On June 23, Austin City Council took the next steps to implement police body cameras, enforce fingerprint requirements for transportation network companies and expand the city's animal shelter.

Police body cameras and license-plate readers

City Council selected a vendor to supply body cameras for the Austin Police Department after several council members considered moving the decision to August. The city will contract with Taser International Inc. to supply and support about 1,700 wearable cameras during the next four years for a total maximum cost of about $12.2 million, according to city documents. Some residents who offered testimony on the issue June 23 raised concerns about privacy and the ability of APD staff to handle public information requests for camera footage.

Transportation network company penalties

Beginning Feb. 1, transportation network companies—or TNCs—that fail to reach 99 percent compliance with city regulations for three consecutive months will be required to suspend operations after City Council's June 23 vote. The council approved an ordinance in December that set several regulations—including fingerprint-based background checks—for TNCs, such as Uber and Lyft, but did not pass an enforcement mechanism. The June 23 ordinance clarified that enforcement. Mayor Steve Adler voted against the measure, saying he would rather incentivize TNCs to enforce driver fingerprinting than penalize companies that do not comply. “I think most of us [on City Council] share the same goal, and it's to reach biometric [identification for TNC drivers]," Adler said. "I believe the best way for us to get there is through incentives.”

Animal shelter expansion

City Council approved a contractor to complete an expansion of the Austin Animal Center totaling up to $6.7 million. The center, located off Levander Loop near US 183 in East Austin, is at full capacity. The expansion will include the construction of a new kennel building, additional parking, storm drainage improvements and landscaping, according to city documents.