City Council Regular Meeting Transcript – 02/09/2023 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 2/9/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 2/9/2023 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== Please note that the following transcript is for reference purposes and does not constitute the official record of actions taken during the meeting. For the official record of actions of the meeting, please refer to the Approved Minutes. [10:07:05 AM] Yes. Have. One more council member joining us soon, so I hope she will be on her way shortly. I am mayor pro tem Paige Ellis, filling in for mayor Watson. Today he is joining us remotely and I have on the dais. The entire city council Natasha harper-madison, I believe is still on her way. It is February 9th 10 07 am and we are here in city hall chambers. I will get us started with reading the changes in corrections and pulled items for today. Item number nine. The total contract amount for item nine is revised to 3,000,507 $131, which is the actual some of the contract amount and contingency correctly posted on the agenda. Item number 12 February 8th 2023, recommended by the water and wastewater commission on a 60 vote, with three absences and two vacancies. Item number 42 is [10:08:07 AM] postponed until March 9th 2023 item 47 postponed to March 23rd 2023 at their two pm times certain request to postpone related zoning cases. Items number 68 69 to March 23rd 2023 will be made. Item 74 a proven ordinance ordering a special municipal election to be held on may 6th 2023 to submit to the voters a second proposed citizen initiated ordinance. Certified February 3rd 2023 items pulled off the consent agenda include item number 11 pulled by council member Fuentes item number 40 pulled by council member Ryan alter and mayor Watson. Item number 41 pulled by mayor Watson items 40 74 75 76 have been pulled for discussion. Item number 80 pulled by mayor Watson and item number 81 pulled by [10:09:08 AM] council member Ryan alter. There is late. Backup for items number 4 14 22 23 24 39 40. 45 46 52 53 56 57 58 59 60 62 63 64 65 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 77, 78 80 and 81. Are there any other items that our colleagues would like to pull off of the consent agenda before we head into speakers? Seeing none. The consent agenda will include items number one through 43 74 through 81 item 42 is postponed and again the pulled items are 11 40 41 74, 75 [10:10:10 AM] , 76, 80 and 81. We have 49 in person speakers and 30 remote speakers that are clerk's office will be calling and we will be giving two minutes each for the speakers. And the remote speakers will be called after the in person speakers correct. Remote is going first in person is going second. Okay? Thank you for that clarification. First speakers of Francis Acuna speaking on item 40. Oh, god. Go ahead. Yeah my name is Francis Ona. I'm a long term restaurant of dust springs. I'm hearing support of item 40, with some edits. First I would like to [10:11:13 AM] thank all the organizations and departments that have been working tirelessly. To support residents being impacted throughout the winter storm. This past weekend. I mean, this past week, families were being denied at the shelters because of the space was only for unhealthy people and that is inhumane. I know that turning families away was not the plan and that it was not the direction given but it happened . It happened in 2021 it happened about two weeks ago. This year. It's a U F learning and taking action this winter storm we, and you learned that if a building does not have the capacity to hold the different population. Then we have to find one that does. That stinks. Recreation center. Has only one Jim to host everyone. Mendez middle school has two gyms to hold on house and house families. Police analyze the [10:12:16 AM] space in the people you serve and make the right decisions I would like to, I would like to add to the resolution a whereas extreme weather has impacted mental and physical health in families that were turned away from shelters in an inhumane way. And let it be resolved that building for sure. Buildings for shelter will be carefully selected to host our populations. And. Our responders from top to bottom to take some kind of disastrous spiritual care response training to learn how to respond in a kind, humane way. And this is an opportunity to, two. Put in place a plan that can assist in years to come and the better prepared for to respond is population. Thank you, Adam. I just wanted to [10:13:16 AM] quickly give my thanks to Mr Cunha for her testimony today and to also share that we will be Austin energy oversight committee will be meeting later this month and will have the opportunity to do a after action assessment or we can further discuss the use of the dove springs rec center during the winter storm. Next speaker is Katy nazarenko on items speaking on item 80. Hi this is Katie and Iran hill. I am speaking in capacity as chair of the Travis county democratic party. Our organization has endorsed the police. Oversight act, and we would like to join many community leaders and the voters of Travis county in supporting this item today. Particularly we believe it's very important that the will of the voters popularly elected everyone on the diet. [10:14:19 AM] Must be heard and must be addressed and then may election , which is what the next step in that process is any effort to not take the will of the voters into account is a disservice to our community. Civilian oversight and accountability and transparency. Our fundamental community values. We like to joke that in Austin, we may not always get the result we want so we do like a good process. So this process of a short term contract will allow voters to express their, guidance to council and our community as to how they want our community policing to occur, which is with civilian oversight. I urge you to support this measure, as does being tired, trying to kind of democratic party, which unanimously and divorced this this measure. Thank you so much. [10:15:23 AM] Next speaker is Bob Hendrix, speaking on item 80. Man thank you for letting us speak and bottom Hendrix, chair of the Austin Sierra club executive committee and share of the executive committee of the states belong stark chapter. That's your club. In addition to being the largest organization working to protect our environment advocate for an environment of social justice. In line with things, principles , I add my voice to the many others to urge you to pass resolution. 80, which recommends a one year instead of what your police contract. This will allow Austin citizens to provide input on police oversight and transparency via the vote on the may six election. Thank you very much. Next speaker's Castillo [10:16:24 AM] Sodergren speaking on item 80. Okay my name is random. A resident of this nine and speaking today in support of items 80 city manager Spencer cronk needs to stop pushing for a long term police contract because it won't allow for the public to vote on the police oversight act in may. The Austin chronicle has also reported on the personal ties between city manager cronk and the treasurer of the Austin police associations. Political action can. We'll try to get that collar back on the line. The next speaker is Jen Ramos, speaking on item 80. Yes. Good morning. It appears the calls [10:17:28 AM] are dropping. Let me try. Another speaker. Shane Johnson, speaking on item 80. Alright. Can you all hear me? Yes, we can go ahead. Great thank you. Hey, y'all change on C and pronouns. I'm a resident of district seven as it also speak for my parents tourism district seven since oh, nine. In support of item number 80. First of all, we agree gis police contract that Spencer cronk. Has ah authorized negotiation of and would, certainly support and bring forward. It's what. Institutional racism looks like in 2023. It's what white supremacy culture looks like in 2023. It's not produced oversight Independence, in fact, checking. [10:18:38 AM] We're going to try to get that collar back on the line. Next speaker is gumbo V speaking on item 80. Hey, good morning. Go ahead. Could could we do in person speakers until the phone system gets fixed? Let's check with the clerks. The moment we can do that. I'm gonna move over to in person speakers for now. The first speaker if you can make your way down one second before we do in person, just due to the large volume of speakers when we call a speaker that is here in person, we're going to call the next two speakers to be on deck. So when you hear your name called as being on deck, please make your way to one of the two front chairs that have a reserved sign. And this way it [10:19:39 AM] will allow us for a smooth transition between speakers. Thank you. Thank you, Myrna. Okay first speaker is Daniel Ronan, speaking on item five and six, and after Daniel Ronin is Belinda Boone, speaking on item eight and 81 chase, right if you can make your way up, thank you. Good morning. Thank you for this opportunity to speak, Mr mayor. C, city. Counselors I am am Daniel Ronan. I am the executive director of the flower health foundation, and I just wanted to say hello and thank you for our heritage preservation grants were receiving over $215,000. For the restoration of the garage on our property. We are very excited for this grant. And I just wanted to come and thank you because I know a lot of times you get folks here who are upset, but I just really want to express my thanks. The flower hill foundation is historic [10:20:40 AM] house museum in old west Austin of historic 18 77 Victorian italianate home. Which is in the midst of a five year transition into a full on historic sites with mixed uses, so I'll be back here a lot more trying to, talk more about this project and also speak to the vision. Of this property in telling the broader story of the historic smooth family, a family of public servants. Who lived in the house for 136 years continuously from 18 77 to. 2013. And in addition to that, also elevating the story of emancipated African American laborers that worked at the site. The stories of Jenny more Willis Maxwell and Howard white to serve as the connective tissue I believe our organization can stand to tell the stories of African American presence, particularly in west Austin. Since before the 1928 relocation plan for the city of [10:21:41 AM] Austin. But I really just want to come here and document the great effects of the hot taxes, that are helping restore preserve rehabilitates historic resources here in Austin. Thank you so much. Next speaker is Belinda Boone followed by chase right and go subpoena. If you've been called, please make your way up to the diet. Thank you. Chase Wright. Followed by Gus Pena and then Kuan G. Thomas. Coming up, Mr Pena. Good morning . My name is Gustavo Pena. I am [10:22:41 AM] a native E starts tonight at 23 27 east fifth street. Former special agent with the I. R S and I have my badge id here. There's a lot of people there are scams. I want to just say this, city manager. I'm staying . We're staying with our house at my son's house until we get our house from the V. A. Big old tree trunk. Okay? Yeah we sleep right there. We could have been squashed. I'm talking about a big, old tall tree, big old trunk. More fatter than I am. The issue is this is that somebody dropped the ball. It shouldn't have happened. My wife was yelling. Help me! Help me! Because the branches we're hearing, you know, hitting us on our house on my son's house. What could have happened. Okay. Do you understand what I'm saying? Do you feel for us? I want to verbatim. I want to hear your voice. And you're not gonna [10:23:43 AM] say right? Well, you're wrong. You disrespectful the issue is this is there's a lot of people wanted me to speak for them. Now as far as a P D is concerned, I have a lot of friends at a P D. I am concerned about them, because if there are some bad cops it falls back on them. I love my a P D. And they know who they are. The issue is this is that never should have happened as far as the tree trunks are concerned. Why did it take a long time to get the electricity back on? I went over there and park seven knows about it. I'm ischemia. He knows about it. He saw he had the trucks over there. You failed us. Brendan this year. Maintain this. You dropped the ball, and it's not funny. You could have people killed out there, kids. All I [10:24:43 AM] want to do is just have a safety measure over here and more respect. Next speaker is Koyanagi Thomas speaking on item 26. Followed by Alexander, stranger, stringer and Jacob Henson. Thank you for having the opportunity and giving people the opportunity to speak in front of the city council is very important for a continued, relay of the sort of things that that people go through, to be considered in this depth of meeting one of the things I'm speaking from his 2000 to 4500 years of wisdom. If I can just read you something real quick because I was structural consideration in our government comes from this sort of wisdom and our forefathers over the mist of time. But one of the things that is disseminated in this depth of wisdom is our legal configuration. And when we have a heightening consideration of the sort of wisdom that we operated in as a people, one of [10:25:45 AM] the things that's continually happening is we're acting in the quarters with the objectives of our legal of our legal construction. And we're preventative in in the rights of , where we're advancing the rights of people, and we're preventative of things that are contradiction to our legal rights community community ably . I want to read something to you real quick, it says, and this is this is from a proverb. It says. Counselors mind sound wisdom it says, buy me, princess rain and ruler's decree was just so this this is a wise principle that's in accordance with our legal configuration over the over the course of time, and I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but we've been the most liberated nation. Amongst the ages for the for the expression of over almost 460 to 470 years , and that's for that. That's [10:26:46 AM] because of the sort of wisdom that's contained in this book. But what happens is well is when we're not in the appropriate dissemination of our of our legal structure. We're not acting in the objective in the objectives of our Texas penal code, which is to be president. Preventative of anything that's a contradiction, tire, legal rights and our structural considerations. But what's been taking place is over the past five years, there's been a there's been a display your time has expired. Okay but what I what I need you to consider is Romans one and the 18th. First to the last of that chapter because it's a display totori principle of people to an animal is, that I've seen in this culture. And when there's an animal is, that's Progressive in people in their display Torrey of themselves sure, that's something that we that's something that we need to consider in the heightening of our legal consideration. Thank you for your comments. Next [10:27:46 AM] speaker is Alex and Alexander stringer. Speaking on item 39 81, followed by Jacob Henson. Good morning, mayor and council speaking in support of item 39 81, because there needs to be accountability for what happened. You and I both know this. My mother told me to dress for the job that you want to have. And that is why I'm here today because I would like to be the CEO of Austin energy. We need leaders who are aligned with our priorities. And right now our number one priority is fighting climate change. We need to get to net zero by 22 by 2030. And honestly, if we are ever going to achieve these goals, you shouldn't even be using power at all. Okay listen . Just last month, I destroyed the gas stove that I owned in a fire that I started because I am firmly committed to saving the planet just like you. And I will [10:28:49 AM] show that same commitment as the CEO of Austin energy. I have pronouns in my Twitter bio. I also have Ukrainian flags in my Twitter bio. And due to my extensive qualifications and the fact that my priorities aligned so much with the city of Boston as well as what I thought were past administrations in Austin energy, I would like a salary between 350,000 to $500,000 a year so that I could support my lifestyle fund my cocaine habit and care for my wife, who has stage five testicular cancer. I also took a 23 and me test and found out that I am 3% black, so not hiring me would be a literal act of violence. Anyway if I can get a recommendation to be the CEO of Austin energy, I would really appreciate it. Obviously I'm the most qualified person for the job here in this room. Thank you very much. Mayor and council. Next speaker is Jacob [10:29:55 AM] Henson, speaking on item 40 and then mayor pro tem. We're going to attempt to move back to the remote speakers. Okay then we're gonna I'm going to call up cassie Sodergren speaking on item 80. Cassie go ahead here. Me yes, we can hear you. Go ahead. You hear me? Yes thank you. Good morning . My name is cassie satyagraha and I'm a resident of district nine. Speaking today in support of items 80 city manager corrupt Spencer bark needs to stop pushing for a long term police contracts because it won't allow for the public to vote on the police oversight act in may. The Austin chronicle has also reported on the personal ties between city manager cronk and the treasurer of the Austin police associations political [10:30:56 AM] action committee, which makes city managers across much for a long term police contract. Even more concerning, there have also been sparked so many failures in communication and administration from city manager cronk. During recent and past weather related energy crisis is and he is high time that he was replaced. Spencer cronk must be fired as his replacement needs to be willing to stand up to the police support real workers and ensure that our public energy system works for all residents. Thank you. Next speaker is Jen Ramos, speaking on item 80. Yes, good. Morning members of the Austin city bromell and that chair community activists. State democratic executive committee woman for senate district 21 most importantly, a constituent of council member, Jose Velasquez, industry three speaking in support light of 80. [10:31:56 AM] The unfortunate reality is that every night in Austin families worry that they're black and brown children won't come home alive. That is the unfortunate nature of what is happening not only in the city of Boston, but the reality was the country. A long term police contract is not the solution we need. The will of the voters is to really address the situation, which is why I, along with other organizations, such as the Travis county democratic party. Orders of protection fund and indivisible often believe that police misconduct and brutality is a serious issue that requires more oversight. And I think that a shorter term contract is gonna be able to help this clear as well. I do not support the right ultra amendment and I think that voters need to be able to vote on the oversight system because every citizen deserves to feel safe and that includes making sure that we've read the proper oversight for our police and law enforcement. A four year deal is not the solution and as we've mentioned before, in previous testimony, there are already very clear ties the city manager cronk and the Austin police association. So please support a short term contract. Thank you for your time. Next speaker is [10:33:01 AM] Rebecca weber, speaking on item 80. Miss Webber, go ahead. We will try her again. Next speaker Sarah Ina's Laurent speaking on item 80. Angel it on resident addicted to I'd like to express my support item. 80 concerned with the city manager's performance for several years, has pushed for a long term police contracts in keeping with his dismissal of the public outcry for police reform during the past several years, especially with the police oversight act vote in may after French I went without water several times for days at a time. As a homeowner. I've gone without water or electricity several times and in either case , I've never had a quick idea [10:34:03 AM] what was going on or how did that success my options? The lack of communication? I'm not sure what the city master does Ernest salary, but it does not involve being accountable to city residents eating the council's concerns or making sure that things we pay for our running. Serious do for any management, replacing he's willing to stand up to the police support workers and residents. There are public utilities work now and also in the face of growing climate. And, thank you. Next speaker is Paul robin. Speaking on item 81. Good morning, counsel. Can can you hear me, Mr Robbins? Thank you. Council I've been in environmental activists and consumer advocate in Austin since 1977. I fully support the request for an audit of tree [10:35:04 AM] trimming of the tree firming program and other issues contributing to the power outage. This is item 81. I have two main points. I want to add to this support. First sydor extending this audit to look at other issues. And about 2003. There was supposed to be a pilot program to retrofit overhead power lines underground. To my knowledge. The money that was budgeted was never spent if such a program had been established, it would have mitigated the problems that occurred. I have a friend who's entire street is about to be excavated for water system upgrades, installing underground lines in situations like this would probably reduce costs. For, underground retrofits and should be considered. My second point is [10:36:04 AM] that if you think Austin energy is unpopular now, or wait until their rate increase goes into effect next month. The right structure punishes the poor punishes specific council districts and punishes people who conserve energy. Changing this unfair right structure is completely within the council's purview is timely and should be on the table. Thank you. Next speaker is gumbo, ve speaking on item 80. Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes, we can go ahead. Perfect okay. Good morning, council. Mayor Watson. I am gumbo. I am a member of Austin de esa and asked me 16 24 also resident district five. Nice to be calling a new council cohort for the first time. I haven't called since last fall, so hello. Good morning. Hasn't [10:37:04 AM] things written down about item 80 to say, but then I heard this morning that Mr Crunk may have reached a four year deal with the police association in direct opposition to this esteemed bodies wishes which to me presents a shady deal admitted to midnight by a shady organization and that's not accountability. So I implore you to pass item 80 for one year cop contract and let the world of people be heard on the real Austin police oversight act. In may. And while we're at it since we got two minutes instead of one minute like last, 12, I would also like to go on to item 40 and discuss that the shelter plan for extreme weather, both extreme cold and extreme heat has never been consistent and again. I think this is ultimately a failure of cronk leadership. It's makes no sense that you would require on house people to go to a very centralized locations and then be taken to shelters. It doesn't make sense that you open shelter that varying degrees of temperature. And seemed to have no consistent plan. I come from a place that is wracked with the natural hazard all the time, and [10:38:06 AM] not having a plan in place is probably the most dangerous thing you could do for community, so please. Actually do some work on improving the disaster plans and include the resiliency office and I yield my time. Thank you. Next speaker is Shane Johnson, speaking on item 80. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes, we can go ahead. Great thank you. Hi out again. Shane Johnson and pronouns district seven residents also speaking for my parents in district seven in support of item 80. Being the stop any potential for your contract right now, as it is the Austin police oversight act. That would be good on meg much. Many counselors and the former mayor, promise or potentially, miss letter that they there would be no contract negotiated before or approved before the may election. Under Spencer [10:39:10 AM] cronk direction not only have we had a disastrous relief response or lack it or anything, seemingly I can't release planned well. We also have as speaker reports that the shady deal negotiated that gives too much funding and resources to the police and with legally prohibit any real accountability oversight, while he has shown time and again, to not lead on the priorities and of the people of Austin. Are the. The four year contract that has been negotiated and made and they want you to vote on, does not provide an oversight system with Independence. In fact, checking the civilian review panel need does not return the office of police authorities lost in that disastrous arbitration decision. While it does create new ways or the police association can later grievance process to attack the police over the office of police are excited. We're trying to do [10:40:10 AM] its job. And actually hold officers accountable for arms of brutality they commit. This is what institutional racism looks like. In 2023. This is what white supremacy culture looks like in 2023. And particularly for the white house members. And I think our who voted last year in favor of the automatic license plate reader reinstatement. This is an important small but important first step to undoing being traditionally asm of proving that program. Thank you for your time and please support item eight. Past item median fired Spencer cronk. Next speaker is Rebecca weber, speaking on item 80. Good morning, Rebecca, can you we can hear you go ahead. Good morning, Rebecca. You can anything to you? So I'm Rebecca weber. I live in district nine with my partner and our two [10:41:12 AM] kiddos also have a solo law practice. Here in Austin focused on helping victims of law enforcement misconduct. And I served on the Austin citizen review panel for many years. And I was also a longtime public safety commissioner. Thank you, counsel number of cool for trusting me with that appointment for so long. I'm here to ask you to pass item 80. I watched the manager's comments this morning and y'all is I just can't with the misrepresentation and the double speak. Here's my main takeaway. The managers exploitation of our Austin, Travis county E. M S medics. Is even more sake. Now when you compare it to this rushed and really expensive deal, he's proposing to give away to the police. Being at the associates out here begging for a living wage. A one year contract with [10:42:12 AM] the manager says will devastate the police department. Was good enough for the M S association last year. And our medics didn't spend $300,000 to troll our community with a fraudulent petition campaign leading to this third confusing may vote where we have to it's called the same thing. So the police to be a saint. I'm I'm like Mitt Romney up here talking to Jorge Santos. Shame on you seriously. Manager cronk. You should be ashamed to align yourself with these tactics. Y'all have proven that you are not trustworthy. I and really embarrassed. That you would front of us. And lie to us that the city has accountability and that it has truth that it's an oversight. So I just asked the council to pass item 80 and thank you for your service. Next [10:43:17 AM] speaker is Sandra Menjivar IST cds speaking on item 81. Ah! Hi good morning, good resident in district four, as well as a board member in the wound neighborhood association. I'm speaking in favor for this audit in 2021. Our neighborhood was one of the first to be impacted by the rolling blackouts and one of the last to be restored. This year. Our neighborhood began to lose power last Wednesday, and most residents did not get power restored until Tuesday of this week. As of today, we still have several residents without power. The outage began. Austin energy has given us contradictory information on why people could not be restored. We've had to repeatedly called back Austin energy to get back on the outage map as we were either ignored when we first called or are. They just were removed. We were added back to the map. The outage information was incorrectly showing the outages as new instead of when they really occurred. While I support the review, I do have the review detail costs section on why each neighborhood and zip code or [10:44:18 AM] impacted how long they were without power and for the city auditor to do an analysis on the socio. Comic status of the neighborhood. That were without power, the longest saying that these are historic and unprecedented event is no excuse for the negligent negligence being shown by the city auditor. Sorry city manager Austin energy and the Austin energy general. Thank you for your time. Next speaker is Karen Flanagan, speaking on item 81. Hello can you hear me? Yes, we can go ahead. Okay yes. Audit Austin energy. We need to know how to prevent this from happening again. 200 plus homes and Angus valley and district six were without electricity for seven days. They lost food in refrigerators and freezers. They paid for hotels, not just to stay warm. No one neighbor has a catheter that needs daily care. He needed hot water. They paid for meals because they couldn't prepare them in their homes. Often energy knows who has and [10:45:19 AM] who didn't have electricity. I know there's not a policy on how to reimburse them, so what I want you to do is make one up. Send a check to every address who was without power starting at day three and pay $150 a day to help them recover their senses. Where would the money come from? Well in August, you found $395,000 to give yourself a raise council. That would help. 790 residents right now. There's many out there. You need to find it and everyone to check and they can choose to use it. Thank you. And yes, we need audits in this city and let's start with Austin energy. Thank you. Next speaker is William Nelson, speaking on item 81. Good morning, William Nelson. And no, I'm not related in any way, Willie. I am a resident of [10:46:22 AM] district eight. And I appreciate you listening to me today. I'm an engineer and spent most of my career in oil and gas, where I was responsible for the safe and successful delivery of large oil and gas projects here and abroad , but also for their reliable operations. Later, I formed a consulting company and focused on Wilson, curly on risk management, which is what I want to talk about today. After numerous subpar and downright poor outcomes. He reluctantly learned the importance of audits , which I'm recommending today and risk management. And I say reluctantly, because we all thought we were doing a great job as I'm sure awesome energy did until we were tested and came up short. I proposed detailed post appraisals or audits. We found that even in even in great projects, great operations that we thought everything was going great once we did an audit. We are almost always found new ways to do it better to do it safer new technologies, new processes and procedures. Really Austin [10:47:23 AM] energy's response to last week's ice storm was not acceptable. And we expect them to do the better. I think with an audit that can happen one tool of something simple, called root cause analysis. It's easy to say well, we need to trim back trees more. We need to do this and that but through root cause analysis you really dig below the surface to understand things that aren't always readily available management decisions. Lack of preparation. Poor response time how decisions were made. And therefore you get at the root cause of not only what went wrong, but what needs to be fixed going forward? The second thing is going forward to really do. And maybe this has been done , you know, starting with caught going back two years and 21 snowbird. How to do a comprehensive risk analysis of the entire value changes. This includes power generation power transmission distribution. And really getting everyone involved with extreme weather response in the same room to painstakingly go through all the risks to everything. One thing that I was [10:48:23 AM] always my boss would always ask is how can I be sure. How can I be sure. And I think that's what we the public and the city council needs to be asking Austin energy going forward. Thank you, for your time has changed inevitably will come is what can we do better? Thank you. Next speaker is the Sean Reidy speaking on item 81. Thank you. Can you hear me? Yes, we can go ahead. Thank you, Mr Herren council. Actually, I had items 80 and 81. Firstly, I won't. I would like to support anyone, for, the simplest reason that you know, transparency is the best form of support for most trust for any art for its people whom is serving so I request. You know, I don't know why we are even having a conversation of life. There's a resistance to simple audit. It should have been pretty straightforward. So definitely [10:49:25 AM] with that, and opposed 80 agenda item 80 because I somehow feel that it's more like a detention to a kid who has misbehaved and not the true solution to the problem. We need to think deeper and probably just be motivating the police force by this, making them go to one of your contract is not going to process all the problems. Rather around. Maybe have more clauses are more conditions, including their four year contract might have them on the age and working more, you know cautiously. But yeah, just reducing the contract. I feel like it's not not not because we don't even have a plan B on what happens after that. So yeah, those are my two cents. Thank you for the time and opportunity. Pretend that concludes all the remote speakers. For now, we're going to go back to in person speakers . Okay thank you. There were a [10:50:26 AM] few that I called that weren't here when I called them, so I'm gonna start with them, chase, right, registered to speak on item 40, followed by Jacob Henson and Toby Nunley. If you can make your way up. Good morning, counsel. My name is chase, right? I'm, the executive director for hungry hill foundation, where we have a holistic workforce program who serve our own house residents. I'm actually here today to speak about the logistic failure that we experienced last week. During our crisis. We had all the key players at the table and yet we still fail to make accurate decisions, which fell in results of loss of life. When we talk about individuals who are on house, I would like to start thinking about them as being living experience human beings and not objects. I witnessed individuals being put out of shelters, and it was still 30 degrees outside, and we had to make so many phone calls just to [10:51:27 AM] get them back in the building. They were outside waiting on no. One. Why because capital metro also felt him and transportations because we were unaware that there would be ice on the roads. I thought that's what we was preparing for, and at the end of the day, Dan Maes, east Austin resident lost his life because of these failures now I don't want to speak about division. I want to talk about unity and solutions. I want to talk about how we can have the correct people all in the same room at the same time. To make these decisions so that we don't result in the loss of life. At the end of the day, I would like to thank the council. We did see district one, district three district six all these different districts out there in the middle of this crisis, trying to provide solutions and resources to the people that didn't have them the most. And as a community, we appreciate you guys, especially district one in their staff. They reached out day and day to see what we could use out in Hungary hill to help our residents. We prepared the city of Boston put money and funding behind a crisis response system that works. Unfortunately we don't have to live in [10:52:27 AM] experience and the individuals who received these funds for us to make accurate decisions and have logistics success. When someone's life is on the line, so moving forward, I would like to ask. I know we got a lot ahead of us this year council, but I would like to ask that we all be boots on the ground. I like to ask that we think about these individuals as humans like they think that we make decisions, knowing that human life is at risk. With that being said, I thank you. Jacob Jensen , followed by Toby Nunley and our John Guyton. Good morning, counsel. I'm Jacob Henson. I'm one of the co chairs of the inclement weather workgroup, a part of the Austin Travis county homelessness response system. I was speaking before you today because during winter storm Mara , we experienced a series of failures on the part of the city and just everyone we have. We don't have a proper implement weather strategy and as a person lived expertise, this best [10:53:28 AM] impacts me and most of my own house neighbors greatly without an actual strategy. To respond for to our own house neighbors. I just. I don't understand. I don't understand why we don't have a strategy. We're here to help. We're here to advise. Please let us know how we can help. Thank you. Next speaker is Toby Nunley, followed by a jog going tin, followed by friend tattoo. If you have been called , please make your way to the front. I'm not seeing anyone. Next speaker is Ollie Roberts. Followed by Giampaolo Connolly, followed by Rachel Schueler. Good morning. My name is Ali and [10:54:31 AM] I work at a hotline that serves people experiencing homelessness. This this service publicly launched in October of last year, and today it's the second highest volume service provider of homeless services and Travis county. As we know, cold weather shelter is available to adults and their pets. I'm here today to inform you that families with children are categorically excluded and denied access to this life saving resource. Every night, including during winter weather. Kids sleeping cars or other places not meant for human habitation. And during every activation there are families with children who don't have the money for a hotel or a place to crash for the night. This is a fact that some find hard to believe. And perhaps don't want to believe because it is sad. But it is true and my team has stories and extensive data to support the claim. I'm making to you now. Here's some numbers. As of yesterday. My team has provided a housing intervention [10:55:32 AM] or coordinated housing assessment to 319 family households. Most of them single moms. This equals 978 individual human beings. 559 of them children. These numbers. Especially considering that they come from one small program with these numbers should be alarming , especially considering that they come from one small program within one small but growing agency. I'm not saying that all or even most homeless families would need or want cold weather shelter during activations, but I know for a fact that many do because they call the hotline and they tell us so. No one should have to fight to survive in extreme weather conditions. That is why we have inclement weather shelter. There should be a clear process for families that takes into account their unique needs and barriers. Please take action now. Thank you. Mayor pro Tim. Yes if I may [10:56:32 AM] . I just I want to thank Ali for working with me on the extreme weather. Resolution, and I would like to ask that she follow up with me about what she talked about. I know I connected her with the homeless strategy office. And I'd like to know how those conversations are going. So thank you. Thank you. Next speaker's gianpaolo Connolly's speaking on item 40, followed by Sasha rose and Tom freely, please make your way up. Good morning, mayor and council. It's good to see you all first time this year. I'm here to speak on a couple of different items, but I will start by saying the manager's press conference this morning and his actions over the past 24 hours. Show how clearly misaligned his priorities are at a time when you know so many aspects of our city seemed clearly broken or dysfunctional. You know, the manager has plenty of time to undermine police oversight and undermine the democratic process and undermine [10:57:32 AM] the rights of Austin's voters. I'm here to speak on one of the aspects in which our city's response continues to be dysfunctional. And that is our response to cold weather. I'm in support of item 40, although item 40 really only gets the ball moving, but the fact of the matter is the leadership council for Austin, Travis county continuing care, wrote a letter to this city council last year in July. And in it, we outlined some clear priorities around the amount of funding needed for cold weather shelter response that funding has not been adequately supplied. We outlined what that cold weather shelter response needs to look like, and we have still not gotten there. We've taken some meaningful steps, but we haven't gone far enough. So I am in strong support of item 40 and in conducting a process to figure out what we need to actually have a successful cold weather shelter response for our own house neighbors. It's crucial that the leadership council that the cold weather shelter workgroup that you heard from being involved in helping to design and lead this process, [10:58:33 AM] along with the ems, city staff and subject matter, experts from other areas. I want to point out that our own house neighbors were left in extremely precarious situation. And it could have been prevented and it could have been prevented with better planning. It could have been prevented with better investment, better budget allocations and we need to do better. So you know, I won't get into the details of some of the horror stories that I've heard. But you know, I carry those with me and I carry those with me even as I see that our manager's priorities right now are towards undermining the democratic process and not investing. And improving our shelter system. Thank you. MM hmm. Sasha rose, speaking on item 40, followed by Tom Fridley and Monica Guzman. Good morning. My name is Sasha rose. She her pronouns. I'm the director of Austin mutual aid as you may or may not know, during snow cop apocalypse we and, many organizations collaborated together to take people off the [10:59:33 AM] streets and put them into hotel rooms. 