City Council Special Called Meeting Transcript – 2/15/2023 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 2/15/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 2/15/2023 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. [9:00:16 AM] everybody I'm going to call to order the Austin city council meeting. This is a special called meeting. We're convening at nine o'clock a M. On February 15th 2023 we are meeting in the city council chambers of the city council chambers are located in city hall, which is at 2023. Oh one west second street. Austin, Texas. Oh now we've been called to order. I want to lay out for everybody that's here. Quickly what I think will be either run of show today so that people can prepare and be ready. We are. As soon as I finished laying this out, I will recess us into an executive session. My hope is that that executive session will be completed at 9 45. But let's face it. Our hopes have been dashed a time or two before, but the goal is to be out back out here at 9 45 at that point in [9:01:17 AM] time, we will take up the test public testimony with regard to item number two. We will then have a discussion and a vote on item number two. There will be a short recess after we take up item number two. We will reconvene. My hope is at 10 30, just for those who are keeping scored. We will then have public testimony with regard to item number one at the conclusion of that public testimony, we will have a discussion and vote and if necessary, we will recess back into another executive session. If necessary. We will adjourn after that vote so once again, we will go into executive session. We will hopefully be here back on the diets at 9 45, where we'll have public testimony related to item number two. We will then have a discussion and vote related item number two. We will have a brief recess. Then at 10 30, we will [9:02:21 AM] have public testimony related to item number one. A discussion and vote and then either adjournment or another executive session if necessary. With that being said the city council will now go into a closed session to take up one item. Pursuant to section 551.71. And 551.7. The government code, the city council will discuss legal issues and personnel matters related to the employment compensation and benefits for the city manager and potential appointment of an interim city manager. Members is there any objection to going into executive session on the items announced. Hearing none. The council will now go into executive session. Thank you all members, we will go into the executive session room. [10:13:48 AM] Good morning, everyone I'll call back to order. The Austin city council. It is. 10 14. We are [10:14:52 AM] out of executive session and back into open session. The item we will take up now will be citizens. Communication I'm sorry. Public testimony with regard to item number two on our agenda. Madam clerk, I'd ask you to start letting us know who we have to speak. Thank you. Mayor. The first remote speaker is Beverly Luna. Hi. Good morning. My name is everyone. Luna. And with Austin lost and found pets . We have 70,000 members and our mission is to reunite, lost and lost and found touch with her family. People used to be able to go to the often animal center to look for their lost pets under center cross, the Austin animal center has been so poorly run that finders have lost dog can't get dogs into the shelter for over a month. By then, most dogs have either been released onto the streets to re home. Animal control has essentially stopped picking up stray dogs, [10:15:54 AM] despite the ordinances requiring them to do so, and these dogs are left to suffer and die in the streets of a member of the public doesn't help them. For each month in the three years since Spencer cross but don Blandin to be director of the shelter. Intake of dogs in the shelter is 50% of but it was in your supplier. For example, in June 2016 the shelter took in and was a little to handle twice as many dogs as a shelter took in in June. 2022 2022, the often animal center spend its time and tax dollars, marketing their story that they have to restrict intake because of the large influx of dogs that has happened across the country. Luna thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Next speaker is Elizabeth gear brick. Hi my name is Elizabeth Gruber came a resident of district nine. And they understand that the decision appointing new city manager is unanimous, albeit years overdue. I won't waste [10:16:54 AM] time anymore than the dozens of wastelands for congress held or city or like instead of counsel for the utmost prudence ended fermenting his severance to offer no more than the bare minimum, contractually obliged. His salary is near 10 times that of the median after night, including mine. And most austinites who won't be able to afford cobra coverage. If they even get it, center cronk will be fine. The city of Austin people of the city of Austin who have suffered under him will not be, and so again, I would like to demand that he be offered no more than the bare minimum. Congrats contractually obliged in severance. That concludes the remote speakers. But before we go into in person speakers, mayor if I can make a statement that we're going to all the speakers were going to call three speakers at a time. So the first speaker please approach the podium and the other two. Please make your way to the front this way. This will allow us to streamline the process. We [10:17:55 AM] do have a Spanish speaker if and the interpreter is on the line. Jacqueline, can you hear us? Jacqueline. Yes I can hear you. Can you hear me? Yes. Thank you. One second. The first speaker is Linda knew no speaking on items one and two. On deck are Brandon James and Cleo petrotech. Okay Jacqueline, you may begin. Linden uno. One of those gonna learn English espanol. Against unesco Chacon. Congress council member, they can get the persona doesn't act cronk. Enbridge okay, now party policy here the [10:18:58 AM] hand of where Allah's victim as policy. Yolanda's memento. Momentum forward yesterday, killing area Mok lento yesterday. Gracias. Happy. Important Inglis espanola, swahili. Yeah, I don't get it was English or in Spanish. Tender against us. The truth is , we need to adjust distance of the place that he's been, but where he's been put. They can Sada they start. Party. To DNA [10:20:01 AM] me the other than in all of Dr Essa colavita. I'm sick and tired of fighting for a child, my child other than I have to adopt that I actually carry it has my D N a. It doesn't matter if I am speaking. So Healy, French or Japanese, you're still not hearing the voice of the people. The people who elect you. It's time for you to step down. And I asked every single council member in here to please do not cave and they're not forget the promises that you made to all of us. I am the survivor of a rapist who just happened to work for the a P D police. My case has been derailed at every single step of the way. My lawsuit for the fourth of July sexual assault along for arrest. While I was fighting against ISIS in the crimes against humanity perpetrated against my people [10:21:01 AM] was thrown out. I will not go away and I will not stop until you step down. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker is James Brandon on deck is Cleo petrotech and Cathy Mitchell. James Brandon. Cleo petrotech and Cathy Mitchell is on deck. I am here today in support of a four year contract, it's time to put a pd on stable footing so Austin can attract and retain the best talent in law enforcement. Those so loudly supporting a one year contract are the same who gave us the misguided and foolish defund policy. They have demonstrated that no sensible proposal is acceptable to them. And that they have zero concern for working class neighborhoods, businesses or schools. Every [10:22:02 AM] single one of you on the dies, knows that the brunt of crime and chaos falls on people who can't simply show up here to engage in the performative virtue, signaling so common with the activist crowd in this city , no matter how loudly they cry , racism, there is no getting around the fact that do you need me to stop, okay? It's people of color disproportionately from the misguided policies. These performance artists promote. It's time to stop the menace and support the result of good faith negotiations between the city and Austin police association would delivers both stability and Progressive oversight. Thank you. Next speaker is Kathy Mitchell on deck is jack west and Alexander stranger. After Alexander stranger is Davino [10:23:03 AM] Fernandez. Kathie Mitchell's indicated she doesn't need to speak on this island. Alex. Stranger, please proceed. Good morning counsel. My name is Alexander. Stranger my pronouns are clown clown self. Last week I applied to be the CEO of Austin energy. Unfortunately I feel as though you guys didn't take me seriously. But that's ok. I'm back. Apparently, there's a new job opening to be the new city manager. So I'm throwing my hat in the ring. This job that requires a lot more responsibility than being Austin energy CEO so I am asking for a base pay of $750,000 a year. Austin isn't expensive city, especially when you live on rainy street, go out to dinner five nights a week and use cocaine heavily. Not only that, but I blew my entire life savings on fighter and modern call options. And now I'm broke [10:24:04 AM] because people would rather listen to like Joe Rogan instead of the steam scientists like Bill Gates and Dr Fauci not only that, but my wife is immuno compromised. She has stage five testicular cancer. And when you refuse to get vaccinated, you're basically telling me that you want my wife to die. Back when I was the lead content moderator for Twitter. I called the police on my next door neighbor for going to the park by himself during covid and guess what? The police never came. So why should they get a four year contract? Also I was assaulted on June 15th 2020 after throwing a molotov cocktail through a small business because the owner called me by the wrong gender pronoun anyway, if I could get a job, as the city manager says on deck is Wallace Lundgren. If your name has been called, please make your way to the front. Gavino Fernandez. Wallace Lundgren. Elizabeth barren. Mr Lundgren, please proceed. Good [10:25:06 AM] morning. I'm here to ask you all to consider not firing Mr cronk. Give him a period of three or four months to get straight down and see what your mutual priorities are. I don't see any point in giving somebody a raise and 30 days later trying to find him, all right. Think it's horrible waste of $400,000. He was. He was good 30 days ago. Now he's no good because we had a storm. So I believe that you should outline what you think he should be doing and 90 days reevaluated. Go from there. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Elizabeth barren. On deck. Manuel Jimenez, then wanna Burton. Gas, pina. [10:26:10 AM] That concludes all the in person speakers for item two. Thank you very much. Members at this time , the chair will accept the motion. The motion will involve oh, yes, I do. Before we do that, I want to ask the city manager for clarity. Purposes. No. What I say. Oh, sorry about that. I want to ask the city attorney for some to make sure that we're operating under the posting. You know, in a way that is appropriate. The posting is such that the council would be in a position to terminate the employment of the city manager by removal of the city manager. It would be too. Pay the city manager. Separation pay entitled under the ordinance that hires the city manager, and it would allow for the employment of an [10:27:13 AM] interim city manager and set the pay scale for that interim city manager is that correct? That's correct, mayor. I know there's some talk about that. But you're posted for authorizing the payment of severance benefits and to appoint an interim city. Manager and the payment of the severance packages triggered either by council terminating the manager or by the manager being forced to resign, and that is what you were doing today. Thank you, madam city attorney. So the I will accept a motion. To be made by the mayor, pro Tim it will have three parts to this motion. The first would be the council removing Spencer cronk from the position of city manager effective February 16th 2023 approval of payment of all severance benefits to him and set forth set out in part two of ordinance number 201812. Those [10:28:18 AM] payments being a base pay for 12 months of 388,190. Cobra payments for six months in the amount of $10,234.92. Deferred compensation for 22 pay periods of $19,038.40. Of vacation pay out of 240 hours of 44,791. An exception vacation for hours of $746.50. Again in accordance with the ordinance that was passed with regard to the hiring of the city manager for a total of 463,001. The third part of the resolution would be for the appointment of his suits. Garza is interim city manager of the [10:29:18 AM] city of Austin. Effective February. 16th 2023. And to establish compensation and benefits for the interim city manager to become effective as of the effective date of the appointment and continuing until a new city manager is appointed and serving or until council takes other action inconsistent with this resolution. One. Acting base salary of $350,000 paid in accordance with normal payroll practices differed compensation contributions equal to $19,038.40. Annually paid in accordance with normal payroll practices and executive allowance equivalent to $7200 annually. Subject to applicable taxes and paid in accordance with normal payroll practices. Cell phone and data allowance equivalent to $1620.32 annually , plus an annual 225,000. I'm [10:30:20 AM] sorry $225 device allowance subject to applicable taxes and paid in accordance with normal payroll taxes and all other benefits allowable under city personnel and benefit policies. In accordance with the terms and conditions of those policies. Mayor pro tem. Thank you, mayor . I move approval of the motion seconded. I second. The motion motion has been made and seconded all those in favor of the motion. Say aye, or raise your hand. Casper, Robert Madison. The motion passes unanimously. I'm sorry, Mr mayor. It does not. I'm sorry. I'm not. I'm not. I'm not understand. It's just. You're voting? Yes so it is a is a unanimous, unanimous voting. No [10:31:21 AM] okay. Voting? Yes all right. Thank you. So are you. Are you voting? I am voting. No okay, very good. Then the motion passes on a vote of 10 to 1 with council member Natasha harper-madison vote being shown voting. No. For those that are here. The and here to testify. We are now going to take a brief recess. My hope is that it's no more than 10 minutes long and we will be back in and at that point in time, we will begin the public testimony with regard to item number one. Thank you all were now in recess. You know? [10:32:41 AM] Town self won't get hurt. [10:34:29 AM] Like up. Salary makeup. You got something. Just rhythm in my feet. Bringing. With your baby is something I just got to do? [10:43:22 AM] On the job. Think about that. Even now distant thunder. I know you. You want to go and find in your smile. Carefully here is own. It easy, Pennsylvania. Change your stay. Brass king. [10:44:35 AM] Begin in one minute. I'm gonna call the Austin city council back to order it's 10 45. I am on February 15th 2023. Before I call up the first [10:45:36 AM] speaker on item number one as part of public testimony would like to frame the moment of just a little. This is a significant and solemn day. It's important for us to recognize that we're dealing with arguably two of the most consequential decisions this city council will make. One is about who is the city manager or who is not the city manager of our city, and the other is about how we address the public safety. Of our city. And we need to address and approach this decision carefully, thoughtfully and fully informed. Of course, there's no one that's naive. Here we all know that we'll start the day and we'll end it with many who see decisions will make is only one way to be made. No in between no truly competing principles or values winner take all but to approach this decision carefully and thoughtfully we need to recognize and highlight three key principles that do in [10:46:37 AM] reality interact and they become intertwined, so it's not all or nothing binary choices when making these important public policy determinations. First we need to respect the people of Boston who empowered us to make this decision. And the city charter that empowers them to petition their government. We also need to respect the police officers who serve our community and provide them the stability and resources needed to keep them on the job. Our police department must be sufficiently staff so that austinites are both safe and importantly, whether they're in the comfort of their home where they're being pulled over for a traffic stop, and no one should fear the police making all lost night safe and able to feel safe, respecting our police officers and working for stability does not preclude and I would argue it necessarily includes a robust and transparent oversight of [10:47:37 AM] police. Third. We need to respect the process. Let me say it again. We need to respect the process. It absolutely matters how we take up the people's business. This proposed police contract, which is being considered in the context of not one, but two ballot propositions related to that contract should have been finalized weeks ago, with time enough before the current contract expires to allow the council citizens and stakeholder groups to review comment and provide feedback. A time to debate a time to make changes without being told. We all face catastrophic outcomes, a time to modify so as to avoid at least part of the all or nothing bs that comes when you try to do a process wrong. But that didn't happen. Last week, a last minute, four year contract [10:48:38 AM] was sprung on all of us the night before council was set to provide direction. Let me be clear. We are not going to do our business like this anymore. It stops today. The outcomes are too important. We as a council want to help our community show value for these three principles and move beyond this impasse and begin to hear each other and maybe even trust each other a little more than we do today. Madam clerk, will you please call the first? Person to testify. Yes mayor. We're going to take up a Spanish speaker who is here in person. Sarah Rodriguez. And would you emphasize again that we're going to call three at a time so that people will please make your way up? We have a number of people who have signed up to speak. We [10:49:38 AM] want to hear from everybody that we can operate this more efficiently. If when you hear your name and your on deck or in the circle to come up after somebody speaks if you'll make your way down so that you're ready to go the minute your name is called. Jacqueline, are you reading? Yes, okay. Apologies there must be a snafu. I'm not Spanish speaking or English as a second language speaker. Should I wait until my name is recalled or speak? Tell me your name. Roger. Yes, it might be another Sarah Rodriguez. Yes go ahead and wait until you, we call. Thank you for thank you. Thank you. Okay so we'll move to remote speakers. The first speaker is Clarence Williams. Is changing here. Me? Yes. Okay my [10:50:41 AM] name is and Williams I'm with black. Leaders collective. Rumors are different, grassroots leadership. Programs and the peace program and I'm 1/4 generation off tonight. My brother, Lawrence Pearce. He was shot April 7th 2017 in 2017 offices. What were required to where video footage. The first officer named Marcus Johnson, who is the face of the recruiting the apartment and had has been put on all billboards for the Austin police department bothers own body camera shot my brother in the face and lied about it. The whole department lied about it and even took us two years to get the truth. He was released after the truth came out. And two years after that. My brother. Recently [10:51:42 AM] passed away from the bullets that was in his heart and in his lungs. My brother was shot 12 times in his eyes and his nose and his mouth both. Thank you. Speaker. Your time has expired. Next speaker is masked max horsemen. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes. This is max horsemen. I'm calling in from district nine. And speaking today as a member of the public the public because we were told that a one year contract with the past and anything else is unacceptable. We don't need any hand wringing work stresses. We don't need you to blame anyone else to pass the one year contract. Also I think we don't need to hear anything more about how we should respect. The police from the Austin police association is the one who's going around misleading the public with the fraudulent petition. Please just pass the one year contract and everyone can just move on from there. Thank you. Next speaker [10:52:42 AM] is gambo V. Hey good morning council members, mayor Watson. I was hoping to be there in person today, but I'm not feeling sabraw. I'm a member of Austin de esa, district five residential, proud city employee organized with athletes. 16 24 regular city employee. I don't get a contract. Thousands of city employees don't get a contract. And the fact that a P D does get a contract and can engage in collective bargaining is a massive privilege that we bestow on a road department, so I think it makes clear and logical sense to reject before your contract push for a one year stopgap, which this council has signaled that they want already leave the decision on oversight to the voters in may, and then we can align all three of our emergency response contract between a D E. M S and equity at the same time. Ah, and have a one year contract isn't good enough for a P D. I want to ask you why it was okay to force it on the M S. Thank you. You have my time. Next speaker is John Harris. Yes I'm John Harris [10:53:48 AM] . I'm from district sex. And I believe in the one year contract because I want to have more police oversight. We have the opio, which is supposed to be doing oversight, but in 2021 220 , right by the opio to the 18, the only 100 only 90 were investigated. 100 and 30 words usually ignored. There's only suspensions essentially. People are complaining and nothing's happening, and also with resolution 95, which is designed after the George supported case. There's five recommendations from the opio that if you need to change their practices, and they knew it all but one we cannot have a police ignores its citizens of it. Lord the oversight, please. And if that means having a contract, and so did my time on the speaker. Marina Roberts. Good morning. My [10:54:53 AM] name is marina Roberts and I live in district four. I always hope that my city council reps recognize the distinction between good and bad faith event that it's helpful. I'm calling into assistance that you may be confused. This item is about a group of regular working class off tonight's you have on good faith organized in our community to prevent police from killing and beating us to death with impunity versus a bad faith city manager who was expending the dying breath of his career as a public servant to run through a four year contract, the definitive purpose of which is to help cops escaped the kind of accountability and oversight that this community is demanding. It is your job to recognize this difference in a few choose to permit this hail Mary buffoonery. Then you will be recognized and remembered by this community is having chosen decided that faith police and her cronies and letting them get away with murder. Basic accountability should not be on the bargaining table. Choose us . Otherwise you make it abundantly clear who you're really serving up there with the power we gave you. Next speaker [10:55:57 AM] is John Clark. Okay I'd like some of these other speakers. You can check my facts with actual facts and statistics. But let's get into talking about the actual numbers. Of the police department. I feel like the city council is not being completely honest with the numbers and what is actually employed by the department. At this time we have in the city of Austin. There are there are a lot important 1800 officers yet. Roughly 400 or on the force because of vacancies and long term injury leave. So there's legal at a rate of two officers for every 1400 people roughly. And if anybody believes that the Austin police department has actively targeting discriminating against and using force over any one particular part of the community over another. They haven't done their actual research. But I [10:56:58 AM] have. So let's look at other numbers of research. You have the glbt Q community black community and bipod community hispanic community that suffers a rate of victimization three times higher than any other part of the community. Your time has expired department. Next speaker is Ryan Warwick. Hi I'm Ryan words. Husband father of four and I support item one. To direct city manager to pursue a one year extension agreement with the Austin police association. With that said, I'm also for the police and the duties. They serve. What I'm not for as long term contracts being rushed that allow for the but just to go and check and lack of oversight when the taxpayer dollars that are used to pay for the police department. Every major corporation is running this country with oversight and proper governance CEO founder for companies that over $1.5 [10:57:59 AM] billion in value and thousands of employees and currently sitting on the board of several companies, I would never give a company leadership Norwood expected in my own company. The ability to have a budget approved management budget, the ability of governance fell for four years being unchecked. Accountability doing what is required and doing what is right is the only way success can be achieved. Four years of self oversight and control of fund increased too many opportunities for poor leadership to exist in place and not see the key objectives required to be carried out oversight and government for one year before so good results objectives to be a here too, and the ability to make changes that results aren't there. There's no difference than any larger small corporations in heaven and speaker your time has expired today. Please rejected four years three. And passed a one year contract. Next speaker is Katherine Chamblee. Hi my name is Katherine chandelier and I live in district seven. I'm calling to speak against the one year contract request you follow [10:59:00 AM] through with a four year commitment to city manager agreed to with a P a. In 2020 cadet classes were halted in order to re imagine the curriculum that was finally completed and we've now had to at most cadet classes graduate the most diverse in history. And here we are again in 2023 further reimagining. The negative connotations of the voices and decisions are affecting police. Morale, increasing resignations, retirements and negatively affecting recruitment. We need more officers we need to retain those and experience were severely lacking a patrol unit by locally owned lgbtq nursery garden. 