YES, SIR.
UH, JUST REAL QUICKLY, I'LL BE GOING OVER, UH, THE CRIME STATS JUST BRIEFLY, OUR RESPONSE TIMES, UH, OUR OVERTIME BUDGET AND STAFFING.
THIS IS JUST OUR CHIEF'S MONTHLY REPORT, WHICH IS ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER BRIEFLY, AS YOU CAN SEE OUR CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS IS THAT WE ARE, UH, DOWN 2% FOR THE YEAR AT THIS, UH, AT THIS TIME, UH, SLIGHTLY TWO AREAS THAT WE ARE UP IN OUR MURDERS, UH, 79% AND OUR, UH, AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, UH, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT 15%.
THOSE, THOSE ARE TWO THAT ARE DRIVING THE VIOLENT CRIME NUMBERS, BUT OVERALL WE ARE DOWN A YEAR TODAY.
WE WANT TO GO TO THE PERSON'S NEXT SLIDE.
WHEN WE GO TO A PROPERTY, WHICH DOES INCLUDE ROBBERY AT THIS POINT, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE DOWN 10% IN THE MONTH AND 1% OVERALL FOR THE YEAR.
UM, SO WE'RE STILL, UH, MAINTAINING THE LARGE NUMBERS ARE MAINLY IN THE, UH, THE BURGLARY NUMBERS, WHICH, UH, ARE A 4%, BUT WE DO HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF, OF THOSE SPECIFIC CATEGORIES.
UH, THIS IS OUR CRIMES AGAINST SOCIETY.
UM, THE ONE IS OUR WEAPONS LAW VIOLATIONS, AS WE MENTIONED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, UM, UH, CRIMES INVOLVING WEAPONS ARE ON THE INCREASE AND HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN JUST SEE A SLIGHT INCREASE IN OUR WEAPONS, UH, VIOLATIONS.
BUT OVERALL WE'RE DOING WELL FOR THE YEAR AT A NEGATIVE, UH, 37%.
UH, WE'LL MOVE TO RESPONSE TIMES.
UH, THIS WAS JUST GIVING YOU FOR OUR QUARTER THREE FOR THIS YEAR ARE URGENT, WHICH IS OUR PS ZERO ON EMERGENCY CALLS B ONE.
UH, WE HAVE A TARGET OF EIGHT MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS, AS YOU CAN SEE IN APRIL.
AND WE WERE ABOVE THAT ALMOST TWO MINUTES.
AND IN JUNE WE DID COME DOWN TO NINE MINUTES AND 46 STILL ABOVE OUR TARGET.
[00:15:01]
UH, THE, UH, TOTAL CALLS RESPONDED TO ARE SLIGHTLY, UH, INCREASING, UH, BUT, UH, WE ARE, AS WE SAY, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN, I'LL GO OVER OUR STAFFING HERE IN A MINUTE, UH, WHICH IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON OUR RESPONSE TIMES.UH, THIS IS JUST ABOUT OUR CALL VOLUMES AND RESPONSE TIMES, UH, PER COUNCIL DISTRICT.
UH, IF ANYONE DOESN'T HAVE A QUESTION WE'LL MOVE TO OVERTIME, BUT I'LL, I'LL PAUSE FOR A SEC.
IF WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, OUR NEXT SLIDE IS OUR OVERTIME BUDGET, UH, THIS YEAR AND, UH, FYI 21, WE WERE REDUCED TO THE 3.5 MILLION.
UH, CURRENTLY OUR OVERTIME EXPENDITURES ARE ABOUT 7.1.
UH, WE NORMALLY, UH, EACH AND EVERY YEAR WE'RE WELL ABOVE A 10 MILLION EACH YEAR ON OUR OVERTIME, BUT THAT IS WHERE WE'RE CURRENTLY AT.
AND, UH, OF COURSE WE ARE AUTHORIZED THE 1809, EXCUSE ME, GO AHEAD.
UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY AUTHORIZED 1809.
UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 148 VACANCIES.
UH, WE DID START THE 140 FOURTH CADET CLASS WITH A HUNDRED CADETS ON JUNE 7TH.
AND THAT IS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, UM, GAY? THIS IS, UH, COMMISSIONER BERNHARDT.
UM, SO I REMEMBER THE LAST TIME, UH, YOU DID A PRESENTATION.
I ASKED ABOUT, UH, CLEARANCE RATES AND IF WE COULD ADD THOSE TO YOUR PRESENTATIONS, UM, AND I'M NOTICING THEY'RE NOT THERE.
MA'AM I WILL, UH, I WILL GET THOSE TO YOU AND I WILL MAKE SURE MS. JACKSON EMAILS THOSE OUT AND WE'LL BE INCLUDING THEM NEXT TIME.
AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS OF THE 100 CADETS THAT STARTED, UM, THE, UH, JUNE 7TH, UH, PROGRAM.
HOW MANY ARE STILL, UM, IN HOW MANY ARE STILL TRAINING? I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AROUND 97, THE LAST TIME I KNEW A PROBLEM.
REBECCA ASKED THE FIRST FLOOR THAT I HAD ABOUT ORAL MONTH INTO THAT ACADEMY, BUT BEING 148 SHORE.
UH, DO YOU RUN CONCURRENT ACADEMIES? IS THERE ANOTHER ACADEMY THAT IS IN THE WORKS? UM, IN THE PAST WE HAVE RUN CONCURRENT CLASS IN CLASSES.
UH, CURRENTLY WE'VE ONLY GOT THE AUTHORIZATION TO RUN THIS, UH, RE-IMAGINED PILOT CADET CLASS.
UH, SO WE WILL NOT BE STARTING ANOTHER CLASS, UH, AS OF NOW UNTIL THE END OF THIS ACADEMY, WHICH IS IN FEBRUARY OF, UH, 23.
WELL, I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE RETIREMENTS AND PEOPLE LEAVING THE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT 1 48 I THINK IS GOING TO INCREASE AND, UH, THE 197 IN THIS CURRENT, UH, ACADEMY, AREN'T GONNA FILL, UH, TAKE UP THE SLACK.
SO, UM, THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAD.
NO PROBLEM, SIR, CHIEF JAY, WILL YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWED THE CITYWIDE AVERAGE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TIME FOR THE QUARTER? I'LL HAVE TO GO THAT'S IT RIGHT.
THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, THE ONE BEFORE, ONE MORE BACK ON, MORE BACK.
SO WHEN WAS THE LAST QUARTER THAT APD MET THE CITY-WIDE TARGET? UH, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHEN THE LAST TIME WE'VE MET THE, THE, THE ACTUAL TARGET, BUT IT'S BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR, I BELIEVE.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK RIGHT NOW IN AUSTIN ABOUT HOW MUCH FUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING AND, UH, WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS.
UM, I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER THERE'S ANY TRENDS WITH THE RESPONSE TIME HERE.
THIS IS, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION HERE, SO I'M JUST HOPING YOU COULD PUT IT MORE IN CONTEXT IS, UM, IS, YOU KNOW, 10 MINUTES AND 13 SECONDS, WAY MORE THAN IT'S BEEN.