450 people to be exact. And we are not able to continue doing that the shelter system right now is inadequate. It's inaccessible to so many people, and what I see mostly here is that there's a disconnect from those people who are sitting behind the desk making decisions for those who are actually experiencing the impact of those decisions. The shelter systems are inaccessible and they do not consider families. I read recently that someone denied that that families were being turned away from family from the shelters. That's that's not true. I know directly that they were being turned away from the shelters that they showed up at shelters that they were told that they needed to go to the 111 intake center and that they were then told they didn't know what the plan was for them. So families need to know exactly what they're coming into with their children. There are children who are families who are living on the streets with their children. I really want to encourage the city council. I've worked with some of the you already and getting out there. You're on housed community is part of your constituents and I haven't seen you all out there. [11:00:34 AM] I haven't seen many of you as boots on the ground, so join us join the outreach providers and as well as joined the I'm also the co chair for echo. We have an implement what weather shelter group and we are doing this work. People there get consultant fees who are actually experiencing the outcome of these decisions. We encourage you to come to these meetings that are open. That way, you can make a decision based on what needs to happen. And Spencer cronk. I heard you say, my organization yesterday you named organization that you've been working with us. I have yet to see you at any meetings. I've never received a phone call from you. I yeah, it's if this is really what you want to do. I would say that you're falling short of showing up for our community mutually cannot continue to fill in your bill. In the wake of what these. This city is continuing to fail on. We need to work together. We need to listen to the folks who actually had the experience nothing about. Out us without us is something I continually hear. Austin police oversight act also needs to happen, okay? Tom freed [11:01:35 AM] lease speaking on item 40 minute time, Guzman and then Jessica Cohen. All right, Tom, freely. Radio zeitgeist. Your stop for the artery critical thought in an age of too much information on Spotify I've seen, I think first of all, congratulations to everyone winning your chair. All right. I want to be your best friend, but it could be your worst nightmare right media guy within a year. You won't. We won't remember names like Joe Rogan or Alex Jones. I send all of you the mass email. But don't go on YouTube. If you don't find it was not a hyperlink. It's called Dr don beck, a beautiful noise. The paradigm is called spiral dynamics. Don got to be a good friend of mine in radio that he's done with me. I reached out to his daughter, Cherie, that keeps daddy's work alive. He brought together south Africa with a bio psycho social systems theory that no one knows about clear. Graves was a good [11:02:38 AM] friend of Abraham Maslow, a name you might remember the evidently had argued for years. Don taught me on who had the better model. You know how men are? No, I'm smarter than you, right. But Claire was a singular genius, and we're all literally perfect interview. The quick and dirty is with 50. Seconds left, we learned to master a certain level of complexity. As humans, but human nature you guys is emergent. The next emergent level solves the problems the prior levels have created. It's the science of my medics. We can fix stuff here. Okay? I'm Tom freely. The company's dharma dog productions LLC, pending multimedia in advocacy, and, let's fix Austin. I love this town. It's a big part of my impending success. And I want to love you guys back by, Dixon stuff and doing don beck and his family legacy, honor. Thanks oh, what radios that guy proton mail .com. Next speaker is Monica [11:03:39 AM] Guzman. Speaking on items 40 74 75 80, followed by Jessica Cohen and chibas Watson. Good morning . Marian council. I'm Monica Guzman, policy director. Go Austin vamoose Austin to support and urges council to pass item 40 regarding the operation of city shelters during extreme weather events, including winter storm, or E and the recent ice storm while we recognize the need for shelters across the city there needed not just for those experiencing homelessness. But also for those who must leave their homes in search of extended sheltering with access to critical resources, including multilingual communication online and off electricity, culturally appropriate food and water and a place to sleep. We hope this moves us closer to operationalize Ng resilience hubs as originally intended and promised to the community. God opposes item 74 75 regarding the imposter Austin police oversight act, which lacked transparency when petitioned for signatures [11:04:40 AM] and lacks the teeth needed for civilian oversight and enforceability supports item 80 . We endorse the original a Pio , a put forth by the equity pack coalition. We endorsed the right of voters to see this ballot measuring naked in 2023 if it passes a short term contract has been a longstanding request to stop negotiating a four year contract that will preempt the will of the voters and direct the city manager to bring a one year deal instead, a short term contract respects the rights of the voters item. 80 will allow voters to vote on an oversight system they support and then a lot of the city to implement the will of the voters in a future long term contract. Because the city manager seems intent on bringing a four year deal that will preempt the will of the voters. We do not support council member Ryan alters amendment which might inadvertently accelerate that process. Gava like dove springs , proud for their grassroots leadership, undoing white supremacy. Austin and many other organizations believe that police misconduct and brutality is a serious issue. That stronger civilian oversight, accountability and transparency are important and should be [11:05:41 AM] robust and stable, another long term contract before the vote leaves the city's oversight and accountability system at the mercy of the Austin police association. Our civil rights shouldn't be negotiable. And in the few seconds I have left, I speak as a deep for resident. Thank you. Council member of L. A for taking the lead on item 80, the other supporting council members as well. And to quote Mary Watson is accountable to the people support the people protect our right to vote. Thank you. Just. Just a good Cohen speaking on item 41, followed by cheetahs, Watson and Ben suitable good morning, everyone . My name is Jessica Cohen. I am the chair of the board of adjustment. I'm talking to you today about item 41. The board of adjustment applicant assistance program. We often talk as a city about the need for affordable housing and for making sure that housing that is [11:06:43 AM] already affordable continues to remain affordable. I'm kind of proud today to say that I think we're adding another tool to the toolbox. In 2018. I was appointed to the board of adjustment. After that first year, I noticed that the only cases we were hearing were L. A zoning, doc kisses and commercial and I asked, you know, where are all residential cases? Why don't we ever see anything from the east side? And I was told, it's probably the cost. And that got many of the board members asking how much does it cost to go before the board of adjustment? It turns out, it's $1000 almost give or taken. God forbid you make a mistake and screw up your posting language and have to re notice and that's another 500. That's not a real reachable amount of money for a lot of people in Austin. This African assistance program will follow the guidelines of the Austin energy customer assistance program for homesteaders who have lived at their property for [11:07:44 AM] more than a year and media circuit income requirements. It will make them are will make funds available to cover the fees necessary to come for the cost of service for the border adjustment. I want to say thanks real quick to Jasmine Smith, who was one of the board members in the working group when we first started working on this resolution, just a really strong advocate loud boys reminding everyone that the board of adjustment and city hall is not just for the wealthy. And I think this program is going to change that. So thank you all. Thank you for putting this on the agenda, and I'm really excited about it. Have a great rest of the meeting. Mhm speaker is yes. Go ahead. Just wanted to say thank you to Jessica for bringing the item to our attention for pushing for it to my colleagues for supporting and for bringing it. It's unfortunate that are our system [11:08:46 AM] is so complex and difficult and expensive to navigate. But I do think this is an important step in allowing people to do just that regular people. Next speaker is she was Watson followed by bensouda B and then Fran tattoo. Which council representative of city official is ensuring that constitutional guarantees or not being violated? Who was upholding their oath of office. I'm Chevis Watson, executive director of direct service agency working group 512 last week. I worked 147 hours to ensure that lives were saved. Spencer. Did you do the same in your 40? How about you, Natasha? Your social media updates where as ineffective as your tenure here on the dais, I completely disagree that all of the key players were involved in the cws activation table. I and some others were nowhere to be involved. We couldn't be everywhere yet. We still find [11:09:48 AM] found nine people dead. I wondered as we took action to get bodies moved. Did anybody here consider that the Austin area urban league but the urban league anywhere never never been black all my life. Nothing never has responded to relief or inclement weather. District one was so full of folks who just don't trust in anything that y'all do that this week. They're not even talking about it. Spoken of the slave patrol that Austin police department is for a decade here. So how about this do officers taken off to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and laws of the United States? They sure do. But each of you do as well. All public officials who will be the public servant we need after a decade of appealing to this process, I'm absolutely exhausted and seeing the corruption, fraud and abuse involving city resources and funding. We already. Absolutely ready to file state and federal lawsuits on each of you. Each of you, especially you, Spencer. [11:10:51 AM] Either change your ways and uphold the rights of persons in Austin or experience a citizens arrest and go to Travis county jail. You have been warned, and that is not a threat. I have waited for you for years to be on the side of the people. I will not play games anymore. We will track the abuse the corruption in the fraud. We deserve for this diess to be effective. Not politically charged nine bodies last week, Spencer nine. Nine bodies. Kirk. Nine. Non bodies. Natasha were in your district. Okay next speaker. Thanks need any salutations? Hear my words read the rest. Next. The next speaker is. Ben suitability, followed by Fran tattoo, followed by a jag, Quentin. Mayor mayor pro tem [11:11:54 AM] council members. Good morning. My name is Ben suddaby and I'm the president of asked me 16 24. I'm speaking on item 79 as you're voting to extend the declaration of the local state of disaster, which rightfully mentioned imminent threat to injury and loss of life. I'd like to take a moment to recognize and thank the workers at the city of Austin. The people who are out there on the ground, assisting doing what they needed to do. To help our city during this difficult time prior to the storm preparation all throughout and now is the cleanup continues. The workers continue to help our city returned to a sense of normalcy. Public service is an honor and a privilege. And I just wanted to take a moment to thank all those workers here at the city of Boston. Thank you to the workers. Hmm. Fran tattoos, speaking on item 40, followed by [11:12:54 AM] a gluten followed by Christina rare E. Good morning, Fran taito district five community volunteer. Thank you for your consideration this morning council. As someone who has boots on the ground last week, I can attest to the fact that Austin is ill equipped to deal with a major disaster. I've been . I've lived through three disasters in my life. I have. I would like to give a shout out to the heroic lineman. All the workers and all the amazing volunteers who helped keep us afloat last week. I have several recommendations. We were out scouting Tuesday night after the busses shut down. The roads were passable, and we were coming upon people who had no phones, shivering. Who I didn't think we could take to our little pop up shelter. I don't think I had the resources so 311 worked, but I would suggest more staffing for 311 took a long time to get through. And then it was an hour before they called back to [11:13:54 AM] confirm they were picking up this gentleman. Ah of course, more staffing for your shelters , and why not have pop up shelters all through town meeting people where they are in their neighborhoods? Not just for and house community who I regularly do street outreach outreach with but for families, and two point the form mothers who were turned away from shelters, which I understand was a mistake, but we need to make a contingency plan for family shelters. I housed couples who did not want to be separated but who otherwise would have suffered hypothermia. Many of the folks that we have is that our pop up shelters say the difference for them coming to stay with us is the personal touch and not having to pack up and leave in the morning and come back. Why not create a community? Why not use that time to do some coordinated assessment? Get to know people listen to their stories. You know your your your your hearts will open. I promise you lastly , for a major disaster. Hopefully the convention center has generators. I think that [11:14:56 AM] that should be looked to for a place of shelter that could be divided and broken up into different areas. But thank you so much for your time and giving a shout out to item 80 as well. Thank you. Next speaker's Aja gluten, followed by Christina Kerry and Clinton. Very if your name has been called, please make your way up to the front. Thank you. I am. My name is rj Gayton. I am a hotline assessor for the sunrise navigation center. And in my experience in the last 6 to 7 months, we've grown so much and our team and organization in addressing the homelessness response system. And my time of social services and social work, there's been a few times when in the beginning where you're going to be very emotional. It's very hard work to do as a servant, but in my time on the hotline, I've never [11:15:56 AM] seen such a lack of resources available in general and especially in response to implement weather. I had a call the other day with someone. I was a couple. They were both below the age of 30 and they had a one month old child and they were sleeping in their car. It was during freezing weather. This baby had no resources. They had nothing available to them. He had recently lost his job, just a split of a second of two weeks difference and then being evicted from their place and having nowhere else to go. During this inclement weather. It is my duty as a servant, each individual family and community to bring awareness to the lack of resources during those times , and just in general, we have seen improvements. The resolutions are there, but they don't hit nearly enough places. And there's not nearly enough action from the people who have the most power to influence the system. Each of these issues can be addressed in different ways. But you have to pull from people from the community. The homeless response teams and organizations programs. They have knowledge that is way more in depth and way greater than many people [11:16:57 AM] here. Whatever understand everyday we encounter these issues. Every day. We encounter these problems and having this knowledge and having a fall on deaf ears would be detrimental or and even fatal to people as we all know, right now. Based on the cold weather response, I don't have much else to say other than the fact that if you don't tug on everyone in this room who was giving you this information, it would absolutely proved to be, a downfall for this council and for the city. Thank you. Next speaker is Christina rare E, followed by Clinton very followed by Cathy Mitchell. Please make your way up. Do I just start talking about done this before? Okay my name's Christina. Rare E. I'm not sure if everyone knows this, but we're at the same staffing levels in Austin that we were at 1997 with size town that's expanded several times larger. We're losing 100 and 50 officers. A year, and we're only [11:17:57 AM] replacing them with 150. That's if everything goes right. We really need to stop the bleed. It's Spencer cronk relationship with Apa is a problem. That wouldn't be a problem with, someone with opposing views had relationships with people in the council when I drove up here I saw chito vela Enzo, high fiving , hugging and fist bumping Chris Harris, Chris Harris. Who is associated with Austin Jessica coalition and equity action. Chris Harris, who is loudly and proudly worked against a P D. Since 2020 Chris Harris, who's also publicly stated that he'd like nothing more to see than a nothing more. Than to see a pd abolished publicly on Twitter. I'm also going to speak on 81. I'm for this. I'm foreign audit. We should have an audit after that storm 21 like this is ridiculous. It should be a third party audit it but at minimum, it should be. In in the in house audit. Everyone who has been in office since 21 needs to be held [11:18:58 AM] accountable. Except if you've been pushing an audit like Mackenzie Kelly has you guys are responsible for the city? You're responsible for people's lives. You're responsible for the infrastructure. We vote for you guys to take care of us. You're not there just for show. That's all I have to say. Next speaker is Clinton rare E, followed by Cathy Mitchell called by Rene teal. Good morning, everybody. I know a lot of calls and a lot of people coming up here pointing the blame at, city manager Spencer cronk and his connections with a P a. But let's talk about shady connections. I mean, we have the grassroots leadership that Texas organization project in the united we dream network. These three organizations they recruit young individuals to be Progressive activists that actively promote to define Austin pd, ice and, the sorry. Reduced the prisons. And these [11:20:00 AM] organizations received funding from the workers' defense project, which Jose Garza is in charge of he's an executive director. Now Jose Garza received most of his funding from the open society, which is run by George Soros, who also donates to the workers defense project. He also did donates, $500,000 said the equity action over $1 million to the Austin justice coalition and he dumped $500,000 against proposition B, where majority of you up here stood behind that to not increase the police staffing. So who do you work for? Do you work for us? Or do you work for George Soros because he's the one that's dumping millions of dollars into the city and you guys fold to everything that he wants. So let's talk about the real corruption. Stop taking money from outside funding and listen to actually your constituents. This is getting ridiculous that you guys are acting like activists instead of running the city smoothly and responsibly. And going on trips using taxpayer dollars to go to [11:21:00 AM] Holland on a bike ride. Come on. That's ridiculous. Kathy Mitchell, followed by Rene teal. I'm Kathy Mitchell with equity action, and I'm very proud to be associated with Chris Harris, who is on our board, and I just wanted to say that. And I've I've brought up one of our coalition partners for and I'm going to share my time. Jasmine Smith. Vice president lost area urban league. And we're here to endorse the Austin police oversight act and the right of the voters to see the ballot measure enacted in 2023 when it passes a short term contract respects the will of the voters while providing stability. The austerity urban league like the Austin Austin justice, coalition, and measure believe that miss police misconduct and [11:22:02 AM] brutality is a serious issue and that stronger civilian oversight , accountability and transparency are important and should be robust and stable item . 80 as opposed, as proposed, will allow voters to vote on oversight system they support and then allow the city to implement the will of the voters in a future long term contract. It is your job to do with the will of the people is not to bypass it with a long term contract. I think that, many of the folks who spoken already have spoken to the main issue that I wanted to point out, which is that this thing that was brought to you late last night, and you probably haven't even really seen yet. Isn't the kind of. Negotiation that appears to that happens in other context. So, for example, the one year contract that you all did for M S last year, was a bargaining this. As somebody who [11:23:03 AM] sat through the meeting all the way to the end last night looked a lot like collusion. There are a lot of things in here that both sides agree on that are not good, and we'll have plenty of opportunity to dig into it more , but we hope that we don't have to do that. Because if you agree to move to a one year deal, and you launch a negotiation to make that happen now, we can have an election there will of the voters can be heard and the tent poles of a real oversight system will be in place for the next long term contract negotiation. So we really hope that you know today is the day to make that pivot. And while we're here, item 41. Everyone deserves to be able to go and forward the board of adjustments and also item 40 . While we are partners of the city and the community, we will continue to push in and outside the system until our people get the excellent service that they deserve. Next speaker is Renee teal. And then mayor pretend I'm [11:24:04 AM] going to jump back to the to remote speakers are waiting. Thank you. Rene teal. And I'm going to call on Deborah library. Speaking on item 81. Hi my name is Debbie Debra Liebert . And I have my husband. I have been residents of Boston for 25 years, 18 of which we spent. Up in the 78726 zip code under Peter knowledge. During that time, we had maybe an occasional rolling blackout. As we have moved to the cat mountain villas area, the left the last seven years we have experienced at least 12 outages anywhere from a day to most recently, four days out of electricity in the 2020. One storm fury. We were out for [11:25:04 AM] seven days, nearly freezing to death in our home. Since we are we're unable to get out. I am very much in favor of items. 81 I believe we have heard of corruption, mismanagement. Irresponsibility across the board. Lots of services we expect and demand basic service , which is electricity, and I think we need to find out what where this money is going. Why we are experiencing these outages. What we're paying in taxes. There should be no reason there is there is ample funds there, but these funds are being mismanaged. So I really hope that India one is considered and passed. I noticed that Austin water with recently audited and those results came back and January and we have not heard those results, but I had to do [11:26:04 AM] some digging. They had five failures and they were audited. The number of failures that have happened with Austin energy. Need to be audited and we need as as citizens and taxpayers we are owed and deserved an explanation and transparency from our city council and mayor. Thank you. Next speaker is an obeah. Joseph registered to speak on item. 29 31 39 43. Their approach him. This isn't over your Joseph may I ask you a question? Go ahead. Yeah Clark told me as being four items. 40. I'm sorry. I did not hear your question. I wanted to ask if you could allow the clerk to show me as being supportive of item 40. That's the mentor. The shelters [11:27:05 AM] for the city. Yes, we can show that thank you, ma'am flow, Tim. And members. I'm going to be jokers. My comments are specifically related to item. 29 I want to thank Myrna reels for clarifying that the law department put this item on the agenda. It's related to the hearing process for release violations. I just wanted to ask the law department and council to consider adding speech as a really cool or does 14-105 and have a retroactive, reflective filing amendments that would align with the supreme court orders that were executed throughout the pandemic. When it tenant who faces eviction goes before the justice. Court and has a defective knowledge which does not include the supreme court language that scarlet letter E stays on. That person's record inside did send you some language and hope you will consider amending the ordinance to include it as it relates to [11:28:06 AM] item 30 food. That's just your neutral item that's on the agenda for boards and commissions. I did sin and Morgan's attorney or request to have the capital metro board appointment. We post it, and you're aware that is actually governed by transportation code chapter 4 51, not the city charter. Has really specifically do the commission's in general, I would ask you to please allow the African American resource advisory commission to post their code back up materials and audio. I should not have to continue to put in open records request for that information into us with benadryl. I just wanted to play kick the can down the road as a release to the black embassy. As opposed to addressing the needs of African Americans. So it's disheartening to hear about the individuals that date capital naturals bus service was suspended and Kut announced that repeatedly you have a $600,000 K V. I contract and we hear about the social [11:29:07 AM] welfare and city council meetings and nausea. But you've never mentioned anything about the cold weather or the busses being suspended. I would ask you to do a little bit better job in coordinating and I thank you, madam. Pro tem for comments. If you have any questions, I'd like answered him at this time. Next speaker here there are thank you for your comments. Apologize next speaker is frank nature speaking on item 80. Howdy my name's frank. I am of course, a member of residents of district 1 11 crowd and I am a member of usa. I'm calling because I am in sport of item. 80 we gave a P D a raid last year, and they turned around but stopped their work stoppage. Instead they turned around and used that money to lie to us. And to see the voters. A Pio a will be voted on in may. Which is why [11:30:07 AM] they're trying to push through this four year contract as fast as possible. Obviously we want that one year contract at the very least, so we can actually let voters decide whether or not they're going to vote for the a P O to that end Spencer. Cronk continues to push for that as well. Which is why he's got to go. And also we need to hear from our city when there's natural disasters that is that city management in 101. Thank you so much for your time and attention and I hope you have a great day. Bye. Mayor pretend that concludes all of the remote speakers. We are now jumping back into in person. Speakers called Rene teal. Just in case they're here. Next up is on a different eighties, followed by Chaz Moore, followed by Paul Quinn Z. If you can, please make your way up. Please make your way up to the front. If your name has been called, thank you. Yeah good afternoon. Good [11:31:07 AM] morning. My name is Ana Cecilia Rodriguez. Defrayed IST. I am a resident of district three. I'm here in my individual capacity and support of item 80. I'm here because I know that police misconduct and brutality is a serious issue in our community, and that's stronger civilian oversight. Accountability and transparency are important and should be robust and stable. I'm here just as I was in September , when I urged you to pass the Austin police oversight act because I believe fiercely that our ability to develop independent police oversight must be decoupled from the negotiation of a police contract. Otherwise we're literally gambling with people's lives. As an individual. I endorse the Austin police oversight act and the right of the voters to see this ballot measure enacted in 2023 if it passes and a short term contract [11:32:07 AM] like item 80 allows for respects the will of the voters while providing stability. I love my community. But Austin is breaking my heart. I am so saddened and confused why the city would negotiate on a four year contract that would clearly circumvent what folks feared what the Austin police association fears will be the will of the people in may. Why would we negotiate with an association that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in a fraudulent petition? This is a fact in many of you have spoken out about that. And I'm grateful for those who have I'll be organizing in my community ahead of the may election in support of an oversight system with Independence and fact finding authority that civilian oversight needs to function. I will, also and beyond the may election be working to fight for [11:33:08 AM] a city where the lights stay on where people don't die when we have storms. And to improve the systems. That support the quality of life for our people outside of law enforcement. Thank you. Has more, followed by Paul quincy, followed by Sam kirsch. Trans more. Paul quincy. Sam Qureshi. Next step is Tom downing, followed by a J. J. Rosca. Good morning. My name is Sam Qureshi. I'm a resident of district five and an organizer with district five for black lives first. I just want to say as a Jew. I did not appreciate the anti semitic dog whistles we heard earlier. I was also shot. [11:34:10 AM] Just blow my eye with the bean background in 2020 about a P D, and I'm still dealing with a bunch of issues and their pain. But today I'm speaking in support of item 80. The city must not agree to a four year police contract before the will of the voters has been heard. I helped gather signatures for equity actions police oversight act last summer, and the conversations I had with Austin voters was cleared. The police need to have robust, thorough and substantial oversight and accountability. This does not exist when they are being used as bargaining chips for higher wages and benefits, causing a P D to bankrupt the taxpayers are civil rights must not be negotiated. We also support calls for the replacement of Spencer cronk, a city manager. It is deeply concerning that Spencer cronk has close personal connection to the treasurer. The a. P S front group of opa. But critics termination is long overdue. Complete mismanagement and incredibly poor communication of yet another [11:35:10 AM] weather induced energy crisis. False plainly on Spencer cronk critically, though Austin must not end up with a cronk two point oh, viable, reasonable replacement must follow. The will of the city council must be willing to stand up to the police when necessary, supportive paramedics and other struggling city workers. And manage the city of Austin with racial, social and economic equity as a through line and managing the city's affairs. Thank you very much. Tom Tom downing, followed by a J. J Rosca followed by Craig Naser. Please make your way up. Good morning. I'm Tom downing. Member of district five and I'm here to speak in favor of item 80 for one year contract to allow voters to decide what kind of opio they want. I'm here in my capacity as co chair of the racial justice task force of university united methodist [11:36:11 AM] church. Our group is concerned about police misconduct directed to black and brown people. We supported the office of police oversight created by the city contract with the Austin police association. In 2018, however, in December of 2021, the Apa brought the contract grievance against the opio, stripping it of most of its powers. Because of this. Our group has been attending the current ap a contract negotiations for months, city negotiators have appeared to work to strengthen the opio with the a P a has forced concessions at every turn frustrated. We joined the coalition to put the Austin police oversight act on the may ballot. Yesterday the city reached a tentative agreement which would leave the opio still weakened and prevent any ordinance from going into effect for four more years. Since the Austin police department exists to serve and protect the people of Boston. We believe that people should decide at the ballot box. What kind of office of police oversight they want. [11:37:12 AM] We ask that the city council vote to approve only a short term police contract until the voters decide. Next speaker is aj deripaska, followed by Craig Naser, followed by just Rodriguez Robertson. Hi my name is a J. J. Rasca my pronouns, are she? They and I live in district seven in the river oaks neighborhood and as a precinct chair with the Travis county democratic party, I supported my organization's endorsement of the Austin police oversight act and the right of the voters to see this ballot measure enacted in 2023 if it passes a short term contract respects the will of the voters while providing stability as we've heard from others, my organization like Austin, environmental Democrats , liberal Austin Democrats and ground game, Texas, among others, believes that police mix conduct and brutality is a serious issue, and that's stronger civilian oversight, accountability and transparency are important and should be [11:38:12 AM] robust and stable. Item 80 as proposed by vela, Fuentes, qadri and Velasquez will allow voters to vote on the oversight system they support and then allow the city to implement the will of the voters in a future long term contract. I attended the citizens place academy and heard at the time that police want good policing and that so called bad apples, again and again, they said this to me. That means police themselves should want accountability and shouldn't be afraid of a 1 to 1 year contract that would allow this greater oversight to be put into place. Another long term contract, as we've heard leaves the city at the mercy of the police association, and not at the will of the voters. Thank you. I hope you will support item 80, especially my council member, Leslie pool. Thank you. Craig Naser, followed by just Rodriguez Robertson, followed by Michael Siegel. Hello my name is Craig Naser and we? We have been [11:39:15 AM] cursed to live in interesting times. I am all I'm the chair of the Austin environmental Democrats. And last Friday, we had a meeting where we had overwhelming support for proposition a coming up in may and to oppose proposition B. Since that time, a lot of things that have happened. And in order for us to get to vote on that. I'm asking you to support item 80. Because of all the things people talked about. And plus I personally here I don't have much interaction with the police . What I've had mostly has been good, but I have to just say twice. I have seen overtly racist actions by the police of Austin. I watch what happened to Tyree Nichols. That could happen in Austin. I don't want to see that happen in Austin. This is a great city. And I think of [11:40:16 AM] something like that happened. Austin you'd see up landslide in this in this building. So in order to do this, we need civil oversight of the police. We need this. And you know this is an environmental issue in a way to if you heard about that Atlanta environmentalists who got shot by the police and killed and there were no cameras, so what's going to happen there. We just this is an important issue. You need to deal with it. Also about winter storm, Yuri. I think going into it and seeing what happened is good, not winter storm. Yuri's quite Mara. I think that's good. But the thing to remember is that was caused by climate change that was made worse by climate change. And what takes the CEO to? There is our trees, Austin trees, so we have to take better care of our trees. I think that's very clear. Thank you very much. Okay next speaker is just for the nigga's Robertson speaking on item 80, followed by Michael [11:41:18 AM] Siegel, followed by Roy Whaley. Good morning. My name is Dulce Rodriguez Robertson. I'm a resident of district seven. And I'm speaking today in support of item 80. I'm a campaign organizer, and I've logged hundreds of hours talking to Austin residents about a host of issues. So I'd like to offer this report from the field, particularly from my time collecting signatures for equity actions. Austin police oversight act. Unlike other police oversight acts, you may I've heard about the one put forward by equity action was worked on by dozens of local organizers passionate about justice and transparency and knowledgeable about what we were working on, enabling us to have deep conversations with residents. I can tell you that from these conversations, confidence and Spencer cronk is abysmally low, even predating the most recent disaster. I was surprised at the number of people who asked by name what role city manager Spencer cronk would play in the a P O a because they no longer trusted his judgment or his ability to operate in our collective best interest. Inevitably we would begin talking about the winter storms . The city's failed response, which is no doubt how many [11:42:19 AM] people became familiar with the name Spencer cronk. Other canvassers on this project had the same repeated interaction. It past our evening. City manager Spencer. Cronk is pushing for this long term contract ahead of the oversight act vote in may, it would essentially nullify the boat and if passed, I would want the equity action Austin police oversight act to be enacted as it swiftly and effectively as it read to the thousands of people who signed it and read sign and endorse it. It is an appropriate time to find a new city manager who is willing to stand up to the police department. Who is willing to let citizens advocate for themselves. And to ensure that our public energy works for us all. Thank you. Next speaker is Michael Siegel, followed by Roy wailea, followed by angel Carol. Morning mayor pro tem mayor and council Michael Siegel , resident of district seven and political director of ground game, Texas, and I'm here in my [11:43:20 AM] organizational capacity ground game, Texas has endorsed the awesome police oversight act. I was honored to be a part of the drafting process for that ordinance, and we want to make sure that this gets to the voters and so we support item 80. And the push for a one year contract sponsored by councilman vela so that they also voters can have a chance to consider the important reforms in the oppo a like whether to allow for secrecy in police misconduct investigations. That's one of the key issues that the equity action apo addresses and that the police union a Pio a does not address. Right now, Austin is dealing with the unfortunate and tragic injustice of Alex Gonzalez, who was killed by us in police in the investigation of that killing is now sealed because the chief ruled that there was no policy violation. So what's clear is that the status quo does not allow for effective civilian review of the Austin police and police misconduct. And if the community sponsored a Pio a passes this fall, and the police sponsored [11:44:21 AM] api fails, as I predict will occur. Then we'll be receiving a powerful message from Austin voters that we want real police oversight and this is a very important moment for the council and the mayor. You need to regain control of our city. We need to reconsider regain control of city government and restore confidence and so just as we need to take strong action to protect our electric supply and take strong actions of city to become climate resilient. We also need to protect our community from the scourge of police abuse and take strong action diplomat true civilian oversight. And so that's why ground game Texas supports the equity action oppo a. We ask you to not preempt the people of this city who want police reform . Please support this resolution for one year contract. Thank you. Next speaker is Roy Whaley , followed by angel Carroll, followed by Kevin Welch. I don't see him. Angel. Carol, if you're [11:45:23 AM] here, come on up. If not Kevin Welch. After Kevin Welch, jj Ramirez. Hi thank you. So my name is angel Carol. I'm a district eight resident. And I'm also representing measure research organization led by black women. We work alongside powerful black brown and indigenous community members across Austin, representatives of the statewide leadership program also cannot be here today, so I speak on their behalf. We firmly believe that police misconduct and brutality is a grave issue and without effective evidence based measures in place. They use these issues that our communities are facing will continue to affect the trust that we have in the police in order to ensure greater protection for citizens. We support direct involvement of the of the voters in this process and deciding how best to manage this issue in their community city council also has the obligation to obey the will of the people and allow them to [11:46:23 AM] vote on effective measures. Thank you and have a great day. Kevin Welch, followed by J. J Ramirez, followed by Maxwell mills. Ah good day. Members of the council. My name is Kevin Welch. I'm the current president of the board at E F. F Austin, Waco digital civil liberties advocacy groups ever. You probably remember me from the discussions around automated license plate readers last year. In fact, I hope all of you will join the leadership son by council members vela, Fuentes and Madison in not reauthorizing that when that comes up this September, I'm here because if F Austin is one of the ecosystems on the Austin place oversight act strongly encourage you to vote for item 80 for the short one year contract extend mention oversight is key in issues that we care about any F Austin about making sure there are transparency around powerful technologies that are employees have access to, in particular, the police oversight act specifically authorized as greater transparency around police body cameras. This was initially a remarkable tool that [11:47:24 AM] allowed for a lot of racial justice in this country. We would not know about incidents like Michael Brown, Eric Garner , etcetera without citizens filming police misconduct. Police body cams are a way of trying to ensure this accountability is always available, but we need oversight around it. There are many national reports that police have tried to abuse this system not only trying to use copyright flags on YouTube to get citizen video of them taken down, but we also have issues around actually trying to create an environment of intimidation of witnesses with the police body cameras that makes it where it becomes its own tool of surveillance. This is precisely the sort of oversight the a P O a needs to address and I think it's important we focus on we're not criticizing individuals were trying to make sure systems empower individuals. This is not about imputing the work of any particular officer. A civil engineers work is not being imputed when we do a safety study on a bridge. Software [11:48:25 AM] engineer. I'm not being importuned. When somebody says there's a bug in my code. It's not my fault. There's a bug in my coat. There's always going to be bugs in my coat, but I do become responsible when I don't work to minimize those bugs. Listen to my coworkers and qa to make sure we have an equitable fair process for everyone. I strongly encourage you to vote. Yes, on item. 80. Thank you. Next speaker is J. J Ramirez, followed by Maxwell mills, followed by Chris Harris. Jose Ramirez. I'm an organizer at the Texas harm reduction alliance. We provide lifesaving services for drug users and the un house community on the east side and we're in favor of line item 80 and 40. I didn't get to sign. Spencer cronk is trying to subvert democracy by putting in a four year contract without hearing the voter's opinions. This coming may and we don't we do not. We're not in favor of that. Our members are participants are the ones who [11:49:26 AM] get harassed to get messed with the most and not having adequate oversight is not not acceptable. Furthermore, for line item 40. We urge the council to invite, like, like many others who have spoken before me who are boots on the ground are members are our participants to come on? You speak with these cold brothers shelters to hear what's actually happening not from necessarily advocates or staffing or the security who, quite frankly, he treated people poorly and without kindness. And so that's all I got to say for today, and we urge you to pass for line item 80 and 40. Thank you. Next speaker's Maxwell mills, followed by Chris Harris, followed by Cynthia Simmons. Everyone I'm Maxwell mills from district nine have never done anything like this before. But this one is going to be easy because you know, the police are [11:50:27 AM] doing a bad job. Everyone I know would agree with that. You know, the response times are abominable, you know, you know, complaints abound, and they say it's due to a lack of resources, but they spent enormous numbers of resources on their fraudulent petition trying to undermine our democracy. So that's not the problem. We've got to treat them. Correctly right? There are underperforming employees and they need to be on a performance plan one year contracts for the foreseeable future new leadership. You know what I mean? Oversight hold on. I got more things to say. Yeah. Giving them a four year contract immediately after this fraudulent petition fiasco would send the wrong message right when people do that kind of thing, there needs to be some kind of consequences, which means the deal has to get worse. Not better, right? They're pushing for this to avoid accountability. You know what I mean? And accountability for the armed wing of the government of the people is like extremely important. So yeah, the best way for them to earn the kind of [11:51:28 AM] trust it would take to get a long term position or long term contract rather is to actually do their jobs correctly. Yeah, so boom. That's all I have to say. Thank you very much. Chris Harris, followed by Cynthia Simmons, followed by Seneca Savoy. Good afternoon or morning . I should say, council city manager may wrote him. Mayor my name is Chris Harris, some with Austin justice coalition. And thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm here in support of item 80. The city manager released a memo on Monday saying that his goal for the four year contract was to incorporate the principles of the Austin police oversight act into the four year deal. Ah I am here to say as one of the people that supporting behind the Austin police oversight act, that it does not do that a couple of low lights, I would say is that it restricts [11:52:30 AM] complaints to victims and expressly excludes witnesses from violent complaints. This risk many complaints being thrown out and never being investigated, based on a technicality, and not the actual police conduct in question. It excludes police officers from putting in anonymous complaints. So. It creates a whole different process for complaints now deemed internal verse. Dosa is external. Internal affairs will now have to seek to determine the source of each complaint to process them accordingly and ensure an officer didn't file an anonymous complaint. That threatens the anonymity of every complainant. Okay and likely reduces the numbers of complaints that get filed because people will fear retribution. It also is prevents the officer police oversight from reviewing investigating and making recommendations on all complaints made by officers or otherwise deemed internal, and it's very important complaints from the public can even be made internal policy violations are [11:53:31 AM] found after what's called intake , even though this this term is undefined in the contract. I think beyond these sort of high level issues with this deal, and there are many others, this council called for an election in September. And the contract before your contract that's been agreed to doesn't do any of the things that the thing on the ballot will do. And it's important for you all to respect the will of the voters and ensure that they're able to vote on what that election with fidelity to its outcome. Thank you for the time. Cynthia Simmons, followed by Seneca Savoy, followed by David Johnson. Hello mayor and council members. My name is Cynthia Simmons and I represent myself and also the Texas center for justice and equity, which is a policy organization that has been around for 20 years and we do state and local level policy . My organization endorsed the Austin police oversight act and [11:54:34 AM] the right of the voters to see this ballot measure and acted in 2023 if it passes, a short term contract will receive will respect the will of the voters while providing stability and accountability, something that we need in our communities. Chris Harris did a phenomenal job of laying out what this will exactly do, so I'm gonna go in my individual capacity and stay as a black woman, black single woman. I have the highest categorically Wright. To be likelihood to be incarcerated to be arrested and incarcerated. I need you to pass this for my safety. I am the mother of a black son, and I tirelessly worry about it. My son is going to make it home at night because his skin has been weaponized and there is no accountability and if something god forbid, should happen to my son. I have the right to seek justice and this will ensure that so on behalf of the black women on behalf of the black mothers, I'm asking you to pass this to wield your power to [11:55:36 AM] make sure that this happens because our lives literally depend on it. Thank you. Next speaker, Seneca Savoy, followed by David Johnson, followed by Cleo Patrice sick hello. Hi I'm Seneca. I'm resident of district four. Former commissioner for the downtown Austin community court and somebody who spent a lot of hours talking to folks about the Austin police oversight act. I think the fundamental principle here is the primacy of civilian control of police. Right? Part of the whole reason that we allow ourselves to have this large armed force in our society is the idea that they are subservient to and control. And by a government that is itself subservient and controlled by the people who reside in it, and that's the serve part of protect and serve. And fundamentally failing to pass item 80 today [11:56:37 AM] would mean that we failed half of that right in order for there to be civilian control of police . It has to matter what y'all say right and you'll put up an election last year. This item was known to be up well before this was agreed to, you know, earlier yesterday and the intentions put forward by this council are not substantially put in place. In the contract that we have before us, right? It fails it in many regards. Fundamentally we have one side that has not acted in good faith , and I know that's a heavy charge. But it sticks we have an organization that spent a little bit shy $300,000 specifically to undermine an element of the negotiations right knowing that this election is coming up and in that time, the number of people in this democratically run organization that decided to be whistleblowers. Zero right? Not a single person came forward to this body or to the press from Boston police association [11:57:38 AM] and said, this thing is happening in the shady, not a single person filed a resolution to say, hey, let's stop funding this organization to specifically defraud Austin voters. Right it's relatively easy to do this out. Unions work you get like 5 to 10 people. You get a resolution at a at a body of your union local that didn't happen. Right so we have near unanimous support of defrauding the people and the question is whether or not we're going to allow that to go through. Thank you. David Johnson, followed by Cleo Patrice iq, followed by Susan Spataro. My name is Cleo Patry sick. I am a Latina, a Democrat and the co founder of Boston now mayor Watson. I appreciate your public recognition of the dire position. Our police department [11:58:39 AM] is in and that it must and must be addressed immediately. That is why a city and Austin police association agreed. Four year contract must be passed. For retention and recruitment. And most importantly, finally, finally stability for our department and for our city. I hear many of you speak about your concern of officer response times, increasing murder rate and 250 56 police staffing crisis. But words ring hollow without serious action to stop the bleeding of officers every month. Our officers do not want a one year contract that is unprecedented and not how an officer can reasonably planned their futures with our city that is not stability. We have 34 officers that have retired or announced their retirement since January of this year. We have 3 30 Austin police officers who are leaving to dps most most of them young and newly trained on March 31st. Another 80 officers [11:59:41 AM] are expected to retire and we haven't gotten the numbers of the amount who will leave if a one year contract passes or if no contract is passed? Must I remind you all in December, 20 17/33 officers left after council rejected that contract. An example of the dire situation of our department is in the detectives assigned to organize crime and violent crimes are being sent back to work patrol even as they are overrun with cases. Can you imagine having a family member murdered and the person working the case is assigned back to patrol for a period of time? How is that justice for the victims? How is that stability and safety for our city? I guarantee you the average austenite is not driven by ideological radical ideas. They want our city to have running power. Safe drinking water, safe, walkable streets and a fully staffed department at risk communities have suffered greatly to our cities, failings. 