A sobriety center is in the works for Travis County, and the Travis County Commissioners Court voted June 23 to appoint two commissioners to an intergovernmental working group responsible for planning the project.

The sobriety center would aim to divert some people arrested for public intoxication away from the jail system. On June 18, Austin City Council passed a resolution supporting the idea of making a sobriety center a priority and created an Austin/Travis County intergovernmental working group, according to Rey Arellano, Austin’s assistant city manager. Three council members—Greg Casar, Ann Kitchen and Kathie Tovo—were appointed to the group, he said.

At the Commissioners Court's June 23 meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 to appoint Commissioners Gerald Daugherty and Margaret Gomez to serve on the committee as well. Daugherty and Gomez are also members of the court’s Justice and Public Safety Sub-Committee.

The city manager will work with the new working group as well as other stakeholders who would be involved in the development of a sobriety center. By Aug. 31, the group will bring to City Council initial recommendations around governance, funding and location, Arellano said. Daugherty pointed out the committee members will have to come back to the full council and court to discuss recommendations before anything is finalized.

Commissioner Ron Davis asked whether the city of Austin would take over central booking as part of the development of the center. Judge Sarah Eckhardt said the responsibilities of this committee will be management of the proposed facility, finding a location for the proposed facility and developing a comprehensive budget; the court would need a separate agenda item regarding a decision on central booking. Arellano said city staff intends to move forward on a contract with central booking in this coming fiscal year.

Commissioner Brigid Shea said she would like to see the new group consider revenue streams from the sale of alcohol that might be used for the center.

"We asked staff to take a look at this, and we have seen a pretty dramatic increase in revenue to the county from our permits for [selling] beer and wine and mixed beverages in particular. ... That might be a place to look for some kind of additional revenue that is coming into our community from the sale of alcohol," Shea said.