Feb 15, 2023 Special City Council

[00:00:05]

EVERYBODY I'M GONNA CALL

[Call to Order]

THIS IS A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.

WE ARE CONVENING AT 9:00 AM ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.

WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

UH, THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS ARE LOCATED IN CITY HALL, WHICH IS AT 2020.

UH, IS IT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AUSTIN, TEXAS.

UH, NOW THAT WE'VE BEEN CALLED TO ORDER, I WANT TO LAY OUT FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE, UH, QUICKLY WHAT I THINK WILL BE THE RUN OF SHOW TODAY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PREPARE AND, AND BE READY.

UH, WE ARE, AS SOON AS I FINISH LAYING THIS OUT, UH, I WILL, UH, RECESS US INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MY HOPE IS THAT THAT EXECUTIVE SESSION WILL BE COMPLETED AT 9 45.

UH, BUT LET'S FACE IT, OUR HOPES HAVE BEEN DASHED A TIME OR TWO BEFORE.

UH, BUT THE GOAL IS TO BE OUT BACK OUT HERE AT 9 45.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE WILL TAKE UP THE, UH, TEST PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WE WILL THEN HAVE 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 OF Y'ALL THAT ARE KEEPING SCORE, WE WILL THEN HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THAT PUBLIC TESTIMONY, WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION IN VOTE, AND IF NECESSARY, WE WILL, UH, RECESS BACK INTO ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IF UNNECESSARY, WE WILL, UH, ADJOURN AFTER THAT VOTE.

SO ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE HERE BACK ON THE DIAS AT 9 45 WHERE WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WE WILL THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION AND VOTE RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.

WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF RECESS.

THEN AT 10 30 WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC TESTIMONY RELATED TO ITEM NUMBER ONE, A DISCUSSION IN VOTE, AND THEN EITHER ADJOURNMENT OR ANOTHER EXECUTIVE SESSION IF NECESSARY.

WITH THAT BEING SAID,

[3. Discuss legal and personnel issues related to the employment, compensation and benefits for the City Manager and potential appointment of an interim city manager (Private consultation with legal counsel - Section 551.071 of the Texas Government Code; Personnel matters - Section 551.074 of the Government Code).]

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.

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.

UH, IT IS 10 14.

UH, WE ARE OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND BACK INTO OPEN SESSION.

UH, THE ITEM WE WILL TAKE UP

[2. Authorize payment of severance benefits to City Manager Spencer Cronk pursuant to Ordinance 20181213-046, and potentially discuss and take action related to the appointment, compensation, benefits and transition plan for an interim city manager.]

UH, MADAME CLERK, I'D ASK YOU TO START, UH, LETTING US KNOW WHO WE HAVE TO SPEAK.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THE FIRST, UM, REMOTE SPEAKER IS BEVERLY LUNA.

HI, GOOD MORNING, SORRY.

HI, MY NAME IS BEVERLY LUNA.

I'M WITH AUSTIN, LOST AND FOUND PETS.

WE HAVE 70,000 MEMBERS AND OUR MISSION IS TO REUNITE, LOST AND FOUND, LOST AND FOUND PETS WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

UM, PEOPLE USED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE OFFICE ANIMAL CENTER TO LOOK FOR THEIR LOST PETS UNDER CENTERED CLOTH.

THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER HAS BEEN SO POORLY RUN THAT BINDERS HAVE LOST DOGS, CAN'T GET DOGS INTO THE SHELTER FOR OVER A MONTH.

BY THEN, MOST DOGS HAVE EITHER BEEN RELEASED OUT INTO THE STREETS OR REHOME.

ANIMAL CONTROL HAS ESSENTIALLY STOPPED PICKING UP STRAY DOGS DESPITE CITY AND COUNTY ORDINANCES REQUIRING THEM TO DO SO.

AND THESE DOGS ARE LEFT TO SUFFER AND DIE IN THE STREETS AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T HELP THEM FOR EACH MONTH.

IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE SPENCER CROSS BROUGHT DON BLAN IN TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE SHELTER, INTAKE OF DOGS AT THE SHELTER IS 50% OF WHAT IT WAS IN YEARS PRIOR.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN JUNE, 2016, THE SHELTER TOOK IN AND WAS ABLE TO HANDLE TWICE AS MANY DOGS AS THE SHELTER TOOK IN IN JUNE, 2022.

2022.

THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER SPEND ITS TIME AND TAX DOLLARS MARKETING THEIR STORY THAT THEY HAVE TO RESTRICT INTAKE BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE INFLUX

[00:05:01]

THANK YOU.

MS. LUNA IS THANK YOU, SPEAKER.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH GARRICK.

HI, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH GERRICK.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.

