[00:00:36]
I'LL CALL TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THE, UM, WORK SESSION THAT'S SCHEDULED FOR TODAY, WHICH IS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 2024.
IT IS 9:01 AM WE ARE MEETING AT AUSTIN CITY HALL, WHICH IS, UH, THE, THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WHICH ARE LOCATED IN AUSTIN CITY HALL, LOCATED AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET, AND WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL PRESENT MEMBERS.
UH, THE ORDER THAT WE'RE GONNA GO IN TODAY IS WE'RE GOING TO, UH, THREE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PULLED AND FOR, FOR THIS WORK SESSION, AND WE WILL GO IN THE ORDER OF 47, 48, AND THEN 42.
THEN WE WILL GO TO BRIEFINGS, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT BRIEFING B TWO, THE MANAGER'S OFFICE AS INDICATED, WILL COME TO US AT ANOTHER DATE.
SO WE WILL JUST HAVE BRIEFING ON ITEM NUMBER BI, ITEM NUMBER B ONE.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, I'M GOING TO ASK THE MANAGER'S OFFICE IF IT HAS ANY, UH, QUICK COMMENTS, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
UM, AND IF THEY, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, WE'LL JUST GO DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE'LL GO TO DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I WILL TURN TO THE CITY CLERK, I'M SORRY.
[Items 47 & 48]
UH, TO NAVIGATE US THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.ARE WE STARTING WITH ITEM 47? YES, MA'AM.
UM, AND I'M OF COURSE A, UH, UNION HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND WHAT I'M CALLING ABOUT IS, UH, I'M ABOUT TO GO TOUR A, UH, SUBSIDIZED DAYCARE FOR MY CHILD SO THAT I CAN AFFORD TO KEEP HER IN SCHOOL.
BUT WITH THIS POLICE CONTRACT COMING UP, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT, UH, AS THE BUDGET CONTINUES TO DEMAND MORE AND MORE MONEY FOR OUR A PD THAT WE CAN NEVER TAKE MONEY OUT OF, WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING TO TAKE CUTS FROM EVERYWHERE ELSE.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS LIKE, SHOULD I JUST NOT BOTHER
WHEN I SPOKE TO MAYOR WATSON'S PEOPLE, UH, THEY SAID THAT WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS AND THAT THE BUDGET HAD THE MONEY FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS SURPRISING TO ME CONSIDERING THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFICIT EARLIER.
BUT, UM, THAT SEEMS TO NOT HAVE BEEN THE CASE.
THERE'S NOT LIKE ANY TRANSPARENCY INVOLVED IN THIS.
IF THAT'S
UM, AND, UH, SHE DIED BECAUSE SHE WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND, UM, I KNOW THAT A PD UH, DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND HAS A CONTINUED TO HAVE A BACKLOG, AND THAT'S A PARTICULAR CRIME THAT THEY DON'T DIGRESS, AND YET WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING THEM MORE MONEY.
UH, I'M JUST A REGULAR GUY WORKING IN AUSTIN.
I HAVEN'T HAD A PARTICULARLY TRAUMATIC LIFE, BUT THESE ARE INCIDENTS
AND IF WE ALREADY GIVE AUSTIN'S BUDGET, WHAT, 40%,
[00:05:01]
35% TO A PD, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU GONNA TAKE FROM US? OKAY, THANK YOU.NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH RICK DAWN.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS SARAH AND, UH, I'M JUST CALLING TO TESTIFY AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48.
UM, I THINK BASICALLY WHAT THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID SAYS AT ALL, UM, AND IT'S JUST NOT CLEAR WHAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE'RE GETTING FOR GIVING AP THIS MUCH OF THE BUDGET, WHICH WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO REDUCE IN THE FUTURE.
UH, IT'S REALLY PERMANENT AND IT TAKES AWAY BUDGET FROM EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE CITY, WHICH REQUIRES MONEY.
UM, SO I'M, I'M AGAINST DOING THAT.
SO, UM, YEAH, LIKE THE OTHER TWO, UH, PEOPLE THAT WENT BEFORE ME, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT, UM, THE MONEY AGAIN.
SO I'M NOT AGAINST PEOPLE GETTING PAID FAIRLY FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT THE A PD ALREADY TAKES IN A WHOPPING $500 MILLION A YEAR, UH, WHICH IS 35% OF THE CITY'S ENTIRE GENERAL FUND.
UM, I WANNA EMPHASIZE IT'S MORE THAN FIRE EMS, PARKS AND REC AND PUBLIC HEALTH COMBINED.
UH, AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STOPPING AN EXTRA $44 MILLION A YEAR THAT BECAUSE OF STATE LAW, WE ARE LEGALLY NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE BACK ONCE IT GOES AND STEP BACK.
SO BEFORE WE PULL, UH, THE TRIGGER ON WHAT COULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE GUN, I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT I, THE TAXPAYER AND GETTING WHAT I'M PAYING FOR, IS THIS 44 MILLION REALLY BEST SPENT IRREVERSIBLY KEEPING UP POLICE SALARIES, OR ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE CAN INVEST IN? UM, WE'RE ALWAYS TOLD WITH ENDLESS HAND WRINGING AND CLUTCHING OF PURSE STRINGS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASING THE STOCK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR BROADENING SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR THE POOR HOMELESS, THAT THERE JUST ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY FOR SUCH PIE IN THE SKY AND LA LAND IDEAS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE STRATEGY, THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE ONLY REQUIRES $37 MILLION A YEAR.
OUR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PROGRAMS ONLY COST THE CITY $11 MILLION A YEAR, AND NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT WE SOMEHOW FOUND $44 MILLION IN THE COUCH CUSHION SOMEWHERE, AND WE JUST CAN'T SPEND A SINGLE RED CENT OF THAT ON ANY OF THESE OTHER SERVICES.
UM, I JUST, I JUST SIMPLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT, UH, I, I KNOW THAT THE COUNCIL IS SICK OF DEALING WITH THIS CONTRACT AND FROM HEARING FROM PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE MAD ABOUT IT, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE YOU GUYS, BUT HONESTLY, THAT'S NOT MY JOB.
IT'S YOUR JOB TO BE IN MY SHOES AND TELL THE POLICE HOW I REALLY FEEL ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING SWINDLED HERE AND I'M BEING FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION THAT I DON'T WANT TO MAKE.
SO I'M ASKING YOU, PLEASE VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT AND DRAFT ONE THAT'LL ACTUALLY BE WORTH, THAT'LL ACTUALLY WORK IN LINE WITH LINE UP WITH WHAT WE VOTED FOR BACK IN 2023.
HELLO, UM, MY NAME IS LOKI AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE.
UM, WE OPPOSE THE TENTATIVE POLICE CONTRACT AND URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO UNLESS KEY CHANGES ARE MADE.
FIRST, THE POLICE MUST RELEASE ANY SECRET FILES AND STOP THIS PRACTICE TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
OFTEN, VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT REFLECTING THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH MUST BE HONORED.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSED CONTRACT WOULD ALLOCATE AN ADDITIONAL 220 MILLION TO THE POLICE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, EXACERBATING THE ALREADY DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE CITY BUDGET ALLOCATED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS INVESTMENT COMES AT THE EXPENSE OF VITAL STUDY SERVICES LIKE PARKS, LIBRARIES, AND THE NON-CAR MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM, SUCH AS THE MENTAL HEALTH NINE ONE ONE CALL RESPONDERS ON THE C3 TEAM AND THE RESPONDERS IN THE FIELD ON THE EM COT TEAM.
THESE INTEGRAL CARE TEAMS PROVIDE TRAUMA-INFORMED PERSON-CENTERED CARE, DIVERTING INDIVIDUALS FROM INCARCERATION, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY DETENTION.
THE CITY, HOWEVER, STRUGGLES TO FUND THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
THE CITY HAS ALSO NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADEQUATELY FUND VITAL HARM REDUCTION AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
THESE SERVICES ARE CRITICAL IN ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRISIS, SUBSTANCE USE AND POVERTY, OFFERING COMPASSIONATE EVIDENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE HARM AND SUPPORT LONG-TERM STABILITY.
POLICING ON THE OTHER HAND, OFTEN ESCALATE SITUATIONS AND CRIMINALIZES THOSE MOST IN NEED OF HELP AND DIVERT
[00:10:01]
RESOURCES FROM SERVICES THAT CAN TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.HARM REDUCTION STRATEGIES PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING CARE, SUCH AS OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND DISEASE PREVENTION.
HOMELESSNESS SERVICES OFFER HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, WHICH ARE PROVEN TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING OUTCOMES IN REDUCING COSTS TO THE CITY.
POLICING IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO THESE COMPLEX ISSUES.
CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY AWARDED 1.5 MILLION AND ONE TIME FUNDING TO EXPAND THE INTEGRAL CARE CRISIS TEAM, BUT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT THE POLICE CONTRACT IS FUNDING WILL LIKELY BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO BE CUT JEOPARDIZING EFFORTS TO EXPAND THESE TEAMS AND FOR THEM TO GO 24 7.
CURRENTLY, C3 CANNOT FULLY STAFF OVERNIGHT SHIFTS THROUGH LOW WAGES AND INADEQUATE SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS.
AND EVEN WITH THESE CHALLENGES, THESE TEAMS HAVE BEEN HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.
86% OF CLIENTS SERVED WERE DIVERTED FROM PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY DETENTION.
96 WERE DIVERTED FROM EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSION, A HUNDRED PERCENT DIVERTED FROM INCARCERATION AND A HUNDRED PERCENT EXPERIENCING SUICIDALITY DID NOT COMPLETE SUICIDE.
MEANWHILE, THE POLICE CONTINUE TO DEMAND MORE RESOURCES ALREADY TAKING UP 40% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET, AROUND 500 MILLION.
THE INTEGRAL CARE CRISIS TEAMS HAVE OPERATED ON A FRACTION OF THAT AMOUNT, JUST FIVE MIN, 5 MILLION ANNUALLY SPLIT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY.
EXPANDING THESE MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS IS NOT ONLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE, BUT ALSO LIFE SAVING.
MENTAL HEALTH POLICE OFFICERS ONLY RECEIVE 24 TO 40 LIFETIME HOURS OF MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, AND THEY FREQUENTLY DO NOT RESPOND LY ADEQUATELY AND ESCALATE SITUATIONS.
WHEREAS INTEGRAL CARE CLINICIANS HAVE YEARS OF SPECIALIZED EDUCATION AND HEALTHIER.
REESE ARMSTRONG, PLEASE UNMUTE.
WE'LL TRY CALLING REESE IN A LITTLE BIT.
I'M ALSO A WORKING MOTHER WITH ONE 6-YEAR-OLD SON AS ALONE, SPEND A LOT OF TIME ALL OVER AUSTIN WITH MY SON BY MY SIDE AND MOSTLY ALONE.
SO I'D SAY I VALUE SAFETY A LOT.
HOWEVER, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS, UH, PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT OFFERS THAT AND ACTUALLY UNDERMINES SAFETY IN AUSTIN, DEFUNDING PUBLIC SERVICES AND NOT ACTUALLY INCREASING WAYS IN WHICH FOLKS ACCESS SERVICES THAT THEY NEED LEADS TO MORE CRIME.
I APPRECIATE THAT AUSTIN HAS ALTERNATIVE WAYS THAT AUSTINITE CAN SEEK AND GET THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT THEY NEED, AND I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
I DON'T LIKE THAT THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT UNDERMINES POLICE TRANSPARENCY AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY ULTIMATELY UNDERMINING THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
I WAS ALSO SHOCKED TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH FUNDING WILL NOT GO INTO OTHER SERVICES, UM, LIKE THE CITY, UM, NOT ADDING FUNDING TO, UH, ASSIST FORMALLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH HOUSING AND JOBS THIS PAST SUMMER, UM, AND THAT IT WILL NOT INCREASE ANY OF THAT FUNDING.