AND THEN I AM REALLY PARTICULARLY INTERESTED TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU ABOUT, UM, IF YOU COULD GET THAT INFORMATION DURING THE MEETING
[00:20:02]
WHEN WE HAVE LAST MET EIGHT MINUTES AND 24 SECONDS.I WILL, UH, I WILL GO THROUGH MY EMAILS.
I KNOW I HAVE THE INFORMATION AND I'LL, I'LL, I'LL PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT CHIEF TACAN HAS BEEN MEETING WITH ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HAVE PROVIDED OUR TARGETS, UH, AND WHAT THE STAFFING NEED WOULD, UH, WOULD BE TO, IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE TARGETS.
SO I'LL, I'LL, UH, I'LL GET THAT NUMBER FOR YOU.
SO COMMISSIONERS, I'M JUST, I'M BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE STAFFING IS NOT THE ANSWER TO RESPONSE TIMES AND TO MAKE A ONE-TO-ONE COMPARISON, IT'S VERY MISLEADING.
AND SO I REALLY THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS SLIDE, IT NEEDS CONTEXT.
WE NEED TO KNOW WHETHER RESPONSE TIMES HAVE BEEN UP TO ALMOST TWO MINUTES OVER THE TARGET AS THEY WERE IN MAY, THEN THE WHOLE DEFUND POLICE CONVERSATION RE-IMAGINE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, STARTED, OR WHETHER IT PREDATES THAT.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING SHE TO LET US KNOW WHEN IT WAS LAST MET, BECAUSE IF IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR, WHILE HAS IT BEEN TWO YEARS, HAS IT BEEN THREE YEARS? IS THE CITY WIDE TARGET, YOU KNOW, EVER MEET A BUBBLE, BUT I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT STAFFING IS NOT THE ANSWER COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ.
I'VE JUST, UM, TO HIT THAT POINT HOME A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I KNOW THAT THE 1 48 IN VACANCIES FEEL STUNNING, BUT YOU KNOW, GOING BACK, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY LOWER.
UH, THE VACANCY RATE IS, IS ACTUALLY A LOT LOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN.
UM, HISTORICALLY EVEN, UM, JUST IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN ON THE SAFETY COMMISSION, BUT I KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT'S ACTUALLY, IT'S, IT'S BEEN HIGHER AT POINTS.
UM, BEEN FOLLOWING POLICE REPORTS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME IN THIS WHOLE, UM, THE, THE, THE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S A CONVERSATION THAT'S THAT GOES BACK VARIOUS POLICE CHIEFS.
AND SO I JUST WANTED, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE OUT LOUD, BUT THAT THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES IS ACTUALLY LOWER RIGHT NOW THAN IT HAS BEEN IN EVEN JUST MORE RECENT MONTHS.
I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR THAT, UM, FOR CHIEF GAY.
UM, WILL YOU REMIND US, I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THAT, UM, THE CHIEF SETS THE CITYWIDE TARGET.
WILL YOU REMIND US HOW THAT NUMBER HAS COME UP WITH AS WELL AS HOW LONG THAT'S BEEN THE TARGET, FIRST OF ALL, AND THEN SECOND OF ALL KIND OF ADDRESSING WHAT THE OTHER TWO COMMISSIONERS WERE SPEAKING UP.
DO YOU FEEL THAT THIS INTERPERSONAL OPINION IS A STAFFING ISSUE, OR DO YOU SEE OTHER ITEMS IN THERE THAT'S CAUSING THE DELAY IN RESPONSE TIMES? WELL, SPECIFICALLY I AM TRYING TO FIND THE EXACT POWERPOINT.
IT MIGHT TAKE ME A FEW MINUTES TO FIND IT, UH, THAT, UH, WE WERE TRYING TO, WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS, HAVE MEET A PARTICULAR METRIC TO, UH, MEET OUR TARGETS.
UH, EVERY YEAR WE, WE TAKE THE FIVE-YEAR AVERAGE AND TRY TO, TO, TO MEET THAT PARTICULAR GOAL.
UH, THEY ARE HIGHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.
I, IN MY OPINION, I DO THINK THAT THERE IS, IS A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN OUR RESPONSE TIME, UM, UH, AND THE STAFFING THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE RECENTLY JUST PUSHED BACK, UH, UH, OVER, UM, I, I BELIEVE ALMOST 40 OFFICERS BACK TO THE STREET.
THAT'S WHEN WE SUSPENDED SOME UNITS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT FROM MAY TO JUNE, THE RESPONSE TIMES WENT DOWN.
WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO PUSH BACK SOME ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL TO PATROL, TO HANDLE SOME OF THOSE VACANCIES.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU WILL, AGAIN, IN OUR NEXT REPORT, YOU'LL SEE THE RESPONSE TIME, UH, WILL IMPROVE BECAUSE WE ARE PUSHING PEOPLE BACK TO PATROL TO MAKE SURE IT'S ADEQUATELY STAFFED.
I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, UM, AS A NEW MEMBER OF THIS COMMISSION, UH, AND OTHERS MAY KNOW THIS WHAT'S A PRIORITY ZERO, A PRIORITY, ZERO ARE CALLS THAT ARE IN PROGRESS.
THEY'RE VIOLENT CRIMES THAT ARE OCCURRING IN PROGRESS, LIKE A GRAPE IN PROGRESS OR A, UH, A AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN PROGRESS THAT IS, IS ACTIVELY OCCURRING.
AND I, AND I CAN ACTUALLY SEND, UH, THROUGH MS. JACKSON, I CAN SEND THE PRIORITY UH ZERO'S AND ONE'S BROKEN
[00:25:01]
DOWN.SO THE COMMISSION WILL UNDERSTAND THE TWO DIFFERENT, UH, RESPONSE CALLS.
AND IF, IF YOU COULD JUST GIVE ME ALL OF THE PRIORITIES ZERO THROUGH THREE, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DEFINITION OF THOSE.
I, I DO HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT, UM, I THINK THERE WAS MORE CONVERSATION AND I MIGHT'VE MISSED IT ABOUT KIND OF, UM, OFFICER INITIATED CALLS THAT BEING LIKE 30% OF CALLS AND WONDERING IF THERE IS, YOU KNOW, ATTENTION BEING PAID TO HOW MUCH TIME IS ACTUALLY BEING SPENT, UM, DOING STUFF NOBODY CALLED POLICE TO DO VERSUS, UM, YOU KNOW, THOSE HIGH PRIORITY CALLS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF TIME THAT PLEASE SAY SPENDING DOING THINGS THAT, UM, MAYBE MAY NOT BE AS NECESSARY AS, AS THESE KINDS OF PRIORITY 1, 2, 3 CALLS.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE THAT CONVERSATION IS.
UH, WE DO, UH, LOOK AT OUR SELF INITIATED CALLS.
SO JUST RECOGNIZING THAT OUR ASSIST SELF-INITIATED CALLS ARE ALSO CALLS TO WHERE A OFFICER MAY WITNESS A, UH, VIOLATION OF THE LAW, UH, IN HIS PRESENCE.