17 has been burglarized three separate times in the last 30 days. They're an example. But far from the only locations that are being, subjected to repeat criminal actions. They are allowed to occur because of lack of patrol units. Kirk Watson won the election as the moderate voice indicating he would work with a P a to better the police relationships, and he needs to honor that promise. Now guardrails are in place. I ask you honor than four year commitment. Agreed to by our city manager. Thank you. Next [11:00:05 AM] speaker is Joan cat early. My name is Joan cat early and I've lived in Austin. Oh, gosh, about 50 years. So I've seen it grow and become listen. Let's see every year. I'm against agenda one and I'm in favor of a four year contract for a policeman. We need to show them a lot more respect than they get this point. Crime has risen in this city dramatically since. Well, she's Celeste two or three years. They don't get the respect that they deserve their they're punished things. For doing their job. Yes there are. There are evil people in the world and there are evil policemen, but the majority of them are good, and they're trying to help our citizens safe . It does no good to call 911 [11:01:05 AM] when a crime has been committed. Because there aren't enough police to respond to steps and breaking if they don't get this for your contact, a lot of them are going to retire or quit. And we're already as woman. Thank you, sir, already expired. Not over hope, sir. Hi I'm a resident of district nine. And I'm here to speak in favor of item one emerging the council to reject this four year police contract in favor of a one year contract that would give the voters the opportunity to weigh in on its police accountability in may. There are any counselors still considering approving a four year contract? I ask that you consider signing contract at this point with its limited accountability measures would play a significant amount of trust in the police department. And as soon as they are working in good faith attacked on the concerns of our citizens. [11:02:06 AM] However we know the police, you can have spent nearly $300,000 on a ballot measure that this secret voters and they gathered signatures signatures by misrepresenting themselves giving deceptive tactics. So I'm asking you to these outlet, the actions of an organization that is earnestly trying to build trust with their communities. Thank you for your time. Next speaker is Kellen Gildersleeve. Hi good morning. Austin city council members. Thank you for listening to our testimony today . I am telling Gildersleeve. I'm calling from district one. I'm a nurse here in Austin and also a member of Austin did say this may we have the opportunity to hear what the community thinks about police oversight, though we must already have some idea. In the summer of 2020. We saw just how important this is to our city when thousands of austinites took to the streets and the heat of the summer during the pandemic to hold [11:03:07 AM] accountable, please vote yes, on item one today so we can show that we do know what is important in this town and we are prepared to make reparations for Austin's historically racist, past and present. Thank you. Next speaker is rupaul chaudhari. Good morning Mary in council members. Qadri a business operator in district six often has been a national youth philosophy you two years not because we have achieved great heights, but because we have failed policies were top 10 cities in America. However we even felt utility failures after year for getting involved water notices. No electricity during winters from no solution to homeless and now we want to be nationalist again for having lowest police officers. I'm against item one and in favor of police contract since council member of island council member quantum proposed extension for one year and do not want for your contract proposal for them and any council member that [11:04:08 AM] supports this extension instead of four year contract. The data personal responsibility and have accountability towards second constituency for all the crimes committed in that district because of the policy for reimagining policing. But experienced leader mayor Watson we have a unique opportunity to start fresh rather than blindly following trends and untested political theories, Austin can be allowed to cities across the country and I first thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Thank you. Next speaker is Susan Russell. Hi thank you for letting me call in. I'm Susan Russell from district 10. I am not in favor of a one year contract. We have lost too many policemen already and more may resign this year a longer term contract but adds stability to the hiring and retaining of police officers. A one year contract would not accomplish this. Let's plan for the long term. I've had to do that in my [11:05:10 AM] own business. I am in favor of a four year contract that is being proposed. I had friends and other cities tour afraid to visit Austin because of the increase in violence. Longer term policies can solve some of our problems and thank you for all of you for serving. Thank you. Next speaker is Sasha rose. I asked. My name is Joshua rose . I am the prime part of Austin mutual aid is that. Is exactly what you're coming into the I've been in austenite for about 30 years ago. And something that I'm noticing. Not sure if you all are aware of there is an increasing, are trending demographics is actually in the high 60% of white of white. I mean demographics here. I was, in groundwater analysis run by the beautiful humans of saffron trust where we were discussing institutional racism. Especially [11:06:12 AM] in policing. They had forties at least, 40 a P D officers and community members. Some of them were cadet. Two of those people. But that they did not believe that institutional racism was real. Hearing that from our police department is concerning to me. I believe that we need more accounts of accountability of our police officers. I love the speak from personal experiences. I had a friend who was a P D officer. He was trying to be one of the good apples. He was run out of speaker. Your time has expired. Report. Next speaker is Elie cox. Good morning. My name is Elie cox. I'm a resident of district five and calling because I support item one because the police desperately need oversight. It's what Austin residents have told you consistently that we'd like. We have heard many, many statements about how the police [11:07:13 AM] officers lack resources, but they've always said money on this fraudulent position to circumvent democracy and oversight, which only proves that they need oversight. Please do not extend the contract past the year. Thank you. Next speaker is sandy Ramirez. Mcdonnell. Yes good day, you'll have concerns of officer response times, increasing murder rates and 256 police staffing crisis but continue with no real action to stop losing our officers. Officers do not want an unprecedented one year contract. It's not how any officer can reasonably plan their future in our city. That's not terrible. Not at all on February 28th of this year, we might have 200 officers that would be expected to be for retired. Have the contract does go through for one year. City and Austin, please. Association agreed. A four year contract must be passed for retention and recruitment. And, most [11:08:14 AM] importantly, finally, finally stability for our department and our city. Why not do your job? Give us basic infrastructure we pay for running power, save drinking water, stay walkable and drivable street and for the police department, which crime like the increase in homicides, violent assaults, armed robberies, petty theft, vehicle theft and incidents of breakfast and drunk drivers. We want a four year contract do what's right and vote against item one. Thank you. Next speaker is Lauren ordell. Hi. My name is born hotel and I live in district one. First I want to apologize to the first speaker who was cut off while sharing a deeply personal and devastating story to make room for those of us who haven't been impacted in such a severe way by our police department. I urge all council members to vote for item one police oversight, transparency and accountability shouldn't be bargaining chips and negotiation. Extending the [11:09:16 AM] current police contract allows the voice of the voters to be heard, rather than entrenching the city in a brand new four year contract that would leave her oversight and accountability system week and at the mercy of the police association. Our civil rights shouldn't be negotiable. Please vote in favor of item number one today. Thank you for your time. Nathan Fernandez. Alright counsel. This is Nathan Fernandez. President of Lawson, print resident district two. For far too long the residents of this city jury elected you all have been lost in the dark, the biggest chunk of our city's budget or take the most of our tax dollars and have allowed a P D in the data work as a road unit. Respect is given when armed and active has not given the community respect, therefore gets the respect they were in and should not have the power to have lack of regulations and oversight. From the community who pay their salary and settlements from the abuse statements but down residents this contract process [11:10:17 AM] the Shannon ballot measures I have to say the lack of cooperation to gain trust with communities and has not been a good faith effort to negotiate. Therefore we should approve a one year contract to ensure plenary oversight. Thank you. Start delgado. Alright my name got delgado. I'm a resident of district seven and I've lived in Austin for over 20 years. I'm calling in today. I'm working right now. But I felt like this was important enough to discuss that I'm in support of I don't want today. The Austin police oversight act is going to be voted on later this year. I feel like the only democratic, way to go about this is to go through with a one year contract for the police and then see how the public feels about their oversight. Once that's decided then the city council can decide on a more long term project. Or, [11:11:19 AM] for the police department. Until then, I don't think it's feasible to go through with that , especially with the misconduct and brutality that we've witnessed in the past several years. Mark moon sing. My brother Rajan menon single was killed three months ago today. Boston pd. If Chacon conducted a press conference several hours after his death. Purposefully gave false information. Made this tragedy so much more difficult for our family. Why would the chief say that he was a white person? And refused to acknowledge the 911 caller. He said Rajan was the homeowner scared of something in his house. After the press conference with frantically searched for two days before a P D confirmed it was him. That same press conference attended by interim director of police oversight Sylvia Hartman, several executive members of the [11:12:20 AM] command staff. Not one of them intervened as a chief made false statements to the news media. Please vote for one year contract so we can hear from the Austin residents and rebuild public trust. Next speaker is Laura nickel. Hello I'm a resident of district nine. And I'm speaking in favor of agenda item one. I was duped into signing the fraudulent Austin police oversight petition backed by the Austin police association . I'm extremely upset at the actions of the EPA, misleading voters and attempting to avoid accountability. In December. My boyfriend and I were walking home from dinner. On east sixth street, and a young woman approached us Afghans to sign a petition for increased police oversight. It was a little weird because we'd already signed the original petition, but the language was the same, and she insisted this was needed to get everything back on the ballot. When I found out this petition [11:13:20 AM] had no connection to the original, I cannot explain how angry and gross I felt. Like I've been used, but also ashamed that I had let down my community and now the voters. We're going to be just as confused as I was. Tapia is clearly not about building trust with the communities. They put forward. The sketchy petition obscured where it originated and had their chemistries lie to us. The police will not increase transparency on their own. And they will continue to actively withhold information. I support agenda item one. Thank you. Next speaker is Noelia man. Hi my name is new alien man and I'm calling from city council district number four and I'm going today to urge you to pass item number one. I'm not sure I can add anything to all the powerful and well informed speakers who came before me. But I will say that my grandmother died last night. And instead of being with my family and here on this call, because it is outrageous to me that this is even a question. Often police [11:14:21 AM] misconduct and brutality remains serious issues and we want stronger oversight and accountability to deter it. Item number one strengthens and stabilizes our civil rights and it's an important step towards a more transparent system. You must pass item number one. Thank you. Jennifer chess quits. Hi good morning. My name is savage . I am a district eight residents and I do not support resolution one. Austin needs a fully staffed and supported police department. This contract has been negotiated for months as a four year contract, and it should not now be switched to a one year contract with the last minute the actions of this city council have demoralized the Austin police department and we have historic understaffing. I have a friend who was alone at home when someone tried to break in, and she called the police and waited, scared for hours, and no one ever showed up because of the understaffing. [11:15:23 AM] This contract has changed to a one year deal. It will further demoralize our Austin police officers and almost certainly lead to more officers leaving or retiring, and we'll make recruiting new officers more difficult. Please vote no on resolution one. Thank you. Cs Gordon. Can you hear me? Yes. Just call just calling into boat encourage everyone to vote against item one. Our police staffing isn't insanely low levels that needs to be brought back up. And again just vote against item one support the police. Give them a four year contract and don't give in to the anarchists. Alright. Thanks so much. Bye bye. Monica Guzman. [11:16:24 AM] Good morning. I'm Monica Guzman . Native austinite D four residents speaking in support of item one last saw you approved of what the original legitimate police oversight act on the main six ballots. You're both placed a decision in the hands of the Austin voters. Many individuals and organizational reps have done the work we talked about and walk the walk. Now it's your turn, support, protect and ensure our right to vote by approving item one supporting a four year contract. Lastly, transparency, accountability and civilian oversight is a disservice to Austin eyes and backing out on your vote. Thank you. Council member of L. A. For your post regarding the police contract, temporary extension, comparing the legitimate and imposter a Pio eight do not delay justice. Justice for us and residents approve item one approval, one year temporary police contract today. Yes on a no on B yes, on a no on B yes, on a no on B. Quincy Dunlap. [11:17:41 AM] Quincy Dunlap, please under can you hear me? Yes can you hear me? Hello. Yes please proceed. Okay, okay. The Austin area urban league is in favor of the one year contract. I need individuals to understand that this is not about long term compensation. A P D officers or command. This is about oversight . So I want people to stop confusing the two issues and speak directly to the benefit of oversight. More community oversight. From a one year perspective. We're in favor of the one year contract right with the possibility of establishing a long term contract once we get through the first year and tweak the community's participation and oversight. We can no longer have the community. Step aside or sit down and not participate [11:18:43 AM] in the oversight, right? This is about accountability to the taxpayers. This is about the protection and safety of the taxpayers and the one year contract give the community a direct impact on that system. The four year contract. There's a deception. We are not for the measure that was put forward by the association as an attempt to destroy speaker your time has expired necessarily put forward by the community. Betty Stewart. Yes this is Betty Stewart in south Austin. And I can say that reviewing the post on next door over the past several years proves that the approach to policing that this city council the city has been taking is not working. There was one man. From southeast Austin, who is pleading for help because thugs [11:19:44 AM] and criminals had declared they were in charge of his neighborhood. And there's one intensive consequences, which is lower quality candidates are applying for and being accepted for police and sheriff's departments, which will result in more of the behavior that those who are four proposition. Item one. I don't want it's just in thinking that and I think there needs to be a clear message if you are going to commit quarrying. Be prepared for consequences up to and including death. Thank you. Nathan graves. Can I be heard? Yes. Please proceed. Okay we have a problem with crime. My name is Nathan. I'm a member of often DNA. And we have a problem [11:20:44 AM] with crime and politics in the city of Austin, and that crime and lawlessness begins in the Austin department. They have engaged in unethical and fraudulent behavior. We cover up and, in in. Leighton Smith conduct violence if we want to, I will respect the police department. When they stopped opposing the democratic will of the people when they stop resisting anything. Any turns when they stopped beating and brutalizing our citizens in the street. Thank you. J. Pop, hello . Council members. Thank you. You know you got to stop. Paper moment district. I'm concerned that yeah. We'll call on him again. Christian Durham. To [11:21:46 AM] detox. I think and then, Christian Durham, adult specialized female women and children and youth. Right? And then, but one thing is like, where does HIV like Travis ward. Hi my name is Travis ward district nine resident and member of Austin did say I'm calling to support a one year police contract and give austinites the best chance that real police accountability in may. The latest four year contract was pushed by X city manager Spencer cronk and a team of police, defending lawyers and city negotiators. The people of often want police accountability as soon as possible. We can't afford to wait for years knowing that hey, petey, is one of the most violent departments in Texas. They say they need a four year contract to improve staffing for public safety always seemed to have extra [11:22:46 AM] officers to do things like defend dumpsters from one house folks trying to survive during a free their recent brutality, settlements defunded the city of Boston millions of dollars that could have gone to public safety services and fair wages. Alex Gonzalez Jr was murdered by a rampaging off duty police officer and that officer is still on the force on punished. We know what a lack of police accountability looks like, and we don't need four more years of it. Yes to when your contract yet to real police, accountability and a hell you have to fire and cross. Thanks for your time. Aaron Freeman. Yeah. Yes, I'm Aaron Freeman. I live in, sorry, I would have been a district four. I'm calling in favor of item one and for one year extension of the current contract. I'm thankful that we will get to vote on [11:23:47 AM] police oversight in may, but I was concerned to hear about this last minute attempt to push for it for your contract. That would forestall the will of the people for four years. These last few years of venerable er, but that's from the perspective of someone privileged to not be a direct victim of police violence. For the thousands who have died at the hands of law enforcement. That time was and will be an eternity for the many more thousands who have suffered harassment loss and any other improper conduct by the police. That time will not blur. It will linger in their minds for lifetime. We cannot afford to delay. Public oversight of public service employees and awesome police department. And that our community wants the desperately vote on in may can extend the current contract for one year, and we should, and then resume one long term contract negotiations after the upcoming vote. Thank you. Speaker. Your time has expired. Savannah Shanks. Hey my name is [11:24:52 AM] ready to fire. You do the right thing and resign. Mary you said that nobody should fear the police. But that's not the current reality. The one year contract for awhile oversight that is missing at this time and will not be able to vote it on to be voted on for two months, allow the cities and make the decision before stopping it from being announced. It'd but resign Maryland agreeable one, in contrast to the folks advocating for a four year contract. What's the point of at least force if there's no oversight for officers who are murdering people and remaining on the board? You want officers who have no consequences for their actions. Thank you for your time. Bye. Let's try J pop, again. Hello council members and my coming through. Yes, thank you. Hello wonderful. Okay council members. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak on this topic. I'm concerned that this four year contract with inadequate oversight was pushed through at the last minute to the detriment [11:25:52 AM] of the city. I urge the council to opt for renewed one year contract that will allow the voters to decide on the maid ballot. How we can keep our communities safe and healthy. I believe Austin can be a national leader on accountable, responsible public safety but civilian oversight necessary component. I believe that the public release of information about police conduct serves a law enforcement purpose by increasing trust in the police as the states. I also believe that the basic principle that no person and no institution can be an impartial judge and their own case. A four year contract would perpetuate the same abuses and worst practices that the voters have rejected and will continue to reject and that the city council has been working earnestly to correct I'd like to thank, especially council member Fuentes for her office is excellent communication and community responsiveness during my time as a constituent, many thanks as well to council members villa, qadri, Velasquez and Puentes for your courageous leadership on this item council members. I urge you to respect the voters who put you here and give us the opportunity to vote [11:26:53 AM] for your time has expired. Thank you. Christa, durum. Yeah it is . I feel like it's just a typo that says room and Ramsey by six. Hello I'm Ramsey districts community organizer with Austin the essay and born and raised off site currently living in district seven. I am strongly in favor of item one. Looking for a one year police contract is your duty as our city council to ensure that Austin it's our state nurse city. Strong police oversight should be the first action this council's will take before any other police business oversight is critical to us feeling safe and in interactions with the police, especially when the Austin police association has been using fraud and deception. To undermine the will of the voters. As a community organizer. I've talked with many diverse people from all over Austin, not just district seven. [11:27:53 AM] Without exception, each citizen I've talked to has been in favor of stronger oversight. The story of Alex Gonzalez juniors murder tells the story of a violent and callous police department. They can only be reined in with strong oversight. Running for a one year contract. One sure in may. The voters can decide on what sort of oversight we want for our community. Thank you for your support and dedication to the city of my time. Ashley Prevost. My name is Ashley Priebus, and I'm a resident of district four calling in favor of item one. I believe that for approving a four year contact with weakened oversight that was pushed through at the last minute and a bad faith effort will undermine democratic decision making in the city and that increased oversight and transparency will increase trust in the police item. One will allow voters to vote on the oversight system they support and then allow the city to implement the will of the voters in the future long term contract. Extending the current place contract allows the voice of the voters to be heard rather [11:28:55 AM] than entrenching the city in a brand new four year contract that would lead the city's oversight and accountability system week and at the mercy of the police association and keeps them tied to opposite wages and benefits are civil rights shouldn't be negotiable. A young man time. Brian barber. My name is Brian barber. I'm a licensed professional counselor here in Austin. I am very much against item one very much in favor. Of the four year contract. My understanding is that the city of Austin suffers. What was a deficit. Of officers on the street of about 400. For this size city of my fear is not Austin police. My fear is the crime. That continues to increase in this city and which has been, just at devastating as far as I'm concerned levels. I think it's you're responsible for the city council. To reject before your contract that has [11:29:56 AM] been hammered out. We'll see. With the Austin police association alone that the city manager and, so I very much opposed this idea of a one year extension very much in favor of the of the of the four year contract. I am not an activist and the taxpayer. That's my thought. Thank you very much. Greg