[CALL TO ORDER ]
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IN THAT CASE, I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S 9:00 AM AND WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL.
UM, MEMBERS OF THE ORDER THAT WILL GO IN TODAY IS WE'LL THAT WE WON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AT THE BEGINNING BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
WE WILL GO TO ITEM ONE, WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES IN A MOMENT.
THEN WE WILL HAVE DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT MEMBERS.
WE HAVE 17 SPEAKERS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM AND, UM, THEY'LL HAVE EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES A PIECE, UH, TO SPEAK TO US.
UH, ITEM NUMBER THREE WILL BE A STAFFING UPDATE, AND WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE FOR THAT.
AND ITEM NUMBER FOUR WILL BE A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES UPDATE.
UH, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO TO
[1. Approve the minutes of the Public Safety Committee meeting of January 10, 2023. ]
ITEM NUMBER ONE AND IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING ON JANUARY 10TH? IT IS, UH, THE MOTION IS MADE TO APPROVE THOSE MINUTES BY COUNCIL MEMBER VELA SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? NO OBJECTION.
[2. Discussion and possible action on public safety issues in the Rainey Street district. ]
THE DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES IN THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT DISTRICT.UM, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE SPEAKERS COME FIRST, AS I SAID A MINUTE AGO, WE'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES EACH FOR, UH, THE SPEAKERS AND I WILL ASK, UM, OUR STAFF TO HELP US OUT IN GOING FORWARD WITH THE SPEAKERS AND I WELCOME ALL OF THEM.
FIRST, IS JAY REYES HERE IN PERSON? NO.
IS THERE A JAY REYES ONLINE? DO WE HAVE A JOHN ALIMA ALI MAMA? AND WE CAN RUN THROUGH THIS LIST AGAIN.
DO WE HAVE A TARA HODA, H O D A? LET'S LET TARA HODA SPEAK.
UM, I AM HERE TO, TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JASON AND ASK THAT, UM, YOU CONSIDER SOME CHANGES TO, UH, THE TRAIL.
SO UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL HAVE TO LIVE, UH, WITH A MYSTERY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, NOT KNOWING HOW OR WHY MY PARTNER FELL INTO THE WATER AND DROWNED HIS DEATH AND WILL HAVE TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE WITHOUT THE PEACE OF MIND OF KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FINAL MINUTES OF HIS SHORT LIFE.
NOBODY ELSE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS LACK OF CLOSURE, AND IT COULD ALL HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH CAMERAS AND LIGHTS ON THE TRAIL.
JASON WAS A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY I LOVED BY EVERYONE HE MET.
HE LOVED HIS LIFE AND HE LOVED THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
HE WAS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY CONVINCED ME TO MOVE WITH HIM IN 2020 AFTER I TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM TO MOVE TO SALT LAKE CITY.
I HAVE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO LOSE A PERSON YOU LOVE AND HAVE PLANNED TO BUILD A LIFE WITH AT 30 YEARS OLD, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, WE CAN ENSURE THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS TO EXPERIENCE THIS PAIN.
I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT AGAINST LIFE ON THE TRAIL DUE TO HABITAT DISTURBANCE.
I'M A WILDLIFE CONSERVATIONIST BY PROFESSION, AND I'M CURRENTLY IN A GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM AT THE YALE SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION.
THERE'S VALUE IN KEEPING PARTS OF THE HIKE AND BY TRAIL DARK TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO THAT IN A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREA RIGHT NEXT TO A MAJOR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN AUSTIN.
AND YOU DON'T LET JASON JUST BE ANOTHER NAME ADDED TO THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED ON THE ANNIN ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
MANY PEOPLE HAD TO BE SACRIFICED FOR THIS CHANGE TO COME, BUT PLEASE MAKE JASON THE LAST BY INSTALLING CAMERAS ON THIS PORTION OF THE ANNIN ROY BUTLER HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL.
AND WE'RE SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US TODAY.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, UH, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, BUT WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MAYOR PRO TIM PAGE ELLIS, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON AL ALTER ON, ON, UH, REMOTELY.
AND WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN AL ALTAR IN PERSON.
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PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER, A CHACO GIAN LUKUH, MY NAME IS LUCA RANO AND I WAS AM AND WILL FOREVER BE A FRIEND OF JASON JOHN.
THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT PERIODS OF MY LIFE.
TO GO FROM SHARING LASTING MEMORIES ONE MINUTE TO THEN SEARCHING COUNTLESS HOURS ANOTHER, AND THEN FINDING OUT THE WORST OUTCOME.
ALL WITHIN AN EIGHT DAY SPAN WAS PAINFUL TO SAY THE LEAST, TO TO HEAR THE CRYING SCREAM OF A LOVING MOTHER, THE SOFT CRYING OF A HEARTBROKEN FATHER.
AND TO FEEL THE UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING OF A DEVASTATED PARTNER ARE THINGS I WISH NO ONE IN THIS WORLD HAS TO EXPERIENCE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR THE CITY'S INVESTMENT AND PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES AROUND LADYBIRD LAKE NEAR RAINY STREET.
WE NEED LIGHTING, CAMERAS AND EMERGENCY BLUE LIGHT STATIONS TO BE INSTALLED IN THIS AREA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID THIS TERRIBLE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
IT PAINS ME TO SAY THROUGH SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AS US, AND YET STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.
I KNOW YOU ALL DIDN'T KNOW JASON PERSONALLY, BUT IF YOU DID, YOU KNOW WHY SO MANY OF US CAME TO THE AID OF HIS FAMILY AND THEIR TIME OF NEED.
LIFE WAS TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
AND HOW HE FOUND IT BY DOING IT TO JASON WAY, WHICH WAS BY MAKING OTHERS FEEL SAFE.
TRULY HONOR JASON AND THE LEGACY HAS LEFT BEHIND IS TO CONTINUE HIS PURPOSE AND HELP MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER AND SAFER PLACE.
TODAY, UM, I AM ALSO, UH, I'VE KNOWN JASON MY ENTIRE LIFE.
WE GREW UP TOGETHER AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF, UM, EVERYONE THAT LOVES AND CARES ABOUT JASON TO URGE THIS COMMITTEE TO PUT IN PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES ON LADY LAKE.
UM, AS A FEW OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, THERE'S NO REASON WHY ANY OTHER FAMILY SHOULD LOSE THEIR LOVED ONE BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ADEQUATE LIGHTING, ADEQUATE CAMERAS, OR ANY OTHER SAFETY MEASURES PLACED IN THE AREA THAT IS SO HIGHLY TRAFFICKED.
WE ARE URGING YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CONSIDER THAT ALL WE'RE ASKING IS TO PUT UP SOME LIGHTS AND A LITTLE BIT OF SAFETY.
SO WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HONOR JASON'S MEMORY IN MAKING SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE AND TO REALLY MAKE AUSTIN A SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS JEN, AND I'M A FRIEND OF JASON AND HIS PARTNER TARA.
I'VE RECENTLY LEARNED THAT AUSTIN HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST CRIME RATES IN AMERICA COMPARED TO COMMUNITIES OF ITS SIZE.
ONE CHANCE OF BECOMING A VICTIM OF CRIME IS ONE IN 24.
SAFETY IS BOTH A HUMAN RIGHT AND A HUMAN NEED.
WHILE THE TOPIC OF SAFETY IS BROAD, I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON PHYSICAL SAFETY ON LAKE PATH.
IN 2020, AUSTIN BEGAN AN INITIATIVE TO RE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.
THIS INITIATIVE INCLUDED GATHERING FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY RATE THEIR SAFETY.
OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED LESS THAN HALF REPORTED FILLING, THEIR SAFETY WAS GOOD.
WITH THE MAJORITY REPORTING, THEIR SAFETY FELT FAIR OR POOR.
WHILE IMPRESSIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN AUSTIN HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE TRANSITION TO FOCUS ON REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, NONE OF THE MEASURES FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE WELL-KNOWN PATH.
THE ANN AND ROY BUTLER TRAIL IS NOT ONLY PITCHED BLACK AT NIGHT, BUT IT IS COVERED IN TREES AND SHRUBBERY BLOCKING MUCH OF THE TRAIL FROM THE PUBLIC ROADS.