72% of the murdered [12:00:43 PM] victims in Austin, where black and brown my community thank you. Black and brown only make up 42% of the population. Thank you. Next step. Susan Spataro, followed by Daniel Abramson, followed by Linda Michael. Susan Spataro and I live in in district eight. A lot of the things that I think have already been said and so I want to just focus on sort of some new things. One of the things we're talking about first I want to say wholeheartedly support 81 in case I run out of time. I mean, everyone's kind of spoken to that. Let's look at oversight when they talk about what they want for oversight. Let me read this to you and see if you think this is independent oversight to be able legible for appointment of the commission and African must attest that they're independent and unconnected to any member of a police department. An association representing police officers. They've never been employed or contracted by a police department or association, and they have not held employment and a police department or police association. Any time [12:01:44 PM] another word. You can only be on this committee if you know absolutely nothing. About policing and law enforcement as a start, then it goes on to say no other eligibility requirements may be instituted amendment, so in other words, if you are convicted felon you can be on this committee. But if you are trained in law enforcement, I'm going accountant in my profession is oversight oriented. You know, you get financial statements prepared and then you get an audit for him coming in the audit firm coming in are qualified accountants. There's not a rule , saying, we don't want any accountants looking at these statements. We only want people who know nothing about accounting and have never been trained. This is not oversight. This is how to determine to have no law enforcement in this community. If you look at results when you cut 150, not all of you 150 officers in 2019 [12:02:45 PM] the seven years before that the homicides ran between 22 25 a year the very next year after doing this, there were 48 people killed. This isn't talk. These are people who are dead. The next year in 21. There were 89 people murdered in Austin, Texas , 71 the next year and seven today that does not include all of the people killed on the road because you don't have enough officers to patrol so I ask you to look at the population as speaker. Your time has expired. Thank you. The next speaker is Daniel Abramson, followed by Linda Mccall, followed by Sharon Blythe. If you're here, please make your way up. After sharing Blythe is Amy say daily, followed by Richard Smith and Natalie X. Good morning, counsel. Thank you for your [12:03:46 PM] service to the city. My name is Sharon Blythe. I live in district six foreign in northwest Austin. We have had a devastating ice storm last week. A lot of our neighbors were without power for days. I don't understand how this could be possibly happen. Because I used to live in Pennsylvania for many, many years. Lots of snow and ice. We never had a power outage. This is mismanagement with the city. Starting with the city manager on down through Austin energy. And I hope that you pass autumn 81. To have an audit of Austin energy and find out what's really going on over there as far as our processes and procedures. Thank you. Next speaker's Amy really followed by Richard Smith and Natalie acts. [12:04:47 PM] Does anyone else here? Good morning. My name is Natalie X. I am a longtime Austin resident. I currently reside in the Hancock neighborhood district nine. My husband and I were without power for six days as a result of the latest Austin energy power outage. As a result, we lost easily $1000 or for the food incurred not insubstantial expenses for emergency lighting, housing, etcetera. Ah the February 2021 winter storms after action report outlined areas for follow up we got the mechanism for starting. It protects alerts and community communications. And an outage map, which I'm not sure should necessarily be made available. To the general public. Anyone who wants to see areas where homes don't have power. People probably moved out and don't have working alarm systems. Just a thought. The next item on the [12:05:50 PM] list was vegetation management. What happened? I've everything I've heard up to this point is finger pointing. We don't have manpower. We don't have a budget. Homeowners won't let us the last time I had a disagreement with the city. I don't remember them backing down and going. Oh, okay. We won't. The city owns our electric and water utilities, the lines where one begins and the other ends are murky at best. If the city wants to be in the utility business, it needs to be completely sole and separate operation not as such slush fund for projects that council comes up with. I believe that the city is obligated to provide the citizens of Austin with a complete line item. Argent audit of the Austin energy. Thank you. Mayor. They're pro tem council members. City manager. My name is Richard Smith. I'm an [12:06:51 PM] attorney. I'm also a member of Austin's board of adjustment. I oppose the resolution of agenda item 80. I've attended several. Of the police and city contract negotiations and was present yesterday. The parties have worked diligently for a year. Toward a four year contract. Which they have now reached. As recently as yesterday session, cities attorney said, and I quote. We really want and need a four year agreement. Part of the negotiations and a significant aspect of them over the last year have been police oversight. This is an agreement. That's been reached. As a result of serious hard work. As an attorney. I can only view agenda item 80. As a late stage [12:07:52 PM] negotiations stunt. As an attempt to derail the parties. Agreement. Their hard work. And I can assure you if item 80 is passed both parties the city and the police will be in a worse position. And it will end up costing the city substantial amount of money. I want to speak briefly on item 81. I support the audit of item 81. As an attorney, I can look at the situation as simply a breach of contract. By the city. People pay taxes. They expect consistent power. They haven't gotten that power and they've been damaged by it, including financial damages to businesses and folks that work at home. An audit of Austin energy will help resolve that. Thank you. Pretend [12:08:56 PM] that concludes all of the speakers for this morning. All right. Thank you very much. And thank you to everyone who came and shared your your thoughts with us this morning. The work we have ahead of us. It is right now. 12 09 pm I suggest we take up the public communications since that is due to start at noon, and we're about 10 minutes behind at this point, and then following that we would take up the consent agenda and do brief comments or any abstentions or recusals or any of those notes that people want to share as soon as we're done with public communication. Council member harper-madison. I just wanted to make note. You guys all have an email from a constituent Miriam Connor. Apparently she didn't get called, but she wanted to speak this morning, but she said she didn't receive a phone call from her. Clerk's office, but she did email her testimony. Okay. Thank you. I'll suggest the clerks reach out to them and please look to your inbox for those comments. Thank you. So without further ado, let's take up public communication. After that we will do the consent [12:09:56 PM] agenda. We do have music that we're going to be hearing after we take up the consent agenda, a brief lunch break and then at two pm will come back and briefly take up the a H. F C agenda and then move into the zoning consent speakers, so that is generally the run of show. As a reminder we do have pulled items number 11 40 41 74, 75, 76 , 80 and 81. My plan is to take those up later in the day. I've seen a lot of amendments also being proposed over the last couple of hours. And so please, if you have any more amendments coming send them to the agenda office and post to the message board so that we can do a proper evaluation of all the amendments that are out there that we need to discuss today. Clerks, public communication. Thank you, mayor pro tem, our first speaker for an in public communication is Sandra Mueller. Hi good afternoon. Council members on Sandra muller and I live in D [12:10:59 PM] one. I wanted to welcome the new council members and congratulate those who are reelected. I hope you will all put often first in your decisions and really listen carefully to citizens. They know things. It's been great listening, and then today and all the previous meetings but I'm here to bring to your attention. The temporary license agreement with Austin pets alive , also known as a P a. This agreement has been extended multiple times totalling seven years now, and it's up three Newell again this month. He has been using the 70 year old town like animal center for free for over 10 years in exchange for taking 12% or 3000 animals, whichever is greater from a C and I promise to rebuild. Now it is trying to reduce the number of animals. It takes me a mere 5. A few things to keep in mind a P a. Brings into Austin about 5 to 8000 animals per year. Ap [12:12:01 PM] was initially given 210 channels, but in 2018, they started using an additional 60 kennels without a revision to their intake from the a. C. Tell me failed inspections it. Floods has no H vac loses power, including last week as exposed rebar, crumbling cement and a bird poop problem. The license agreement used to limit a phd and take the only Austin and the five surrounding counties. But now they are permitted to take animals from anywhere. You see if a pay doesn't get what they want. They go to Ms pool, who pushes the resolution on the city like 2021 11 04 desks here with 38. Meanwhile your city shelter your own city shelter is struggling with capacity. There's a month long way to surrender pets, and 311 tells Americans leave found animals on the streets. Now you've got to lose dog problem. The city's council counsel's job is to keep its citizens safe. But you must also have empathy for us [12:13:02 PM] citizens. People who are surrendering their pets. Do the hardships that you're offering what we're talking about today housing costs of living homelessness. Allowing a pay to bring your arms directly displaces and causes competition for the home. Next speaker's George economicus. Hi there. They're calling today to urge the city council and our transportation department to take an incremental step towards our climate mode, sharing and vision zero goals by converting one of the general purpose lanes along Riverside from 35 to congress avenue into a dedicated bus lane. This falls in those district. The nine but I'm what I'm proposing will also bring benefits and transit equity. To the people of the 300, the leadership of Jose Velasquez. Following a string of gruesome [12:14:02 PM] casualties and lives ruined due to speeding vehicles careening down the hill from I 35 80 D is installing guardrails to protect pedestrians along Riverside. But we know that pedestrians cyclists routinely crossed the road. Travel along the corridor, taxes, the hike and bike trail and the businesses long Riverside. So no number of guardrails will prevent life threatening collisions due to speeding and negligence. In fact, these rails may even give design cues to drivers that river side of the highway. What has helped during this time is that wall and starting installing the guardrails Riverside has been reduced to single general lane of traffic for motor vehicles. This is temporarily meaningfulness different. With slower and safer driving habits. While constructing the cones are up, you can see for yourself. It's safer for all users from cars to cyclists and pedestrians. So I urge you to take this opportunity, while lane is already closed. To convert it to a bus only lane. We know we can [12:15:04 PM] move more people by bus and by single occupancy vehicles, but five times as many during peak times when traveling on a dedicated box lane. We know that routes 20 and seven running through this area already received the highest ridership on the cat metro network. So let's supercharge that making even more competitive with the bustling conversion and enhanced frequency. Hard traffic has has already adjusted their driving habits during guardrail construction act and make these changes permanent. There are dedicated bus lanes east of 35 on Riverside and downtown on lombok and glide. Connect the dots. Keep in mind that there is a this is a future blue line corridor. And ridership doesn't just manifest out of thin air. And that the better cat metro's ridership, the better our chances at competitive federal grant. We need to build up the network and continuously improve cap measures product to make it easier and more convenient to driving solo. Incremental steps we can take to help us reach our climate, transportation and public health goals. This is [12:16:05 PM] what that looks like. We have a goal of 50 50 mode split lines in Austin strategic mobility plan by 2039. We're not going to get there by waiting while and inexpensive change can make a huge difference. In the meantime, let's get this done. We're now going to switch to in person speakers. We're going to start with Manuel Jimenez followed by unnamed seeing, followed by Ethan Smith. Hello mayor and council. My name is manual Jimenez. I'm military veterans serving on the veterans affairs commission appointed by council member Renteria. However, I'm here on my own behalf. On January 15th 2020, the veterans commission passed a recommendation to create in the office of veterans and military affairs. On December 9th 2021 council adopted a resolution directing the city manager to identify cost funding sources [12:17:07 PM] and steps associated with establishing an office of veterans and military affairs and returned to counsel with the report before April 2022. On July 1st 2022. A memorandum was sent from the hr director, the civil rights director. To the council through the assistant city managers office. It states that human resources responsible for internal veterans related services and the office of civil rights is responsible for external veterans programming. The memorandum recommends that the city council provide funding for veterans position within the office of civil rights. The council resolution in December of 2021. Requested a report identifying costs and steps associated with establishing a veteran's office. Instead human resource department and office civil rights attempted to justify the work they have done on veterans related matters. Human resource and office of rights did not provide steps for creating a veterans office. However they recommended keeping the new position under the office of civil rights. This is not the direction that council gave the city manager human [12:18:08 PM] resources. Has a veteran consultant position listed as working on internal internal veterans related programs. The commission has requested since 2021 for human resources to provide information on internal programs. However, they failed to do so. When after civil rights took over staff support for the veterans commission. They received a veterans administrator position for from human resources. The office of civil rights reclassified this position into an opposite civil rights position that ended up being bacon for two years. The veterans commission passed another recommendation on August 5th 2022 before the council budget meeting requesting the creation of a veteran's office. The office of civil rights did not provide the recommendation the council until December of 2022 well beyond council's approval of the budget. The veterans programs are fragmented , reporting the two separate departments, I believe that the city manager's office, human resources department and office civil rights have placed barriers on the work. The [12:19:08 PM] commission has taken two veterans positions are currently funded. I asked you to pass a resolution to combine these position under a veteran's office. Thank you. Next speakers need seeing, followed by Ethan Smith, followed by Ruth moon sing. Hello. My name is a little state. Thank you. Hello. My name is anil Singh. And thank you. Protest. Mayor this page, Alice and councilwoman Ellison L. Terror and my councilwoman district er. Must Venice offenders. And I know she has been always encouraging me to comment and speak and say my point of view, so I wanted to speak to them. So I want to speak on this affordable housing , and I understand that the city [12:20:10 PM] of Boston has been doing a great job and they've got this affordable housing and they do. And that's something to be congress ability upon it. However I've come here to highlight some of the deficiencies or concerns that I have. I decided on affordable housing, and I decided in the football housing in south Askin. And that is run by D. M a housing or D M a associates. The way they run it and the way it is, it's pretty terrible. And, I have seen some affordable housing, especially those run by foundation commentaries, and they run very well. So I wanted to highlight to use not specifically my concerns or things that I have is that today. You're signed up several more affordable housing programs. And you sign up in that contracts and that are drawn up by miss Rosie. True [12:21:10 PM] love, the director of the city of housing and urban affairs or something like that. So that's fine and doing but all of the things that they promised that the developer promises for the millions of dollars that you provide them to develop the housing. They don't do it. For instance, in this housing the nightingale and goodnight range, but I'm staying. They said. There will be a non smoking area is not the devil follow fair housing. It is not a don't follow Carol singing. Rosie. True love promised a whole lot of stuff. Not only fair housing, it will be a D, a confirm to American for disability actors conform not only to Americans with disability X, but also to the guidelines established. To make it accessible to. Americans there are disabled. I'm disabled for the last three years. My healthcare providers and I have been requesting them to provide [12:22:11 PM] accessible access to the thing. And they have not provided as yet. But the contract and the things that the money that you provided the city of Boston provided was that they would have it in the first place. But they don't have I can go on to the litany of all issues. I can go on and tell you and highlighted. I just got three minutes. But the point is that when you're providing affordable housing, you're providing it to access to save quality, accessible and affordable housing. And that is not true. And that is not what we got. We do not have either. One right. We should have the right to organize a right to understand what is the clarity. The residents in this specific housing, but are absolutely MLI troubled. And in January they had approached me last year. 2022 Mr Singh, your time has expired. Would you like to [12:23:13 PM] finish your sentence? Thought yes, ma'am. They had asked me to organize and we try to organize and we had contacted vaster and T R L a and I don't want to get into those negative points about that. But. You're not at the management harassed. And every one of us who organized and the main one of the two of the three leaders have already left the apartment and now think, understand. They're in the process of filing a least lawsuit. Thank you arrested. Also thank you right to organize so many of these things are just not available. We appreciate your thoughts. Did you say you were in D two? Yes. Go ahead. You thank you. Mr Singh. I just want to highlight that I have Sophia metallics with my team here in the chambers, and she's going to connect with you here shortly. Thank you for testifying. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker's Ethan Smith, followed by Ruth moon sink. Bus three ISTs. Hello new city [12:24:15 PM] council. Yeah. So I wanted to sing you a song today. For the new people. I kind of come here every three times like every six weeks and I speak about some issue. I have a legislative proposal. I spoke at the senate finance committee yesterday. State senate and it was about the best pitch I've ever done is right at the end of the part two and it plays into like some noise going on. Like plays into, to the other half of it is like trying to get you T to build some housing and how to do that, and I have a specific model that's based off my thesis research work on my thesis for a couple of years, and I've been working with stakeholder groups for a year and nine months now, since I have finished that in the chronicle this week passed, student legislation five times. Anyways here's a song. Try and keep it light. This song is called I'm not a lobbyist. Well, [12:25:19 PM] I'm not alive. Biest just a regular guy. No one's paying me to be here. And I kind of wonder why I got a million dollar smile. And I can throw back a beer. I can read your face and with my magic powers, I can tell if you hunt deer. Actually, from Austin. I live right down that hill. I'll make you a deal. You can sleep there too. If you care rematch, bill. Hmm I got my undergrad education from the school on up the street. They desperately need money. To fund their football team. Yeah well, I'm not alive. Biest they're just snuck in the Christmas party. Rubbing elbows with the [12:26:21 PM] staff was drinking eggnog and bacardi. I ain't been losing any sleep from my good time in door to door. Can someone point me to the hot tub from Charlie Wilson's war? MM hmm. Well I'm not a lobbyist, but there oughta be a law again singing in a microphone until your voice goes wrong. So we'll cut it off right here before this gavels to an end. You make sure and passed my bill. And I'll call you, my friend. Yeah thank you all. So keep a look out, especially if you're going to do anything with you. T and affordable housing. I am the expert on this, and I'd love to be in that conversation. Thank you. Thank you. Next [12:27:25 PM] speaker's Ruth moon sing, followed by pat bus three is followed by Emmanuel limb well, good afternoon, honorable mayor Watson city council. Members. I am rude. Mother of Rajan, menacing her who was killed by the Austin police on November 15th 2022. My husband cabin and I have three sons. Mok, Johan and Rajan. I actually had Rajan seven years after my second child. It was not easy to have this baby into the word. And when we got this boy, we knew we were blessed with a special gift. The papers have acknowledged him as a promising tech entrepreneur. Generous [12:28:28 PM] philanthropist loving friends to the homeless, passionate soccer player and fan. And the restaurant growing foodie. Do is , me and Patty. That means mom and dad in singlets. He was simply the best. He was thoughtful. Generous. Kind and funny. To his brother's marking Johan I didn't was their most trusted friend. Reading was doing great things. And they will continue. But nothing. Nothing will replace his presence here. I take comfort in knowing that I would spend eternity with him. Which Jesus? I challenge all of you to watch the video of what happened that night. The body camera video, the ring security footage and the 911 cardio to get clarity to [12:29:29 PM] this tragedy. Rajan had no chance. I'm very fortunate that our family has the resources to pursue justice for Rajan. But I'm not here. Just for him. I'm here for the people who have unjustly lost their lives at the hands of an Austin police. How do we change the culture of shooting first instead of focusing on de escalation? We must consider this a public health crisis. And act with the same fervor we did for the covid virus response. What I ask of you specifically is this one. The police complete the investigation of Rajan shooting . It has almost it's almost three months. Don't drag this on. We are hurting. As you [12:30:33 PM] negotiate the new police contract that's number two hold officers accountable. We consequences of breaking protocol and procedures. Okay? Three civilian oversight of police conduct. Lastly increased funding for better training, recruitment and support. We need to stop tragedies like this from happening in this great city. It needs to stop and it starts with all of you today. Thank you. Thank you for coming and sharing with us today. Next speaker's pat verse three years, followed by Emmanuel Emmanuel, followed by Angela Garza. Mayor Watson. Mayor pro tem [12:31:34 PM] Alice. And council members. My name is pat Walsh trays and I am a 37 year resident of Austin. I live in district three. I used to be in this district nine, but I moved I was appointed to the animal advisory commission in 1992 by then council member and later mayor Gus Garcia. I served as a an animal advisory commission member for 16 years. And last week I lost power for two days. My heart goes out to all of those who suffered far more than I did last week. Although I am no longer a member of the animal advisory commission. I am currently on the recently created spay neuter working group. Thank you. Council member alter. Council member harper-madison. Council member Kelly and council member umbrella. For appointing the [12:32:37 PM] four commission animal advisory commission members who currently serve on the Spain neuter working group. It's great to have for people concerned about Spain neuter working together and they will be voting on their recommendations at the animal advisory commission meeting on Monday night. For those of you who have not yet appointed animal advisory commission members. I am requesting that you consider the following one that animal advisory commission members be either Austin or Travis county residents or at least work in Travis county. There that you also consider and making your appointment to add to the commission members who support and care about Spain neuter as well as other preventive services. That will help improve animal services by addressing pet overpopulation, shelter, overcrowding and the lack of services to residents of certain parts of our community. That in the next month or two, [12:33:38 PM] but certainly before city, the city manager submits the next budget. You consider a public hearing on animal services that includes but is not limited to the impact that the November 4th 2021 resolution on animal services had on animal services. In particular. Please look at the November 4th resolution change that allows Austin pets alive to bring animals in from outside the five county area that was in the original contract. This has had an impact on the Austin animal shelter on the shelter staff on how overwhelmed they are, and I would like you to be able to hear about that. I also ask you to look at the fact that Austin pets alive had the number of animals they must take from animal services reduced and the impact that that has on the citizens of Boston. I don't have problem with serving other counties and other parts of the state when we have the services and this and the space to do so [12:34:38 PM] . And finally thank you, mayor Watson for coming back. Good to see you again. Next speakers in Manuel limb well followed by Angela Garza, followed by Kyra mottoes. Good morning. Yeah. Watson made it to pull that microphone a little. Oh, forget everything. Good morning to you all. I'm here, as a way of introduction and invite I am Emanuel in your junior. I serve as the pastor of friendly will Baptist church. Through a very long journey. Difficult journey very, hard process dealing with the city. We have I found a place that we could call home. And so I'm here today and that only by introduction, but by invite we are in district two. So, councilwoman when there's we [12:35:39 PM] are certainly inviting you and all of counselors to be with us to celebrate as we enter a new place. We were supposed to do it this month. But because of the winter storm and construction. We had to delay it until March. Why am I coming face to face where we will send letters. We will correspond by email. But those things go into trash. They go to file 13. Face to face. You have to respond some sort of way. So we're inviting you to come. We will be working with you, as much as we can. This is not my first time. You know, working with some of you we've met before I've been in the back just watching and listening, but I'm gonna be more upfront. So I will be back to remind you. For some of the other things that have been going on. We want to reach out. We want to work with [12:36:40 PM] you to kind of curve some of these things, especially in high area, I'll say this and then I'm done. Where we are. Where churches we have cops and park on a parking lot. I've gone to meet with him I've shared with them. We are happy for you to do that, because we believe that if we can make that contact and have that kind of fellowship, it will possibly curve a lot of things. Thank you for this time, and we hope you have a good day. Mr Lim. Well I just also wanted to make sure that we're able to connect with you and get your contact info. So if you with my team is in the chamber, so I just find it. Make sure we make that connection. Thank you for testifying. Thank you. Next speaker's Angela gars oh, and followed by Kyra mottos. Hello all of you. I miss you all love y'all so thankful for you all. First of all, I want to say I haven't had a chance to thank [12:37:41 PM] you. We had 11. Family members died of covid. And we want to say thank you to the people that have been with us. Throughout that craziness that we walk through and lost people that we love so much. To those losses in those cities have been with us on and dais, including incredible manager who has hugged us through it and has gotten us through all that with that strange and I haven't had a chance to say thank you. We had to recover from that. But now I'm saying thank you. The second thing I want to say is that, I can't be out there to give out boxes like a lot of you because now I have multiple sclerosis after an injury and I am doing great with the treatment now. But I did get to work with eastern okay, combined contact team and we wanted to do something because we're doers. At the end of the day. We're super volunteers. We gotta do something right? We reached out to some companies in Austin, Texas, and we found out they have generators at their stores . We were able to negotiate some prices down with some of these [12:38:43 PM] folks and managers. We got on the phone before work. In fact, I'm coming straight from work to come here to speak. And we got to thinking that some of us could become host homes to hold generators and of our electricity doesn't go out. We can get them out to other homes that might need them, and that way they can keep their electricity going on. Again because we're solution driven. This was a solution that came up on us. And if we have your permission, we can maybe submit a proposal. Maybe something to think about as an emergency and that maybe these encrypted numbers can be, placed in people's homes where we can offer them to other homes at that point. To use them at that point. The other thing that we want to state is that one of the things that we're asking for is respect when letters go out to the community that we don't understand. Including like a 25 letter to goes out in community, especially in Spanish. They don't understand what it means that we have a town hall to understand it and how we can partner in it because it sounds [12:39:43 PM] like it can be positive, but because we don't understand it, we need to really have those town halls to be able to ask questions and have the environment to ask those questions. So in the future, we're hoping that we can get a little bit better relationship and partnership of understanding that and I do need to put this on public account as well. We've given no. One permission in our city to record us. Or listen to our cause or anything without our permission or without us in privacy. I just need to post post that out there, so people understand that here as well. But one of the things that I really wanted to express today was our gratitude during covid as one of the people they lost so many family members covid. I just love you all for being there and you've got us through. I want you to be proud of that. I love you. Okay, here. Thank you for your comments. The last speakers, Kyra mottoes. Good [12:40:47 PM] afternoon council. My name is Kyra models. And I'm here to introduce y'all. Especially the parks board, although y'all will have to get the message to council member ran altar to our group amigos de parquet Zaragosa , council member of Velazquez will need no introduction as he is an amigo and I believe is working with our chair. Former council member rollover is, to get some more resources for the park, which we appreciate. For the rest of y'all amigos. The parker parker Zaragoza is kind of like the peace park conservancy, but with a lot less money. And, but what we like for with foreign funds we make up for in passion. And so we're a group of about 76 neighbors who are working to, bring programming to the park. Tree preservation cleanups. And just overall celebrating the historic neighborhood park that we have. But what I wanted to talk to you [12:41:49 PM] all about is how we can't really keep up with what we're trying to do for the park without the support of the city. Last year when the parks department and when the city overall was having staffing shortages, which I am familiar with as a business owner, having to decide where the resources that you do have go, the grass in our parks on the east side was getting to be 34 ft. Tall, you couldn't play baseball in the fields. Baseball is really important to us on the east side, by the way, and yet during that time you go over to the parks and west Austin. And that all the parts all the grass is mowed. Everything is maintained. And you know all every council meeting there are agenda items about increasing housing density and the east side has embraced this idea of housing density. We've really taken on that responsibility for [12:42:50 PM] the city. Get west Austin, where I'll know. That embracement has not happened. Not embracing, dense housing, and everybody has their own giant backyard with with tennis courts, and they're on playgrounds for their kids. I'm sorry. I mean, pickleball courts. Nobody plays tennis anymore. You know, they're parks are all being mode and I just think that if we're going to focus so much on affordable, dense housing, those researchers should probably be coming to the neighbors that or to the neighborhoods where you know there are people now living in houses where they don't have their own recreation space. And we're kids need safe green space to run around after school and on the weekends. And so we hope that in this next year we can have some of those resources coming to our parks. Another thing is just overall safety. So like I said, baseball is important to us. And, so some of the big program and cramming [12:43:51 PM] programming that we have. Oh, okay, well, thanks. Y'all have a good day. Pretend that concludes all speakers. Alright thanks for everyone coming to speak to us. We really appreciate it. It is now 12 44. I'll suggest that we go ahead and do our consent vote and keep our remarks very brief. Just a reminder. We have pulled items 11 40 41 74, 75, 76, 80 and 81. We are we have not needed to do an executive session for our regular agenda today. Just so everyone knows that we do have the special called meeting that mayor Watson and council members alter vela and Fuentes had called and we're going to do that, at the very end of the day. As far as our regular agenda goes so far, we are not expecting to do an executive session. So we'll do the consent agenda vote. Will do some brief remarks. Then we will break for lunch and music and [12:44:52 PM] then we'll come back about two P.M. To do the hfc agenda. Take our consent zoning speakers, I believe will be able to handle anything that's pulled off zoning consent as well right after that, and then we're going to move into those pulled items , including items, 45 46, which include the public hearing, so those are not on the consent agenda. So I believe that lays out what our schedule will be like for the rest of the day. Are there any remarks on the consent agenda before we take that vote? Let's start with council member Kelly. Thank you, mayor pro Tim. I'd like the clerk to reflect and extension from item 32, please. And then I wanted to take a moment and highlight item number 22 on our consent agenda today related to an application by Austin lyndhurst dma housing LLC. It's for 9% low income housing tax credits for a new construction development that will be known as Forrest north apartments. Staff recommended that council support the proposed development because it's located within half a mile of an imagined Austin [12:45:54 PM] center, and the city has more than twice the state average of units per capita, supported by housing tax credits. Which is really, really good thing. The proposed development will be located at or near 134 to 4 lend her street in 787 to 9 in district six. There will be a total of 85 units, 79 of which will be affordable at 80% of the Austin median family income and below. It's a really important project for that part of the community in district six that lacks affordable housing. And I'm proud to support the item colleagues. I'm very much looking forward to our discussions later today related to my items number 40 and 80. Thank you. Mayor pro tem. Thank you. Let's go with council member harper-madison next and then council member pool after okay. I have four items. I'd like to speak to three and 4 30 to 19 and 21. Items three and four. It's the cultural arts and live music funds. I'll keep it brief. It's obvious where the capital city with the 11th largest city in the nation, we [12:46:55 PM] call ourselves the live music capital of the world. This is important. Item number 32 out youth mental health services. I made note of this during the course of our work session on Tuesday. Right now, more than ever after the pandemic after the storm, people are really suffering. So I really appreciate that we're putting some some time and some focus to health, behavioral, health and mental health, and I'm looking forward to us to win more and spending more time talking to people about sobriety and substance use disorder. I want us to talk about the things that are uncomfortable that millions of people are struggling with. So I appreciate this one as well . Items number 19 and 21 loyal Elaine, Johnny Morris and rosewood courts. I'm super excited to support really long term to your point. Quality high quality, affordable housing and district one that's on this week's agenda. So to projects I'm particularly proud of included, remember 19, which will fund the creation of 200 brand new affordable units at Loyola lane and Johnny Morris wrote, and then item number 21, which is another part of the city's continued investment in [12:47:56 PM] redevelopment of rosewood courts . For those of you who don't know the city of Austin, Texas. Housed the country's very first income restricted housing project. It's rosewood courts, and so it is. Finally, for the first time getting a renovation . And so both of those are going to sustain and create affordable housing on the east side. I'm super hopeful that some of my neighbors and community will not face the pressures of displacement that so many others already have. And will because we know it's inevitable. My hope is that we take these opportunities to really to your point today plan. But we have to do more. We have to do more than just creating or sustaining affordable housing on the east side. So to my colleagues to city staff, I'd like to again point out, that the recent housing works annual report clearly illustrates the need for more housing and other parts of town. But district one is always number one. And producing affordable housing. So we have to spread the look. I continue to very impatiently wait for the opportunity to invest in [12:48:56 PM] affordable housing and our highest opportunity neighborhoods in my second term , absolutely plan to welcome collaboration with each of my colleagues and folks who are also interested in seeing a spread the love around the city. I think diverse communities are important to us all. Until then , thank you to city staff into the community partners who have made these current investments possible. Thank you. Mayor pro tem. I appreciate you. Reminding us to keep it short. Thank you. We had lined up council member Paul to speak next and then council member Fuentes will be after thanks, mayor pro tem. I wanted to speak to item 46, which is on the cassette consented agenda and I'm 46 is not on consent. Six is not on consent. That's a public hearing, right? Oh, it's in black, not red. Right right. Okay I will pass here for pass. Thank you colleagues. I originally pulled item 11 by like to put it back on consent. [12:49:58 PM] I pulled because I wanted to have some questions for staff regarding the use of the data from the software as it relates to the license plate readers. Customer, Kelly, you know you brought forward an item last year that outlined some safeguards. And so I wanted to ensure that this item, how it related, and I got a response back from staff that I would like to read into the record. Austin police department will not share license plate reader data with lexisnexis nexus. The information shared with lexisnexis is pushed from the department's records management system. License plate reader data is stored in a separate data system and is not linked to the department's record management system. Thank you. Any other comments on the consent agenda. Very nice. Alright consent agenda is items one through 43 11 is back on the consent agenda. 