Administrative Report · 8/4/2020  · • Hotel Occupancy Funds Meetings • Committees and Budget Planning : Other • Class D Licenses – See Public Works report . 1 . Public

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Administrative Report

August 4, 2020

3b.i – Administrative Report

Council Information Requests

• Lift station Plan of Action (See included agenda item)

Projects Ongoing or Planned

• FY 21 Budget Preparation

Issues • Staff safety & health – No other COVID cases among staff

Resident Information Requests

• Hotel Occupancy Funds

Meetings • Committees and Budget Planning

Other • Class D Licenses – See Public Works report

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Public Works Report

July 30, 2020 Carolyn Meredith, Parks and Natural Resource Manager

Notice The Department continues to practice social distancing measures and to wear masks unless working alone.

Projects Ongoing or Planned

• Cross Connection Control Program • Water Quality Pond Repairs-Lovegrass Lane • ERW Water Quality Pond Pump Replacement-(Outsourced)- Pump has been replaced. Awaiting

replacement of panel and irrigation system repairs • Lift Station Rehabilitation-scope of work received from engineers. • Community Garden fencing repairs (Outsourced) - Funded by the community garden group. • CHASCO-Pond Repairs • Ernest Robles Way/Home Depot BLVD Road and Bridge Repairs • Preparation for Class D water license • Preparation for Wildfire Mitigation-Tract mowing • Site plan reviews • Jones Road Drainage and Sunset Trail Drainage/Road Project • Community Wildfire Planning

Completed Items • Valley Creek Park Erosion Control Project Completed (photos attached) • One Maintenance Tech has received his Class D water license. • Annual Inspection of Sewer Lines-Awaiting Engineering Review of tapes • Crack Sealing of City Streets • Daily Water System Checks and Sampling, bacteriological testing. • Cleaned Lift Station • Meter Replacements • Tree Watering • Natural Waterways-Cleaning of sediment at low water crossings. • Litter Pick Up/Animal Waste Stations • Mowing- Lovegrass Water Quality Pond, • Trail maintenance-290,buffer trail • Fence Repair-290 @F Triangle • Irrigation Repairs • Water leak repair • Meter Reading • Storage Yard Maintenance • Equipment Repair and Maintenance • Line Locates • Low Water Pressure Investigation

Resident Information Requests

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Meetings • Council Meetings • Budget and Finance Meeting • Public Works Committee Meeting • Planning and Environmental Committee Meeting

Upcoming Topics for Agenda or Discussion

•

Council Action Requests • 37 Lone Oak Historical Research

Valley Creek Park Erosion Control Project

Before After

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Public Safety Report

July 30, 2020

Council Information Requests

• N/A

Projects Ongoing or Planned

• Purchase of replacement Mobile Data Computers from Repair and Replacement Funds

• Purchase and deployment of portable pole cameras (FY 19-20) budget (on hold)

Issues • Graffiti and tagging on city property • Complaints about face cover requirements • Concerns about trail-related parking and other issues on Lone Oak

• Transients in creek beds and trespassing on private property

Resident Information Requests

Meetings • August 31, 2020 Public Safety Committee Meeting

Upcoming Topics for Agenda or Discussion

• Public Safety Committee’s community neighborhood watch program

Council Action Requests

N/A

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Eyes on Sunset Valley

The department is continuing on ongoing effort to help the city maintain a clean and orderly appearance. On a weekly basis officers are removing abandoned shopping carts and remnants of campsites from public spaces. Officers recently removed an abandoned campsite from the rooftop of one of the stores at 5400 Brodie. Please call the police department at 512.892.1384 and report abandoned property. Officers will impound any identifiable personal property found.

Police Department Phone

The police department phone line has been updated and is now more user friendly. Callers now have the option of leaving a message or remaining on the line and being directed to a dispatcher. In addition, voice messages are sent to the receiver’s email so that they can be returned more efficiently. Residents are reminded to please call 911 for in-progress calls. As a result of the COVID-19 emergency, the Department has taken steps to reduce in-person responses to non-urgent calls. However, residents should continue to contact the police department by calling 911 for in-progress calls or 512.892.1384 for non-urgent calls without suspects on scene.

Training

Officers are currently completing their cycle of mandated training. The Department will use a combination of online and in-house training to complete the 40-hour training cycle. The Department has cancelled in-person training through September 2020.

August 5 – August 6, 2020 DPS Fitness Training

JULY 23, 2020

CITY COUNCIL RESPONSE MEMORANDUM REQUESTOR: MAYOR CARDONA STAFF PREPARER: Lenn Carter, Police Chief

INFORMATION OR RESPONSE REQUESTED: DOES THE CITY HAVE A FORMAL PLAN FOR EVACUATING RESIDENTS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY?

Sunset Valley, like most non-coastal cities does not have a formal emergency evacuation plan. Our public safety personnel work in conjunction with the Austin Fire Department and other emergency responders to maintain readiness for joint operations. The police department and public works are capable of managing small-scale evacuations of a handful of structures such as might become necessary as a result of localized flooding. However, large-scale evacuations would be initiated and managed by the Austin Fire Department. In Sunset Valley a wildfire would be the most likely cause of any large-scale immediate evacuation order. The incident commander in charge of the event, most likely a fire chief, would be responsible for ordering evacuations. The actual evacuation movement would be controlled by the police department and partnering public safety agencies.

The city has already instituted a number of measures that will enhance our ability to conduct a successful evacuation.

• Modern Emergency Operations Center (EOC) • Public Information System (Code Red) • Current list of special needs population and facilities • All first responders are trained in incident response and management • Interlocal agreements with AFD and partner agencies • First-hand knowledge of terrain by first responders • Post incident reviews by city staff and elected officials

There are additional steps that the City of Sunset Valley can take to increase preparedness for a large-scale evacuation event.