Bosley. Hi my name is Greg Bosley. I'm a member of Boston and member of the Texas state employees union. We do not have an opportunity to bargain until legal in the state of Texas. Unlike a pd, I'm urging city council to vote in favor of item one and allow voters to choose the level of police oversight that we need and that we deserve. Before your contract was pushed by center cronk. He is an unelected bureaucrats. He's repeatedly ignored the will of our cities, presidents. And [11:30:57 AM] we need to end the international embarrassment of police impunity for racist violence and the killing of our citizens. Thank you. You're my time. Alan Nirenberg. Alright my name is Alan Nerenberg district 10 have been in autumn off residents for almost 40 years of the last 20 here. I am against the one year extension. I think that we do need to get a four year plan in place. I know there are issues. Everybody also have issues, but I think right now, he was our city manager still is today he negotiated this and I think that we need some stability with the police department. Crime is out of control. Thank you. Sara gore. So my Sara gore and in the [11:31:59 AM] long term resident of district seven, when I went to vote in November, I was approached outside dinner shrine by people from out of town who are getting signatures for deceit. Will police petition? I don't appreciate the way that the a P D has tried to confuse voters are now further trying to disfranchised disenfranchised, often voters by pushing for this contract to council vote yes, in item one so that I can vote on the issue in may. The police never seemed to have money. But when they wanted to see voters, they find plenty of money. When they need millions to pay their settlements. They find the money in the pockets of the city of Boston and his taxpayers. Thank you. Jordan's Morehead. Hi I appreciate everybody's time and everybody's comments. I am a resident of district one. And I oppose item one. I just don't feel that it's fair to let people have long term or to give people a one year contract and tell them to plan long term and [11:33:00 AM] take care of their families and do everything they can to protect our city when we're not even willing to support them for more than a year. No elected official would run for office for one year and then have to go do that all over again. A year later. I think we're creating more work for ourselves. Further down the road in this next year when we're trying to negotiate the next contract, let's just get a four year contract out of the way. We're already having problems with crime and police shortages and people don't feel safe in their homes. Thank you for your time. Has zip Abdullah. My name is Hamad. Seven member, resident. I'm against item number one for several reasons. The city selected, silly managers selected by the city and often piece association negotiating mutually agreeable contract. This negotiated contract, I believe will help retain and recruit the best and the brightest. I see that I [11:34:03 AM] personally see the demonization of peace officers going kind of summer to how you scapegoat or religion or race after high profile incident or any incident. I'm just a stereotypes both races and religions are wrong. But whether positive or negative, I think as part of the whole profession similarly as wrong changes desired in the criminal justice system wants to take that up to account at the local level or here at the state legislature, which is actually in session right now, the criminal justice system is neither great improvement here in Texas and city of Boston that I shouldn't be stereotyping and power perception. Please vote against Ireland number one and, go and please don't put the four years that have already been negotiated and agreed upon between the city your time has expired. Sofia Rodriguez. I am. My name is Sofia Rodriguez findings calling from district one it's more. It's very horrifying to hear my community [11:35:05 AM] complained about Austin police. But I do wish to say that this is a very confusing decisions because of the fact that we do need the police. We do need for your contract. But again. I want to go with property. I want to go with number one because the police do need oversight. Okay? Government has. Has way too much power over us. And the way it is so sad. The as you can see. Huh. The importance. Keeping a police funded. Here and Austin people shoes. To bang camping, so we need the officers to take care of the campaign. We need the officers. I'm going to tell you that thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Wow. Michael [11:36:08 AM] Luxembourg. I'm Michel Luxembourg district for resident . I just want and here in support of item one absolutely extended one year contract because first of all, crime was worse here 10 years ago by a substantial margin, it's not actually getting much worse. And even if you believe that it is getting worse, the budget has been ballooning the past several years. And so if you think crime is getting worse while they get more money, that is a clear demand for oversight. And if that's true, we need to do this one year extension and then let the people vote to determine an oversight program that the people of bosnia okay with the same people who like to be used to be council are comfortable with and willing to willing to abide by. Thank you. Thomas Lemansky. Hello hello. This is [11:37:08 AM] Thomas Lemansky with district nine. Or I live in district nine. I apologize. I guess, given the uncertainty of the fate of city mayor cronk and the long process of finding a new city manager should cronk they vacate the position either willingly, or by council action. It only makes sense to sync up the a P a contract. With that search for a new city manager. Therefore, I am for item number one. I yield the rest of my time. Sam carry. Good morning. My name is Sam and I live in district seven. We've already heard from a couple of people today who have lost loved ones too often. Police violence and those deaths and others like them or why I am for item one. Ah I think that oversight, transparency and accountability should be of the highest priorities in order to keep off tonight safer and in order to do that, we should have a say in our democratic process on the police oversight bill in may, so [11:38:10 AM] I'm asking, please vote for item one. Thank you very much for your time today. Soo park. My name is too and I've been a friend of Russian menacing since we were kids until he was killed by an often police officer exactly three months ago. It's Rajan died, there have been two overwhelmingly shared emotions. Among his love comes first. We feel, of course, an incredible loss, but not just for ourselves. Also devastating losses potential of such a positive force for Austin and the community. Second we share the sense of shock. That for me hasn't waned even after three months. In part of the investigation of the shooting that killed Rajan has not progressed. But truthfully, we shouldn't be shocked. This is another example of how police accountability and oversight are lacking in Austin, and that we and the majority of your constituents are asking you to change. Please have to urgently for the safety of austinites and vote. Yes, on item one. Thank you for your time. Danica obradovic. High council members [11:39:14 AM] . My name is Danny, which I'm so sorry to the previous speaker for her loss. I live in district for lived in Austin for 15 years . I am in favor of agenda item one. I was one of many austinites deceived into signing of fraudulent police oversight petition. I tend to be connected to what's going on in this city. And yet I was tricked. Petitioner approached me as I was leaving work at the end of the day occupied with a dozen thoughts influenced me by making an emotional plea about the city needing to hold police accountable for their actions, which is an issue I care deeply about and referencing equity action, a group whom I trust and whose example of activism I follow. It is absolutely vital to extend the current police contract for a year so that the voters can make a decision about police oversight in may before a long term contract is negotiated . If the police oversight act that equity action established as diverted so many austinites [11:40:15 AM] will be deprived of their will. This is a threat to public safety. And for some deprived of the chance for outcome. Your time has expired time their lives fighting for thank you. Cassie Sodergren. Good morning. My name is Kathy sotogrande. I'm a resident of district nine. And I'm speaking in support of item one. We need a one year contract so voters can make a decision about police oversight in may before the city returns to bargaining a long term contract before your contract lacks the oversight and accountability often I need and it is a conflict of interest given the Austin car. Nichols report of cross personal ties for the treasurer of the often police association passed a four year contract. Now is just the will of the people that has been made clear last week and again this week that often I support a one year contract any council member and opposition to or questioning the one year contract that [11:41:16 AM] provides a chance at some accountability. With our police forces, frankly, in need of a moral inventory. Frank is being fired for a reason. His push for a four year contract is not sound. It is not reasonable and it does not prioritize community health and safety. Thank you for your time. Maryland, Wendy. Mhm. Hello? Can you hear me? My name is Marilyn. Wendy I'm a member of the party for socialism and liberation and Austin city council does not vote in favor of item one. They're making clear they do not want voters to have a say in police oversight and accountability. This past fall, we learned that awesome place association paid large sums of money to trick Austin voters and designing of police oversight petition that actually weakened police oversight. Before your contract before days , another indication that often please do not trust voters to decide for themselves without coercion. This is because [11:42:16 AM] awesome, please have been telling people with impunity if he D killed Mike Ramos, Alex Gonzalez Munoz, singer Anthony Franklin and many others in recent years. Of course, people in Austin are questioning a pedes ability to keep people safe. People in Austin are learning that investment of almost $400 million police budget into jobs, housing, health care and education would do a lot more to improve tastes safety especially if we do not have a say in how policing works in Austin city council does not vote in favor of item item one there indicating to voters that they're on the side of awesome. Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Katy Sigler. Hello. Do you hear me? Yes. Please proceed. Okay my name is Katie siegler. I am in district one. And I am here. First of all to [11:43:19 AM] say I can only speak for myself . I'm not going to speak for everyone else that lives in often because that wouldn't be fair. I am a opposed opposed to a one year contract. Because I think that with anything contracts say is marriage security stability doesn't come with a one year contract, and there is none of our governmental speech. Anywhere that are voted in for just one year. There there is no security. There is no stability in that. I don't understand why we have to have one or the other. I think. Yes, we need oversight. For sure. I agree with everybody on that. We need accountability. But we need safety to we need safety because we can have we can have no rights. If we have no safety because we may not even be so, I'm opposed to just that one year contract and asked that we go forward with a four year contract. Thank you. Are you of my time? Jacob Arana wits. Hi. [11:44:24 AM] My name's Jacob Aronowitz. I am a constituent of district one. Speaking today in favor of item one and a one year contract with the police association. It's vitally important that we preserved democratic norms and allow the voters to speak on issues before they decided on council. We should not allow an unelected now disgraced and fired city manager to short circuit the democratic process. I and my workers labored in the hottest summer on record in this city to get this on the ballot with equity action. And it was validated by the city when it came before the city council for consideration of implementation , they said. They put it on the may ballot. To allow us to voters to speak on it. And they said quite quite frankly, that they wouldn't implement a contract of a long term before the voters got to speak on it. I look forward to seeing them keep to their word and respect the [11:45:24 AM] inquire community of Boston and allowed for the process to take place in may and for a real decision to come from the people who are their constituents, your community. Laura barber. Hi. My name is Laura barber. And, and it my feeling is the primary job of the city council and our mayor is the safety of the taxpayer. And we're in our neighbors would no longer feel safe in our community. And our police and grossly understaffed crime seems to be out of control . We don't feel safe going downtown anymore. And in my opinion nerd, overwhelming number of victims of crime that do not get the time and the attention from the police that [11:46:25 AM] they pay for and that they deserved. Many instances we hear of people in distress calling for police that just don't have the manpower to show up. And I don't think anyone wants police state, but and we do want police to tell them ability, but we need to give the police some stability and security and I think it's counterintuitive to continue to do the police Chelsea brimmer. Support item one for a one year contract and urged the council and mayor to vote in favor of item one. It. It is outrageous that this for your contract is trying to be forced through by the disgraced , hopefully soon to be fired city manager cronk and the voters. Should get the [11:47:26 AM] opportunity to vote. On equity actions oversight act in may. Cronk cannot and have not been able to negotiate effectively for the citizens of Austin when he is biased towards the a, P D and a P a. He must be fired and he does not deserved one cent of our taxpayer dollars in a severance package. Yes on a no. On the thank you. Frank nature. How do y'all frank metric here and proud district one. I'm asking you to vote in favor of item. One there are many people who are expressing concerns about safety about a one year contract or like it's some kind of radical idea. That is what our E M T S are currently going through because the a B a sabotaged their union contract negotiations were asking simply [11:48:28 AM] to be heard as voters. A P O a will be voted on in may before your contract is an attempt to sabotage that, and we've seen what a what the a P D does with their money when they're given raises. They turn around and they lied to us. Thank you very much for your time and attention. Hope you have a great day. Bye. Next speaker is Erica flores. Hi this is Erica flotus district one. There is nothing that I can say that hasn't been more eloquently said by other people that are for, item one, which I am as well. But I am a former member of the community police review commission and as former vice chair, I want to say that our oversight is severely lacking and there's so much more that we can do. We will call her back. Next speaker is Eric. I [11:49:30 AM] mean, Mike Erickson. Sorry about that. This is Mike Erickson. I'm the precinct chair of forces and for here in Austin, and I'm voting or calling in support of, however, number one I'm also a pilot, and basically I have oversight to make sure I do my job, right? But this proposal basically once it gets rid of oversight on the police department that makes no sense to me. But I mean, we can get rid of her side on pilots and nurses and doctors and police departments. That sounds ridiculous. So yes, I'm voting. I'm correct. And I'm calling to, in resolution of support of number one. Thank you. Erica flores. Yes. Can you hear me? Yes. Go ahead. Okay great. Bye [11:50:32 AM] this is Erica flores district. One I there's nothing that I can see that sports before me, haven't said a little bit more eloquently. I am for item one. But what I can say is I am a former vice chair of the community police review commission and, what I have seen during my time in the C P. R C. And in my ability to be on the oversight commission is that there is a lot of work that still needs to be done to have affective transparent oversight within the city of Austin, so I strongly urge the council and the mayor to let the will of the voters be heard and to have real meaningful oversight for the city of Austin for the APD and to stick with the one year contract and let the will of the voters be heard. Thank you. Mayor pretend that concludes the remote speakers, so we'll move to in person and again before we begin calling on the speakers. We ask, I will be calling three [11:51:33 AM] speakers at a time. So the first speaker please approach the podium and the other two. Please make your way to the front so that we can streamline the process. So we'll begin with Nelia Erickson on deck is Sofia Rodriguez and J pop them? I'm sorry. That was the incorrect list. Okay. The first speaker is Joanne moon sing. On deck is Brian crow and Andrew Harris. Hi my name is Johan Muna singer . I'm Rajan's brother. Today is a three year anniversary of his killing by the Austin police department. Roger was more than my little brother. He was my co founder. My neighbor, my best friend. I saw Roger almost every [11:52:36 AM] day for the last five years when we moved together to Austin. There is a crime problem in Austin. Just two weeks ago, one of my neighbors was stabbed and on the sidewalk in front of my home. But the solution is not to put up with what we have today. It is not working. And if it were working, Roger will be with us today. Police resigned because they don't want accountability. These aren't the police that we want vote for a one year contract so that we have the time to negotiate a contract that gives Austin police higher pay incentives to do a great job increased recruitment incentives but also gives us a safer Austin through police, accountability and transparency. We need a safe Austin so that no other family has to go through what we've gone through. Thank you. Next is Brian crow on deck are Andrew Harris and. Sarah Rodriguez. Ask yourselves. Why are the police lobbying for last minute deal [11:53:37 AM] with less pay than the one year in exchange for putting off any real accountability? For at least another four years. This along with their threats of quitting if we add oversight. Amounts to a blatant self confession of guilt. Make no mistake. Any officer that resigns over getting a one year contract that pays them more. Is someone with something to hide. Losing them will be a good thing. To be clear. This is not an anti police stance. I want to pay a pd officers who are not afraid of accountability more clean house of those who are so scared of sunlight that they'd be willing to take lower pay if it keeps them in the shadows for another four years. We've seen videos of a pd, breaking their own rules with deadly irreversible consequences. Their rapist still on the force. And nothing is done about it. When police police themselves we get oversight theater with no real accountability. There's no teeth . They know that when there are no consequences for a rule that effectively there is no rule. [11:54:38 AM] Next is Andrew Harris on deck are Sarah Rodriguez and aj juska. Drop the gun. That's how long the police gave my brother in a little Raj to obey their command. They arrived with no lights, no sirens and shot him was hiding behind a fence after being shot three times with no idea what was going on where I was dropped his gun, but still, the officer fired again and again. Then instead of giving him AIDS, they handcuffed him and he died. The combined law affect the combined law enforcement association of Texas , said it's important to recognize that whilst this event is a tragedy, the officer followed his training. Drop the gun. Are you okay with the police training in your city being to shoot without investigation? Are you okay? That someone who loved going to a C L and F one and let the little kids across the road play on his basketball who wasn't given a chance? He ran for office because you care about Austin and the people who live [11:55:40 AM] here today you have an opportunity to show the people you care by voting for item one and giving us the time to ensure better police. Accountability and training. Please do the right thing. And don't let this happen again. Drop the gun. Next is Sara Rodriguez on deck, aj your esca and Cavin months I sing. Hi yeah. I just want to read a little bit from the reports for the co creation of the current, anonymous and complaint process because essentially, if you voted for the four year contract, you would be demolishing it and basically demolishing ability to complain in a way that would fully capture misconduct and hold people accountable. Hold a pd accountable and so the previous process here are some of the voice of people who have lived experience and happy to share those reports from the work. I think it's I've shared with those office and it's been shared with fellas office, folks [11:56:41 AM] that have had a really bad experience. There's a fear of Rupert of retribution to ask for your address at the top is wiping out a lot of complaints right off the top having the address on there. It's like, okay, so now the cops know where I live. We had a few stores from one member of the public. We had a few stores in south Austin community that were robbed and let alone complaining. They won't even report the crime to the police out of fear that they might get deported or victimized by the police. From another member of the public, and then trying to I guess that's my time people who did this. They're no longer here. All of that information has been that office no longer exists so that process wouldn't be able to be duplicated and I can share thank you. Speaker your time is expired. Next is aj dress ca on deck are Cavin moon sing and Matt cida. Ma'am I would like to ask the last speaker if you could email that to everyone. I'm over here. Sorry the mayor has stepped away for a minute. But if you could email that to us as well, appreciate it. Thank [11:57:42 AM] you. Hi my name is a J. Giraffe ska. I live in district seven. And I am here speaking in support of item one I've worked in leadership and nonprofits for nearly a decade. Nonprofits are lucky when we get a one year grant for your contracts are very rare and explicit accountability is built into any contract. Some grand tirz even ask for their money back if a nonprofit doesn't follow their rules, it makes no sense to me that we would give one year grants to nonprofits. But give the police a four year contract without the same accountability we expect of others serving our community. The four year contract that city manager cronk has put forward lacks clarity and fails to define terms and clear restrictions on civilian oversight. And has killer restrictions on civilian oversight. If you trust your districts, please let us have our say in may and let our will be incorporated into the next, into what the police do without us having to wait four more years for more accountability. I urge you to vote for item one. [11:58:42 AM] Thank you so much. Next Kevin moon sing on deck are Matt cida and Ruth moon sing. Mayor and city council. My name is covered . Witnessing your father of Roger were shot several times by a stream police officer after he had his hands up. So if he said, didn't identify himself and ambushed on his own front porch , his security camera captured it all. Killing head cut off for six minutes when he was not a threat. And tonight, lifesaving . Ed is this what you call following protocol? My son was treated worse than an animal. Please forward for one year extension of the contracts. We can find ways to reward the police. Cool follow policies and [11:59:43 AM] hold accountable. Tools who don't thank you. Next is max Aida on deck are Ruth moon sing and Michael cida? Thank you. City council members for letting me speak today. My name is Matt Seda, co founder of in kind here in Austin, where we have about 70 employees. I'm an empathetic bipartisan person. I've lived here in Austin and district five for five years before that in Washington, D C. Melbourne, Australia and south Pasadena, California where my father was a council member and mayor for a number of years. Austin is the only city I've lived in. Have questioned the system of checks and balances. The governor police department I feel unsafe , not because of crime here in Austin because I do not trust that our police department are held to standards that appropriately reflect their power and responsibility. My best friend and co founder Rajan [12:00:44 PM] munna Singh was shot and killed. On his own doorstep by a P D. Well, he was protecting yourself. Respected intruder. I respect the police because without them society cannot function, but it's hard for me to feel protected when our police department can go and check without accountability. That is why I'm here speaking in favor of item one for one year contract. We need greater oversight and accountability so we can all feel safer in the city. We call home. Thank you. Next is Ruth moon sing on deck are Michael cida and Derek Keller. I'm Ruth menacing. Today is very hard. You see this day marks that three months that anniversary of my son rod was shot dead by the Austin police. Coincidentally it is also the grand opening of his restaurant member here in Austin. Redden was here he would be touching [12:01:45 PM] the tables, making sure everybody was having a good time. Just like Rajan. No one else could do this. You know, I have this plaque. This is all I have to show for him today at the restaurant. The only thing that this grieving mother is asking you I'm sorry is that you enforce police policies, ensure accountability and transparency , spend money on technologies and training that saves life. What yes and one, please. Thank you. Next is Michael cida on deck are Derek Keller and Noel Katarina. Hello there. My name is Michael ceta. I like to think of a pretty normal guy, vote on both sides of the aisle and I really do appreciate the support of the police. I've never spoken [12:02:46 PM] to this city council. No, no. I felt compelled to come up here and speak. I don't