The Travis County Commissioners Court meets at 700 Lavaca St. in Central Austin.[/caption]

The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted during its Oct. 20 meeting to approve negotiation of an interlocal agreement with the city of Austin to establish a sobriety center.

The 4-0 vote, with Commissioner Ron Davis absent from the dais, enables the county to work toward an agreement that will incorporate terms recommended by a working group of some City Council members and Travis County commissioners.

The working group recommended the sobriety center take over the medical examiner’s office at 1213 Sabine St., which will be vacated in 2016, near the University Medical Center Brackenridge. Additionally, the group recommended establishing a local government corporation that would operate the center and called for developing plans for the site to determine whether an executive director needs hired and how the facility will be funded.

Commissioner Brigid Shea said finding revenue streams is always a concern.

“We have asked our staff to investigate possible funding sources coming from the liquor sales tax,” she said.

Roger Jefferies, county executive with the Justice & Public Safety Department, said the location is within an innovation zone, which has zoning requirements that encourages denser development and pedestrian friendly initiatives. The Austin-Travis County Intergovernmental Working Group developed a list of five categories or actions to consider as part of the agreement.

In the same meeting, the court is considering a fiscal year 2015-16 interlocal agreement with the city of Austin for central booking and related services, adding to an agreement previously approved.