• Update Code Red list and increase subscribers • Install emergency lighting on existing low water crossing signs • Identify and clearly mark evacuation pathways from residential areas into trails or neighboring

streets • Prior to flood and fire season send evacuation preparedness information to residents

Supporting Documentation NO

JULY 30, 2020

CITY COUNCIL RESPONSE MEMORANDUM REQUESTOR: RUDI ROSENGARTEN STAFF PREPARER: Lenn Carter, Police Chief

INFORMATION OR RESPONSE REQUESTED: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM

At the June 29, 2020 Public Safety Committee meeting, members approved a recommendation to Council to approve a city-wide neighborhood watch program. The Public Safety Committee would coordinate the program and watch members on each street would act as extra eyes and ears for the community. Those streets with active neighborhood watch membership would be eligible to have Sunset Valley Neighborhood Watch signage installed on their street. Signs would cost approximately $80 each with funds from the Police Department’s Partnerships budget.

FUNDING: Approximately $80 per sign for up to 13 signs from Police Department Community Partnerships Budget

SUPPORTING MATERIALS PROVIDED:

1. NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH BROCHURE

CITY OF SUNSET VALLEY

Presented by: Chief Carter and the Public Safety Committee

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM

OVERVIEWIn partnership with the Sunset Valley Police Department, the Sunset Valley Public Safety Committee is establishing a community-wide Neighborhood Watch program. Low crime and neighborhood safety help to ensure that Sunset Valley remains a vibrant place to live. The Neighborhood Watch is an effective tool that neighbors can use to reduce crime and the fear of crime. The program relies on the best crime-fighting tool ever created – a good neighbor.

Most police departments are expecting an increase in crimes in the months ahead.

Crimes that concern Sunset Valley residents include:

- Car break-ins

- Mail theft / package theft

- Home burglary

GOVERNANCE The Sunset Valley Public Safety Committee will serve as the coordinating body for the Sunset Valley Neighborhood Watch. The PSC will establish guidelines for how the SV Neighborhood Watch operates within the city.

WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH?Neighborhood watch is an effective and inexpensive way to prevent crime and reduce fear in the community by forging bonds between area residents and local law enforcement. Any community resident or business owner can join and all it takes is a few concerned residents on each street to work with the Sunset Valley Public Safety Committee to organize a community-wide program. Watch members act as extra eyes and ears for the community, members can learn how to make their homes more secure, look out for each other and the neighborhood, and report activities that raise their suspicions to the police.

FLYERS, EMAILS AND CALLS Use neighborhood watch door flyers to get let your neighbors know that a group is being formed, and follow up with phone calls or emails.

ESTABLISH A SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE OR DIRECT MEMBERS TO AN EXISTING PAGE Social media is a great way to share information. Members can report on various crime and safety related issues such as burned-out street lights, abandoned vehicles, and wildlife concerns.

TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION

- Recruit as many neighbors as possible

- Select a block captain for each street

- Contact the Police Department to schedule a meeting

- Discuss community concerns and develop an action plan

- Create communication forums/platforms that fit the needs of the residents

- Hold meetings and events

GETTING STARTED

RESIDENTS CAN JOIN TOGETHER TO PICK UP LITTER FROM CITY STREETS,

CLEAN UP TRAILS, REMOVE OVERGROWN WEEDS, PAINT OVER GRAFFITI, AND ORGANIZE OTHER PROJECTS

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UP

IDEAS TO MAINTAIN EFFECTIVENESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Neighborhood Watch programs are easy to establish when there has been a great deal of interest in local crime. For example, a high-profile incident or multiple incidents will generate community interest and participation in watch programs. However, memories fade and interest in the watch program will wane unless the program remains active in the community.

WE ARE WATCHING YOU!

C I T Y O F S U N S E T V A L L E Y NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

TRAIL PATROLS Identify members who are interested in walking city trails and reporting conditions to police.

REPORTING A CRIME

Your help and eyewitness account can be key to solving crimes in the neighborhood. Remember the following tips when making a report to the Sunset Valley Police Department

• Call 911 immediately. Dialing 911 will result in a direct connection with a police dispatcher who will send an officer to your location

• Every minute that passes reduces the chance that a criminal will be caught.

• Tell the police as much as you can.

• No fact is too trivial. In many cases, it is what the victims and witnesses tell law enforcement about the criminal that results in an arrest.

• Law enforcement will get to you as soon as possible, but do not attempt to confront or detain suspect(s) on your own.

These can be indicators of criminal activity:

• Anyone peering into parked cars.

• Persons loitering around schools, parks and secluded areas.

• Persons loitering in the neighborhood who do not live there.

• Strangers and Solicitors.

• Check identification of all solicitors, meter readers and repairmen before allowing them to enter your home. Be suspicious of alleged deliverymen with a wrong address or asking if someone lives there.

• Someone going door-to-door in your neighborhood.

• Pay attention. If you notice the individual repeatedly tries to open locked doors, peer through windows, or enter backyards, call the police immediately.

• Any vehicle moving slowly and without lights, or following a course that appears aimless or repetitive in any location.

• Parked, occupied vehicles containing one or more persons.

• Someone carrying property at an unusual hour, especially if it does not look newly purchased.

• One or more individuals walking through the neighborhood looking into automobiles or backyards.

• Any person taking a shortcut through a backyard.

• An abandoned vehicle parked on your block.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY As a Sunset Valley resident, you know best when something unusual is happening in your neighborhood or is occurring at an odd time of day.

THANK YOU!CHIEF LENN CARTER