WITHOUT PROPER LIGHTING AND EMERGENCY LIGHTS, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO GO MISSING.
WHILE THE CONVERSATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IS A SEPARATE TOPIC, I FIRMLY TESTIFY THAT NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO LOSE THEIR PARTNER, BROTHER, SON, AND FRIEND TO QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES.
HAD THERE BEEN MORE TRACTION ON THE PREVIOUS PUBLIC REQUESTS OF SAFETY MEASURES ON THIS TRAIL, IT UNDOUBTEDLY COULD HAVE SAVED JASON'S LIFE, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDED JUSTICE, JUSTICE TO JASON FOR THE UNFORTUNATE WAY HE LEFT.
THE SAFETY OF THOSE ENJOYING THE PATH IS A NON-NEGOTIABLE.
TWO THINGS THAT WILL STRENGTHEN PUBLIC
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SAFETY.FOR THOSE THAT HAVE LOST, THAT MAY SO THAT NO MORE, MORE MAY LOSE THEIR LIVES IS ONE RAPID RESPONSE PLANNING, WHICH INCLUDES EMERGENCY BLUE LIGHTS ON THE TRAIL, AND TWO, INTEGRATING LIGHT ON THE BOARDWALK TRAIL.
YOU'LL EXPERIENCE A PATH COMPLETELY WET 24 7.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS NOT TO ALSO BE THE CASE ON THE TRAIL PATH.
ADDING LIGHT FOR THOSE USING THE PATH AT NIGHT IS A SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE APPROACH WITH THE EFFORTS OF THE TRAIL CONSERVATIVE PROJECT IN FULL SWING, THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT LIGHTING AND OTHER PUBLIC AND SAFETY MEASURES AS LONG PAST DUE AND SHOULD URGENTLY BE IMPLEMENTED.
WE'LL RUN THROUGH THIS LIST AGAIN AT THE END.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, MIRANDA ZIMMER.
JOHN HANI MASU CHACO LOVE LIFE.
SORRY, I DIDN'T HAVE YOU UNMUTED.
UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
UH, I'M A COUSIN OF JASON JOHN, AND, UH, I WANTED TO SPEAK BECAUSE THIS PROPOSAL IS NEON DEAR TO MY HEART.
AS JASON WAS, UH, JASON WAS SOMEONE THAT, THAT LOVED LIFE.
HE LOVED HIS FAMILY, HE LOVED HIS FRIENDS, HE LOVED HIS PARTNER TARA, AND HE LOVED HIS DOG RUFFLE.
UH, HE WAS A FREE SPIRIT AND ANYONE THAT MET HIM JUST INSTANTLY LIKED HIM.
UH, TO ME HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER.
UH, HE WAS ALSO LIKE AN UNCLE TO MY KIDS.
UH, ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS ATTENDS, UH, TEXAS STATE AND SAN MARCOS, AND HE OFFERED TO BE THE, UH, UH, THE EMERGENCY CONTACT, IF ANYTHING, IF SHE NEEDED ANYTHING.
UH, MY SON IS PLANNING ON ATTENDING UT AUSTIN NEXT YEAR, AND HE OFFERED TO BE, UH, KEEP AN EYE ON HIM FOR ME, UH, AND ALSO HELP HIM WITH ANYTHING.
HE OFFERED HIS HIS PLACE TO STAY WHEN, UH, THEY WANTED TO ATTEND AUSTIN CITY LIMITS LAST YEAR.
HE WAS VERY GENEROUS, VERY KIND.
UM, I MEAN, IT, IT, I'M SURE THE REST OF HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY HAVE EXPRESSED THIS AND HOW, HOW MUCH OF A LOSS, UH, THE THE HURT AND LOSS THAT WE FEEL, UH, WITH HIM BEING GONE.
BUT WE FEEL THAT THIS LOSS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED.
UH, AS EVERYONE MENTIONED IT, ANNE AND ROY BUTLER, TRAIL BY LADY BIRD LAKE HAS LIGHTING, NO CAMERAS, NOT EVEN EMERGENCY BLUE LIGHT TOWERS.
UH, EVEN THOUGH THIS AREA BY RAINY STREET IS A POPULAR WALKWAY FOR MANY PATRONS AT NIGHT.
UH, SINCE HIS JASON'S DISAPPEARANCE AND DEATH, I'VE ALSO COME TO LEARN THAT HE WAS NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO LIVE THIS LIFE IN THAT LAKE.
UH, THERE HAD BEEN OTHERS BEFORE.
AND, AND IF NOTHING IS DONE, THERE WILL BE COUNTLESS OTHERS.
SOME PLEADING WITH YOU TODAY FOR THE SAKE OF HUMAN LIFE TO INSTALL LIGHTS AND CAMERAS ON THE TRAIL TOILE PLAY, AND TO GIVE PEDESTRIANS A SAFER EXPERIENCE WHEN WALKING IN THAT AREA AFTER DARK.
PLEASE DO THIS NOT JUST FOR JASON AND THE OTHERS THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN LATE BEFOREHAND, BUT FOR ALL FUTURE SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SIBLINGS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY WALK IN THAT AREA IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TIME THAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'LL PASS THIS PROPOSAL.
IS IT THE THREE 20 NUMBER? YES, MA'AM.
I'M A FAMILY FRIEND OF THE JOHN FAMILY AND A BEST FRIEND OF TARA HODA, HIS PARTNER.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND ACTIONS NEEDED ON THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT.
I'M REFERENCING FIGURE FIVE DASH EIGHT CURRENT LIGHTING CONDITIONS, WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 41 OF ONE 17 ON THE 2021 SAFETY AND MOBILITY STUDY ON THE LADY BOARD, BUT IT SHOWS THE ENTRANCE OF RAINY AT THE HIGH PRIORITY AREA OF CONCERN DEEMED BY THE PUBLIC.
AS YOU CONTINUE ALONG THE PATH TOWARDS I 35, THERE ARE MORE UNLIT AND PUBLIC AREAS OF CONCERN.
IT IS CLEARED EXACTLY WHERE THE DISAPPEARANCE FROM THE DEATH OF MARTIN GUTIERREZ AND MY FRIEND JASON JOHN, AND MORE THAN THAN 10 OTHERS OCCURRED ARE THE PLACES OF CONCERN FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE NEED SAFETY MEASURE MEASURES SUCH AS EMERGENCY BLUE, LIGHT BOXES, WORKING CAMERAS AND LIGHTS IN THESE AREAS.
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I'M AWARE THAT THERE ARE STANDARDS AND PROTOCOLS THAT GO INTO PLACING THESE CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURES INTO THE GROUND.HOWEVER, IT HAS NOW BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE STUDY WAS PUBLISHED AND AFTER MY CONVERSATION WITH PAR AND MATERIAL CONSERVANCY, IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT EVEN LONGER FOR MORE PROPOSALS BEFORE ANY WORK CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE.
HOW IS IT THAT THE DEATH OF MARTIN GUTIERREZ OCCURRED IN 2018 AND ONE YEAR LATER IN 2019, CHRISTIAN PEW SURVIVED A HORRIFIC FALL, OR JUST AS PAST JULY, JOSH CROW WAS FOUND BY THE I 35 BRIDGE, BUT NO PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE.
HOW IS IT THAT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN HAVE ASKED FOR CHANGE, BUT YEARS LATER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE? I'M HERE NOT ONLY TO SAY THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, BUT ASK THAT OUR VOICES WILL NOT ONCE AGAIN FALL ONTO DEATH.
MITCHELL GUTIERREZ BEGGED FOR LIGHTS AND CAMERAS FOUR YEARS AGO, BUT HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN ADVOCATING FOR THE SAME THING.
IF YOU HAVE LISTENED TO HIS CONCERNS, THEN MAYBE JASON WOULD BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW, OR AT THE LEAST WE WOULD KNOW WHAT HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM.
THESE DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN LADY BIRD LAKE ARE ON THE HANDS OF THE CITY OFFICIALS THAT HAVE IGNORED PUBLIC PLEA FOR CHANGE IN THE LAST FIVE DAYS.
WE'VE COLLECTED OVER 1700 SIGNATURES TO RALLY FOR THIS CHANGE, AND WE ARE JUST GETTING STARTED.