THE CITY FAILED TO FUND THE EMS ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONSE SO THAT IT CAN RESPOND TO CALLS 24 7.
POLICE ARE NOT THE RIGHT FIRST RESPONDERS TO THESE CALLS.
THE CITY LAUNCHED AN EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THREE YEARS AGO AT THE BUDGET LEVEL OF ABOUT 7 MILLION WITH THE PROGRAM BARELY OFF THE GROUND, AND IT GOT, UH, THE FUNDING GOT CUT TO 3 MILLION AND IT'S STRUGGLING TO SERVE THE NEEDS EVER SINCE.
I MEAN, THESE, THIS LIST GOES ON AND ON, JUST LIKE THE FORMER, UM, CALLER WAS LISTING.
UM, AND, AND IT NEEDS TO INCREASE THESE BUDGETS INSTEAD OF CUTTING AND DE AND, UM, CUTTING THESE, THE FUNDING INTO THESE PUBLIC SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED.
UM, WHEN I'M OUT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIKE FRIENDS NEIGHBORHOODS, DIFFERENT PARKS AROUND AUSTIN WALKING DOWNTOWN, THE BIGGEST THREAT TO SAFETY THAT I SEE AND EXPERIENCE LIKE, AND THIS IS WITH MY SON, WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME ALONE, ARE FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, ARE FOLKS THAT NEED MUCH NEEDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, THIS, AND WITH THIS NEW PROPOSED BUDGET, NOT ALLOWING TO BE FOR THESE OTHER PUBLIC, UH, ASSISTANCE TO BE FUNDED, I WOULD URGE SITTING HOUSEHOLD TO NOT, UM, PASS THIS NEW PROPOSED BUDGET, UM,
SO AS A MOTHER AND AUSTINITE, I WOULD ASK CITY COUNCIL TO NOT APPROVE THIS NEW POLICE BUDGET, AND PLEASE DO BETTER FOR OUR FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN OF AUSTIN.
[00:15:07]
REESE ARMSTRONG, PLEASE UNMUTE SAGE WEST.I AM PART OF, I RESIDE IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
I AM AGAINST THE AMENDED BUDGET INCREASE FOR A PD.
THE NEW IN THE INCREASE OF OVER $16.5 MILLION REDUCES IS PUBLIC SERVICES AND DOESN'T ALLOCATE, DOESN'T ALLOW FOR THE ALLOCATION OR INCREASE OF MUCH NEEDED, UH, SERVICES LIKE HAVE BEEN MENTIONED.
OUR CURRENT BUDGET, UH, FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY AT 0.2%.
OUR HOUSING INITIATIVES HAVE 0.8% OF OUR GENERAL FUND.
WE HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES AT ONLY 4.4% OF THE BUDGET.
AND ARE THESE THE, THE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN FROM AND ADDED TO THE A PD BUDGET? IT DOESN'T STAY ANYWHERE.
AND OUR APPROVED BY VOTE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAVE STILL YET TO RECEIVE THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, UM, TO BE INSTATED.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HAS BEEN, UH, UNDER LITIGATION, BUT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE UNACCEPTABLE, UH, USE OF FUNDS AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH WITHIN A PD.
THE PROPOSED INCREASE WITHOUT THIS AMENDMENT IS A, UH, I APOLOGIZE.
UM, THE, WITH THE AMENDMENT, THE INCREASE WOULD BE, UH, 30, WOULD MAKE IT 36% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND, WHICH IS A $35 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE FISCAL YEAR END OF 2024.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNHEARD OF.
I MEAN, AND UNACCEPTABLE AS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, WHERE, AND WE'RE UNABLE TO REMOVE THESE FUNDS AT ANY POINT BECAUSE OUR GOVERNOR HAS HAS ENACTED.
UH, YOU CAN HEAR ME RIGHT? YES.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M SPEAKING, UH, ALONG WITH THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48, BECAUSE I WANT TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS CONTRACT PASSES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SPENDING APPROXIMATELY 3 BILLION ON POLICE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS BETWEEN THIS CONTRACT, A PD EXPENSES YEAR OVER YEAR, AND THE SEEMINGLY INEVITABLE PAYMENTS TO THE VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND POLICE BRUTALITY.
A CBS POLL SHOWED 79% OF PEOPLE IN AUSTIN OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT.
THE EXACT SAME PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONTRACT UNDERMINE POLICE OVERSIGHT, BUT THE ENORMOUS COSTS WOULD COME AT THE EXPENSE OF CITY WORKERS ACROSS THE BOARD.
A PD ALREADY RECEIVES 40% OF OUR CITY'S BUDGET.
WHY AREN'T THE FIREFIGHTERS, EMTS, PARKS, WORKERS, LIBRARIES, WORKERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, OTHER CITY WORKERS TREATED WITH THE SAME CODDLING AND ABILITY TO BARGAIN FOR RAISES? WHY DO COUNTLESS PROGRAMS THAT HAVE, UNLIKE THE POLICE, SHOWN GREAT SUCCESS IN KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE? ROUTINELY STRUGGLE FOR A TINY FRACTION OF THE RESOURCES, CITY COUNCIL IS WILLING TO OFFER A
[00:20:01]
PD.THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER NATIONALLY IN PILOTING ALTERNATIVE AND MORE EFFECTIVE METHODS OF ADDRESSING NONVIOLENT CRISES, SUCH AS ESTABLISHING A NEW OPTION FOR 9 1 1 CALLS THAT DISPATCHES SOCIAL WORKERS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SPECIALISTS WHEN APPROPRIATE, THE BACKROOM DEAL THAT PRODUCED THIS POLICE CONTRACT IGNORES THE PRIORITIES YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE MADE CLEAR AT THE BALLOT BOX AND IT DOUBLES DOWN ON OUTMODED STRATEGIES FOR ENSURING PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE A TRAILBLAZER.
WE CAN USE DATA, DATA BACKED METHODS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE POLICE CONTRACT IN YOUR VOTE ON OCTOBER 24TH.
MY NAME IS DORIS ADAMS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST YOUR APPROVAL OF THE POLICE CONTRACT AS A FORMER MEMBER OF A WORKING GROUP OF THE REIMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS MADE IT A POINT TO BE INFORMED ABOUT THIS TOPIC, INCREASED FUNDING FOR POLICE DOES NOT KEEP THE PUBLIC SAFER AND AVOIDS ADDRESSING THE UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT LEAD TO VIOLENCE OR CRIME AT A TIME WHEN CRIME RATES ARE DIMINISHING.
I WOULD FIND IT IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THIS POLICE CONTRACT TO, TO APPROVE THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
THIS IS THE TIME TO BE INVESTING IN SOLUTIONS TO THE UNDERLYING ISSUES, POVERTY, LACK OF ACCESS TO FOOD AND NECESSARY RESOURCES AND SHELTER AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE WORKING CLASS TO NAME A FEW.
THIS COUNCIL HAS GIVEN SUCH A SMALL PART OF THE BUDGET SINCE 2021 TO ADDRESS THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT TASK FORCE AND THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THAT FOLLOWED THE $218 MILLION THAT SIGNING THIS CONTRACT WILL COMMIT US TO SPEND ON POLICE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL JEOPARDIZE THE OTHER SPENDING PRIORITIES ALREADY IN THE 2025 BUDGET, RAISE TAXES AND MOVE AUSTIN FURTHER FROM THE MULTICULTURAL MULTI-CLASS DIVERSE COMMUNITY THAT I HAD GROWN TO LOVE AS A TAXPAYER.
I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS SPENT TO STOP THE SLIPPING AWAY OF THAT COMMUNITY AND INSTEAD SPENT ON BUILDING A PLACE WHERE A MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE IS NOT PRIORITIZED OVER MEETING THE DIVERSE AND GROWING NEEDS OF THE WHOLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HELLO, THIS IS, UM, STUART FORD, A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, OVER 50 YEARS, LIVED IN EAST CENTRAL AUSTIN FOR OVER 20.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH SAYING THAT, HEY, 40% OF MY BUDGET DOES NOT GO TO SECURITY.
AND I THINK I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
ALSO, WHEN YOU GO HOME, DO YOU LOOK AT YOUR BILLS AND YOU SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT I WANNA SPEND, 40% OF MY BUDGET IS GONNA BE ON LOCKS AND DOORS AND SIRENS AND GUNS AND CAMERAS.
DON'T DO THAT WITH MY CITY EITHER.
I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO TALK TODAY, AND OUR GROWING CITY SHOULD NOT BE FOCUSED ON THE WINDOW DRESSING THAT A PD REPRESENTS POLICE PRESENCE IN CARS, NOT, NOT POLICING NEIGHBORHOODS, NOT BEING A PRESENCE, NOT COMING UP AND BEING FRIENDLY WITH PEOPLE STICKING AROUND AND HIDING BASICALLY, AND WAITING FOR A RESPONSE IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO SPEND 40% OF MY BUDGET ON.
UM, I'VE NEVER LOCKED MY DOORS AND, AND I LIVE IN EAST CENTRAL AUSTIN.
NOW, IF YOU CAN TELL ME WHY I NEED TO SPEND 40% OF MY BUDGET AGAIN WHEN I DON'T EVEN LOCK MY FRONT DOOR, PLEASE HELP ME OUT.
UM, I WALK ALL OVER MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HAVE TONS OF TOURISTS SURROUNDING THIS AREA.
I DON'T HEAR ANY PROBLEMS, RIGHT? AND THESE POLICE, THEY ALL, THEY ARE ARE REACTIONARY FORCE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE OUT HERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PATROLLING, LOOKING AROUND, TALKING TO PEOPLE.
THEY JUST WAIT FOR A NINE ONE ONE CALL AND THEN COME BLAZING SIRENS.
AND NORMALLY IT'S NOT EVEN THE PERSON'S GONE.
UH, PROPERTY CRIME HAS GONE UP, BUT THEN IT'S ALREADY STOLEN.
DO THEY FOLLOW UP AND SOLVE THE CRIME? NO.
SO PLEASE, LET'S FOCUS OUR MONEY ON THINGS THAT MATTER TO THIS CITY.
MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR, OF OUR RESIDENTS, UH, THE HOMELESS PROBLEM, THE HOUSING PROBLEM, WHICH THE CITY IS GETTING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE AND WE'RE FORCING PEOPLE
[00:25:01]
OUT.AND THAT'S NOT THE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY THAT I LIVED IN AND GREW AND GREW UP IN.
SO POLICE, NO MORE ACCOUNTABILITY THAN THEY EVER HAD BEFORE.
THE COMMUNITY'S ALREADY REACHED OUT AND, AND VOTED ON THIS AND THEY SAID, HEY, WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON THE POLICE.
AND WE WANT TO FOCUS THAT MONEY THAT WE USED TO SPEND ON THIS POLICE FORCE INTO OTHER COMMUNITY, UH, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP RESIDENTS GET TO WHAT THEY NEED.
NOT, HEY, I NEED MORE POLICE PATROLLING THE STREETS TO, UH, WRITE TICKETS OR TO SHOW UP AFTER THE CRIMES HAPPENED.
SO PLEASE DO NOT FUND THIS THE WAY THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO.
AND IT'S ALSO SUBVERSION OF WHAT THE BLOW OF THE PEOPLE IS, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS.
I AM A EMPLOYEE AT, UH, INTERNAL CARE.
I'M A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF UNITED WORKERS OF PHYSICAL CARE.
I SPOKE AT THE WORK SESSION, I THINK IT WAS TWO WEEKS AGO.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO SOMEWHAT SAY THE SAME THING, BUT ALSO MAKE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, A FEW DIFFERENT POINTS.