40 and 41 are still pulled, then we also have [12:51:00 PM] 74 through 81 except pulled items are 74 75 76, 80 and 81. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda? Made by member harper-madison. I'm sorry , mayor. Did you have your did you want to move? I'm just happy to act like I'm here. We wish you were. We hope you're feeling better. I better do. I have a second. Seconded by council member qadri. Ah without any objection. The consent agenda is hereby adopted, with the exceptions for any recusals abstentions are voting no that were previously listed. And with that consent agenda is adopted. We will now take a break for music and lunch and hopefully we will be back out here at two P.M. To do the hfc and the zoning speakers. Thank you all. [12:52:27 PM] No matter. Hello. Yes. Hello. Oh, man. [12:53:48 PM] So we come in the world. To live life. Nothing knowing what the future. Have hopes and dreams I would want to do same. You better live your life while you can, because tomorrow and never come again. Greep in my great. You better your life. Why you're here on Earth. Come, hmm. You may be a teacher. Hold even a preacher. Living that high society life. You know, you gotta pay the price. Just this [12:54:49 PM] sure is. Your name is good. Oh you can arrest and short. Joe who going back home with you? You better than your life. Why you're here. Because you didn't come. I don't know. Where. Away. [12:55:53 PM] Reaching. So don't take life. Creeping in my grave. You better live your life while you're here. How did you didn't come? Yeah. No one's there to the end of time easily. By by because. [12:58:42 PM] Once a sleepy college town now floating there never seen. Working man's town and culturally leave me. Text full of technical dream. You want to taste us? You'll never want to leave. Yeah greenbelt trails lady bird lake. Hmm. Rock and roll out music capital blue. South limits. Rather to springs lake Travis Hamilton's. [12:59:51 PM] The clock in a dog. Seven. The rest of my life to pay the wheel straight. Just like. Nelson givens long. We hit international success as the vocalist on the massive hit get shaky with the late dj Ian Carey. While the track and a few others were financially significant to the ex wife and waitress, Kelly was ready to explore another path that was more personally expressive after a tragic house fire in New York City, Brian Cole opted for a fresh start. As his belonging smoldered in the winter snow, he decided to pack up what was left and heads south in search of warmer days and better luck. Ironically while most go to L a or New York City to make their dreams come true, Brian and Kelly found each other on the musician Paige on craigslist in Austin, Texas. While they had [1:00:53 PM] hoped to leave their past behind . Inevitably the heartbreaks found a place they call home in dark bird and their websites are dark bird band dot com and available on Facebook at dark bird band and Instagram. Go ahead. You gonna read on that? Came in with the sun. Time is now so high. You know, I'm clumsy can't tell. I think I crack my. How wanted to be here wanted to behave so hot tonight [1:02:00 PM] . I wanted to be here wanted to behave, but it's so hard tonight. Yeah. I'm lying upside down. Once you turn me. No I won't try to stay. Well, let's do hot. Do rest thing. Sliding. [1:03:01 PM] Mhm. No time now and it must go . Every time now must go. I'm running into. I boy. Come on. [1:04:03 PM] All out of your life. Mhm. Thank you very much for that performance. I'm definitely going to come see you. Do you have your next concert scheduled? Is there a place we can track you down? Expect to be loaded up for south by southwest as we always are, but that schedule is not finalized, so you just have to check out our website in the meantime, round, working on that video and just right after this. We're going back to support writing. That's fantastic day. Well, you heard it. So all of our venues out there. You got to make sure you don't sleep on this one. I will now read the proclamation for today be it known that, whereas the city of Austin, Texas, is blessed with many creative musicians whose talent extends to virtually every musical genre. And whereas our music [1:05:04 PM] scene thrives because Austin audiences support good music, produced by legends are local favorites and newcomers alike. And whereas we are pleased to showcase and support our local artist now I therefore Paige Ellis mayor pro tem on behalf of mayor Kirk Watson, do you hereby proclaimed February 9th 2023? As dark bird day. Thanks. Mhm. Morning recognizing. What are we going to get? We'll take that. [1:06:38 PM] Good morning. Appreciate it. Thank you. Oh thanks. I didn't know you were going to read it. I was like, oh, yeah. Oh, my god. [1:07:39 PM] Well I love her less. My heart cancer. Yes. Ring ring you get for your down you surely live. And be happy, so sad, except when he feels bad. No. You know? Day after day. Yeah. Wow. [2:04:11 PM] Fuentes. Qadri Ellis pool villa , Velazquez and Ryan alter on the diess. Absent are directors Alison alter and Natasha harper-madison. Thank you. I think that's all our business. Oh, do you vote in support of the hfc agenda? Okay? So noted, we will now adjourn that meeting and reopen. The regular Austin city council meeting. Let's go ahead and move into our zoning speakers. Welcome welcome. Thank you, mayor. Pro tem mayor council members, joy harden with the healthy and planning department and I will just highlight your postponed items, noting that if people are signed in to speak, they will only be speaking on the merits of the postponement. And these are consent postponements that will [2:05:11 PM] highlight before. You open the public hearing in here from the speakers. So item number 54 55. That's second alpha, and that's a step postponement to your March 23rd council meeting. Items number 59 in sixties Berkman residential, and that's an applicant postponement to your February 23rd council meeting number. 6 66 is 1 to 1 to one north. Ih 35 that's an applicant postponement to your February 23rd council meeting number 67 is 500 V F W and that's an applicant post moment to your February 23rd council meeting. And lastly, 68 69 those abroad Brodie items, and that's an applicant postponement to your March 23rd council meeting. Thank you. Thank you very much. Let's go to our speakers. I believe we have some remote and some in person and just a reminder if you are speaking on an item that is being postponed , please only speak to the merits of the postponement. First speaker is Sarah Campbell [2:06:12 PM] , speaking on items 52 53. Hello. Go away. Hello yes, miss Campbell, go ahead. Can't hit. Okay, did. I just hear that the three are requested to be postponed? 52 53 or not items that were listed as being postponed. You can go ahead and speak, okay? Okay thank you. Council marriage. Hustle from my name is Sarah Campbell on the was the planner with the city of Boston for 20 years, and now I'm the. Chair of the planter hood self so river city citizens. And [2:07:13 PM] I am I'm speaking. And I am 52 53. This Sony cases located within our boundaries. We have written. We spoke to the previous counsel about the project. We have written letters to the new council about this project. Basically we have tried to, the project is located very close to the headwaters of blunt creek. And the neighborhood over 25 to 30 years has worked to create a large green area around the headwaters of the creek by working with a I S G and Walmart and, we asked wanted this applicant to step back from the creek. And they have said that they'll build to code period. I am. I'm wondering if there's any way that the council can add to the organist that this project when it whenever it becomes a project. To not pay its parkland [2:08:15 PM] dedication, fees by feet and move. But we'll have to dedicate hand along the creek. That is all. Thank you very much. Goodbye. Thank you. Next speaker is Julie Oliver speaking on item 70. Good afternoon mayor mayor attended in council members. My name is Judy Oliver. And I am here today to ask that you not provide. Park designation for which is agenda item. 77 0, you know, after reeling from the effects of last week's storm on our city hadn't prioritized management that resulted in more than 100,000 homes, power I think it goes without saying that much more important investments we need to make a city and the community. And at the time president our democracy is that it's low lowest. This move, which is really a property [2:09:17 PM] tax that they would, it really sends the wrong message, and that message would be that the people we elect are only in it to reward real estate developers and their friends. This will read as just another ploy to provide the wealthy, the powerful the well connected to a property break in perpetuity. The rich can figure out their own way to get out of paying their fair share their fair share of taxes. And our city needs these revenue investments for housing, affordability, roads, infrastructure and our future. So I asked you again today to do the right thing and deny the abatement request through the guise of a historical designation. Thank you. Next speaker is candid, speaking on item 70. Miss Daniel, go ahead. Hello yes. Go ahead. Yes okay. I don't know if [2:10:18 PM] you could hear me. Yes, my husband. My we've also we lived in the building for over three years. Ah and of course we specifically loved historic charm. Ah and location and proximity to the capital and other state buildings and other historical landmarks is unique to the city. What drew us to the west gate was more than it's quiet and modest condominium units or not luxury conduct. Support it isn't ah historical and architectural significance that spoke to us former us presidents, governors, academics and other dignitaries have graced its hallways. The former location of the headliners club entering the building takes visitors back to the mid century modern era and 2010. The Westgate with the efforts and national registry of historic places, and in 2012, it was designated as a recorded Texas historic landmark branding or [2:11:18 PM] applications have it recorded the same way by the city. Houston should should, get happened. Lastly it's a real estate broker. I know firsthand the few historical condo buildings the city has. The worst case is certainly the service, if not more, so those buildings thank you for your commitment to historical preservation and recognize mention and Sade. Thank you. Next speaker Cheryl Thompson, speaking on items 72 73. Hello I'm speaking on the agenda item . 17 77 apologize of visit, but it's the Cameron road 76 a one and I'm very concerned about the traffic and wanting to make sure that the developer does the full traffic assessment that area has [2:12:22 PM] been included in your package should be, data that is put forth by the city. I do believe it's from 2015 or 2019, and it actually highlights the concerns of the bodily injuries along that a quarter right there, particularly directly in front of the same expects one and right down the street like what's than 50 yards away at the intersection of Cameron and 1 83 . That being said, to put we just really want to make sure that whatever is being developed , there is very we're very aware of the traffic and the fact that that is a hazard. The other thing that we're concerned about . Is that the developer it's not allowed to be able to do these in blue. Taking care of whatever the city is normally ask, the developers to do we want that to take place. Other than that the [2:13:23 PM] biggest concern again is safety , that if they high crashed, his own identified by the city, so consequently it's hard for me to understand why, they would be even in consideration of putting additional traffic and people coming in and out. Right there on that curve. It just seems that that's going to exacerbate an already challenging but safety situation. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor pro tem that concludes all of the remote speakers, so we're going to go ahead and move on over to in person speakers. The next five speakers, just a reminder you can only speak on the merits of the postponement I've got and Andre bus crony. Ingrid Morton. Jeanne Wilkins, Steven Englander and will go, Godwin. If you're [2:14:25 PM] here, make your way up, but you can only speak on the merits of the postponement. Otherwise I'll continue on Angie Bickley sign signed up to speak on item 52. Followed by Linda king glovsky and Peter Skidmore. If anyone is here, please make your way up. Okay so I'm gonna keep on calling names. Brad Hoskins. If you're here items 62, followed by Danielle Skidmore and then Melissa's get more. If your name [2:15:25 PM] is called, go ahead and go quick. Hi I'm Brad Hoskins, the property owner at 705. Brownlee circle. We're looking to add a living space there so that I can move there with my family. We have particular needs to create a fully accessible living space. And trying to find ways to do that. I'm glad to say that our neighbors have come out in support of what we're trying to do, and they voice that supported the sounding in planning meeting. At issue was just the changing of zoning. We have not found a way to build what we're. Looking to do without a change of zoning, and that's really? Why we've. Been trying to change the zoning to from an sf three to an M F three to support that thanks. Danielle [2:16:31 PM] Skidmore, Melissa Skidmore than , rica. Keepers if you're here, please make your way up. Hi my name is Melissa Skidmore and, Brad is my partner and we are trying to move back to our old neighborhood in Clarksville by creating a second story accessible unit with an elevator so that Peter can be with us downtown. Issue is that, our law is currently zoned as an sf three lots and is being used as a duplex. And despite the best efforts of everyone that's been involved so far, no one can find a way for us to be able to build this three third unit as a second story on the structure without switching to an mf zoning, so that's what we're here doing. Staff has recommended it. It was unanimously passed by the planning commission. We spent an hour talking about it and [2:17:32 PM] planning commission. And so here we are asking one more time so that we can go forward. We're we've been very transparent with our neighbors about what we're trying to achieve. And we've been very flexible with trying to achieve it in a way that would be the least disruptive to the neighborhood. But apparently because we don't have a code that will allow for a third unit to be built. We have to switch it to an mf zoning. So that's what we're here asking for today. Thank you. Next speaker is rekha keepers, followed by Monica Guzman and then Brian Evans. Just one brief moment. Council member harper- madison had her hand raised miss Gilmore. I'd like very much for us to follow up with one another. This is one of those examples. I happen to know peace, kitty, so I know he's out here, Roland right now. This is one of those examples where the letter of the law or the spirit of the code. Come on. Yeah so I would like to follow up and [2:18:32 PM] let's see what we can do. Thank you. Good afternoon. City council. Appreciate your time. I will not be labor the moment that the subject because I think you've heard from the owners Brad and Melissa's get more. My name is Ricky keepers. I am representing the applicant representing the owners for the rezone and to just Melissa talked to you about all of the discussion planning and zoning had and it's true we did try and figure out a way to move this ahead without having to go through the rezoning process. However because of the land development code and all of the constraints. We just we had a hard time finding a resolution. To avoid going through this reasoning process and you know we did. We did speak with staff and one of the discussions was about the that affidavit that's used for, it's an accessory to a primary unit, so it's not applicable in this case since that they existing current configuration is a duplex. But [2:19:33 PM] we were trying to figure out a way to at least have an affidavit so that we didn't have to. We could avoid this entire process, the affidavit says. You can have an accessory unit. If you have a senior. If you have someone living with you, that is relative senior care or special needs. That was really the only kind of way around this temperley she ate. I do want to say that. I really appreciate you got your efforts and making improvements where it comes to aws, and it comes to the code cabinet and things that are happening. I'm also working with you. Ally to help kind of create better change. But for this particular family, you know, we're kind of stuck. This is where we are and there were having to go through this process so that this family can live together in the best way they need to. So we request this . And as Melissa said, we did. We have worked with the wanna with the neighborhood and trying to come up with solutions that would work. But here we are, so I appreciate your time that we're here for to answer any [2:20:34 PM] questions that you have concerns that you might have and may pretend. Go ahead. Council member vela briefly. How much is all this? Cost more or less. I mean, trying to get the rezoning. I'm sorry, are you I'm sorry. How much did the rezoning you know? And in terms of, I'm sure multiple professionals have spent, you know, quite a bit of time. You know, working on it, and so on. So I mean, just a general estimate. How much does it cost to try and rezone property from two units to three units in this kind of situation ? Honestly it's around 15 to $20,000 because the city application fees around 10,000. All right. Well, thank you very much. Yes, sir. Council member qadri. Yeah, I'll just I'll just make a quick comment. You know, on the campaign trail, I got to know. You know, Peter and Danielle, you know the amount of [2:21:35 PM] love that is being shown to make this happened, right? You know, it was I think, it said earlier by Melissa folks just want to be able to live together. You know, this isn't something that you know they shouldn't have to get rezoning. Just add one more unit to their duplex. So I appreciate you guys coming here for the advocacy and for the love that y'all you know, through through this fight, you know for Peter. Thank you. I think those are all the questions for now, but stay with us in case there are more later on. Thank you. Next speaker is Monica Guzman, followed by Brian Evans, followed by mark Kendrick. Good afternoon. Marianne council. I'm Monica Wissman policy director of guava Ramos, Austin. Gava supports the north Austin civic association neighborhood, planned contact team and their opposition to item 63 64 at [2:22:35 PM] 10810 newmont road. Now we submitted a false statement by email this morning. I don't see it in the back up, so I'm just going to read you some key points since I have a time limit simply granting increased entitlements to property owners with no proposed development increases speculation and raises the cost of living and working for Austin's household and small business owners. No well not to the contact team supports increased density on major corridors and additional housing units in the area. The property in question is on a neighborhood street. And there has been no request to zone for additional housing, not have any development plans being proposed at all to justify the change. And finally, equitable community planning is achieved through much more than granting zoning changes, especially in areas susceptible to displacement. Consider the neighborhoods needs infrastructure patterns of displacement and impacts of new land use. We need our council to negotiate better deals with [2:23:35 PM] greater community benefit in exchange for increased development, potential and land value. Please deny the proposed owning change and future land. Use maps change. Thank you. Next speaker is Brian Evans, followed by mark Kendrick and then William Barry. Thank you, counsel. In 2010 Westgate received national recognition as a historic building when we were added to the national register in 2012 risk it received national or received recognition from the state when it became a recorded Texas historical landmark. After receiving both nationally and statewide recognition for historical value . We assume the city would gladly join us in celebrating and recognizing this historic structure in our hometown, the city has had a program in place since the 19 seventies to preserve historic structures just like this one as a native austinite. I'm glad this program exists. Westgate has complied with all aspects of the program and surpasses the requirements. [2:24:37 PM] When one historical designation is needed. We have to when one historical criterias need we have several couple that with a meticulous historical restorations, and I would argue that you have one of the most qualified applicants here today . I have sent to the council a copy of the application with check marks by all requirements. There are no criteria unmet. I've confirmed this with city staff and with city legal so the city has put forth a historic program to which you have an applicant that is 100% in compliance and seeking this out. Now like to read something from the application. The following city. Historic landmark criteria are considered when reviewing a city historic landmark application. It is my hope that the council will judge the application based on the published criteria set forth by the program and not allow biased or personal influences to judge our application, judging our application for any reason other than those contained in this document sets a horrible [2:25:38 PM] precedent that the government can simply pick and choose their favorites, ignoring any who do not fit their preconceived ideas of what criteria they believe should be met. Never mind that an applicant can only use the information contained in here and has no means to adjust to the desires of what someone feels on a particular day. Westgate is more than 100% in compliance with this program, and for that reason alone, we ask for your vote in the affirmative. Finally, I'd like to I'd like us to be proud that this program exists to protect historic sites and let us thank the visionaries that came before us that put this into place, but it's all joining together and recognizing this amazing sight. Thank you very much. Thank you next speakers. Mark Kendrick, followed by Linda king glovsky and then William berry and Marie wilts. Thank you for allowing me a brief, some brief remarks and welcome back, mayor Watson. My name is mark Kendrick. I moved into the Westgate tower in 2006 is 29 year old. I've lived there [2:26:39 PM] as an owner occupant for 18 years. Six years ago, I joined the architectural committee. For the building a bit of history about the building that's often overlooked is that Charles Granger was the local architect for the building. Charles Granger's son, Tom Granger, went on to Mary Beth butler, Rory and M. Butler's son, daughter, and, just wanted to point that out, because that's often overlooked. Really, a college course could be taught in the ties to this building to the city. There are just so many ways of this building ties into the fabric of this city. And since we all agree that the criteria has been met for the program, and we all seem to believe that the program itself should exist. I expect your vote in favor and thank you for your time today. Linda Cangelosi. Followed by William Barry and Marie wilts. Good afternoon. I'm Linda Cangelosi. I live at 606 Oakland avenue a few blocks from the subject. [2:27:39 PM] Property of items 62. I don't know. These apparently are all mixed up. I want more neighbors in my neighborhood, and I would be delighted to have Brad and Melissa and Danielle and Peter be my neighbors. But something happened in planning commission which did pass this unanimously , which concerns me a bit, which is the opponents of this rezoning. Came and said, oh, we really like these folks who really, you know. They're very sympathetic there. Desirable to have his neighbors and we want to do this, but we don't want the zoning change. Would concerns me and apparently and I and article and axios and elsewhere is that the problem is that the zoning is wrong. I mean that it won't work. And they need the rezoning and they absolutely that's the only way [2:28:40 PM] to do it. You cannot add a third unit. To a duplex property to an sf property. As much as everyone tried to find some kind of work around. My point is this if you don't have such a sympathetic, applicant. Ah or say we want these people. And what if these people are you really don't want him in the neighborhood because they don't know breeds chihuahuas or something that you don't like. What that you don't find the workaround for them. It shouldn't need to work around is my point. We you got land development code one. Oh one, which is you can't add a third unit to the sf property cannot. That's ridiculous, in my opinion , but what we've got, we need a new code. In the meantime, these folks need a, a zoning change. Mf three. At least to make this possible. And there are other consequences. But please do what the planning commission did in [2:29:41 PM] approved this unanimously and show that you're gonna move this forward and then instead of doing these one at a time? Maybe we could have a fix for everybody. Not just our most sympathetic applicants. Thank you. Next speaker is William Barry and the last speakers, Marie wilts. Good afternoon city council. My name is William berry. I'm an owner at Westgate tower strongly support historic zoning as a Westgate meets the outline criteria set forth by the city. Any discussion other than the requirements that we meet in any discussion that delays in approval for historic zoning? Sets a dangerous president that the city can ignore policy in rural by opinion. The west gate meets historic criteria has already been recognized at the national and state level. Neither the public or the city has provided any credible response for any criteria that the west gate does not meet. Therefore I asked the city council takes a factual [2:30:42 PM] based approach and approves historic zoning. Thank you. Last speakers, Marie wilts. Thank you for hearing us out today. I grew up in Texas and the main reason that I opted to live in the historic Westgate is precisely because of that, because when you're walking through the building, you can hear you can feel Texas history in the in its walls. Having grown up in Texas and seeing so much change in Austin skyline. I appreciate the building's historic roots even more. Austin and Texas have so much character, much of it, which is quickly getting demolished or replaced by influences of the coastal states and modernization. The Westgate is a real gem of old Austin that holds so much history and it [2:31:44 PM] becomes even more special as the history as the city evolves. Unlike everything new, you can't just replicate a historic building. And quite frankly, it's sad to see Austin's history . Austin's history and roots erased when older buildings have to be taken down. We need to preserve the Westgate so that all of Austin can enjoy this mid century modern structure and learn about its history. I asked that the commission approve our application based on the merits of our building and all the criteria that we meet so that we can continue to preserve and treasure a piece of Austin history. Keep Austin weird and we can all continue to call it home. Thank you very much. And pretend that concludes all speakers. Thank you. That concludes the public hearing portions of this joy. Will you go through the consent or [2:32:45 PM] discussion and postponement items? One more time? Absolutely again. Joy harden with the house again. Planning department. Your stoning agenda begins with item number 52 2022 00 to 2.1. This item is being offered for consent on all three. Readings the related rezoning is item number 53 C 14 2022 0101 again the silence being offered for consent on all three readings. I don't 54th in P a 2022 5.2. This item has been offered as a step postponement. Your March 23rd council meeting the related reason against item number 55 C 14 2022 0114 again the silence being offered as a staff post moment. To your March 23rd council meeting. I don't number 56 61 4 2022 0116 the sign of spring offered for consent on all three readings. I don't 57 is M P a 2022 16.3. This item is [2:33:46 PM] being offered for consent. First reading only the related rezoning is I don't 58 C 14 2022 0103. This is being offered for consent. First reading only 59 is in P a 2022 00 to 3.3. There is an applicant postponement request to your February 23rd council meeting. The related reasoning is item number 16 14 2022 0104 again there's an applicant postponed a request to your February 23rd council meeting. Items 61 2 C 14 2022 0141 the signals being offered for consent on all three readings and I'm 62 14 2022 0084 . This item is being offered for consent on all three readings. You heard from all the speakers on this item, but I do have to note this item has a ballot petition so it would require nine votes. If you pass this on all three ratings, which is what's being offered by staff. I don't number 63 is NPR 2022 7.1 [2:34:49 PM] . This is being offered for consent on all three readings. The related rezoning is item number 64 C 14 2022 0136. This item is being offered for consent on all three readings and I'm 65 14 2022 0147 the sinus being offered for consent. On all three readings. Hmm. So I don't 66 61 for 2022 0143. There's an applicant postponement request to your February 23rd council meeting and I'm 60 71 4 2022 0049 again . There's the applicant postponement request to your February 23rd council meeting item 68 is C 14 R 81033 R C a. There's an applicant postponement to your March 23rd council meeting. The related rezoning to the restricted Kevin amendment. This is your Brodie item this is I know 69 C 814 2021 0099 again. Applicant post one request to your March 23rd council meeting. I don't know. [2:35:50 PM] 70 is seen one for H 2022 0073. This will be a discussion item. I don't 71 is 2022 10.3 this time was being offered for consent segment. Third reading. Items 72 np a 2022 00 to 9.1 this island's being offered for consent, 2nd and 3rd. Readings item 73 C 14 2022 0094. This item is being offered for consent, 2nd and 3rd readings and that concludes the reading of your zoning agenda. Which one of them. Our personal okay for 61. I might have misspoke. So let me just make sure I read that correctly. I don't 61 is C 14. Yes, I did. Misspeak okay, I know 60. Wanna see one for 2022 [2:36:51 PM] 0141. This island's being offered for consent. First reading only. And that concludes three figures on it. Thank you very much. So you listed 70 as being a discussion item. Do we wish to pull that one off consent? Okay, any other items that council members wish to pull off consent? Alright with that being said, if there is no opposition, we will pass the consent vote unanimously. And I would suggest let's move to item number 70 just so we can clean up with the zoning information and let staff get get back to their work. Okay thank you. Mayor pro tem, again, joy harden , housing and planning department. This is I don't number 70 C 14 H 2022 0073 and this is an owner initiated historic zoning case located 11 22 Colorado street. And this is your this is the third and final [2:37:53 PM] reading. I know that you heard from the speakers. So I will just highlight a few things and then I'll turn it over to council member qadri who wanted to discuss this item in and move forward there, but just to highlight a few things. Staff in the historic landmark commission recommended approval. The building qualifies for landmark designation under the criteria for architecture and historical associations, as well as for its individual listing in the national register of historic places. The west gate doesn't accept excellent example of new formalist style. It is the only building in Austin designed by internationally recognized architect Edward Durell stone, and it is significant as an early model of mixed use building in Austin, which has saved our city's downtown development patterns. Though the planning commission agreed that the building back the criteria of landmark designation, it did not the historic zoning on a vote of six in favor, three opposed and two extensions. Commissioners conveyed that they did not oppose the zoning changes still but the potential tax employee exemptions [2:38:54 PM] available to this building's condominium owners. I have Callen Contreras here who is the historic preservation officer, if you have any specific questions, and of course, like I said, you've heard from the speaker so I will turn this over to the council member and you can go up. Thank you. Cool well, I appreciate that joy. I want to thank everyone who had an opportunity to speak today. Both in person and virtually, you know, your your voice is so very important. Terrorist city also wanted to thank god for all the help. They provided my office as we looked into this case. You know, my concerns are about you know the equity impacts of the tax exemptions to the city. To us and I S D. Travis county into Travis county. Central health. Historic zoning, unfortunately, is tied to a tax exemption for historic properties that may not have been considered when it comes to multi unit residential [2:39:54 PM] properties downtown. I think we must wear the fiscal and equity implications of the of the tax exemption. Staff will be bringing a draft of the equity based historic preservation plan to counsel in the upcoming months and I look forward to seeing that. And I'll be working with staff and stakeholders to ensure taxes. Exemptions review during the equity based historic preservation plan. And return with recommendations to ensure our tax exemption and abatement programs are equitable. And in line with other measures to advance racial justice and equity outcomes in the city. I want to make sure a I S D. Travis county in Travis county health are part of the process have a say in this program. So I just want to give him the opportunity here from any other colleagues on this item. But if no one has anything to weigh in, I'm ready to move forward with the vote. Would you like to make the motion? That you intended and if there's a second we'll [2:40:55 PM] take a vote on the motion to deny historic landmark designation. Motion has been made seconded by council member harper-madison. Is there anyone else who wishes to speak on on the topic? It does not appear so. Let's go ahead and take the vote all in favor of denial of the historic zoning. 123 456. All voting, no denial and the mayor voted. Yes. So seven yeses. And. All voting nay on denying the motion. Kelly cool. I'm voting. Yes. Okay council member pool votes? Yes, that's eight in favor. Votes against council member alter council member Kelly abstentions. Number of Fuentes. How did you vote? [2:41:56 PM] She voted? Yes okay, so that's nine votes yes, and two votes now. The motion to deny passes. Thank you. That will conclude our zoning cases for the day. Let me lay out what I have planned if there's no objections , the remaining items we have now are going to be the public hearings on items 45 46. I know that 47 was also posted as a public hearing but was mentioned to be postponed. I just want to clarification from legal do we need to officially moved to postpone 47 or is that included? I would go ahead and do it officially. Okay, so we will discuss the public hearings for 45 46 47. Then I aim to take up the ballot items 40 74 75 76. Then what I would like to propose is a brief recess just so we can especially me go over all of the amendments for the [2:42:57 PM] remaining items, which include 40 41 81 80. And so if you all will give me that benefit of having a chance to organize my paperwork and make sure I know all the amendments that have been proposed so that we can move through those last four items. It'll take me just maybe about 20 or 30 minute recess to get through those but in the meantime, would you marry? Never again. Yes so right now we're going to take up 45 46 47 the public hearings. Then I suggest we move to the ballot items 74 75 76. And then a brief recess for the mayor pro tem to get her paperwork in order and make sure we can move through the remaining pulled items effectively. So after about a half hour break, let's take up 41, then 81 than 40 and then 80. And that should conclude the regular meeting items once we get through those once we adjourn that meeting, we will [2:43:57 PM] convene the special called meeting that is an executive session, so I think the intent at that point is to take that item up at the very end of the day so that staff can go on about their business. The intent is that there won't be public comments afterwards. Since we're only posted for executive session. So I will be coming out independently to adjourn this special called meeting. So are there any questions on exactly what the expectations are for order of the day? Okay? So let's go ahead and move on to 45 46 47 item number. 45 is a public hearing. Let's go ahead and open the public hearing. Do I need staff to speak to it or just open it. Are there any speakers for item number 45 public hearing? There are not seeing none. Thank you. That public hearing is closed, and that item has been hereby taken up. The next item is going to be item number 46. It is about the north Burnett gateway regulating plan. [2:44:59 PM] Do I have a motion to take up that public hearing? Motion made by council member pool. Do I have a second? Seconded by council member of Ella. Council member Paul, do you have any comments you wanted to make. I know you have mentioned that item earlier in the day. I did do we haven't did you want to hear from speakers first? If there are any for the public hearing. Do we have speakers for the public hearing on 46? We do not. We've played a speaker. Great Britain. Can I just ask the question? Yeah. You made a motion to consider the public hearing. Are we taking a motion to adapt the ordinance? It would be pertinent to the posting language so it would be conducting the public hearing and considering the ordinance. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. For that clarification. So the motion that I'll make will be to approve this item and after having closed public hearing [2:46:01 PM] just had a couple of things to say. I'm really happy to move these amendments to the north Burnett gateway regulating plan today, the responsive to the energetic growth in this area of my district. Last year, I brought an initiative to perform a comprehensive update for the north north Burnett gateway plan so that it accurately reflects the vision as our second downtown. This area is primarily in district seven, but a portion of it does fall within district four. I want to signal to our staff that we do still embrace the vision and the greater entitlements that are needed to fulfill it. I look forward to seeing comprehensive to seeing the two seeing the comprehensive update come before us this spring and two responding to the enthusiasm for development in this area. Thank you, Mary proton. Thank you any further comments on it, council member of Ella? Schiera council member Paul's sentiments. The changes [2:47:05 PM] that we see in that area around often fc stadium around the domain on north of Burnett are remarkable and exciting, and I wholeheartedly support this item to continue in that direction. Council member alter Alison alter. Thank you been pleased to co sponsor a lot of the work. That's my reports done to advocate for, additional density in this area. That's our second downtown, and I wanted to just acknowledge her hard work and the work of her staff to diligently pursuing the opportunities that are there. In a in a timely fashion. It's one of the areas where we have through this kind of area of focus. Been able to accomplish a lot. Thank you. All right, all in favor of supporting item 46 [2:48:07 PM] closing the public hearing. It appears to be unanimous. On the dais. Mayor Watson. Are you supporting the yes. And then council member qadri is off the dais for the record. So item 46 is now handled. Do we need to go back on item? 45 read the resolution. Okay, so we have opened and closed that public hearing later in the posting language, it says, and consider a resolution related to the proposed development. And so we need to make sure that we are supporting that motion as well. So all in favor of the public hearings being conducted and the resolution being considered. Say aye. Mayor Watson is also an agreement with us and council member qadri is off the dais. Okay 45 46 are done. I don't number 47. Would you like to make the motion council member Ryan alter? I know you had mentioned. This is the item about related to the Brodie oak spud public hearing, and I know you had posted about the [2:49:09 PM] postponements on the project. Would you like to yet nothing new to add other than they're just still working on the language with city legal staff, so we want to make sure something of this magnitude. We get the ordinance language right and just need a little more time. And that is postponed. Is it also until March 23rd that's correct. Okay. Do I have a second for the postponement? Council member harper- madison makes the motion in all in favor. Raise your hand. All right. Council member qadri off the dais. Are you in support of postponing the public hearing for Brodie oak spud until March 23rd perfect. That is unanimous . So those three items are now taken up. And I will suggest we now move to the ballot items. We have items 74 75 76 give me a second to find my script. Mayor Watson. I'll turn it over to you [2:50:13 PM] . Thank you. Mayor, pro Tim. Members is, as you know, these are the ballot items. Related to the may ballot. And how. Public hall. I'll lay this out, but I want to start by moving that we adopt item number 74. The public to know item number 74 would do is it would put on the ballot. A second. Second proposition related to his in similar proposition to the one that's already been placed on the ballot relating to police oversight. I want the public to know on behalf of the council that the way our charter works is it says that if a group of people get a requisite number of signatures, and then they take those signatures to the city clerk and the city clerk certifies that they are valid signatures of false nights and [2:51:14 PM] voters. They properly. The petition has now properly met the threshold. Then. Killed will certify that petition. Pursuant to our charter, then. The council only has two choices. And those choices are first or one of the choices is it? The council can adopt that ordinance that has now been certified by my petition or the petition has been certified, so the council could just take a vote and adopt whatever the ordinances. Second thing the council can do, and only the second thing the council can do is put it on the ballot. The council must act. It only has two choices passed the ordinance. Yeah, put it on the ballot. That's the that's the case, even if you don't if the council were didn't like it [2:52:16 PM] would normally would otherwise, vote down. That ordinance doesn't agree with it, maybe even want to campaign against it. The council only has two choices, and in fact, many people might feel strongly negative about, proposition, but there's no no choice. So in this case. I am moving that we adopt item number 74 place. That proposition on the ballot. Based with only those two choices. Before we adopt that ordinance members. We need to insert. We need to insert ballot language into the ordinance. The law department prepared ballot language for us, and it's in the back up for item number 74. As part of the motion as I moved to adopt item number 74 moved that we insert the following ballot [2:53:16 PM] language for proposition B. I will say. Shall the voters of Austin adopt adopt an initiated ordinance, and then it will add circulated by voters for oversight and political accountability. That's the name of the organization that circulated the bishop petition. So adopted initiated ordinance circulated by voters for oversight and police accountability. Comma and then goes on to the rest of the ballot. That language is the language of the ballot is taken directly from the caption on the citizen initiated petition with the addition of the name of the party circulating the petition voters for oversight and police accountability. Adding the name of the circulator into the ballot language because there's already a proposition a on the may 6th 2023 ballot or election [2:54:19 PM] , and it also pertains to civilian police oversight. The belief is that adding the circulators names here name here on proposition B and also on proposition a, which we'll get to in just a minute provides clarity for the voters, or at least more clarity. He added. Language will provide some certainty and deafness. Each proposition and ensure that the voters are not misled. So with that mayor pro Tim. I'm moved that we adopt item number 74 with the ballot language that is the caption. With the added language of circulated by voters for oversight and police accountability to provide certainty certainty indefinite nous to each proposition in to ensure that the voters are not misled. Thank you, mayor. I really appreciate you letting that out. Do we have a second on the motion? Council member of [2:55:20 PM] vela seconds that motion are there any remarks that folks wanted to identify before we moved forward. I just have a question counsel members of the mayor and I was wondering for the public is your motion posted anywhere publicly for review. It was posted in the backup. Okay, thank you. Yes and to be clear, I can reread the language just for being duplicative. Shall the voters of Austin adopt an initiated ordinance circulated by voters for oversight and police accountability that will strengthen the city's system of independent and transparent civilian police oversight. Just to have that red one more time into the record. I know this has been a interesting topic that some folks have been talking about for quite a while, as one of the speakers had mentioned earlier today. There was not a lot of transparency. Exactly. And you know who was behind the petition. I think whether or not [2:56:22 PM] people agree or disagree with the petition itself. I think transparency is something we should all strive for. So I really hope moving forward that there is transparency and you know who is supporting ballot measures. So I think that having the circulators of the petition is extremely helpful. I think there's a lot of folks out there that feel misled, but I think the mayor spoke, spoke correctly. To identify that our options are either to adopted outright or to put it on the ballot with the voters. And so some of us feel like we're left. At least I feel like I'm left in a really tough position. But if there's no more remarks, let's go ahead and take the vote. For item 74 with the language as the mayor has read all in support. 