SO THERE MAY BE TRAFFIC THAT MAY BE OTHER TYPES OF OFFENSES THAT OCCURRED.
SO JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TITLED SELF-INITIATED DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT AN OFFICER NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY ACT UPON, BUT YES, WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO OUR SELF-INITIATED CALLS.
I DO KNOW THAT OUR TRAFFIC STOPS, WHICH ARE IN THE CATEGORY OF SELF-INITIATED CALLS HAVE BEEN REDUCED THIS LAST YEAR BY, UH, OVER 49% THIS YEAR.
I THINK THERE IS, I WAS LOOKING AT ONE OF THE GRANTS, UM, AND JUST THINKING ABOUT REPORTING FOR GRANTS THAT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, 20, EVERY, EVERY 20 MINUTES CONTACT OR SOME KIND OF CONTACT WITH PEOPLE, UM, AND DOING TRAFFIC STOPS, RIGHT? WHETHER THAT'S A TICKET OR NOT, THERE'S ALMOST LIKE INCENTIVIZING, UM, OFFICER INITIATED, UM, CALLS AND, YOU KNOW, SO I, I RECOGNIZE THAT SOME OF IT IS ABOUT HOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS FUNDED, BUT TO ME, THIS GETS BACK TO LIKE, OKAY, WE'RE NOT RESPONDING TO CALLS AS READILY AS WE SHOULD BE YET.
THEY'RE HAVING, THEY'RE BEING PUSHED TO MAINTAIN CONTACT EVERY 20 MINUTES.
SO I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE THAT'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT, UM, UH, INITIATED BY SOMEONE IN CRISIS DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT SOMETHING POLICE SHOULD BE DOING AND HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? LIKE, HOW DOES, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ABLE TO LET GO OF SOME OF THOSE OFFICER INITIATED ISSUES, UM, IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR CALL TIMES TO, UM, PRIORITY ONE, ONE ISSUES.
SO JUST TO QUICKLY, I KNOW, LIKE YOU SAID, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING BEYOND THE CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT IN REFERENCE TO YOUR SPECIFIC ABOUT, UH, INTERACTION EVERY 20 MINUTES, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS, UM, UH, MANDATORY FOR OUR PATROL OFFICERS.
YOU'RE SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT A STEP GRANT THAT IS FEDERALLY FUNDED, AND IT IS, UH, FOR OVERTIME OFFICERS THAT IS NOT INCLUDED, UH, IN THE, THE COVID RESPONSE OR THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THAT IS STRICTLY AN OVERTIME ASSIGNMENT IN REFERENCE TO OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE ON THE STREET ARE PRIORITY ONE CALLS AND PRIORITIES.
ZERO TALL CALLS ARE A PRIORITY, AND IF THEY ARE ON A TRAFFIC STOP, MOST OF OUR OFFICER'S SERVERS WILL BREAK LOOSE AND GO TO THAT PRIORITY ZERO PER A PRIORITY ONE CALL IF THEY CAN.
SO JUST, JUST BECAUSE YOU USE THAT ONE EXAMPLE, THAT THAT IS NOT A METRIC THAT IS USED FOR OUR PATROL OFFICERS, AND I WILL FIND THAT INFORMATION COMMISSIONER WEBBER, UH, AND THEN I WILL, I, UH, HAVE THAT BY THE END OF THE, UH, OF THE MEETING, HOPEFULLY.
AND IF I DON'T HAVE TIME, I WILL PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO, UH, THE COMMISSION CHAIR.
A RED LIGHT VIOLATION VIA SELF-INITIATED CALL.
[00:30:04]
JUST, YEAH, JUST ONE MORE TIME.JUST ONE MORE CLARIFICATION CHAIR.
SO IT IS IT'S 100% THE OFFICER'S DISCRETION WHETHER TO BREAK AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC STOP TO YOUR PRIORITY CALL.
WELL, IF THEY'RE, IF IT'S JUST A TRAFFIC STOP, THEN YES, THE OFFICERS HAVE THE DISCRETION, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT MOST OF THEM, UNLESS THERE IS A PARTICULAR CRIMINAL VIOLATION THAT THEY CANNOT BREAK AWAY FROM A TRAFFIC STOP TURNS INTO OTHER THINGS.
SO UNFORTUNATELY IT'S, IT'S BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE.
SO WE CAN'T GIVE ONE ANSWER, UM, TO EVERY PARTICULAR TRAFFIC STOP.
ARE THERE GUIDELINES OR TRAINS ON THIS? SO I'M, I'M THINKING ABOUT HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE IS DOING A CONSENT SEARCH.
UM, WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE THE GUIDANCE TO PATROL OFFICERS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN GOING TO THE PRIORITY CALL? IF, IF THERE WAS A BASIC CONSENT SEARCH WHERE YOU DID NOT FEEL THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR VIOLATION OCCURRING, THEN THOSE OFFICERS WOULD NEED TO, UH, BREAK FREE AND ANSWER THAT PRIORITY ZERO PRIORITY ONE CALL, AND WHAT IS A MAJOR OFFENSE IN THAT SITUATION? LIKE COULD BE AN, UH, AN OFFENSE, AN OFFENSE WITH A WEAPON IN THE CAR.
IF I SAW A WEAPON IN THE CAR THAT I WOULD EXPECT THAT THAT OFFICER WOULD GO AHEAD AND INVESTIGATE TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT WAS, UH, UH, ILLEGAL FIREARM, THAT WAS POSSESSED BECAUSE AS WE'RE POINTING OUT WITH OUR HOMICIDES OR AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AND OTHER THINGS IS THAT, UH, WEAPONS VIOLATIONS, UH, TURN INTO, UH, OTHER MORE CRITICAL VIOLATIONS.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU AN ANSWER FOR EVERY TYPE OF PARTICULAR VIOLATION, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GETTING AT DRUGS IS THAT MAJOR.
IT IS NOT THE POLICY, AS I SAID, IS THAT WE ARE, WE ALLOW OFFICERS SOME DISCRETION.
UH, BUT YES, IS THAT, THAT IS THE GUIDANCES THAT ARE PRIORITY ZERO AND PRIORITY.
ONE CALLS ARE, UH, ARE OUR PRIORITY AS, AS OUR DEPARTMENT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, RIGHT? THANK YOU, CHIEF GAY.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS THAT WE WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON TO ADD INTO YOUR NEXT REPORT.
UM, NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE, UH, PANEL ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
[2.b. Implementation of Proposition B ordinances (sponsors: Commissioner Bernhardt and Hausenfluck) 3:40pm -4:25pm Speaker(s): -Bill Brice, Downtown Austin Alliance -Troy Gay, Chief of Staff, Austin Police Department -Lawrence Davis, Lieutenant, Austin Police Department -Rob Vires, Chief of Staff, Austin Fire Department -Brandon Wade, Assistant Chief, Austin Fire Department -Jasper Brown, Chief of Staff, ATCEMS (Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services)]
OF PROP B CALL BY COMMISSIONER BERNHARDT AND WILSON'S BOOK.AND I WANTED TO ADD THAT THERE WILL ALSO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT WORKS WITH HOMELESSNESS AND PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HOMELESSNESS, WHO WILL, SHOULD BE ON THE PANEL AS WELL.