UM, I SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT EVERYONE JUST SAID BEFORE, EVERYONE THAT HAS SPOKEN BEFORE ME, UH, ON THIS, IN THIS MEETING.
AND I WANT TO REITERATE THAT SPEAKING AS SOMEONE WITH NOT ONLY LIVED EXPERIENCE, BUT ALSO BEING A BLACK MAN, UH, IN A BLACK MALE BODY, UM, HAVING POLICE HELD UNACCOUNTABLE IS THREATENING TO ME.
UM, ESPECIALLY, AND EVEN IF THE INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE, SUPPOSEDLY THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE, SOME, UH, SOME PEOPLE WANT, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PUT FEAR INTO ME AND WANTING TO WORK IN THE CITY AND PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE BECAUSE I KNOW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HISTORY THAT THE WAY POLICING HAS TREATED, UH, BLACK AMERICANS, THAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, IF I DON'T COMPLY, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT WAY, OR IT'S EVEN SOMEONE ELSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, ALSO AUTISTIC LIKE MYSELF HAS, IS NONVERBAL AND THEY DON'T COMPLY.
AND IT'S HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES.
AND I DON'T WANT A POLICE FORCE HAVING SO MUCH POWER AND FUNDING THAT TAKES AWAY FROM DOING THE WORK THAT I FEEL CALLED TO DO.
AND, AND SO MANY OTHERS THAT CARE ABOUT AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND THE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO GET BY AND GET THEIR ENDS, MAKE THEIR ENDS MEET.
SO I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.
UM, IF YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, REFI, YOU KNOW, GO BACK, SEND THE, SEND THE CONTRACT BACK, REPLAN IT, FIND IT SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THIS SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT DOES NOT HEAVILY OR EVEN REMOTELY CUT INTO, UH, CITY SERVICES.
UH, ESPECIALLY MY, YOU KNOW, EMS, SOCIAL WORKERS, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC LIBRARY, PUBLIC PARKS, 'CAUSE IACTUALLY.
I EVEN LIKE TO GO HIKING AND IN MANY, UH, OTHER BEAUTIFUL PARKS IN AUSTIN.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I VALUE TOO.
AND, UH, UH, SOCA PARK, PART SPRINGS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I VALUE TOO.
I AM VICE PRESIDENT OF JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY FOR THE ALTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE.
AND WE STAND, UM, IN COALITION WITH, UM, ALL OF THE MEMBERS THAT HAVE SPOKEN BEFOREHAND, UM, ASKING YOU, URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
UM, NOW WE DO BELIEVE, UM, AND WE RESPECT AND WE HONOR, UM, ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UM, THAT DO THEIR JOB WITH DILIGENCE AND HONOR AND EMPATHY, HOWEVER, AND BECAUSE TWO THINGS CAN IN FACT BE TRUE AT THE SAME TIME, WE BELIEVE THAT A, UH, 218 ALLOCATION TO A BUDGET LINE THAT REFLECTS A 28% INCREASE TO ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UM,
[00:30:01]
POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, UH, WHERE THAT MONEY ONCE PUT IN THAT BUCKET CANNOT BE REALLOCATED, IS NEGLIGENT.IT'S
LIKE OUR PARKS, LIKE OUR LIBRARIES, LIKE OUR INCLEMENT WEATHER, LIKE OUR UNHOUSED SYSTEM.
UM, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FAMILY BUDGET, RIGHT? A FAMILY WITH MULTIPLE KIDS AND, AND DIFFERENT SCHEDULES WHO, UM, YEAR AFTER YEAR POUR MONEY INTO A CAR THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY NEED.
HOWEVER, THEY MUST ALSO PRIORITIZE ENSURING THAT THERE IS FOOD IN THE FRIDGE FOR THOSE SAME CHILDREN TO EAT.
WE ASK YOU AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OUR PER SE GUARDIANS, TO PRIORITIZE OUR BUDGET CORRECTLY AND ENSURE THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR AUSTIN FAMILY ARE FED.
MY NAME'S EDWIN BATISTA AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY AS THOUGH A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND A CONCERNED CITIZEN TO VOICE MY DEEP CONCERNS REGARDING THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT AND THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS IT HAS ON IT HAS FOR TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE FINANCIAL FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I HOLD A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO SERVE IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS ESSENTIAL, AND I BELIEVE OUR CITY NEEDS A STRONG, WELL SUPPORTED POLICE FORCE.
HOWEVER, SUPPORT FOR OUR POLICE SHOULD NEVER COME AT THE EXPENSE OF TRANSPARENCY OR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CONTRACT SEEMS TO DO JUST THAT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY OR THE COMPLETE LACK OF IT.
THIS CONTRACT IS SHROUDED IN THE SAME LACK OF OPEN OPENNESS THAT HAS PLAGUED OR CITY'S HANDLING OF POLICE OVERSIGHT FOR YEARS.
WE ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE G FILE, THE SECRETIVE POLICE MISCONDUCT RECORDS THAT WERE MEANT TO BE ABOLISHED UNDER THE VOTER APPROVED POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
YET THE PROPOSED CONTRACT INCLUDES PROVISIONS THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME OF THESE RECORDS TO REMAIN SEALED OR BE SHIELDED IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A BREACH OF TRUST, IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
TRANSPARENCY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE, AND YET THE DECEPTIVE TACTICS SURROUNDING THE G FILE AND OVERSIGHT ISSUES MERE THE THE KIND OF BEHAVIOR WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
BEFORE AUSTIN, VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED PROP A AND REJECTED THE APAS ATTEMPT TO CONFUSE VOTERS AND UNDERMINE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S A PATTERN OF DECEPT OF DECEPTION DESIGNED TO UNDERCUT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE CITY HAS ALREADY PAID OUT MORE THAN 22 MILLION IN LAWSUIT SETTLEMENTS RELATED TO POLICE MISCONDUCT FROM THE 2020 PROTEST.
WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT FINANCIALLY? THIS CONTRACT IS AN ANCHOR AROUND OUR CITY'S NECK.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 218 MILLION COMMITMENTS OVER FIVE YEARS, BLOCKING THE CITY INTO, INTO, IN INFLEXIBLE FINANCIAL BURDEN WITH LITTLE ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT DUE TO HOUSE BILL 1900, WHICH LIMITS OUR ABILITY, OUR ABILITY TO REDUCE POLICE FUNDING.
MEANWHILE, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE, WE SAW COUNCIL MEMBERS FIGHTING FOR SCRAPS.
WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR CRITICAL SERVICES, AND IN THE LAST MINUTE, SCRAMBLE MANAGED TO FREE UP ONLY 4.7 MILLION BY REDUCING THE EMERGENCY RE RESERVE FUND MONEY THAT WAS SORELY NEEDED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC SERVICES.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING TO REMEMBER MAYOR WATSON AND MAYOR PROTON POOL ATTEMPT TO QU THESE COMMUNITY DRIVEN INITIATIVES BY PRIOR PRIORITIZING RAIN DAY FUNDS OVER URGENT NEEDS, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER.
AND SPEAKING OF FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS, WHERE IS A PAY PARITY FOR OUR OTHER FIRST RESPONDERS? WHILE POLICE OFFICERS WERE, ARE BEING OFFERED SIGNIFICANT RAISES, OUR EMS WORKERS WERE ONCE INSULTED WITH THE 14 CENT RAISE.
ARE WE REALLY OKAY WITH SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT ONLY ONE GROUP OF FIRST RESPONDERS DESERVES TO BE VALUED? OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR EMS WORKERS, THEY'RE OUT THERE RISKING THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY.
WE CANNOT KEEP ASKING THEM TO DO MORE WITH LESS.
MAYOR WATSON, I MUST ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ARE MERE WEEKS AWAY FROM ELECTION DAY AND THIS CONTRACT FEELS MORE LIKE A CAMPAIGN MANEUVER THAN GENUINE COMMITMENT TO REFORM.
ALRIGHT, CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES.
I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN.
UH, JUST RECENTLY ACTUALLY MOVED BACK INTO DISTRICT NINE, UM, AFTER BEING HERE, UH, AFTER BEING AWAY SINCE 2014.
UM, I'M THE FOUNDER OF THE NATIONAL POLICE DATA COALITION, UH, AND HERE TO, I GUESS JOIN THE COURSE OF VOICES THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THIS NEW CONTRACT.
UM, TWO THINGS THAT I'LL KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, UH, WHICH HAVE BEEN STATED BEFORE, BUT I THINK ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO EMPHASIZE.
[00:35:01]
ONE IS THE IRREVERSIBILITY OF THE MONEY THAT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED JUST BECAUSE OF THE LAWS IN TEXAS, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT, UH, THINGS HAVE BEEN SET UP BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.THIS IS, THIS IS A TRANSFER OF FUNDS THAT WILL NEVER BE BROUGHT BACK, WHICH WILL NEVER BE AVAILABLE TO SERVE ANY OF THE NEEDS THAT THE CITY IS GONNA HAVE GOING FORWARD.
SO JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE WANT TO POSITION OUR CITY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
I'M A BIG FAN OF, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE TALKED ABOUT HERE.
ONE OF MY BIG BUGABOOS IS TRANSIT.
UM, AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE MONEY PUT INTO SOME OF THESE OTHER AREAS.
THE SECOND BIG THING I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THIS, THE ISSUE OF TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, IS SOMETHING THAT WAS VOTED ON AFFIRMATIVELY BY THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN JUST RECENTLY.
SO IT WOULD BE REALLY A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO HAVE THE COUNCIL THEN GO AND PUT A HOLE THROUGH THOSE EFFORTS THAT ARE REALLY LONG AND HARD SPOT, UM, BY THE CITIZENS OF AUSTIN.
WE WILL TRY MARY IN A LITTLE BIT.
UH, I'M A CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR.
UM, I OPPOSE THE VOTE FOR THE POLICE CONTRACT ON THURSDAY FOR TWO REASONS, AND I URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THE TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.
THE LANGUAGE REGARDING THE G FILE SHOULD BE REWRITTEN TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THE G FILE IS ELIMINATED FOR CASES BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE CONTRACT SIGNING.
VOTERS IN THE COURT DECIDED THERE SHOULD BE NO G FILE.
BUT THE CURRENT LANGUAGE HAS LED TO WIDELY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS BY KEY STAKEHOLDERS.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE REWRITTEN TO PUT TO REST CONCERNS ABOUT PRO VOTER APPROVED TRANSPARENCY, NOT LEAVE THEM OPEN TO FUTURE COURT OR LEGISLATIVE DECISIONS.
THE SECOND ISSUE INVOLVES THE BUDGETARY IMPACT.
WE NEED TO PAY OUR OFFICERS WELL AND AT THE TOP OF OUR PEER CITIES, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY, LIKE ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, ECONOMIC STABILITY, HARM REDUCTION, AND TO INVEST IN COMPETITIVE COMPENSATION FOR OUR CITY STAFF THAT PROVIDES THESE SERVICES.
GIVEN THAT THE CITY BUDGET DEPARTMENT HAS PROVIDED WIDELY DIFFERENT FIVE-YEAR BUDGET PREDICTIONS THROUGH THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR ALONE, WE SHOULD BUDGET CAUTIOUSLY AND NOT PROCEED UNTIL WE CAN BE ASSURED THAT NON-PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING CAN GROW AT THE SAME RATE AS PUBLIC SAFETY SPENDING AND DO SO WITHIN OUR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.
THESE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS STALLED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHOULDN'T RUSH IT FOR THE SAKE OF AN ELECTION OR DURING AN ELECTION.
WE NEED A CONTRACT, BUT NOT UNTIL THESE ISSUES ARE WORKED OUT.
