Monday, February 2, 2026, 2 p.m. (Austin time), Austin City Hall
Committee: Public Safety Committee
The Public Safety Committee met on February 2, 2026, and approved the minutes of its December 1, 2025 meeting. The committee received a briefing from Chief Luck on Austin-Travis County EMS recruiting, covering the department's vacancy rate decline from a 25.4% peak to 15.1%, its growth-driven staffing challenges, and strategies including expanded academies and national recruiting. It also received a joint briefing from EMS, Austin Fire, and Austin Police on new monthly public safety dashboards tracking budget, overtime, leave use, staffing, and response times, with council members offering suggestions such as showing remaining-budget percentages and defining terminology. The committee then heard a briefing on a proposed ordinance creating an offense for unreasonable vehicle engine noise, aimed at problems on the 2222/360 corridors, with a timeline to bring the ordinance to full Council in late March. Numerous residents spoke in public communication in support of the noise ordinance, and one speaker raised concerns about APD's role in assisting ICE and requested release of an organizational study.
0:00 Um, uh, good afternoon.
0:02 I will call the public safety committee to order.
0:04 It is February 2nd, 2026, and the time is 2:00 pm uh, this meeting is, is, uh, public safety committee.
0:11 We're meeting at City Hall, located at 3 0 1 west second street in Austin, texas.
0:15 And we have a quorum present vice chair lane.
0:20 Uh, welcome Council Member Siegel, uh, Council Member kari will be absent.
0:25 And Council Member uchin.
0:26 Uh, first we have public communication.
0:28 We'll begin with public communication.
0:30 I'll turn it over to danielle.
0:31 Love to, uh, call any speakers that have signed up.
0:34 We're gonna have, our first speaker is remote, lauren earthman.
0:38 And before we get into that, uh, colleagues without, um, if, unless there's an an objection, we're gonna
0:43 move item number four to item number two, uh, because, uh, chief luck is asking for favors already,
0:48 and we're just getting into the year.
0:50 But, uh, we're gonna go ahead and grant 'em that, unless there's any objection to that.
0:54 Thank you.
1:00 Go ahead, lauren. Okay.
1:03 Uh, hi. My name is lauren earthman.
1:05 I'm speaking on the proposed nor noise ordinance.
1:08 Item number three. Uh, we moved to Austin about nine years ago from our home close to downtown
1:13 houston. We wanted a more peaceful, quiet neighborhood and the hills of Austin.
1:17 And this is what it was like when we first bought our home in cat mountain in the
1:23 neighborhood off 2222, about four years ago, the noise from 2222 slowly began to increase specifically the sound
1:30 of revving and high seat acceleration and motorcycles.
1:33 It was gradual and it first tolerable to me, but as the frequency of the noise increased, what
1:39 used to be an annoyance began to trigger a physical stress response.
1:43 For me to be clear, noise is something I'm pretty comfortable with.
1:48 I raised three kids and we listen to a lot of live music, but this is different.
1:51 It's repetitive and it's high pitched from what I've read.
1:55 Noise solution can cause elevated cortisol cause sleep deprivation, trigger conditions like misophonia, rage, panic and specific rage,
2:05 panic and specific sounds, and noise sensitivity anxiety.
2:09 I was surprised if these repetitive loud sounds would create such discomfort for me, but they did in
2:16 response. I now spend much of my time back in houston to get some reprieve until the noise
2:20 ordinance hopefully passes and allows me to spend more time.
2:23 Back in Austin, there are motorcycle groups hosting on social media.
2:27 They brag about the thrill of running from the police, dragging me on 2222, which has taken a
2:33 turn so fast that your knee almost touches the pavement.
2:36 The complete disregard for safety of others is disturbing.
2:40 I've had a motorcycle rider come up to the passenger side of my car and hit my side
2:44 mirror with his closed fist because I was going too slow for him to get around.
2:49 This is a two-pronged issue, the noise and the safety element.
2:54 We can take alternative routes to avoid the dangerous roads, but we cannot escape the excessive noise.
2:59 Another negative aspect of this excessive noise is the impact on property values.
3:04 It's easy to imagine a potential home buyer being dissuaded from purchasing a home where constant motorcycle noise
3:11 is evident when compared to similar properties.
3:13 Without such noise issues, real estate specialists could likely shed additional light on this.
