North - Northwest Austin Edition | June 2023

CITY & COUNTY

News from Austin & Travis County

Austin City Council Will meet July 18-19 at 9 a.m. and MEETINGS WE COVER program. The program will cost $114,000 in its first year and could later be extended by city officials. The technology will roll out with new guardrail policies in place, including limits on data sharing and retention. TRAVIS COUNTY A pilot program to divert people with mental illness accused of nonviolent crimes away from jail was unveiled June 5 as local leaders seek to launch a permanent mental health diversion center. The $6 million pilot was announced alongside a $2 million data sharing plan among Austin police, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, medical entities and homelessness organizations to flag those with mental illness histories. HIGHLIGHTS AUSTIN All city libraries and recreation centers will now participate in the Safe Place hate crime response program following a council vote May 18. The move comes after a 2021 report found incidents of bias crimes are common in the LGBTQ community and may be severely underreported. Staff at relevant city facilities will soon be trained on procedures if hate crime victims seek assistance. AUSTIN City Council voted on June 8 to reboot the Austin Police Department’s vehicle-mounted license plate reader data collection

Unhoused population grows, city shoring up shelter AUSTIN The local unhoused popula- tion is growing, spreading out from the city center and living in more secluded areas, an effect observers linked to the city’s 2-year-old ban on public camp- ing. The Ending Community Home- lessness Coalition, a nonprofit leading the regional homelessness strategy, in May shared new insights about people BY KATY MCAFEE & BEN THOMPSON FOCUSING IN The Jan. 28 count served as a snapshot of the unhoused population on any given night. of homeless individuals were Black, despite making up 7.25% of Austin’s total population. 33% years old was the most common age group. 35-44 of people counted were veterans. 9.5% of people were counted in parks and other green space—up from 5.2% in 2020. 13.6% SOURCE: ENDING COMMUNITY HOMELESSNESS COALITION/COMMUNITY IMPACT

experiencing homelessness around Austin based on a Jan. 28 point-in- time count—the first in-person survey since the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings: The recent count found 2,374 homeless individuals in Austin and Travis County, including 1,266 unsheltered. However, ECHO repre- sentatives said those totals may be undercounted. Separate ECHO data suggests more than 4,600 people are

now living unsheltered out of more than 5,455 total. Shelter strategy: City officials in May announced a renewed push to build up local shelter capacity by: • Planning to open a temporary shelter space at the Austin Conven- tion Center Marshalling Yard in East Austin, adding up to 300 beds

• Doubling capacity at the existing Northbridge and Southbridge shelters off I-35, adding 130 beds • Leasing The Salvation Army’s downtown shelter—following recent pushback over its permanent closure plans—and linking its operations with the adjacent Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, maintaining 150 beds KEY SHAKEUPS Officials said the changes target improved efficiency and services. Bob Kahn will serve as Austin Energy’s next general manager. Austin Resource Recovery Director Ken Snipes now leads the city’s emergency management office. Michele Middlebrook-Gonzalez is Austin’s new chief strategic communications and external relations officer.

Civic leadership changes continue

Employees rally against in-person work policy

BY KATY MCAFEE

BY BEN THOMPSON

AUSTIN Dozens of city staffers gath- ered June 1 to protest a new in-person work policy announced by interim City Manager Jesús Garza in May. City executives started working at the office five days a week in June. Other employees will be required to be in the office three days a week starting Oct. 1. Employees said the change could affect productivity and traffic congestion, since more than 50% of staffers are estimated to live outside city limits, according to a labor union for city employees.

AUSTIN Interim City Manager Jesús Garza in June shared the latest in a series of high-profile leadership changes since he took over the position at City Hall in February. “I am confident the changes announced today will strengthen the city of Austin as we continually work to improve the services we provide to our residents,” Garza said in a June 9 statement.

July 20 and 26 at 10 a.m. 301 W. Second St., Austin www.austintexas.gov

Travis County Commissioners Court Will meet June 29 and July 13 and 18 at 9 a.m. at 700 Lavaca St., Austin www.traviscountytx.gov/

commissioners-court Williamson County Commisioners Court

David Gray , assistant director at the Economic Development Department, is on special assignment reviewing homeless programs, policies and funding.

Will meet July 10, 18, 25 and Aug. 1 at the Williamson County Courthouse, 710 Main St., Georgetown. 512-943-1100. www.wilco.org

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT

Austin Habitat for Humanity

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NORTH - NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • JUNE 2023

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