SO I'M HERE NOW TO HOLD ALL OF YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS CHANGE.
AGAIN, I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROTOCOL FOR ESTABLISHING THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT I ASKED FOR A FORMAL TIMELINE, ADDING RICE AND CAMERAS, INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY BLUE BOXES, PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SECTION BETWEEN SPEAKER.
YOUR TIME IS EXPIRED, SHOULD BE A PRIORITY.
WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PHONE NUMBERS AND WE'RE GONNA ASK THEM TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS WE UNMUTE THEM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE ONLINE, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE OF THEIR NAMES, SO WE'LL HAVE THEM IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS, BUT THERE'RE PEOPLE THAT WOULD WOULD'VE SIGNED UP ALREADY.
I'LL ASK YOU TO UNMUTE 5 12 9 23 AND SPEAKER, IF YOU'LL IDENTIFY YOURSELF, AND THEN WE'LL START YOUR TIME.
WE'LL COME TO, WE'LL COME BACK TO THAT SPEAKER.
WE'LL UNMUTE 9 1 4 3 2 OH SPEAKER IF YOU'D IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND THEN WE'LL START YOUR TIME.
I AM THE ELDEST BROTHER OF JASON JOHN.
UH, ONCE WE FOUND THAT, UH, JASON WAS MISSING, UH, IT WAS INSTANT PANIC FOR OUR FAMILY.
UH, WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
UH, AND THEN THE MANY DAYS AFTER THAT WE WERE SEARCHING FOR HIM.
ALL I COULD THINK WAS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.
WE SHOULD NOT BE SEARCHING FOR MY BROTHER DAY AFTER DAY WITHOUT ANY SORT OF KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WHEREABOUTS OR WHAT OCCURRED.
UM, AND AS I DUG DEEP WITH THE HELP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UM, AND SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, THEY HAVE PLEADED, THEY HAVE CRIED, UH, THEY HAVE FOUGHT TO GET SOME CHANGE AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.
AND NOW WE ARE COMING WITH THE STRENGTH OF NUMBERS AND WE'RE ASKING FOR CHANGE.
THERE HAS TO BE LIGHTS IN PLACE EVEN ON A, UH, A SENSOR BASIS.
THERE HAS TO BE SOME SORT OF, UH, CAMERA SET UP.
HI, MY NAME IS MIRANDA ZIMMER LEE.
UM, JASON WITH MY GOOD FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR.
AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE IN HIS MEMORY AND IN HIS LEGACY.
UM, THE FACT THAT HE ISN'T HERE RIGHT NOW STILL FEELS SURREAL.
WE'RE HERE TODAY ASKING FOR SAFETY MEASURES BOTH ON THE TRAIL AND AT THE BARS, STARTING WITH THE TRAILS.
I'VE LONG EXPRESSED HOW UNBELIEVABLE IT IS THAT HAS SUCH A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AND POPULAR TRAIL, AND AUSTIN DOESN'T HAVE BETTER LIGHTING, NOT JUST REMOTE PARTS OF THE TRAIL AT STEPPING OUT OF MY APARTMENT AT 6:00 PM IN THE WINTER AND HITTING A PATCH SO DARK, JUST TWO MINUTES INTO MY WALK THAT I HAVE TO TURN AROUND BECAUSE I FEEL SO UNSAFE.
AND WE ALL KNOW HOW PITCH BLACKETT IS AT NIGHT, WHERE JASON WENT MISSING, WHICH IS ALSO RIGHT BY APARTMENTS AND HOTELS.
THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR IT TO BE UNLIT.
UM, WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE, I WAS WARNED OF TWO THINGS.
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GO RUNNING ON THE TRAIL IN THE EARLY MORNINGS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT GET RAPED AND BE CAREFUL AT THE BAR.SO THERE'S A LOT OF ROOFING GOING ON, ESPECIALLY ON RAINY AND WEST SIXTH.
I WANTED TO LAUGH IT OFF AS URBAN LEGEND, BUT I GOOGLED BOTH AND NUMEROUS ARTICLES AND REDDIT THREADS EXIST THAT CLEARLY ARTICULATE THIS ISSUE.
I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO GOOGLE THOSE AND READ THOSE STORIES THAT PEOPLE HAVE FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS, UM, BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW OR WHY JASON OR ANY OF THESE OTHER MEN ENDED UP IN THE WATER.
WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMPLEX SITUATION AND BUDGETS AND STAFFING ISSUES ARE CHALLENGES, BUT THE CITY IS MAKING MONEY OFF OF TOURISM AND THE GROWTH THAT'S HAPPENING IN AUSTIN.
AND SOME OF THAT MONEY NEEDS TO GO BACK INTO COMMON SENSE SAFETY PROTOCOLS LIKE LIGHTING CAMERAS, EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON THE TRAIL.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRAIL CON CONSERVANCY HAS SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE THAT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING WHILE ALSO PROTECTING WILDLIFE.
EVEN IF THAT SOLUTION COSTS MORE, I BELIEVE IT IS WORTH IT.
JASON, LOVE NATURE AS THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE TRAIL USERS AND A SOLUTION THAT PROTECTS BOTH WILL HELP KEEP NATURE LOVERS AND SAFETY LOVERS HAPPY ALIKE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE LOVED ONES THAT YOU WANT TO PROTECT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU PUSH THESE CHANGES, UM, IN HONOR OF JASON AND OTHERS WHOSE LIVES WERE CUT SHORT IN SIMILAR WAYS AND ALSO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO ANYONE ELSE IN THE FUTURE.
CAN YOU PLEASE CONFIRM IF YOU CAN HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
UH, AS MENTIONED, MY NAME IS VAON VAY.
I AM A COUSIN BROTHER OF JASON JOHN.
UH, I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR GIVING, UH, GIVING ME AND US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU.
UH, LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL FOR ALL OF US, FOR ALL OF JASON'S FRIEND AND FAMILY.
AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PAINFUL PERIOD LAST FEW WEEKS, WE ALSO HAD A CHANCE TO MEET OTHER FAMILY, ME, OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAD LOST THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
IN LADYBIRD LAKE AUSTIN IS A FAST GROWING CITY KNOWN FOR ITS WELCOMING COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROWTH OF THE TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
BUT 50 AND SECURITY ARE A MAJOR PRIORITY.
AS OTHERS MENTIONED BEFORE ME ON THIS CALL, LADY BIRD LAKE AND THE TRAIL AROUND IT, IT'S EXTREMELY DARK EVEN THOUGH IT IS SO CLOSE TO THE, TO THE CORE OF THE CITY LIFE AND THE NIGHTLIFE OF RAINY STREET, UH, WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN JOGGING.
A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE JOGGING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, BUT AT NIGHT IT'S COMPLETELY PITCH DARK.
WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF EVENINGS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, LOT OF NIGHTS ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT LOOKING FOR JASON.
AND WE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW EXTREMELY DARK IT GETS THERE.
WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU ALL TO PLEASE CONSIDER TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS TO GET NEW STREET LIGHTS INSTALLED, TO GET, UH, EMERGENCY BLUE BOXES INSTALLED AND IF POSSIBLE, TO INSTALL SECURITY CAMERAS SO THAT WE CAN AVOID ANOTHER INCIDENT LIKE THIS HAPPENING SO THAT WE CAN AVOID ANOTHER CASUALTY, SO THAT WE CAN AVOID ANOTHER FAMILY SUFFERING FROM SUCH DEEP PAIN, OFTEN OF A FAMILY MEMBER BEING LOST EARLY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, BUT PLEASE, WE ALL REQUEST THAT YOU EXPEDITE THE PROCESS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THESE WORDS WERE REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE SEARCH FOR JASON IS RIDICULOUS.
AND THE REASON WE HAD TO SEARCH FOR THE CAMERA FOOTAGE FROM SURROUNDING AREAS IS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PRESENCE OF LIGHT NOR CAMERAS DEDICATED TO THE TRAIL ITSELF.
AND IF THERE HAD BEEN, I TRULY BELIEVE JASON COULD HAVE BEEN FOUND MUCH, MUCH SOONER.
I WANT TO KEEP THIS SHORT BECAUSE IT'S HEARTBREAKING THAT WE ARE HERE SAYING THIS AFTER LOSING JASON WHO WAS A BROTHER, A FRIEND, A SON, AND A GIVER.
