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- Homeless Task Force & Neighborhood Development: February 2026 ECC Neighborhood Meeting
Homeless Task Force & Neighborhood Development: February 2026 ECC Neighborhood Meeting
Agenda & Announcements
Eric Pace
February 17, 2026
Hello Neighbors,
Happy LUNAR New Year! This month’s neighborhood meeting will again take place at the brand-new RBJ Residences (1320 Art Dilly Dr). Our focus will continue to be on safety and crime issues resulting from I-35 construction and the homeless population, and we’ll conduct elections for our board.
Please read below for the full agenda and updates!
Meeting Details:
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Table of Contents
Announcements
ECC Homeless Task Force Update
As many of you know, we established a Homeless Task Force last month due to increasing challenges across the neighborhood. (See January Meeting Minutes.)
Below is an update from the Task Force Chair, Shannon Taylor:
Thank you to everyone who has been helping. We’re making ourselves heard and have made some progress. Since our last ECC meeting in January:
18 of us spoke out at Central Health’s monthly board meeting. We voiced concerns about them allowing homeless camping on their property at 1111 E. Cesar Chavez after business hours and on weekends. Central Health showed genuine concern for our neighborhood and took quick action. Good news!: Central Health extended their private security patrol to 7 days per week, 7 a.m. to midnight, beginning February 7, 2026. That’s a large increase from the previous security patrol 7am to 4pm, M-F. Their security walks the property and enforces state and local no-trespassing and no-camping laws. As a result, we’ve seen almost no camping on Central Health’s property. Further, Central Health hired a crew to clean up needles and feces from the alley on their block. Predictably, however, many of those homeless folks adopted the library property as their new camping spot, and we’re working with library leadership to address that.
Shannon Taylor met with Jose Valesquez to discuss the new task force and the issues caused by the unhoused population in our neighborhood. Jose has taken the initiative to meet with several entities and will next host a meeting with ECC Task Force leadership, APD, COA Library leadership, Central Health, COA Homeless Strategy Office, and Austin Resource Recovery, with the goal of coordinating enforcement and plans to reduce the homeless population in our area. Stay tuned for more updates after Shannon meets with them. Jose Velasquez and his team have expressed interest in attending the next ECC NPCT meeting to update us directly.
Several fires were set and homeless folks in our neighborhood, and reported to AFD by neighbors.
We continue to see far too much homeless camping, trash, and drug activity at the library, on the sidewalks, streets, and alleys. The razed lot across from Angel House has become a recent hot spot of homeless camping and drug activity. Shannon has spoken with HSO about this, and will get more updates soon on their plans to help.
What can you do now?
Join the ECC Homeless Task Force. Reply to this email if you’re interested.
Spread the word. Tell your neighbors, forward the email, etc. So far, we have 37 folks on the Task Force.
Call 911 whenever you see homeless crime, including camping/trespassing. You don't have to call 311. We continue to get mixed instructions from the city on whether to call 311 or 911. I’ve been told that any crime, including trespassing, belongs to 911. In the long run, 911 and 311 data points are tracked differently and used to allocate resources. For this reason, it’s important to report all crimes we see. We don’t want to be underrepresented when APD allocates patrols next time.
Always call 911 immediately if you see a campfire. If it's a cooking fire, AFD may not put it out. If it's a fire for warmth or recreation, AFD will send a fire crew to put it out, and they often address camping/trespassing at the same time.
Capture any photos or video you can of unhoused folks interfering with traffic, cars, or right of way, especially near I-35 or the soup kitchen. It might get TXDOT's attention if unhoused folks interfere with traffic safety. Send me the footage via text or email.
WhatsApp alert list. It’s an alert system that will be used (with restraint - you won’t get very many messages) to alert neighbors of urgent or timely homeless issues and requests for action. For example: Alert: Homeless trash fire at XXX address. Please call 911 to report. Or example #2: Alert: Erratic/dangerous homeless person needs wellness check at XXX location. Please call 311/911. This way, we can get more calls and attention on timely issues. If you’re interested in being part of it, let me know.
Next Steps
Stay tuned; more updates to come after my next meeting with APD, Jose Velasquez, the HSO (Homeless Strategy Office), library, and Central Health.
Thank you, neighbors!
Shannon Taylor
Initiative to Expand ECC NPCT Boundaries
Update: Due to the City’s position on combining NPCTs, we’ve shifted directions. The proposal now is to create a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing full-time planning, advocacy, and business services, and to redeveloping the neighborhood incrementally. In this model, the ECC Neighborhood Association would be dissolved and replaced by a nonprofit, which would support both the ECC and the Holly neighborhoods. More details to follow.
Background: The ECC NPCT has proposed expanding its boundaries to include the Holly Neighborhood. However, City Staff’s interpretation of the relevant City Code prevents this from happening.
Cap & Stitch is Getting Messy
Where should we invest $4M in our Neighborhood?
Since 2015, portions of revenue from the East Austin Parking and Transportation Management District (PTMD) have been allocated to our neighborhood. The accumulated funds for East Cesar Chavez are now approximately $4M, which can be allocated to proposed improvement projects or to maintenance of features that improve traffic flow.
Your input can help inform where and how we allocate these funds. Please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your feedback will help guide safety improvements for everyone—whether walking, biking, driving, or using a wheelchair.
Save the Date: Community Neighborhood Events
TODAY: Holly Neighborhood Association Quarterly Membership Meeting
Holly Neighborhood Association’s next Quarterly Membership Meeting will be Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 PM at the Mendez Recreation Center in Metz Park.
Note: Holly NA has extended an open invitation to all ECC neighbors to participate in their community events.
Agenda:
City of Austin Conservation Program manager Katie Duffy will present and answer questions about native and adaptive plants for our area.
Application information to have Treefolks to deliver free trees to your home will be available.
Holly NA and East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood Group Board member Ryan Sanders will discuss an initiative started by neighbors with the help of the American Institute of Architects in Austin to activate and beautify the alley ways in our area.
Updates on Holly NA events, development in our area, and a short Members open forum time.
CapMetro Design Update: Tuesday, March 10
CapMetro and the City of Austin are working together to make the Red Line train and nearby trails better between Navasota St and Robert T Martinez Jr. St. These updates will help make your ride safer, faster, and more comfortable—and give better access to the trail. Come to their public meeting March 10, from 6–7:30 PM at the Terrazas Branch Library to learn about the final designs and talk with our project team.
Holly NA Jam/Karaoke Night: Sunday, March 28
A night of local performers and some open mic karaoke is being planned at Esquina Tango. Final times and details will be announced later, but save the date!
Save the Date: Local City Events
Eric Pace, Chair
ECCNA/NPCT
Upcoming 2026 ECC & Holly Neighborhood Meeting Dates
February 17 - Holly Quarterly Meeting
February 18 - ECC General Meeting
March 18 - ECC General Meeting
April 15 - ECC General Meeting