Throughout the meeting, council's discussions also covered topics such as the city's use of owned and leased spaces, financial practices and housing. Officials are likely to review several of those issues in the near future. Council next meets during the first week of April.
Trauma recovery startup
A resolution supporting the creation of a local trauma recovery center will bring the topic back before council for further consideration within two months.
Trauma recovery centers, or TRCs, provide free health services and support to victims and those affected by community violence. Several dozen such centers now operate nationwide, and the approved item now directs city management to explore how Austin could become the first city in Texas to launch a TRC.
Backers of the program said a TRC can serve residents who are otherwise unable to access care related to their trauma and would provide a new, nontraditional public safety and violence prevention boost for communities in need. Officials previously discussed their support for the concept during a council public health committee meeting in early March.
"These are individuals who have survived domestic violence, gun violence; these are also services for our unhoused, for LGBTQ community and for individuals who are afraid to report crime," District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes said. "They’ll also have somewhere to go to to seek mental health services, to seek health services, and to seek support in navigating both the criminal justice system and the health care system. And so it’s really critical to have this type of service in our community."
An Austin TRC was also supported by Reimagining Public Safety Task Force members through their recent work examining alternate safety options in town. Travis County District Attorney José Garza has pledged his support to the program as well.
“Victims of violent crime, and their families, need help and support for the trauma they have suffered. [Travis County District Attorney's Office] supports Austin City Council’s resolution to create a trauma recovery center," Garza's office said in a statement. "We are also committed to getting a TRC in Austin and have agreed to donate money to this important cause. A TRC will help prevent future violent crime and keep our community safe."
While the March item is only a first step, up to $500,000 in funding could be reserved in each of the next two years to support the opening of a TRC in Austin. Additional collaboration with local hospitals and county governments is also directed.
Innovation studies proceed
A pair of resolutions from Mayor Steve Adler and District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly centered on the topics of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency also progressed this week—with reservations from many on the dais.
Kelly's item kicks off fact-finding efforts at the city to determine whether Austin should enter further into the cryptocurrency space, potentially to the point of allowing crypto such as bitcoin for city payments. The Adler measure expresses Austin's support for local innovation in the tech sector including blockchain and Web3, the concept of a blockchain-based version of the internet. The resolution also extends into the financial space with directives to look into the possibility of public banking.
Several council members, including Adler and Kelly, stated their doubts about the emerging technologies and whether they can benefit Austin at all. However, both items moved along with officials noting a need to better understand how the tech could be used by the city before making any final decisions.
"Like many of you, I’m also skeptical ... but this is just a study. I believe that it will provide us with more information back to the community, so when this question continues to come back to us we can actually point to a document that will tell them whether or not we can accomplish these things," Kelly said.
Lifeguard staffing plan approved
With Austin's lifeguard staffing lagging ahead of swim season, council also signed off on a plan designed to boost the parks and recreation department's hiring efforts and allow all 33 city pools to open this summer.
“After two years of pandemic and much-needed repairs for many reasons, I know our residents are ready to jump back into their local pools with their families and friends," District 8 Council Member Paige Ellis said. "However, we are facing a critical lifeguard shortage, and we won't be able to open all of our pools or keep our residents safe if we can’t train enough lifeguards in the next couple of months."
A resolution from Ellis aimed at lifeguard staffing will have the city consider rolling out new incentives and fee waivers for the hundreds of seasonal employees the city is still seeking ahead of summer. A followup is expected at council's next meeting in early April.