AND AS A GIVER, I KNOW THAT IF JASON WERE HERE AND IT WERE SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAD GONE MISSING, HE'D BE HERE PLEADING FOR THE SAME THING.
SO LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN TO ANYONE BY INSTALLING LIGHTS AND
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CAMERAS AND BLUE LIGHT BLOCK BOXES ALONGSIDE THE TRAIL OF LADY BIRD LAKE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'D LIKE TO GO BACK TO ONE ONLINE SPEAKER THAT MAY HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE TECHNOLOGY.
IF YOU'LL UNMUTE THAT SPEAKER.
AND ON DECK IN PERSON WILL BE CHRISTOPHER PUGH.
CALLER, CAN YOU HEAR US? 5 1 2 9 2 3.
HI, MY NAME IS GIE JOHNSON AND I HAVE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS.
UM, UM, AND, AND WE DO USE, UM, THE LADYBIRD, UM, JOHNSON LAKE FOR PADDLE BOARDING AND, UM, AND KAYAKING DURING DAYTIME.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO ARE 27 AND 23 YEARS OLD.
I BLATANTLY REQUEST THEM NOT TO GO TO THE TRAIL AT NIGHT BECAUSE ON AND OFF I HEAR DEATH AND RAPE AND UM, AND ASSAULT ON THE, ON THE TRAIL.
UM, JASON IS A FAMILY FRIEND OF OURS AND IT WAS SO EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRIEF OF THE JASON'S FAMILY.
AND I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST LOUD ONES ON THE TRAIN, ON UN UH, UH, IN, IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE, UH, THAT THE CITY INSTALL CAMERAS AND LIGHTS AND HAVE, UH, THE, THE AREA VERY SAFE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN GO TO THE TRAIL AND ENJOY THE TRAIL DURING NIGHTTIME AND EVENING TIMES.
AND ALSO, I WOULD REQUEST TO ADD SOME KIND OF SECURITY PERSON, UM, UNTIL THE LIGHTS AND CAMERAS ARE INSTALLED, UM, SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY THE LAKE.
UH, WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A TRAIL WHICH IS SO DANGEROUS FOR, FOR THE CITIZENS TO USE? AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND IT IS, UH, UH, THE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT OR THE CITY COUNCIL OR WHOEVER IS GOVERNING THAT AREA TO HAVE, UH, THE PLACE AND ALL OTHER TRAILS, UH, SAFE FOR HUMAN BEINGS TO, TO UH, TO USE AND ENJOY.
AND, UH, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING US, UH, THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND, UM, AND TALK ON THIS ISSUE.
NEXT SPEAKER IS IN PERSON, CHRISTOPHER PUGH.
MY SON CHRISTIAN PUGH WENT MISSING OFF THE RAINEY STREET, UH, UH, STATE, UH, STREET, UH, BACK IN, UH, NOVEMBER 16TH, 2019.
UH, WE SPENT A LITTLE OVER SIX WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL, UH, IN BETWEEN A NEURO REHABILITATION FACILITY AND THE, UH, INTENSIVE CARE UNIT DOWN IN DALE SETON.
UH, JUST TRYING TO GET HIM BACK ON HIS FEET, ANOTHER EIGHT MONTHS JUST TRYING TO GET HIM TO WALK, TALK, BREATHE, AND ACT LIKE A NORMAL PERSON AGAIN.
UH, SPENT A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS DOING SUCH.
AND YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING I HEAR, BIGGEST THING THAT I HAVE, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS I REALLY APPRECIATE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HELP AND FINDING MY SON.
SO THE BIGGEST PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE GAP.
THE GAP THAT I THINK ALL THESE FAMILIES HAVE THAT EVERYBODY ON THE PHONE HAS IS WHAT IS GOING ON AND WHY CAN WE NOT FIND ANY ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CHILDREN? I MEAN, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF YOUR CHILDREN WENT OUT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT AND DIDN'T COME HOME FOR THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE DAYS, MAYBE EIGHT DAYS, AND THEN YOU FIND 'EM DEAD OR YOU FIND 'EM WITH HUGE INJURIES THAT THEY'RE GONNA LIVE WITH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES THAT YOU CANNOT REPAIR AND YOU CANNOT FIX? AND THE DAM, OH, SORRY.
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR CHILD.
THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS OTHER THAN THEY WALKED OFF.
AND IT MIGHT BE THEIR FAULT THAT THEY WENT OFF THIS BRIDGE OR THEY WENT OFF INTO THE LAKE OR THEY WENT OFF INTO WHEREVER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT FOR A SECOND.
AND THE ONLY ANSWER THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE IS IF SOMETHING GETS INSTALLED DOWN THERE, SOME LIGHTS AND SOME CAMERAS THAT MAYBE THAT YOU HAVEN'T ANSWERED NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS.
CUZ BELIEVE ME, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
AND IT'S UP TO YOU WHETHER YOU WANT TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT NEXT FAMILY OR NOT.
SO PLEASE TRY TO HAVE AN ANSWER FOR 'EM BECAUSE THIS TOTALLY SUCKS AND EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS, WE GET TO RELIVE IT.
THE GUTIERREZ FAMILY'S HAD TO RELIVE IT TWO TIMES AT LEAST, MAYBE THREE OR FOUR.
EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS, THEY RELIVE IT.
EVERY ONE OF THE JASON FAMILY, JOHN'S FAMILY IS GONNA HAVE TO RELIVE IT.
AND I HAVE HAVE TO RELIVE IT EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO TRY PUTTING YOURSELF IN OUR SHOES FOR JUST A MINUTE AND UNDERSTANDING LIKE WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH EVERY SINGLE TIME THIS HAPPENS IN Y'ALL CITY, AND WE SEE IT ON THE NEWS, AND THEN WE HAVE TO REAL DEAL WITH IT.
AND THEN COME DOWN HERE AND TALK TO Y'ALL ABOUT IT.
PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO AT LEAST MAYBE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT NEXT THING.
[00:30:01]
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CALLING FROM 9 1 4 3 2 OH.OUR FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH SUCH UNIMAGINABLE SORROW AND DESPAIR OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
JASON WAS A GIFT OF GOD FROM HEAVEN.
HIS NAME MEANS HEALER, AND IN FACT, HE WAS A HEALER TO MANY.
JASON WAS ONE OF THE MOST LOVING, CARING, AND EMPATHETIC PERSON ANYONE COULD MEET OR HAVE KNOWN BY NATURE.
JASON WAS VERY GENEROUS AND COMPASSION MADE.
HE HAD A SENSE OF INTUITION AND PER BEYOND HIS AGE, HE
JASON MADE SO MANY FRIENDS IN AUSTIN IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
JASON WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW YORK, HOWEVER, HE LOVED AUSTIN SO MUCH AND THE PEOPLE THERE AND HE AND GREG, US ALL OF US TO MOVE TO AUSTIN.
AND NOW WE ARE FRIGHTENED TO MOVE THERE.
HIS LOVE FOR AUSTIN AND THE COMMUNITY FORCED US TO BURY HIM IN AUSTIN INSTEAD OF NEW YORK.
WHILE ALL THE NEW YORK PEOPLE WERE WAITING FOR HIM TO BE BURIED IN NEW YORK, HE ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL, HE WENT TO CHARTERED SCHOOL.
HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY CLUB.
HE WENT TO MANY, MANY, MANY CONFERENCES, UM, FOR OTHER PEOPLE, HELPING OTHER PEOPLE TO ADVISE THEM TO NYU.
AND JOHN FAMILY IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND CHURCH.
WE RAISED THE LIAISON WITH THE CHRISTIAN VALUES, WHICH REFLECTED IN HIS LIFE.
HE ALSO HAD A KEEN LOVE FOR ADVENTURE.
HE WAS DOING HIKING AND BIKING, WHICH WAS ALL INSPIRED BY HIS GIRLFRIEND CLARA.
HE WAS ORIGINALLY PROMOTED AT HIS COMPANY AND HE WAS WELL RESPECTED BY ALL HIS COWORKERS.
THE FABRIC OF OUR TIGHT LOVING FAMILIES NOW PRAYED.