AS I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DECISION TO APPOINT A NEW CITY MANAGER WAS UNANIMOUS, ALBEIT YEARS OVERDUE.

I WON'T WASTE TIME AND MURDERING THE DOZENS OF WASTE FUNDS FOR CAUCUS SHELTER CITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO INSTEAD ASK COUNSEL FOR THE UTMOST PRUDENCE IN DETERMINING HIS SEVERANCE TO OFFER NO MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM.

CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGED.

HIS SALARY IS NEAR 10 TIMES THAT OF MEDIAN AUSTINITE INCLUDING MINE, AND MOST AUSTINITE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD COBRA COVERAGE.

UM, IF THEY EVEN GET IT, SPENCER CRONK WILL BE FINE.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN, UH, PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN WHO HAVE SUFFERED UNDER HIM WILL NOT BE.

UM, AND, UH, SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO DEMAND THAT HE BE OFFERED NO MORE THAN THE BARE MINIMUM CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGED IN SEVERANCE.

THAT CONCLUDES THE, THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.

UM, BUT BEFORE WE GO INTO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, MAYOR, IF I CAN MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALL THE SPEAKERS, WE'RE 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.

UM, WE DO HAVE A, A SPANISH SPEAKER IF, UM, AND THE INTERPRETER IS ON THE LINE.

JACQUELINE, CAN YOU HEAR US, JACQUELINE? YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.

CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? YES.

THANK YOU.

ONE SECOND.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS LINDA NUNO SPEAKING ON ITEMS ONE AND TWO ON DECK ARE BRANDON JAMES AND CLEO PETROC.

OKAY, JACQUELINE, YOU MAY BEGIN.

CONGRESS COUNCIL MEMBER.

YEAH, I DON'T ENGLISH OR IN SPANISH IS THE PLACE THAT HE'S BEEN WHERE HE'S BEEN PUT I'M SECRETARY OF OF FIGHTING FOR A CHILD.

MY CHILD, A CHILD THAT THEY NOT HAVE TO ADOPT, THAT I ACTUALLY CARRY.

IT HAS MY DNA.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM SPEAKING SWAHILI, 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 DO 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 4TH OF JULY, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND ALONE FOR ARREST, UH, WHILE I WAS, UH, FIGHTING AGAINST ICE AND THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY PERPETRATED AGAINST MY PEOPLE, 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 PETROC AND KATHY MITCHELL.

JAMES BRANDON, CLEO PETROC, AND

[00:10:01]

I AM HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

IT'S TIME TO PUT A P D 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 SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON THE DAIS 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 MADNESS AND SUPPORT THE RESULT OF GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, WHICH DELIVERS BOTH STABILITY AND PROGRESSIVE OVERSIGHT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY MITCHELL.

ON DECK IS JACK WEST AND ALEXANDER STRANGER AFTER, AFTER ALEXANDER STRANGER IS DINO FERNANDEZ.

KATHY MITCHELL HAS INDICATED SHE DOESN'T NEED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM.

ALEX STRINGER, PLEASE PROCEED.

GOOD MORNING, COUNSEL.

UH, MY NAME IS ALEXANDER STRINGER.

MY PRONOUNS ARE CLOWN CLOWN SELF.

UM, 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 OKAY.

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.

UM, THIS JOB REQUIRES A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN BEING AUSTIN ENERGY CEO.

SO I AM ASKING FOR A BASE PAY OF $750,000 A YEAR.

AUSTIN IS AN 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 PFIZER AND MODERNA CALL OPTIONS.

UM, AND NOW I'M BROKE BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN TO NAZIS LIKE JOE ROGAN INSTEAD OF THE STEAMED SCIENTISTS LIKE BILL GATES AND DR.

FAUCI.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT MY WIFE IS IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

SHE HAS STAGE FIVE TESTICULAR CANCER, AND WHEN YOU REFUSE TO GET VACCINATED, YOU ARE 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 BUSINESS BECAUSE THE OWNER CALLED ME BY THE WRONG GENDER PRONOUN.

ANYWAY, IF I COULD GET A JOB AS THE CITY MANAGER, THAT HERNANDEZ ON DECK IS WALLACE LUNDGREN.

IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE FRONT.

GINO FERNANDEZ, WALLACE LUNDGREN, ELIZABETH BARON, MR. LUNDGREN, PLEASE PROCEED.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M HERE TO ASK Y'ALL TO CONSIDER NOT FIRING MR. CRONK.

GIVE HIM A PERIOD OF THREE OR FOUR MONTHS TO GET STRAIGHTENED 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 FIRE HIM.

I, I THINK IT'S A HORRIBLE WASTE OF $400,000.

UH, HE WAS, HE WAS GOOD 30 DAYS AGO.

NOW HE IS NO GOOD CUZ WE HAD A STORM.

