Government
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Post-arrest legal assistance program ramps up this year
Austin revising rules for short- term rentals Spurred by recent court decisions and chal- lenges with regulation, Austin is updating some policies for short-term rental, or STR, operators and platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. What’s happening While STRs must be licensed by the city, staff believe a vast majority of the thousands of rental spaces operating today are doing so off the books. Austin has about 2,220 licensed rental properties, but the STR database Inside Airbnb currently reports more than 15,000 total active rental listings on that platform. Unlicensed rentals have remained a city target due to concerns over nuisances in neighborhoods, lost city tourism revenue and housing affordability. Changes up for adoption Feb. 27, after press time, include requiring platforms to display STR license numbers in online listings to ensure registration; delisting spaces without valid licenses at the city’s request; requiring 1,000-foot buffers between STR operators’ units as a “density cap;” and banning business entities from operating STRs on properties with three units or less.
Legal support expands Counsel for arrestees who can’t pay for their own lawyer is being made available more often, with expanded hours on additional days.
2024
April: CAFA pilot program begins October/November: One shift, three days a week December: One shift, four days a week January: One shift, five days a week February: One shift, seven days a week July: Two shifts, seven days a week
Expanded post-arrest legal services, a longtime priority for local civil rights advocates, received $8.2 million from Travis County and $7.19 million from Austin in January. The overview County officials earmarked $15.5 million last year for Counsel at First Appearance, or CAFA— support during the post-arrest evaluation and bail-setting, regardless of a person’s ability to pay for a lawyer. Together with Austin, the county began conducting “test” shifts last April. The first $5.8 million in county funding was then doled out in October, paying for 43 new positions that support CAFA, including defense attorneys, clerks, legal secretaries and translators. Since April, there have been a total of 1,132 arrested individuals that have received legal counsel under the CAFA program, according to county documents. Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez noted local officials have been discussing representation for those unable to afford it for nearly 30 years, and that it’s taken an extreme amount of effort and coordination to make the CAFA initiative a reality. The details The CAFA program was rolled out in a phased approach as departments hired and trained staff. The first shift of CAFA was expected to be fully operational—2-11 p.m., seven days a week—this February. The funding approved by commissioners
2025
SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
in January will support the implementation of the next shift of legal representation, which will operate from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. “With 86 [new hires], this is the largest commit- ment the county has ever made in the fastest time possible,” Travis County Budget Director Travis Gatlin said. What to watch As Austin gradually discontinues its magis- tration services and the county takes over, city officials have expressed growing concerns about potential delays, particularly for arrestees who may fall under the jurisdiction of the Downtown Austin Community Court, or DACC. DACC serves as an alternative approach to the criminal justice system for individuals experienc- ing very low income, mental illness or addiction. Council members directed staff to work with the county to address the 24-hour waiting period for transporting and processing DACC arrestees, which could be even longer on weekend arrests.
The number of unregistered rental properties in Austin is estimated to be several times higher than city-licensed STRs.
2,133 licensed properties (all operators)
15,500 total listings (Airbnb only)
NOTE: AS OF FEB. 21
SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, INSIDE AIRBNB/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Electric bikes banned in Dripping Springs parks
Key:
Bikes
No Bikes
EVENT CENTER DR.
Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center
situations with e-bikes, especially those traveling at higher speeds, Director of Parks and Community Services Andrew Binz said. Charro Ranch Park is a nature park with pedestrian trails. The pedestrian identity of the park doesn’t allow any bicycles on the trails, he said. The Dripping Springs Sports & Recreation Park and Founders Memorial Park, both located off RR 12 with trails considered “multipurpose,” will still allow e-bikes.
City Council voted Feb. 4 to prohibit electric bikes in two city parks due to concerns over safety
Founders Memorial Park
and traffic. The details
FOUNDERS PARK RD.
290
Dripping Springs
The measure follows more frequent e-bikes sightings in the park system, according to city documents. Vehicular traffic and the presence of horses and other livestock at Dripping Springs Ranch Park and Event Center can present potentially dangerous
The Dripping Springs Sports & Recreation Park
150
Charro Ranch Park
12
N
11
SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
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