THIS IS A PEACE OF OUR HEART THAT HAS BEEN EXERCISED AND NEVER CAN BE REPLACED.
WE MOURN AT THIS TIME, OVERCOME WITH SORROW, DIGITAL UNIMAGINABLE AND UNFATHOMABLE LOSS OF OUR DATA.
WE WILL CHERISH THE OF COUNTLESS SWEET AND LOVE MEMORIES WE HAVE OF HIM.
WE AS THE FAMILY WILL HOLD ON OUR CHRISTIANS FAITH.
THEY COMFORT AT THIS TIME THAT HE'S THAT EMBRACED BY OUR LORD AND SAY, WHICH IS CHRIST AND RESTING IN HIS LOVING ARMS. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT WANT ANOTHER FAMILY TO FACE THE HEARTBREAKING PAIN WHICH WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SEARCHING FOR OUR SON THE WHOLE NOW IN OUR HEART FOR THE REST OF OUR LIFE.
JASON FAMILY, JOHN FAMILY IS REQUESTING TO MAKE ALL THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN NEAR AT THE LADYBIRD LAKE.
I ALSO ASK YOU TO CHANGE THE SCARY NAME AND THE HISTORY OF RAINY STREET TO JASON STREET TO BRING HEALING TO THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS, OUR FAMILY, WHICH HAD MA'AM, INCLUDING BETH MA.
MA'AM, I'M VERY SORRY TO, I I'M VERY SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU AND, AND FEEL DEEPLY YOUR LOSS.
AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, BUT, UM, I APOLOGIZE, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
ARE YOU NEXT SPEAKER? MICHELLE GUTIERREZ MITCHELL.
SO I'LL HAVE A LITTLE SPEECH HERE.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, MY NAME IS MITCHELL GUTIERREZ.
UH, DATE THAT FOREVER CHANGED MY LIFE.
MY LITTLE BROTHER, MARTIN GUTIERREZ, 25 YEARS OLD, JUST MOVED TO AUSTIN, TEXAS, LIVED WITH ME AND MY WIFE.
HIM AND I WENT DOWNTOWN ALL THE TIME.
HE WAS THE HAPPIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD YOU WOULD EVER MEET.
HE DECIDED TO GO OUT WITH SOME FRIENDS ON SUNDAY NIGHT ON RAINY STREET, AND HE NEVER CAME BACK.
THE NEXT DAY WE KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
WE CALLED THE POLICE, SEARCHES WERE DONE.
WE WERE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA.
KX A N, FOX NEWS, CBS B I DID INTERVIEWS EVERY DAY, SPOKE WITH THE POLICE EVERY DAY, AND WE DID SEARCHES EVERY DAY.
20 TO 30 PEOPLE FOR SIX DAYS AND WE FOUND THEM MARCH ON NO, NOVEMBER 26TH IN LADY BIRD LAKE.
EVERY INTERVIEW YOU FIND ONLINE, YOU'RE GONNA FIND ME BEGGING AND BEGGING FOR SURVEILLANCE AND LIGHTING.
A YEAR LATER, CHRISTIAN WENT MISSING ON THE, NEARLY THE EXACT SAME DATE MY BROTHER DID.
AND ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ALL OVER THE NEWS BEGGING FOR LIGHTING SURVEILLANCE AND NOTHING WAS EVER DONE.
MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE GONE MISSING WITH NO CHANGE, NO PROGRESSION INTO THE CASES ROLLING.
EVERYTHING IS ACCIDENTAL AND IT'S NOT.
AND I GOT TO MEET JASON'S FAMILY AND IT WAS LIKE STARING IN A MIRROR WITH MY FAMILY FOUR YEARS AGO.
IT WAS SO MUCH PAIN COMING BACK EVERY DAY.
I SAW EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AND I HAD TO SIT DOWN WITH HIS MOM LOOKING
[00:35:01]
AT MY MOM AS WELL WITH NO ANSWERS.SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO, EVEN BEFORE MARTIN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS EMILY CROWE AND I'M A LIFELONG AUSTINITE AND, UM, HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT DISTRICT THREE.
YOU KNOW, MAY, YOU MAY KNOW MY FATHER ALVIN CROWE.
HE HAS BEEN A RESIDENT IN AUSTIN SINCE THE SEVENTIES AND A FIXTURE ON THE AUSTIN MUSIC SCENE.
UM, TODAY I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE CROW AND GELLER FAMILIES AND FOR JOSHUA ALVIN CROWE, WHO CAN NO LONGER TELL HIS STORY.
ON THE 22ND OF JULY, 2022, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MY FATHER THAT WOULD FOREVER ALTER MY LIFE.
I HAD A STRANGE FEELING AS I ANSWERED THE PHONE AS IT WAS NOT A TIME HE'D NORMALLY CALL ME.
HIS VOICE, HIS VOICE, FILLED WITH PAIN AND AGONY.
WHISPERED, YOUR BROTHER JOSH DIED.
PRIOR TO THAT, I HAD NEVER HEARD MY FATHER CRY OR EXPRESSED MUCH EMOTION AND MY 44 YEARS OF LIFE.
OVER THESE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD MY FATHER CRY MORE TIMES THAN ANY PERSON SHOULD.
AND MY PURPOSE IN SPEAKING TODAY IS TO RAISE AWARENESS REGARDING THE SAFETY ISSUES IN THE RAINY STREET DISTRICT.
JOSH WAS RIDING HIS BICYCLE FROM RAINY STREET TO HIS APARTMENT AT TENON FORD AND RIVERSIDE DRIVE.
AFTER WORK, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY HE REALIZED HE'S LEFT, HE LEFT HIS KEYS AT THE BAR HE WORKED AT ON RAINY STREET.
HE TURNED AROUND TO HEAD BACK TO RAINY STREET AND WAS BIKING NORTH ON THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED.
JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRST SWITCHBACK TURN, JOSH DIED FROM BLUNT, FOR BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO THE HEAD AND CHEST FROM A COLLISION WITH A FIXED OBJECT.
ACCORDING TO THE MEDICAL EXAMINER'S REPORT, HE WAS FOUND BY ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS WALKING HOME FROM WAYNE RAINY STREET AND 9 1 1 WAS CALLED AT 2:56 AM ATTEMPTS TO RESUSCITATE JOSH WERE MADE.
BUT WHEN C M S AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, JOSH WAS DECLARED DECEASED AT 3:13 AM HIS ORGANS WERE NOT VIABLE FOR DONATION DUE TO HIS UNWITNESSED DEATH.
AND AUSTIN HOMICIDE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.
JOSH'S DEATH WAS EVENTUALLY DECLARED AN ACCIDENT AND WE WERE TOLD THE CASE WOULD BE CLOSED.
WITH JOSH BEING A VERY SEASONED BICYCLIST, IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT.
HIS DEATH OCCURRED DURING A TRIP HE COULD PROBABLY MAKE IN HIS SLEEP SINCE HE RODE THE ROUTE TWICE DAILY FOR WORK.
MY SISTER AND I RETRACED THE ROUTE JOSH TOOK AND AS WOBBLY SCOOTERS ZIPPED, ZIPPED PAST US AND BICYCLISTS THANK YOU STRUGGLE TO MAKE THE TIGHT SWITCHBACK TURNS DUE TO THE CONGESTION FROM JOGGERS DOGS AND BABY STROLLERS, WE NOTICED THERE WAS NO LIGHTING IN THE AREA, NO REFLECTIVE TAPE TO MARK THE MIDDLE BARRIERS.
NO POLICE CALL BOXES, NO CAMERAS, UM, AND NO SIGNS TO WARN OF UPCOMING SWITCHBACKS.
I I DID PETITION THE CITY OF AUSTIN PARKS.
UM, AND THERE ARE SIGNS PRESENT NOW ON THE SWITCHBACK TURNS, BUT WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSH.
WE WON'T KNOW IF AN OBJECT FROM I 35 HIT HIM OR IF A PLAZA RAN OUT IN FRONT OF HIM OR ANYTHING.
SO I JUST IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE, UM, INCREASE THE SAFETY MEASURES JUST SO THAT SOME FAMILIES MAY HAVE CLOSURE AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
GAIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.
I'M A FRIEND AND FORMER ROOMMATE OF JASON JOHN.