3:19 Speaking from my family, we have lived in five different houses over 20 years, and I can say
3:23 with certainty that I would never have agreed to purchase a home that had incessant constant noise problems
3:29 like we have developed in our neighborhood.
3:31 This would result in lower property values resulting in lower amounts of property taxes collected.
3:38 Please help bring some peace and quiet back to our neighborhoods by passing this noise ordinance in the
3:43 city of Austin. Thank you.
3:48 Up next, we'll have lori o'leary.
3:54 Hi, my name is gloria o'leary and loved the presentation.
3:58 The lady before me just gave, I totally agree with everything she said.
4:02 Um, I've had a motorcycle pull up between me and a car to the right of me, just
4:07 so they could go first through the intersection.
4:09 So besides the noise, safety is an issue.
4:12 Thank you.
4:18 Up next we'll have marisa liper
4:29 opening with the video.
4:51 Oh my god.
5:30 Here we go.
6:31 Okay, so that was our lovely scenic Austin hill country neighborhoods right there.
6:38 And I'd like to draw attention to how many neighbors are behind me today.
6:42 Are here for the noise ordinance.
6:44 If y'all could please just stand so the ds can see.
6:51 Thank you. Um, I just wanna say that this is, uh, obviously a really important issue to us,
6:58 and what you heard on the video is nowhere near nowhere close to being as loud and as
7:05 dangerous as we feel and experience every day.
7:10 And this is an issue that we started working on five years ago, four years ago, with a
7:16 former Council Member, allison Alter and a pd in earnest.
7:20 And now the baton has been passed to our Council Member mark uchin.
7:25 Thank you very much.
7:26 And, um, we are here today because of the concerted efforts of all of the stakeholders.
7:32 Thank you. If we can have lisa caps.
7:48 Thanks. Hello, and thank you for allowing me to speak today.
7:52 My name is lisa caps and I'm a resident of northwest hills, also speaking in support of the
7:57 proposed noise ordinance. I live about a mile away from 2222 in an area where homes and trees
8:02 should buffer the sound, but they really don't.
8:05 Indoors, even with sound machines on and your tv on your family is regularly disturbed by motorcycles and
8:11 other vehicles. With modified exhaust systems outdoors, the noise is even more noticeable and intrusive.
8:18 As you saw in the videos, the problem has persisted for years and continues to worsen.
8:23 The frustration expressed by residents is reflected in the petition that I started about 10 months ago.
8:29 I think I gave you guys a handout so you can see, um, if you wanna look at
8:33 it in more detail.
8:34 Um, but it's now gathered more than 800 signatures through word of mouth and through a couple yard
8:40 signs that we put in the neighborhood.
8:42 The comments speak for themselves, repeated laps racing at night, early in the morning, frustration that our current
8:48 laws offer little protection.
8:52 Over the past year, we've documented numerous near misses, reckless driving road damage, evidence of accidents that aren't
8:59 even reflected in our in official reports.
9:03 Social media posts show drivers meeting up to run laps, practice turns, film one another, and even recommend
9:09 22, 22 to out of towners looking for a thrill ride.
9:13 I've seen photographers advertising to set up on the roadside and capture the high speed passes.
9:19 Our neighborhood has effectively been turned into an informal practice track, something no homeowner wants or expects.
9:27 We understand the enforcement challenges.
9:30 Many problem vehicles have modified or illegal exhausts and plates that aren't visible or aren't there at all.
9:37 Riders flee and officers cannot safely pursue constant patrol coverage is unrealistic.
9:44 This is why an updated noise ordinance really matters to us.
9:48 It creates a practical enforcement tool allowing officers to act, um, on defined noise thresholds.
9:56 It should improve public safety by discouraging the high speed racing and reckless behavior.
10:02 Protect citizens from chronic sleep disruption, support our property valuable, uh, sorry, values and overall liv livability of
10:11 our community. And it'll reinforce that our community leaders prioritize our health, safety and wellbeing.
10:19 We're not asking for perfection, we're asking for a practical, enforceable solution that helps restore our neighborhood back
10:27 to peace and safety.
10:29 It's not directed at responsible drivers, motorcycle owners, or car enthusiasts.
10:34 It targets the very small group whose behavior is disrupting entire neighborhoods.
