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Dear Neighbors,
As a community we are engaged in a critical conversation about how to compassionately support those experiencing homelessness and maintain public health and safety levels in our city. Though this has been and continues to be a difficult discussion, I believe that collectively we have made progress in understanding the complexity of the crisis we face and in recognizing that impactful solutions will require collaborative citywide effort, additional resources, and a willingness to innovate.
Since I joined Council, we identified homelessness as our top priority in our five year strategic plan (Strategic Direction 2023) and have taken several steps forward, such as the authorization of an historic voter-approved $250 million affordable housing bond and adoption of Austin’s Action Plan to End Homelessness, created in partnership with the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). In this newsletter I would like to briefly share some of the recent investments we have made and offer my perspective on the ordinance changes adopted at the June 20 Council meeting.
Five-Year Consolidated Plan
On June 6, Council adopted a five-year federal consolidated plan and an annual action plan to fund and achieve objectives related to housing needs in Austin. We are sending these plans to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to certify that the city is eligible to receive an estimated $13 million in annual federal funding (subject to vary based on annual budget allocations by Congress) to ambitiously address a variety of issues including housing affordability, homelessness, workforce development and childcare.
Salvation Army Rathgeber Center
Additionally in June, my colleagues and I voted to help cover an operational funding shortfall in order to increase housing capacity at the recently constructed Rathgeber Center for families experiencing homelessness. Earlier in the year, we also directed the city manager to identify potential funding for additional case management staff for our downtown shelters.
South Austin Housing Center
On June 20, Council approved an item to purchase land in South Austin for a housing-focused shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The mission of the South Austin Housing Center (SAHC) will go beyond simply providing a temporary place to stay, instead focusing on connecting people with resources and social services to help stabilize them and eventually place them in permanent housing. The facility will hold 100 beds and will not be a drop-in center. Instead, the shelter will operate in alignment with best practices recommended by the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), which include providing case management to 100 percent of clients.
Item 184
In another effort to shape the way Austin approaches homelessness, I was proud to co-sponsor Item 184 along with Mayor Adler and Council Members Tovo, Kitchen and Casar. The resolution directs the city manager to explore numerous possibilities for ways we can improve our system. The city manager will bring initial findings back to Council later in August.
Some key pieces of this resolution include:
- Identifying safe and clean camping and parking areas and providing increased access to storage lockers, bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities;
- Proposing reasonable time and place limitations on camping, sitting and lying as well as non-criminal remedies or tools related to enforcement of such limitations;
- Providing periodic updates on public health and safety conditions as well as recommendations on how to improve city efforts to change behaviors that diminish public health and safety; and
- Exploring further opportunities to collaborate with the University of Texas and faith-based, philanthropic, private and non-profit organizations to participate in Austin’s efforts to address homelessness.
Additionally, Item 184 calls for a prioritized, actionable plan for implementing the aforementioned ECHO plan and all previous Council actions related to homelessness. This implementation plan will focus the work of our soon-to-be-hired Homelessness Strategy Officer. As you read through the resolution, please note it was intentionally expansive. I do have concerns about some aspects of it, and I will be looking closely at what comes back to Council in the coming months.
Ordinance Changes
In June, Council also deliberated changes to a series of ordinances related to sit/lie, solicitation and camping. I agree with the principle that we should not criminalize people simply for being homeless. Ticketing our neighbors because they have no other place to sit or lie or because they ask a passerby for change often leads to arrest warrants and can thus exacerbate the difficulty they experience when trying to gain housing or employment.
With this said, I believe it would have been wiser to hold off on changes to the ordinances until after the city manager finalized the hiring of a permanent Homeless Strategy Officer and had brought back the recommendations directed in Item 184 referenced above. I also would have preferred that the community had a greater opportunity to engage in a dialogue about how we might revise our policies. However, on June 20, it was clear the majority of the dais was not willing to wait, and hundreds of community members came out to express their desire for a more supportive environment for our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
Following testimony from both housed and homeless Austinites, Council unanimously approved changing the sit/lie and solicitation ordinances to mirror language in existing city and state laws. As a result of our council deliberation, the ordinances continue to prohibit all aggressive confrontations and any obstruction where the person is “materially endangering the health or safety of another person or of themselves, or intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly rendering impassable or impeding the reasonable use of a public area making usage of such area unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous”, regardless of whether the individual is experiencing homelessness or not.
Camping
The camping ordinance raised the most questions for me, and I made a motion to delay final approval and allow the debate to continue so that we could have more time and information to help us structure the new policy. That motion failed, and the new camping ordinance passed 9-2, with Council Member Tovo joining me in voting against the changes.
I ultimately voted against relaxing the camping ordinance because I felt the policy change was not fully baked. We must now refine our policy approach and find constructive ways to address the uneasiness many are feeling in light of perceived and/or real lack of clarity in the direction provided by a majority of council in June.