TODAY I STAND HERE, UM, IN FRONT OF YOU ALL TO ASK YOU MY ELECTED OFFICIALS, UM, AND THOSE IN CHARGE OF OUR PARKS AND TRAILS TO MAKE COMMON SENSE SAFETY REFORMS, TO PREVENT ANY MORE TRAGEDIES AND TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER AUSTINITE HAS TO BE PULLED OUT OF OUR LAKES.
BECAUSE TO BE QUITE FRANK, THIS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN.
UH, AT LEAST 25 TIMES SINCE 2014.
SO WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO NOT MAKE CHANGES? UH, WE ALL KNOW THE SAYING ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY.
SO WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO HAPPEN BEFORE YOU ACT? SO WHAT ACTIONS DO WE WANT? TO BE HONEST, THERE'S A LOT.
WE DO WANNA TALK ABOUT OUR STRUGGLES TO RECEIVE A POLICE RESPONSE AND THE RESOURCES WE NEED.
WE DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE DRUGGING ON RAINY STREET AND HOW TO STOP THOSE.
BUT OUR TOP PRIORITY FOR TODAY'S MEETING IS THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTS, CAMERAS, AND BLUE LIGHT EMERGENCY CALL BOXES.
AND IF WE ALREADY HAD THOSE, WOULD THEY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE? I THINK SO.
ON THE NIGHT JASON WENT MISSING, THERE WAS A WITNESS WHO WAS SMOKING A CIGARETTE ON EAST AVE.
HE SAID IT WAS TOO DARK TO SEE ANYTHING LIGHTS ON THE TRAIL WOULD ALLOW HIM TO SEE THE INCIDENT.
MAYBE SAVE JASON LIGHTS WOULD ALLOW ANYONE ON THE TRAIL TO SIMPLY SEE WHERE THEY ARE GOING.
CHRIS, THE UN HOMEMED INDIVIDUAL WHO HOBBLED FROM THE WATER TO THE HOLIDAY INN WHILE SUFFERING FROM HYPOTHERMIA TO CALL 9 1 1, COULD HAVE GOT HELP A LOT QUICKER WITH A CONVENIENTLY LOCATED EMERGENCY CALL BOX.
JASON MAYBE COULD HAVE EVEN HAVE HIT THE BUTTON ON THE BOX ON HIS OWN IF HE NEEDED THE HELP BEFORE HE SOMEHOW
[00:40:01]
GOT INTO THE WATER.AND THE UNANSWERED QUESTION THAT IS TORMENTING SO MANY OF US TODAY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO JASON, WHAT HAPPENED TO MARTIN, CHRISTIAN, JOSHUA, AND ALL THE OTHER VICTIMS COULD EASILY BE ANSWERED IF WE HAD FOOTAGE CAPTURING THESE DANGEROUS HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HIGH RISK INCIDENT AREAS.
HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ENJOYING A NIGHT ON RAINY STREET AND SIXTH STREET GET HOME SAFELY AND NOT IN THE WATER? A PLACE THEY HAD NO BUSINESS BEING IN TO BEGIN WITH? THIS ISN'T A PADDLEBOARD ISLAND TRAGEDY.
THIS IS A NOT GETTING HOME SAFE TRAGEDY.
LOOK, ALL THESE INCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC ACCIDENTS OR THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FOUL PLAY.
I'M SORRY, I JUST HAD, IF I COULD JUST FINISH MY THOUGHT.
I'D LIKE TO CALL AGAIN FOR JAY REYES.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS IN PERSON WHO HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED, THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND ONLINE.
UH, FOR THE RECORD, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ HAS, HAS JOINED US.
UM, I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE.
UM, AND I, I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER VELAZQUEZ, UM, FOR FOR ALL THEIR HELP WHEN IT CAME TO FINDING JASON.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST THE WORK THAT THEIR OFFICE HAS PUT IN.
UH, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WANT, I WANT TO THANK JASON'S FAMILY.
UM, YOU KNOW, NO FAMILY, UH, SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT, WHAT THEY'VE GONE THROUGH AND TO SHOW THE, UH, TREMENDOUS, UH, COURAGE AND LOVE, UM, OF THEIR SON, OF THEIR FRIEND OF THEIR PARTNER.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S INSPIRING AND, AND JUST THEIR, UM, PASSION TO MAKE SURE THAT REAL CHANGE HAPPENS.
UM, I THINK IS IS HEARD FROM ALL OF US HERE ON THE DIAS, UH, FROM THOSE TUNING IN AND THOSE WHO HAVE READ ABOUT THIS CASE AND, AND KNOW ABOUT THIS CASE.
UH, AND, AND I I'M SO SORRY, UM, THAT I, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO MEET JASON.
UM, AND I THINK WHAT THE FAMILY HAS, UH, SPOKEN OF WHEN THEY'VE SPOKEN OF JASON AND THE FRIENDS OF WHAT THEY'VE SPOKEN OF WHEN THEY'VE SPOKEN OF JASON SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM, UH, AND, AND THE PERSON HE WAS.
UH, AND, AND I'M ALSO SO SORRY TO ALL THE OTHER FAMILIES, UH, THAT ARE HERE, UH, MARTIN'S FAMILY, CHRISTIAN'S FAMILY, JOSHUA'S FAMILY, AND SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES, UH, THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
RIGHT? I, I, I WISH WE WEREN'T HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, I, I I WISH AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENED, UH, WE TOOK CARE OF IT.
I'M SO DEEPLY SORRY FOR ALL THE FAMILIES, UH, THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
UM, AND THE REASON I REQUESTED THIS ITEM TO BE ON THE AGENDA TODAY, UH, IS TO GIVE A DEDICATED TIME AND SPACE FOR THESE FAMILIES TO TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND DAYLIGHT ISSUES THAT THIS COUNCIL CAN TAKE UP, UH, TO INCREASE THE SAFETY ALONG RAINY STREET.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN TALKS WITH, UH, DIRECTOR MCNEELY FROM PAR, UH, THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY, UH, ASSIST ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ALANA'S OFFICE, THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, UH, JESUS GARZA, CITY LEGAL, UH, CHIEF CHACON, UH, ON WHAT NEXT STEPS, UH, WOULD ENTAIL.
UH, AND I'M FOCUSED ON GETTING INTERIM LIGHTING, UH, UNTIL THE TRAIL CONSERVANCY COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION FROM THEIR PROJECT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2023.
UH, THE EMERGENCY BLUE LIGHT BOXES THAT MANY FOLKS HAVE HAVE MENTIONED, UH, AND HALO CAMERAS IN THE VICINITY.
UH, CUZ ONE THING THAT I, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED IS THERE WERE NO WORKING CAMERAS, UM, ANYWHERE THAT HAD ANY VISUAL OF THE TRAIL.
UH, AND, AND, AND THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, IF NOT HAVE STOPPED THE INCIDENT AT LEAST ANSWERED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
AND WHAT A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES ARE, ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, UH, ARE THE LACK OF ANSWERS OF, OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LOVED ONES.
BUT, UH, WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO TRANSITION TO QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
UH, AND I'D I'D LOVE TO START WITH CHIEF CHACON TO GET, UH, SOME MORE BACKGROUND ON, UH, WHAT'S HAPPENED, UH, ON RAINY STREET.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, JOSEPH CHACO, CHIEF OF POLICE.
UM, WHAT QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY CAN I ANSWER YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER? YEAH.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS MORNING AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, UM, IN THE SEARCH FOR JASON.
BUT, UH, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE COUNCIL, UH, TO UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF, OF DEATHS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, UH, IN LADYBIRD LAKE JUST IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
TH THESE ARE FOLKS WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UNFORTUNATELY WERE, WERE FOUND IN LADYBIRD LAKE.
UM, WE'RE WORKING ON THAT REQUEST.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME WHEN THIS INVESTIGATION WAS GOING ON.
UM, WE DON'T BREAK IT OUT NECESSARILY INTO, UH, THOSE WHO, UH, IN THIS TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCE HAVE, UM, HAVE COME FROM RAINY STREET OR FROM OUR DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, UH, AS OPPOSED TO THOSE WHO ARE ON THE LAKE AND, UH, MIGHT BE IN A BOAT AND FALL OFF THE BOAT AND, AND DROWN.