SO I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD OUTLINE WHAT YOU THINK HE SHOULD BE DOING AND IN 90 DAYS REEVALUATE IT AND GO FROM THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

ELIZABETH BARON ON DECK.

MANUEL JIMENEZ, THEN BURTON .

THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS FOR ITEM TWO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MEMBERS AT THIS TIME, THE CHAIR WILL, UH, ACCEPT A MOTION.

THE MOTION WILL INVOKE ASK.

OH YEAH, I DO.

UM, BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER FOR

[00:15:01]

OH, WHAT'D I SAY? OH, MANAGE IT.

OH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

NOT, UH, I, I WANT TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR, UH, SOME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, OPERATING UNDER THE POSTING, UH, IN A, IN A WAY THAT THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

UH, THE POSTING IS SUCH THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO TERMINATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE CITY MANAGER, UH, BY REMOVAL OF THE CITY MANAGER.

IT WOULD BE TO PAY THE CITY MANAGER SEPARATION PAY ENTITLED UNDER THE ORDINANCE THAT HIRES THE CITY MANAGER, AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND SET THE, UH, PAY SCALE FOR THAT, UH, INTERIM CITY MANAGER.

IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR, I KNOW THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU'RE POSTED FOR, UM, AUTHORIZING THE PAYMENT OF SEVERANCE BENEFITS AND TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND THE PAYMENT OF THE SEVERANCE PACKAGES TRIGGERED BY EITHER BY COUNSEL TERMINATING THE MANAGER OR BY THE MANAGER BEING FORCED TO RESIGN.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING TODAY.

THANK YOU, UH, MADAM CITY ATTORNEY.

UM, SO THE, THE, THE I I WILL ACCEPT A MOTION, UH, TO BE MADE BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.

UH, IT WILL HAVE THREE PARTS TO THIS MOTION.

UH, THE FIRST WOULD BE THE COUNCIL REMOVING SPENCER KRAN FROM THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 16TH, 2023, AN APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF ALL SEVERANCE BENEFITS TO HIM AS SET FORTH, SET OUT IN PART TWO OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 21 8 1 2 1 3 0 4 6.

THOSE PAYMENTS BEING A BASE PAY FOR 12 MONTHS OF $388,190 AND 40 CENTS COBRA PAYMENTS FOR SIX MONTHS IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,234 AND 92 CENTS.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION FOR 22 PAY PERIODS OF $19,038 AND 46 CENTS, A VACATION PAYOUT OF 240 HOURS OF $44,791 AND 20 CENTS AN EXCEPTION VACATION FOUR HOURS OF $746 AND 52 CENTS.

AGAIN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE HIRING OF THE CITY MANAGER FOR A TOTAL OF $463,001 AND 50 CENTS.

THE THIRD PART OF THE RESOLUTION WOULD BE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF JESUS GARZA AS INTERIM CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF 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 COUNSEL TAKES OTHER ACTION INCONSISTENT WITH THIS RESOLUTION.

NUMBER ONE, ACTING BASE SALARY OF $350,000 PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION CONTRIBUTIONS EQUAL TO $19,038 AND 46 CENTS ANNUALLY PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES, AN EXECUTIVE ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO $7,200 ANNUALLY, SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE TAXES AND PAID IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PAYROLL PRACTICES, CELL PHONE AND DATA ALLOWANCE, EQUIVALENT TO $1,620 AND 32 CENTS ANNUALLY, PLUS AN ANNUAL 225,000, I'M 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 TIM.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MOTION.

SECONDED.

I SECOND THE MOTION.

THE MOTION HAS BEEN MADE AND SECONDED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SAY AYE OR RAISE YOUR HAND COUNCILMAN ROBERT MADISON.

THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

UM, SAY THAT LOUD.

I'M SORRY.

SORRY, MR. MAYOR.

IT DOES NOT, I'M SORRY.

I I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING UNANIMOUSLY.

SHE'S JUST SAYING SHE'S VOTING.

YES.

YOU'RE VOTING YES.

SO IT IS A, IS A UNANIMOUS NO, SHE'S VOTING.

NO, I'M SAYING I'M NOT VOTING.

YES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO ARE YOU, ARE YOU VOTING? I AM VOTING, NO.

OKAY, VERY GOOD.

THEN THE MOTION

[00:20:01]

MY HOPE IS THAT IT'S NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES LONG AND WE'LL BE BACK IN AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO ITEM NUMBER ONE.

THANK Y'ALL.

WE'RE NOW IN RECESS.

I'M GONNA CALL THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL BACK TO ORDER.

IT'S 10 45, UH, AM ON FEBRUARY 15TH, 2023.