We still must determine when and where camping is appropriate if we want to both promote public safety and public health and successfully provide wrap-around support to those needing assistance. As we better understand what the ordinances changes look like in practice, we must identify possible areas for improvement and establish increased guidance for APD and residents alike. We must evaluate whether the current direction, remedies, and resources provided to APD are effective and provide sufficient clarity. We also need to ensure the enforcement of policies not impacted by the June changes, particularly rules prohibiting camping in our parks and on our school properties. Accordingly, I will continue to speak with and listen to our public safety officers, parks advocates and public school partners regarding these changes and work towards solutions for any situations that may arise.
Homelessness is a complex issue involving real human beings who are our neighbors. Though our community may have differing ideas about the best solutions, we have an opportunity now to come together and get ahead of this. Overall, I believe we share the same compassionate values and humanity and are working toward the same goal. Ongoing community engagement is vital as we move forward with respect to helping people experiencing homelessness, and I plan to hold a district-wide public meeting in the near future on this issue. I will provide the date and other details via this distribution list once confirmed. In the meantime, please note that the Downtown Austin Alliance has announced a community-wide forum on Wednesday, August 21, and I plan to be in attendance. To learn more and RSVP for the event, please visit this link.
I encourage you all to watch for the recommendations that Council will begin to receive in the coming weeks and continue to engage on this issue. My office has fielded hundreds of calls and emails relating to homelessness, and we will continue to be available to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions or comments.
Regards,
Alison Alter
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Table of Contents - District 10 Opening: Constituent Liaison
- Curbside Composting Expansion and Open House – August 7
- Speed Management Program Development Events & Survey
- Austin Police Department Offering Free Gun Locks
- Loop 360 Project: Walsh Tarlton Lane Workshop – August 8
- Movies in the Park: Caddyshack – August 16
- Students for Climate Change Video
- Sister City Agreement with Pune, India
- Applications Open for City of Austin Small Business Accelerator
- Free Music Streaming Service by the Austin Public Library
- District 10 Opening: Human Rights Commission
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| | District 10 Opening: Constituent Liaison
It is with mixed feelings that we announce that District 10 Constituent Liaison Kim Jowers has accepted a new position outside of the City. Kim was a wonderful asset to our team, and we are very thankful for her dedication, her patience, and her ability to help our team and our constituents solve problems and seize opportunities. While we are happy to see her accept an exciting new role, we will miss her greatly.
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| | Our office is now inviting applicants to fill a key position handling communication and constituent services. This person serves as the first point of contact for anyone who calls or stops by the District 10 office. This person will follow up on constituent concerns, schedule meetings and events, prepare meeting materials, compile public information requests, and manage record keeping.
A full job description is available here. If you know someone who would make a great constituent liaison, we would appreciate you sharing this opportunity.
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| | | Curbside Composting Expansion and Open House – August 7
Beginning the week of September 23, Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) will expand its Curbside Composting Collection Program to include an additional 53,000 households in Austin. The expansion will bring curbside composting to new areas in District 10 including Rosedale, Northwest Hills, Great Hills, and others.
Customers in the program collect food scraps, yard trimmings and food-soiled paper in their green carts. The material is then collected by the City and converted into nutrient-rich compost. To help introduce folks to the curbside composting program, Austin Resource Recovery will host an informational open house on Wednesday, August 7, at Shalom Austin in the Dell Jewish Community Campus. For information about where to park and how to access the building, please visit the event page.
Wednesday, August 7 6-8 p.m. Shalom Austin - Dell Jewish Community Campus 7300 Hart Lane
ARR plans to extend the service to all remaining curbside customers by 2020 if funds are available. To check if your household is included in the September expansion, learn more about composting, and see a service area map, please visit austintexas.gov/austincomposts.
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| | | Speed Management Program Development Events & Survey
The Austin Transportation Department (ATD) is revamping the Local Area Traffic Management Program (LATM) in order to create a new comprehensive speed management approach. The objective of the program is to reduce the likelihood of serious injury and fatal crashes as well as reduce egregious speeding on all street levels.
ATD released a memo outlining the a draft framework for the new Speed Management Program and is now moving into the public input stage of the process. Staff will be hosting open houses and conducting tabling events this week.
Open House Saturday, August 3 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Southeast Branch Library 5803 Nuckols Crossing Road
Tabling Events Colony Park Back to School Bash
Friday, August 2 5-7 p.m. Turner-Roberts Recreation Center 7201 Colony Loop Drive
AISD Back to School Bash & Safety Fair
Saturday, August 3 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Palmer Events Center 900 Barton Springs Road
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| | | Austin Police Department Offering Free Gun Locks
Law enforcement officials have long known that proper storage of firearms (keeping them locked in a gun safe or cabinet) can help to prevent unintentional shootings of children and adults. To assist in that effort, APD is providing FREE gun locks to Austin residents for the safety of you and your families. You can pick up gun locks at the following locations between the hours of 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday at the following locations:
- Clinton-Hunter South Substation (404 Ralph Ablanedo Dr.)
- Robert T. Martinez Central East Substation (812 Springdale Rd.)
- APD Headquarters (715 East 8th St.)