UM, MIRA ROS, PLEASE SAY THEIR PRONOUNS.
I HOPE ONE DAY MAYBE IT'S FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE, BUT UNTIL THAT TIME I'M ASKING YOU TO NOT RATIFY THE POLICE CONTRACT THEY'VE BEEN WITHOUT OF CONTRACT FOR A WHILE NOW.
AND I THINK IT'S OKAY THAT THEY CONTINUE TO SIT WITH THAT AND THINK ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS.
UM, AS PREVIOUS SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, HP 1900 MAKES ANY POLICE BUDGET INCREASE PERMANENT BECAUSE OF STATE LAW.
THAT IS MONEY THAT COULD BE GOING TO BASICALLY ANYTHING ELSE.
AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN I SEE POLICE AROUND AUSTIN, THEY'RE NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING.
THEY'RE JUST SITTING IN THEIR CARS.
I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER A ROAD CLOSURE NEAR MY HOUSE WHERE I CALLED 3 1 1 AND I SAID, HEY LOOK, THIS IS DOWN TO ONE LANE.
THERE'S CARS GOING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.
IT'S NOT FLAGGED, IT'S UNSAFE.
I CALLED 9 1 1 AND THEY SAID, OKAY, WE'LL GET AN OFFICER OUT.
AND I WATCHED TWO COP CARS PASS RIGHT BY IT AND NOT ADDRESS ANYTHING AT ALL.
AND THERE HAS SINCE BEEN TWO WRECKS ON THAT ROAD.
SO IF THEY'RE NOT, LIKE WE KNOW DATA SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT A BUDGET PROBLEM, IT'S A RECRUITMENT PROBLEM AND A CULTURE PROBLEM.
AND IF WE WANT TO PERFORM THAT, THEN MAYBE WE SHOULD WORK ON WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING ON
[00:40:01]
THE JOB.RATHER THAN JUST THROWING MORE MONEY AT THE PROBLEM AND THINKING THAT IT'LL SOLVE IT.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I ORGANIZE WITH AUSTIN DSA.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT WE, THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN SECURED THE G FILE.
WE WROTE THE PETITION LANGUAGE, WE KNOCKED THE DOORS COUNTER CANVASS THE LIARS.
WE WON, WE TOOK IT TO COURT AND WE WON AGAIN, WE DID THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY THESE RIGHTS.
WE DIDN'T ELECT YOU TO DO THE DIRTY WORK OF THE RIGHT WING STATE LAWMAKERS AND WE DIDN'T ELECT YOU TO PAY MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD FOR A CITY DEPARTMENT THAT WE COME TO UNDERSTAND MORE DAILY OF HAVING BEEN DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY AND UNWILLING TO INCORPORATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
TO THAT POINT, WE CANNOT AFFORD THIS CONTRACT.
FIRST OF ALL, LAUGH IN THIS SPACE OF DEPARTMENTS THAT HAVE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND SERVE THIS COMMUNITY TO HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BUDGET THEY'RE ALLOWED TO BEG SCRAPS FROM IS DIFFERENT AND ENTIRELY FED.
APART FROM THE BUDGET THAT YOU NEGOTIATE WITH THE POLICE FROM.
EVEN WITH THE MORE ROSY PROJECTION, WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT AN $11 MILLION SHORTFALL IN YEAR FIVE OF THIS CONTRACT, BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RENEGOTIATE.
SO WHAT YOU'RE PLANNING NOW TO CUT OTHER CITY SERVICES TO NEGOTIATE OTHER CONTRACTS WITH THAT DEFICIT IN MIND.
AND WHAT IS SALES TAX? THE MOST VOLATILE INCOME STREAM AS PER THE MEMO TURNS OUT TO BE, I DON'T KNOW, VOLATILE.
YOU'RE ALREADY IN OVER YOUR HEAD HERE.
YOU ALREADY DIDN'T FULLY FUND EMS. YOU ALREADY PUSHED BACK FROM CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND HOMELESSNESS SERVICES.
NOW YOU SAY WE'LL HAVE A TAX RATE ELECTION, SO DO A TRE, BUT DO IT SPECIFICALLY FOR THE POLICE.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK VOTERS WOULD APPROVE? WOULD IT BE 218 MILLION? ARE YOU WILLING TO STAKE ON THAT? I KNOW YOU WON'T DO THAT.
YOU'LL GO BACK TO THE EARLIER BUDGET AND THE DEFICIT WILL BE BACK AT 59 MILLION AND YOU'LL TIE THE NEED FOR FUNDING TO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL LIKE CHILDCARE AND DECARBONIZATION.
WHY? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN CONTINUOUSLY INVEST IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF CARE AND REPAIR.
THAT'S THE WINNING TREI STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH AFME, WITH THE UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE, IBW AND THE CLC OF AUSTIN.
AND I ASK YOU TO VOTE THIS CONTRACT DOWN, FUND OUR REAL PRIORITIES.
I AM UH, FROM DISTRICT FOUR AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCIL, OR I'M ASKING OR TELLING THE COUNCIL THAT I'M AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48 BECAUSE CRIME RATES DO NOT ALIGN WITH POLICE STAFFING.
WE KNOW THIS CON UM, THIS CONTRACT ALSO UNDERMINES THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, WHICH WE ALL VOTED, UH, FOR IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
I AGREE WITH ALL THE SPEAKERS BEFORE ME THAT MAKE POINTS I WAS GOING TO MAKE ABOUT, UM, MONEY THAT'S TAKEN AWAY FROM SERVICES THAT HELP TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, SO I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE STAFFING.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN, UM, CONTRACTS WITH SPECIAL EVENTS THAT THE CITY HAS.
YOU SAY WE HAVE NO STAFFING, UM, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY YET.
EVERY TIME I'M AT Q2 OR ANYWHERE ELSE, I SEE A GAGGLE OF POLICE OFFICERS ON THEIR CELL PHONES MAKING JOKES, DOING NOTHING.
UM, I WORKED OUT AT Q2 FOR A MINUTE AND ONCE A, UH, COWORKER WAS UM, ASSAULTED, THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD HER DO NOT FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
TWO PEOPLE HAD THEIR BACKPACK STOLEN WITH THEIR CELL PHONES AND ASKED THE POLICE OFFICER FOR HELP AND THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD THEM THEY COULDN'T HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY WORKED AT Q2.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE POLICE NEED ANY MORE MONEY WHEN THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, STOP CRIME OR FIGHT CRIME OR
[00:45:01]
ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.WE NEED, WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM, HOUSING, MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND UM, POVERTY ARE ISSUES THAT WOULD PREVENT CRIME, NOT MORE MONEY FOR THE POLICE.
AND I YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME.
HI, MY NAME IS MARINA ROBERTS.
I'M A MOTHER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT.
I'LL EXPRESS MY UTTER DISGUST THAT ANYONE IN CITY LEADERSHIP FELT IT APPROPRIATE TO USE OUR TAX DOLLARS TO COMPENSATE THE LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENTED VALDI COPS TO BARGAIN ON OUR BEHALF, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A SWEETHEART DEAL TO A POLICE FORCE THAT PERSISTS EVADING ACCOUNTABILITY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN DEFIANCE OF WHAT VOTERS HAVE RESOUNDINGLY DEMANDED.
I WILL ALSO SHARE HOW INFURIATING IT IS TO ME THAT CITY LEADERS WOULD EVEN ENTERTAIN A CONTRACT THAT ISN'T CRYSTAL CLEAR IN ENSURING THE G FILE IS MADE PUBLIC RETROACTIVELY AS WELL AS MOVING FORWARD IS THAT IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE TO THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF POLICE BRUTALITY WHO HAVE LED THE FIGHT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN SEE THE TOIL OF THESE PEOPLE AND CONSIDER A CONTRACT THAT REMAINS AMBIGUOUS ON THIS POINT, BUT I WILL USE MY TIME TO REALLY EMPHASIZE ON THIS CALL THAT WE LIVE IN A CITY, IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL TO BE BETTER AND EVERY SINGLE THING WE MIGHT DREAM OF ACHIEVING IS INTENTION WITH THE MONEY YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING HANDING TO THE POLICE.
I RECALL VERY RECENTLY Y'ALL WERE TELLING EQUITY ACTION THAT THERE SIMPLY WASN'T THE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE MYRIAD OF IDEAS THEY WERE BRINGING TO THE TABLE WITH THEIR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET.
BUT SOMEHOW Y'ALL SCRAPPED TOGETHER OVER 217 MILLION FOR THIS CONTRACT.
EVERY DOLLAR YOU GIVE TO A PD IS A DOLLAR THAT COULD BE SPENT ON IMMIGRANT LEGAL DEFENSE FUNDING, CHILDCARE, GREENING OUR CITY OR AN INFINITE NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.
THERE USED TO BE PEOPLE ON THIS COUNCIL WHO HAD THE CLARITY TO SEE THAT AND THE BACKBONE TO STAND UP TO THE POLICE UNION.
I'M WAITING AND WATCHING TO SEE WHAT YOU DO NOW BECAUSE MY SON'S FUTURE HERE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.
WE WILL MOVE TO IN-PERSON SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47.
PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT.
TODAY I WANT TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITIES, BUT THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY, THE INTERSECTION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC NEEDS, AND CRIME REDUCTION.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS A MEMBER OF THE EQUITY ACTION COALITION, WE SAW THAT SEVERAL OF OUR PRIORITY ISSUES THAT SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL WERE NOT SUPPORTED IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BUDGET, SUCH AS TENURE REDUCTION AND STABILIZING SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY-BASED AGREEMENT, STREET OUTREACH SERVICES FOR CASE MANAGERS AND PRAYER SUPPORT, REENTRY NAVIGATORS FOR JOBS AND HOUSING, IMMIGRATION, LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, OUR VERY OWN EQUITY OFFICE, BUT ALSO OUR RESILIENCE OFFICE.
NONE OF THESE PRIORITIES RECEIVE FUNDING, BUT YET THEY DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE REDUCTION OF CRIME AND INCREASING SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, WE ALSO DID NOT PROVIDE ANY FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS DIRECTLY TIED TO ECONOMIC STABILITY AND SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
FIRST, LET'S CONSIDER THE POWER OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
WHEN INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO TO SECURE STABLE EMPLOYMENT.
STUDIES CONSISTENTLY SHOW THAT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST PREDICATE OF REDUCED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
A JOB PROVIDES NOT ONLY FINANCIAL SECURITY, BUT ALSO A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND BELONGING.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN MEANINGFUL WORK, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO TURN TO CRIME AS A MEANS OF SURVIVAL.
MOREOVER, INVESTING IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS CREATES A RIPPLE EFFECT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITIES.
THESE PROGRAMS CAN TARGET VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, PROVIDING THEM WITH SKILLS, TRAINING AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO THRIVE.
WHEN WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED, WE REDUCED THE DEPENDENCY ON SOCIAL SERVICES AND AND DECREASE THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF ENGAGEMENT IN AROUND CRIME ACTIVITIES.
NOT ONLY SHOULD THIS BE IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN, BUT THIS IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS BECAUSE THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION ALSO SEES THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOP DEVELOPMENT, UPSKILLING AND RESKILLING.
THERE ARE 2023 TO 2027 STRATEGIC PLAN, PRIORITIZE EXPANDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARING SKILLED WORKFORCE, SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS, ADDRESSING THE MIDDLE SKILLS GAP, AND EXPANDING APPRENTICESHIPS ACROSS TEXAS.