UH, BEFORE I CALL UP THE FIRST SPEAKER ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, AS PART OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY, I'D LIKE TO FRAME THE MOMENT, UH, JUST A LITTLE, UH, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AND SOLEMN DAY.

IT'S, 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 WE'LL MAKE AS 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 REALITY INTERACT AND THEY BECOME INTERTWINED SO THAT IT'S NOT ALL OR NOTHING BINARY CHOICES WHEN MAKING THESE IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY DETERMINATIONS.

FIRST, WE NEED TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN 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 AUSTIN NIGHTS ARE BOTH SAFE AND IMPORTANTLY, WHETHER THEY'RE IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME OR THEY'RE BEING PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC STOP AND NO ONE SHOULD FEAR THE POLICE MAKING ALL US NIGHT SAFE AND ABLE TO FEEL SAFE.

RESPECTING ALL POLICE OFFICERS AND WORKING FOR STABILITY DOES NOT PRECLUDE AND I WOULD ARGUE IT NECESSARILY INCLUDES A ROBUST AND TRANSPARENT OVERSIGHT OF 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 IS TO AVOID AT LEAST PART OF THE ALL OR NOTHING BS THAT COMES WHEN YOU TRIED TO DO A PROCESS WRONG.

BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST WEEK.

A LAST MINUTE FOUR YEAR CONTRACT 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.

[1. Approve a resolution concerning bargaining for a meet and confer labor contract with the Austin Police Association. 1]

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 THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM EVERYBODY, BUT WE CAN OPERATE THIS MORE EFFICIENTLY.

IF WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME AND YOU'RE 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

[00:25:03]

OKAY.

APOLOGIES.

THERE MUST BE A SNAFU.

I'M NOT A SPANISH SPEAKING OR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE SPEAKER.

SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL MY NAME IS RECALLED OR SPEAK? TELL ME YOUR NAME.

SARAH RODRIGUEZ.

IT MIGHT BE ANOTHER SARAH RODRIGUEZ.

YES.

GO AHEAD AND WAIT UNTIL YOU, UM, WE CALL, WE WANNA MAKE SURE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR POINTING.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE TO REMOTE SPEAKERS.

THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CLARIN WILLIAMS? YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

OKAY.

UM, MY NAME IS CHLORINE WILLIAMS. UM, I'M WITH BLACK LEADERS COLLECTIVE, NUMEROUS OF DIFFERENT, UH, UM, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS IN THE PEACE PROGRAM.

AND I'M A FOURTH GENERATION AUSTIN TONIGHT.

UM, MY BROTHER WAS LAWRENCE PIERCE.

HE WAS SHOT APRIL 7TH, 2017.

IN 2017, OFFICERS WERE REQUIRED TO WEAR VIDEO FOOTAGE.

THE FIRST OFFICER NAMED MARCUS JOHNSON, WHO IS THE FACE OF THE RECRUITING DEPARTMENT AND HAS, HAS BEEN PUT ON ALL BILLBOARDS FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BOUGHT HIS 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 THE TRUTH.

HE WAS RELEASED AFTER THE TRUTH CAME OUT AND TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, MY BROTHER RECENTLY 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 HANDS.

THANK YOU SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

NEXT SPEAKER IS MASK MAX HORSEMAN.

HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

THIS IS MAX HORSEMAN.

I'M CALLING IN FROM DISTRICT NINE.

UM, I'M SPEAKING TODAY THE MEMBER OF REPUBLIC THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD THAT A ONE YEAR CONTRACT WOULD BE PASSED AND ANYTHING ELSE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

WE DON'T NEED ANY HAND RINGING OR EXCUSES.

WE DON'T NEED YOU TO BLAME ANYONE ELSE.

WE JUST NEED YOU TO PASS THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

ALSO, I THINK WE DON'T NEED TO HEAR ANYTHING MORE ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD RESPECT THE POLICE.

WHEN THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION IS THE ONE WHO'S GONE 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 IS GUMBO V HEY, GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR WATSON.

I WAS HOPING TO BE THERE IN PERSON TODAY, BUT I'M NOT FEELING SUPER WELL.

I'M A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA, UH, DISTRICT FIVE RESIDENT, A PROUD CITY EMPLOYEE ORGANIZED WITH AFSCME 1624.

AS A REGULAR CITY EMPLOYEE, I DON'T GET A CONTRACT.

UH, THOUSANDS OF CITY EMPLOYEES DON'T GET A CONTRACT AND THE FACT THAT APD DOES GET A CONTRACT AND CAN ENGAGE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS A MASSIVE PRIVILEGE THAT WE BESTOW ON A RO DEPARTMENT.

SO I THINK IT MAKES CLEAR AND LOGICAL SENSE TO REJECT BEFORE YOUR CONTRACT.