SO, UH, MR. BRYCE, G GAY, UH, LIEUTENANT DAVIS, CHIEF BUYERS, ASSISTANT CHIEF WADE, AND SHE BROWN, IF YOU GUYS CAN ALL COME ON VIDEO WITH US AND, UH, DO WE HAVE MR. JOSEPH ON THE LINE AS WELL? AND DID WE HAVE ANYONE CALL IN THAT WE HAVEN'T CONNECTED YET SHARE? THERE'S NO ONE CALLED IN RIGHT NOW.
CHAIR, I MAY HAVE HEARD THAT, UH, THIS ITEM STARTED AT THREE 40, SO SHE MAY BE, UH, THINKING IT'S STARTING IN A LITTLE BIT.
I THINK WE COULD START IT AND, UH, HAVE HER POP IN.
SO, UM, COMMISSIONER BARNHART, WHILE YOUR MIC IS OPEN, DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THIS OR SAY ANYTHING BEFORE WE GET STARTED? SURE THING.
UM, SO, UH, I, I THINK THAT WE ON THE COMMISSION ARE REALLY INTERESTED AND, UM, AND I THINK A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSITION B, UM, MIGHT BE GOING, UM, OR SORT OF HOW IT'S HAPPENING.
UM, AND, UH, AND WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE GROUND, WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGES THERE ARE.
UM, AND, UH, AND WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE ON, UH, THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY OF THE CHANGES IN THE LAW.
UM, SO I THINK WE CAN START FROM THERE.
UM, MR. BRYCE, YOU ARE FIRST ON MY LIST.
SO DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND KICK US OFF? SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, UH, BILL BRYCE, VICE PRESIDENT
[00:35:01]
INVESTOR RELATIONS WITH DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.UM, OUR ORGANIZATION DOES NOT HAVE A DIRECT ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING ORDINANCES, BUT I, I, I DID WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT BY SHOWING THE, UH, SLIDE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
UH, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE BEGAN IN MAY DOING MONTHLY COUNTS AT NIGHT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE DOWNTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
AND SO ON BOTH OF THE MAPS THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN, THE BRIGHT RED LINE IS THE BOUNDARY OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND OUR AMBASSADORS.
AND SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE GOING OUT NOW ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
THE THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, BETWEEN THREE AND 6:00 AM, SIMPLY COUNTING PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE ECHO ANNUAL COUNT WHERE PEOPLE ARE BEING INTERVIEWED AND ASKED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS.
IT'S SIMPLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED, HOW MANY TENTS THERE ARE, OR OTHER STRUCTURES THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE LIVING IN, AND HOW MANY VEHICLES WE PERCEIVE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN WITHIN THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
SO THE NUMBERS YOU SEE AT THE TOP BASICALLY REFLECT THAT ON JUNE 17, WE ESTIMATE A TOTAL OF 808 PEOPLE COUNTED UNSHELTERED DOWNTOWN.
THAT INCLUDES 436 INDIVIDUALS THAT LITERALLY WERE COUNTED, NOT INSIDE A TENT, A STRUCTURE OR A CAR.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE THE NUMBER OF TENTS OR STRUCTURES COUNTED AT 3 37 AND THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES AT 38 AND SO APART.
UH, SO BASICALLY, UM, UH, APARTMENT HAD MISSPOKE TO THE COLUMN 300, 436, 203 TENTS OR STRUCTURES, THE 20 VEHICLES, UM, USING FACTORS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE USED.
WE ESTIMATE THERE MAY BE AS MANY AS 1.6 PEOPLE PROTECT 1.7, FIVE PEOPLE PER VEHICLE.
AND SO BASED ON THAT CALCULATION, WE HAVE A TOTAL OF, UH, OF AN ESTIMATE ESTIMATED 808 PEOPLE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN THAT DROPS SLIGHTLY FROM AN ESTIMATE OF EIGHT 13 IN MAY.
BUT AGAIN, BASED OFF THE VARIABLES IN TERMS OF THE FACTORING FOR TENSOR STRUCTURE TO VEHICLES, THERE'S THERE, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ROOM FOR ERROR THERE.
SO AGAIN, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME PERSPECTIVE ON WHERE PEOPLE ARE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN, AND, UM, THEN WHETHER THEY'RE JUST COMPLETELY UNSHELTERED IN ANY WAY, UH, OR UNSHELTERED STAYING IN A, IN A, IN A STRUCTURE OF SOME SORT OR A TENT, OR PERHAPS, UH, A CAR OR OTHER TIMES.
THANK YOU, MR. MARQUEZ, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION FOR MR. BRICE OR WE CAN ACTUALLY SAVE THOSE TO THE END, LET EVERYONE SPEAK.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN DO OUR QUESTIONS TOGETHER THAT WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. BRYCE, CHIEF GAY.
UM, DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION YOU'D LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH THOSE, OR ARE YOU LEAVING THAT FOR, UH, LIEUTENANT DAVIS? WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO LET LIEUTENANT DAVIS, UH, HE IS, UH, NOW, UH, OUR COMMUNITY LIAISON LIEUTENANT ON THE FIFTH FLOOR WITH THE CHIEFS AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD AND, UH, LET HIM TALK ABOUT THIS PLAN THAT WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
UM, CAN YOU GUYS GIVE ME CONTROL OVER THIS SHARE SCREEN OR DO YOU GUYS CONTROL IT? THIS IS DAVEY TECH.
I CAN GIVE YOU A CONTROL FOR SURE.
I'M GOING TO LET ME JUST AWESOME.
SO, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME.
I'M JUST DELIGHTED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
ANYTIME I CAN TALK ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, I JUST GET A LITTLE BIT EXCITED.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S TRULY IMPORTANT THAT, UM, I KIND OF FRAME, UM, HOW ARE WE ARRIVED AT WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE RPM PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND, UM, THE, THE, UM, HOW, WHY WE'RE BEING FLUID AND FLEXIBLE.
AND I'LL ALSO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, WHEN WE'RE, AGAIN, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO GET
[00:40:01]
USED TO HEARING THE RPM OR RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.THE ONE THING THAT WE DID IS WE RECOGNIZE THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ISSUE.
AND WHEN I SAY COMPLICATED, WE TALK, UH, AND POLICE ACADEMIA.
AND IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE, I APOLOGIZE.
I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO FRAME THE, UH, THE RESPONSE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY OF A PROBLEM, THE FIRST THING WE LOOK AT IS, IS IT A MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL MULTI-AGENCY OR A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY DISCIPLINARY PROBLEM? AND THIS CERTAINLY IS.
AND THEN THE NEXT THING WE LOOK, LOOK AT IS, IS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND A PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL INDUSTRY, AND QUITE FRANKLY, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, NOT AND SERVICE PROVIDERS.
AND THIS IS, AND THEN WE START LOOKING AT, IS THIS GOING TO HAVE A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND PROPERTY CONSERVATION AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN, THIS WILL, AND THEN WE START THINKING IN TERMS OF, ARE WE ARE, UM, ARE WE IN A RESOURCE RICH ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER IT BE, UH, MONETARY ENVIRONMENT, UH, WHETHER IT BE, UM, UH, HUMAN RESOURCES.