1234567 it's unanimous. Alright so proposition B is going to be sent to the voters. Items 75 would have been adopting the petition language outright. So since it is now going to the voters, item number 5 75 is [2:57:23 PM] withdrawn. And that takes us to items 76 mayor did you want to address this one as well? Yes thank you. Mayor pro tem members as I mentioned before we would get to item number 76 or proposition a so I don't number 76 is an ordinance that would amend the ballot language for proposition a. Which is, you know is on the may 6 2023 election ballot. I can say is I mentioned just a second ago. We want to insert the name of the circulator into the ballot language for proposition a just as we did for proposition B, so that the voters have clarity about which item is which some, mayor pro Tim. I moved to amend the ordinance to add the name of the circulator to the ballot language as followed. Shall the voters of Austin adopt and initiated ordinance. Mama. Circulated by equity action comma. That will deter police misconduct and brutality by [2:58:25 PM] strengthening the city's system of independent and transparent civilian police oversight again that is from the caption and adding the name of the circulator equity action and again we would be doing that to provide certainty. And some definite this to these two propositions so that we ensure that the voters aren't misled. I move make I move the adoption. Of item number 76 with that language. Thank you, mayor. Do we have a second council member? Fuentes second sad. Any comments before we take a vote? All in favor. And it is unanimous on the dais with all present. All right. Including the mayor. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Alright as mentioned before I'm requesting [2:59:26 PM] a brief recess so I can get my amendments for 41, 81, 40 and 80 sorted out. I would say 3. 30 is probably a great time for us to aim to come back out to address our final four pieces of agenda items today and then, after we finished that business, we will adjourn and then call the special called meeting attempt. Yes I was just wondering if before we adjourn, we could confirm that we had the right amendments. Since there's been so many just to know who has an amendment that we can look for, at least because there's been so many I am totally open to that. I have a lot of papers, so I don't know if I'm even the best person to try to lead that discussion at this point in time, so I have the ones that I have in front of me. That's I can read those out. If that's helpful, and then we can see if what we're missing. Let's go ahead and start their sounds great on item. 40 I have an amendment from myself. This is [3:00:27 PM] the cold weather shelter item. I have one from Fuentes and I have one from qadri. I believe there's one from Velazquez that I don't have in front of me, that I'll need to get. I don't know if there's any other ones. There is and I believe there is a version two of council member Velasquez is amendment on item 40 and real quick what we did start with cold weather shelter as the intention on this, I fc. It developed into extreme weather to cover all weather types, so I just wanted to make that clear. Sure. Okay so the Velazquez version two has that been distributed to us electronically? Council member of Alaska's do you know if you're version two amendment for 40 has has that been distributed by the agenda office or on the message board. Okay okay. And then for I don't know if this is the order. You're taking them up, but it's the order. I have my motion treats in right now, item 41. I have a Kelly motion sheet number three and Kelly [3:01:28 PM] amendment to Anna Kelly. Amendment one can you read those again? They're just three motion sheets from cali one through three. And I believe backing up to item number 40. I think council member, Ryan alter had already proposed one earlier that one still on the table. I have. It's in the back of materials. It's not a separate motion sheet, so let's get started. Sure. Okay, so that's. What I had for, 41. And then, I don't have my 80 one's organized , so I'm not gonna do those, but I think there's just a motion. I think there's motions from, mayor Watson and from council member Kelly. I don't know if they're more than that. For 80 and for 80 on the contract. I [3:02:29 PM] think that you're not offering yours anymore. So council member Ryan alters not offering his anymore. So there were emotions from council member Kelly and from mayor Watson. Were there any other emotions for 80? Okay and then for, 81. I have a motion from council member Ryan alter version two. And which if I could pretend on 80, how many ? I don't have any. I don't have. I don't have those clearly printed out there was one from mayor Watson with respect to finances, and I believe that council member Kelly had several of those, but I don't have a packet. I think those were on the long side, so I'd be okay looking at those electronically. Myself about anybody else. I think we can all print them out. I just wanted to make sure that everyone I want to make sure that I knew that I had the right [3:03:30 PM] ones that I was looking for an item. 80 council member, Kelly has at least 15. Council member, Kelly has five on item 80. Okay has one. Okay I have seen mayor Watson's okay. Mayor Watson did you want to speak at the moment? No, I was just gonna say that. Those that are that we're paying attention to amendments originally had an amendment to councilor reveillon main motion. And I believe he's going to offer as part of his main motion that amendment. I didn't have another amendment that I would be putting me into that. I believe that's the way we're going to do that. That's correct . Mayor pro Tim and mayor we're just finalizing that that last amendment here, but we should have it momentarily, but the pay and benefits amendment that the [3:04:33 PM] mayor offered incorporated into version two. And then we're just we have another language change. That's gonna intentionally just incorporate the events of the last 24 hours. And when will the rest of us say that? Momentarily I mean, we're just we just send it to legal and it's being formed and will publish that the version two has has already. I believe it's already on the message board and then the last amendment is just a change to the whereas is, but it's just, you know, incorporating kind of the exit the events of the of the last day. Okay, so. To wrap that up item number. 40 has amendments from Alison alter Vanessa Fuentes. So qadri Jose of Alaska's version two and Ryan alter item. 41 has three amendments from council member Kelly. Item 80 has five [3:05:33 PM] amendments from council member Kelly and some reworking of language between council member of vela and mayor Watson's work and item. 81 has a Ryan alter amendment version two that sound right? Any any other amendments out there any others are still working on that might come our way. Okay good. I think this half hour break is going to be really productive. Let's come back here at 3 30 to take up the last four items on this regular agenda. Thanks, y'all. Got a T shirt that when I was 20 live rock and roll. Well I got [3:06:38 PM] pockets. If there's money, I got plenty. Under four. Did my friend. Feeling good again. I don't need to share. Well, I got strength. Sound pretty. Yes, the ocean. Does. World. Well, I'm dying. [3:07:44 PM] Freedoms, comments. To them. [3:09:26 PM] Eight years old with a flour sack cape tied on Rand's neck. He climbed up on the rocks. The heck. Who? This courage up so tight can come on white. You gotta run it starting. Bless his heart. He's having four of the ground. He's one of those knows that life is just believe. Full faith. Spread your arms. The bread. Always drives decay. All grown up with flour sack cape time. All the rounds drink. Pull the piston vinegar. He's busted at the sea. He licked his finger and check the wind is going to be doing die. It wasn't scared of nothing, boy. Sure. He's one of those who knows in life is just the lead. Spread your arms and hold the breath. [3:10:50 PM] Old and gray with a flour sack cape tied all around his head. You still jumping off the garage and it will be till he's dead. All these [3:46:18 PM] waiting to get started again. We are still organizing our papers . But I will say my intent is to take up item. 81 Austin energy first item 41. The board of adjustment item next item 40 the extreme weather shelter item is after that, and then item number 80 about the police contract. At the very end. It's always just another minute to get everyone situated. [3:48:21 PM] All right, are we? Oh, we lost one. Oh there he is. Okay. Are we ready to go? I think we're ready to go. Let's take up item number 81 the item. It was an I F C from council member Kelly on Austin energy. Would you like to make the motion and if it gets a second, we'll let you speak. Yes, I'd like to move passage of item. 81 all right. Do we have a second? There has to be a second and then we can take up amendments. All right, Ryan alter is seconding it. Would you like to go ahead and unveil your I fc and I know that council member Ryan alter does have an amendment. Yes colleagues, our constituents are frustrated and we're frustrated. Constituents have been demanding that we take some form of action now and not later related to Austin energy. [3:49:22 PM] This is why I feel this important item should be taken up today. I firmly believe that there are actionable steps today that we can take to answer the call of our constituents and the community as a whole. This vegetation management audit of Austin energy is one way to do that. It's a first step to help Austin energy ensure that their vegetation management plan is up to par. According to the resolution that I brought forward today, the audit of Austin energy and the review should consider but not be limited to the following areas. The adequacy of the vegetation management plan, including the identification of areas for improvement. The execution of the vegetation management plan, including the frequency and quality of inspections, pruning and removal activities. The coordination efforts of Austin energy with other city departments during the recent winter storm, the identification of best practices and lessons learned from the recent winter storm and other events and currently is written to review their operational practices as they relate to the 2023 major events storm event. I'd like to [3:50:23 PM] thank my colleagues. Council members. Ryan alter council member of Velazquez, council member of Bella and I want to thank the hundreds of people have called and emailed my office and that of other council members this week to support the item and I'm thankful to bring it forward today for a discussion. Thank you. Thank you . I think at this point will move to amendments. Is there an amendment to the resolution? Brian also do you make that motion? I do. It's great. Do we have a second for his amendment? Version. Two Alison alter will second that, don't you go ahead and speak to your amendment? Sure. Thank you. And thank you, councilor Kelly for bringing this. I think it is important. We've had a lot of people with a lot of questions about the events of the past week and a half and some frustrations. And so one of the big questions that I know we've heard a lot about is around vegetation management . And so I think this is a good opportunity for us to have an independent body. Take a look at [3:51:23 PM] our vegetation management plan. How it's been implemented. And I think this is what you'll see in this amendment is it limits the scope of the audit? Just to that question, I think the broader question about Austin energy. We will get some information in the after action report and I think it's appropriate to wait for that to look beyond the vegetation question, but but to really have an independent entity. Take a look at this particular question and have the public be able to have confidence that we're going to get an answer one way or another , whether or not we need changes or whatnot. I just want to make sure that you know audits are not punishment. They are an answer to a question. And this is a question that has been posed and I think it's appropriate for us to take further steps that allow that question to be answered. And so that's what this amendment does. It limits it to the vegetation question and I hope you can all [3:52:24 PM] support it. Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments? I see council member Kelly I like that. You thoughtfully put together the amendment, but I'm not able to support it. Based on the feedback from my constituents and those in the community who want to dive deeper into this, so I would like to put it up for a vote. But I like that you mentioned audits are not punishment. This is simply meant to be a supportive way that we can help Austin energy dive into the details and make improvements moving forward so that again. It's not punishment. It's to improve upon the system that we currently have. And I'm especially concerned related to vegetation management for the heat of the summer and wildfire potential effects. So thank you. Further questions or comments. I know there's been some discussion about the appropriate [3:53:24 PM] scope of this particular work. I am eager to get started with the vegetation management portion in particular that does not preclude that other. Other issues may not be addressed along the way. I know there's customarily inactive after action report, which may provide some more details, moving forward and of course, any of the, oversight committees have the ability to do more work on this particular topic in the future? Council member pool. Mayor pro tem especially want to thank you for framing it in in that way. I think we need the answers quickly, and I think we will get answers more quickly over the next few weeks, including at the Austin energy utility oversight committee meeting, and there's also the Austrian water utility oversight committee is also looking at it's after action from previous , crisis that we've dealt with as a community, so I don't want to slow anything down. So I appreciate council member Ryan [3:54:26 PM] alters, narrowing the scope of this I can like you. Mayor pro tem support that piece of it. Ah and only if it does not slow down the reviews that this diocese is otherwise intending to undertake to undertake. Further questions or comments. Brian alter one last comment. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out all the work that my colleague Alison alter has done on vegetation management and as the chair of the oversight committee, I know we will be in good hands with this audit as as it comes forward, and we get to roll it out. It's appreciated anymore comments or questions. And then we'll take the vote vote. Council member, Alison alter, go ahead. Actually wanna speak after we vote on rights a minute on the amendment or on the full item on the amendment. Okay let's go ahead and take a vote on Ryan alters amendment to [3:55:26 PM] item number 81 all in favor. Appears to be unanimous. All sorry. Everybody except Mackenzie Kelly, you're voting no. On the amendment. Correct I'm voting no on the amendment, the amendment. Thank you, and I appreciate your comments. Council member Alison alter. Thank you, yes, I think it was Tuesday. We had a conversation about the recent events and one of things that I mentioned was that multiple things can be true at once. And I think here again. We have a hurricane that we had . That knocked down a whole lot of trees. That was damaged our system at the same time we have vegetation management needs that are really important for the reliability. Of our utility and for our wildfire mitigation. We still at this point do not know whether additional vegetation management beyond what we had [3:56:27 PM] already been doing, which we had initiated in 2019. When I started looking into viability in 2018 and 2019, we changed, those policies and we have done a significant amount on our lower liability. High wildfire circuits. Particularly in west Austin, where many of those lie , that work did matter. But what we don't know is if the remaining circuits because we did prioritize whether that mattered would have made a marginal difference in the outcome that we saw. So I'm all for taking this look and appreciate council member Kelly initiating it and council member Ryan alters amendment. But I think we I don't know that it's going to get to the core of what we need to understand. I think we need to get a little bit more distance to be able to figure out how you know which pieces are going to be most crucial as we move forward to make sure that we are maximizing our ability to minimize the risk from these climate efforts. So we have millions and millions of [3:57:28 PM] dollars in vegetation management contracts that we have increased over the last several years. We have done a lot of work. It's not done yet. There's more to be done. So I think that we should have this conversation. But as we move forward, you know, we should just understand that this may not be the thing that is the smoking gun of what of what happened, though it is extremely important for the health of our utility and the safety of our city. Thank you. Thank you. Council member Kelly. I just I also would be remiss if I didn't think council member altar for all her historic work on vegetation management. Prior to this, there are a lot of things that go into the work that we do here on council, and sometimes we build upon the previous work so that we can learn more about what's going on. So I just want to express my gratitude. I think it's time to take a vote on the original item as amended item [3:58:29 PM] number. 81 including Ryan alters amendment all in favor of the item. Council member harper-madison. Alright that is unanimous item 81 passes mayor pro tem while we're on that the issue of disaster preparedness. I just want to flag for folks that at audit and finance committee meeting in our morning meeting next week. We had previously scheduled and we will continue to have, sort of an audit committee. Look back at the disaster preparedness audit and its implementation. So we'll be looking back at, some of those statements that were part of the original audit from Yuri and how far we've gotten so that will be in the morning and that in the afternoon in a joint, committee meeting between audit and finance and Austin water, we will be, hearing the implementation plans for Austin water based on the external review that we did. Last year [3:59:31 PM] after the water boil, there will be lessons that overlap there, particularly with respect to keeping power on at our water stations. Substations so, just want to make sure that people are aware that those things are already scheduled to happen next week. Thank you. I appreciate those comments, council member pool and just to amplify what council member alter just said we will be getting information from Austin energy about their work with this latest disaster and updates from our staff, digging into some of the statements that have been offered in the community about vegetation management and I share my colleague's concern about preserving our urban canopy. It's essential for environmental purposes that it remains healthy. And part of that health is steering clear of our transmission and electrical lines. So I think I think we can do both things and I think we [4:00:31 PM] can do it at a at a good clip, and, improve our resilience, sustainable resilience of our community throughout. Thank you all. There are no further comments. We should take up item number 41 next. This is going to be the resolution from council member harper-madison on processes with the board of adjustment. Would you like to make a motion to pass the item? Yes, I would. Thank you. Mayor pro tem. I'd like to a motion that we take up the item, as is motion made by council member harper-madison seconded by council member Fuentes. Council member Kelly. I have several amendments. I'd like to bring forward on this item. The first one I would like to make is to move to amend lines 56 to 58 to read as follows. Council directs the city manager to bring the proposed program implementation [4:01:31 PM] plan, strike the word and costs and funding sources and then add and overall fiscal impact to the city of Austin's annual budget to council for its consideration by April 10th 2023. Is there a second to the passage of the amendment? Can I hear there's a second question? Go ahead. I'm just curious what the difference is if the city manager is supposed to bring to us the costs. Versus bringing us the costs. How are costs different than fiscal impact? It is really my question if there is a difference I guests. I'll allow it without a second. We technically not allowed won't even sorry. Still learn the rules. That's okay. That's okay . Procedurally we should have a second to even be able to debate the motion. And so if there's no second, we could get answers to that question. Offline mayor pro [4:02:32 PM] tem I would like to indicate that council member harper-madison did say on the council message board that she was okay with this. This first amendment. But there was no second okay. Thank you. Thank you. Council member Kelly, did you have other amendments that you wanted to propose for this item? I do. My second one is to move to amend 54 to include the following. I which is a dps oh assistance program. J public safety officers benefits program K all line of duty death assistance programs. Or and then to make the following clerical correction just adding L. To the applicants, household income is less than 200% of the income poverty level. They're a second for this amendment. It does not appear. There is a second on this one either, okay? I have [4:03:33 PM] one more motion sheet would like to bring forward and that is to move to amend lines 56 to 58 to read as follows council directs the city manager to bring the proposed program implementation plan and costs and funding sources to council for its consideration by striking the word April to August 10th of 2023. If there was second done the amendment. This also appears not to have a second. We appreciate you and your teams work on this and your creative thinking do appreciate the process. Yes, council member, Alison alter. Thank you. I just wanted to ask if I could be added as a co sponsor, harper- madison sins proposal here. I really appreciate the work that her and her team did to move forward. This this request that we had that was worked on with the board of adjustment with her staff. I think it's really important that we move this forward, and I appreciate you picking it up and moving it over the finish line. [4:04:34 PM] It is going to be important for many people in our community, so thank you for leading on that. Not co sponsorship appears to be accepted. Council member pool. Same here, but I'll be voting for it. So you don't have to add me as a co sponsor, but thank you for the work. All right. Are we ready to vote on item number 41? All in favor. This appears to be unanimous. Unanimous on the dais. Thank you. Item 41 is addressed. That will bring us to item number 40 the extreme weather shelter option. I will open it up to the lead sponsor council member Kelly to make a motion and if there's a second I know there's some amendments that need to be made or need to be offered. I would like to move passage of item number 40. Is there a second? Council member of Alaska's seconds that would you like to speak to it? [4:05:35 PM] Absolutely today I'm bringing an item to address the need for extreme weather shelters as they relate to some of our most vulnerable populations. As many of you know. Extreme weather shelters are critical components of our community's response to natural disasters and extreme weather events. Shelters provide safe and secure places for individuals and families to take refuge from harsh conditions, including high winds, heavy rain and extreme temperatures. It's our responsibility to ensure that we do everything we can to keep our communities safe. By providing access to extreme weather shelters. We can help protect our community and reduce the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable populations. Item 40 specifically looks to expand the hours of operations and resources and looks into other different ways that we can make the shelters more accessible and reduce barriers to entry. I spent quite a bit of time talking with stakeholders to craft this resolution, and I appreciate the input from everyone I spoke to fully understand the scope and the [4:06:35 PM] need to bring this forward. I have a huge thank you list that I won't read for fear of leaving people out. But I really want to thank everyone who helped work with me to get this where it is today. And I also want to thank my colleagues for supporting it and the ability to bring it forward. And I also want to thank those of you that have written amendments to help. Provide thoughtful additions to the item. Thank you. Thank you. I know there's a few amendments I want to offer. Council member Ryan alter the courtesy. I know we didn't have a chance to take this up and work session and you were the one who had pulled it for discussions. I want to give you the opportunity to begin. If you would like, thank you very much. I am I speaking my amendments. I just want to make sure we're doing the right thing I would say, just make the motion and say I move my amendment and second of my amendment to item 40 alright, seconded. Council member of Alaska's seconds it why don't you go ahead and lay it out? Sure so this amendment would add [4:07:37 PM] opportunities for conducting coordinated assessment for people experiencing homelessness . I just think this is we don't want to miss any opportunity to connect people to our coordinated assessment and be able to reach out and get services to individuals who might need it. And so I we spoke with the homeless strategy division to make sure that this wouldn't in any way, be duplicative or have other issues . They welcome it, so I move adoption. All right. We have an amendment on the table. It has been seconded. Are there any questions or discussion? It does not appear, so let's go ahead and vote on the amendment. All in favor. Appears to be unanimous. Mayor Watson. Are you just voting? Yes. Or did you want to speak? Voting? Yes. I am voting. Yes okay. Perfect that [4:08:38 PM] one is hereby included. I believe the next person to offer an amendment was council member Alison alter. Did you want to move adoption of your amendment? Yeah, I'll move adoption of my amendment, which acknowledges that the odd and finance committee accepted a audit on emergency shelters for dangerous temperatures in December, and that included recommendations and it provides direction to continue to implement the direct the recommendations with which staff had already conferred. Thank you. I apologize. I didn't ask for a second before you laid it out, seconded by council member pool. Thank you any questions or discussion on this amendment? It appears there are none all in favor of adopting. Council member alters amendment to item 40. It is unanimous on the dais. The next one. I'm trying to go in chronological. Yes, sir. Mayor. But you when you announced the results of [4:09:40 PM] these votes are always saying that unanimous on the diets and while I would love to be on the diets, I'm not. And so I don't want to be left out of the vote. I will amend it to on the diet or virtually present. Appreciate that. You exclude you. Thank you. Alright the next one I believe that was posted is council member of Alaska's would you like to move? Yes, I moved to add my amendment. All right. Do we have a second? Council member Alison alter. Would you like to lay out your amendment? Yes so, we're offering this amendment because, we want to make sure that we're putting a focus on equity safety and compassion when we're having these, extreme, whether incidences and that we're removing the barriers for people to be able to get registered so that we make it more accessible in that. Folks have an easier time about it. Thank you. And just to be clear. This is your [4:10:40 PM] version to correct correct. Okay. Are there any further questions or comments on council member of Alaska's amendment? All in favor. It is unanimous on the dais and the virtual dais. That once adopted that leads us to council member Fuentes. Would you like to move? Your amendment. Yes, I move my amendment to item number 40. Seconded by council member qadri Brodie. Colleagues my amendment does four things that I think that are very lined into what we experienced this winter storm and back in December when we had the winter freeze, and this is really about ensuring that we have a coordinated effort to respond. We have constantly seen and heard both in the testimony provided today by austenite and also from that will colleagues embedment that registration continues to be a barrier for folks. I still don't understand why we are asking for folks to get downtown to register only then to be bussed out to [4:11:41 PM] different shelters. I have seen other cities handle it differently. I think we should be handling it differently, and I think our registration continues to pose as a barrier for or on housing neighbors. So with this amendment, it does seek to expand options for registration, knowing that it is a barrier and taking a look at what other ways should we be handling our intake and also extend the length of time on the paws of camp sweeps, and it asked for a extreme weather shelter to be established in the Dell valley area. Dell valley has grown tremendously in the last 10 to 15 years, and actually recently in the last five years, a lot of people when you think del valle you think it's a rural part of the county, and if that's not the case, we've had a lot of growth in the area, and so we take a look at where we're salvaging shelters. It's not an easy fix to be able to get on a cat metrobus route to the shelter. They're just not a lot of transportation options. And then the fourth thing that [4:12:42 PM] this does is also in communication with folks that testified earlier. The need for family shelters. I have captain rubella and I were at a community meeting last night where we heard directly from residents who told us they were turned away from one of our shelters that were in our neighborhood. And that's simply not okay. If we have folks and we have families who need a place to stay for the night because it's freezing, and they don't have anywhere to go. We should have a place open for them, so we need to look at how are we providing family shelters in this city at the very least, have one family shelter. So again, my amendment does four things. It takes a look at the registration process extends the length of time on pausing the camp sweeps. It looks at establishing a shelter in the valley and looked at family sheltering. Thank you for laying out the amendment do we have, I see comes remember, Kelly has her hand up. Are there any other questions or comments? Okay go ahead. Thank you. I just really [4:13:44 PM] appreciate the fact that you incorporated the family sheltering into this. I spent a lot of time talking to stakeholders and they had identified that as a need. And so I'm glad that you're covers that. This. I'm just glad that we're coming together as a dais, and we're really working on these issues together and putting forward very thoughtful amendments to them so that their whole for the whole community and it's just a wonderful thing to see. So thank you. Further questions or comments. Let's go ahead and take a vote on council member Fuentes is amendment all in favor. Wait we're pausing. I see Deborah Thomas. Wanted to note that council member Velasquez and council member Fuentes both amended that third . Well it in the first whereas and the first resolved and I actually can't put them in. In exactly the way they are so counter member Velasquez is says [4:14:47 PM] and overall shelter registration operations. I do note that council member Puentes is amendment covers that so perhaps I could get permission to just use council member Fuentes is language. And. Okay you comfortable with that? So council member of Velazquez, version two. She it will be. The first bullet point is not going to be included. Because council member Fuentes is she will pick that the language. Alright now let's vote to adopt that amendment all in favor. It is unanimous both on the diets and virtual dais. That one passes. The last amendment I have is from council member qadri. Would you like to move passage? The passage do we have a second? Seconded by council member Fuentes. Go ahead and speak to your amendment. Thank council [4:15:48 PM] member Kelly for all her work on this matter. I want to thank my fellow co sponsors, on this, and I want to thank everyone who has brought forth an amendment. It's very important to be ahead of situations and what I can tell from the statuses that we want to do right by those that we serve. And it's been a long process to get this item on. But I'm so thankful that that we're here. What we're doing with the amendment is we're defining a meaningful process stakeholders . You know to me doesn't doesn't go. It's too vague and it it could mean everyone and what the leadership council that is mentioned as amendment. You know, it's a it's a group of paid experts with lived experiences. Around homelessness that will help guide and inform the process. So I moved him and the resolution for item 40 as follows. Amend the first to resolve to read being resolved by the city council of the city of Austin, the city manager is [4:16:48 PM] directed to continue discussions with stakeholders and subject matter. Experts including the cold weather, shelter, workgroup. Under the 80 X leadership council and city departments directly engaged with unsheltered individuals, including the homeless strategy division, and Austin. Travis county E. M S regarding extreme weather events and shelter, activation criteria and processes, including but not limited. The following considerations. And then I'd like to also amend the second resolve to read the city manager will report to the council by June. 15th 2023 on one recommendations to expand the city's whether sheltering plan to include all extreme weather events into the feedback and suggestions from the stakeholders and subject matter. Experts in consultation with the leadership council for Austin, Travis county continue continuum of care and in alignment with the written standards of cold weather sheltered developed by the cold weather shelter workgroup to address that activation, registration, transportation and other issues related to the city's response to sheltering during extreme weather events. Are there any [4:17:53 PM] further comments or questions on council member qadri's amendment? Council member Fuentes. I'm sorry. Council member Kelly. I would like to move to amend, the previous council members amendment to read as follows. Be it resolved by the city council of the city of Austin, the city manager is directed to continue discussions with stakeholders and subject matter. Experts including the cold weather, shelter, workgroup. And then strike under the 80 X leadership council and then just say stakeholders and those with lived experience in city departments directly engaged with unsheltered individuals, including the homeless strategy division and Austin, Travis county M S and then amend the second resolved to read in consultation with the striking at Mike's leadership council and keeping stakeholders and those with lived experience for Austin, Travis county continuum of care and in alignment with the written standards for cold weather shelter developed by the cold weather shelter, workgroup. [4:18:54 PM] That's been moved. I'll ask for a second, but I also see Deborah Thomas here. So is there a second for council member Kelly's amendment? Seeing seeing no second. We're back to council member. Qadri is original amendment. Speak with us. Deborah Thomas. I just want to note that, since both council member cadres and council member Fuentes is motions, amend the same language in the first resolved, I will have to take some liberty to make them work, and they won't look exactly the way the motions read. Is the well, I'll use both languages, but they won't look the way the motions read. Okay it seems like those sponsors are comfortable with you taking your best editing. Yeah don't don't mind. Yeah the only thing I just want to highlight is just the importance of mentioning the leadership council. It's a hud mandated board forever. Coc it's [4:19:55 PM] a key stakeholder in the homeless response system and the homeless, homeless strategy office. Strategy office has a chair in that leadership council that stay in gray, who is a voting member. It's just a very natural body to include in a resolution like this, so thank you. Thank you for bringing this amendment. We will need to vote to adopt it. But I see council member Kelly has her hand up. Would you like to speak just as a final thought. The reason that I had brought forward my amendment was not to show difference to the work that the leadership council does. I understand and appreciate what they do. But my rationale was that there are other groups that also do great and wonderful things. And I wanted to ensure that we were not excluding specific groups from this process. So thank you. I appreciate your comments on that. I know there's times where we've had amendments on the diocese, and we've been trying to figure out how explicitly to name some of our, of folks who want to advocate or provide their experience and how general and how specific to be. So I think that's something that we as a dais should think about, [4:20:57 PM] and try to find some sort of standard moving forward so that more voices can be included. Let's go ahead and take a vote on council member qadri is amendment all in favor. I see most of us on the diet. I do not see Kirk Watson on the virtual dais. Anyone opposed okay. He is voting. Yes, anyone opposed? Council member, Kelly is opposed to including this amendment. So that brings us back to the original motion, which is item number 40 as amended. We have already gotten emotion in a second. Excuse me. Council member, Ryan alter is off the diocese reflect that in the record for that last vote. We are now to item 40 as amended in its entirety. It has already been moved and seconded. So without further debate, let's vote all in favor. The overall the overall as amended. Yes alright, nice. See mayor Watson is voting. Yes everyone on the diocese is voting yes, and council member Ryan alter is off the dais at the moment. Yes I [4:21:59 PM] just find it. I didn't get a chance to say this also wanted to say thank you, councilor Kelly for bringing us forward and also wanted to give a shout out to a new member of my team. Amelia Casas, who helped work on this amendment language that I brought forward, so thank you so much. Alright if I'm keeping track of my numbers correctly, I believe that takes us to item number 80, which is our last item. Remember we as we finished this regular council meeting, we will adjourn the meeting and open the special called meeting which will take place entirely in executive session and I will come out to adjourn that meeting afterwards. But there will not be any public discussion. So without further ado, let's take up our last item of this meeting number 80. Do we have a motion? Made by council member of L a. Do we have a second? Council member of Alaska's seconds it we have questions and concerns council member Kelly I would like to make a motion to postpone this item until I've [4:23:01 PM] had a chance to read the contract that was just, negotiated with the city manager . Let me I appreciate that. I realized as a matter of form, I did not let the sponsor unveil it. So let me let him have the first moment to unveil his resolution, and I will certainly recognize you for that. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mayor pro tem just have a some brief comments and thoughts that I wanted to us speak to from the dais. I'm extremely disappointed in the late night press release regarding a four year police contract and early morning press conference, which seemed clearly designed to undermine and item my colleagues and I have brought forward today. It is absolutely unacceptable for the city manager to interfere with the policy making process like this. For months council has given the city manager direction to pursue a one year contract to allow them a ballot petitions to be considered and voted on by the public. The city manager's last [4:24:02 PM] minute scramble seems explicitly motivated by his knowledge. That council was coalescing around this item before us today. Last year, I voted to place the a P O a item on the ballot instead of adopting it outright because I believe wholeheartedly in the democratic process and want the people of Boston to be able to express their will regarding a critical issue for our city. That was a very difficult vote for me, because I believe in the oversight and accountability goals in the poem, but I also firmly believe that petitions should go to the voters. My position today reflects that same belief we should not take steps to undermine the will of the voters before they have even had a chance to vote. City manager your actions over the last 24 hours trying to ram a four year contract through council when it is unlikely that there are the votes to pass, it only served to inflame the situation and risk further deterioration of the relationship between the police and the community. These actions [4:25:03 PM] have caused me to lose my faith in your leadership of the city. I do believe it is time for a new city manager. To R a P D officers I respect you. I know you have a hard job and I know you need additional support and resources. I know that our officers will lose well earned pay and benefits if we go out of contract, and I do not want that to happen. That is why I brought the one year term. The one your item to preserve your rights as a negotiators worked toward an agreement if the a P O a petition passes in may. There will be some tough bargaining down the road, but I think we can come to a collective bargaining agreement that respects the will of the voters while rewarding our officers for their efforts, and I do move passage of the item. Therefore, temperature. I want to make sure that the council in the community are very clear about how we have proceeded regarding this negotiation. It has been a [4:26:04 PM] year long process and these dates of the negotiation have been very public. And we knew that the contract although the expired on September 30th last year, there was a six month extension officers are making decisions around what they want to do with their future. And we needed to make sure that they had the chance to make those decisions with a contract in place or not a contract in place. So for many weeks now we've had these dates lined up. We have been briefing council both an executive session and then the public around these negotiations. These negotiations are public. The public has an opportunity to weigh in and provide feedback to both staff to the department and to counsel as they proceed. I appreciate the comments that the council member made but I stand by the process that we have used and where we have now got into this agreement, and I'm very proud that we arrived here because it's going to be in the best [4:27:04 PM] interests of the city. I also want to note that we'll have a conversation in a minute about the fiscal impact of this proposal. It is four times what we have in the current for your proposal. So if this and at this, I have see if this resolution passes, as is it will be a significant fiscal impact that we will have to make some serious. Decisions around what services we will want to have in the future. We know we want to pay our officers. Well I agree, and that's why we arrived at the conclusion that we did. But we also need to make sure that we are doing things in the best interests of the city and that we have a fiscal responsibility to ensure that we have our city in the best shape for the future. Thank you. I know. Council member Kelly had been addressed earlier. Would you like to make your motion again? Yes, I would. Please, I would like to make a motion to postpone this item until the [4:28:05 PM] council meeting on the 23rd. Is there a second to council member Kelly's motion? May speak to them. Commission. We? Yeah. Without a second. I don't know that we can make comments. That's the process I followed previously. Okay then, once you decided whether there's a second I missed yes. And then we can you will definitely have a chance to speak. So how do we want to handle? I know that council member of L. A was working on some language amendments to her. Comments if we don't have a if we don't have a second, I would like to speak. Okay is anyone opposed to council member alter being able to speak in this moment to be fair? Go ahead. Thank you, so I do want to discuss this item today. And if we move to postpone right now, we aren't able to do that. I might be open to postponing this after we have [4:29:06 PM] some more conversation. I think there's a lot of lot of unknowns , but I see a lot of value in us reviewing the tentative agreement and having some conversation today, so I may be very open to that motion a little bit. Later on. I just think we need to have some discussion and if we moved it, we wouldn't be able to have that discussion at this point. I appreciate those comments, so we have a motion on the table that has been seconded the amendments I'm aware of. I know. Mayor Watson had offered an amendment and I know council member Kelly has some amendments. Mayor Watson would you like to I'm a little unfamiliar. If your version is a separate amendment or the version I'll try to explain where I think we are. Thank you. Yeah and hopefully I'll be able to do that. Originally I had an amendment that was an effort to put very specific. I don't so that we [4:30:10 PM] would be able as a council. To reveal how much we did respect the officers and the goal of. Trying to be appropriately staffed, so that and knowing that we have officers that do face retirement and that we're facing this hmm. This deadline. Being able. To now for a recognition and direction. Try to make sure they know where we stand. In terms of our support. That was the key part. That's a key part of that. It was revealed to me about 30 minutes to an hour ago. And I get that that there are people who've been busy and it's been difficult to maybe get the fiscal note, but it was just revealed to me the level of the fiscal note that is on this. Will be very difficult, although [4:31:12 PM] one of the goals of the visions was a recognition that a one year contract may not be what people want. There may be a need to address that in other ways. Including financially and benefits and things of that nature to satisfy the lack of desire by some to have a one year contract. It was so there was some thought this to that. Addition to that. I want to be clear about what is in that that provision and to different places there's it speaks to one places it speaks to direction for the manager and negotiated contract with those specific terms to the extent that Ben is possible. Obviously there will be instances where discretion will have to be shown about. What if something is actually possible because of the impact in the cost. The second and I [4:32:14 PM] think it needs to be clear that that, that's there for that reason, and so that there is that discretion if something is not these because of the expense . The second thing that is in there indicates that if there is agreement. Two different pay levels, and, in other words, if there's an agreement as to different pay what is set out in the specifics of that? The specifics of that now motion main motion by council member vela yeah, and that meets the terms of the resolution. Yes, again giving us crecion so that if there is a need to do something different it is agreed . To it is not a violation of the motion that may be passed by the council. So I'm gonna make [4:33:15 PM] sure that those are both clear and that is part of the main motion. Originally that was going to be an amendment. Announcement rubella made that part of the main motion and so it's that is already on. That dais. That being said. I want to. I want to emphasize again the purpose of it, and that is to make clear. How much we how you I need to have. Really stand police department and we don't want to lose those. We saw officers that are already there. My amendment offer. Relates. To but we like what we heard last night late and also, addresses to some degree, the discussion that we've had already about [4:34:16 PM] what that really means. It's already been said we had we got notice late last night of a, agreement in principle, I guess for a formal year contract with a P a. And. Created some chaos and some confusion development community in the council members because it came, you know, it's been pointed out less than 13 hours before we were going to have this discussion. And we know that we've got the contract expiring at the end of March. I believe we need to get things right in terms it's in in in terms of listening to the community and addressing the needs of the officers, and I believe we can have the kind of system for policing that we want to have. That is also fully staffed and appropriately staff . I don't think that has to be a [4:35:16 PM] binary choice. So while my original amendment was to deal with contractual terms to recognize and retain police officers, this amendment importantly, did. Ny's is our duty as members of the Austin city council to review the proposed four year contract. Its merits on behalf of austinites, and additionally, it recognizes that the community is going to need time proposal as well as make their views known to us but it recognizes that in the context of not wanting to lose time on a proposed one year contract if that's the will of the council. But it gives and with the looming deadlines we have we don't want to lose time on that, but we will recognize the obligation to review the four year contract and this memory does those two things. Adoption it is acceptable to the author of the main motion. [4:36:21 PM] Council member of Ella. Thank you. Mayor it is acceptable in the final form just to clarify that there have been a lot of versions floating around would be the mayor Watson. Substitute amendment develop amendment number one that incorporates all of the changes in the document that the mayor has proposed. And incorporates essentially the basic elements of my main motion. Ah I have to have one additional very small, technical amendment. My staff in reviewing the contract noticed that the Asian languages the stipend for the multi lingual employees. Omitted certain languages, and I just wanted to. I'm not sure if we have a paper amendment or a digital copy, but I just wanted to add for the record hold on [4:37:21 PM] just a second. In, line 74. I just wanted to insert hindi slash er do mandarin Taiwanese. Burmese comment Nepalese into the list of Asian languages for which officers are eligible for the bilingual stipend. These are among the highest Asian language needs in Austin, according to the Asian American quality of life survey in the Asian American public health study study, and so I just wanted to emotion from the diets to add those languages to the stipend eligible languages. Do you want a second that I don't know that we have taken a vote on the prior amendment, and not a lot of questions. Have a lot of questions. We're getting a little muddy here, so we have council member of Leila's motion that he has made and it's been seconded. The mayor then spoke [4:38:23 PM] to his substitute motion are those completely go ahead. Yes I made it. I made a motion. It's not been seconded, and we would need to vote on that. Alright. Who's second? Did. Your motion second has not been seconded. Council member of Leila's now seconding the motion. Okay? Is the motion what the base document is at this point. Well no, we have to have some discussion here like this is a really big decision. This is really important. So I know I have a ton of questions that I'd like to ask staff and the advocates and you know this is not a decision. We should be making lightly. It's 40% of our general fund. Budget here. So whenever the time is appropriate before we start trying to go through too many amendments that do you think we have to pause and have some more discussion and hear from our staff? Yes and [4:39:25 PM] that was my intent. I am only trying to understand what motion is on the table. I know we need to talk about a lot of details that are included in that was not directed at you. I welcome your advice. I know you were running these meetings as mayor pro tem shortly if I made the most recent past out version titled mayor Watson substitute amendment to vela amendment number one is the document that's on in front of the diocese right now. Okay, so let's say we're working on this one, as spelled out by mayor Watson and seconded by chito vela. At this point, let's open it up for discussion because I know there are a couple other amendments. But if we start piling them all on before we have the discussion. It's just going to make it even more confusing. So does anyone have questions at this point on the mayor Watson substitute amendment to vela amendment number one. Who's gonna kick us off Ryan alter. I am wondering [4:40:25 PM] if we can just get a better understanding of the document that was sent out related to the cost. That has some columns in it that don't quite add up across the road, and I want to just understand what the true fiscal impacts are. And this this document. I'm just I'm not quite sure how it was supposed to read, so I don't know if that's a Ed vanina question or it appears so welcome. Thank you, mayor and council. Advani. Oh chief financial officer will do my best to respond to your questions. So I'm looking at the spreadsheet that was sent out as the police estimated contract cost. It has the two years in it . But then year three and four blank is this. The cost? Of this amendment. Potentially, so, you know, there's a lot of analysis [4:41:25 PM] is not a proposal from the city . This is an analysis of what the item before council could cost depending upon how cost of living indices are, interpreted . There's more than one cost of living index out there from more than one us government, bureau, so there's multiple indices of inflation, but this is one potential index. That analysis we did was based upon the Texas area all urban consumers cp I as of December of 2022. That was 6.7% so that's what we used as an estimate for the wage increase. The mayor's motion speaks to using expected inflation. Lot of economists are expecting inflation to be lower in the upcoming year. So there is some analysis we would have to do is want to be clear. This is not a proposal we put on the table to the association with this is our analysis that we wanted to put together as the potential costs of trying to get to a one year contract within these terms, and since it is a [4:42:27 PM] one year contract. I'm trying to understand why we have multiple years here. This is the template we have set up. So we've been at this for a year and all the proposals we've seen from the association all the proposals that the city has put on the table. They've all been done over four years, and you can see other versions of this with the proposals that have been made. So this is the template that we have been using throughout the negotiations the cost out these proposals. If I could, speak to that because we've been playing with the charts year. One doesn't start until April, so it's part of the fiscal year year. Two is the other half of the year that you have to put in there and then you have the whole thing in your three and you have the whole thing in your four. And then when you add them all up, you get the column on the right, but they don't show all of the other pieces. They're just showing when new money has to be added to the budget in the columns and then the final column has, the total and there's an underlying there's an underlying assumption here that if we were to do a one year deal effective April 1st 2023 for a [4:43:29 PM] 6.7% wage increase, we wouldn't take it away. In the next contract negotiations. We've never negotiated that way. So there's an assumption that is 6.7% increase would continue. There could be other increases negotiated as part of a future longer term contract. But the assumption in this analysis is that the additional step the 6.7 or whatever the wage increase was that they would continue into the future. And so his council member, Alison alter, mentioned the 6.7 is six months of cost in the first year. Annual izing that into the second year is another 6.7. That's that's new money. And then so the annual cost really becomes the some of those two, which is 13.4 million. Three years at 13 point, 4,000,001 year at 6.7 million gets you a cumulative cost of 47 million. That's that was Tim. Yes, mayor. Why don't you jump in? Thank you . I apologize for interrupting. But Mr veneno, the 6.7% that [4:44:30 PM] you're talking about. That doesn't appear in the motion. Right that number y'all have come up with. No sir, the motion just speaks to, negotiating for a one year contract that's reflective of expected cost of living increases. 6.7% again is the December 2022 all urban consumers. Texas region cp I, as of December of 2022. So it's just the number that you indicated just a minute ago. There's the way it's worded would allow for you to take into account expectations regarding inflation, and therefore the C P I. That might be the lower rate. Yes, sir. Yeah so the other thing is that he in negotiating a contract. It is conceivable that one could negotiate a contract and say we recognize that there's some special circumstance and that special circumstances we want something for just one year. So that you [4:45:30 PM] would negotiate something for just one year. That might might, have bonus or might have a higher number or might have a sweetener incentive that did not become part it would become, you would negotiate a different factor or a different term if you were negotiating a longer term contract at the end of that one year term. You could do that, right? I'm not following the question. Yeah. What it was. You can you can enter into one year contract and then you can enter into a four year contract after that, and that doesn't mean you are bound when you go into a four year contract with whatever was in the one year contract. In fact, you might have something different in the one year contract to sweeten it so that someone would be willing to take a one year contract. Right now that you were not bound to, you know, we could [4:46:30 PM] negotiate for something completely different in a long term contract. My experience with the city is we have not in the past and any of our contract with any of our associations negotiated backwards and say that the 4% increase you got last contract. It's now we're back to zero, and we're negotiating from new we could do that. Just that's not been are standard practice. And when, when we asked him cost estimates on this as part of a fiscal analysis we didn't ask for what would you just did? What we asked for is what would 1% cost what was 2% cost? That sort of thing is that correct? I didn't see that request. Okay? Thank you. Mayor pro tem. What I might suggest while we have you up here is that if we're on similar lines of questioning on the same topic that we try to make the most of staying on those topics instead of sticking with one person and going through a list of questions, does anyone mind if we open it up on just [4:47:31 PM] specific questions about, the financial model that was presented. Okay. I see. Let's go council member qadri and then council member Fuentes. How many officers are y'all calculating for? I believe it's around, 1850 give or take a few 18 or 50 authorized positions and so on. We cost it out. We cost it out for all of them. Thank you. Thank you, Mr vani. No the 6.7% seems I mean, I understand the where you got it from the consumer price index, but 6.7% have we ever had an increase that high when it comes to public safety contracts and in your experience? You know, so the recent contract, one year contract with emergency medical services did make adjustments to the base pay scale. It wasn't an across the board increase, but there were many association members that received a base pay increase more than 6.7% in the one year deal we just did with with the M S, but again, it was different. It was the whole pay scale with all the steps and [4:48:33 PM] making adjustments to that, but I think I think we have to go back. And look, I think the majority of paramedics received more than 6.7% increase in that last contract. And is there is it possible to get a financial model that has a different index , not the consumer price index, please. Yeah yeah, there's we could certainly update these numbers to reflect other industries or 11 into a lot of people look at is. The personal consumption index is developed by the bureau of economic analysis. A lot of people say that's a better indicator of inflation from a personal consumer. But you know perspective, and I think that was 5% as of December 2022. So there's a lot of different industries we could use that we could look at. But you know, I do think when you look at the most common one that people talk about is the consumer price index. So that's what we went with through this analysis. Thank you. I have a question, and then I'll kick it back over to council member alter. How would the financial proposals [4:49:34 PM] that have been presented to us impact. The budgets, given that we cannot let the police department's budget go lower year over year. How does that work with negotiations with the new state alleged law that says you know, once you increase police department budgets, you can't let them go down anymore. Yeah, that is what the law says. So any so if your point is that that idea may be looking to remove an increase once it's been negotiated for we would have to analyze that. It's a good point that with the if it were 6.7% increase in this next contract, our ability to go back to say, well, that was just a one year deal. We want to go back to kind of a starting point. That probably would be prohibited under the new state law, or you can't have your police department budget. Go down. So you can slow down the percentage of increases like the raises your over year, but you can't have the whole zero every year. You just can't go down. Okay okay. And then, I think my [4:50:39 PM] next question is not necessarily for advantage. Now let's go to council member, Alison alter and then council member of vela and then council member Kelly. Thank you. What is the cost estimate for the four year cumulative proposed contract. That cumulative over four years with a total of 14% pay increase is spread out over the four years was $64.7 million. So we have almost $3 million difference for one year contract. And if I understand what you're saying is that we have never said we're going to give you a raise of whether it was 3% this year. But then the next year when we go to bargain we aren't taking that 3% away. And that's how you calculated it is that if we were giving them the 6.7% take it away just for base wages, step increases. All the specialty pays. We've never for my knowledge and we have labor relations staff here could speak to my knowledge. We've never gone into the beginning of a [4:51:40 PM] negotiation, saying what we negotiated. Last contract is now all gone, and we're gonna start from scratch. We build off the previous contract. I do think the proposal has a removal of a stipend because everyone will be trained in that and so you don't have the extra statement. That might be an exception. To that, but okay, so, if you start from the language from from this contract, where already? Almost a $3 million difference. We have no oversight provisions guaranteed in this approach, but we'll come back to oversight. But then, presumably in your 23 and four or what would be years 23 and four you know we're going to the bargaining table, asking them. To make major concessions from their perspective on oversight. You would have to be giving them something. So this is costing almost three million more before we even go to bargain. For this longer term contract, correct. That is, that is correct under the way we structure, this analysis and [4:52:40 PM] just really quick if people are confused by that, where these pay increases occur in the four years as a huge impact on the cumulative cost a 4% increase in the last year as much less expensive cumulatively than a four year 4% increase in that first year where you pay it for four consecutive years, so it's putting the bigger pay increase in the first year that escalates the cost a lot. And can you tell us, the chart I have for the proposed contract is a little bit outdated. Is there a way for you to tell us what that one already includes? I'm not sure the one you're looking at, but I do have the costing sheet for the one that is proposed, is on the table minus just before some changes that were made over the last couple. Days so I have actually minds from December 1st . So it's a little bit outdated . It was that we could share the million instead of 64.7. We could share it with the full dais. If that would be helpful and have it in front of me. If [4:53:41 PM] you have specific questions about it well, so what was the percentage that they would have gotten this year, giving the oversight that we did? I would have gotten in that four year proposal was 4% in 23 2.5% in 24 3.5% in 25 4% in 26. Okay. And so if we were to take this proposal doesn't have any of those percentage increases. In year 23 or four the proposal that the one year one that I'm sorry, the one that that is that we did was 6.7% in the first year, followed by zero the remaining three years. Okay? Okay. So. I do have some continued questions about the finances, but they kind of really relate to oversight. Whether we like it or not. We are stuck in a framework where you're providing a lot of the financial provisions for the oversight and even if the a P O [4:54:41 PM] a passes, we can't do a large number of the elements that are in it without bargaining. To move away from 1 43. So at the appropriate time mayor pro tem. Others may have questions about the finances. I'd like to restart returned to the oversight and us to think about that relationship. Okay thank you. Let's turn it over to council member of L. A and then council member. Kelly will be after thank you. You mentioned that currently we're budgeted for you thought about 1800 police officers. It could look it up really quick. It's like it's like 18 50 authorized strength. Of course, we currently have several 100 vacancies. I believe that was my next question is that I believe we have about 200 vacancies or so in that range, so I think that active forces around 1500 change or so it. Does that sound correct? That does sound correct that it's 200 some vacancies, so maybe 1650 1600 active and my understanding is that we budget [4:55:42 PM] as if we have the amount of authorized officers for the police department. But then at the end of the budget cycle, if , for example, we had 10% less than budgeted than that money goes back into the general fund for use in future years. Is that correct? Yes with maybe just one amendment to that is that will budget for the wages will budget as if all those positions are authorized. That's a positive number right? The wages for 1850 officers. Let's call it we will also budget a negative dollar amount in the same budget will budget, you know, negative X million dollars, to be a reflection of the vacancy savings to be a reflection of the fact that not all of those positions are vacant. Or filled. Some of them are vacant so well budgeted vacancy savings amount. That vacancy savings amount isn't an absolute because it also is dependent upon what won. The department has vacancies. What do they do so in the case [4:56:43 PM] of the police department, fire department ems when they have vacancies, they they're they're they're over. Time tends to go up. They have shifts they have to cover. They have to be out there 24 7, so when they have more vacancies, they end up spending a lot of that savings to run over time to cover all the shifts and so you know, and all that calculus of how much did the wages cost? How many field positions do we have? Because of the vacancy levels. How much overtime is the department going to need to run? We try to dial that in as close as we can, and we get it pretty close. The police departments of 450 you ever take million dollar budget, and in a typical year, they might end the year with four or $5 million, and a lot of people might say that's not that close. Well, that's like with, like, 1, you know, and, on a $450 million budget. If you can end the year with about four or five million left, you're pretty much spending 99% of your budget and you have 1% left. You're you're kind of watching that final payroll and hoping that everything plays out so that you don't go over budget so and [4:57:43 PM] that's true of all of our departments. All of our departments, you know, come in, you know, typically around 99, or 98% of their of their budget expended in the police departments, no different and again that goes into all that calculations of vacancy savings and over time and how we how we budget all that. I appreciate that, and in terms of the state law governing the kind of status quo at the very least for the police department. It looks at the big picture, in other words, it within the police department . I know we've moved functions, for example from the police department out of the police department. In other words, under the state law that is permissible as long as the overall number does not go down again. Is that correct? Or is there in my misunderstanding the no as long as the overall budget for the police department doesn't go down, then we're not in violation of that law, [4:58:43 PM] although I would say that it's open to interpretation, and we need to. You know, we need to be careful about maybe taking something out of the police department that others would view as a police function and just because we separate them, budgetarily will the state agency that watches this view that as still all part of the police to budget or will they view it as two different budgets? So you know, we're careful about doing that. But you're right. We have moved forensic sciences out of the police department's budget and set it up as a standalone civilian. Department and we were able to do that, without triggering that law because there was other cost increases that the police department had had occurred that year. And if my memory serves that we just did that this last budget cycle was that two budget cycles this last budget cycle think we're effectively operating that way. The last budget cycle. From an operational standpoint, but the budget was still part of the police department. In this last budget. We moved the money out. Thank you, Mr Pennino. Council member. Kelly was going to be next and then I see council member qadri and council member Alison alter. Thank you. So just [4:59:45 PM] to be clear. We're talking about a $3 million difference between what was proposed in the four year contract and what we have in front of us with this item. Is that correct? Yes. So that gives me ahead of time because I don't think that we would be doing the right thing by not doing our due diligence and fully understanding both items. And so I just wanted to say that out loud and make that pretty clear. I think this is a very difficult decision for any of us up here to make, and I want to be able to fully understand both of the options before us. Thank you. Could we take a brief check on a txn? I [5:00:46 PM] heard it went down and it came back. Can we just double check and make sure. We're good. Okay? Let's go to council member qadri. Have a seat. Quite. Have a few questions. What is the difference between the five and then the 6.7. That that I just kind of verbalized. Yeah, there's I think the when you talk about cost of living increases, you talk about inflation. I think what people jump to people mind is the consumer price index reported out of the bureau of labor statistics. There's a lot of variations of that index. We use the all urban area. Price index for urban consumers because we're an urban area, obviously and for the Texas region, that's [5:01:47 PM] the 6.7. Another index that a lot of people look at a lot of economists look at it as a better indicator of inflation because it's a broader basket of goods compared to the consumer price index that covers more goods that are used by us consumers. It's that series is tracked by the bureau of economic analysis. It's called the P C E or the personal consumption expenditure index. And that data series had a 5% increase. December of 2022 over the December of 2021. That was a 5% increase. So that's just another index. We could look at for inflation and there's others the resolution before you the mayor's motion before you did not specify specifically how that was to be calculated, so what's the what's the difference in cost? Between five and 6.7% overall differences each percent for the you know, I hate to do back of the napkin math and I really can't get to like each [5:02:47 PM] percentage increase is about $2 million a year, so 1% increase for police is about a $2 million cost. And then, for the for the 20 year step, why did y'all land on 7% oh, that's what the current step is, and that's another thing that would have to be negotiated at the table. Under this resolution again. This is not a proposal that we put in front of a P a. But if you look at the current step plan, the first two steps are above 7% I think they're like maybe 12 and 10% and then the next four steps are all at 7. And so we just assumed that you know if there's going to be 1/5 step in the four steps leading up to that are all at seven. That's seven tends to be the trend by the, but that's that's where that seven came from. Okay last question the job project cost of sick leave payments, charges and association business leave in the four year deal. And if so, what are those? What are those estimates? No they're not [5:03:53 PM] there. They weren't part of the four year deal. Thank you. Council member Alison alter your next thank you, in the draft for your proposal. There's a step change at year. 20 not your 23 as proposed by mayor Watson the other way around the other way around. Sorry, okay. Yes you're correct. So the in the proposed four year there's a step change in year 23 Watson's. It's your 20 and part of what we're trying to do with the stipends and the differentials and a contract is provide human narration and self certain problems or challenges. We're having correct. So can you speak to why? The four year has a year 23. Why that was the choice. I might defer that to Sarah. She was and engaged in that. And then my follow up will [5:04:55 PM] be to mayor Watson as to why they chose your 20. You're 20. Sure sir griffin in her own labor relations officer, the reason we went instead of your 22 year. 23 is because the officers who are have been with the department for that time period roughly are eligible to retire at your 20. So if you give them a step, increase your 20. There are more likely to go ahead and retire. Our goal is retention. So we were trying to do it. Step 23 so that the people who are eligible to retire at your 20 would stay on for another three years because the three year period of time that your last paid that the retirement amount is based upon. Thank you. Mayor Watson, could you tell us why you chose your 20? Yeah, the reason was that we in visiting with people about what? Would be the basic way of [5:05:55 PM] doing that 20 was was the number that came up. It was not it was not specifically. Minute to create an incentive. It was meant to create a base from which they could operate. By the way that it's in the from the last version of the contract proposals that we had seen. I think as recently as last week, but I don't remember when that was. So somebody might clarify that for me, but it was my memory was then and we checked. We checked on it. That was the answer. Okay. Thank you. And then for the. I found my copy for, the proposed four year for the for them for the money. So that has a 4% in the starting in April of 2023 2.5% starting in January. 24 3.5% in January of [5:06:57 PM] 25 4% in January of 2026 correct ? Yes so by the logic of doing a one year that starts with 6.7% any percentages we would have in any of those other three years would add to the contract. And those are the numbers that actually adds significant amounts. The amounts that are for the stipends are not usually that huge, but when you start doing percentages on all wages. Is that where you see, significant bumps to the amounts as they total up. So well, so they have a costed out boats, so they carried the state like the fto step in, for example, and all that readdress this, but they all are carried across and have the cumulative four year when it's the heavy amount, such as the base wages. Of course, that's going to be it more heavily weighed because it starts more heavily. But some of these are you know, for example , the fd oh, stipend in your one is 80,400 some odd dollars it [5:07:58 PM] increases each year because it builds upon and compounds over the four years. Let me maybe post my questions slightly differently. So in the proposed contract, the 4% means that you have a $28 million cumulative effect from the 4% then you add the for the 2.5% that you get in year two. Then you're talking about 14.3 million. So the thing that we're leaving out in this contract is the thing that costs the most, which is any percentage increases so that the potential costs when we go to negotiate. Unless we already have a whole lot of oversight in this one year contract, which we'll talk about oversight in a minute means that the things that we would be bargaining for the things that are going to cost us the most. So we're already starting at $3 million more expensive without actually having covered your 23 or four what we would have to give them so and we haven't gotten anything in oversight beyond what we have existing. So there are some things. There's some real consequences here and trade [5:09:00 PM] offs, from a financial perspective, which is money that we could invest in violence prevention. It's money that we could, invest in our communities . It is money that will be added to the police budget. For their , bottom line as well. I've got a quick question. It was mentioned earlier by council member Kelly. But how does this affect you know we have an E. M S contract that is one year. The fire association is also an arbitration. How do these budgets all play with each other? How does that mean that other public safety entities will also be do those types of phrases the next time they're up for their contract renewal's so I'm happy to address this unless you wanted, Mr Vinnie no to address it. He is. I can tell you from a bird. From a bargaining standpoint, we are not bound to give the same raises. But basically what we [5:10:00 PM] have to do is be able to differentiate why we're not doing so because it does set some form of a baseline. You know, obviously, with E. M S and police. There are much larger staffing crises at this time than there are in the fire department. So we do have some wiggle room, but it's not without its consequences. I appreciate that. And I know you know when I'm just thinking of you know our general fund and how? How much we need each dollar to stretch to make sure that we can provide better parks , maintenance and access to libraries and trying to take care of, you know our public safety departments that, maybe making up a lot of difference in trying to gain a lot more ground just because of historic budget numbers. And so that's something I'm balancing here is, what those percentages look like and what the domino effect is with other departments for sure, and let me introduce this is golden with that. Navarro Bernal and Zach and, he is our outside [5:11:01 PM] counsel in our labor negotiations and clearly has something to say on this issue. Welcome thanks for joining. Thank you, met some of you and, appreciate the opportunity to be here in the pride provide information for your decision making. I just wanted, mayor pro Tim on your question in particular, because I've been doing this very, very long time for the city of Austin and honored to be able to do that, the reason that the city I believe does these contracts in the same cycle? I mean, we set it up deliberately to where they're all at the same time, so that we don't end up in that domino effect. Whipsaw dynamic to where we're Kevin to catch up with the last contract that we did, so that is the effort. That's a practical consideration . There's a different statutory standard for how you pay for products because the collective bargaining statute sets that standard. It doesn't apply to the other two, but it has a practical impact. Thank you. I saw some hands over here to my left council member Fuentes. I just wanted clarity on the [5:12:02 PM] comment that counts number Alison alter mentioned. Is by approving or going in negotiating a one year contract with that pay increase per the financial model. I do, although I do still question why the financial model was based on the consumer price index when that was not in mayor Watson's amendment. The how does that affect the state law? Where we cannot decreased funding moving forward like how would this one year because I thought this one year contract would be more of a bonus. Situation so I want to understand the implications of it little better. And I would defer to Mr van you know, or our legal department on that. I do apologize. I just sent you an email with the costing analysis for the four year [5:13:03 PM] proposal. I just was back, conferring to make sure I send you the right version of many, many versions of these sheets. So could you please repeat your question? So the just trying to understand for the potential one year contract, the financial model that you provided us for the cost estimates. How does that tie in with the state law that dictates that we are not allowed? Two once we set a budget for our department that we cannot decrease it moving forward. So. How would this one potential one year follow fall into that? Whatever the you know, whatever that dollar amount attitude would be adding $9.6 million to the budget this fiscal year to cover that contract for the next six months. That would take roughly okay. The $450 million budget would go up to 459.6. And next year we couldn't go below that you would right off the bat. Add [5:14:04 PM] the nine million versus using vacancy, additional vacancy savings or other interdepartmental funding to make up that differential. Yeah we put a placeholder of funding placeholder in the what we call the non departmental budget because we're still in negotiation with three associations. We didn't know where that money was going to land, so we've reserved it and are non departmental budget and then his council approves contracts will move it to the department. We want to be able to fund $9.6 million out of the police departments. Budget this fiscal year, because, as I mentioned, I think the council member of L a the way we budget. For vacancies as we do take into account that there is going to be vacancies, we budget and negative dollar amount to remove those from the department's budget and then departments also running a lot more overtime than they typically would because of the high number of vacancies currently, so you know if they have two X, absorbed quote, unquote absorbed $9.6 million. I would highly anticipate they would go over budget. And so we need to come to council to get [5:15:05 PM] the appropriation authority for the for the funding, but they but the there's still the option of absorbing it for the next four months or six months to the end of the fiscal year. I'm not sure that there is the option. I don't think that's possible. But, I think that's it for now. April 10? Yes, mayor. Go ahead. Yeah I might just follow up as I've listened to some of the questions. I think it's important. First of all, is a listen to the questions about the house. 