THAT'S FROM THE, THAT'S FROM THE TEXAS STATE
[00:50:01]
THAT ALSO ALIGNED TO THE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.HIRE LOCAL PLAN TO PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIPS, UPSKILLING, AND RESCALING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS POLICE CONTRACT AND I LOOK AT ALL THE MANY OTHER LINE ITEMS THAT WERE NOT FUNDED THROUGH THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET, I HAVE TO WONDER, ARE WE ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, ONE OF THE LARGEST WORKFORCE BOARDS HERE IN TEXAS AND THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO PROVIDING ECONOMIC STABILITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY? SO TODAY AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AUSTIN URBAN TECHNOLOGY MOVEMENT, I URGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS A WAY TO SOLVE AND REDUCE OUR SAFETY.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.
IF YOUR NAME HAS BEEN CALLED GOOD MORNING.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE.
I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE POLICE CONTRACT.
I WAS SHOT IN THE EYE BY A PD WITH A BEANBAG ROUND.
UM, I WANT TO JUST KIND OF BRING US BACK IN THE BIG PICTURE FOR A MOMENT, UM, AND JUST TALK ABOUT WHO THIS IS.
A TENTATIVE CONTRACT BETWEEN THIS IS BETWEEN THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION WHO PURPOSEFULLY MISLED VOTERS WITH VOTERS FOR OVERSIGHT AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, WHERE 80% OF VOTERS IN AUSTIN REJECTED THEIR LIES AND SUPPORTED POLICE OVERSIGHT.
WHEREAS SUPER MAJORITY OF VOTERS IN AUSTIN REJECTED RAISES FOR POLICE FOR THE CITY.
WE HAVE NEGOTIATORS FROM A LAW FIRM LITERALLY CALLED RAMPAGE LAW.
DENTON NAVARRO, ROCHA BURN SAN AND Z IS RAMPAGE LAW SARAH GRIFFIN.
LOWELL DENTON COME FROM A LAW FIRM THAT REPRESENT POLICE AND MUNICIPALITIES IN CASES OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND WRONGFUL DEATH, INCLUDING REPRESENTING THE CITY OF VALDI AFTER FAMILIES OF 19 CHILDREN WERE MASSACRED.
OKAY, WHEN I'VE TOLD THIS TO PEOPLE, EVERYBODY WAS UTTERLY SHOCKED.
THEY THOUGHT I MEANT THAT THEY WERE REPRESENTING THE A PA, THEY'RE WHO Y'ALL HIRED.
IT WAS UNDER SPENCER CRONK, BUT THEY'VE STAYED ON AND YOU CAN VOTE NO ON THIS CONTRACT.
YOU CAN FIRE RAMPAGE LAW AND YOU CAN HIRE NEW NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL STAND UP TO THE A PA, NOT WORK ALONGSIDE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THEIR FUTURE CLIENTS.
THIS BUDGET, THESE BUDGET PROJECTIONS, THESE FIVE-YEAR PROJECTIONS ARE JUST A FANTASY AND Y'ALL KNOW THIS, OKAY? SO WE NEED CLARITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE NEED CLARITY ON THE BUDGET AND WE NEED NEW NEGOTIATORS.
YOU CAN, YOU CAN REJECT THIS CONTRACT, WE CAN START OVER AND AS A COMMUNITY, AS A COUNCIL, WE CAN ALL GO FORWARD TOGETHER.
THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS IS PATRICIA FORBES, JEN MARGULIES, JEN RAMOS, CATHERINE MCCARDLE, AND THOMAS DOWNING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD SO WE'LL KNOW YOU'RE HERE AND THEN, UH, FEEL FREE TO JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M HERE TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY IN OPPOSING THIS TERRIBLE POLICE CONTRACT AS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THROUGH THIS ISSUE OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR YEARS, YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD HOW POLICE DO NOT KEEP US SAFE.
A CITY IS SAFE WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET.
THIS MEANS THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, GOOD JOBS, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SPACES WHERE KIDS, TEENS AND ADULTS CAN PLAY, BE CREATIVE AND THRIVE.
THAT MEANS PLACES LIKE PARKS AND ALSO LIBRARIES.
WE KNOW THAT LIBRARIES ARE ONE OF THE FEW PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXIST WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY TO BE THERE.
AS A WRITER, I'M VERY RELIANT ON LIBRARIES TO SUPPORT MY CAREER.
THROUGH ACCESS TO THEIR BOOKS, I HAVE NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, UH, WITH THE LIBRARY AND THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ENOUGH COPIES OF NEW BOOKS.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, LIBRARIANS WOULD PURCHASE A FEW COPIES OF HIGHLY ANTICIPATED BOOKS AND THEN ONCE A COUPLE DOZEN PEOPLE PLACED HOLDS ON THOSE, THEY WOULD PURCHASE MORE COPIES.
AND THAT'S HOW THE WAIT TIMES WOULD COME DOWN TO REASONABLE TIMES.
THIS YEAR THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS BOOKS COMING OUT, EXPECTED TO BE BEST SELLERS THAT THE LIBRARY WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO PURCHASE ON THE PUBLICATION DATE.
AND IF THEY DO PURCHASE THEM, MOST OF THESE EXTREMELY POPULAR BOOKS ONLY HAVE ONE COPY AVAILABLE.
THE HOLD TIMES HAVE BECOME SO EXCESSIVE THAT INSTEAD OF MEASURING THEM IN WEEKS, IT SAYS THE WAIT TIME FOR THAT BOOK IS SEVERAL MONTHS LONG.
SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO READ A NEW BOOK AND TALK ABOUT IT WITH OTHER READERS OR USE IT AS A REFERENCE FOR WRITING OR SCHOOL PROJECTS, WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SEVERAL MONTHS TO GET ACCESS.
[00:55:01]
THIS HAS TO BE A BUDGET THING.IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIBRARY IS ONLY GETTING A $200,000 INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET FOR MATERIALS.
LAST YEAR THE LIBRARY REPS SAID THEY NEEDED $2 MILLION TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEW BOOKS THEY NEED TO PURCHASE AND BRING DOWN THOSE WAIT TIMES.
I BELIEVE FOR NEXT YEAR, THE CITY IS PREDICTING NO INCREASE AT ALL WITH A RAPIDLY GROWING BASE OF CUSTOMERS AND A BUDGET THAT IS A FRACTION OF WHAT'S NEEDED.
WE CAN EXPECT WAIT TIMES TO KEEP GETTING LONGER AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER ALL THE OTHER PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY OFFERINGS AUSTIN LIBRARIES PROVIDE AS WELL, WHICH WILL BE IN JEOPARDY.
IT'S TOUGH TO TALK ABOUT LIBRARY BOOKS WHEN THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS A PD HURTING OR KILLING PEOPLE.
BUT I WANNA PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THIS PROPOSED CONTRACT AND THE OUTRAGEOUS COST OF IT WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF CRUCIAL CITY SERVICES, INCLUDING LIBRARIES.
SAY NO TO THIS CONTRACT AND SAY YES TO OUR LIBRARIES.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU LIBRARIANS ARE NOT SHOOTING ANYBODY AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE A G FILE.
THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS WILL BE PHYLLIS THOMAS, MICHAEL CIRUS, ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, WILLIAM BUNCH, AND AJ ROKA.
MY NAME IS CATHERINE MCCARDLE.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48 RELATED TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY I OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT.
FIRST, IT KEEPS PAST POLICE CONDUCT RECORDS SECRET, WHICH VIOLATES THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT THAT WAS PASSED WITH NEARLY 80% OF THE VOTE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
I VOTED IN FAVOR OF THAT BALLOT MEASURE BACK THEN AND I ALSO HAD MANY, MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT WITH MY FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE VOTE.
AND IN THE TIME SINCE LIKE THE FINAL VOTE MARGIN, THE CONSENSUS IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WAS OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF THE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY PROVISIONS.
SO IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING TO WATCH THE CITY OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF STALL AND FIGHT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE A POA TO THE POINT WHERE THE CITY LOST A LAWSUIT OVER THEIR INACTION.
AND NOW THE CITY NEGOTIATORS ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT HAVE CONTINUED THEIR TREND BY TRYING TO GET YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE FOR A CONTRACT THAT CONTINUES TO VIOLATE IT.
ONCE AGAIN, IN THE CONVERSATIONS I'M HAVING WITH MY FRIENDS, WE'RE LEFT SCRATCHING OUR HEADS OVER WHY THE CITY IS WILLINGLY GOING AGAINST THE RESULTS OF THE A POA BALLOT MEASURE VOTE.
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD BE HERE TESTIFYING ALONGSIDE ME IF THEY HAD THEIR FLEXIBILITY AND THEIR SCHEDULES TO DO SO.
SO ON THE GROUNDS OF THE POLICE CONDUCT RECORDS PROVISION IN THIS CONTRACT, I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST IT.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES WITH THE CONTRACT TO, THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO USE PETTY PETTY GRIEVANCES TO WEAKEN THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM.
WE'VE SEEN THIS APPROACH BEFORE AND SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE DESTROYED OUR PAST OVERSIGHT SYSTEMS. WE CANNOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT AUSTINITES WANT STRONG OVERSIGHT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
DESPITE THE POLICE ASSOCIATION'S BEST ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT IT.
PLEASE DO NOT PASS THE POLICE CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS FOR A GRIEVANCE PROCESS THAT CAN UPEND THE A POA.
AND FINALLY, THIS CONTRACT COST TOO MUCH AS MANY OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE ALLUDED TO TODAY.
HOW WAS IT THAT THE CITY'S BUDGET STAFF JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO SAID THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MONEY FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES SERVICES THAT MANY IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MYSELF, WOULD LOVE TO SEE SUPPORTED AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S TOTALLY FINE TO ADD IN AN EXTRA $40 MILLION, UH, PER YEAR TO SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT.
NOT ONLY AM I VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THIS CONTRACT ON FUTURE COMMUNITY SERVICES AS WELL AS ON OTHER CITY'S EMPLOYEES, OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES' ABILITY TO GET THE FAIR WAGES THAT THEY DESERVE.
BUT CONFLICTING INFORMATION LIKE THIS FROM CITY BUDGET STAFF BREACHES OUR TRUST.
AND ADDITIONALLY, A PD IS ALREADY ONE OF THE HIGHEST PAID POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY.
IF THEY'RE STILL HAVING STAFFING ISSUES DESPITE THIS, THROWING MORE MONEY AT THEM ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE THAT.
SO FOR THESE REASONS AND MORE, I URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48 ON THURSDAY AND NOT SUPPORT THIS CONTRACT.
UH, MAYOR, WE'VE BEEN INFORMED, PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO HEAR THEIR NAMES, SO I'M GONNA REPEAT SOME OF THE NAMES AND GO A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, A LITTLE BIT SLOWER.
UH, DANIELLA SILVA, PATRICIA FORBES, JEN MARGULIES, JEN RAMOS, THOMAS DOWNING.
PHYLLIS THOMAS, OR I'M SORRY, PHYLLIS THOMPSON.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
MY NAME IS TRICIA FORBES AND I'M A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I AM HERE TODAY AS A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE G FILE.
UM, WE NOW KNOW WHAT IT MEANS.
IF AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED ADMINISTRATIVELY, IT MEANS THAT POTENTIALLY THE OFFICER WAS ALLOWED TO RESIGN OR RETIRE
[01:00:01]
IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE.WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S AT LEAST ONE SERIOUS ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY AN A PD COMMANDER THAT'S HIDDEN IN THE G FILE BECAUSE THE OFFICER RESIGNED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE THINGS ARE HIDDEN, HOW MANY MORE THINGS A PD IS HIDING.
UM, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT AS A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR WHO KNOWS THAT THE CITY WAS SUED ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE SUFFERED SEXUAL ASSAULT, UM, THIS CONTRACT WOULD BE FAILING SURVIVORS.
AGAIN, THE COST OF IT IS SHOCKING TO ME WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT.