AND THEN WE START THINKING OF COMPLEXITIES AS IS THIS GOING TO END, UH, EXTEND BEYOND MULTI OPERATIONAL PERIODS? IS THIS ONE FIXED WHERE WE CAN SEND OFFICERS OUT AND THEY CAN RESOLVE IT, OR IS THIS GOING TO EXTEND OVER MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL PERIODS? AND THEN WE, UM, WE, UH, CONSIDER IS THIS GOING TO REQUIRE SENSITIVITY? AND WHETHER IT BE MEDIA OPTICS OR JUST PEOPLE OPTICS.
AND THEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CONSIDER IS IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF HUMAN BEINGS? AND THERE CERTAINLY IS.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE BEGAN WITH, UM, UM, CO UM, DETERMINING HOW WE WANT IT, THIS OPERATION TO LOOK WHAT, WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE AND HOW WE WANTED TO, HOW TO PLAY OUT.
SO REAL QUICK ON OUR, I JUST WANT TO GO OVER A QUICK, OUR MISSION AND OBJECTIVES.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PHASED APPROACH, AND THEN I WANT TO KIND OF LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE, UM, INEXPERIENCED AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING.
UM, SO MISSION WAS REAL, WAS SIMPLE.
WE WAS WANTING TO ESTABLISH A COORDINATED AND CONSISTENT PROCEDURE TO RESPOND TO HOMELESS.
WE FELT LIKE THIS WOULD NOT ONLY KEEP OFFICERS FATE, BUT IT WILL HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED.
AND IT WOULD ENSURE A FRAMEWORK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT MOST IMPORTANT.
UM, WE WANTED A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS, UH, TO SHOW A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.
AND THEN THE SECOND THING WE WANT OUR OBJECTIVE IS WE WANT TO DO THIS.
WE WANT TO DO IT HUMANELY, AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE PEOPLE'S DIGNITY AND RESPECT, BUT WE ALSO WANT IT TO, UH, PROMOTE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UM, HOMELESSNESS DOESN'T REPRESENT A DIGNIFIED FORM OF SHELTER, BUT WITH A PASSAGE OF PROP B, WE, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO, UH, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, ENFORCING THE EXPRESS WILL OF THE PEOPLE AND THE, AT A VULNERABLE POPULATION, WE KNEW THERE WAS GOING TO BE A CAREFUL BALANCING OF ALL HUMAN INTERESTS AND SO ARRIVED AT WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO, UM, TO IMPLEMENT PROPERTY.
AND, UH, WE, WE BEGAN WITH PHASE ONE AND WE BEGAN WITH JUST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND REAL QUICK, THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMPONENTS.
WE WANTED TO A EXPLAIN, UH, WHAT PROP B IS, UM, HOW IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION, UM, WHAT THE, THOSE IMPACTED CAN EXPECT FROM APD.
AND WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IS TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY OR RESPECT, YOU CAN EXPECT TO A REASONABLE, UM, TIME FOR COMPLIANCE.
YOU CAN EXPECT, UM, UM, UH, UH, PROGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT AND, AND YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE A, SOME RESOURCE PLACED IN YOUR HAND.
SO WE CREATED OUR OWN RESOURCE MATERIAL WHEN WE CONSULTED WITH THE EXPERTS, OF COURSE, UH, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPES OF INFORMATION WE'D BE DISTRIBUTED.
SO THAT WAS THE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PHASE.
DURING THAT FEED PHASE, THERE WERE NO WARNINGS WRITTEN OR NO CITATIONS WRITTEN, AND WE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER, YOU KNOW, TO BE QUITE FRANK.
WE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY, UM, FOLKS THAT WERE HIGHLY RESISTANT.
SO THAT'S, IF I COULD JUST FRAME THAT'S HOW IT FELT LIKE ANECDOTALLY AND, AND, UM, AND WITH THE DATA.
UM, SO AS WE MOVE TO PHASE TWO, THAT BEGAN IN JUNE 13, WE'VE MOVED TO THE WRITTEN WARNING SPACE.
AND SO, UM, UH, AGAIN, WE CONTINUED IN THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COMPONENT, BUT WITH WRITTEN WARNINGS, WE ADDED THE COMPONENTS OF ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT, RIGHT-SIZE FOR IMMEDIATE MOBILITY.
AND WHAT WE WANT FOLKS TO DO IS JUST BEGIN TO REDUCE YOUR FOOTPRINT.
AND SO THAT, SHOULD WE CONNECT YOU WITH RESOURCES? YOU CAN BE PREPARED IT TO BE FOR IMMEDIATE MOBILITY.
YOU YOU'RE ABLE TO GO TO THOSE RESOURCES.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD ENCOUNTERED WAS WHEN WE'RE CONNECTING SOMEONE THEY'RE NOT FULLY PREPARED TO LEAVE.
AND SO, UM, AND SO THERE WAS HESITANCY OR WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY STUFF? SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE ALSO GOING THROUGH IN THAT PHASE IS CONNECTING FOLKS WITH THE BOTTLE OF KEEPSAKE PROGRAM WHERE WE, UH, THAT FOR THOSE THAT AREN'T AWARE OF, THAT IT'S BASICALLY A STORAGE CONTAINER, A THREE BY THREE, UH, THREE FOOT BY THREE FOOT STORAGE CONTAINER.
[00:45:01]
IT'S COLORED THE VIOLET VIOLET, WHICH IS THE COLOR OF OUR, UM, OUR, UH, IN HOUSE ENDEAVOR, UH, ADOPTED CITY ADOPTED COKE, UH, COLOR.AND SO WE WERE ENCOURAGING FOLKS TO REDUCE THEIR, UH, THE FOOTPRINT.
AND SO, AS WE MOVED TO JULY 11TH, WE WILL BE GOING TO THE FAKE CITATIONS PHASE FROM JULY 11TH, JULY 11TH, THROUGH AUGUST 7TH.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IT WOULD GO TO PHASE FOUR, WHICH WILL BEGIN AUGUST 8TH THROUGH SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER 4TH.
UM, REAL CRITICAL TO KNOW IS, UM, WHEN WE DID THIS PROGRAM, WE WANT IT TO BE HARMED FOCUSED ON WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WE WANT TO ASK IN EVERYTHING WE DO, WHAT HARM ARE WE GOING TO COST AND HOW CAN WE BEST MITIGATE THAT HARM? SO WITH THE PHASE FOUR, WE ARE IN TALKS OF A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM.
SO SHOULD WE BE ENCOUNTER SOMEONE WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CUSTODY.
WE WANT TO DO THAT WITH A SERVICE ORIENTED, CONNECTED APPROACH.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE TAKING FOLKS UP SOLELY TO LOCK THEM UP.
WE WANT TO BE CONNECTING THEM WITH SERVICES WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE DOING THIS, UH, DATA COLLECTION.