6.7 just was children be utilized. How you know five could also work in which there was, you know, admitting that 5% my work instead of 6.7. Let's let's. You have the question to some degree and Mr Medina. I'm not sure you're the right person to ask the question, but maybe it's the city manager. If the [5:16:06 PM] gold if people. I, members of the city council who are responsive to the public. If we have at least as one of our goals. Thwart. The petition process that is in our charter. To try to honor. A process that is in our charter that lets the citizens have a direct voice. And if a four year contract by definition would Ford that. It's there's the trying to get to a one year contract. It is an attempt to create a balance between citizen interest. Charter's provision allowing those citizens rights to be recognized. And at the same time avoiding mass retirements [5:17:07 PM] building the police department the way we want question, I think becomes to some degree. Build are obviously going to maybe have some flaws in them. Depending upon your point of view, but how is it that the four year contract also meets the need. Allowing the public to vote. In accordance with our charter. And that's what the goal goal was here. Not much effort. I think to now figure out a way to make that work. Instead. Tried to make it where we the council has little choice. But to the will of the voters. I certainly appreciate that the four year contract do that. How does a four year contract achieve that goal? The thank you, mayor because I certainly appreciate that, as [5:18:07 PM] we've been talking about for many months now since the original petition was put in place, and now as part of the may election. These are challenges that we're trying to wait because we have then in principle taken. What was the goals in that initial equity action petition as part of our based proposal, and so we wanted to ensure that those elements were part of what we would be able to bring back to council as part of a four year contract. You know, one of my many obligations of city manager is to ensure the safety of the same residents who will be voting on this referendum and so moving forward on this four year contract gives us the assurance that our safety of those residents can be intact myself and the chief. We have serious concerns that are staffing levels would be compromised if that one year contract is pursued. And so I know that this is a hard place to be put in, [5:19:08 PM] but the result of what we were able to achieve through these negotiations of getting as much oversight as as legally possible as part of these agreements and what we put forward over the last, 24 hours. We believe that we have achieved that. And so, that's but that's not answering the question of how do you not worth the will of the voters? I get what you're saying is you want to replace your point of view. With the will of the voters. And you think you've you've achieved that and done a good job, and by the way you might have you might have done a really good job on that. That my question is more specific as we try to, as as the merit council tried to balance not only. Texting because and I know you didn't mean to imply that anybody on the council didn't want to protect those voters. What? When? When you said that? That's what your goal was, but [5:20:11 PM] not only protect those voters from a public safety standpoint , but also protect those voters from the right to have, from from protect their their riots. To utilize the charter for a petition process and I agree with you, Mr manager. It is a hard thing to thread and that is one of the reasons that you're seeing proposals being provided to try to achieve that. Thank you. Mayor, pro Tim. That's just one thing I would add. I mean, I do think, when these items go before the voters, making sure that there is an awareness of what could and could not happen as a result of voting. These either up or down, and so if one of these passes, I want to make sure that the voters are very clear about what that could result in. I mean, we've had a number of conversations with this diocese around the legality of certain provisions, and so we would want to make sure and we [5:21:11 PM] have been trying to make sure that the community and the council are very clear about what it actually would be enacted. If these propositions of our past. As part of part of making a thoughtful determination in one of the reasons that the amendment that I actually offered talks in terms of allowing for that sort of consideration, including consideration of the four year country, not not rejecting the idea that we're going to consider and try to be thoughtful about looking at the four year contract. Mayor. Protein. I'm sorry. It's alright . Council member qadri. Thank you. I'm not sure if this is a question for the city manager. This is a better question for red, but, you know, cops got I raised this pastor and we hadn't raised the police budget. So why are we why are we looking to that now? He said. Cops got a [5:22:14 PM] raise. Sorry. It's a. It said. Cops had gotten a raise. In the past. We hadn't raised the police budget. So why are we looking to do it now? I guess I'm confused when we've had pay increases for police officers. In the past, we have increased the budget. Let me let me be missing the question. I apologize. Let me let me rephrase it, and then I'll get back to you. Council member Alison alter. So I think that we all share the goal of having strong oversight and retaining and recruiting. Our officers and challenge we have before us is. How do we do that? And how do we do that and respect the will of the voters and as I look at the process. The voters can vote on. The first initiative. And then [5:23:17 PM] nothing happens and there's no oversight unless we have an agreement. With a P a. And so to me. If I haven't assessed the four year, which is why I would like time to be able to think about the four year and see if it meets. My requirements for strong oversight because I'm not going to support a contract that doesn't but if I have an opportunity to sign up for your contract that's going to cost me less than one year contract. And I can sign that and deliver about a stronger oversight contract is my voters could hope for to me. I'm being more respectful of their vote than if I let them vote and then I can't do any of it. Because I can't do it without them, and we've had a lot of conversations. In executive session on this, and I just to me. It's just not respectful to tell them. They have a vote and pretend like that can be implemented right away because it can't. I would like to invite our team up to [5:24:18 PM] talk to us about the oversight. If it's appropriate now pretend is there anyone opposed to moving into the oversight questions? I think that's appropriate. Thanks. Thank you. So maybe our team can describe to us what was achieved, you know, in the final proposal and why you think this. Meets the best of our ability, and to the extent that you can share things that were shared with us previously. That are now able to be shared since its final. Please. Please do so that we can understand. How you think you've achieved the goal of trying to guess close to implementing what's in that ordinance, as we can within the constraints of state law. Sure we will try. So first of all, we did start the negotiation process prior to the petition being filed, and at that time we were starting to attempt with a four year contract. Once the petition was filed, we reassess our situation and looked at what we thought [5:25:20 PM] could come through with the petition. I believe it was initially intended to be on the November ballot, which would have been a completely different scenario than we are in now. So as we assess the petition and all the different provisions within the petition. One of the provisions within the petition is that any contract in effect at the time, the petition passes will remain in effect through the term of the contract. So you know, for example with the one year contract that would be for the one year for a four year contract. That would be for the four year so we at the time and to the state did not see that at all is thwarting the will of the voters. We considered that maybe a postponement as to when whatever is voted in or not voted in would take effect. But in the meantime because many of the things within the petition can only vary from chapter 1 43 of the local government code through a meet and confer agreement and not through the vote of the voters, not through [5:26:21 PM] a vote of the city council, but only through a meet and confer agreement. There were so many things within that agreement that couldn't be accomplished, absent either a prior agreement or absent Tapia agreeing to what's in the petition. So we looked at the language of the petition. We worked with our legal department to ensure that we weren't way off base and within the petition. It's basically an all or nothing proposition. So either ap would agree to every single thing within that petition, which fulfills that petition, and that would have to be certified by the legal department that that was true or city council could not pass that agreement. So we looked at the petition and we, absolutely 100% believe that there are some portions of that petition that a P a would not agree to. So our best analysis of that and our best analysis of not thwarting the will of the voters was to go ahead and have his close to we could negotiate. In a contract that was in effect [5:27:21 PM] at the time that the petition was voted upon and presuming it passes which none of us know whether it will. But with that presumption trying to get attained as close to what was within that as we could get a P a. To agree to so that is what we have done. So the details of that would be that we have and keeping in mind. We had under the current contract of very good oversight provisions, but we did have an arbitration award that took away a lot of what we thought we had accomplished in the last negotiation session and what that had to do with a lot had to do with the preliminary investigation. The ability to for the opio to watch bodycam videos together evidence prior to the actual investigation that internal affairs would do. So we tried to kind of correct all of that language. Take it back. And not only that, but we looked at the language within the petition , which actually had the opio being able to investigate. So [5:28:22 PM] what we have attained is that we have the office of police oversight being able to investigate, fully investigate, having unfettered access to all of the internal affairs materials to body cam videos to all of the evidence for both the preliminary investigation and the investigation as a whole. We put it within the constructs of the internal affairs process and have them hand in hand for the formal investigation after something has been initially classified, but they still have the ability on their own to do the preliminary investigation with full access to the body cam videos. In addition to that, what we've done is we've taken opio out of the contract as we have been directed any number of times to do by the city council by the manager and the way to take opio out of the contract is you take as much of it as you can out of the contract that legally doesn't have to be agreed to by the a P a. Meaning anything, not 1 43. So what we [5:29:22 PM] have done is we've left very few things within the contract in relation to opio. We have done kind of what we call on authorities and a limitation sections. So the authority that we have given opio would be, what is varying from 1 43. And the limitations is what we believe. We had to give a P a in order to get them to agree to it because without their agreement, there is no contract and none of it can be effective. Did you want to jump out of the understanding of that is the arbitration award, which was a real blow to this city's commitment to police oversight. Took our own contract and said you agreed to these limitations on what you can do, and so you're stuck with them, and that's why we're taking them out. That was a clear council direction. Get those things that limit the manager's authority to create a to police oversight through the office of police oversight. To supervise that to participate actively and how the [5:30:22 PM] chief runs his railroad there to make sure that the community's expectations are being accomplished. That's why the council told us to take them out. That's why we insisted at the table that we were going to take them out. We started this bargaining process, which has been going on for about a year. And we started with. The negotiators here thought I was out of my mind when I said we want you to agree that there is no G file. There is no 1 49 11 43 oh 89 G file anymore, just like there's not one for the Travis county sheriff's office doesn't exist. There is no such statute. A deputy that engages in conduct that your Austin police officers engage in that's a public record. It's not a public record here. That's my state law. The voters can't change it. That petition. If it passes in may. It can't change that. Only a contract with the a P a in the city can change that. So we proposed to get rid of it altogether. Well, guess what? It was dead on arrival. So then we took a step back, and we have continued that process to where [5:31:24 PM] we have gotten everything. We think we need to make it work in an optimal fashion. Can you provide a little bit more detail ? Particularly on the O pios ability to investigate and yes, I will. And I don't want to go because I want to have the opportunity. Other people may have questions as well. But at some point I'd like to hear from the advocates and what their concerns are, but I think it would be helpful if we had a baseline. Described of. Of what of more specifics. The core piece of what we had to have for officer police oversight that we lost in the arbitration award was the ability for personnel that are competent investigators to be there, asking questions with internal affairs somebody that is not a member of law enforcement somebody that's not worrying about badge, somebody that's not a member of whatever you believe about the police fraternity in the city of Austin if you don't trust police [5:32:25 PM] officers to investigate police officers, you have somebody else asking the questions. And if you have familiarized yourself with or know about doj pattern and practice investigations that departments all around the United States. That's one of the key things they do. They go back and audit all of the internal affairs investigations that the department has done to see whether or not they were asking the right questions because you're not gonna find out about police misconduct if you don't ask the right questions. That's what we have negotiated for, over and over and over a week after week month after month, we were told by the association negotiators across the table. We are not ever going to do that. The last two weeks. In the last year pro Tim I have a inquiry. The floor is yours, mayor. Yes mayor apologizes because I think this is a good discussion, but my parliamentary inquiry would be whether or not we're posted to have a discussion about the [5:33:26 PM] four year proposal or instead are posted to talk about the motion that's on the table. The item that you're posted to discuss is that one year contract the item from council? I think the discussion obviously is about the one year contract in relation to the four year contract. So you're only posted to take action on the one year contract. So. What you're you're you're arguing that we can get off onto the four year terms of a four year contract, as opposed to the terms of the one year contract. I think that you have some questions about comparing the two and I believe that probably is within the posting. But again, you're posted only to take action on the one year contract, and that's really the basis of most of this discussion and probably should be. Thank you. I think we may have been midsentence. Did you finish your thought? Within the last two weeks. I think it was, we [5:34:27 PM] crossed that hurdle. That they personnel from the office of police oversight would be able to ask those questions in the context of and with the internal affairs process and the other petition requirement that was the cornerstone of this was unfettered access to all information in the file by the opio and so that's where we got that was our objective. And I think that answered that question. Okay, that's helpful. Do you have? I want to do a quick assessment of how much discussion is ahead of us in light of hitting the 5 30 mark. And knowing folks may just want to know how much more time to be available here. Council member alter Alison alter. Do you have more questions, and I did see council member of Leila's hand go up. And I would like to crowd source if there's any other specific themes or topics that have not been identified yet that people still want to speak about Alison alter. Do you have [5:35:30 PM] more questions? And I do think that you know part of the argument for the one year contract, which is the choice before us is that the four year contract does certain things. And. I would like if there's more that the staff want to tell us I'd like to hear from them, but I'd also like to give the advocates an opportunity to raise concerns because I can't make a vote that I want to go to a one year contract. Without thinking about the four year contract that we're giving up and whether or not it actually provides the oversight that the voters are wanting. You know? And I know a very bad about the process because I've been following it and then having staff at the meetings, but I don't think you can do a fair assessment to say that you want to go to a one year unless you have some conversation about what we're giving. We're potentially giving up. So I would say there's that and then I don't understand what oversight we get with this proposal. We're paying more money. We just established that [5:36:31 PM] . But what is the oversight model in here that we're expecting, to get from that, or pay more money. What what is that oversight model, and that's probably and I don't also understand what direction we're giving. The staff with this. When they're mid finalizing the four year contract. I just I don't understand those things. So I'm gonna before I can vote. I'm gonna need to understand. The answers to those questions. I understand. Everyone cares about the oversight care about our officers. And they care about the will of the voters. But this is not a minor setup decisions before us. I completely agree with you. And I know in a perfect world that would be nice to have both of them exactly side by side to be able to understand what is and is not included. I think we all want to make sure that the voters have an opportunity to go to the ballot box and let us know you know what they what they think about the ballot initiatives that have been [5:37:31 PM] proposed, and a lot of us have just gotten some of the details of what is in the agreement quite recently, and haven't had an opportunity to that. What is what has been included in what isn't and what other questions we might come up with. Along the way I will. I will call on council member villa now go ahead. But thank you, mayor pro tem and I appreciate the mayor to your point about that. We haven't really seen what's in these, the mayor's amendment. Giving us. A time to make thoughtful consideration of what's before us. I appreciate that, and I value that and I look forward to digging into these details, which I said are fresh. This was nine o'clock 10 o'clock last night that it came out and so very few of us. I know that some of the advocates have had a chance to do kind of a side by side comparison, and I also look forward to hearing [5:38:32 PM] their opinion. Ah on the contracts, but. Mr Denton, you mentioned that the Travis county sheriff's, for example, who work under the do not have the file protections of chapter 1.3. Is that the case that's correct. So in other words, a Travis county sheriff who is complained upon through whatever system they have, and let's say that is investigated and found to be without merit that you know, complaint is found to be without merit. Is that fully open to the public? That complaint and the investigation resolution fully open to the public their limitations as I think you're aware under the open meetings act, I mean, open Texas open records act, but subject to those limitations on criminal investigations that are still pending. But other than those rules that apply otherwise they are public personnel records. In [5:39:33 PM] other words, Travis county sheriff E is someone requested personnel file. We're not going to release their private medical information. We're not going to release your social security number. We're not going to release their driver's license number or some other important kind of private and personal details like that. But and my understanding is that virtually every sheriff's office in the state is under those rules where they have no privacy protections as part of their employment is that correct? Actually made that exact point and I actually put Harris county badge on the wall on the power point, and Travis county and bear county because we negotiated the bear county sheriff's contract, and it's public information proposed that we can't get it without an agreement. Yeah, and I do understand that that that's not something that we can just unilaterally imposed on the police department. They are protected by that chapter 1 43, but another police agency that [5:40:34 PM] I'm familiar with is a Texas department of public safety. And I know we're talking about the day if I worked for the attorney general's office and open records division for a minute, and the dps officers are under similar position to the sheriff's. Is that correct? That's correct as well. Do you have any idea how many dps officers there are? I mean, I asked this without having any idea of the answer to that question. Ah it's a large department and my first thought would be it might be the largest in the state. But I press this point, because, there's this idea that there's no way that line force mint would agree to work under those kinds of circumstances work under that kind of, you know, environment when the reality is that there every single sheriff's department Williamson county, Travis county, bathtub county dps. There are literally thousands, if not tens of thousands of law enforcement. In [5:41:34 PM] this state who work with completely open files, and there any complaint is subject to, to disclosure to the public, so I just want to kind of, you know, make that point, because there is this compelling idea that all that just would never fly or there's some. It's not, but it's a reality, quite possibly for the majority of law enforcement officers. And I know I asked you the other day in a different setting. I believe is that the city of Dallas that is also there are also a civil service city city of Dallas is a charter civil service city, and they're not under chapter 1, 43 and L. Paso is the same. Although they have many similarities. They do not have this provision. So again. We have two major urban police departments, who do not have that chapter 1 43 G not to lose everybody with the citations and stuff. But you know the privacy protections so again. I you know, there's this idea. I think that the a P O a [5:42:35 PM] that is going to be on the ballot is asking for this kind of sky high level of, you know, unrealistic when I just don't see that as the reality again. I understand that that the officers that have the 1 43 G protections value the 1 43 G protections. I have no doubt about that. But the reality is that there are thousands of officers in the state of Texas who work in excellent department and well run departments and who work without you know any serious problem without those protections, the other major issue again focusing on the chapter 1 43 issues. Is the 365 days. For, the investigation. I mean, and again, actually, let me just kind of asking more open question. What are the major elements of the a P O a. With regard to the chapter 1 43 you know where the items that they're asking for that we're [5:43:36 PM] going to have to negotiate with with the police department. So well on the 3 65. We have bargained the 3 65. It's a touch modified from what is in the petition, but that is something that we have the agreement in principle upon mhm and, but the current chapter 1 43 provides 480 day limit for and that's a hard limit in the sense that after 180 days. It really doesn't matter. You know what you did your immune from discipline. The yes, I know. The 180 days is a hard limit unless the misconduct relates to criminal activity. The statute has two parts. If the misconduct relates to criminal activity, then you can have an extended period of time from discovery to proceed with that issue. He did the last bargaining cycle or the time before last. We added into [5:44:37 PM] the contract here, a discovery rule that contemplates discovery at the assistant chief level that goes back to a prior case that actually happened in Austin so that we don't want discovery at the sergeant level or the lieutenant level to where the city stuck with something that the chief never knew about. So we solved that problem. We had a better railroad if you will in the contract before under the statute, it's 180 days or 180 days from discovery. Unless criminal charges are actually pending against the officer. In which event you can send a letter to the attorney general and put it on hold for a time period. So that's what the statute is. We negotiated here and literally just in the last two days obtained a response favorable to the 365 day proposal that we had on the table and, are. Other public employees or, for that matter, honestly, even private employees are there. Similar protections [5:45:37 PM] for other employees in terms of a statute of limitations on their kind of professional misconduct. I don't believe there's any statute. I defer to an about that for your city workforce at large, but generally it's your personnel policies and you control those criteria. And the city attorney . Would you have any comment on that? I think that's correct. There's not a statue. There's a statue of limitations for all kinds of things, you know, for two years for lots of different, but not in this context, and that's again. You know my understanding. It's very unusual to have some kind of limitation on misconduct because I mean by its very nature misconduct is hidden. You know you don't go and kind of, you know, wave your misconduct around and brag about it. I mean, typically, you're trying to, you know, sneak your misconduct through. So my idea would be that the very idea of a kind of limitation, especially such a short limitation of 180 day limit on the investigation of misconduct is just really [5:46:39 PM] kind of problematic at its, at its core. And I would also just again. I did a lot of criminal defense work, and you know the statute of limitations for a class E misdemeanor, the most minor criminal offense in the state of Texas. I'm talking about, like a disorderly conduct. You're playing your music, too loud type criminal offense. It's two years. Ah ah and I've seen criminal cases filed. You know, like, you know, people are like that was like, you know, last year, like and again, so in context, I just don't think again. The point that I'm trying to make is that the a P O a provision are not some radical concept that is just completely out of line with , you know the ideas of the basic employment protections or, you know basic work conditions. On the contrary. They seem to be really simple and straightforward. You know, oversight and accountability measures. And I think to that point if I could one of the [5:47:41 PM] difficulties in bargaining. What is in the petition? Is that. What wasn't put in the petition as a repeal of 1 43. It was very specific carve outs. And so we're trying to move around instead of getting rid of all of these constraints, about what you're talking, it's minor carve outs. We're talking about a mature 20 year contract and we're bargaining from where we stand today. Not from nothing so in order to maneuver through. Trying to attain what's in the petition, which winds its way through portions of 1 43 that it doesn't like and leaves other portions and you know it makes it extraordinarily difficult, so it's not quite as black and white as it sounds when we look at the city of Dallas or or the county employees or, you know it just just a little bit more difficult than I think it's it sounds to a lot of people and I completely appreciate that. I think sometimes you know we are in our environment and in our [5:48:41 PM] habit and we think like, oh, that's just, you know, ridiculous way to do something, and then you find out like, oh, that's how the next county doesn't you know? And you know, somebody we get into kind of, you know, again. This is this is how we do it. We done it for 25 years, you know, and those habits I understand they're very hard to break. You know, but that said, I think it is important to try to really move the ball on and again. I say this without any. I have not looked at the four year contract. I again respect y'all . And you're I know y'all are tough negotiators. You know, but you know, sometimes we do have to shake things up, and we do have to make that like big next step to get to where we want to go. And that's where I see the a P O a going like when I think about other than those to the 365 and the and the open files. Are there any other 1 43 provisions at the oppo is touching. At the top of my head [5:49:43 PM] of the big lists that they had, you know that we were trying to attain, you know, those are kind of the big ones, another one that you might here talked about quite a bit as anonymous complaints. And although we have it crafted differently than than the petition, what we have is opio being able to take anonymous complaints from police officers without trying to have to obtain their identity or reported back to the department . So we do have that as his current practice and Pio can take anonymous complaints from anybody. Including police officers and has no duty to determine whether or not they are police officers. The department, on the other hand, as you know, has a rule that requires officers to report misconduct by their colleagues, and they have extensive training materials and decades of history and trying to develop the fact that we need to be a self policing organization. The chief wants that to continue, so those two interests are actually competing with each other. Best [5:50:45 PM] practice policing, insists that police officers do that because they know more about police misconduct than anybody else. On the other hand, we have accomplished that the opio can take anonymous complaints from anybody, including police officers, and they go forward and the but that the anonymous complaints is not covered in chapter 1.3 or is it covered in 1? 43 it is. There's a definition in 1 43 that allows anonymous complaints but only as reported to a member of the department. So unlike the rest of 1 43, which would allow for someone outside the department but who still a city employee for anonymous complaints is very specific to someone who is an employee of the department because we're pulling the office of police oversight out of the department, then we have to get agreement with the police association that they would allow anonymous complaints to a non departmental agency. So so those are essentially the three elements of the a P O a. That are, must be negotiated and [5:51:47 PM] agree to buy the often police association. Well, there, there's more. So if you look at the petition, it's based upon a promise that the G file can be removed. Absent a P a. Approval right and maintain cover agreement so kind of the whole petition. Falls back on that premise. So even though there are some things that are not stated in the petition. As you know, variances to 1 43. There's a lot of things such as the citizen review panel, for example, which we have back in the contract because absent at being in the contract, we do not believe they could get access to the G file because falling back on 1 43, the city manager's authority would go to a Pio but not to the review panel. So absent at being in the contract. We don't believe it could be attained. Got it, but the office of police oversight and I know oh, that you all sent that ordinance around and we did take a look at it. That's completely [5:52:48 PM] within our authority to create as part of the city manager's inherent authority to review and discipline any employee whether it's a firefighter or a police officer or a city auditor, or whatever the case may be, it is within the city manager's authority for an employee and of the oversight, but not for the panel is the differentiation citizens review panel would have to be okay. Ah so in other words , the office of police oversight pulling it out of there would have and again. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the a P O a. Requires us to pull that out of the contract and establish it as an independent office of the city. Is that is that correct there? Well I don't want to interpret exactly what but the theory is to get opio out of the contract, and our theory is to get opio out of the contract. There are some legal hurdles that we have to have in the contract still because they're 1 43 that the petition doesn't have the authority to do so. Those are still in there. We're down to about a page and a half. [5:53:49 PM] Of exceptions within the contract that that we have agreed to in principle, and I appreciate that and all and my questioning and just end with this one comment again. I think there's this fear which, from my point of view is unwarranted that will never be able to get a contract. You know, under those circumstances, and I've just got to say I mean, just having kind of been around politics and, you know, bargaining and whatnot for you know too long. Ah! I you know, I would have never thought I'd been thinking about current events that you know. Robi wade would be overturned or that the you know, voting. I just think about this political events and changes that you know, are completely outside of the kind of common wisdom that our reality today that you know, we look back and say five years ago that could have never happened, and here we are, and it happened, so I just want to be very careful about thinking about what is or isn't possible , particularly in the context. I know we were talking about money earlier. But you know, since I [5:54:50 PM] came on the council was sworn in February 7th. I think we've written about $20 million in police settlements over this last year, so I just want to make sure and put that you know these kind of all with 4% or 5% or 6% and the $2 million a year . Whatever the case may be, I think today we actually settled a handful of cases and pray that another, you know, three or $4 million, so I just want to put that on the ledger in terms of what are the costs that were bearing and what is police accountability and oversight worth? We have just paid out $20 million in a single year and we have multiple lawsuits pending. We heard that absolutely heartbreaking testimony earlier of a mother that had lost her son, and I bet you are lawsuit is coming from from their family as well. We have another one that just survived a motion to dismiss in federal court. You know? So I again I come back to when I think about the costs involved. I think we have to factor in the cost of all the lawsuits that we are paying out [5:55:51 PM] and mind you the human element. I mean, the people that that that you know, have been hurt that have, you know, suffered so again, and I know that this contract whatever we figure out, that's not gonna end everything but just imposing best practices and trying to have a police department. That is as good as it can possibly be, particularly in the context of the way they interact with people of toning down that type of violence and toning down that type of response. That's a very important value to me and again . That's why I want to pass this and see where we are and let the voters express our will. Alright. I see. Council member Alison alter has her hands up. We should do a just quick time check. I know some. Some of the staff is also trying to manage their schedule. We have another [5:56:53 PM] special called meeting to get through this evening as well. So how many more questions do we think we'll have? And then I want to flag there were still amendments proposed. We have not mentioned yet. Council member Alison alter has questions. Thank you, first of all, council member of a lie. I just want to say that, you know, I agree with you that our community deserves oversight and an ideal world. We would have all of the things that the a P O a is asking the reality is that we have to negotiate from 1 43, and that is not within our control without contract. So in common sense we should have its oversight, but we have to operate within the framework. We can push the framework. But the question is not, you know, a choice of 1 43. Or whatever we want. That's not exactly what we get to choose. Here. I do have a question to you. We talked about the [5:57:53 PM] anonymous complaints. The G file, the 3 65 and the crp. Is there another city in Texas? That has won 43 that would have a better oversight system that we would with the proposed for your contract, Mr Denton. There is not. One Fort Worth has a national oversight process that they developed by ordinance. And from what I know, and it's fairly limited. It's really not very robust. I'm not sure exactly why but. From the time we started this a long, long time ago, mayor Watson, I think was on the council when the U. F G started this process. Austin has been at the top of the list compared to all the others. I'm familiar with the Houston system . I'm familiar with the modified San Antonio system. L paso has a limited system. Austin clearly has the best. This will be the only one in the state where non [5:58:54 PM] police officers are actively involved in staff role in investigating police misconduct. Thank you. And do the sheriffs have the protection of 1 43. They do not. Okay. Thank you, you know, if, if focused on have the desire to hear from the advocates I had wanted to hear from the advocates to understand that, but if people don't want to take the time to do that, then then I won't I won't ask that. The other thing that I wanted to say in response to council member vela is absolutely we are paying an arm and a leg out. For for these cases, and we shouldn't be seeing these cases in the first place and have to spend that money and that there should be consequences. But oversight and the contract is not the only way that we stopped that. And there are other actions that we can do to train our officers effectively in the coming weeks. I'm going to be working with chief Chacon. On hopefully implementing various trainings, [5:59:54 PM] including mandatory integrating communications assessment and tactics, training for all officers. That's cat, including the supervisors on up this is the gold standard for de escalation training, but it is not something that every one of our officers, and every one of our supervisors has already doing. Mandatory active bystander ship. For law enforcement training, which was already in the works, but I don't know it's been announced, also looking at additional staffing, including administrative work for the academy so that the academy can function well and actually train and, live up to what we've looked looked for. And then finally, the. The contract. That's the four year contract includes a lot of really interesting and important changes for promotions, that both sides have agreed to that are going to allow us to have the best officers in these supervising roles and take into consideration a lot of other things, but it also provides an opportunity for us to invest in [6:00:54 PM] some additional leadership training as people promote. Which I think is one of the challenges that the EPA and we would all agree on. I've shared this, with the team and shared it with some assistant chiefs, and it's been shared with chief Chacon. And I'm hoping that we will have some thing that we can announce with respect to that, or that chief Chacon can announce because there are other ways to achieve the de escalation, which needs to happen and apps. You know, we can have all the oversight in the world. But if we don't train them to deescalate. And don't don't, you know, just emphasizes throughout. We won't get the results that we want. So I think it's a it's a it's a it's a full fine thing. You know, I'm sensing from the dais that there's not the will to continue discussing this. I will just say that I cannot support this I F C I F C at this point without having had a chance to review the four year contract. I don't wanna foreclose the opportunity of a multiyear contract. I look [6:01:57 PM] forward to reviewing the contract more closely next week, and I hope that my colleagues will to, but I do have to say I don't understand how the Watson amendment leaves that option open and if somebody can explain how it how it does that I would appreciate it. Council member Ryan alter. I just want to make one quick comment before we vote, and that is looking ahead. That if we are going to be spending this kind of money, and I think we do need to be attracting and retaining and so I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but when we do get to our next negotiation with E. M S. I want for us to invest. This level. Of. Of resource into an agency that is an apartment that is terribly under resourced and don't want this. Action today for us to come back and however many months and say, well, we spent it all. We don't have that money left and so I'm just [6:02:58 PM] foreshadowing ahead. Because everything is connected in the budget. And if I could, mayor pro tem, thank you, councilor emerald because I do think it's really important that we are eyes wide open about what that fiscal impact would be. And so I know that we're thinking about just the forecast. We're going to be pushing out in terms of the think it's April from our finance department, but the longer. The more that we can ensure that we're negotiating a fair deal. And that we're looking across all of our employees. All of the association's that's going to allow us to really provide the services that our community needs and expects. And so I think it's critical that as you're thinking about this decision that that's part of the calculation as well. I've got a couple of thoughts as well. But I also wanted to flag there's a couple other amendments, that [6:03:58 PM] have not been moved yet. And so I just want to make sure that we don't get too eager about getting to the finish line without making sure those are addressed time. I just want to flag I still do need an answer about at some point. Please feel free to do your comments, but I just want to make sure I do need an answer of how marijuana sins proposal gets us to see like half time to look at the four year contract. I don't understand it and how it's written and not also like to know a question I asked earlier. I think for council member vela of what the oversight expectation is, but I just wanted to plant that before we vote. I appreciate that. Thank you. And I did think, Mr van, you know, did you have one point of clarification? I think it was about the M S budgets. Was there, any more fine tuned data that you wanted to share. It was in response to the council member Fuentes. I was provided some additional data and [6:04:59 PM] regarding your question was about have we negotiated something and then in the magnitude of 6.7% annual increase, and so with the M S. I have more information now with the M S. The payer pay increases range between four and 13. There is for field positions, not including vacancies. If you include vacant positions, it changes everything. But for the field employees, we had 48% received a 4% increase. 14% received 6% increase 9% received a 7% increase. 