IN ADDITION TO BEING A SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVOR, I AM SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN PART OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HOUSING IS, HOW IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE, HOW IMPORTANT ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION SERVICES ARE.
I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND I THANK ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT JOBS THAT THEY DO, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY PART OF KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE.
YOU ALL HAVE HEARD IT ALL FROM PREVIOUS SPEAKERS.
YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT OUR COMMUNITY-BASED PREVENTION SERVICES ARE AND I AM BEGGING YOU AS A SURVIVOR TO PLEASE REJECT THIS CONTRACT AND INSTEAD MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE SAFE AND THAT YOU ARE RESPECTING THE WILL AND THE VOTERS.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M TOM DOWNING, RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE CO-CHAIR OF THE RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE OF UNIVERSITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AND A MEMBER OF ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM.
I'VE BEEN AN OBSERVER OF THE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION SINCE THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT WAS GUTTED.
IN 2021, I WATCHED THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE NEGOTIATIONS, THE WALKAWAYS, THE LAWSUITS, AND THE MANEUVERING, WHICH EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
AFTER THE PREVIOUS CONTRACT EXPIRED, I SUPPORTED INTERIM PAY RAISES FOR SWORN OFFICERS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE LOST A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY AS THEY DID WHEN THEY LAST SERVED WITHOUT A CONTRACT.
AT THE TIME I SAID THIS, I BELIEVE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS PUT ON THEIR BADGES EACH DAY BRAVELY SEEKING TO PROTECT AND DEFEND OUR COMMUNITY IN SPITE OF A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT DAILY FILLED WITH MORE AND MORE GUNS.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THESE COURAGEOUS PUBLIC SERVANTS SHOULD BE PAID ENOUGH TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE CITY THEY PROTECT, SHOULD RECEIVE BENEFITS TO KEEP THEIR FAMILIES COMFORTABLE AND SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH FELLOW OFFICERS SUPPORTING THEM TO KEEP THEM SAFE AND ABLE TO TAKE TIME OFF TO BE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
I STILL BELIEVE THIS, BUT IN SPITE OF TWO INTERIM RAISES, I WATCHED POLICE ASSOCIATION NEGOTIATORS CONTINUE TO FIGHT INCREASED OVERSIGHT UNTIL THE COURT UPHELD THE CURRENT AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT AND FORCED THEM BACK TO THE TABLE.
NOW WE HAVE, AS WE DID IN 2018, ANOTHER CONTRACT WHICH SEEMS TO PROMISE INCREASED OVERSIGHT EXCHANGE FOR INCREASED PAY.
I'M CONCERNED THAT THE VAGUE LANGUAGE IN THE NEW CONTRACT OFFERS LOOPHOLES, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TO GRIEVE AND INVALIDATE PORTIONS OF THE OVERSIGHT ACT WHILE KEEPING THE INCREASED PAY AND BENEFITS.
JUST LIKE IN 2021, I'M ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FINANCING OF THESE EVER LARGER PERMANENT RAISES WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER NEEDS OF THE CITY FROM INCREASED PAY FOR FIRE AND EMS PERSONNEL TO FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND CLIMATE CRISES.
WE'VE BEEN ASSURED BY OUR CITY STAFF THAT THESE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHOUT MASSIVE TAX INCREASES OR LOSS OF SERVICES.
BUT THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN THOSE FORECASTS ABOUT TAX REVENUES, ENERGY, EARNINGS, PERSONNEL NEEDS, AND OVERTIME REQUIREMENTS ARE QUESTIONABLE.
THEY ASSUME THE ECONOMY AND GROWTH OF OUR CITY WILL REMAIN ON UNEVEN KEEL.
THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER THE BANK CRASH OF 2008, THE PANDEMIC OF 2020 AND THE WILDFIRES AND FLOODS OF THE PAST FEW YEARS, DOUBT THAT MANY FIVE-YEAR PLANS WILL SURVIVE THE FUTURE.
MR. MAYOR AND COUNSEL BEFORE APPROVING THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT ACT AS ANY PRUDENT LEGAL CLIENT WOULD GET A SECOND OPINION ABOUT THE STAB STABILITY OF THE OVERSIGHT PROVIDED AND THE ACTUAL COST OF THE PLAN.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WORK FOR OUR CITY.
[01:05:01]
GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL.MY NAME'S ELIZABETH GONZALEZ AND I HOPE THAT Y'ALL VOTE AGAINST 47 AND 48 AND START HOLDING THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY DO TO INNOCENT PEOPLE LIKE ME.
'CAUSE I'M A VICTIM AND I'M STILL A VICTIM.
AND I THINK THAT Y'ALL DON'T DESERVE IT.
THE CITY, THE CITY DESERVES IT MORE THAN Y'ALL DO.
Y'ALL BEEN THREATENING PEOPLE.
AIN'T NOTHING'S HAPPENED TO YOU.
Y'ALL DOING GOOD? Y'ALL DOING GREAT.
Y'ALL MISLEADING THE, THE COMMUNITY THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING SO BAD, BUT Y'ALL AIN'T, Y'ALL NOT RESPONDING TO THE CAUSE AND YOU'RE NOT AND YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT TO VISIT THE COMMUNITY LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, LIKE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE OR FINDING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
REMEMBER ELECTIONS COMING UP
YOU BET YOU DEAL WITH THE BEST DEAL WITH THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING AWAY.
THE CITY'S GONNA REMEMBER WHO I AM AND Y'ALL GOTTA GO WITH THE CITY AND VOTE FOR NO AGAINST IT AND VOTE HELP THE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE IF Y'ALL DON'T, THEN Y'ALL MISLEADING THE THE COMMUNITY ALSO AND UP THERE ALL Y'ALL GOT BIG HEADED INSTEAD OF NOT THINKING ABOUT US ANYMORE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE'RE DOWN HERE AND Y'ALL UP HERE.
REMEMBER WHO PUT YOU WHAT THERE, REMEMBER REMEMBER WHO PUT YOU UP THERE? 'CAUSE WE COULD TAKE YOU RIGHT OUT THE COMMITTEE CAN, OKAY? DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF WHATEVER YOU GOT.
I WILL NEVER LET Y'ALL FORGET THAT THEY MURDERED MY SON GABRIEL GUTIERREZ AND LUIS OTTO MURDERED MY SON.
I'M GONNA SET A MARK HERE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE OF WHAT Y'ALL DID WAS WRONG AND Y'ALL ARE STILL LETTING, NOT LETTING THEM COPS BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR.
SO Y'ALL NEED TO DO Y'ALL'S JOB AND DO IT RIGHT, BUT Y'ALL WANT ALL THIS MONEY.
WHO'S FAIR ON FAIR? WHAT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY? WHAT ABOUT US? THERE'S NO US.
SO Y'ALL GOTTA VOTE AGAINST IT.
Y'ALL GOTTA VOTE WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, WHICH IS WE GOT.
I GOT THE COMMUNITY BEST BELIEVE DON'T, DON'T TRY ME 'CAUSE BEST BELIEVE I GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE BACKING ME UP.
SO WHAT Y'ALL DO FROM HERE ON, WE'RE WATCHING THE COMMUNITY IS NOT JUST ME, EVERYBODY.
WHAT Y'ALL DOING? OKAY? SO DON'T FORGET WHO PUT YOU UP THERE AND HOW YOU GOT UP THERE.
'CAUSE WE BELIEVED IN Y'ALL FOR ONE TIME.
SO MAKE US BELIEVE AGAIN THAT Y'ALL ARE GOOD AND GONNA HELP THE COMMUNITY, THE POOR COMMUNITY.
OKAY? BECAUSE MINE, Y'ALL, Y'ALL FORGOT ABOUT ME, BUT I, LIKE I SAID, I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE AND I WILL NOT, NEVER LET Y'ALL FORGET WHO I AM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AND FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THIS TO GO THROUGH.
SO LET'S LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER, BROAD NECKS.
MY NAME IS JOHN RAMOS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, ONE OF THE COUNCIL DISTRICTS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE OVER POLICING THAT RESULTED WITH THE BACKROOM DEAL MADE BY MAYOR WATSON WITH DPSI NOTABLY CAME TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT IN 2018.
AND I'M HERE AGAIN ASKING YOU TO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE VOTE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE AND TO NOT GIVE INTO THE BULLYING BY THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD IN THE LONG TERM.
AS A WOMAN OF COLOR AND THE OLDER SISTER TO A 22-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WHO HAS LOOKED OLDER THAN HIS AGE SINCE HE WAS 12.
I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE TALK, THE TALK THAT INVOLVES BEING CAREFUL AND TO BE SAFE AROUND COPS.
IT'S BECAUSE OF TRAYVON MARTIN THAT I'VE HAD TO TELL HIM TO NEVER WEAR A HOODIE AFTER DARK.
IT'S BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF AHMA ARBERY, I'VE HAD TO TELL HIM TO REMAIN VIGILANT WHEN WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND HANGING OUTSIDE THE APARTMENT.
IT'S BECAUSE OF OFFICERS LIKE JUSTIN BARRY AND DANIEL PERRY, AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE NEVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISCONDUCT.
THAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT HIM SIMPLY EXISTING WHILE BEING BROWN.
JUSTIN BARRY IS NOT ONLY STILL EMPLOYED BY THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, HE'S PROVIDED SECURITY FOR THESE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND MADE A MOCKERY OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY.
AUSTINITES HAVE NOT ONLY LOUDLY AND INCREASINGLY ASKED FOR, BUT THAT WE VOTED FOR, AND COURTS HAVE RULED WE ARE ENTITLED TO.
WHILE IT MIGHT BE THE MO OF MAYOR WATSON TO THROW MONEY AT THE PROBLEM TO MAKE SOMETHING GO AWAY, $218 MILLION IS INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE, IMPRACTICAL AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF POLICE SHORTAGE OR AN INCREASE IN OVERSIGHT.
$218 MILLION WERE FIVE YEARS COULD HELP REINSTATE THE LOW COST REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE AT AUSTIN.
CLINICS THAT HELP FIND PRE-CANCEROUS CELLS IN MY CERVIX.
IT CAN HELP THE SPAY AND NEUER ANIMALS AND EMANCIPATE AND BRING AUSTIN PETS UP TO CODE WITH A MICROCHIP IN COMPLIANCE.
IT CAN OFFER FREE COVID TO 19 BOOSTERS WITH AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW CHARGING FOR MANY CANNOT AFFORD TO GET, WE CAN PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR AUSTINITES WHO ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN AN INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE CITY.
SO INSTEAD OF PATTING THE BUDGET OF A DEPARTMENT AND SPENDING MORE MONEY SETTLING CASES OF BRUTALITY, INSTEAD OF FIXING THEIR WORK CULTURE AND RECRUITMENT PROBLEMS WITH THE OVER INFLATED BUDGET THEY ALREADY HAVE, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REJECT THIS POLICE CONTRACT SO THAT WAY MORE FAMILIES CAN STOP HAVING THE TALK WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND PARENTS.
LASTLY, I REMIND THIS COUNCIL, INCLUDING THE MAYOR, TRYING TO SHOVE THIS CONTRACT THROUGH THAT VOTERS THIS WEEK ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE BALLOT BOX WITH 96% OF A REGISTERED ELECTORATE IN THE CITY.
[01:10:09]
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE AND I ALSO WORK AT WORKERS' DEFENSE.
SO I AM HERE ASKING Y'ALL TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
UM, SPEAKING FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR MEMBERS, UH, THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR MEMBERS FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED, UM, AND CARED ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE ENSURING THAT THE PARKS ARE WELL MAINTAINED SO THEIR KIDS HAVE PLACES TO GO AFTER SCHOOL, THAT THERE IS CHILDCARE AND RESOURCES FOR THEIR KIDS TO SUCCEED.