SO, UM, WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, MAKING SURE WE HAVE, UM, COLLECTING WHAT WE CALL THE, LET ME BACK UP.
CAUSE WE HAVE WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE LISTEN REPORT.
AND WITH THE LISTEN REPORT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOCATIONS, THE INCIDENT, THE SITUATIONS, TIME TO ENFORCEMENT IN THE NUMBERS.
SO WE WANT TO, THIS IS MORE TO GIVE US A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
AND SO THAT WE HAVE A PLAN THAT IT SHOULDN'T REQUIRE ADJUSTMENTS.
WE HAVE DATA THAT WE COULD COME BACK AND LOOK AT, AND I'M ALMOST HESITANT TO SHARE DATA SIMPLY BECAUSE, WELL, NOT, NOT ONLY IS NOT COMPLETE IS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF STORY THAT DATA TAILS IN THE SENSE THAT WE HAVE, UH, WE MAY HAVE CONNECTED FOLKS WITH SERVICES OR MOVE OUT LESS TENSE, BUT THAT COULD DISPLACEMENT.
AND SO W UM, WE WANT TO NOTE, MAKE SURE WE'RE INTERPRETING THE DATA, RIGHT? SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS FOR, UM, WE HAD 114 PEOPLE THAT WERE EITHER IN THE PROCESS OR CONNECTED WITH SOCIAL SERVICES DURING OUR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
UM, I THINK THAT IT DOESN'T SAY, BUT LIKE 13 OF THOSE WERE, WERE CONNECTED TO THE VA.
UM, UM, NOW I GOT TO WORK ON THAT NUMBER.
THE, THE, THE BUS TICKET NUMBER WAS, THERE WERE 90 FOLKS THAT WERE READY TO LEAVE SHIFT IF WE COULD HAVE CONNECTED TO THE BUS TICKETS, BUT THAT VENTURE FELL THROUGH.
AND SO THE TOTALS AS OF TODAY, UH, WERE THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, 384 PEOPLE EDUCATED, 382 WARNINGS.
AND, UH, THE TWO, THERE WERE TWO, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT, DO WE GET PEOPLE OF HIGH RESISTANCE OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE QUITE FRANK? WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE THAT THEY, UM, PEOPLE WANT SAFE SPACES, SO THEY THEY'RE, THEY WANT HELP.
SO WE AT 290 PEOPLE THAT WERE, IF WE HAD A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO, WE'RE WILLING TO COME INTO VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS FROM THE MOMENT WE STARTED WRITING THE RPM, THE RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT TO DATE, THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS A BIT, HEY, WHERE DO WE TELL FOLKS TO GO? AND SO IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOLKS TO LEAVE, WE OUGHT TO HAVE A PLACE TO TAKE THEM.
SO THAT'S, UM, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONTINUING WITH, UM, SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS, THIS IS NOT THE ENTIRETY OF ACIDITY, BUT THIS IS THE, THE AMOUNT OF SITES THAT WERE VISITED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
SO WHAT WE DID SEE WAS THOSE, UM, THE ENCAMPMENTS.
SO LIKE WE VISITED B MAY HAVE VISITED, HAD 261.
THIS IS THE TOTAL FOR THE ONES THAT WERE VISITED MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS.
SO SECOND AND THIRD VISITS, WE HAD DECREASES FROM ONE FIRM TO A 261 PERSONS TO 206 PEOPLE.
THE TAKEAWAY IS OUT OF THE 58 CAMP SITES VISITED.
THERE WAS A 21% REDUCTION IN TENTS.
SO, UH, WHAT'S NEXT? SO PHASE THREE BEGINS JULY 11TH.
UM, THE, UH, WHAT ARE, WE'RE CALLED, UM, WE'RE OPENLY TALKING ABOUT THIS, THAT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM OR THE DIFFICULTY OR THE CHALLENGE IS AS PROVIDING A VIABLE LOCATION FOR FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO COPE.
AND THEN THE, UM, AND THE FINAL, UH, UH, UM, DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
IS IT, SHOULD WE TAKE SOMEONE IN CUSTODY? WE NEED TO HAVE A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS. UH, WE DON'T WANT TO BE PUNITIVE.
WE JUST WANT TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND, AND BRING FOLKS IN THE VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, LIEUTENANT DAVIS? I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WAIT TO DO QUESTIONS AFTER, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
[00:50:07]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.UH, NEXT PERSON ON MY LIST IS CHIEF VIARS.
DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO YOUR INFORMATION? GOOD AFTERNOON.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, UH, TO SHOW, BUT I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE ABOUT HOW WE'RE PARTNERING WITH OTHER CITY AGENCIES TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH FOR THE LIFE SAFETY AND FIRE SAFETY OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WITH THAT, WE, UH, CHIEF WADE, WHO'S NOT ABLE TO BE WITH US THIS AFTERNOON AS A PART OF THE CROSS DEPARTMENTAL HOMELESS WORKFORCE.
AND THE THINGS THAT HE'S WORKED ON IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS TO BE ABLE TO CREATE INFORMATION THAT, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO SEND OUT TO, UH, THE DIFFERENT CAMPS TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE SO THAT THEY CAN BE SAFE IN WHATEVER ENVIRONMENT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN.
UH, THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'VE SHARED IS THAT, UM, BY A CITY ORDINANCE, THERE WAS NO CAMPING ALLOWED AND HIGH WILDFIRE RISK AREAS.
UH, SO THAT INFORMATION, UH, STAYED IN 20 FEET AWAY FROM STRUCTURES.
UH, IF THEY'RE SETTING UP, UH, NO CAMPING IN WHAT'S CONSIDERED A DRAINAGE OR CREEK AREA ISSUES, THERE ARE THINGS LIKE FLASH FLOODING, AND WE DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO SET UP WHAT THEY PERCEIVED AS A SAFE PLACE TO NOT BE SAFE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM EDUCATION AND INFORMATION.
SO THEY KNOW NOT TO STEP IN A PLACE SUCH AS THAT I'M NOT BLOCKING THE EGRESS, THE EXITS FOR BUILDINGS, WHEREVER THEY SET UP.
UH, I CAMP, UH, THAT NO STRUCTURE OTHER THAN MEMBRANE TENTS ARE ALLOWED.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS AVOIDING THINGS LIKE PLYWOOD, PALLETS, UH, ADDITIONAL THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT CREATE A LARGER FIRE LOAD AND BURN RAPIDLY AND VERY HIGH.
AND SO YOUR CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FOLKS THAT WOULD BE IN THAT STRUCTURE, AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL SPREAD OF FIRE FROM THAT, UM, THE SEE NO FIRES OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED UNDER BRIDGES.
UH, THE, UH, THERE'VE BEEN INCIDENTS BEFORE ATLANTA, AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN CHIEF BAKER WAS THE FIRE CHIEF, THERE WERE A FIRE WAS SET, IT WAS SOME CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL, AND IT ENDED UP CAUSING THE BRIDGE TO COLLAPSE.
SO, WHICH THEN BECAME A, AN INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE FOR THE CITY BECAUSE IT AFFECTED THE ABILITY FOR COMMUTE FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO WORK.