PUSH FOR A ONE YEAR STOP GAP, 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 CONTRACTS BETWEEN A F D, EMS AND APD AT THE SAME TIME.

UH, AND IF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR A P D, I WANT TO ASK YOU WHY IT WAS OKAY TO FORCE ON EMS. THANK YOU.

YOU OWE MY TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JOHN HARRIS.

YES, UH, I'M JOHN HARRIS.

I'M FROM DISTRICT SIX AND I BELIEVE IN THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE MORE LEASE OVERSIGHT.

WE HAVE THE OPO, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING OVERSIGHT, BUT IN 2021, A 220 COMPLAINT BY THE OPO TO THE A P D, ONLY A HUNDRED, ONLY 90 WERE INVESTIGATED.

130 WERE ESSENTIALLY IGNORED.

AND OF THOSE THERE'S ONLY 10 SUSPENSIONS.

SO ESSENTIALLY OTHER PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING AND NOTHING'S HAPPENING.

AND ALSO WITH RESOLUTION 95, WHICH IS DESIGNED AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE, THERE'S FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS SENT FROM THE OPO JPB TO CHANGE THEIR PRACTICES AND THEY IGNORE IT ALL BUT ONE WE CANNOT HAVE.

A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IGNORES ITS CITIZENS IGNORED THE OVERSIGHT, PLEASE.

AND IF THAT MEANS HAVING A ONE YEAR CONTRACT, THEN SUDDENLY BE IT.

I YIELDED MY TIME ON THAT SPEAKER.

MARINA ROBERTS.

[00:30:01]

MY 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, BUT IN THE EVENT THAT IT'S HELPFUL, I'M CALLING IN TO ASSIST.

THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY BE CONFUSED.

THIS ITEM IS ABOUT A GROUP OF REGULAR WORKING CLASS AUSTINITES WHO 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 IS EXPENDING THE DYING BREATH OF HIS CAREER AS A PUBLIC SERVANT TO RAN THROUGH A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, THE DEFINITIVE PURPOSE OF WHICH IS TO HELP COPS ESCAPE THE KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT THAT THIS COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING.

IT IS YOUR JOB TO RECOGNIZE THIS DIFFERENCE, AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO PERMIT THIS HAIL MARY, THEN YOU'LL BE RECOGNIZED AND REMEMBERED BY THIS COMMUNITY IS HAVING CHOSEN DECIDE OF BAD FAITH, POLICE AND THEIR 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 IS JOHN CLOCK.

OKAY.

UNLIKE SOME OF THESE OTHER SPEAKERS, UH, YOU CAN CHECK MY FACTS WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND STATISTICS, BUT LET'S GET INTO TALKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, I FEEL LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL'S NOT BEING COMPLETELY HONEST WITH THE NUMBERS AND WHAT IS ACTUALLY EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME.

WE HAVE, UH, IN THIS CITY OF AUSTIN, THERE ARE, THEY'VE, THEY'RE ALLOTTED FOR 1800 OFFICERS YET ROUGHLY 400 OR ON THE FORCE BECAUSE OF VACANCIES AND LONG-TERM INJURY LEAVE.

UM, SO THIS LEAVES US AT A RATE OF TWO OFFICERS FOR EVERY 1400 PEOPLE ROUGHLY.

UM, AND IF ANYBODY BELIEVES THAT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS 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 HAVE.

SO LET'S LOOK AT OTHER NUMBERS OF RESEARCH.

YOU HAVE THE G L B T Q, COMMUNITY, BLACK COMMUNITY, AND IPOC COMMUNITY AND HISPANIC COMMUNITY THAT SUFFERS A RATE OF VICTIMIZATION THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER PARTY OF COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS A SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS RYAN WARWICK.

HI, I'M RYAN WECH, HUSBAND, FATHER OF FOUR, AND I SUPPORT ITEM ONE, UH, 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 IS LONG-TERM CONTRACTS BEING RUSHED THAT ALLOW FOR THE BUDGET TO GO UNCHECK 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.

AS A CEO FOUNDER OF FOUR COMPANIES WITH OVER 1.5 BILLION IN VALUE IN THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES AND CURRENTLY SITTING ON THE BOARD OF SEVERAL COMPANIES, I WOULD NEVER GIVE A COMPANY LEADERSHIP NOR WOULD I EXPECTED OF MY OWN COMPANY.

THE ABILITY TO HAVE A BUDGET APPROVED, MANAGE THAT BUDGET AND THE ABILITY TO GOVERN ITSELF 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 FUNDING INCREASE TOO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORE LEADERSHIP TO EXIST, STAY IN PLACE, AND NOT SEE THE KEY OBJECTIVES REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT.

OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT FOR ONE YEAR WILL FORCE GOOD RESULTS, OBJECTIVES TO BE ADHERE OR TWO, AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES, THE RESULTS AREN'T THERE.

THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE THAN ANY LARGER SMALL CORPORATION HAVING ANNUAL THANK YOU SPEAKER.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED ACROSS OUR COUNTRY TODAY.

PLEASE REJECT THE FOUR YEAR AND PASS THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE CHAMBLEE.

HI, MY NAME IS KATHERINE CHAMBLEE AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN.

I'M CALLING TO SPEAK AGAINST THE ONE YEAR CONTRACT AND REQUEST A FOLLOW THROUGH.

WITH A FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT, THE CITY MANAGER AGREED TO WITH APA IN 2020 CADET CLASSES WERE HALTED IN ORDER TO REIMAGINE THE CURRICULUM THAT WAS FINALLY COMPLETED.

AND WE'VE NOW HAD TWO UTMOST CADET CLASSES GRADUATE THE MOST DIVERSE IN HISTORY YET HERE WE ARE AGAIN IN 2023.

FURTHER RE-IMAGINING THE NEGATIVE CONNOTATIONS OF YOUR VOICES AND DECISIONS ARE AFFECTING POLICE MORALE, INCREASING RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS, AND NEGATIVELY AFFECTING RECRUITMENT.

WE NEED MORE OFFICERS AND WE NEED TO RETAIN THOSE WITH EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE 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 ARE AN EXAMPLE, BUT FAR FROM THE ONLY LOCATIONS THAT ARE BEING, UH, SUBJECTED TO REPEAT CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT ARE ALLOWED TO OCCUR BECAUSE OF LACK OF PATROL UNITS.

KIRK WATSON WON THE ELECTION AS THE MODERATE VOICE INDICATING HE WOULD WORK WITH APA TO BETTER THE POLICE

[00:35:01]

NOW GUARD RAILS ARE IN PLACE.

I ASK YOU HONOR, THE FOUR YEAR COMMITMENT AGREES TO BY OUR CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS JOAN CATLEY.

HI, MY NAME IS JOAN CATLEY AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN, OH GOSH, ABOUT 50 YEARS, SO I'VE SEEN IT GROW LESS AND LESS SAFE EVERY YEAR.

I'M AGAINST AGENDA ONE AND I'M IN FAVOR OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT CONTRACT FOR OUR POLICEMEN.

WE NEED TO SHOW THEM A LOT MORE RESPECT THAN THEY GET AT THIS POINT.

CRIME HAS RISEN IN THIS CITY DRAMATICALLY SINCE, WELL, SINCE THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

UM, THEY DON'T GET THE RESPECT THAT THEY DESERVE.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUNISHED, IT SEEMS 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 BE SAFE.

IT DOES NO GOOD TO CALL 9 1 1 WHEN A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ENOUGH POLICE TO RESPOND TO THEFTS AND BREAK MENS.

IF THEY DON'T GET THIS FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, A LOT OF THEM ARE GOING TO RETIRE OR QUIT, AND WE'RE ALREADY AS WOMAN OF FORM.

THANK YOU.

SPEAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.

NAT OVERHOLTZ, SIR.

HI, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF ITEM ONE.

I AM URGING THE COUNCIL TO REJECT THIS FOUR YEAR POLICE CONTRACT IN FAVOR OF A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.

THEY'LL GIVE THE VOTERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON A POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN MAY.

IF THERE ARE ANY COUNSELORS STILL CONSIDERING APPROVING A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I ASK YOU CONSIDER THE SIGNING CONTRACT AT THIS POINT WITH ITS LIMITED ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES WOULD PLACE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TRUST IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AS SOON AS THEY'RE WORKING IN GOOD FAITH ACT ON THE CONCERNS OF OUR CITIZENS.

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THE POLICE UNION HAS SPENT NEARLY $300,000 ON A BALLOT MEASURE THAT'S DESIGNED SECRET VOTERS AND THEY GATHERED SIGN SIGNATURES BY MISREPRESENTING THEMSELVES IN USING DECEPTIVE TACTICS.

SO I'M ASKING YOU TO THESE, THE ACTIONS OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS EARNESTLY TRYING TO BUILD TRUST WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NEXT SPEAKER IS CALLEN GILDER SLEEVE.

HI, GOOD MORNING, AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR TESTIMONY TODAY.

I'M KELLY BUILDERS CLEVE.

I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT ONE.

I'M A NURSE HERE IN AUSTIN AND ALSO A MEMBER OF AUSTIN DSA.

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 IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER DURING THE PANDEMIC TO HOLD A P D 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 SARI.

GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I'M RU CHATRI, A BUSINESS OPERATOR IN DISTRICT TECH.

AUSTIN HAS BEEN IN NATIONAL YOUTH THE LAST FEW, FEW YEARS, NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT HEIGHTS, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED POLICIES.