know. This just kind of seems like a no brainer. I mean, it's a question of accountability. Look, I've heard the economic argument and having studied economics for a long time. I understand that the short term costs here are going to drastically outweigh or not going to be outweighed by the long term costs. So to me, that just doesn't make much sense. Look, I think that, I support the police and I want this town to be the safest possible. I just asked that if citizens support this, we know accountability will be greater. The long term benefits will outweigh the short term costs. Mr mayor and council. I just it seems like a no brainer. I don't understand this, so I asked you to vote yes to support this to me. It's quite simple. So thank you. Next speaker is Derek Keller on deck are Noel category and Edward Blaine. Thanks for [12:03:49 PM] opening this to the public. I've spent the last 15 years watching my brothers served in the air force, in South Korea and across Europe and the Americas. I am conservative person. I have always voted that direction. It's likely I will continue voting that direction. Until something strikes close to home . Your mind stays pretty firm on what you think when I lost my closest friend in Texas. My mind started to change a bit. That could have been me, given the exact same circumstances living in Westlake behind a gate. That very well. Could have been me. And that could be each and every one of you. And as we start to behave like I have for the last 15 years, is a cfo of tech companies. I despise auditors. I do. They come in. They nitpick. They search for problems and they create problems. But we played by the same role book as a cfo and as auditors, which makes me look at them more as pests. I don't mind them at all. I know that if I'm in the right [12:04:49 PM] , there's nothing they can do to harm the decisions that I've made to leave my companies if the police are in the right and I do not support defund the police. I support the extreme opposite. We should pay double triple. To these people that are given their lives like my brother has but we should expect accountability in return and the public should be given the right to deeply oversee what happens there. Thank you. Speaker your time has expired speaker is Noel kateri on deck are Edward Blaine and Dianne Keller. Hello I am in district three in favor of one year contract. This will allow the city and citizens time to ensure proper accountability and oversight measures so that our city is stronger, safer and a model for all police departments. I support well trained and well paid police. Raised in a small appalachian town. I learned to respect men and women in blue, however. My faith has dissipated due to recent tragic events at the hands of Austin police officers [12:05:49 PM] leaving families without answers or justice. One such tragic event occurred in my own street three months ago today. As a mother of two children. I need to know that my children are safe in a city that we love. 75% of citizens agree to this oversight and we can ensure their voices are heard. A four year contract will not only negate the wishes of the people, but it can put our citizens at risk. I appreciate the complexity of the issue in a city council, please vote for item one. This will impact generations to come. Thank you for your time. If your name has been called, please make your way to the front. Next is Edward Blaine on deck are Dane Keller and mirror crow. Of my name is Edward Blaine and pro public safety. I want the awesome police department to be the highest paid, best trained and fully staffed force and the state of Texas. But it's critical that the Austin police department also be accountable [12:06:49 PM] and transparent is exercise their duty to serve and protect all Austin citizens. This means independent oversight and this appears lacking in the four year contract to prove it for your contract, denies the people of Boston. Any input on the issue of oversight and serves only to further divide our city. Therefore I support a one year contract. This is an opportunity for the city of Boston to find common ground and balancing the goals of public safety and place accountability. Please seize this opportunity. Do it from the Gonzalez family. Do it for the moon singing families do it for Raj me thinking, do it for the city of Austin. Thank you. Next speaker is Dianne Keller on deck or Mira crow and Tracy graph. Dianne Keller. Mira crow. Tracy graph. Matt macau yak on deck are Luis Rodriguez and shape petrotech. [12:08:07 PM] Mayor council. Thank you for this opportunity. Matt Mackowiak district 10. I absolutely sympathize with each horrible tragedy that has performed, the mincing family had a chance to get to know them. Definitely believe we need to have a full investigation a P D. And then he's been answered for look, we have a crisis in a in terms of staffing at the Austin police department will know that and I recognize you in a difficult position because we did not make more progress last year. When the contract needed to be reached that there was enough time to review it. The reality is we have 275 vacancies. Excuse me. 275 officers develop eligible for retirement as of February, 26th. We're already 350 officers down from when defunded took effect and we have 230 vacancies. So while I understand the desire to give us another year, the challenge we have here is it's gonna get worse if we do one year. Just because you vote for one year doesn't mean the Apa is going to accept it. When your agreement in fact, we're likely to fall out of contract, which will lead to ending the police monitor and [12:09:08 PM] will not lead to more oversight. That is the challenge that we face. So I do believe the negotiated for your contract is the best pathway. Thank you. Next speaker is Luis Rodriguez on deck are shaped petrotech and Natalie Lucia. Council Luis Rodriguez, national president of the therapy, freedom riders, Mary used an interesting word consequences the consequences of this council. Since they have followed this week, activists have been record murder rates, record crime and of police force that has staffing crisis. A one year contract will only advance that we're about 40 plus new, officers will retire. And that's not even right now. How are we gonna get cadets to apply? There are the best of the best when they look at a council that does not support the police department. You want the best of the best. You support them. You don't cut them. It is deep [12:10:09 PM] funding by other means. It is time for the strong to stop bending to the will of the week. Thank you. Next is shape. Petrotech on deck or Natalie Lucia and Susan Spataro. I'm Natalie. Good morning council members. My name is Natalie Kushi. I'm a 16 year resident of district four and a lifelong liberal Democrat. I'm here today in opposition to item one and to ask you to support for your contract with a P D that has been in negotiation for a full year. A one year contract is legally questionable under state statute and will further hurt district for and other areas of the city that day in and day out. Are bearing the brunt of reduced police resources. I wonder where the accountability is for the residents who are disproportionately impacted. The reimagined public safety initiative is not working. It does not represent the needs and expectations of austinites. It has brought a drastic spike in [12:11:10 PM] violent and petty crime, reckless and drunk driving and chaos and disorder in district four. I'm disappointed that council member Bella would fail to see the reality on the ground in his district and understand the importance of working to immediately stabilized the police staffing crisis. We hear our friends on the other side of this debate, preach the gospel of equity, but reimagine public safety has badly missed the mark. Equity is not dumping the negative consequences of poorly thought out policy on working class people who have ended up on the expired of reimagined public safety. Next speaker is Susan Spataro. On deck is Joel Mcnew and Paul brick. If your name has been called, please make your way up to the front like to talk about the contract negotiation. People act like it's some secrets, not a secret they've been negotiating for over a year. All those meetings have been public intended. Probably six or seven of them. Many people in this room have there is a professional lawyer [12:12:11 PM] on each side, the city and a P a . Each side had 15 to 20 people coming in every single negotiation. There's nothing secret. This 20 pages is the oversight in the four your agreement, there's more oversight than there is now. So people come in here and I don't know what they're thinking. It's been a valid process. People need to be confident that the money taxpayers have spent for one year on a very valid negotiation has has had fruition. People that wanted the ballot language that should have been on the November ballot. And then you could have negotiated this contract. All that does now is throw everything out into the wind, and we're going to lose police officers and safety and Austin, Texas. Thank you. Next speaker is Joel. Ooh on deck are Paul brick and Amanda Rios. Hmm. [12:13:16 PM] I am Joel Mcnew, president of say, forms here to voice our opposition to one year contract with a pd and support the focus on finalizing the four year contract. Staffing levels are negatively impacting the entire city, mandatory backfilled from detectives who are normally assigned to investigative units are being mandated to help patrol. There have been times that baker sector has only two officers on duty. This area is support most densely populated in the entire state of Texas. You TPD incident log is up 30% and for the first time businesses are now paying for armed security to predict their business and employees. Basic essential services are not being met for taxpayers. Is that equitable the potential to lose over 270 officers eligible for retirement should be a concern for everyone. If the city of Austin doesn't prioritize public safety, the recent violence on the Michigan sink campus with the quick response by Lawrence [12:14:17 PM] law and force mint could be even worse here. Please don't let that be your legacy. Next speaker is Paul brick on deck is Amanda Rios and Sarita fontas. Any Tennessee. Good morning. My name is Paul brick. I live in district eight. And I have lived in Austin for 45 years now I served as an Austin police officer, detective for 28 years. The office of police oversight cannot exist in the proposed form without a contract. As articulated in the city of Boston charter. Municipal civil service rules of the city of Austin, which were effective July of 2014. With specific reference to article nine, section one B seven of the city charter. These rules do not and are not intended to apply to employees of the city who are covered by Texas local government code chapter 1 43, [12:15:18 PM] including all sworn personnel and cadets. Chapter 1 43. Civil service for firefighters and police officers is a state law and state law takes precedence over city or municipal laws. Therefore to suggest that the city of Austin voters can supersede state law is simply not true. Next speaker is Amanda Rios on deck our city to Fontaine easy and Clinton. Rare E. When I started this good afternoon. My name is Amanda Rios and I have lived here in Austin for 30 years and I live in St John's in district four. I'm here because we have seen an immense amount of crime on a daily basis. You can go to the St John's parking C 22 75 cars driving in and out, dealing, buying selling drugs, sex traffickers, prostitution. There's gunshots. And public safety is at the forefront of [12:16:19 PM] all of our minds. There's many people who have moved into our neighborhoods only to buy houses and realize where they're at and have to sell because of lack of public safety. We have. Really suffered at the hands of the last. Policies that have been made by city council on public safety, and I ask that you look very closely at the four year contract and you take advantage of that because we will be worse off. If you do not, I heard an immigrant from Honduras who said she was safer in her home country of Honduras and in Austin, Texas, and start a third world country in a first world, country and city like we have has expensive unacceptable. Next speaker is siri to Tennessee on decker, Clinton, ribery and Laura north. Hi my name is Sarita Fontaine. Easy and I want to quote tima Okun on the [12:17:21 PM] tenants of white supremacy, timis states that a constant sense of urgency makes it difficult to take time to be inclusive, encourage democratic and or thoughtful decision making to think and act long term and or to consider consequences of whatever action we take. White supremacy culture likes to engender a culture of urgency and those of us who are working to dismantle it, because it knows that living with a constant sense that everything is urgent is a recipe for the abuse of power and burnout. Before George Floyd's death. There were already 230 vacancies within Austin pd. Clearly this indicates that the police department is not prepared to manage itself appropriately. Therefore we need a one year contract so that the city of Austin can vote in the may election and advocate for police oversight that will be effective long term and allows space for thoughtful discussion. Thank you. Next speaker is Clinton. [12:18:26 PM] Rare E on deck are Laura north and Richard Smith timer starts could Natasha harper-madison councilwoman harper-madison. I want to call the white supremacist again turn on her camera. And respect our time as she demands with respect to her time. Sir why don't you go ahead and start talking? All right? You know, it's cute hearing us and just coalition talk about transparency when they lost their five and three C status for not filing their tax returns on how they spend their money. But let's talk about transparency. December 1st Chris Harris started a scam petition disinformation campaign against vote proclaiming that they're intimidating them under on the same day, Austin chronicle and it takes a N, which received hundreds of $1000 from taxpayer dollars from the city of Austin. And awesome monitor posted articles giving them platforms and they claim that they have recordings that approved that equity action was being intimidated by vote to but we haven't heard these recordings to this day. On December 14th Paige Ellis posted this disinformation campaign video on her own Twitter account. And in [12:19:28 PM] that video, the guy said he was with open multiple times. And she said, aren't you with equity action? December 17th Adam Powell, who was appointed by Leslie pool as the chair of the public safety advisory committee, posted a video amplifying this disinformation campaign about a scam petition on December 19th chito, your policy communication director posted a video amplifying this disinformation campaign. So stop gaslighting us and do what's right time has expired. Next speaker is Laura north on deck is Richard Smith and Jessica Robertson. Mayor council members. My name is Richard Smith. I oppose the attempted negotiation of a one year police contract. I have read the four year contract agreed to by the city and police negotiators, and it includes a robust office of police [12:20:29 PM] oversight and a civilian oversight panel. Moreover that four year contract was overseen by elected city council members and thus reflects the will of Austin residents. If you elect to torpedo the four year agreement. In exchange for attempting to negotiate the one year agreement. Remember this? There is no agreement. One year agreement for people to sign for y'all to sun or approved. There's no one year extension. And there may never be a one year extension or one year agreement. Well, we will be left with before long. Would be Texas rangers and the Texas guard patrolling our streets. Without any oversight by Austin residents. Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Next speaker is Laura north on deck, Jessica Robertson and Seneca Savoy. Jessica Robertson, St [12:21:34 PM] Seneca, Savoy, Erin mutscheller. Good morning. I would like to thank council members, Fuentes, qadri, vela and Vasquez Velasquez. Pardon me for respecting the will of the voters as elected officials. I know what it I know. You know what it's like to be held to a near impossible standards serving the city knowing you're under constant scrutiny. And if you do not need meet the needs of the city, we can elect people who will, but we do not have the same opportunity with the police and their association. We largely have to rely on you to uphold their standard. After repeated demonstration that our police serve themselves and the people second, it would to go through with this and we'll go through disgraceful links to get what they want, including. This is not the first time they have tried to undermine democracy in district four after our special election, a friend of mine had to call a P D to respond to a break in as a typical with like homeowners insurance policies, etcetera, she was asked point blank, who she supported in that race. We got it on camera or [12:22:34 PM] excuse me on recording, but we have not done anything with this yet. But anyway, so this the links that they will go to undermine democracy really affects me as someone who works in campaigns and who really believes in information and letting the voters speak to themselves. So thank you so much, ma'am. Ma'am could you identify yourself because there were several names cold? Sorry I'm just Rodriguez Robertson. Thank you very much. Sinica's Savoy on deck are Erin mutscheller and Fran tattoo. Hi I'm Seneca Savoy resident of district four. I think today fundamentally comes down to if there are consequences for actions at the municipal level, right? Are there consequences for hundreds of people being brutalized by Austin police exercising their first amendment rights during 2020. Are there consequences for man being shot to death on his own front yard? Are there consequences for deceiving voters over and over and over again are the [12:23:35 PM] consequences for trying to override and ultimately escaped civilian oversight. Those consequences don't come from people's self regulating. They come from us establishing a system of oversight that it clearly establishes. Who's in charge? Are there going to be consequences and this will happen? When this oversight system passes 70 30 here in may , right, will. The will of the voters mean anything, even if they get overturned by a lawsuit? Well, your bargaining position be informed by what you get told by hundreds of thousands of Austin residents. I think it should. I think consequences have to matter here in this city. Thank you. Next speaker is Aaron mutscheller on deck, our friend tattoo and Yvonne Weldon. John Dewolf. And Heidi Sloan. If your name has been called, please make your way to the front. Erin mutscheller, Fran tattoo. Yvonne [12:24:35 PM] Weldon, John de Wolfe, Heidi Sloan. Good morning, friend. T two, district five. I'm yielding my time to Liz Gonzalez. Thank you. Yes get out. Good morning or good afternoon. My name is Elizabeth Gonzales. My son got murdered by a P. D. Okay and I'm just so upset with one year and he's yes. Two part one. And a note to the other one. And because my son got murdered by a P D you have not the police is not taking accountability, which is messed up because they need to take the responsibility. Good years and serato another thing a lot of people telling me from out of state, whatever steroids steroids, police are on steroids. Also, maybe D all of them. So what do you what do we get our trust from? You tell me, mayor answer me. What are you gonna do about the cops who murdered my son and handcuffed him when he's dead? Why do you all do that handcuff people while they're dead, there's no [12:25:36 PM] need for it. That's why that that's why the committee is taking what we gotta do because you need to hear our voice. You are not making the right choices. And we do we do. Okay we do. Make the right choices. Remember that. Gonzales Alexander Brodie Gonzalez, your time has expired. Thank you very much, ma'am. Next speaker is Yvonne Weldon. John de wolf. And Heidi Sloane. Let me just say that we were happy to have her testify and appreciate the passion and appreciate her point of view. But I want to be clear our rules don't allow for someone to donate time that way. I didn't go ahead. I didn't go ahead and interrupt. Well. I'm telling you what the rules are and what it's going to be in forced. So from here going forward, I was happy to do that because I knew that was and was going to allow her to testify, but we're going to follow the rules. Chance. For the other side. Next up is Yvonne Weldon [12:26:39 PM] on deck are John day wolf and Heidi Sloan. Hi good evening or good morning, Mr mayor. I got to meet you during the campaign and you started telling me about the Watson room, but you got pulled away. I hope to finish that story. Congratulations Jose as well. My name is van Welden. I'm a resident, former city council candidate for, district three. In my opinion, we do need to support the four year contract and opposed this nightmare one year effort. That will do nothing but in my opinion, but to put further harm to the people of Austin, I did follow in attend the negotiations knows, as was discussed before. There is oversight in those provisions. We've got naked folks walking around in front of a G B city bus drivers getting shot by gunfire, folks just getting attacked just for walking their dogs outside their apartment complex and emergency rooms that are inundated with casualties from drunk drivers and other criminal offenses. A woman told me recently she was attacked and mugged in front of [12:27:40 PM] her home. Just once you got out of her right share card. By not going with a four year contract will just be wasting time ever and text dollars with these meetings, and so I do request that your support the four year contract and opposed the one year thank you. Speaker is John de Wolfe with Heidi Sloan and Todd Hittner on deck. Hi I'm John Dewolfe. I'm in Austin resident. I'm a small business owner. When a citizen vote for a candidate they make it ineffective. Prediction. They have a guess feeling, but they really have a hope that you guys represent them. The city council is you guys are sinners? Still still a city full of optimistic and really weird people who are hoping that you take your job seriously. During your campaigns , you go out and you make promises, promises now and promise in the future. But the same uniform promise you make is about representing people here. Austin police union is confident [12:28:40 PM] that they will have this in the bag. There are five hours away from a deal being signed. The vast majority of your constituency is asking for you to pursue a one year extension agreement with Austin police association for reasonable accountability prove that this is not just another city has run by powerful groups. Noughties city that measures outcomes. Dollars outside of the scale is awaited in real people's lives. Thank you. The next speaker is Heidi Sloan on deck are Todd Hittner and Christina rare E. My name is Heidi Sloan. I'm a resident of district one. And I organized with Austin D S a. I speak today in favor of item one. Folks in labor? No that whether you're at the big table behind closed doors are not. You're always negotiating. We here today we are ultimately party to this contract, and we are negotiating a P a. Has been negotiating since the last contract to their words and actions, including the continuation of practices of [12:29:41 PM] brutality and deceit. They have demonstrated an unwillingness to include in these negotiations, the kind of oversight that 30,000 austinites have asked for. That demand must be democratically weighed and determined by the people of this city. Mayor to your point. A one year contract provides APD with continuity and stability. In the meantime, it puts them in a fair bargaining position for the future. A much better position. I may note that a lot of city employees who you serve alongside of let's write a one year contract and not negotiate against the voters of this city. Next speaker is Todd Hittner and Christina rare E. On deck. Good afternoon. My name is Todd Hittner. District five David sector. I'm here in support of the four year agreement. I'm afraid that anything less than [12:30:41 PM] that you're going to see people leaving cops leaving and that's less people on the force to investigate and pursue. Victims of crime and I have. We've heard a lot about victims today, but it's mostly been victims of alleged. Please brutality, but I want you all to remember that. There are victims of crime every day in our city, and if we continue to burn down our numbers of officers who's going to enforce and investigate these victims, so I'm here to speak on behalf of the victims and citizens of this city. Lock down this four year contract. Let's move forward. It's time to mend the fences in Austin between this council and the police department. Thank you. Next speaker is Christina. Rare E. On deck. Is Mira crow. And Paul quincy. According to a poll [12:31:46 PM] taken by the Austin monitor. 