THAT THERE IS, UM, READILY AVAILABLE AND RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE MANY OF OUR MEMBERS DON'T HAVE CARS AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO DRIVE.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HAVE INVESTMENT IN.
AND THE ONE THING THAT OUR MEMBERS REALLY DO NOT RELY ON FOR A SENSE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY IS POLICING.
UM, SO THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED WITH THE WAY THAT THIS CONTRACT HAS BEEN PUSHED THROUGH.
UM, WE'RE ALSO SUPPORTING ALL OF THE UNIONS WHO ARE CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY IN THIS CONTRACT.
HAVING BEEN A PART OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET WHERE WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY, ALTHOUGH I KNOW THAT MANY OF Y'ALL WORKED, YOU KNOW, REALLY HARD AND DID THE BEST THAT YOU CAN TO ADVOCATE FOR MANY OF OUR ITEMS, IT JUST FELT LIKE A COMPLETE 180 WHEN WE WERE TOLD THERE'S NO MONEY.
BUT THEN SUDDENLY THERE'S $218 MILLION.
SO WE REALLY ARE ASKING FOR, UM, TRANSPARENCY IN THAT, THAT WE, I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE SAID IT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BUT IT BEARS REPEATING THAT ANY INCREASE THAT IS DONE DUE TO STATE LAW CANNOT BE DECREASED.
AND WE WANNA TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE FUTURE PROJECTIONS FOR SALES TAX, WHICH IS THE REASON THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MONEY FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THING.
SO IF WE'RE CONCERNED WITH INCOME, AND WE'RE ALSO MAKING IT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN 30, 36% OF OUR BUDGET IS GONNA BE LOCKED IN, INTO, UH, A AN AREA THAT CANNOT BE MOVED AROUND LIKE THAT IS A SERIOUS CONCERN FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN OTHER AREAS.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A MAJOR CONCERN AROUND THE G FILE.
THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOT ONLY AFTER THE MOMENT THAT THE CONTRACT IS SIGNED, BUT ALL TIME PREVIOUSLY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ANY MISCONDUCT THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE CONTRACT IS STILL RELEVANT.
THERE ARE POSSIBLE CASES THAT ARE STILL INVOLVED IN THEM.
UM, FOLKS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT OFFICERS HAVE DONE WHAT IN THEIR HISTORY, NOT JUST FROM THE MOMENT OF THE CONTRACT, BUT ALL TIME PREVIOUS TO THAT.
UM, SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE THREE MAIN CONCERNS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
UM, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS TOO HIGH.
THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE TRANSPARENCY AND, UH, THE WORDING AROUND THE G FILE IS VERY, VERY CONCERNING.
SO PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU, FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE PLANNING TO VOTE FOR YOU, UM, AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT.
AND HAVE A REST, GOOD REST OF YOUR DAY.
I'M IN DISTRICT ONE, AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK HERE TODAY.
IT'S HARD TO ADD TO THE SPEAKERS THAT HAVE COME BEFORE ME WHO'VE BEEN SO POWERFUL.
I JUST HAVE THREE VIEWPOINTS THAT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU.
ONE IS, AS A PARENT, I HAVE RAISED MY CHILD IN THIS CITY.
I'M A PARENT WHO WANTS TO SEE MONEY FOR PARKS, WHO WANTS TO SEE MONEY FOR POOLS, WHO WANTS TO SEE MONEY FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY CAN PROVIDE WHEN WE'RE NOT ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL IN THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
AND WHEN I SAY ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL, WHAT I MEAN IS WE ARE ROBBING OUR CITY.
WE ARE ROBBING OUR RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN BY GIVING THIS MASSIVE PERCENTAGE OF OUR CITY'S FUNDS.
WE ARE STEALING FROM OUR CHILDREN.
WE ARE STEALING FROM THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF BY GIVING ALL OF THIS MONEY TO THE POLICE.
SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, UM, FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF SOMEONE WHO DID SERVE ON A WORK GROUP WITH THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
THIS CITY AND MEMBER, MANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL CAME TOGETHER WITH A REALLY STRONG VISION ABOUT WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUSTIN LOOKED LIKE.
WE HAD IDEAS ABOUT HOUSING, WE HAD IDEAS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH RESPONSE.
I CANNOT TELL YOU THE HELPLESS FRUSTRATION WITH WHICH I WATCH THOSE DREAMS, STAY DREAMS. AND THE TINY, TINY INCREMENTS OF IMPLEMENTATION WE ACTUALLY PUT INTO PLACE BECAUSE WE ARE CONTINUING AGAIN, TO FUNNEL MONEY INTO THE POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH MEANS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE SPENT TIME AND EFFORT AND ENDLESS HOURS OF TESTIMONY FROM AFFECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE TOLD US WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE AND WE'RE WE'RE STEALING IT FROM OURSELVES.
AND THIRD, I WANNA SPEAK JUST TO SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN DEMOCRACY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANT Y'ALL AND CITY STAFF INFORMED BY OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE THE ONES MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT OUR CITY BUDGET.
AND INSTEAD, YOU ARE ALSO BEING BULLIED.
[01:15:01]
POLICE NEGOTIATION IS MAKING A DETERMINATION ABOUT WHAT OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.FOR SO LONG, THE STATE HAS SAID WE CAN'T ROLL BACK INCREASES THAT WE GIVE TO A PD, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU ALL ARE TYING YOUR OWN HANDS IN TERMS OF BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET FOR THIS CITY.
IF YOU VOTE YES ON THIS CONTRACT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE PUT YOU IN A TERRIBLE POSITION, ALL YOU HAVE LEFT IS UP OR DOWN, BUT Y'ALL, IT NEEDS TO BE DOWN.
WE NEED TO SAY NO TO THIS CONTRACT.
THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS IS KATHY MITCHELL, AMY CRESSMAN, GERDA RAY, ALICIA CASTILLO, AND AMANDA WEEMS. IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY FORWARD TO THE PODIUM.
HI, MY NAME IS KATHY MITCHELL AND I'M WITH EQUITY ACTION.
UH, YOU ALL RECEIVED A LETTER FROM US YESTERDAY WITH THE SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS TO THE LANGUAGE THAT WE BELIEVE WOULD ELIMINATE THE AMBIGUITY THAT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TODAY.
SO I'M GOING TO JUMP TO OTHER REASONS THAT WE HAVE CONCERNS.
UM, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE COST.
UH, YOU HAVE RECEIVED A MEMO FROM, UH, SOMEBODY THAT I KNOW, YOU KNOW, JULIO ALTA MURANO, WHO MADE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, COMMENTARY ABOUT THE NEW BUDGET FORECAST.
UM, AND I WANT YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.
PLEASE, IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT MEMO, PLEASE PULL IT OUT, FIND IT IN YOUR INBOXES.
UM, I WANNA SPEAK TO THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT ARE IN THIS ABOUT OFFICER VACANCIES.
I THINK THAT YOU'VE HEARD A LOT FROM SUPPORTERS OF THIS CONTRACT THAT IT IS GOING TO FILL, HELP US FILL THE VACANCIES.
UM, A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE EXISTING PAY STRUCTURE FOR OFFICERS TELLS US THAT IT IS ALREADY DESIGNED TO HOLD OFFICERS WHO ARE MORE SENIOR, WHO MIGHT BE THREATENED, YOU KNOW, ATTEMPTING, THINKING ABOUT LEAVING.
AND IT'S DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE UP FRONT WITH VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT RAISES IN THE FIRST FEW SIX MONTHS, 12 MONTHS, 24 MONTHS.
UH, OUR STAFFING STRUCTURE IS ALREADY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE RETENTION PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE AND IT ISN'T WORKING.
SO IF WE HAVE A STAFFING, A, A PAY STRUCTURE THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED TO ADDRESS WHAT APPEARS TO BE OUR BOTH RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT PROBLEM, AND IN THIS DOCUMENT THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS WE'RE GONNA GET AROUND TO RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT AT A FUTURE DATE.
UH, THEN WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE GAINING HERE? WE ARE GAINING, GIVING EXISTING OFFICERS A RAISE ON TOP OF THE OTHER RAISES THAT THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE EXPECT THAT TO ADDRESS OUR VACANCY PROBLEM.
MEANWHILE, WE HAD A KROLL REPORT LAST YEAR ABOUT THE CULTURE OF POLICING THAT SPOKE TO A LOT OF REASONS WHY PEOPLE LEAVE REGARDLESS OF THE PAY.
AND WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR POLICE ACADEMY WITH TRANSPARENCY SO THAT THE COMMUNITY KNOWS THAT THOSE CHANGES ARE ACTUALLY OCCURRING.
I THINK THAT THE LAST THING I WANNA SAY TODAY IS THAT THIS DEAL, IT'S REMARKABLE TO ME THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION IN AUSTIN WHILE DALLAS IS FIGHTING BALLOT MEASURES THAT WOULD INCREASE THE COST OF POLICING THERE.
OKAY, I GUESS I DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT THAT
NEXT WE HAVE ANDY COCO WITH TIME DONATED BY CHAZ MOORE OR ANDY AND CHAZ BOTH PRESENT.
NEXT WILL BE JJ RAMIREZ, BILL WALLACE, KATE GRAZIANI, AND LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.
ANDY COCO, DISTRICT ONE AGAINST 47 AND 48.
THANKS CHAZ MOORE FOR YOUR TIME IN THE LONG SILENCE.
SINCE MARCH, 2023, WHILE A PD HAS NEARLY COMPLETELY STOPPED DISCIPLINING OFFICERS, I WONDER ARE OFFICERS ANY BETTER? ARE WE TO BELIEVE TWO DISCIPLINARY RECOMMENDATIONS AND AN 18 MONTH PERIOD INDICATES SCARY, DANGEROUS POLICE USE OF FORCE IS JUST NO LONGER A PROBLEM HERE.
IN SOME OTHER YEAR AND A HALF, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN 20 TO 25 DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.
THERE'S MIXED INFORMATION INTERPRETING THE GFI FACTOR IN THE PROPOSED CONTRACT, BUT YOUR CONSTITUENTS
[01:20:01]
ARE TELLING YOU WITH CERTAINTY, IF WE CAN'T SEE PROBLEMS, THE MOST INTERESTED PARTY, THE PUBLIC CANNOT ADDRESS PROBLEMS. LET'S REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE SOLE PUBLIC SEC SECTOR JOB WITH GUNS AND OTHER MAIMING DEVICES AND TRAINING WITH THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF CONTROLLING THE ACTUAL BODIES OF AUSTINITES.SO THIS AIN'T LIKE, SAY THE LIBRARY GETTING TO SEAL THEIR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PLANS BY THE NUMBERS ACROSS HISTORY.
AND TODAY, POLICE ARE MOST LIKELY TO HARM AND KILL DISABLED PEOPLE, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND POOR PEOPLE.
BUT LET'S COLOR IN THE OUTLINE OF THE RISKS HERE WITH A TINY TOUR OF RECENT INCIDENTS.
WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE ACCESS TO FOR NOW EDITED FOR BREVITY AND CLARITY AND ANY RENEWED GFI FACTOR, ANY LOOPHOLES TO HIDE HISTORIC AND FUTURE INCIDENTS WOULD KEEP THE PUBLIC THE EYE AWAY FROM THINGS LIKE JANUARY, 2024.
OFFICER MARK LAKES OFF DUTY IN HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE IN THE SAN MARCUS AREA, WAKING, WAITING IN A DRIVE-THROUGH LINE AT SONIC.
HIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.
PLEASE NOTE SHE HAD A CHILD IN THE CAR.