WE ARE TOP 10 CITIES IN AMERICA.

HOWEVER, WE WENT OUT UTILITY FAILURES YEAR AFTER YEAR, FORGETTING B WATER NOTICES, UH, NO ELECTRICITY DURING WINTERS ROOM, NO SOLUTION TO HOMELESS AND AND NOW WE WANT TO BE NATION USED AGAIN FOR HAVING LEWIS POLICE OFFICERS.

I'M AGAINST ITEM ONE AND IN FAVOR OF FOUR, YOUR POLICE CONTRACT SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER LAN, COUNCIL MEMBER F ARE PROPOSED EXTENSION FOR ONE YEAR AND DO NOT WANT FOUR YEAR CONTRACT, I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR THEM AND ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT SUPPORTS THIS EXTENSION AND SET UP FOR YOUR CONTRACT THAT THEY TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY TOWARDS THE CONS CONSTITUENCY FOR ALL THE CRIME THAT IS COMMITTED IN THEIR DISTRICT CAUSE OF THEIR POLICY FOR RE-IMAGINING POLICING.

UH, WITH EXPERIENCED LEADER MAYOR WATSON, WE HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO START FRESH RATHER THAN BLINDLY FOLLOWING TRENDS AND UNTESTED POLITICAL THEORIES.

AUSTIN CAN BE LIKE TO CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND I URGE 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.

[00:40:01]

A LONGER TERM CONTRACT WOULD ADD 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 OWN BUSINESS.

I AM IN FAVOR OF A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT THAT IS BEING PROPOSED.

I HAVE FRIENDS IN OTHER CITIES WHO ARE 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.

HI.

YES.

MY NAME IS SASHA ROSE.

I AM THE, UM, I'M PART OF AUSTIN MUTUAL AID IS THAT, UM, IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING AND I'M SPEAKING TO THIS, UH, I'VE BEEN IN AUSTINITE FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS NOW AND, UM, SOMETHING THAT I'M NOTICING NOT SURE IF Y'ALL ARE AWARE OF, THERE IS AN INCREASING, UM, OUR, OUR, OUR TRENDING DEMOGRAPHICS IS ACTUALLY IN THE HIGH 60% OF WHITE, OF WHITE, UM, DEMOGRAPHICS HERE.

UH, I WAS IN GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS RUN BY THE BEAUTIFUL HUMANS OF SAFFRON TRUST WHERE WE WERE DISCUSSING INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, ESPECIALLY IN POLICING.

THEY HAD 40, UH, AT LEAST 40, UH, A P D OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

SOME OF THEM WERE CADETS.

TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE SAID 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 ACCOUNT, UH, ACCOUNTABILITY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

I WILL ALSO SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS AN A P D OFFICER.

HE WAS TRYING TO BE ONE OF THE GOOD APPLES HE WAS RUN OUT OF.

THANK YOU SPEAKER.

YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED A, A REPORT.

NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLIE COX.

GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS ELLIE COX.

I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.

I'M 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.

UM, WE HAVE HEARD MANY, MANY STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW THE POLICE OFFICERS LACK RESOURCES, BUT THEY'VE WASTED MONEY ON THIS FRAUDULENT PETITION 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 RAM RAMIREZ.

MCNALL.

YES.

GOOD DAY.

Y'ALL HAVE CONCERNS OF OFFICER RESPONSE TIMES INCREASING MURDER RATES AND 256 POLICE STAFF IN 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 STAY, NOT AT ALL.

ON FEBRUARY 28TH OF THIS YEAR, WE MIGHT HAVE 200 OFFICERS THAT WOULD BE EXPECTED TO LEAVE OR RETIRE IF THE CONTRACT DOES GO THROUGH FOR ONE YEAR.

CITY AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION AGREED.

A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT MUST BE PASSED FOR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FINALLY, FINALLY, STABILITY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND OUR CITY.

WHY NOT DO YOUR JOB? GIVE US BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE PAY RUNNING POWER, SAVE DRINKING WATER, STAY WALKABLE AND DRIVABLE STREETS, AND A FULLY STAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH DETERS CRIME LIKE THE INCREASE IN HOMICIDES, VIOLENT ASSAULTS, ARMED ROBBERIES, PETTY THEFT, VEHICLE THEFT, AND INCIDENTS OF RECKLESS AND DRUNK DRIVERS.

WE WON A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT.

DUS RIGHT AND VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT SPEAKER IS LAUREN ORTEL.

HI, MY NAME IS LAUREN NORTEL 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 NEGOTIATIONS.

EXTENDING THE 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 OUR OVERSIGHT ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM WEAK.

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.

HI COUNSEL.