UH, SO MY TEAM IS STILL WORKING ON THAT AND, UH, I'D BE GLAD
[00:45:01]
TO PROVIDE THOSE NUMBERS ONCE WE HAVE 'EM.UH, AND THEN WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ACQUIRING FOOTAGE FROM BUSINESSES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL IN FINDING OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF A MISSING PERSON OR, OR DROWNING OF AN INDIVIDUAL? UM, GENERALLY WE CAN GO TO A BUSINESS AND SIMPLY REQUEST IT.
UH, THE, THE BUSINESSES ARE GENERALLY VERY COOPERATIVE AND WILL TURN OVER THE VIDEO THAT THEY HAVE.
UM, FOR THOSE, UM, WHO, UH, SAY THAT THEY NEED MORE, SUCH AS A COURT ORDER, WE CAN OBTAIN A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA, UH, OR POTENTIALLY EVEN A SEARCH WARRANT IF NECESSARY TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION.
UH, DON'T HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE VERY OFTEN, BUT, UM, BUT THOSE ARE GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE TIME BUSINESSES ARE TURNING THOSE OVER VOLUNTARILY.
AND THEN, WHAT'S THE PROCESS FOR CLASSIFYING YOUR PERSON AS A MISSING PERSON AND THE PROTOCOL TO FOLLOW AFTER THAT? YOU KNOW, GENERALLY, UM, IF, IF SOMEONE, IF THEY'RE CHECKING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEY HAVE REGULAR COMMUNICATION WITH THEIR FAMILY, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT COMMUNICATION CUTS OFF, UM, SOMEONE CAN ALWAYS CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND GENERATE A, UM, A REQUEST TO LOCATE.
UM, AND, UH, THEY AREN'T NECESSARILY DEEMED A MISSING PERSON AT THAT POINT.
UM, AND THE AMOUNT OF INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN APPLY IS USUALLY PROPORTIONATE TO, UH, WHETHER WE THINK THAT THERE ARE FOUL, IF THERE'S FOUL PLAY OR SOME, YOU KNOW, UH, SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES TO THEIR DISAPPEARANCE.
UM, YOU KNOW, IN THIS CASE, UM, THE, THE CALL CAME IN ON FEBRUARY, UM, THE FIFTH.
AND BY, UM, THE MORNING OF, OR THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 6TH, IT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT.
AND, UM, AND RECOVERY EFFORTS WERE BE, WERE BEGUN IMMEDIATELY.
UM, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION, UM, INVENTORY FOR PLACING A, A HALO CAMERA.
UM, NOT SURE IF YOU, IF YOU'RE THE, THE PERSON ASKED THIS QUESTION, BUT, UH, PLACING A HALO CAMERA IN THIS AREA, UH, IF ONE IS NOT AVAILABLE, WHAT DOES THE COST LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THE PROCESS OF, UH, OF ACQUIRING ONE? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, OVER 60 HALO CAMERAS THAT ARE DEPLOYED CITYWIDE.
MOST OF THOSE ARE IN THE DOWNTOWN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, UH, UH, AROUND THE SIXTH STREET AREA.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN REQUESTS IN OTHER AREAS, UH, TO, TO SET THOSE UP.
UH, THE COST CAN, UH, SOMETIMES BE PROHIBITIVE AS WELL AS THE TECHNOLOGY THAT'S NEEDED TO GO AHEAD AND SET THAT UP, UH, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A WIRED CAMERA OR A WIRELESS CAMERA, AND THEN PROVIDING A POWER SOURCE TO IT.
SO WE'VE HAD FROM TIME TO TIME TO BE ABLE TO, UM, KEEP CAMERAS OPERATIONAL, MOVE THEM, UH, BECAUSE WE, WE, UH, DON'T HAVE A POWER SOURCE FOR 'EM.
AND, UH, THAT HAS PROVED A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.
AND WE'RE IN THE NEXT, UH, PHASE RIGHT NOW OF, UM, MAKING OUR HALO SYSTEM BIGGER AND MORE CAMERAS, UH, BUT WE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ARE NOT LOOKING AT ONE, HAVE NOT LOOKED AT ONE ON THE TRAIL, UH, IN THIS AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
UH, THANK, UH, THANK YOU CHIEF.
I, DO YOU HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR, FOR CHRISTIAN'S FATHER, IF HE HAS, UM, A CAPACITY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SAID WHAT TO FOR CHRISTIAN'S FATHER, YOU WANT ASK REMEMBER THE PUBLIC.
UM, NO, I, I JUST HAD A QUESTION BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, UNLIKE THE, THE OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE SPOKEN, UH, WHO HAD LOST LOVED ONES TO, AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THOSE WERE ATTRIBUTED TO ACCIDENTAL DROWNINGS, UH, WHAT WAS THE, THE CAUSE FOR YOUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE POLICE REPORT? WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF YOUR SON'S SON'S ACCIDENT? WE WERE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
SO WE WERE, MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER PUGH.
UM, MY, MY SON'S ACCIDENT, UH, IT WAS DEEMED AN ACCIDENT.
UM, THEY, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHETHER HE FELL OFF THE BRIDGE, JUMPED OFF THE BRIDGE, OR WAS THROWN OFF THE BRIDGE.
BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT TWO WEEKS, EXACTLY, ALMOST TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT, WHERE A YOUNG LADY WAS ON THE BRIDGE WITH A GROUP OF HER FRIENDS DURING THE DAYLIGHT, WAS ATTACKED BY A HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO THROW HER OVER, WAS INTERVENED BY A JOGGER.
UM, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY PUT ONTO THE CITY MAYOR RACE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ON RUNNING A COMMERCIAL FOR CITY PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, AND THIS GENTLEMAN, I THINK HIS NAME WAS MIKE DOLAN, MAY HAVE THAT INCORRECT, BUT I THINK THAT WAS HIS NAME.
ANYWAY, HE INTERVENED AND HE WAS AFRAID THAT SHE WAS GONNA GET THROWN OVER THE BRIDGE.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT, I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE THINK HAPPENED TO MY SON IS HE WAS ATTACKED, THROWN OVER THE BRIDGE.
THERE'S REALLY NO EASY WAY TO JUST FALL OFF OR STUMBLE OFF THE CONGRESS STREET BRIDGE.
BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE, AND THAT'S SUCH A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA RIGHT THERE, WHERE THOSE BATS COME OUT FROM UNDER THAT BRIDGE.
THERE'S NOT A DAMN CAMERA ONE WORKING INSTALLED, NOTHING.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN, BUT I JUST LIKE, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT.
[00:50:01]
BUSINESSES ALL UP AND DOWN THAT PLACE.IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK UP, THERE'S A CAMERA ON THE POLE RIGHT AT THE LIGHT WHERE HE WENT OFF NOT WORKING, NOT WORKING.
BUT IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW, IT CLEARLY WASN'T AN ACCIDENT THOUGH.
I MEAN, HE HAD CONTUSIONS ON THE FRONT OF HIS HEAD, ON THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD, WHEN YOU FALL, YOU'RE ONLY GONNA HIT YOUR HEAD IN ONE AREA.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA HIT IN MULTIPLE AREAS WHEN YOU FALL.
SO HE WAS ATTACKED THAT, THAT'S, WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT, BUT WE HAVE NO ABSOLUTELY NO ANSWERS AND NOTHING TO GO OFF OTHER THAN HE'S JUST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE AND THAT'S WHERE WE COME.
UM, AND THANK YOU, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NEEDED AS A COUNCIL TO ADDRESS FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
I ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF.
FIRST ONE'S PROBABLY FOR THE POLICE CHIEF.
UM, IF, IF I COULD ASK YOU, HOW DOES TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE AREA OF RAINY STREET PLAY INTO THE SAFETY OF THE PATRONS WHO ARE DOWN THERE? ARE THERE ANY IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL ON RAINY STREET THAT THE CITY HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO FOLLOW THROUGH YET WITH, OR THAT SORT OF THING? UH, NO COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT TRAFFIC SAFETY ON RAINY STREET AND, UH, ACTUALLY RAN A PILOT PROGRAM, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE, UH, WITH REGARD TO OPENING RAINY STREET TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, UM, AND, UH, DETERMINED THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DO SO DUE TO THE HEAVY PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC THAT WE HAVE THERE.
