One Voice Central Texas Public Policy Committee

May 28, 2015

Attendees: Jody Hopkins, LSACC; Parc Smith, American YouthWorks; Angela Atwood, College Houses; Isabelle Headrick, Accessible Housing Austin!;Jo Kathryn Quinn, Caritas; Support: Sam Woollard, WNA; Lily Wein, WNA

Meeting Minutes

  1. Presentation/Discussion: Travis County Family Courthouse & Upcoming Referendum – Beverly Silas, Matias Segura, and Jerimi Henry,Travis County Civil & Family Courthouse Project Team

The Travis County Civil & Family Courthouse Project Team presented the following information:

  • Current challenges of the Heman Marion Sweatt courthouse:
  • Building is too small for current population size and needs
  • The courthouse was constructed in 1930. The population in Travis County at that time was 77,777.
  • The courthouse is currently 93,000 square feet; howeverbased on the current population, 318,000 square feet of space is needed
  • Currently have 19 courtrooms; however currently need 24 courtrooms
  • Infrastructure deficiencies
  • There have only been three expansions since opening in 1958, 1962, and 1964
  • Costly to maintain old infrastructure and frequent elevator and plumbing issues, rodent infestations, etc.
  • Infrastructure does not support new technology
  • No family and children-focused spaces
  • No designated safe spaces for children
  • No calming rooms or spaces for private testimony by children
  • No child drop off area or family restrooms
  • Security weaknesses
  • Overcrowded conditions with no separate, secure corridors for public, those in custody, and judges
  • No designated waiting areas for victims, putting opposing parties in close quarters
  • No holding cells for inmates
  • No place for attorneys and clients to have private conversations
  • ADA compliance issues
  • Elevators not wide enough for people in wheelchairs or on crutches
  • Steps located throughout building limit wheelchair access to courtrooms and restrooms
  • Uneven and steep ramp surfaces to enter the building
  • Proposed new courthouse concept:
  • Proposed site on Republic Square Park is an accessible locationclose to 54 bus routes, the commuter rail, bikeways and pedestrian friendly streets
  • Building will be 14 stories, 270 ft. tall
  • There will be a 4-level underground garage with 513 parking spaces (estimating about 65% of parking spaces will be occupied by courthouse staff). The County is exploring options for rebates/validating parking for courthouse users
  • Sufficient space for departmental and court growth through 2035
  • There is space for future expansion building on southern part of the site
  • Initial build-out will have 28 courtrooms with plan to add more in the future (goal of 33 courtrooms by 2035)

Designed to keep public, judges/judicial folks, and those in custody separate with different circulation zones

  • Space is allocatedfor nonprofits, including SafePlace; multipurpose space to accommodate multiple uses; security station; and small and large attorney conference rooms
  • Budget:
  • Total program budget is $291,600,000 (recommended bond amount)
  • Budget is predicated on the November 2015 bond referendum
  • Based on a 2015 assessed value home of $325,000, the bond would increase annual tax bills by $42/year ($16 annual increase per $100,000 home valuation)
  • Why now?:
  • Growing population is driving demand in courts and increase in CPS cases
  • Current building is not secure or safe
  • Interest rates are at a historic low for construction costs, and construction costs will increase in the future
  • No spaces for children in the current courthouse

For more information, visit or email . The master plan is available at

Public Policy Committee members recommendedthat the same presentation is shared all One Voice members at the next membership meeting.

  1. Local Policy Issues
  • Review draft op-ed & discuss advocacy re: impact of proposed City homestead preservation

Attendees reviewed the draft op-ed and proposed edits.

  • Review proposed departmental budget cuts to achieve a 20% homestead tax exemption

Attendees reviewed the proposed departmental budget cuts if a 20% homestead tax exemption were to be enacted. The proposal includes a $1.175 million budget cut to the HHSD, $800,000 of which would be to social service contracts (68% of total cuts for HHSD). Action Item: Jo Kathryn and Angela will present the proposed departmental budget cuts to Executive Committee members at their next meeting. Parking Lot Item: Attendees proposed asking CAN if they could create HHS-focused needs assessments for each City Council district.

  • Schedule remaining meetings with City and County officials

Remaining meetings to be scheduled with local elected officials:

  • Mayor Steve Adler
  • Sheri Gallo, District 10
  • County Judge Sarah Eckhardt
  • County Commissioner Brigid Shea
  1. State: Discuss legislative updates

Tabled.

  1. Other business or comments

Isabelle announced that the U.S. House Appropriations Committee passed a budget that would transfer National Housing Trust Fundsto the HOME program, and created an amendment that would not allow any future funding sources to go into the NHTF.Action Items:Isabelle will draft a statement in opposition to present to Executive Committee for a vote.

Next Meeting: June 25th, 3pm

______