THIS IS NATHAN FERNANDEZ, FIVE, ONE RESIDENT OF AUSTIN AND CURRENT RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.

FOR FAR TOO LONG THE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY WHO DULY ELECTED

[00:45:01]

THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET THAT TAKE THE MOST OF OUR TAX DOLLARS AND HAVE ALLOWED A P D IN THE APA TO WORK AS A ROW UNIT.

RESPECT IS GIVEN WHEN EARNED AND APD HAS NOT GIVEN THE COMMUNITY RESPECT, THEREFORE GETS THE RESPECT THEY HAVE EARNED 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 STATEMENT INFLICTED OWN RESIDENTS THIS CONTRACT PROCESS.

THE SHANNON BALLOT MEASURES, UH, HAVE TO DECIDED APDS LACK OF COOPERATION TO GAIN TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO NEGOTIATE.

THEREFORE, WE SHOULD APPROVE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT TO ENSURE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SCOTT DELGADO.

HI, MY NAME'S SCOTT DELGADO.

UH, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'VE LIVED IN AUSTIN FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

UM, I'M CALLING IN TODAY.

I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW, BUT I'VE FELT LIKE THIS WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO DISCUSS THAT I'M IN SUPPORT OF ITEM ONE TODAY.

UM, THE, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT IS GONNA BE VOTED ON LATER THIS YEAR.

I FEEL LIKE THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC, UH, WAY TO GO ABOUT THIS IS TO GO THROUGH WITH A, 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, UH, FOR THE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND TELL THEN I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, FEASIBLE TO GO THROUGH WITH THIS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE, UH, MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY THAT WE'VE WITNESSED IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

MARK MUNK, MY BROTHER, RAJAN MUNING MAN WAS KILLED THREE MONTHS AGO TODAY OF BOSTON PD.

STEVE SHAONE CONDUCTED A PRESS CONFERENCE SEVERAL HOURS AFTER HIS DEATH PURPOSEFULLY GAVE FALSE INFORMATION THAT HAS 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 9 1 1 CALLER WHO SAID ROD AND MELISSA HOMEOWNER SCARED OF SOMETHING IN HIS HOUSE.

AFTER THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WE FRANTICALLY SEARCHED FOR TWO DAYS BEFORE A APD CONFIRMED IT WAS HIM.

THAT SAME CRES CONFERENCE WAS ATTENDED BY INTERIM DIRECTOR OF POLICE OVERSIGHT SYLVIA HARTMAN.

SEVERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMAND STAFF.

NOT ONE OF THEM INTERVENED AS THE CHIEF MAY BE.

FALSE STATEMENTS TO THE NEWS MEDIA, PLEASE VOTE FOR A ONE YEAR CONTACT SO WE CAN HEAR FROM THE AUSTIN RESIDENT AND REBUILD PUBLIC TRUST.

NEXT SPEAKER IS LAURA NICHOL.

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 APA 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 ASKING US 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 HAD NO CONNECTION TO THE ORIGINAL, I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW ANGRY AND GROSS I FELT LIKE I'D BEEN USED, BUT ALSO ASHAMED THAT I HAD LET DOWN MY COMMUNITY AND NOW THE VOTERS WERE GONNA BE JUST AS CONFUSED AS I WAS.

THE APA IS CLEARLY NOT ABOUT BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY.

THEY PUT FORWARD THE SKETCHY PETITION OBSCURED WHERE IT ORIGINATED AND HAD THEIR CANVASERS 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 NALIA MANN.

HI, MY NAME IS NALIA MANN AND I'M CALLING, UM, FROM CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NUMBER FOUR AND I'M CALLING 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 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 IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS A MORE TRANSPARENT SYSTEM.

YOU MUST PASS ITEM NUMBER ONE.

THANK YOU, JENNIFER CHE WHIZ.

HI, GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER.

I AM A DISTRICT EIGHT

[00:50:01]

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 AT 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.

IF THIS CONTRACT HAS CHANGED TO A ONE YEAR DEAL, IT WILL FURTHER DEMORALIZE OUR AUSTIN POLICE OFFICERS AND WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY LEAD TO MORE OFFICERS LEAVING OR RETIRING AND WILL MAKE RECRUITING NEW OFFICERS MORE DIFFICULT.

PLEASE VOTE NO ON RESOLUTION ONE.

THANK YOU.

CS GORDON.

UH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES.

JUST CALL, JUST CALLING IN TO, UH, VOTE.

UH, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE.

UH, OUR POLICE STAFFING IS AN INSANELY LOW LEVELS.

IT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT BACK UP AND AGAIN, JUST VOTE AGAINST ITEM ONE, SUPPORT THE POLICE, GIVE THEM A FOUR YEAR CONTRACT AND, UH, DON'T GIVE IN TO THE, UH, ANARCHISTS.