- Jaime Padron North Substation (12425 Lamplight Village Ave.) Call 512-974-5500 to schedule a pick up for this substation.
To learn more about the dangers of unsecured firearms, please visit the BeSMART campaign website launched by Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. BeSMART is a public information campaign that promotes responsible gun ownership and storage in order to reduce the number of unintentional shootings, suicides, and homicides that occur when children or teens get a hold of guns that are not stored responsibly. |
| | | Loop 360 Project: Walsh Tarlton Lane Workshop – August 8
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is hosting a public workshop for the Loop 360 at Walsh Tarlton Lane project. This portion of the project includes removing the traffic signals on the Loop 360 main lanes at Walsh Tarlton Lane and adding an overpass where the main lanes go over the cross street with nonsignalized U-turns in both directions. The project also includes adding a shared-use path and sidewalks to improve bicycle and pedestrian accommodations and connections in the project area.
Thursday, August 8 4-6:30 p.m. Westlake High School Chap Court
4100 Westbank Drive
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the Walsh Tarlton Lane project and provide feedback on the proposed improvements. The input received at the workshop will help to guide the planning process, including environmental analysis, final design and construction.
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| | | | Movies in the Park: Caddyshack – August 16
On August 16, you are invited to enjoy a free screening of Caddyshack at Lions Municipal Golf Course. In addition to the showing, there will be extra activities by Save Muny and Criquet, including a costume contest, blindfolded putting and more. Food and drinks will be available from the onsite restaurant, Players. Picnics and lawn chairs are welcome. Glass and styrofoam are not permitted in the park.
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| | | Students for Climate Change Video
Thank you to the Austin chapter of Students for Climate Action for supporting my May resolution on transportation electrification and its inclusion in the next update of the City of Austin Community Climate Plan, and for their continued advocacy for climate action. Watch the video they created by clicking here or on the image below to hear why Students for Climate Action mobilized to support my resolution. |
| | Students for Climate Action is an international organization with chapters in New York, Texas, and Massachusetts that aims to tackle many aspects of the current climate crisis. Their mission is to engage Congress and other elected officials to act on and be a part of the solution to the climate crisis, by supporting pro-climate policies and 100% renewable energy initiatives. Through public acts of engagement and community involvement, the students have the power to influence local, County, State and Federal policy regarding climate change. Visit www.s4ca.org to learn more.
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| | Sister City Agreement with Pune, India
On July 24, the City of Pune, India and the City of Austin signed a Sister City Agreement, establishing a formal relationship between the two cities that builds off over two years of work by communities here and in Pune. I have been proud to be a champion of the initiative, signing the historic friendship agreement as part of Austin’s delegation to Pune last year, and serving as the lead sponsor of the resolution to approve the agreement back in June.
Pune and Austin are in many ways twin cities: both are fast-growing leaders in education, culture, and business, and both have a shared commitment to green policies. I’m looking forward to future collaborations, exchanges, and watching the Sister City relationship grow. |
| | | Applications Open for City of Austin Small Business Accelerator
The City of Austin Small Business Program is now accepting applications for its Small Business Accelerator. The Small Business Accelerator is an intensive training program designed to help small businesses headquartered in Austin that seek new markets and enhanced value for their enterprise. The program combines online learning platform, Coursera, alongside in-person sessions to deliver a detailed accredited curriculum focused on growing a small business.
Participants will be trained in growing as leaders and managers to increase small business capacity. In addition to online learning, participants will regularly meet in-person for enriching supplemental lectures, activities, and peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Altogether, this program offers over 35 hours of online and in-person training held weekly beginning September 26, 2019 to December 12, 2019, with final presentations on January 16, 2020.
The Small Business Accelerator Program is designed for businesses that are already generating revenue and are poised for growth. Learn more about the program and application at www.SmallBizAustin.org.
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| | | Free Music Streaming Service by the Austin Public Library
Streaming now from the Austin Public Library to audiences everywhere, Electric Lady Bird delivers commercial-free, curated music from Central Texas artists. The service is free to everyone, regardless of whether or not you have a library card. Electric Lady Bird seeks out the best of Austin's music scene and offers it through a user-friendly digital musical platform. The Austin Public Library will have two open submission periods each year where Austin-area artists can upload 1-3 full-length tracks representative of their overall work. A team of curators will select artists to join the Electric Lady Bird library, and selected artists will receive an honorarium for sharing their music.
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| | District 10 Opening: Human Rights Commission
District 10 Human Rights Commissioner Joe Miguez has taken an exciting new position and is resigning from the City's Human Rights Commission. I'd like to thank Joe for all his hard work towards making Austin a better city for everyone. Following Joe's departure, my office is seeking a new District 10 representative to serve on the commission.
If you are interested in volunteering for this commission, please send your resume and a short memo with the following information to my office at district10@austintexas.gov:
- What is your assessment of the top three policy questions your commission will be dealing with over the next four years?
- A statement of the expertise and experience that you bring to these issues.
- A statement of what issues you anticipate emphasizing in your work supporting your commission.
Feel free to also share this opportunity with your friends and neighbors. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
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