10:41 On behalf of my neighbors and the 800 plus residents who have expressed concern, I urge you to
10:46 move this ordinance forward and give the, the police the tools they need to protect our community.
10:52 Thank you for your time and your service.
10:55 If we can have cheryl brown.
11:07 Thank you. I've been in Austin resident since 1984, and I have lived in my home since for
11:15 30 years. Our home is at the very end of cat mountain drive.
11:20 We look out toward the intersection of 22, 22 and 360.
11:25 So we have a unique perspective on exactly what is happening.
11:28 We're on the ridge up above county line on the lake, and I can tell you this is
11:34 not just a 2222 problem.
11:36 It is also a 360 problem.
11:39 And what we have seen is that this problem is primarily, uh, saturdays and Sunday mornings starts as
11:46 early as 7:00 am and it's increased primarily over the last five years.
11:53 And we, what we see is that when the police come out and en and enforce the speed,
12:00 uh, regulations, it drops.
12:04 And then within about a week or two of when the police stop enforcing it, it comes back
12:09 and we see the, um, we see the, the racers meeting at dry creek.
12:15 Everybody knows exactly where they meet and what the patterns are.
12:20 And I'm hoping, as everybody else has mentioned, that the noise ordinance will allow some kind of tool
12:29 for enforcing at least the noise.
12:32 Although speed is definitely as much or more of an issue for safety, the, the the way in
12:42 which these drivers operate is dangerous.
12:45 It's dangerous for them, it's dangerous for other motorists.
12:49 Both my husband and I have been on the road on 2222 with motorcyclists driving in and out
12:55 of cars, touching cars.
12:58 Um, and it makes us all recall the horrible, tragic accident of, um, cedric benon, which was in
13:07 that same area. Um, I'm hoping that this will be a ordinance that's enforceable.
13:17 I don't know what kind of penalties are proposed to go along with it.
13:22 That's the one, that's the one thing that's not clear with this ordinance.
13:28 Um, if, if it doesn't have any, um, real substantial penalty, it May not be, uh, it May
13:38 not have the teeth to make it happen.
13:41 Um, and I apologize for not being very organized, but I was just added this morning.
13:47 But anybody is welcome to come set up cameras or sound machines in my backyard because you would
13:53 have a very, very unique perspective for both roads.
13:57 And I hope this ordinance passes.
13:58 Thank you for your time.
14:04 That is everyone for public communication.
14:06 We have one for the minutes.
14:10 Uh, let's go ahead and call them kathy mitchell.
14:36 Hi,
14:41 I am speaking briefly on the minutes today because my comments are relevant to the items that you
14:48 saw in your briefing last time, particularly the barry dunn, a pd organizational study.
14:56 Uh, I would encourage you to please put the entirety of that study and the 2025 version that
15:03 came out about a year ago.
15:05 Uh, readily available here for everybody to see.
15:10 But in the meantime, as you are, um, thinking about reorganizing a pd, I wanted to propose three
15:20 things very quickly. Revise the general orders to require supervisor approval for any a pd officer to stop
15:28 taking 9 1 1 calls in order to assist ice, maintain and release the list of cases in which supervisor
15:36 approval has been granted with the criminal charge applicable to any person detained, a pd should not be
15:43 pulling officers offline from, you know, the job of doing things like monitoring traffic on 2222 in order
15:52 to detain people. And three, management must immediately revise procedures for officers to self assign their time when
16:03 they are on patrol.
16:06 I just finished posting images from today where a gaggle of a pd officers are standing nearby as
16:14 ice detained somebody in their front yard.
16:18 This is not what we need our police to be doing.
16:22 We have all heard plenty of complaints that we don't have enough officers to do the things that
16:28 we hire them to do.
16:30 And this can be addressed with organizational reform.
16:35 We need the chief to put in place strict limits on officers self assigning their time when they
16:44 are supposed to be answering 9 1 1 calls.
16:48 So I would ask that as you consider the barry dunn study that we, you look, you got
16:53 briefed on last time, that we not let the delay tactic persist.
17:00 This buried done study has been happening for quite some time now, and there is a lot of
17:06 organizational efficiency that we need to do immediately, not just to be able to better police the problems
17:15 that we hire police to do, but also to be able to protect our civil liberties and our
17:21 civil rights. Thank you.
17:27 Thank you, uh, colleagues.