UH, SO NOT ALLOW THAT NO FIRES WITHIN 25 FEET OF A COMBUSTIBLE.
THE CONCERN IS, AGAIN, FIRE SPREAD THERE, AND THE LIST GOES ON THINGS THERE THAT HELP PEOPLE TO, TO, UH, MAKE GOOD SAFE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND WHATEVER ENVIRONMENT THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN.
UH, THERE'S NOT A, UH, A PUNITIVE MEASURE, THIS IT'S IT'S INFORMATION SO THAT PEOPLE CAN MAKE GOOD CHOICES THERE.
UM, SO, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE AN APP THAT WE'RE HELPING WITH COLLECTING INFORMATION ABOUT, UH, WHERE SITES ARE.
SO THE HOST TEAMS CAN GO OUT AND VISIT AND SHARE THIS PARTICULAR INFORMATION.
AND ALSO, UH, LOOK FOR AS A, TO THE DAVIS OFFERED PATHS TO, TO, UM, UH, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW TO RESOLVE THEIR SITUATION AND GET THEM BACK INTO, UH, EITHER A JOB AND, OR A BETTER ARRANGEMENTS AS FAR AS LIVING.
UH, WE'VE ALSO BEEN A PART OF HELPING WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AS THEY'RE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS THEY'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY SANCTIONED PLACES MOVING FORWARD AND SETTING UP CRITERIA THERE, AS FAR AS FIRE SAFETY GOES, UH, THEIR PROXIMITY TO, UH, UH, WILDFIRE AREAS, UH, FORESTRY AREAS, THE ABILITY FOR US TO GET IN AND ADDRESS A FIRE WITH A BRUSH TRUCK, UH, AND OR THEIR PROXIMITY TO A HYDRANT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE LIFE SAFETY ASPECT, THOSE ARE SORT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE WORKED ON AND WITH OUR FIRE MARSHALS, OUR, OUR OPERATIONS CHIEF, AND WORKING WITH THE, UH, UH, THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE AS WELL.
YOU BET, CHIEF BROWN, ANYTHING TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
THIS IS JASPER BROWN, CHIEF OF STAFF WITH AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THOSE TEAM, UM, AND LIEUTENANT, UM, AND I'LL, UM, MENTIONED EARLIER PHASES.
THEY'VE BEEN WITH THE CHP HAS BEEN WITH THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH THOSE ENCAMPMENTS.
UM, AND WE CONTINUE TO, UH, PARTICIPATE WITH THEM AND BE PART OF THAT.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN PART OF THE HEAL INITIATIVE AND HOUSING PEOPLE.
UM, SO, UM, WE'RE JUST WITH THAT PARTNERSHIP AND, AND PARTICIPATING IN ALL OF THOSE, UM, AREAS THAT ARE HIT ARE, UH, ARE VISITED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CHIEF BROWN.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT BELIEVE WE HAVE OUR, UH, NONPROFIT COMMUNITY MEMBER, UH, ON THE LINE, MAYBE CHECK CITY HALL, UH, AB MY CORRECT BY SAYING THAT
[00:55:01]
I DON'T KNOW THERE WAS ACTUALLY NO ONE CALLED IN RIGHT NOW, SO I THINK YOU'RE CORRECT.UM, SO, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT TO QUESTIONS.
AND IF, UM, MS. JOSEPH JOINS, WE CAN HAVE HER, UM, START.
SO, UM, MY FIRST QUESTION IS TO YOU, MR. BRYCE, IF I CAN START.
UM, SO WE HEARD LIEUTENANT DAVIS, GIVE US THE PRESENTATION, TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PHASES AND, UM, HIS IMPRESSION IS THAT IT'S GOING WELL, AND IT'S GOING SMOOTHLY.
CAN YOU GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE? IF THAT'S SOMETHING, IF YOU'VE BEEN, UM, IMPACTED BY THE, THE, THE PROGRESS THAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN WITH PROMPT
I THINK THE LIEUTENANT CANON HAS SPOKEN TO THAT.
UM, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THIS IS A PRIMARY CONCERN OF THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE.
THOSE WE REPRESENT PEOPLE THAT OWN AND MANAGE, UH, AND OCCUPIED PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, PARTICULARLY AMONG OUR VISITORS INDUSTRY.
UH, WE RECOGNIZE THERE ARE STILL IN THE, THE, THE SLIDE THAT I SHOWED EARLIER REPRESENTS THERE, THERE ARE STILL A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING SHELTERED HOMELESSNESS.
I THINK THE KEY QUESTION THAT MUST BE ANSWERED, UH, IS, IS ONE THAT THE LIEUTENANT BROUGHT UP, BUT I WILL EMPHASIZE, AND THAT IS WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO? AND WE HAVE YET, AFTER TWO YEARS OF CHANGING THE ORDINANCES, JUNE 20TH, 2019, NOW CHANGING THEM BACK, UH, STILL HAVE NOT A PLAN TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO AND DOWNTOWN AUSTIN ALLIANCE, AND I PERSONALLY WORK EVERY DAY, UH, TO ADDRESS THAT VERY QUESTION IN TERMS OF ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED PLANNING AND POLICY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, WHICH WE ARE STILL NOT THERE WITH AS A COMMUNITY.
UH, THE QUESTION OF WHERE SANCTIONED PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GO DESIGNATED IN CAMP MINTS OR OTHER, UH, RESOURCE FACILITIES CAN BE, UH, ALWAYS RECEIVES CONSTANT PUSHBACK ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UH, CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, UH, PEOPLE IF IN OUR COMMUNITY, IF WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE LIVING ON SHELTERED, UNDER BRIDGES, IN OUR PARKS AND OUR WOODS, GREENSPACE HIGH FIRE DANGER, FLOOD RISK AREAS, THEN WE'VE GOT TO SAY YES TO HAVING APPROPRIATE FACILITIES FOR THEM TO BE.
AND WE'VE GOT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AS A CITY, WE CAN MANAGE THAT EFFECTIVELY.
AND SO KEEPING THOSE AREAS SAFE, ENSURING THEY DON'T GLIDE A NEIGHBORHOOD, ENSURING THAT THEY ARE WELL MANAGED IS ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO ARE, WHO ARE POTENTIALLY MANAGING, OPERATING AND OVERSEEING THOSE SITES, INCLUDING THE CITY.
SO, UM, FOR ME, THAT'S A KEY QUESTION THAT MUST BE ANSWERED, UH, OTHERWISE, UH, WE, WE ARE TELLING PEOPLE YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE AND WE CAN'T TELL THEM WHERE THEY CAN GO.
SO, UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT, UM, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, PROPOSITION B WAS ABOUT MORE THAN CAMPING AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S TALKED ABOUT A LOT LESS, BUT, UH, THE, THE, UH, REINSTATEMENT OF THE AGGRESSIVE SOLICITATION LAWS ALSO WENT INTO EFFECT AS DID THE ORDINANCE AGAINST SITTING IN LINE IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY.
WE SEE LITTLE ENFORCEMENT OF THOSE ORDINANCES HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT APD AND LIEUTENANT, YOU CAN CONFIRM IF YOU'D LIKE IT'S TAKING A FAITH IN APPROACH TO ALL OF IT.