52% of majority of austinites think we have too few police officers and want more moving forward with the one year contract tells the majority of austinites that you don't care about what they want for their safety, that their safety is invaluable to you. We're losing 100 and 50 officers a year to retirement transfers were looking at losing up to up to another 250 officers after March 31st two retirement we've already lost 37 officers, two retirements at the beginning of this year. We already have 256. Officer vacancies. Do the math. We don't have enough officers to call answer calls now. What lost in be like 500 officers down. I think we can all agree. We want transparency and accountability for officers. No one wants bad cops. Everyone is here for accountability before your contract brings even more oversight. The LAPD while stealing, still being able to recruit and retain more officers. Giving opio and civilian oversight a seat at the table during investigations into our officers. All I'm asking for is the dire dais to stop feeling Austin like you did with winter storm eerie or the storm that just went through because this will be a disaster. If the one year contract goes through. You [12:32:47 PM] gave yourself a 40% raise last year. Earn it keep Austin safe. Next speaker is near a crow on deck. Karpol quincy and Yasmin Smith. My name is Mira crow. I am a constituent of district seven in Austin. I urge you to vote for item one and the one year contract extension. The four year contract does not have accountability. It has oversight theater while leaving the all the consequences and actual enforcement up to the police itself. The people of Austin deserve to have their voices heard. Please vote for item one and let us have our vote in may. Thank you. Next speaker is Paul quincy on deck is Yasmin Smith and will rey good afternoon council. My name is Paul Quinn Z. I'm resident of district four for almost 25 years, and we're very proud of council member of L. A. For bringing this issue to the in this resolution. We're at a point in history where every threat to democracy must be met [12:33:47 PM] far and defeated, and this is especially clear in the case of the Austin police oversight act equity action, the voters of Austin believe in democracy, they legitimately gathered 33,000 signatures to get the poem before council city council likewise believes in democracy. Rather than vote the measure into law. The council voted to send this issue to the voters. The threat to democracy here is an organization that would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay canvassers posing as equity action volunteers to deceive Austin voters into signing a competing competition competing petition that is specifically worded to deceive and confused. Unfortunately those experts to make a joke of our elections were successful, and now we'll have to fight for men until bay for true transparency and oversight, and we will win. To reward that kind of deception with a four year contract that presents the voters. We set a dangerous precedent and decreased confidence in our elections. It would also amount to this council getting played by the Austin police association and former manager Spencer cone. Please vote for a new please vote to negotiate a one year contract voices be heard. Thank you. Next means Smith will rey [12:34:52 PM] on deck as well as Julie Pena. Respectfully my name is Yasmine Smith, vice president, justice and advocacy for the Austin area. Urban lake. We stand in support of a one year contract and for the real police oversight act, and we are against the system of policing, not the humans that were the badge and actually do their jobs . And though there are those on both sides of this, I'll that will say their opinions are that this is an us versus them conversation. This is not an us versus them conversation team. This is not an us versus dumb conversation. This is a common verse action about how we impact the system that evolves and can protect. All of us so that we can all feel safe. And so that those that were the bad with honor and integrity could actually not be sullied by the negative actions of their lesser counterparts. We are talking about an evolution and accountability. We are talking about democracy, the same democracy that respects the will of the people. And if you do not , then you should suffer the [12:35:52 PM] same fate as Spencer cronk your next election cycle respectfully. Will rey. On deck are Julie Pena and Thomas downing. That's a tough act to follow. My name is will rey I'm sergeant with the Austin police department. I believe that people that have spoken before claiming that there is no accountability or oversight of the Austin police department has created a false dichotomy. We already have oversight and accountability and we increased it in our for negotiation over the last year of this four year contract. If you go with a one year contract, you are proceeding with a half measure that will create instability and intensify the staffing crisis. But not only that. You will reduce the likelihood that we will attract and higher the kind of thoughtful, empathetic and service minded candidates that we need to do the things that our community demands of us as policing progresses in the 21st century. Thank you for your time. Julie Pena on deck are [12:36:55 PM] Thomas downing and sasana Carranza. Hello my name is Julie Pena. I'm a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a small business owner and the daughter of a law enforcement officer, and I've been a resident of south Austin for 21 years as a law abiding citizen, I trust and respect the police as the mother of a hispanic child who's been arrested multiple times. I still trust and respect the Austin police department. Proposing a change from a four year commitment to an attempt to negotiate a one year contract undermines the process that was negotiated by both parties in good faith, faith and just agreed upon last week, the idea that oversight is not a part of that four year contract is absolutely false. The citizens of Austin need a fully staffed police department so we can be safe. The number of officers who have resigned just this year makes our community less safe and more officers are likely to [12:37:56 PM] resign. If we don't know are the four year commitment. We need to hire more officers. We need to pay them more so they can afford to live in the community that they serve. Paige Ellis and Mckinsey. Kelly I'm asking you to vote against agenda item one, please. Next speaker is Thomas downing on deck are Susanna Carranza and Becky Mcmillian. Good morning. I'm Tom downing, co chair of the racial justice task force of university united methodist church and resident of district five. I supported one year contract with the Austin police association, so that in may, voters can decide what kind of police oversight they want. We hear a lot of talk today about threats to democracy, some say the greater states or international from dictatorships like Russia. Some say the greatest threats are nationals from political parties, which deny election results. Some say the greatest states come from states which make voting more difficult. I believe the greatest threats are local, [12:38:56 PM] where decisions are up close and personal. One powerful way to threaten democracy in Austin is to hold an election under a contract where voters choices will be ignored or not implemented until everyone has forgotten what they voted for a person of faith and I have faith that this city council will have enough faith in the voters to let them decide what kind of police oversight they want for Austin. Please vote in favor of a one year contract. Next speaker is Susana Carranza on deck are Becky Mcmillian and Lindsey Buhman. Good morning. I'm Dr Susanna karenzi. I live in Austin district nine in the rainy street neighborhood. I'm here today because I believe in that content ability and also I believe in the voice of the voters, and they have four year agreement now would make the mail election irrelevant and would pretty much tell Austin that our voices is do not matter. That is absurd. I [12:39:58 PM] support item morning the agenda because it's a plan for an extension to the existing contract, which will allow the time for the city after the may election results to negotiate longer term contracts, implementing whatever we might choose, urged you all of you to support item one. And I'm happy that my counsel member. Is one of the sponsors. Thank you. Next is Becky Mcmillian on deck are Lindsey Buhman and Chaz Moore. Hi my name is Becky Mcmillan. I'm part of the common sense party in that part of the dsa party here today as a business owner, single mom and citizens citizen of Austin for the last 36 years. I'm here today for against one year contract and for a four year contract. I was just currently in a meeting in November with major business owners and developers here in Austin. The ones who fund your salary by the way. They are ready to pull out of their [12:40:59 PM] business development deals and move it to Nashville. If you don't get rid of the crime and the homeless situation under control, what you do has consequences and they will pull out. We voted on prop B for no camping. You have done nothing to the voters that have voted for this. Why bring something to vote when you don't uphold our voices? Don't forget what we've that you've been told that prop a is illegal and always start money in court. I've watched our city council members take direction from convicted felons such as Chaz Moore, who is here today. Who want to abolish the police department. Justin for one minute. Why convicted felon wants to get rid of police speaker your time has expired. Lindsey Buhman is next Chaz Moore on deck as well as Maxwell mills. Helped us no. Hi my name is Lindsay resident district one [12:42:00 PM] and I worked with equity action last summer to collect signatures for the a P O a I would like to remind counsel that in September you all voted to let the voters decide on whether to enact this policy in preference to adopting it yourselves as their elected officials now at the a P S initiative on the ballot as well , the voters have an even clearer choice. A four year police contract set in motion prior to the may election undermines the communities voice in this council's previous decision. Please vote for item one. A one year extension, which will give ample time to consider election results. Thank you. Next speaker is Chaz Moore on deck, Maxwell mills and Craig has, or if you hear your name, please make your way up to the front. Hey, y'all, yeah, this is there's been a very interesting meeting. Mainly because I think . Some folks on respectively the [12:43:02 PM] other side or not telling the whole story. And I think the whole stories are important, right? I can tell you that. Yes, I am abolitionist, right? I think that some point at some point we as humans can evolve into a world of society where we don't or allowing police where we fully fund and put resources into alternatives to public safety, which includes housing welded neighborhoods, things of this nature, right? And then I just I just believe that if we do that, we'll start to see the reasons why crime happened reduced right? A lot of people commit crime because they are hungry or they don't have the resources they need. And I just think if we invest in communities and people the need for asking another human being, too. Risk their lives to protect us just can go out the window. And I say, like complete stories, because although I have very strong opinions about policing, and I have to uplift the names of, you know, rise munasinghe, who was killed by a P D, and I'm going to ask somebody to let me finish my thought. I think I've earned it over the years speaker. Your [12:44:02 PM] time has expired. Fair enough to is Maxwell mills and pregnancies or is on deck. Maxwell. Mills, Craig Naser. On deck is also Nina silly. Hello my name is Craig Naser, president of Austin, environmental Democrats and state conservation chair of the Sierra club. I do not envy your decision. In the hindu faith. The true enemies of Krishna are those who go around, making the unimportant things important. The financial arguments presented against the one year police contractor complicated but they do not take into account the long term financial damage done to Austin by lack of real citizen oversight of the police. The talking points in [12:45:02 PM] the backup supporting the four year contract are telling. They seem to say that the opinion of the voter is irrelevant. They appear to say that a P a has granted all the oversight. They're willing to grant and it's that or no police contract at all. From an organization that receives receives close to half a billion tax dollars a year. It sounds like bullying to me. Isn't that what abusive policing is in the first place? The people of Boston want real citizen oversight of the police. Thank you. Next speaker is Nina Seeley. Sam kirsch and Aaron Abrams on deck. Good afternoon. I'm Nina Seeley. Residents of district nine. Thank you. Council members and mayor Watson. Our family is. For a one year contract extension. This is not about money. This is about lives. We've heard today about [12:46:04 PM] the tragic loss of our friend region and one of Austin's rising stars. He needed help, but the police were ill trained and negligent. A P D, edited the footage from the body and ring cameras after Rajan's death and sent that out to the media to change the facts, which is inconceivable. What's wrong with the truth. Why change the story that resulted in the loss of this innocent life frankly, of any life? Sadly this is not an isolated concern. The police are not supposed to kill you. They're here to serve and protect everyone. We should have the best police force that provides proper training for Austin citizens, not a contract. That protects their jobs. If they don't do it properly speaker your time. I'm sure you want that too. And I hope a D a P D desk. Thank you. Next speaker is Sam kirsch on deck [12:47:05 PM] are Aaron Abrams and Jen Ramos. Good afternoon. My name is Sam Qureshi. I'm a resident of district five and an organizer with district five for black lives. Emergent council to support item one. We must be allowed to vote on police oversight in may before a long term contract is negotiated and signed. It's very, very simple. Clearly police cannot police themselves. So we need to get oversight right? And only then the city and the a P a negotiate wages and benefits, not oversight and accountability are civil rights are not negotiable. Thank you. I yield my time. Next speaker is Aaron Abrams on deck are Jen Ramos and Shelby Bohannon. Good afternoon. My name is Aaron Abrams. I'm a resident of district four and a policy intern for the Texas fair defense project. We support item one as it allows the voters decision on the real awesome [12:48:06 PM] police oversight act to be implemented in one year if it passes in may. If council moves word with the four year police contract, the voters decision in may will not be recognized until his contract is up the four year contract. Also lacks the civilian oversight systems and data access that are outlined in the real a Pio a not giving the public an opportunity to vote on this act before long term, a long term contract is negotiated as a disservice Austin resident and infringement on the democratic process T F D P, like other community organizations, believes that police misconduct and brutality should be met with stronger civilian oversight, transparency and accountability. Agreeing to a long term contract now leaves no opportunity for such changes in the near future . Voting. Yes on item, one will be another staffed with appropriate oversight through a democratic process by letting voters make the decision in may. Thank you for your time. Next speaker is general mohs on deck is Shelby Bohannon and Amanda Wims. Good afternoon members of council. My name is John Ramos. [12:49:06 PM] I live off of Burton drive in district three. I'm a renter, a voter, a taxpayer and much to the dismay of Austin's current mayor, community leader activist who wants our city to live up to its promise as a great place to live and I am in support of item one when we reward bad behavior that doesn't always make it go away. Matter of fact, it never makes it go away. The unfortunate reality is that the unprofessional behavior of more than a few bad officers scares our community. Black and brown families have to have a conversation about being safe around the police because of the dangers of a couple of bad officers. The voters deserve to have their voices heard on public safety and officers who want to skirt the consequences of bad behavior are probably not the officers we need on the force. Anyway I urge our council to please vote and support of an extension on this contract for item one. Thank you for your time. Next speaker Shelby Bohannon on deck Amanda Weems and Jim truck trucks is. Good morning. My name is Shelby. I'm a resident of district nine. And [12:50:07 PM] I'm here to speak in support of item one I spent all of last summer as a field organizer working on the apoel with equity action, and I talked to thousands of austinites who believe that oversight is something that we need now. Many were hesitant to sign a petition after being tricked by, say, Boston now in previous years, and so when a pd or a pia started a campaign in the fall, saying that they were looking for increased oversight, they tricked thousands or thousands of austinites and designing of fake petition, which is exactly what gets voters. Scared to and be involved in their government system and local politics. They wasted over $300,000. And I think that this is a perfect example of why a pd it needs oversight. They're willing to lie and trick and you know that does not make a great relationship with this community that they're supposed to be protecting. You okay? Next [12:51:10 PM] speaker is Amanda weans on deck is Jim trucks is and injury. A black yeah. How do you all my name is Amanda Cavazos swims. I'm a proud member of Austin did say and a union member. I've also lived in Austin born and raised most of my life, and I'm a current resident of district one. I'm speaking today to urge you to support item one. We've had a lot of conversations about safety and like who feels safe and who counts. In Austin's community and as a Latina. I don't feel safe with an undisciplined and unaccountable police department when they show an unwillingness to be governed by this body. It does not make me feel like I have a place in this my home. I had a neighbor had a break in and have to call the police department and they said that they could not come take a police report because of the decisions that this body made. I had to counsel. My [12:52:11 PM] neighbors. I said, you need to call city hall and tell them that the police are refusing to do their jobs in an effort to discipline you all for exercising oversight. That is wrong. They deserve to have them. Their conduct looked at and have consequences for their actions. Ah! On deck is next, and Andrea black and Alfredo del barrio on deck trucks is district three here in support of a four year contract, so I get the snow to item one. My experiences working with unions over five different countries. I did it for 30 years for general motors. We had a great success in all those countries except one, the one that always fought for one year contract. In order to build trust with the union and make great strides from both sides. You have to have a long term contract. To build the trust to understand each other's pressure points. To make sure that there's checks and balances in place. You can't do this with a one year contract, so I encourage you to go ahead and [12:53:13 PM] support the four year contract. Thank you. Next speaker is Andrea black on deck or Alfredo del barrio and carry grace. Carrie grace, Daniella silva. Garrett Nieves. Go ahead. Just take your name. I'm Garrett knees from district five incentives matter. Incentives have consequences. Policing system without real independent oversight is incentivized to escalate the use of physical force and deadly force. Without real independent oversight. The policing system is incentivized to protect itself. Rather than to correct itself. Often voters [12:54:15 PM] see the cost in both physical injury and death from police escalations and the cost intensive millions of dollars to compensate victims or their survivors. Awesome voters are repeatedly voting for real independent oversight. The a P, a resorted to funding a campaign designed to sabotage real independent oversight by lying to voters to get their signatures. I ask all 11 of you. Please vote for item one to allow police contract negotiated after we pass a real independent oversight so that we can become safer for all of us. Thank you. Next speaker is Daniella silva. On deck is also Alfredo del barrio. Council members. Thank you so much for being here today. My name is Daniela silva. I'm a resident of district three. I'm here to speak in support of item one. I want to thank all of my friends and neighbors who have been here to [12:55:15 PM] speak so eloquently in support of this item, so I'm not going to repeat what they've had to say. I would like to clarify that the poll that Ms riri noted earlier was a note LI pol that does say half of austinites think there aren't enough. Police also says 75% of austinites want more oversight. So please, let's not cherry pick data. And for those of you who are here who are concerned with crime? I'm I want to address you and I'm so happy that you're ready to start investing in all of Austin's communities. I look forward to continuing seeing you here in support of deeply affordable housing in support of anti displacement funds in support of harm reduction. Increasing our public school funding and school teacher pay accountability for our abysmal faster care system, universal healthcare and mandatory parental leave. I look forward to having you here as champions alongside the rest of us. Next speaker is Alfredo del barrio. [12:56:17 PM] On deck is Carrie grace and Bob label. Good afternoon. I come here to support a one year contract for the Austin police department. I've been a member of many community organizations have started out plenty of startups in the Austin community and I work in the venture capital system overseeing over tens of millions of dollars in investment in this city. All I have heard from my peers from my friends. Is that what we're getting from the Austin police department is just unacceptable. Put the vote in the matter and the hands of the people so that more mothers don't have to bury their sons. I carried my friend Rogers casket. For a 33 year old man who had his dreams cut short. And I'm not here to point fingers, but we need answers, and we need action. So please. Do that action for the people of Assad. Thank you. Next speaker is Bob libel on deck or Melanie [12:57:19 PM] Rodriguez and Travis one, holt. Good afternoon council on Bob label. I'm resident of district seven, I've just been blown away by the testimony today from Rogers family and friends and, ah. You know, I was going to talk about democracy, and I was going to talk about the need for civilian oversight in the democracy, but I think you know this testimony is really devastating, and I think that it really shows how ah, how much our community needs this kind of true civilian oversight and how we need the kind of accountability ah, that has clearly been lacking over over over the last several years here in Austin, so I urge you to support the one year contract and let Austin voters have a say, yeah. Thank you very much. [12:58:20 PM] Next speaker is Melanie Rodriguez on deck are Travis van halt, and Ruth Howard. Good afternoon, Mr mayor. 25 years ago, you shook my hand as I accepted my badge to be in Austin police officer. The narrative that this is a rushed deal is a complete falsehood and shame on all of you for perpetuating that falsehood. We bargained for over a year at the direction of this council who decided a couple of weeks ago that they want a one year deal. Well, guess what. We negotiated a four year deal. So shame on you, chito vela. There is more oversight in this four year contract than can ever be had in a one year extension. And guess what? When we have to negotiate again, because I know all of you have major decision. When we [12:59:21 PM] have to negotiate again. You will have less oversight than what we have put in this four year deal. So shame on all of you. The a P D wants oversight just as much as the citizens of this city. Next speaker is Travis Von holt on deck are Ruth Howard and Catherine Mcardle. Hello council members. My name is Travis fawn hall. And I'm an ap a board member and I negotiate his contract with the bargaining team. I support a long term police contract. A one year contract is not going to keep anyone here who's already eligible to retire. A pd. Staffing numbers are dwindling, and it is only a matter of time before an Austin police officer is dead at the hands of city council due to unsafe staffing numbers were about to enter an error of austinites calling 911 and nobody's showing up to help them because we don't have enough officers to respond to their emergencies. I'm all for respecting the democratic process. However the equity action ballot is going to step police oversight backwards as most of the languages illegal [1:00:21 PM] and has already been explained to council that it is it is illegal city legal and city labor relations team have both agreed. Many parts of the ballot are illegal. You will not get the oversight listed in that ballot because it will be tied up in court for years to come. The oversight items that equity action wants can only be changed at the bargaining table. Their ballot will never trump state law because of preemption. The current bargain four year deal expands state law restrict oversight because the Apa has agreed to that also, the four year proposed contact includes steroid testing for officers. If you actually read that you would know it. Next speaker is Ruth Howard on deck are Catherine Mcardle and shia Habibi. Hello my name is Ruth Howard. And thank you for this opportunity to address you today. I am in opposition to item one. Police perform unnecessary and sometimes dangerous service. A P D deserves and needs our support. And appreciation for [1:01:22 PM] the work they provide. My father's rental home was broken into by a homeless person who felt that they had a right to my dad's property. My dad was in a nursing home, and he needed that income they'll pay for his nursing home care. I called the police. And then a very professional, compassionate way. They convinced the homeless person that they were committing criminal transparency, and they left. Please vote against item one. And for support of our police. Thank you. Catherine Mcardle on deck are shia Habibi and Becky Bullard. Hi my name is Catherine Mcardle. I'm a resident of district nine and cherrywood. I'm speaking in support of item one from Austin, police misconduct and brutality [1:02:23 PM] to the police unions. Funding of the deceptive campaign to confuse voters in may with the second ballot measure of the same name and description as equity actions. We need stronger police oversight and accountability more than ever. These things are fundamental to our civil rights and should not be on the bargaining table for a labor contract. It's critical to let voters decide in may what police oversight and accountability should look like in Austin, and any four year contract will effectively nullify their will. Further the particular four year contract recently negotiated is so far from what's in the real Austin police oversight act. It cannot be seen as a stop gap. The only meaningful way to let Austin voters weigh in on police oversight in may, is to pass item one today to pursue a one year contract extension. No for your contract of any kind. Thank you. Connectors shire bb on deck or Becky Bullard. Christiana keeler. And Megan Marvin. Your name has been called. Please [1:03:24 PM] make your way to the front. Next is bill Wallace. If your name has been called, please approach the podium and state your name. Thank you. My name is Christiane , a keeler resident and district for Paige Ellis's district. I do not support resolution one. I'm asking you. To add the four year agreement back onto the agenda before February, 23rd. This is the only option. In 2020 mayor Adler in city council voted to cut the police budget by 150 million, which is about a third of the budget. Since then, crime has skyrocketed. In fact, Austin is facing more dire situation as you've already heard earlier. This year. There's about 250 to 300 officers that will retire. Austin is already short police officers a one year contract. [1:04:26 PM] Would make it even worse. Pensions wouldn't be funded. And then they would more, a P D would would resign. Right now. There's the unsolved murder detectives they're having to shift to patrols. 