10% received an 8% increase 12% and 11% increase in 8% a 13% increase, so it's really all over the map stuck that into a spreadsheet, the weighted average of all those increases with 6.5% so it's on average pretty pretty close to the 6.7. Analysis that we did, but to be clear, though, we did have some paramedics starting at $19 versus so it was a higher [6:06:02 PM] percentage because they have a lower wage to begin with. Jordan's percentage increase from whatever their wage was. Thank you. Thank you. But verification. Thanks and apologies for backtracking. I just wanted to make sure we were able to address that. Did I hear that the mayor had his hand up. Is there something you wanted to ask or address? Well, sure, I want to answer a question. Council member alter has asked the question. First of all, there's nothing in it because the way it's worded. There's nothing in this that precludes a vote on a four year contract. If I look forward to actually seeing the four year contract in some detail and being able to read it since we got it so late last night, and it's my understanding, it's about 100 pages, people. Some of us will want to go through that. And you know, you know, very specific way. And not just back and forth [6:07:02 PM] like this, but there's nothing once we've had that opportunity . Look at that. There's nothing in this that precludes that action. The second thing is that what the amendment does is it purposefully says. Yeah we as council members are going to approach this in a thoughtful way. And we recognize that we need to look at the four year contract and that our constituents need to look at the four year contract. So, actually , there's no there's nothing that blocks different. In fact, it's highlighted by the amendment that, what we're gonna do is we're gonna have we're gonna have we're directing staff and the city manager to go forward and look at getting us to a one year contract. But but that may create choices because there was nothing that precludes going with a four year contract. [6:08:06 PM] So when I want to be clear on the record about that, because I think that that is important point the time the council is together is February. The 23rd. And you have asked, you are asking the staff to go and negotiate to try and negotiate when your contract obviously not approving a one year contract, you're asking them to go and negotiate for one year contract. So if that's possible if they meeting of the minds, and they would bring that back on February 23rd and bring back the four year contract, which has been negotiated in already. So you would have two items on the council for the next time, if, in fact the parties are able to meet their mind about the one year contract. My understanding that I think that's what we're facing. And unfortunately, I think that's what we're facing. I've I have get upset and express my feelings about the fact that whatever reason. [6:09:07 PM] Intentional or not. We are faced with the deadline of the 23rd when the 26th is such an important date. So yes, I think I think that's what we're looking at. And the hope is that we will have that those opportunities, but nothing is precluded with regard to for years. Maybe put something you just ask our labor relations staff, too. Describe the practicalities of that. I appreciate that, because I know there's been a few folks that have mentioned, you know a desire to at least be able to weigh both of them comparatively to each other, and I think there's a little on unclear nous on if that would happen if we are supporting this or if we are scrapping a document. We have it really reviewed yet in lieu of some, you know, in in getting a different document for one year ahead of us. Thank you. I appreciate the ability to address that because I'm confused. We have an agreement [6:10:10 PM] in principle with a P a. What that means is we are continuing to negotiate the final terms of that agreement. But that we have an agreement in principle in all of the concepts and we're very close to the final language on it, but we still have to meet with them to come to that final agreement that we would then take the time to go through with each city council member individually answer all the questions, make sure they understood everything that's in it. Way specifically set this time frame and don't see that it's something that is a short time frame. This is very, very normal within the labor negotiations. World this is how it works. We have a March 31st and date to the contract. I personally did the research to figure out what days officers would have to turn in their resignations. That wasn't something any council member asked me to do. We set our deadlines based upon that so that we would have the courtesy to the officers to still have time after the city council vote [6:11:10 PM] , which we anticipated, and that's exactly how we set our schedule. We're not rushing anybody. We're not all of a sudden coming to an agreement. Because somebody put a one year contract on the table. This has been our schedule. Our schedule has been published. It has been announced. I have talked to you about what our schedule is in executive session to all of you and most of you individually, so I don't quite know where that concept is coming from, but just so that I can be clear. If this were to be passed, we step we either would be negotiating a one year contract. Which would take that entire time. To either get a no or a yes, I think it would be extraordinarily difficult, but I don't have a crystal ball. But we still haven't finished the four years so to compare the two and have us negotiating them at the same time, I'm a little bit confused on the direction which we would be receiving. I'm happy to take direction and I'm not trying to usurp the council's authority. I'm trying to figure out what that direction would exactly be. [6:12:13 PM] Alright I think you just made it more confusing for us. MM hmm. Welcome to my world. Council member, Kelly and then Fuentes. And please correct me if I'm wrong, but going back to what our city attorney said. Having the. Two contracts before us at the 23rd. Assumes that the negotiations team can reach one year agreement by the next council meeting is that correct? That's my understanding. If you pass the I F C tonight you're asking the team to go and negotiate when your contract and by virtue of the fact that the current contract expires on March, the 20 sixth we have to have this on the 23rd. Okay, that just seems very difficult and not super practical to me. Given the short timeline, thank you. Council member Fuentes. Thank you, captain mark Kelly, because I think that doesn't make sense for what this resolution is seeking to do, [6:13:14 PM] which is directing a one year contract price for a one year contract agreement to come back to council. So then let me remind folks we have two ballot propositions coming up for austinites to consider in may and so the intention behind the one year so it is so that we don't circumvent or undermine the will of our voters so leaving a pathway for a four year contract to come back to us and asking our negotiating team to also negotiated one year contract doesn't make sense for us to have that come back. I mean, then I went then why even go through this process for one year? Wright council member of Bela and then I just want to remind folks it's 6 13, and we still have a couple of amendments that have not been moved yet. I just want to say that I mean, conceptually the conversations that you know we have had is that this would be essentially a placeholder status quo contract, so I don't want to [6:14:15 PM] make it seem like we're going to have to go back and renegotiate the idea would be that this is a placeholder. That's essentially gonna keep the same kind of, you know terms and conditions that were currently under for a short amount of time so we can allow the boat to happen. I'm not asking for everybody to go out and, you know, rewrite the whole thing and do it again or anything like that again if there's if there's elements that are already agreed on on the new contract, roll them into the you know to the one year again. I know. Obviously the amount is going to have to be, negotiated , but it would be essentially a status quo contract to get us through the mail elections and then we can reassess where we are. I'm gonna back up because I had some comments. I was going to read a little a little while ago. I think this is, really tricky. And I know we're not completely done with some of the other motions that might be made [6:15:15 PM] here. You know, I was I was really excited to support adopting the petition outright when it came to us. I know that was something that a lot of us struggled with. You know whether whether to adopt it out right whether to put it to the voters. I also think that voter approval on ballot measures is it speaks volumes about where the will of our constituents lies. And so I really, support and hope that voters will come and make their voice heard. In may. When these when these happen, I've also been really vocal about being open to supporting a one year term. And so, I certainly haven't decided exactly what the right amount is because I think that balance of the fiscal impact on the oversight is something that's really important to me. And I want to make sure I know what I'm getting out of each of the deals and so I am a bit concerned about the fiscal impacts of one of the proposed actually both of the proposals that would be on the table and want to make sure that I'm understanding all the details. Given that we haven't [6:16:15 PM] had ample opportunity to review and ask questions of the longer proposal that's currently on the table. So if I could try to encourage us to make any last questions or comments, I know there's a couple of motions. We need to figure out if they're going to be moved or seconded. And how to talk about those, and we still do have an executive session that we need to get through tonight after we finish this meeting, council member Alison alter I just would like clarification. I mean, is the proposal to do that continue the oversight that we have and pay more money for it. The proposal is to maintain that a minimum the current level of oversight if oversight can be improved, then that's fine, but not reduce the level of oversight. Okay? I remain by remain confused by the direction that's being offered, [6:17:15 PM] sounds like we've exhausted at least some of the questions. There were some motions handed out earlier. Yes I am going to be withdrawing several of my emotions, but the first one I would like to move is motion sheet number four, which you all have a copy of it is to amend the lines want, excuse me. I moved to a mental line seven through eight to read as follows. Whereas the hardworking add the word dedicated comma community serving and then continue with officers of a pd deserve certainty with regard to their pay, benefits and compensation and so that is motion sheet number four. I have that as motion sheet number three. You know what that's possible. I have different copies here. I apologize. Okay. Council member. Kelly has moved , but I believe is motion sheet three with the verb is that she has identified is there a second to the motion she's made. Seeing [6:18:17 PM] none that one will not be added in are there other emotions? You would like to move? I have two more here. I moved to amend line 17 to 18 to read as follows. Which says, whereas some and it strikes the word be residents of Austin have voiced their advocacy. And then it strikes repeatedly and adamantly advocated. And just says for increased police oversight and transparency. Actually, I was just told by myself that the mayor may have indicated a second for the first motion I made is that accurate? Let's check that motion. I'm sorry. What was that? I would have seconded that motion, but I wouldn't recognize so. So my first motion was seconded by the mayor, but he wasn't recognized . Okay well, we could we could [6:19:18 PM] backtrack. Could we do that, please? Because I think it's really a second did that. So I'm going to remake the motion from motion sheet three to amend line seven through eight to read as follows. Whereas the hardworking and then add dedicated and community serving officers of a pd deserve certainty with regard to their pay, benefits and compensation. Motion has been made and seconded any discussion. Let's take a vote all in favor of including the language. Kelli Ellis. Both altars and the mayor. I believe that is only five. Okay thank you not pass. So my second motion is I moved to amend line 17 to 18 to read as follows, whereas, some. Voiced their advocacy and then strike repeatedly and adamantly advocated for increased police oversight and transparency. [6:20:19 PM] Motion has been made. Is there a second? I do not see a second. Okay. Thank you. And my last motion sheet is number six. I moved to amend the lines nine through 12 to read as follows, whereas registered voters of Austin strike residents will and then strike potentially have the opportunity to vote on two different petitions. In a may 2023 referendum regarding police oversight and transparency, which could have important staffing implications for the contract between the city of Austin police association and is there a second to this motion? Singin in. It will not be added, thank you. I believe that brings us to the main motion city manager just wanted to clarify. I mean staff still needs the direction and understanding what this vote and action might take as as far as we know, and we want to make sure that this is [6:21:20 PM] clear with the council. We will not be negotiating anymore for a four year contract. We will then move to negotiating for one year contract. And so there's nothing in this resolution that I'm reading and we can have our attorneys way in. That would say , continue negotiating for your contract. We would then pivot to now working on a one year contract based on this action. Is that clear? I see some nods. Council member pool but I'm I'm remembering what council member , vela said just a little bit ago that this doesn't change. That work that's already been done, and you are looking for additional times to get us through may for the vote of the public. Could could you re address that. So the four year contract has already been negotiated and is on the table. If not, then what was the press [6:22:21 PM] release for and what was the press conference about? It was a tentative agreement and so we're still negotiating the details of that, and we can know if there's legal language then I would come back to then why? If we're still negotiating, then why was the press release sent out last night? And why was a press conference set for this morning? Because we had a tentative agreement create confusion. I think on that note. I was just gonna add council that we are in a position where we are so close to having this agreement finalized, and I think the association may have even said this in public that they wanted to see how the council might react to where we were at. And so by the action today. The decision if this passes and the decision is to not move forward with the four year agreement and to move forward with the one year agreement. Any more questions. That brings us back [6:23:21 PM] to the main motion. It's been moved and seconded. I think it is time to take a vote all in favor of item number 80 as presented an amended. Fuentes qadri pool fella, Velasquez, Ryan alter and mayor Watson all opposed. Alison alter Mackenzie Kelly. I'm just I just want to clarify that I'm interpreting that you just gave direction that to not continue negotiating the four year contract, so I was going to abstain. If you were saying finish off the four year and bring us back both. But if the direction is not to do the four year I can't support it. And I'm going to abstain because I'm unclear on the different interpretations of what this does. I would really love to be able to weigh them both side by side and make the best choice because I would support a one year I want to make sure we're getting the best oversight we [6:24:22 PM] can, and I really hope the voters have a chance to weigh in on this as well. Council member harper- madison were you supporting? She's voting. Yes. So council member, Kelly is now Alison alter. Are you a no? If that interpretation that the four years off then I'm a no. I think there is discrepancy and I will abstain just because of not understanding. Let me process just as I was clarifying. Before that we would be moving from negotiating a four year contract to one year contract because we are so close and alternative would be to finish off the negotiation of the four year contract. And then we would we potentially could have a comparison side by side. But since that is not completed, then we would we would want to, my strong professional advice is to ensure that we have a four year contract in place and we were we have. We have currently time to do that tomorrow and we [6:25:23 PM] could finish those negotiations have that for counsel to review and at that point in time, you could say is this good enough for do you want to move forward with a one year contract at that time? But we have time to do that. We're not in a rush to ensure that we're having those side by sides, but the action today would pivot from the four year negotiations to finalize that to one year negotiation. Pro team yes, mayor. It's been said multiple times. In fact, the amendment that has has just been voted on Britain's so that there would be a recognition and highlighting desire to see a four year contract if, in fact four year contract is so close that it would take a day or two. It was just indicated by the manager. But that there's nothing in there that precludes that, and in fact, it is highlighted, and the council has [6:26:24 PM] indicated over and over again members of the council that they would like to have a side by side. The manager, and his team ought to be able to figure out a way to achieve those goals so that we have that opportunity. And it's being interpreted individually that. It's cuts it off somehow went. In fact, we've said time and again. That's not what we just voted on. And that's not what the motion was intended to do, even as I laid out the motion well, I think thank you, mayor. If you're referring to the whereas is on the first page around reviewing the four year contract that is simply context. That's not part of the be it resolved, and so we would need to move that section to allow us to still have that negotiation of a four year contract. So we would we would have to make that adjustment. If that was your go on. And what. [6:27:38 PM] Well. Yeah city attorney because I've got a question about that. It would be helpful, helpful to have some clarification on what does this do to the four year discussions? So if we can go back to the question. I mean, the resolution that that you all just voted on has the indication that your goal would be to have a proposed for your contract to assess for the citizens of Austin. So I think that what you're asking is for the manager and his team to continue. To finalize the four year contract and to put it on for the council to vote on for the next meeting. And in addition to that, to continue to now pivot in addition to doing that work to pivot to trying to get a one year agreement with the Austin police association, which we would also put on for the next council meeting. I'm not saying [6:28:39 PM] that's going to be easy to do. I just that's my that's what I hear you asking the manager to do to both continue in close up the four year contract, which is close and then also try and negotiate a one year contract so that you can compare the two two weeks from now. Yes unless unless it went in, and we can find out pretty quickly remembers. I'm my inclination is to provide greater clarity. My inclination would be move to reconsider the vote by which yeah. The resolution was just passed. And I would then offer an amendment. The amendment would be to take the whereas cause that talks about the new city council review the proposed for your contract to assess his marriage would be made a resolution clause where it would say it would have that as the duty of the council and it would [6:29:42 PM] it would instruct. New year's offices destruct. Dangerous office to bring back at the next cup meeting of the city council. Proposed four year contract. If that is acceptable in terms of direction. Airport? Oh, Tim. I moved to reconsider by the vote vote by which the, Luther was just passed. Your emotion to reconsider has been seconded by council member pool. With the amendment as laid out by mayor Watson any questions or comments . It's a very quick question. I'm just asking specifically which language is going in the Bia resolve section do yes. We have a motion to reconsider. Yes, asked council member I will then offer, new motion. Yes, [6:30:42 PM] please. Did the motion to reconsider pass. We have to take a vote on reconsidering the vote. Okay let's go ahead and vote on reconsidering the vote all in favor. It is unanimous both on the regular diocese and the virtual dais. Go ahead, mayor. Members if I can direct you to the whereas clause that said, whereas it is the duty of the city council review the proposed four year contract to us merits on behalf of austinites, including to ensure that it is not undermine the guaranteed rights of austinites to petition their government. I would add. The very end. [6:31:42 PM] For the first before the be it further resolved. The city made the right now it has a be it further resolved. The beginning, the city manager is directed to bring any agreed upon meeting confirmed agreement, which complies with this resolution to the council for approval as soon as an agreement is reached, and negotiations and approved by the a P a membership after that, I would and be it further resolved that the city manager is directed to bring the proposed four year calm me. Four year contract. Through the council. Review and potential approval as as at the next meeting next regular meeting of the Austin city council. May have been. Is [6:32:43 PM] it possible for us to recess and take a break? I really would like a to consider this matter. We can. I'm worried it's gonna set us back quite a bit when we're very, very close to getting this ironed out. Well, okay, then I will. If the cat the fc author can speak to his to this amendment. So and. I'm gonna speak a bit for the for the mayor, here and again, please jump in mayor. If I'm I thought a four year contract was already on the table. That was what this whole conversation was about. Ah the original motion the original item from council did not contemplate a four year contract. It was just a clear shift to like. No let's get a one year contract. The time is getting late. Let's not get stuck on this. Let's not let anybody go out of contract. Then. There. Was a four year [6:33:47 PM] contract that appeared and. There's a link to it. There's the words and so again. I'm I'm just confused as to what is missing from a four year contract that is not already on the table. And again. That's where I'm just I don't understand that kind of you know, what are these last little pieces that are supposedly need to everybody just came up here and spoken great detail about the cost about the oversight provisions about the stipends and the steps and all these things like that, and now we're being told that? No actually, there's still room. There's still things to negotiate so again. I would. I'm I will accept the amendment as a friendly amendment, but I don't really see how it really changes anything. What I want staff to do is go out and get us a one year contract that then we can weigh again. Originally it was [6:34:48 PM] just a straight change of direction. With the events of the last 24 hours. Now it kind of has to we are in a situation where we have to weigh. Which is fine. But the direction is to go out and negotiate a one year contract that keeps our officers on the force under contract with their pay and benefits and respects the will of the voters. I wish I could. I don't know what there is left to negotiate . Honestly it's very confusing. And again. I can't get away from the idea that this was made intentionally difficult and confusing. Council member pool. Mayor I was looking at the bit for the resolves, toward the end , and I was looking at line 1 95, which is on page 10 of 10. And I wondered if we might just insert a phrase. Ah! The phrases any agreed upon for your contract and that would be [6:35:50 PM] inserted right after the phrase the city manager is directed to bring any agreed upon for your contract. And then continuing what with what is here now, any agreed upon meet and confer agreement which complies with this resolution. To the council and so forth. So it essentially just inserts and this wording may not be elegant enough. But it inserts the fact that we want to see the four year contract. Should it continue to be agreed upon meet and confer as well as the one your contract. Which seems to be what we're trying to get to hear. I appreciate that clarity. City attorney well, thank you. I was just going to say, I think that the mayor actually laid it out quite nicely when he at line 1 90. Between 1 97 and 1 98. So just after what she read council member pool I believe the mayor said there would be be it further resolved that the city manager is directed to bring the [6:36:52 PM] four year contract to the council for review and potential approval at the next council meeting, so it's doing two different things at the same time. That sounds good, and I think it was sort of getting lost in all the other conversation, but, thank you, and I withdraw that that additional language that I was working on. And long didn't may have some suggestion. Well, just doesn't matter of process. I think it's essential that we're not have a resolution that requires us to bring two options to this council. Both of which have been approved by the Apa first. I was concerned with the language that talked about previously being ratified by the association membership. I can't go get two contracts ratified by the a P a. And then bring them to this body to pick and so we had recommended and we had bargained on the principle that we would bring these to this body first. Whatever its decision was, they would then take it to their members for ratification. I believe Mr [6:37:53 PM] Denton is asking is that online 1 97 the sentence, the last of the sentence says and approved by the a P, a membership that you would take that out so that the council has the opportunity to vote first and then a P a will vote. Okay that that makes more sense to me. Council member harper-madison and then qadri. You very much. I'd like to take the opportunity to take a moment of personal privilege into a council member alters point earlier. I think this is the appropriate time to hear from the advocates because this isn't a conversation we've had with them yet. I was asking him can we speak to? I was asking. I don't know what the procedure would be. But I would like very much to hear from either Cathy Mitchell or Chris Harris or chairs. I don't know if he's still I would like very much to hear from the people that represent the community. As advocates. You are able to make that request. I [6:38:55 PM] don't know which one of you wants to come up. But if one or both of you could come up and talk to us about what you believe the implications of this additional language are. Thank you so much, Natasha. Really very much. Appreciate. You're bringing this up? I think that. Are read our initial read on the contract that's proposed. You all have seen our analysis? Off of the red line. It is, I would hope that it's not done because it is very sloppy. In many ways that leaves the city open to the same sort of grievances that led to the December 2021 arbitration decision that crippled our oversight system. Ah, that said, it's. What is finished, is also very poor. I couldn't have. I couldn't disagree more with the labor relations folks as it relates to, what's been achieved in this and whether it in any [6:39:56 PM] way mirrors the initiative that is on the ballot before you in may. And so, you know, I think our our hope obviously first and foremost is to hear from the voters again. You all called this this this election, and so it is, you know, I think, in many ways your duty to ensure that the will of the voters is heard, and for those of you that have concerns about our ballot measure. I expect to hear you oppose it publicly as the election comes along. But to kill it this way by putting forward something that preempts the will of the voters after you put it on the ballot, is, is wrong just just straight up. And unfortunately, I think the amendment that's currently being proposed is going to tee up an extremely difficult, meeting that that honestly, we hope to avoid a repeat of December of [6:40:57 PM] 2017 when this community came in large numbers to oppose a previous bad deal that this contract that this this this council voted down. And so, we would like to hear from the voters. That's our goal. The one year deal. In our mind was the easiest path to get to that goal to allow. The goals that you all have, as it relates to the officer. Retention and things of that sort to be met, while also allowing the will of the voters to be heard. And by having a vote first on a four year deal again, which our initial read of is that it is very poor on the issues that we care about that that are related directly to the issues with the families we worked directly in in the harm that they've suffered, is, is really unfortunate. And I you know again, I would encourage you all to, to reconsider this [6:41:58 PM] currently a proposed amendment and to move forward instead with , simply providing direction to pursue a one year deal again so that we can hear from the voters and you all meet your goals as it relates to officer retention and stability. And with that, if Kathie if you have any additional things. Yeah I would just like to emphasize that it's very clear that certain members of staff at the city don't like our proposal, and we are ready to have that debate. That is the appropriate debate for a ballot measure. Campaign you now have put a second ballot measure in front of the voters. It will be hard to tell from the ballot language, but they will actually have a clear choice and so all of these issues all these areas of concern. About our ballot [6:42:58 PM] measure are going to be discussed and we have answers. I promise you. For all of it. You've heard about. You've heard many things this evening that we disagree with, and I don't want to spend the time tonight to go through that because that is why we are going to have a campaign for a ballot measure and we're gonna educate everybody and they're going to educate us. And that's just how that goes. So we're all we're asking for tonight. The opportunity to do the thing that you put this on the ballot to do. Can I ask you specifically to offer some clarity, Mr Harris said. This tees up a difficult conversation we were hoping to avoid. I'm not entirely certain what that means. Can you clarify that for me? Yeah basically, the city is throwing out this idea that the only alternative to this four year contract for your contract is either impasse or permanently going off contract like you're being given a picture of extremes. And the one year [6:44:01 PM] contract the negotiation over a one year contract allows for a moderate approach. We're not going to be saying that we need big changes to, council member of Leila's point. We're asking for something to be handled fairly quickly. At this point. We wish that this pivot had happened earlier. We've been having these conversations for a long time. This would have been appropriate earlier, but here we are. So we're not asking for a complicated new arrangement of the parts were asking for something that buys the city a stable period of continued employment for all of our police officers with known benefits and a pay increase that is negotiated the numbers you've heard tonight we're not negotiated. Ah, and that carries us through the election. And then after the election, we start a conversation about the new contract on a different from [6:45:03 PM] a different place. That's it. Thank you. Council member qadri. Yes this is the general statement for the mayor pro tem? I would like to recess. I think this is a very important decision. I think the decision we make now whether on marry Watson's amendment or the I F C itself, the aftershocks will be . You know, they're they're gone for a long, long time, and I would hate to make a vote and in Russia vote without properly thinking and taking out that time. I'm not asking for an hour, but if we could, we could recess until 7 30. I understand. I understand. A lot of staff is here. Anderson reporters are here. I understand. There's a lot of people that wish they could go home. But this is a very important thing for the city. I would just hate to rush it. He's trying is there any objection to doing a 45 minute recess? Hearing none will be back at 7 30. [7:36:11 PM] And I don't want to get started without having a full dais this time. [7:39:24 PM] Alright I think we have a full diets. It is 7 39. And we are back in chambers at city hall. We are still on item number 80. I believe it is our last item of the day item number 80 mayor Watson. I recognized pro Tim. Thank you for the recess. I moved to withdraw my motion to reconsider. Okay, okay. Okay. Council member pool seconds that . So where does that leave us? There's no objection. I would like to be recognized to the withdrawal. That motion. I'd like to make another motion. Okay, go ahead. I'd like to move that we adopt the resolution that the council had previously adopted prior to the motion to reconsider. Okay we've got that [7:40:25 PM] motion back on the tables. There are second to the motion council member of L. A second set. Are we ready to take a vote? Council member Kelly? How's your hand up? Yes, could we please be reminded of what that entails, so that the public who has been following along can can understand it. And then I have one more follow up question. That's going to be hard for me to recount at this point. I know that we are working on item number. 80 mayor Watson substitute amendment to vela amendment number one I know that there was some proposed amendments that were not successful. And I know we were working on some of the language and it seems like we are not moving forward with amending that language at this point. We're back to back to the regular basis motion. Which for item 80, which again will staff will interpret that, as was the [7:41:26 PM] discussion on the dais as not moving forward with the four year contract and now pivoting to the one year contract discussion. So rejecting the four year contract. Okay so my follow up question is that we have not heard from the a P a about their thoughts on. Correct but we're not negotiating anymore. And I would like to. I'd like to call up a P a just to get their thoughts on. On this. Okay, hold on. There's four people talking. Council member Paul I just wanted to clarify with the mayor and council member vela, the city manager just says we are rejecting before your contract. I don't think that is what we are doing. Can can we clarify that, please? For the city manager? No ma'am, I've said that over and over and over again now. That is not what this motion does, and he seeks to [7:42:26 PM] interpret it that way. But I have said over and over again, that's not what it does. And if he is as close as he says he is. What he needs to do, but he I don't know how to make it any clearer. This is direction to get to a one year contract. He. As a professional should be able to determine whether or not he can get more than one of those things done without. Immediately saying that he's interpreting it in a way that has been he's been told differently. And I just want to weigh in and say explicitly. I do not see this as rejecting the four year contract, either. Mayor pro tem the practical reality and maybe we are labor relations folks can just if this were to move [7:43:26 PM] forward, what would that mean for say tomorrow and then how we approach negotiating the one year contract? And if there's clarification or questions that we need to get answered, that would be the time to do that before any votes happen. I would seek the opinion of the city attorney as to how the actual language reads instead of taking verbal direction, and so I would really ask and Morgan maybe not right now, but maybe to take a look at it and tell me what the actual written direction is, because that's that's what we would have to do. If the written direction is to work on both at the same time, that's one thing if it literally directs us to work on a one year then we cannot in good conscience under the state statute. Bargaining good faith. I mean, for two contracts. We have to be bargaining on something that we believe the city council will approve. And so if we don't know what the city council will approve and don't have direction to what we believe they will approve. We don't have to know [7:44:26 PM] what you will approve, but we have to believe that what we bring you you'll approve. I mean, I have to have direction from the manager through the city council. As to what direction we're going, but I would defer to and Morgan on that. City manager, our city attorney. If you would like to think we're back to the question that we raised before, so I believe that the resolution indicates that the manager and his team or do you go forward and to attempt to negotiate a one year contract? And to bring it back at the next council meeting. It also addresses that the city council wants to review the proposed four year contract to assess its merits. On behalf of austinites, including to ensure that it does not undermine the guaranteed rights of austinites to petition their government. So to the extent that we have a tentative close to agreement, I think that you have provided that to the council members. For them to [7:45:29 PM] review. I think that we would be able to see that balance. I know there's a couple of folks that said, we would like the opportunity to be able to review the four year and have the one year we know there's going to be different. Talking points within each one. We know it's going to be different items to address within each one, because that's the balance of a one year versus a four year contract. Do you have more you want to say I see Mr Denton has stepped up as well . Since we're back to the earlier version. I think we confront once again. The question about prior Apa ratification if that language is back is our direction to bring a one year agreement after they ratify it. Address that that is online. 1 97 of the based motion that's here and what we had done, and I think everybody approved a minute ago was to just take out the language and approved by the a P a membership so that council has the opportunity to vote first on that. Okay and I know there may [7:46:30 PM] be some questions, but I had recognized council member Kelly and I think I know you're you're fine. I just wanted to make sure that we didn't skip over her. Thank you. We've heard from the advocates tonight, and I'd like it opportunity to hear from the a P a regarding their thoughts on this, and, if appropriate. For them to come down and just talk to us for a moment as a body so that we understand their perspective just for a couple of minutes. That is within your right to request them to come speak. Good evening. Thomas Villarreal, detective of the a P a or also police department president. The a P a, I'd like to start by very publicly thanking, my negotiation team for the one year of work. I will remind, everybody in this room if you go to our current contract. That's been on the books since 2018. There's contract language in there that talked about starting this [7:47:32 PM] negotiation process in October two Octobers ago. So we didn't run into these problems. Manager . I'd like to thank you and your team as well for doing the work needed to get to the middle. I will. I will tell you guys and gals we are probably five hours worth of work at the at the table and caucuses with our teams of getting not only this body. But my 1525 ish cops that are left here, a redline version for folks to start digesting. When we gotta Ta last night, I sent a message toward membership to let them know. Did that. Because I recognize that people have very, very serious life altering decisions that they need to make, and those members are put in a tremendous amount of trust in me as the president [7:48:33 PM] and our team. That being said. I don't envy the position that some of you folks have have. That you are in I know you all have to make very tough decisions that come with y'all's with y'all's role. I will be as crystal clear as I can be. The a P a is not going to negotiate against ourselves and go negotiated one year deal at the same time that we're gonna go finish negotiating a four year deal we've spent a year a year. Negotiating a four year deal. We've come to a tentative agreement. There's minor tweaks that we need to make. And I'm not going to take my team to the table tomorrow and say hey, let's fix this four year deal and then at the same time, we're going to go and give you option B and go give you a one year deal. If the four year deal is [7:49:33 PM] no good. Vote it down. And we'll have a conversation on our side of the table as to whether or not it's in the best interest of our members and the association to have a conversation about a four year deal. I recognize I'm not asking you all to make that decision tonight. Right I get, I would hope I would hope that you would take the time to digest that information, right? I will also say this every single one of our proposals. Every single one of our proposals that is presented in a. We post every single of our meetings to abide by open or open open meetings act. We don't have to, but we do. Right. It's not anything that the a P a has ever objected to. We treat all of our work product once it's posted publicly as as open records of all right, earlier this week, I received an email probably 30. [7:50:35 PM] Minutes after I made a presentation from a council office staffer asking for a copy of those, and I promptly sent them over. I'll tell you I'm frustrated. As a almost 17.5 year employee of the city that after a year of doing this work, we don't have the ability to have conversations and flow of information. I've offered multiple offices to send them articles. This this isn't and it shouldn't be a secret. There's nothing secretive about this process. I cannot be more clear. That. If we need to go do a one year deal because that's what y'all want. If that's the direction that you give the city the next direction. You're gonna give the city manager like it is what it is. But I'm not going to go work on a one year deal until we resolve this four year deal. You don't want to tell us you don't want it. And I recognize [7:51:36 PM] that we've got a we've got a hell of a of a timeline that we're trying to work under. I've got folks that are either going to just flat out retire. I've got folks that are going to buy forward and retire. And some of those folks, if they're gonna do certain financial things if they choose, so need to make those decisions in two weeks. My fear. Is that we're gonna kick this can down the road a couple of weeks. And those people are going to elect to make decisions that maybe we don't have to do. I'm not gonna ask you to make one decision or another. I'm not gonna try to influence the direction that you give the manager. That's not my role. It's not my job. Since I took over. At the end of August. I've told lots and lots of people. I'm not Ken Cassidy. We have very, very different views on things. I'm not gonna get involved in certain aspects of city government that I don't think is a labor issue. Not [7:52:40 PM] asking you to do one not asking to do the other simply telling you I'm not going to go to the table tomorrow. Or next week. At the at the meetings that are currently posted and work on a four year deal and also work on a one year deal. If you don't like the four year deal, educate yourself on it, call a special meeting. Whatever you have to do, vote it down. Give direction to go telescope meet you at the table for one year deal. We can have that conversation. I appreciate your time. Thank you appreciate your comments. Did you have further questions? I did not, but over our recess it a. It was brought to my attention that my statement about the $3 million was not broadcast on 86 cents. I'd like to just say that one more time so colleagues. If you'll just indulge me, I'll take two minutes of your time. Earlier this evening, it was talked about the cost implications with the difference. And I'm really uncomfortable voting on this item today, without looking at [7:53:40 PM] the agreed proposed contract, and I don't like not completely completely betting options. I don't believe that I'd be doing right by the police department by not first doing due diligence on comparing the two items in more detail, so thank you. I appreciate that. Are there other questions or concerns? At this point? I think we're at a space of reconsidering the earlier vote that we had already taken on the record. Alison alter. I don't know if it's in order to make a motion, but I would just throw out there it would be an option, potentially to postpone the vote on this until next Wednesday, which would allow them to finish the contract. Tomorrow. We would have a few days to look at it, and then we could provide direction on Wednesday. We have an audit and finance committee meeting that is scheduled at at 9 30 on Wednesday. And that would, allow us to take this a little bit slower. But still be responsive [7:54:43 PM] and able to turn things around. It seems that this is set up in such a way that it is more appropriate for the council to vote before a pt boats. And that would give us that opportunity, to read through it and understand. The contract that they've been working on for so long again. I don't know if that's an order or if there would be a second or or support if it were, but just want to throw out that, you know. We are not constrained by making this fully this decision fully. Tonight. I appreciate that. I'm looking over at council member Kelly. She's going to second that I know she had made that motion. At the beginning of this discussion. It is. It's something that I would consider as well. Postponing this simply because I think there's still a lot of disconnect between some parties thinking we're squashing the four year even though we haven't seen a fully edited copy that we've had a chance to review and other folks wanting to have two things on the table, [7:55:45 PM] and we clearly have a police association president who's saying that's very difficult for them to be able to maneuver at this time, so we have a motion and a second to postpone the item any discussion or should we take the vote? Let's take the vote all in favor of postponement. Four of us. We've got Ryan alter Alison alter Mackenzie Kelly Paige jealous? I, mayor Watson. Did you have your hand up or you? Just yes. Okay. That's five votes to postpone. That is not enough. Okay that is six. Leslie pool is joining the yeas. And with that the motion carries in this item will be postponed. It's clear there's still some more conversations to be had. Wendy all when do you want to postpone it to you made the motion. I was offering up our audit and finance meeting on Wednesday. 9 31. At least five of us have to be there. We can do it earlier. [7:56:46 PM] We can the only issue is that we are supposed to take up the water item at 1 30. But I would just say we can. That's an option or if people want to try and schedule it on Tuesday. I'm fine with that. Two I just know that that's a time when five of us have to be there. And maybe that gives people a little more time. To have conversations with the. City attorney or city manager. Do you have any thoughts on those particular dates? I see the benefit of picking a committee date that is already publicly posted, but some folks may have Tuesday available since I know we were having discussions about a retreat. How should I postpone this? Let's go with Wednesday Wednesday. Let's say Wednesday morning at audit and finance. To go ahead and post that that'll give the staff enough time to post the language. I'm getting [7:57:47 PM] some feedback from staff that they might need a little bit more time. Just want to give them an opportunity to weigh in. So if I might, if counsel wants a fully. Clean copy if we finish it tomorrow if we get it posted I am presuming that means no one is going to want to go through the contract with us personally , because that would not give us time to do that. Now come if you're comfortable reading it and feeling that you could, you know, pick up the phone and just get a quick answer, as opposed to us walking you through all of the different portions of it. That's one thing, but I had committed to you that I would be free to sit down with each and every one if you and go through the provision of it so that you could understand it. That's not gonna happen if you do it as early as Wednesday. So I just leave you with that thought it's up to you when you meet, but it would be a much abbreviated time with us, Ryan alter would we have the option to divide into [7:58:49 PM] three groups, and that way she could present to and saves a lot of time. And instead of 11 meetings, three meetings sure I'm seeing nodding in the audience so we could that Sarah would do them in small subsections mayor she makes her way to the Mike. Can you remind us the vote? Can you for the record who voted to postpone? Who were the eyes on that? I didn't catch it. It was council member, Kelly. Ellis pool. Both altars and Watson. Thank you. So I'm happy to meet with people in three groups. If that was the question I think so. Sure. Okay? And 9 30 next Wednesday, 9:30 A.M. Next Wednesday, February the 15th is when this item is postponed. And on that note. We have finished our work for this [7:59:49 PM] meeting of the day. I'm adjourning the regular city council meeting at 7 59 pm on February 9th.