UM, NOT JUST, NOT JUST CAMPING, UM, BUT, UH, THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT ARE TURNING AWAY, VISITORS THAT ARE CONCERNING TENANTS RESIDENTS, PEOPLE THAT ARE, UH, UH, OCCUPYING OFFICE SPACE AND OTHER BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, BUT ALSO, UM, BY VIRTUE OF ALL OF THIS FUNDING, THE TAX BASE THAT PROVIDES THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED.
AND SO WE ALSO CANNOT ALLOW IN OUR CITY FOR THAT TAX BASE TO BE ERODED THAT IS SO DESPERATELY NEEDED TO FUND THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.
AND SO WE CAN'T OVERLOOK THAT EITHER.
THEY'RE WELCOMING MR. COMMISSIONER RAMIREZ, PLEASE.
YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAD A LONG LIST OF QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.
UM, ONE IS THAT, UM, LIEUTENANT DAVIS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE'S BEEN A 28% REDUCTION IN TENTS, AND I AM WONDERING IF THE CITY IS DOING ANY, UM, TRACKING WITH REGARDS TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING, BECAUSE I KEEP THINKING ABOUT WITH CHIEF FIRE SAID, LIKE, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO END UP IN CREEK BEDS.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO END UP IN WATERWAYS.
AND SO THE TENTS ARE 28% LESS TENSE, BUT WHERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE GOING? BECAUSE 28% THAT ENDED UP IN HOMES.
SO I'M WONDERING HOW THE CITY IS TRACKING THAT.
SO, UM, SO THE, IT WAS 21%, I BELIEVE WAS THE 21, UM, 21.
UM, I'LL HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS, WHAT
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WE'RE DOING, WE'RE GOING BACK TO LIKE, WHERE THEY'RE LIKE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A TENT WHERE IT'S BEEN DISCARDED AND OBVIOUSLY ABANDONED.WE'RE, WE'LL, WE'LL GO OUT AND DO OUTREACH, AND THEN WE'LL PUT MATERIAL ON A TENT, WE'LL MARK THE TENT AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
BUT EVERYTHING'S WHERE WAS, WAS ONCE LEFT OR B YOU COULD OBVIOUSLY DAMAGE HER, OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER EXISTENCE.
SO, OR THE FOLKS THERE WAS A, HEY, THAT PERSON LEFT.
THEY WENT WITH SO-AND-SO OR THEY JUST, THEY, THEY JUST VACATED.
SO AT THAT POINT, WE'LL RECOGNIZE IT.
THERE NO ONE THERE, THIS IS AN ABANDONED ACCOUNT.
NOW PUBLIC WORKS DOES ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF TRASH BRUSH DEBRIS BUILT THERE UNDER THE OVERPASS UNDER PASSES.
SO IF THEY CAN FIND A OBVIOUSLY DAMAGED ABANDONED TEMP, THEN THERE ARE GOING TO REMOVE THAT AS WELL.
SO, UM, AS FAR AS THE DATA COLLECTION, THE OFFICERS ARE JUST BASICALLY GOING OUT TO PARTICULAR LOCATIONS, SEND THIS HAP THIS X AMOUNT OF TENTS ON MONDAY, THURSDAY, THERE WERE X AMOUNT OF TENTS.
AND THEN MY SECOND FOLLOW-UP QUESTION WAS ALSO REALLY BRIEF, AND IT WAS JUST ABOUT, UM, DATA TRACKING AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION THAT YOU'RE TRACKING THE PERCENTAGE OF THAT, THAT YOU'RE COMING ACROSS.
AND I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S BEING TRACKING OF YOUTH AND FAMILY UNITS WITHIN THOSE NUMBERS AS WELL.
CAUSE THAT'S IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF FIGURING OUT WHAT KINDS OF HOUSING, UM, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE SURE.
AND LET ME, LET ME ALSO EMPHASIZE THAT WHEN I, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEING HARM FOCUSED, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER VARIABLES WE'RE CONSIDERING EVEN IN ENFORCEMENT.
UM, WE DON'T WANT TO BREAK UP FOLKS THAT HAVE FORMED FAMILY, A STRUCTURE AROUND, WE DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH DISPLACEMENT OR PEOPLE THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY ABOUT TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
UM, AND SO, SO WHEN WE'RE COMING THERE, UM, UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT LAWS HAVE CHANGED.
WE'RE WE'RE, THEY'RE TRYING TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
THAT'S WHY WE CAME UP WITH A RESPONSIBLE PLAN.
UM, I SAY THAT TO SAY THAT, UM, UM, WE CAN PULL LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA.
CAUSE WHEN YOU, IF, WHEN YOU WRITE A WRITTEN, UM, UH, WRITTEN, UH, WARNING, THE SAME DATA THAT YOU WOULD USE TO, IF YOU WROTE A WRITTEN WARNING FOR ANY, ANYTHING ELSE IS ENTERED INTO OUR TRACKING DATABASE.
SO THE INFORMATION I PRESENTED YOU AS OUTSIDE IS EXTRA INFORMATION OUTSIDE WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY TRACK.
YOU CAN START BREAKING DATA DOWN, UM, UM, JUST BY INFORMATION THAT'S ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEMS. I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL THAT, UM, THE INFORMATION I SHARE, IT WAS WHAT WE CALL A LISTEN REPORT, BECAUSE AS WE'RE AT AT, UM, SOMETIMES DATA DOESN'T REFLECT COMMUNITY SENTIMENT OR WHAT'S ACTUALLY OUT THERE.
SO WHILE I HAVE THE OFFICERS OUT THERE, I'M TELLING THEM, DON'T JUST RIGHT.
I GOT ONE PERSON, THIS X AMOUNT OF AGE, THIS, UH, LET'S LISTEN AND SEE WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ACTUALLY SEEING AND ALL GOOD.
ALL NEWS, ALL GOOD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO PUSH FOLKS FURTHER BACK IN, UH, WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE THAT SERVICE DISRUPTION AND WE TO, UM, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TELL A STORY THAT'S TRUE OR THAN JUST WHAT RAW DATA SHOWS.
UH, COMMISSIONER KICKOFF, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YEAH, A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, UH, IN REGARDS TO, UH, LIEUTENANT DAVIS, HIS PRESENTATION, YOU MENTIONED, UH, A SITE FOR THE PEOPLE TO GO TO ONCE WE DO HAVE TO RELOCATE THEM.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CITY IS CURRENTLY EVALUATING TWO SITES.
WHERE ARE THOSE SITES? I DO NOT KNOW OF THE TWO CURRENT SITES THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT OR THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
UM, I DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SITES, UH, I THINK ESPERON THE CROSSING THAT'S AVAILABLE AND THE, UH, UH, I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION, SIR.
AND, UH, AND CHIEF BUYERS, ARE YOU THE CONTACT PERSON, UH, WITH AAF THE, UH, FOR THESE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT ARE IN, UH, THESE FIVE RISK AREAS THAT YOU MENTIONED? YES, SIR.