70% of the murder cases in Austin are black or brown and brown citizens. What justice do they have? Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Next speaker is shyam bb. Becky Bullard. Thank you. Mayor council members. My name is Megan Marvin. I live and work in district three. And homegrown austenite as well. A four year contract does not really the real issue here. It's a four year contract without meaningful oversight. So and I think you agree. That's why the one year [1:05:28 PM] is here on the table. So instead . I want to address law enforcement and affiliated organizations. Directly. If you . Wanna department based on respect and not fear. You have to address the deficit of trust that has been built. Creating a deceitful counter proposition is not how you build trust, shooting an unarmed resident in their own home is not building trust that is not public safety. Transparency accountability. Some curiosity is how we build trust, and you have a choice whether you approach it with fear or a speaker, your time has expired speaker is bill Wallace on deck are Logan griffin weight and blame England. Tiffany magne. And Beverly Lazar. Also [1:06:36 PM] Chris Vetrano. Please. State your name when you approach the podium. Thank you. Hi my name is Beverly Lazar and I live in district eight. Paige Ellis is district. And I'm here to urge you. To put through a one year contract. A short term contract will allow the police oversight. Ballot measure to be implemented if past four year contract maintains a weak system of oversight and in some cases weakens it even further from today, encouraging more police misconduct and brutality. Pivoting to a one year contract. Protects the will of the voters [1:07:37 PM] in the may election. That council called and will allow the city to set up a much, much stronger system of police oversight. To hold officers that commit misconduct and brutality . Accountability I urge you again to pass item one because police oversight, transparency and accountability. Shouldn't be bargaining chips in negotiations. Thank you. Logan griffin, wait. Blaine, England. My name is Tiffany. I live in district two. I support item one. I work for the federal government. I can destroy someone's life and trust in the government with a few keystrokes or misspoken word. Because of this, I am held to a higher standard. Now imagine if I had a [1:08:37 PM] gun. Thank you. Next is Tiffany Bagni on deck are Chris Vetrano. I just went that was magne. Thank you. Chris fit Toronto. We do not have an issue with oversight and being held accountable. When I first came an officer 21 years ago, we took a lot of pride to being either the safest or one of the safest cities in the nation now because of extremely bad political decisions, look at it. Every day . I have citizens approached me and thank me for my job and everything I do the majority of citizens who unfortunately are not here and can't be here to have their voices heard are not in line with the loud, obnoxious, ignorant activists. So please stop placating to these groups that are more inclined to see the destruction and downfall of this city and laugh about it afterwards. The only sub diversion comes from this resolution and the soon to be voted on proposition a. Both were presented to subvert the [1:09:39 PM] legal and agreed upon good faith process using false and misleading information, which has been spewed out by the activists in certain council members. If you move forward with this resolution, there is a very good chance that there will be no contract for several years. If prop eight passes this can't be because we will never agree to the stipulations presented in prop. A why, because it's illegal of which you are awfully aware. It will be tied up in court for years. Meanwhile there will be more Trish in and you will not get the officers to apply because there is no security in their employment, crime rates and everything goes up has expired. Reminder that if your name is called, please make your way to the front. Next is meg helping Noel Davis on deck. As well as Shane Johnson. Thank you, counsel. My name is meg help in and I'm a resident of district seven. Austin has been my home for 35 years, and I'm a seminary [1:10:39 PM] student and a mom and I'm here as someone who cares. About the safety of people in my city. A self policing a pd has not and will not keep all of us in Austin safe. To the family members who have shared profoundly wrenching reminders of that today. I stand with you and I hope our council will listen to your voices. And I want to appreciate the council members who have brought this forward, please pass item one. Thank you. Next is Noel Davis on deck are Shane Johnson and Ashley win. Hello my name is Noel Davis. I live in district two have been living in Austin for about 22 years now, and I'm also a member of the academy curriculum review committee. And through my work on that committee, I've really come actually to have a lot of compassion for the police as [1:11:40 PM] individuals and really respect their, passion and dedication for our city, and at the same time I urge you to vote for item one because we do also need more accountability and transparency , and there's still the reimagining work is not complete . There is a lot more to be done that I think will be supportive of creating a safer community for the police and the voters and citizens of Austin. Thank you for your consideration. Next is Shane Johnson on deck or Ashley win and Jonathan seybolt. Good afternoon city council. Shane Johnson. I see in pronouns , resident district seven, and I also speak for my parents. Parents who are residents of district seven off live off the Scofield ridge. And. You know, I'm here in support of out of one of courses should be, a no brainer. We need more police [1:12:41 PM] oversight. That really is the biggest understatement possible. Mayor Watson said he wants our community to not be afraid of the police or even to trust the police. But I'm half black. My dad is black. I have to worry whether or not the police will kill him every time he drives the work or he drives home. And you know, even though most people don't look at me and think I look black, you know, we've seen that police are killing ah! Brown, presenting people as well. And so. We need, this police oversight that is only going to be possible by adopting a one year contract as the tiniest baby step in the right direction. So that we can start making our community actually safe. Thank you. Please vote yes. Ashleigh win on deck is Jonathan Siebold and William Costello. Good afternoon council . My name is Ashley win, and I'm a resident of district nine. And [1:13:41 PM] I'm here to testify and support of item one on today's agenda. The provisions of the negotiated four year contract don't come anywhere close to the level of civilian oversight that the community is calling for its the undemocratic and disrespectful to the voters of Austin to approve the four year contract and delay the outcome of the election for the next four years. Why should we live with the paltry oversight and accountability measures pushed through by an outgoing city manager who the council has already determined to be unfit for the job. I urge you to pursue a one year contract extension and respect the will of those who elected you. Thank you. Jonathan Siebel with William Costello on deck. Hey my name is John cibeles. Sullivan district six and with the party for socialism and liberation. I'm here to oppose disgraced city manager Spencer crocs four year police contract that he's trying to force through on his way out the door as we've seen from the results of his handling of the winter storm, he cannot be trusted to make sound decisions for the residents of Austin. He also has [1:14:42 PM] inappropriate connections with the Austin police association, which should render him ineligible to making these deals in the first place. This police contract will be paid for by the people of Austin. Therefore we should have the democratic right to vote for the Austin police oversight act. We are here asking for the bare minimum of oversight and accountability for police forces responsible for so much violence towards the people is alleged to be protecting Mike Ramos, Alex Gonzalez, Raj Mohan Singh and Anthony Franklin or just a few of the names of the victims of a pedes violence whose families cannot seek the slightest bit of accountability without the oversight act after the vote in may, are you going to be able to look at your constituents in the eyes and tell them that you fought for democracy and the will of the people? Are you going to snub your nose at them and ram through a deal that strips some of that choice today? I'm asking you to do the right thing. Pass item one. Thank you, William Costello deck are Michael Krumm Ryan and Joe Paul Connolly. Good afternoon as a detective in the Austin police department sex crimes unit. I asked you to vote in favor of a four year contract [1:15:43 PM] over one year contract. A four year deal provides the building the department, which will positively improved the department's currently dire staffing shortages. These shortages greatly affect the investigative operations of the sex crimes unit. Over the past few years, the city council has been intimately involved. And improving the quality and completeness of our investigations as we investigate crimes with victims of rape and other sexual offenses since August of 2020 22 are detectives have to have had to return to patrol duties on a daily basis to answer 911 calls. That means every day, 2 to 3 of our detectives are working the street unable to answer calls from victims of rape in the city. In terms of percentages. That's 10 to 15% at all times. We are not able to help our victims. If council does not prevent stability to department in form of a four year contract . 125 to 300 officers are ready to retire tomorrow. What does that mean for my unit? That means double that will have to work on the street. Every day, we will be unable to answer calls for victims and evidence will be lost, like your vote today greatly impacts that. Thank you. Next speaker is [1:16:45 PM] Michael Krumm, Rhine on deck or joao Paulo Conley and Katy Narron, who. Good morning. My name is Michael Krumm, Ryan. He and pronouns. I've had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with most of you all the new council members. I haven't had that opportunity yet, but I do look forward to that in the future. Over the past 21 years, I've had the privilege of being in Austin police officer. I have dedicated my entire adult life to public service and to protecting the citizens of this great city. Over a year ago. Us city manager and your negotiation team to negotiate a four year contract with the women and men of the Austin police department. You asked the new contract to have the most robust citizen oversight in the state of Texas, a fair wage and benefit comprehension for your employees who have the privilege of being lost in police officers and a contract that bring stability to the department so we can improve recruiting and be staffed at the level that keeps all of Austin citizens safe. [1:17:45 PM] Congratulations you're negotiated such a contract and that was presented to you last week by the city council. I mean by the city manager and your negotiation team. In the middle of negotiations over the past year. Equity action brought a petition to you that have been put on them. A ballot can assure you that everything is put forward. Thank you can be legally done has speaker is Joe Paul Connolly on deck are Katy not on ho and Jamie Kim. Good afternoon, mayor and council. The four year contract is a slap in the face to Austin's voters and an insult to everyone in Austin who respects and upholds democracy. I want to make a point. Very clear this crazy fearmongering about how many officers are going to resign if we don't pass a four year contract? I remember back in 2018. When we were having the fight over the contract. It was 30 officers are going to resign, then 40, then 50. The numbers kept changing. This year. We see the same thing yesterday, they said. 30 years 30 officers. [1:18:46 PM] Yesterday they said 30 officers will stop the clock for just please stop the clock for just a second so we don't eat up his time. I appreciate how classy pds speakers are. Everyone the way I started. This today was to avoid exactly what is now happening in part. Everyone has strong opinions or you wouldn't be here and god bless you for having strong opinions and being willing to be here so that we can engage in democracy. In this room. But if you're for democracy whether you're for it because you say you say you're for it because you wanted to be on the ballot in may or because you want a decision to be made. Today and not let it go to may. If you're for that democracy, you will not interrupt. Your citizens. You may applaud others. You may want to be, show [1:19:47 PM] your respect and your support for someone but you will not interrupt. So we're not gonna have that and I want to call it out. It's getting worse. And worse as the day goes by, so we're gonna stop it right now. Thank you for being here. Thank you for sharing your testimony. Whether you prevail or not. It's important that you be here and that you speak and that's why we allow for this, but please show respect for the people that may not agree with you because you may want them to agree with you. The next time you're on something, thank you. Please restart his clock. Thank you, mayor. Appreciate it. I want to know that you know. Yesterday folks were saying 30 officers might resign this morning. It was 80 to 100. Now it's 102 130 . These numbers seem to be pulled out from somewhere, but I'm not sure exactly where these numbers are coming from. And also folks want to better understand why officers are not [1:20:48 PM] showing up to calls they should Google blue flu. Anyway, every victim of police brutality in the city is, by the way, a victim of crime cronk statement last week. He claimed that the final tentative four year agreement was centered on his professional management experience on how best to keep our community safe. I want to pause it that cronk so called expertise has proven limited and selective, and that council should take it with a pound of salt. What about our underfunded , underpaid? Understaffed E. M S ? I don't see city staff fear pedaling about the severe staffing issues that E. M S M S not also keep us safe. We're now at a time when the city struggles with a massive eviction and affordability crisis and housing and planning department is currently at a 37% staffing vacancy. Many other city departments have staffing vacancies near 20% is that not also part of our safety that is being neglected. Thank you. Next speaker is Katy, not uncle on deck are Jamie Kim and Christian. Several. Hi thank [1:21:50 PM] you, mayor and council members. My name is keen Iran. How I'm, a resident of council member district 10. I'm also the chair of the Travis county democratic party. And I'm here in that capacity. I want to thank the speakers for their stories and for both sides for the passion that they show I am here representing 178 precinct chairs who are elected through the democratic process in the primary. This is the C E C. Ah past and unanimous resolution to support the may ballot initiative and we are asking city council to continue that process by today. Being for prop one. We are not properly Sor anti police. We are pro comprehensive community safety in Austin. We like our processes , even though we may not always agree with the outcomes, and so you the council has prescribed to the organization supporting the proposition today. That we go to the ballot in may. We are asking that you continue that process of the voters decide, and regardless of the outcome, we at least support the process. [1:22:51 PM] As mayor, Watson told me once the process is what matters. Thank you. Next speaker is Jamie Kim on deck is Christian several and Catherine Barfield. Becky Robinson. On deck is Lindsey dignitas key? If your name has been called please, your make make your way up to the front. And state your name at the podium. Hello. My name is Christian. Seven. All I'm in district one and part of the party of social socialism and liberation. City council. We have a window of opportunity to bribe proper oversight over the a P. D as they have proven that they cannot hold themselves accountable. Mike Ramos, doctor Dasilva. Alex Gonzalez Raj are just some of the names who have [1:23:52 PM] lost their lives to the a P D from authors. Officers engaging in mental health crisis with violence and aggression. Or shooting before proper properly assessing the situation. We can also can't forget the abuse protesters face in 2020. Currently the office of police oversight has been ineffective and leashed by the Apa blocking independent investigation outside of police internal affairs. The opportunity that we have is the Austin police oversight act, but the window is being forced shut by the a P a, and the soon to be former city manager across by forcing this four year contract on austinites . We asked the council to choose the one year extension and let the people decide how we hold people accountable. The people who are supposed to be expired next speaker is Katherine Barfield on deck or Becky Robinson and Liz knee. Lindsey dignitas Ken. Good afternoon. My name is Katherine Barfield. I'm a native austinite and a member [1:24:53 PM] of district eight. I'm here today to speak out against proposition one. I'm not going to reiterate we've heard some great speakers today, so I won't rehash points that you've already heard. But the two things I want to remind the council and the mayor of our that oversight is built into the four year contract. Citizen representation is in there. You heard earlier that there's 20 pages worth. Of oversight built into the four year contract. We need the four year contract so that we have some stability and long range planning. I don't know of any business, public or private that can do long range planning without some sort of stability in there, we're losing officers at an alarming rate you call 911 and you can't get mhm policemen out. It's a very scary situation for Austin, and I think that our police force deserves better. And I think that we need to negotiate in good faith, and it was a four [1:25:54 PM] year thank you. Process has expired. Next speaker is Becky Robinson on deck is Lindsey ignatiev ski. Okay also, thank you for hearing me speak. Honest Becky Robinson. I've been a resident of Austin for 50 years. So I know a few things about this city. Unfortunately a lot of people I know are leaving Austin because of our current crime rate. I'm here to speak in favor of the four year contract. I have never, and I may never seen the chaotic lack of control over crime we now have in all my 50 years in Austin caused by our defending of the police. Everywhere I drive. I see large numbers of people running red lights cruising down major roads [1:26:56 PM] and 90 mph per hour and all because they know there's very little chance they will be caught by a vastly understaffed police force. The deterioration of Austin has broken my heart. My downtown 150 year old church has even had to get security, ma'am. I wonder how many austinites know that we will. Thank you, speaker. Your time has expired. Next speaker is Lindsey ignat house key on deck are Rachel Shannon and Ted clem. Amanda sat in forward. Andrew Alamo. Good afternoon, mayor and council. My name is Amanda Sandford, a lifelong resident of [1:27:56 PM] Austin and currently living in district nine. I'm also in Austin police officer. First I want to say thank you to the city negotiating team, and they often police association for the time and effort and negotiating the four year contract over the past year. I have watched and listened as both sides work to bring what I believe is a fair and equitable for your contract. Failure to adopt that for your contract could result in falling out of contract altogether. That means absolutely no oversight. The citizens and police deserve a contract that does its best to attract new officers and retain the hardworking officers. We have serving now. We currently are at a crisis with each as I said, I both live and work in the city of Austin and I see every day the effects less officers is having on our city. As a police officer, a member of the Austin police association and importantly, a citizen of Austin, I ask you to support the officers for the four year [1:28:58 PM] contract and reject your current resolution. Thank you. Next speaker is Ted clam on deck Andrew Alamo. Carla. Barreto. Kevin Welch. If your name has been called, please make your way to the podium. And stay tuning, please. Ted. Who's the first one? Okay? I'm Andrew L a mayo district seven. I'm I'm here because I support the one year contract extension. There's a few reasons for that couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to collect signatures for ground game Texas for a ballot initiative that would decriminalize marijuana in the city of Austin and also banned no knock warrants and surprisingly enough to me. One of the people who signed my petition was an a P D officer he [1:29:59 PM] identified himself as such. And I said, I'm I'm curious why you're signing this petition to decriminalize marijuana and band no knock warrants, and he said, I hate no knock warrants. I'm tired of getting a shot at and I said, doesn't the Apa do anything to protect you from that? And he's like, no, that's exactly who wants us doing these. And so my question to the council and the people here is if the a P a does not even support their own officers. When it comes to public safety. What makes you think they care anymore about you yield the rest of my time. Please state your name. My name is Kevin Welch district eight resident lifelong austenite. I do digital celebrities activism here in the town, but also in my day job. I'm a member of the tech and startup community. I stand here in solidarity with Raj and his family. I am so sorry. This [1:31:01 PM] never should have happened. He was executing his second amendment rights in his own home , and he was killed in a horrible tragedy that was completely preventable. I strongly support item one because we need every brain in this city on ideas about how we can improve the process. We have record funding and we still have these officers shortages. We need every brain in this city on this crisis to create a fair and equitable process for every citizen so that both our citizens and our officers can be empowered so that we all have justice so that horrible tragedies like this won't happen in the future. Please get every brain on this. I don't want there to be more raja's thank you. Next speaker is Carla Peredo on deck are Dale bulla. And pat herring. Taylor cook and Roy Whaley. Taylor. Thank you. [1:32:02 PM] Seven ahead. Just state your name. How do you call? My name is Roy Whaley and I'm normally here speaking for an environmental organization, but today I'm here speaking as an individual, but I will touch on something environmental. When the Earth oef ordinance was passed, we were told no business will ever moved often ever again. So I don't know how many cops are going to resign and quit. No one does really what I will speak about today or something I rarely talk about, as I'm a realtor, and a lot of people are surprised to learn that but that is how I make a living. Realtors have an enormous amount of oversight on what we do, and I'm glad that we do because it weeds out the bad players, not just the bad agents , but the bad lenders, the bad [1:33:03 PM] title companies, etcetera, and it makes the whole industry stronger. It makes every realtor looked better, and we need that. Just like attorneys do. There's nothing wrong with oversight. Let's have it. Thank you very much your time has expired. Dale bulla. Pat herring. Hello what will you tell people in your district when they're being stabbed, robbed and they call 911 and there are no officers available. M S won't even enter a crime scene without it being cleared by a pd first. What will you tell rape victims? Families of murder victims about why there are no detectives working on their cases. But because the tech detectives are out on patrol, since our patrol officers have left to work in other cities, many speakers today are acting like the choice is between a four year contract or oversight. That is a false [1:34:03 PM] choice. We currently have an oversight committee and the new four year contract includes very, very robust oversight. I was at some of the negotiation meetings and heard what was in the contract. Also no one's trying to push through a last minute for your contract. Historically they've been four years. The current one is in March, and this one has been in negotiations for a whole year it was agreed to by a large team of city attorneys and the a P a criminal's hope that we lose another wave of officers. Cute. Thank you. Speaker support the four year contract. Next speaker is Maggie stern on deck is Andy cocoa. Good afternoon. My name is Andy cocoa. I live in district one. I'm speaking in favor of item one. As elected officials. I [1:35:06 PM] know you take people's vote quite seriously. That's why last year some of you kicked the real oppo a down the road. So that folks could vote on it in may of 2023. So I respect that. And today I hope you continue to respect that as well. Cronk