UM, SO, UM, WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED, UM, YOU KNOW, ANY TRAFFIC, MAJOR TRAFFIC INCIDENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE, BUT, UM, HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE CONTINUED TO, UH, PLACE PEOPLE ON RAINY STREET, UM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF, UH, OF SAFETY IN THE AREA OVERALL.
WELL, PEOPLE ARE CHECKING OUT THEIR SLIDE DECK.
I DIDN'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THE POLICE.
SHE'S, THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER ON THAT.
UM, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MORE, UM, PATRONS ON RAINY STREET BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE OBSERVED SINCE COVID HAS KIND OF COME TO A LITTLE BIT OF A LOW, I BEG YOUR PARDON? YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MORE WHAT? I'M SORRY.
WHAT HAS THE PATRON POPULATION INCREASED BEEN LIKE ON THE WEEKENDS ON RAINY STREET SINCE COVID? UM, YOU KNOW, DURING COVID, OBVIOUSLY ALL OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, UM, POPULATION WAS DOWN.
UH, IT HAS REBOUNDED VERY STRONGLY, AND YOU ADD TO THE FACT THAT ON RAINY STREET WE HAVE, WE HAVE RESIDENTS THAT ACTUALLY LIVE ON RAINY STREET, UH, AND IT'S A, IT'S A VERY, VERY DENSE AREA.
SO IF YOU GO DOWN TO RAINY STREET ON A WEEKEND NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, ONE IN THE MORNING, UH, THE STREET IS ABSOLUTELY PACKED.
UM, SO YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE.
AND COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT'S BEING DONE TO MONITOR FOR WEAPONS WHEN CROWDS REACH THEIR WEEKEND PEAKS ON RAINY STREET, IF ANYTHING? UH, SAY THAT AGAIN.
IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO MONITOR FOR WEAPONS OF ANY KIND ON RAINY STREET? ESPECIALLY SO, SO THERE, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, METAL DETECTORS AND SUCH, NO, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
UM, OUR OFFICERS ARE CERTAINLY, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON, ON, UH, YOU KNOW, WEAPON DETECTION.
UM, BUT AGAIN, SIMPLY CARRYING A WEAPON IS NOT ILLEGAL, RIGHT.
AND, UM, IT, IT HAS TO BE CARRIED IN THE COM AND THEN A COM THEY'RE IN THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME, UH, FOR THAT TO BECOME ILLEGAL.
SO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR FOLKS ARE, ARE WATCHING OUT FOR THAT.
I MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION FOR AUSTIN ENERGY, JUST IF THEY'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE AREA FOR ADDITIONAL LIGHTING, AND IF THEY'RE NOT AVAILABLE NOW, IF THEY COULD PROVIDE THAT AT A DIFFERENT TIME.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY FROM AUSTIN ENERGY WAS EXPECTED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET YOU, WE'LL GET YOU TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THOUGH.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
UM, THE STORIES THAT WE HEARD TODAY WERE NOTHING SHORT OF TRAGIC, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS THAT CHANGE HAPPENS AFTER THERE'S AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURS.
AND I WANT NOTHING MORE THAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO FEEL SAFE AND TO PREVENT INCIDENTS LIKE THE ONES THAT WE HEARD ABOUT TODAY FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER QUADRI, IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN DO TO SUPPORT YOU IN THIS INITIATIVE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS AT THIS POINT? COUNCIL MEMBER, CADRE, I'LL, UH, TURN IT TO YOU TO CLOSE.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST, JUST ECHOING OFF OF WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY JUST SAID, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STORIES THAT WE ALL HEARD TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, A LOT OF US ARE, ARE SEVEN WEEKS ON THE DIAS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO YOUR TWO, INTO YOUR THREE, INTO YOUR FOUR AND CONTINUE TO HAVE FAMILIES THAT HAVE, HAVE LOST LOVED ONES, UH, REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
I I WANNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NOW.
UM, AND, AND I VERY MUCH WANT TO, WANT TO THANK JASON'S FAMILY, UH, FOR THEIR TREMENDOUS ENERGY.
[00:55:01]
UM, I WANT TO THANK JOSH FOR, YOU KNOW, JUST ALWAYS BEING IN CONTACT WITH, WITH MYSELF AND OUR OFFICE.UM, YOU KNOW, ONE DEATH IS, IS IS ONE DEATH TOO MANY? UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE COST OF A, OF A HUMAN LIFE? YOU KNOW, WHEN, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST IN MY OWN DIGGING AND GOING DOWN THE, YOU KNOW, THE RABBIT HOLE ON THE INTERNET, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN OVER 10 FOLKS WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE DIED, UM, YOU KNOW, AND FOUND IN LADYBIRD LAKE.
UH, AT THE VERY LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
SO I'M, I'M THANKFUL FOR, UH, THE MAYOR'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
AND LIKE I SAID, SO MANY FOLKS, UH, ON THIS DIAS, UH, AND, AND, AND I AM, I AM SO SORRY FOR, FOR Y'ALL'S LOSS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT, UH, BUT I PROMISE THIS, THIS COUNCIL WILL BE, WILL BE PROACTIVE, UH, AND, AND MAKE SURE WE DO RIGHT BY BY YOUR LOVED ONES.
WE'LL, THE, THIS COMMITTEE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'LL BRING 'EM BACK.
THIS, UH, APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN HERE AND EVERYBODY THAT'S TESTIFIED, UH, ON THIS, UH, IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND, AND WE'LL BE, WE'LL BE REVISITING IT WITH, UH, DISPATCH.
UH, WITH THAT WE'LL GO TO ITEM NUMBER
[3. Staffing Update (Emergency Medical Services Department, Austin Fire Department, Austin Police Department). ]
THREE, WHICH IS A STAFFING UPDATE.UH, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO, WE'VE GOT, UH, A LOT OF FOLKS HERE TO HELP US WITH THIS STAFFING UPDATE.
THE WAY, UH, IT HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO ME THAT Y'ALL WOULD BE PREPARED, BUT YOU TELL ME IF, IF THIS IS NOT THE CASE, IS THAT WE WOULD FIRST HEAR FROM A F D, THEN EMS, AND THEN A P D.
UM, HAS THAT CHANGED ON ME? THE ORDER, UM, IS THE SAME AS YOU RECEIVED IT AND THE POWERPOINT, WHICH SHOULD BE A P D, AND THEN A F D, AND THEN E EMS. WELL, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I, THE WAY I RECEIVED IT.
SO, UH, WE'LL START WITH A P D THEN.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY? GOOD MORNING.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AGAIN, JOSEPH CHUCK ON CHIEF OF POLICE.
SHE IS, UH, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, WHAT WE'LL DO IS DO A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF, OF OUR STAFFING TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, UM, NOT JUST OF THE SWORN STAFFING RIGHT NOW, BUT OF OUR CIVILIAN STAFFING AS WELL, WHICH, UH, IS, IS, UH, EVEN KIND OF MORE IN DIRE STRAITS.
UH, IF I CAN GET THE FIRST SLIDE, PLEASE, AND I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO DIRECTOR SCHMIDT RIGHT NOW TO, UH, START WITH CIVILIAN STAFFING.
I'M MICHELLE SCHMIDT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS SLIDE ON OUR CIVILIAN STAFFING SHOWS THAT WE ARE AUTHORIZED FOR 506 CIVILIAN POSITIONS CURRENTLY.
UM, AS OF THE PAY PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 11TH, WE HAVE, UM, FILLED POSITIONS OF 381 AND VACANT POSITIONS OF 125.
THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, WHICH MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THOSE VACANT POSITIONS.
UM, THE REMAINING HALF ARE FROM THE CIVILIAN PROFESSIONAL STAFF, WHICH INCLUDES, UM, VACANCIES IN OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DIVISION, OUR VICTIM SERVICES DIVISION, OUR CRIME ANALYST, UM, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, OFFICE OF COMMUNITY LIAISON, NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISONS, UM, AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION.
I'LL TURN IT BACK TO CHIEF CHAON TO TALK ABOUT THE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS STAFF.