for your contract would nullify the real oppo a and that would be an antidemocratic move just weeks before a democratic process. Wouldn't you say that cronk has left a rough enough legacy for us? A one year contract, maintains the status quo and accommodates the possibility of a future. Most of us want passing the real a Pio a so bargaining is straightforward about pay and benefits and we're accountability measures can't be bargained away because they're off the table. Honor Austin voters voices with a yes on item one. Next speaker is Maggie stern on deck, Thomas via real and Andrew Hairston. Jeffrey [1:36:11 PM] Bowen. If you have been called, please approach the podium and state your name. Good afternoon, detective Thomas Villarreal and the president. A P a, I had some prepared remarks to, speak to chito. The the messages shall posted on the message board. Ironically I think you and I were on the phone when it got posted, but I think those have been spoken to by staff and some other documents. You guys know where we stand right? Represent the 1550 ish cops that are left here. There's lots and lots of folks talking about what will happen. What won't happen. I'm just going to reiterate that you [1:37:12 PM] guys have a four year deal on the table. I am not going to negotiate a one year contract. Until y'all give us resolution on a four year deal. I have no idea what direction our board is going to give me in terms of where to take that one year deal. And we're not again. We're we're not going to spend a year of our people's time. To then turn around and just move forward to the next thing so last thing I'm gonna say is your time has expired. I appreciate the two officers. Our next speaker is Andrew Hairston. Following is Jeffrey Bowen with Joe Martinez on deck? Good afternoon. My name is Andrew Hairston. I'm a resident of district one, a civil rights attorney, proud member of the Austin democratic socialists of America, Austin chapter and standing for in favor of item one. I am coming into this thinking about the democratic process. That item one represents. Certainly this is a [1:38:12 PM] good way to continue. Legacy of enshrining the will of the voters on the ballot, but also think about the history of policing in America. The descendants of Saudi patrols the protectors of white people's private property and the union busters that they are presently in 2023. This is one notch in the long game to defund to ultimately abolish the police. Did you to support I am one next speaker is Jeffrey Bowen on deck are Joe Martinez and David Johnson. If your name has been called, please approach the podium. Hello my name is Joe Martinez. I'm a resident of district 10. I'm a former police officer retired. And I come to you as a citizen as a taxpayer. This business about proposition [1:39:15 PM] one or voting for one year contract is and then unheard of. Nobody is going to work for one year contract anywhere. Neither one of your council members ran for one year term you ran for a four year term. So let's be straight with everybody. Number one who you've been told you've been you've been told that number one, the act of even a one year contract is totally totally out of bounds and totally illegal. So why are we even going down that road? Are we looking for a court battle for the next 20 years? The citizens of Boston are suffering because of the fact that we have no police officers on the street. I live in a city where I was proud to be a police officer. I was with the sheriff's department here in Austin. Today we have seen no police officers other than going from one call to another. Let's be realistic. Here let's bring back before your contractor. Your time has expired. Thank you . Next speaker is Jeffrey Bowen [1:40:15 PM] on deck David Johnson and John Sheppard. Hannah Alexander. Marissa nunes. Please state your name. Absolutely thank you. My name is David Johnson and my name is David Johnson and I'm a new resident of district eight. I apologize. I had something to reference and it hasn't come up on my phone. I wanted to come and speak specifically as a new resident of district eight. And I want to reference something. That my rep. My council person said. When the vote was held to place the original. The true a Pio a issue on the ballot. [1:41:17 PM] Council person, Ellis said. It was a time for accountability, and the time is now. I hear money brought up as a reason and as a black person that that's activates me because it's always about money. Money was the reason it took forever for slavery to be partially abolished. Money is always a reason why some civil rights isn't enacted. I've heard things but money. It didn't matter when over 16 million was spent to pay for the harm done by a P. D. We talked about what will happen? How we're going. What will happen a pd how we're going to get people to come. Well I think the people that we want to come to protect and serve us or the people who won't be afraid of accountability are the people who won't be afraid of being held accountable are the people who won't be afraid of being required to do their best, and it's for all the things that the a P a says their four year agreement does. Why should those [1:42:17 PM] even be part of a negotiation? If we're to trust you with our lives? Why should we have to negotiate that you do the right thing? Why should we have to negotiate you doing the right thing? Thank you. Jeffrey Bowen. Good afternoon. My name is Hannah Alexander. I'm the Austin staff attorney at workers defense and non profit immigrant workers rights organization. I testified before city council last September to urge all to pass the a P O a that day. I told you about a pg rating our office and I told you about our experience with the O Pio. That despite good intentions, it didn't provide any accountability or any oversight. It was unconscionable to me that day that that council would wait. To vote to let the voters to decide in may that they were going to let this oversight system that was ineffective exist for one more day. I knew [1:43:18 PM] many would suffer at the hands of a P D. And we've heard heart wrenching testimony from many people who have suffered and I am so sorry for all of you who have experienced that. Despite many warnings that we'd be in this current predicament with the expiration of the contract, y'all refused to act and you said let the voters decide so. You made that commitment that day and you need to let the voters decide. Thank you. Speaker. Your time has more. John Sheppard. Marissa nunes. Donnie detritus. Palmer quarrel oni. David Rodriguez. Can chambers. Hello. I'm Ken [1:44:19 PM] chambers. Thank you for your time. Ah this seems like an easy decision to me. On the one hand you have the will of the voters. A lot of people worked hard to get this petition. On the ballot. And I think that should go forward. On the other hand, you have a police department that as hasn't been honest, that created a fake organization. To fool the voters into voting on a weekend. Ah! Police oversight. It and they're dishonest and they fear monger. And I just don't understand why that's why that's a decision that well, that's a hard decision. It seems like an easy litmus test. If you favor democracy will vote for proper for the one year, one year extension if you if you don't favor democracy if you want to go with fearmongering and dishonesty will go with the four year thank you. Palmer [1:45:23 PM] caroni go ahead. Mayor manager and council members. I'm here to be a voice for those who can't be heard. A voice for our first responders. A voice for our citizens and most importantly, despite what's being said today are victims of crime. Well, I'm here to talk to all of you. I'm here to talk. My focus relies with council members, Puentes Alaska is Mr vela. And Mr quadri. I implore each of you to go vote against agenda one. Every one of you are leaders. That decide the future and fate of our police department and its ability to serve victims of crime. Our police serve. As first line defense, security and advocacy of victims of crime. Our police departments. Current staffing levels are unsustainable and ensuring the safety of our city. Its ability [1:46:24 PM] to serve victims of crime. Our police serve. Excuse me. Thank you, sir. I'm sorry, sir. Would you state your name because I'm not sure I'm clear. I did miss that. I'm David Rodriguez. I'm the first responders for the last 13 years. Thank you very much, sir. Speaker is Tyler lay them on deck. Cynthia Vasquez. Thank you, mayor and council. My name is Tyler Latham. I'm a police officer in Austin for last 13 years. A couple of comments just I think it's pretty disingenuous for you. Mayor and some of the council members say this was sprung on you. Last second. Your team's your negotiating teams, which you directed, have been negotiating for a year. And if you thought it was sprung on you because you failed to monitor where the negotiations work and the timetable we had I think that you owe it to your [1:47:25 PM] negotiating team are negotiating team to put the four year contract on the agenda next week and have an up or down vote for your employees. Before that happens. I think each one of you needs to get out and talk with your employees. Talk with your cops talk with your citizens out outside of this room, and I've got a great offer for you to do that. I work the next five nights and my front seat patrol car is wide open for you and I invite each one of you to come ride with me. We'll go work in your district. We'll go see your citizens that are being affected by these crimes. And by this police shortage, you can talk to the cops that work your districts and take care of your your citizens. Thank you very much. Next speaker is Cynthia Vasquez on deck is Michael bullock. Noel. Bigorre. Good [1:48:25 PM] afternoon. I'm Michael bullock. And I am an Austin police officer as well as I grew up here in Austin. The men and women of the Austin police department are not scared of or hiding from accountability. We more than anyone else seek to root out those who would do discredit upon our department and the honorable profession of law enforcement. We are scared of being pawns and political gains. With fewer with 300 fewer officers to police the city we now have over 250,000 more residents to serve. City council has created a staffing crisis city council has created a morale crisis. You have devalued your own employees through your actions and despite officers working extra shifts and struggling to get paid for that work, we continue to show up to keep your constituents in our city safe. The majority of the council last week would not acknowledge that a P D officers are hardworking. We have the most Progressive and successful oversight system in the state and have been looked to as a national Progressive oversight model. Before this provoked this [1:49:26 PM] proposal ever came forward. We agreed to continue to build on that long term contract, and we just ask you to support your officer. Noel. Hmm. Julie niche and chase Wright. Yes, please state your name. Julianne Mitch district five. Council. I think that we've heard a lot of people come up here and say that our police aren't doing a good job. I've heard that we've been hearing that for a long time. They've continued to hurt people. They've continued to kind of do things like this. They don't have time to worry about public safety. They don't have time to worry about people speeding, but they had time to run a fraudulent campaign against our citizens that were trying to get things on the ballot to have some oversight. So if they're so strapped for time, how do they have time to [1:50:26 PM] do that? I would. I would. I would ask you, but I do know that they're putting also putting a lot of pressure on our county forces. Sheriff's deputies constables that aren't they are nowhere near getting the funding they're getting. So I'm just gonna say this. They seem to have time they're just misusing it. This is a temper tantrum. They don't want to do their jobs because they want to get more more and more and more of our tax dollars. They have plenty. Please do not reward their temper tantrum. Let this come up to a vote that people deserve a right to speak. Thank you. Next speaker is chasing right on board or Brian register and Mike gorse. Hello how's it going? My name is chase, right? I'm the executive director of hungry hill foundation represent 131 clients all in housing homeless. Quite frankly, I explained to him the reason why I was coming to city council today, and a lot of them were laughing their ears off come into a room where minds already [1:51:26 PM] made up individuals already have the hate in their heart. I wanna let you know me being boots on the ground. Unfortunately I hate to say this in a lot of people are gonna be mad, but I do work with the Austin police department and better in our community. This this year. I've had to understand. Why do they make some of the decisions they make because they reflect on my clients also asked those officers, I say, what is accountability look like individuals have died in our system, and in our neighborhood to do to law enforcement, the death of I'm sorry to violence chose by a certain law enforcement all law enforcement on bad. What I am asking is that accountability be brought to the front the forefront. I've asked a lot of the lieutenants of a P D, who I work with closely to clean up some of the homeless encampments that were abandoned, and they say they're willing to stand up to the charge. I asked you guys one year. Thank you for your time has expired. Next speaker is Brian register and Mike gorse. Thanks. [1:52:34 PM] Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Mike chorus, and I'm a resident of district seven. I want to speak in support of agenda. Item one. I'm hearing valid arguments on both sides. But to me, it's an issue of accountability and about finishing what we started. There's a petition on the ballot counseled, made the decision to put it on the ballot and let voters to choose. Well, it's just support it or not. And with the current four year contract. This ballot item will not have any meaning or it will be significantly affected by it. If council moves forward with a four year contract. I feel that it will create a situation where a lot of people will I feel that there. Is mistrust. There. They will see council undercutting the perp. The petition that's on the ballot. I also wanted to point out that councils making the decision that Spencer crying because unfit to serve in his [1:53:35 PM] role, and I think it would be an a mistake to before word. Thank you. Speaker next speaker is Brian register on deck is Taylor Trevino. Dorothy Doolittle. Michael Paniagua. Good afternoon. My name is Dorothy Doolittle. I live in district nine. And I'm a member of the advocates for social justice reform. I attended most of the negotiation meetings for a pd contract over this past year. Excuse me. We do need a [1:54:35 PM] strong oh, Pio. That helps our police be more accountable and transparent where there is impartial oversight. Of the a P D practices and policies. We were disheartened by the Austin police association when they paid $300,000 for a fraudulent petition and abuse the intent of our democracy. Also our good officers. Need the ability to submit anonymous complaints. The four year contract. Would greatly restrict that and officers from doing that. So please support one year contract you speaker next speaker is tailored Trevino on deck are Michael Paniagua. Liz Gonzales. [1:55:37 PM] Good afternoon. My name is Tyler Trevino, resident of D three and I'm, a local organizer and advocate. I was speaking today in support of item one. I'd like to thank council members went there, so I'll ask Isabella and qadri for supporting the will of the voters. So far, there's no for a year police contract that has the oversight and accountability we need. Many austinites have already spoken in favor of the oversight we went to see from a P D and of council members believe in the democratic process there will let voters decide this may instead of rushing through a four year contract that was negotiated by someone who was clearly not a good fit for the city. For those on the other side. Oversight and accountability should not be points of contentious debate. If you're opposed to that, then what are you in favor of misconduct should not be tolerated in any capacity, especially by those who are armed and are charged with keeping this city and all of its residents safe. We need a one year contract so we can honor the democratic process and get oversight. Right please vote. Yes, on item one. Thank you very much for your time and forgiving constituency opportunity to speak on this issue. Next is Michael Paniagua on deck are Liz [1:56:40 PM] Gonzales and locked me moonies. Daniel Petrie. And Stephen Mccormick. Please state your name at the podium. Thank you. Daniel Petrie district nine. Thank you for listening. I oppose this amendment. Council needs to focus on what public safety requires. And that is more police on the force. Allow a P D, a four year contract. That will allow them stability to attract quality candidates. We used to see bicycle patrols on Austin trails foot patrols on Austin streets. Patrol cars in Austin neighborhoods. We need them back. Council needs to support encourage and thank our police. Mayor also, thank you. [1:57:43 PM] Gonzales. Lockney monies. Stephen Mccormick. Francescoli. Chase Dalton. Good afternoon. My name is Francesca flag, a lady and a resident of district five. I'm a former teacher with over 15, plus years of experience and education as a public servant at local and state levels. Currently a precinct chair for precinct for 14 in district five. I appreciate all of you and all of our public servants for the work they do to keep our communities safe as well as ours. Democracy strong. I am in favor of item one, as a precinct [1:58:43 PM] chair in order to provide the time for voters to make their wills heard in may and know that that vote matters and it is a struggle to ensure that all of our voters are informed and engaged. And the. False petition we can trust in our democratic process and therefore, in public safety as well. I encourage you to consider the voices you heard today and allow us time to uphold the democratic process. Thank you. Next speaker is Stephen Mccormick. On deck chase Dalton. And Paul Samuel. Jeff Edwards. Good afternoon. My name is Paul Samuel I'm an attorney at Edwards law represent many of [1:59:45 PM] the people who have been impacted by a pedes actions. I speak before you do emphasize 1.4 year contract before you still leaves police oversight in the hands of the Austin police department's internal affairs department. Oh pios power and ability to investigate will be wholly limited by I a S ability, Orion's conclusions and investigations. Time and time again, the a P D I, a department has proven they are not up to the task of investigating their own. In fact, the vast majority of the most egregious uses of force over the past decade I a has found the officers exonerated or simply has refused to find a conclusion. This means opio won't have the power to ask questions of those involved and won't have the power to investigate any further. Ah rather left on their own devices. I a often devotes its resources to finding thank you. [2:00:48 PM] Jeff Edwards following his Chris Harris. Brandon James. And Kathy Mitchell. Please state your name at the podium. My name is Brandon James. I do agree that the police officers need more funding. I agree that they need job stability. I think that their futures need to be secure. We don't want a citizens for a time where we reach out, and there's nobody to come because of lack of resources, but at the same time, we also don't want you to come to our homes and killed the homeowner. We also don't want you to murky up the details and give us false story or false narrative to the community to hold and not hold yourself accountable. Most officers I believe, want to do a [2:01:49 PM] great job and make it home safely. God bless you. And I thank you for serving your community. This vote isn't about you. This vote is about the bad apples. Your anger is misplaced . It should not be towards the community. Your anger should be placed towards those bad apples within that are within the department that are causing this boat to even be on the table. Because we need more accountability. If everybody was doing their job, there would be no reason for us to even be here today, but obviously everybody's not doing their job. So thank you officers for what you do, but at the same time look at your peers and hold them accountable. Thank you. Chris Harris and Cathy Mitchell. My name is Chris Harris somewhere district night district night, with equity action as well as also just coalition. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. A one year contract extension is your effort I believe to actually provide stability to ensure the benefits and pay of the officers continue over the next year. To ensure honestly that they likely will [2:02:49 PM] get a raise over that next year. A one year deal also respects the will of the voters. It accomplishes all of the things that I've heard everyone here say that they want stability of more more more more money for officers, as well as an opportunity for citizens to vote . This is the best path for that there is another path to provide to protect the will of the voters, and that's the path that I think you all are trying to avoid here today. Okay? And so again, a one year deal item one strongly urge you to support it again. This is the path of stability of continue paying benefits of probably a raise for the officers as well as protecting the will of the voters. This is the path that meets the interests of everybody here in the city as well as in this room. Thank you. Passing Cathy Mitchell. My name is Kathy [2:03:50 PM] Mitchell. I'm a long term residents of district one homeowner, a grandmother and an organizer with equity action. I am going to take a moment and simply read from somebody that I think many of you on the dais. Remember a no. Margo Frazier was our sheriff. In Travis county for many, many years, and after being sheriff and managing a law enforcement agency. She then was our police monitor for an additional many, many years and she was very outspoken and I want to read what she has said most recently. Anyone who tells you this contract and she's speaking about the four year contract that has come to you expand civilian oversight is delusional. Not sure why anyone would want to be the oh Pio. The director of the opio under this proposed contract. In another place, alright. You may leave it [2:04:56 PM] there concludes all of the speakers. We called thank you, madam clerk. And I think everybody, that's been here and spoken to us today. Regardless of whatever position you took, as I said earlier. We do appreciate the fact that you're here and we appreciate that you participate with the passion and as part of what we love about Austin. Members your call that at the last meeting, the item that's in front of us was postponed until this meeting. There's a motion on the table, and that motion that's on the table was the original main motion after some back and forth in terms of reconsidering there was we were back to the original main motion, which had been made by council member of Ella the way I would operate is it's my understanding that there is now a substitute motion. In other words, I motion that addresses [2:05:59 PM] this the same thing that the original main motion addressed, but it is different and takes out quite a bit. And we want to make sure that we have exactly what we're voting in front of us. So the way I will proceed as I will recognize. Council member of Ella to move the adoption of a substitute motion. The way that will then work is, I will call for amendments. To the main motion. Not the substitute, but the main motion. I can't anticipate. I don't anticipate that there will be amendments to that. But I'm gonna try to follow the process and then I will ask if there and once we have perfected the main motion as it exists. I will then ask for any amendments to the substitute motion. We will go through those amendments. If there are any if those any of those past we will then have we will perhaps perfected the substitute motion. I will then entertain a motion. To make the [2:07:02 PM] substitute motion the main motion. And if that passes, we will then take a vote on the new main motion, which is the substitute motion. With that I will recognize council member of Ella. Thank you, mayor. I appreciate all of the comments and the passion from from everyone. Obviously public safety is the. One of the most important issues that the city faces and we want to do our best to provide a high level of public safety, what with a quality of first responders. I would like to go ahead and offer my substitute emotion. It essentially. The main motion. It's similar to the original item but incorporates some of the amendments that have been offered in maybe a more succinct [2:08:05 PM] and focused way it is titled item number one vela substitute resolution dated to 15 23, and it was emailed out by the clerk. You know, just a bit ago, and I would offer that for the diocese consideration. Second. I'm sorry. Is there a second to council member of Leila's motion is second about council member Fuentes. Members let me ask you if there are any amendments to the main motion. The one that was considered last week. Any amendments to the main motion. And I'll declare the main motion as a perfected motion. Are there any amendments to the substitute motion offered by council member of L, a and seconded by councilor member of Fuentes. Any amendments. Council member alter . I don't have an amendment. I just wanted to clarify from a [2:09:06 PM] procedural standpoint, if we have questions for staff when we will have that opportunity once this is perfected, and once it becomes the main motion, okay, thank you. Are there any amendments to be offered to the substitute motion by vela? Seeing none of declare the substitute motion as the main motion the motion that I will now entertain and shall the substitute motion become the main motion? That motion is made by councilman Rivera seconded by council member qadri. Is there any objection to the substitute motion becoming the main motion? Hearing. I would like to Epstein I'm sorry to abstain on that you will be shown abstaining. Is there any yes. Hi object enough . Is there any objection to the substitute motion becoming the main motion? Hearing none. The substitute motion has become becomes the main motion with two council members of being shown as abstaining. Council member Alison alter and council member objecting so you're voting? No [2:10:08 PM] yes, I'm voting. No, I'm sorry I misunderstood you, okay? So there there. The main motion has now become the substitute motion with council member Kelly voting no and council member Alison alter, abstaining we now have before us our new main motion, which is the substitute motion that has been put forward today and this, I will now recognize members for questions or comments and I'll start with council member Alison alter. Thank you. I'm gonna start with my questions. And then I'll hear other questions and comments before I make comments. I would like to ask our negotiating team or legal. I'm not sure who is in the best position. To answer to come forward. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Council members, mayor Rebecca Hayward here outside counsel from Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal and zeke . And so I'm representing L R O today and miss Sarah griffin [2:11:08 PM] happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Can you please explain to us exactly what will happen legally if the equity action petition is past passes in may please describe the various actions that would take place if the petition is approved. Sure and I think maybe a little bit of background information also, for the sake of the public would be helpful because the city of Austin is a 1 43 city, right? 1 43 of the Texas local government code. It is state law. That's that's what the city of Austin is governed under. Right now, there are three ways to change the state law. One being a voter initiative to repeal 1 43 outright. The other way being to change the state law and the Texas legislature and the other being through a meat and confirmed contract. Right so the equity action petition, if adopted, has provisions in there that attempt to get around state law, which is not one of those three mechanisms. So what we have done in the four year [2:12:09 PM] contract? Ah is negotiate around 1 43. So there was a lot of comment and feedback today about the four year contract and the one year extension. You don't have to choose between the four year contract and oversight what we have put in place in the four year contract does include oversight provisions that bring it further than we are today from the current contract. So I guess in a long way to answer your question council member of the legal effect of the equity action petition, whether it's in in effect, if there is no contract, many of those provisions and the will of the voters, voters, quite frankly, will not come to pass. But the four year contract is a mechanism to get many of those provisions in that equity action petition to come to fruition in regards to oversight. Thank you and legally, how will the passage of the petition specifically impact the provisions that must be contained within a contract that [2:13:10 PM] is ratified by ap membership. Again I think that to answer your question is really the only way we can get those provisions in the equity action or the goals in the interest of the equity action petition is in within the confines of the contract, and so, and just for a little bit of history, too, and for the sake of the public we happen negotiating since March of 2022. Our proposal has been our cities direction from city leadership has been in line with the goals of the equity action petition. And so, but within the confines of what we're able to do legally, so you know again, I guess to answer your question. The options before us with either the one year extension in the one year extension, assuming status quo. Would keep the status quo of the current labor agreement with the arbitration award that has essentially kind of cut the legs out from under us in the current contract that would be in place for a year, [2:14:12 PM] not the provisions of the equity action petition. If we adopt the four year contract than those new negotiated terms about regarding oversight would be in place, and those probably our opinion are. Opinion, really is that those equity action goals are as closely contained in this for your contract now, you spoke we've heard a lot about the contract and the petition today. Can you explain how they contract provisions work with the proposed office of place oversight ordinance and the police chiefs rules to provide? The oversight? Proposal. Yes and , the way we've been framing this our solution, and I think there's been also some confusion in the public because you'll look at the four year proposed contract and you'll see a lot of strike throughs. You're gonna see some things that that [2:15:12 PM] mentioned opio that are struck through and that is strategic and deliberate because our three are kind of three legged stool. Our solution is a. Is a triangle essentially that the city manager's authority being on top . The four year agreement, that we need to negotiate, negotiate around state law, and then the ordinance that Neil has drafted and has been for you as well that we can explain in further detail those three things work together to create. In our opinion, the best oversight model in the state of Texas right now, that's on. That's that we've negotiated, and meets the essentially the will of the voters. But I'll let Neil kind of touch on the ordinance real quickly. Good afternoon, mayor and council Neil palguta attorney and the law department here and have been a member of the negotiating team for the past year. So, back in 2021 late 2021, the city received an [2:16:13 PM] arbitration award that was adverse to some of the things that our office of police oversight was doing at that time council direction was to as part of the negotiation for the next contract to take the office of police oversight out of the contract as much as possible. And so when Becky says, that's why you see a lot of strike throughs and the contract taking opio language out of the contract. That's why that's there. What we've done is taken a lot of those provisions and put them into an ordinance that's been presented to you. I recognize that ordinance might not have been publicly available . It is. It is now. And so I haven't heard much discussion about that ordinance. But a lot of those provisions that were in the previous contract that relate to oporto now in the ordinance, so the ordinance provides that opio can take anonymous complaints and there will be no duty on opio to determine the identity of those [2:17:14 PM] complainants authorizes opio to make recommendations to the chief of police and the city manager related to oversight activities. It allows the office of police oversight to act as an investigator, which means they get to be in the room with the internal affairs division, asking questions of officers. So all that is in the ordinance. Thank you, mayor. I'll have some comments later. Thank you. Any other discussion on this item. Let me say one thing before we go to that, Sarah griffin, who we all know, and many people in the room no. Because of the role she's played in negotiating. This is not with us today, but not because of a lack of interest. It's because she also got bit by the covid bug, and so she's fighting back against covid right now, and that's why she's not here and I want to make that clear for everybody. That because she's been working on this for quite a while. The motion. That's on the floor is [2:18:18 PM] to adopt. The main motion. The motion has been made by council member of Ella seconded by council member Fuentes on the main motion, which is now just for clarity purposes, the substitute motion that's been laid out here today. Is there any further discussion on the main motion? Yes, councilor of Fuentes. Thank you, mayor colleagues. For me. This decision before us is a simple one. It's about extending our police contract. It's about keeping our police officers under contract knowing how important it is to preserve the benefits to end to have increased incentives both to recruit and retain officers and equally important, it's about preserving the choice of Austin voters. I want to be really clear. I have no intention of circumventing the ballot measure process. I believe that people of Austin should expect safety [2:19:20 PM] and have safety in their community. And that our police officers should be held to the highest possible standard. The resolution we have before us. Honors both our duty to our police officers and two Austin voters. So with that I do, I will support this measure. And I want to thank council member of L. A for his leadership and bringing this forward. Council member, Kelly thank you, mayor for the recognition. Throwing aside. The already agreed to four year police contract is disingenuous to the nature content and completed work of the four year agreement. The city council is an elected body by the residents of Austin, and our job is to make decisions on behalf of our constituents. Delaying this already agreed to upon four year contract will place additional doubt in our ability to govern with the community. Further delaying will create unnecessary uncertainty, which can and already has negatively impacted the morale of the police officers and ultimately public safety in our [2:20:20 PM] community. Additionally, the proposed short term extension could lead to more disputes between the city and the police association, delaying past the expiration date of the currently in place contract. And initiating the resignations and retirements of many officers. Here's some things I want to note for the community and for my colleagues. The proposed temporary extension can cause confusion and create the perception the city is not committed to supporting its officers and the public safety of its residents will have negative impacts on the morale of the police force. The city's team in napa have been in negotiations since March of 2022. The city's first police oversight proposal was publicly presented in March of 2022. To date, there have been 22 community meeting negotiations that were open to the public starting in March of 2022. And ultimately, the community gets the most out of this four year agreement. Negotiating a four year contract is an incredibly [2:21:21 PM] complex process that requires careful consideration of the interests of the city and the police union, which the city and a P a have done for over a year. Delaying that negotiation will prolong the process and not lead to a better outcome. The four year contract after my review has the most thought out robust and comprehensive oversight. Of this, in Austin's history, and even in the state of Texas, and if the state were to get involved, there would be zero city of Austin oversight ability. Based on insights from both a P a and city staff. I firmly believe the four year contract is not only the best for the community, but it's most in line with keeping residents safe and officers accountable. During all the meetings that I reviewed oversight was front and center in every component of the negotiation process. And although some may read the currently proposed four year agreement and ask why some of those oversight components were redlined, this is because of what we just heard. That the ordinance was drafted and circulated two days ago and [2:22:21 PM] we'll go hand in glove with the contract and mandate engraving. The oversight provisions that all stakeholders have agreed to. One other point I'd like to make if a pd morale falters to the point where vacancy levels rise to 25% a P D will be forced to seek outside help from the county and the state, which will cost taxpayers taxpayers a lot more money. And then also, I wanted to be known that through December of 2022, the city has expanded. $530,000 for contracting services and studies related to the negotiations with all three associations. These costs are in addition to staff time. For both city management and the association membership. And as I've always said as council members, we have to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and scrapping are already agreed to plan would be throwing that money away. So let me end here by saying something very clear. We're not approving a one year contract. We would be approving the direction to restart negotiations, which we have already been exhaustively doing for a year over again. [2:23:24 PM] What that means is the city would not reach an agreement by the time the current contract expires, which would result in a significant amount of resignations. And retirements from officers and create unneeded instability within the police department, placing residents at unnecessary risk right before south by southwest F one a CL soccer games, football games and countless other large scale events where the protection of the attendees is the most vital component for spectators to enjoy their time here. The clear and honest question before us today is why would we give those that elected us? Our constituents something rushed unless serving than the robust and comprehensive four year agreement available to us. The fact is, it's our duty as council members to consider and vote for the best option available before us not settle for something that is most assuredly to place our constituents and I needed additional harm. So it's my stance that, this four year agreement is what the police union agreed to the city negotiated with and that the residents of Austin deserve. If [2:24:26 PM] we delay by starting over negotiations, we will cause further fracturing of our public safety community, which is unnecessary. And the people at most risk will be the residents of Austin. Those people are our neighbors, friends and family members and mayor. I would like to move to postpone. I don't want and definitely today. Members of council member Kelly has moved to postpone item one. Is there a second? Is there a second? Is there a second? The motion by councilor Kelly fails for lack of a second. Do you want to be recognized? And have you finished? Yes sir. I am done. Right. Thank you. Council member qadri. Hmm hmm. Yeah I'll make my points really quick. You know, I just want to emphasize with the public with those of us on the dyer's. This is a one year extension. To get and eventually pursues something longer after a vote that will [2:25:27 PM] take place in may that will give the folks of this city an opportunity to have their you know, views heard. This this one year extension is no different than what we've done with M S. And much like ems workers who give so much to the city. You know, we want to make sure would you right bye bye. Bye pms, fire police and making sure all these you know folks are taken care of, and we're doing right. I think it's I want to emphasize its. It's important and we have a real opportunity here in Austin to be a leader. Oversight and accountability. You know, I'm tired of the headlines that it seems like we've become a leader on or these, massive settlements that were we've been dealing with as a city between the city and our police forces. So I'm looking forward to the discussion as it as it continues today, but, you know, I just want to emphasize this is giving an opportunity to voters to have their voices heard. It's an [2:26:27 PM] extension no more different than what we've done with the M S in the past. Thank you, Katherine Merrick all recognize council member alter. Would you like to Alison alter? Would you now like speak? Or I can go after Mr Bailey. He had his handle the maker of the motion to have the last word unless that's fine. Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you all for being here with us for so many hours. This is an important decision and really appreciate hearing all of your voices and all of your feedback , so thank you for taking that time. I have long believed that accountability and oversight over policeman misconduct are critical to creating trust between our community and our police officers. I am one of the few council members who has been part of a contract negotiation before I lead the quorum in 2017 that worked hand in hand with reformers and advocates to champion enhanced police, accountability and civilian oversight in our police contract , our work created the office of [2:27:27 PM] police oversight allowed for anonymous complaints and intended to allow the office of police oversight to conduct invest independent investigations. Many of the things that we are discussing today, five years later. I remain committed to accountability and oversight. Everyone on this dais shares the same goal. Reasonable people may disagree on which path we want to pursue, based on the legal risk and legal realities that have been described to us as a body, both publicly and privately. The oversight process. Myself and the previous counsel painstakingly built in 2017. And 2018 has been dismantled due to the results of the arbitration process. As we discuss a contract that delivers on police accountability. We must remember that the terms are only real if it is ratified by the a P a as per an earlier citizen initiative adopting 1 43. I see three options before us. Option one. No contract. No contract does not advance any [2:28:28 PM] meaningful oversight processes, and it will exacerbate our existing vacancies. Option to a four year contract. The proposed for your contract is not achieve a perfect oversight process, however, together with the proposed office of police oversight ordinance and policies gets us closer to more oversight in a way that is legal. I agree with the points that have been made with the river to clause in various communications had we moved forward with a four year contract for the 23rd. I would have put forth direction today that the Roberto clause be modified to provide greater protection to the city and to oversight that would have been in order and necessary. Then we have option three, a one year contract. The item before us will not immediately achieve more oversight than what we have in the four year contract. It is purely an extension of the current contract terms with no more oversight and with no more money, with more money added to it. As we know, due to state law, we cannot reduce the budget of a P D. Once we have added [2:29:30 PM] funding to it, even if the funding we are adding is in a one year contract. The one year contract will be more expensive and contain cascading financial implications for a future multi year contract. That is what is clear to me. What is unclear to me is whether we can achieve more oversight a year from now than what we already have on the table under a four year deal. Our legal department has argued that the passage of a petition will not immediately result in strengthen oversight because many of the oversight provisions are required by state law to be ratified by a P a in a contract. So negotiating for a one year contract does not guarantee us strengthen police accountability . From my perspective, it does guarantee that we will end up spending more money on a P D. Fostering trust and preventing misconduct is not just a function of our police contract. There are critical policy changes in training requirements we can pursue to ensure that our officers are better trained in de escalation in both the academy and in their regular [2:30:31 PM] line of work. That way, we can avoid instances of police misconduct in the first place. I'm excited to hear of the progress made on the integrated communications assessment and tactics, chat training and the active bystanders ship for law enforcement training, able. I do hope and I would implore the chief to roll these out for officers and supervisors as soon as possible, and I will be pushing for that. Additionally it's important to me in the context of the contract negotiations that we analyze additional staffing needs, including administrative staff that need to be implemented to help the academy implement the crow recommendations, which changed the training at the academy. Been doing a lot of thinking about this vote. And this isn't the first time that I have wrestled with my conscience and my conscience and my instincts telling me to pay attention to the details. I have seen this room full before asking us to do a particular thing or take a particular action. And I've seen the [2:31:32 PM] council make a decision based on that, with the details, not always fully through through. And those choices have not always been prudent, and we've had to pay the costs for those decisions, whether by the voters rejecting the choices we have made for losing the general public's trust. I can remember very clearly when chief Manley was unanimously approved by the council. To be honest, I had my reservations about that decision, then. And I can remember. The discussion that I had with the city manager. I still regret that I didn't trust my instincts in the face of what seemed like a universally held sentiment and I am not going to repeat that regret. My priorities in this contract process are codifying a legally enforceable oversight system and addressing the department significant vacancies. From the evidence. I see a one year contract does not achieve my priorities. I'll be voting no on this item today, so I will look carefully at the terms of a one year contract if it comes back [2:32:33 PM] to us on the 23rd or another date nearby, should that agreement actually come to fruition? Thank you. Member Tim Ellis. Thank you, mayor. I appreciate everyone who has joined us and is here in the audience today. I know that some of you all have very different views of what oversight and policing mean for our community . So it's no secret. I've grappled with the boat before us today. I'm probably the one that held out and wanted people to give me the opportunity to hear from all sides. And to really weigh the pros and cons. So I see. I do see potential risks and benefits to all of the options that were presented with today and I appreciate everyone coming out and reaching out to me and my team throughout these past couple of weeks when the original a Pio a petition came to us last year, I supported adopting it outright, and I was also proud to put it on the ballot for voters to decide because I believe in the public petition process. A word that I've heard a lot today is trust [2:33:34 PM] some folks calling for greater trust in our first responders, others calling for greater trust in the right of the public to petition and to have their voices heard at the ballot box. I also know that in order for us to move forward towards public trust, especially in community policing, that has to go both ways, and it's clear we still have work to do as a community to achieve that. At the end of the day. We know that voters are set to decide in may on what kind of oversight they would select. For the police department, and we must allow the will of the voters to be heard. This is why today I will be voting for the resolution as it's been amended throughout the weeks and I will vote to move forward with the one year contract extension. That indicates I'm going to go to the micro the motion to close thank you, mayor. And thank you to all of my colleagues for your very close reading of the contract and the documents and your [2:34:35 PM] staff's work on this. This is very complicated and difficult stuff. There's a lot of interaction between different sets of laws, but I have been extremely impressed with the diligence that the council has shown that that our staff is shown in in in working on this issue. Thomas villa. Real mentioned that we were talking the other night and we had a good conversation. We spoke very frankly and respectfully to each other, and I look forward to continuing to work with him and the Austin police association. He made a comment, which really , stayed with me, which was that the a P O a have passed would go much farther than any type of police oversight and accountability system in Texas and would arguably be one of the if not the toughest oversight and accountability system in the nation. I think he's he's right about that, and. For that reason [2:35:38 PM] , I think we have to check in with the voters before we do anything else. Let folks way this. Let them think about it. Let them vote. And if the if the voters of Austin give us the direction and say, you know what we do want to lead the nation in police accountability and oversight, then so be it. We have our marching orders and we're we'll go out and get it done again. I know there's gonna be some some tough negotiations and I know the other thing that I know and that I do not think we can ignore in that. I think the voters also need to keep in mind is that when you demand that level of. Of professionalism when you make such tough demands on your employees, you also have to pay him appropriately. And so they go hand in hand. Where if we're gonna ask for transparency and oversight, and we're going to ask for this extremely high level of professionalism. From [2:36:41 PM] our police officers. Just be conscious of the fact that we're also going to have to reward them for that level of effort. I want to check in with the voters . I'm looking forward to the to the may election and to see where the voters are. And then once they have their say, then we will take it up again and we will get it done. And with that I would just. Ready to go mayor . The vote. The vote will be on the main motion as substituted today a council member harper-madison if I can make sure that I know what's your vote is? The vote is on the main motion. All those in favor signify by saying, aye, raising your hand. Opposed. The vote passes on a vote of 9 to 2 with council members Alison alter and council member Mackenzie Kelly being shown voting no. Members there's no other business to [2:37:42 PM] come before us today. This has been because I indicated in my comments was we started this. This has been a very significant and solemn day in what we've taken up today, two of the most important things we can do, which involves the management of the city and public safety. Thank you for your work on this. Thank you. For all of you have come and just before I accept the motion to adjourn. I want to take a minute to say happy birthday to our colleague, council member qadri. I think he's 21 today. Okay ah, I'd be lying if I wasn't horrifically embarrassed right now. Good but it worked. But I appreciate that. I appreciate the kindness from everyone. There being no further business to come before the Austin city council at this special called meeting. Is there any objection to a journey? Hearing none. We are adjourned. Thank you all very much. And thank you all.