MS. M DIDN'T STOP AFTER STRIKING OFF OFFICER LAKE'S VEHICLE AND FLIPPED HIM OFF AS SHE DROVE AWAY.
OFFICER LAKES PURSUED MS. M AND HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE.
HE ADMITS HE CUT HER OFF AND BLOCKED HER VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN IN HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE OFF DUTY.
MS. M DRIVES AWAY AND CALLS 9 1 1 AS SHE DROVE AWAY, OFFICER LAKES STRUCK THE REAR DRIVER'S WINDOW WITH HIS RIGHT HAND DURING OFFICER LAKE'S FINAL OBSTRUCTION OF MS M'S DRIVING PATH.
MS. M IS ON THE PHONE WITH NINE ONE ONE AND SAYS, I HAVE SOMEBODY TELLING ME THEY'RE A POLICE OFFICER.
HOWEVER, THEY'RE IN AN UNMARKED VEHICLE AND THEY'VE BEEN FOLLOWING MY CAR.
THEY HIT MY VEHICLE, THEY SLAMMED THE DOOR ON IT.
THEY HAVE SHOWN ME AN IDENTIFICATION.
THEY'RE JUST IN A WHITE VEHICLE.
IS THAT NOT SUSPECT? HE'S TRYING TO CUT ME OFF ON THE ROADS.
HE'S TRYING TO TAKE A PICTURE OF ME.
HE'S JUST SHOWING ME A PICTURE OF LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY IDENTIFICATION AND HE IS TRYING TO RAM ME OVER ON THE ROADS RIGHT NOW.
WHILE MS. ZM WAS ON THE PHONE WITH NINE ONE ONE, OFFICER LAKES PROCEEDED TO OPEN HER DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.
MS. ZM REPEATEDLY REQUESTED THAT OFFICER LAKES ALLOW HER TO CLOSE THE DOOR STILL.
OFFICER LAKES PHYSICALLY PREVENTED HER FROM DOING SO, FORCING MS M TO EXIT HER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
MS. M CAN THEN FURTHER BE HEARD ON 9 1 1, MAKING THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT, I'M HAVING TO GET OUTTA MY VEHICLE BECAUSE HE IS NOT LETTING ME CLOSE THE F*****G DOOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF POLICE OFFICER HE IS, BUT HE'S REALLY F*****G SCARY.
I HAD TO LEAVE MY F*****G VEHICLE THOUGH OFF, OFF-DUTY.
OFFICER LAKES DIDN'T CALL THEM THE VICTIM.
SO SAN MARCOS POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME ON SCENE AFTER DEALING WITH A COLLISION.
PART OF THIS SAN MARCOS PD REFERRED TO HAYES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WITH OFFICER LAKES AS THE SUBJECT OFFENSES INCLUDED OFFICIAL OPPRESSION, UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT, AND ENDANGERING A CHILD.
THE HAYES COUNTY DA DECLINED TO PROC PROSECUTE.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? DECEMBER, 2023.
FIRST OF TWO INCIDENTS IN DECEMBER, 2023 INVOLVING OFFICER KABA WHO ROLLED UP ON TWO GENTLEMEN NEAR THE REPORTED SCENE OF A, UH, GUNSHOT REPORTS.
UH, OFFICER KABA ASKED ONE OF THE GENTLEMAN, MR. P TO GET ON THE SIDEWALK, PLEASE.
HOWEVER, MR. P REMAINED IN THE STREET LOOKING SOMEWHAT BEWILDERED.
OFFICER KABA ASKED AGAIN, SIR, GET ON THE SIDEWALK.
AND MR. P RESPONDED, WHY AT THAT TIME, OFFICER KABA PUSHED MR. P TO THE GROUND AND A BRIEF SCUFFLE ENSUED.
OFFICER KABA DETAINED MR. P FOR NOT LEAVING THE CRIME SCENE.
MR. P HAD INJURY TO HIS FACE BECAUSE OF THE INCIDENT.
SECOND INCIDENT INVOLVING OFFICER KABA RESPONDING TO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE WITH A MAN AND TWO WOMEN.
UPON ARRIVAL, THE OFFICERS LOCATED AND DETAINED A MALE SUBJECT WHO WAS LATER IDENTIFIED AS FRANK G.
OFFICER KABA, SAME GUY AS ABOVE, HANDCUFFED MR. G AND ESCORTED HIM TO THE BACK OF HIS PATROL VEHICLE WHERE HE ATTEMPTED TO PLACE MR. G IN THE BACKSEAT WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF HIS ASSOCIATE OFFICER.
MR. G DISPLAYED WHAT OFFICER KABA STATED WERE INCREASING LEVELS OF RESISTANCE TO THE DETENTION.
MR. G CONTINUALLY QUESTIONED, AS IS HIS RIGHT, OFFICER KABA, WHY HE WAS BEING DETAINED.
AND WITHOUT ANSWER, MR. G REFUSED TO PLACE HIS LEFT LEG AND FOOT INTO THE BACKSEAT OF THE PATROL VEHICLE.
AS MR. G GREW LOUDER IN HIS SPEECH, OFFICER KABA STRUCK MR. G IN THE FACE WITH A CLOSED HAND THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE SECOND PUNCH FROM THE SAME OFFICER IN A ONE MONTH PERIOD.
THESE ARE ABOUT TWO OFFICER AND THREE EXAMPLES WE HAVE FOR WHAT ARE PROBABLY A HELL OF A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WARRANTING DISCIPLINE UNDER THE NEW PROPOSED CONTRACT.
HOW COULD WE THE PUBLIC, NO 80% OF VOTERS INSIST YOU MUST FULLY IMPLEMENT A POA INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY NOT RECREATING THE BRUTALITY, HIDING G FILE.
WE MUST KEEP SHOWING UP FOR THE WILL OF THE, UH, WILL OF FELLOW AUSTINITES.
[01:25:07]
GOOD MORNING CITY COUNCIL MAYOR.I'M AN ORGANIZER AT VOCAL TEXAS AND, UH, I'M SURE MOST OF Y'ALL KNOW ME, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T, LIKE, UH, CITY MANAGER, WE ARE AN ORGANIZING PROJECT, UH, COMPRISED OF MEMBERS AND LEADERS WHO ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY AND TO END THE WAR ON DRUGS, MASS INCARCERATION, HIV AND HOMELESSNESS.
AND, UH, I'M SPEAKING TODAY, UH, AGAINST THIS, UH, POLICE CONTRACT BECAUSE WE KINDA, UH, SHOCKED.
UH, HONESTLY, UM, DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE COULDN'T HAVING STRUGGLE FINDING MONEY FOR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING SERVICES.
NOT EVEN THE HOUSING, JUST THE SERVICES.
UM, WE'RE STRUGGLING ABOUT FINDING, UH, MONEY TO MAKE SURE OUR SHELTER SYSTEMS ARE STAYING OPEN.
WE'RE FI OR HAVING A HARD TIME, UH, FINDING MONEY FOR A LOT OF THINGS.
BUT NOW, UM, THE FIRST THING WHEN WE DO FIND SOME EXTRA MONEY IS TO FUND A PD WITH, LIKE, HAS BEEN SAID SO MUCH HERE ALREADY BE BELOW BUDGET.
UM, BUT SPECIFICALLY I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT RAPID REHOUSING BECAUSE THERE'S A MEMBER LEADER WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY NAMED SAM DW, WHO'S MET SOME OF Y'ALL WHO, UH, HELP US FIGHT TO WIN THAT PROGRAM.
SO WE'RE IN THAT TWO YEAR EXTENSION, THAT BRIDGE TO PERMANENT HOUSING, BUT IS IN THE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE WHO, UH, ARE OUTSIDE FOR A LONG TIME FOR YEARS NOW, BUT DON'T SCORE HIGH ENOUGH TO GET IN.
AND, UH, AND THAT WAS WITH THE ARPA MONEY THAT WAS WITH THE PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDED.
HE, UH, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING IN THAT MONEY IS GOING AWAY, RIGHT? IT'S GONE.
AND WE'RE ALREADY HEARING THAT THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT SMALLER PROGRAM THAT NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE GONNA GET IN THAT, THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH.
SO WHY ARE WE PUTTING MONEY INTO A PRO INTO A, A DEPARTMENT THAT'S 35%, RIGHT? WE LOVE THE LIBRARY.
MANY OF US HERE LOVE THE LIBRARY, BUT THE LIBRARY GETS MORE MONEY FOR THE HOUSING THAN HOUSING PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE.
RIGHT? WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE DOING? LIKE PLEASE, LIKE, LET'S PRIORITIZE.
HELP US WORK WITH US, RIGHT? MAYOR, CONVINCE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAFE, THAT THEY ARE SAFE AND LET'S PUT SOME MONEY INTO THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO ARE OUTSIDE.
YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM PEOPLE TODAY, RIGHT? I WAS OUTSIDE A LONG TIME AGO, SO MY EXPERIENCES ARE DIFFERENT.
BUT YOU'RE GONNA HEAR PEOPLE TODAY WHO, WHO ARE GONNA TELL YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE RIGHT NOW AND HOW A PD IS NOT, IS NOT HELPING.
SO PLEASE VOTE NO RENO RE-FIGURE OUT A A AN ACTUAL PLACE THAT HELPS PEOPLE TO PUT THIS MONEY.
HOW DO Y'ALL? MY NAME IS AMANDA CAVASSO WILLIAMS. I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I'VE BEEN SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.
I'M ALSO A TRUSTEE ON THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL.
UH, LAST WEEK OUR CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL JOINED OUR UNION SIBLINGS AFSCME 1624, UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE WORKERS DEFENSE AND IBW FIVE 20 IN CALLING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY, AND FAIRNESS IN THE CITY BUDGET.
WITH REGARDS TO THIS CONTRACT.
IT IS UNUSUAL FOR SO MANY UNIONS TO OPPOSE A CONTRACT LIKE THIS, AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACTS OF THIS PROPOSED AGREEMENT ON OTHER CITY WORKERS THAT PROVIDE VITAL SERVICES.
Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE REMINDED YOU HOW OVERWHELMINGLY AUSTINITES HAVE REJECTED PAST PROPOSALS TO RAISE, UH, THE FUNDS THAT WE GIVE TO A PD AND HOW OVERWHELMINGLY WE HAVE CALLED FOR GREATER OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
MR. MAYOR, I SUPPORTED YOU LAST CYCLE BECAUSE MY UNION BROTHERS TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULD BE BETTER ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'VE COME TO REGRET THAT DECISION BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN HOW YOU HAVE HANDLED THIS MATTER.
IN PARTICULAR, LIKE AS A LABOR MOVEMENT, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STAND UP AND SAY THIS CONTRACT IS NOT FAIR TO OTHER CITY WORKERS.
AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR COMMUNITY OF COLORS AND OUR RACIAL JUSTICE ORGANIZERS WHO HAVE SAYING THAT THIS CONTRACT AIN'T IT FOR ALL THE REASONS Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY HEARD.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS CONTRACT TAKES US BACK IN TIME TO A LESS EQUITABLE AUSTIN.
AND THE FOLKS HERE SPEAKING TONIGHT ARE HERE TO TELL YOU WE'RE NOT GOING BACK.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
YOU DON'T NEED TO WAIT ON SOMEONE ELSE.
UM, GOOD MORNING, MAYOR WATSON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS LAURA ANN MARTINEZ.
I'M A LEADER OF VOCAL TEXAS AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UM, I WAS, UM, UNHOUSED FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS RECENTLY.
AND, UM, I WAS ARRESTED A VERY LONG TIME AGO.
UM, FINALLY, UM, WHEN I WAS ASSAULTED
[01:30:01]
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I, AND I HAD TO GO TO THE ERV AND AN AMBULANCE.THE POLICE REFUSED TO TAKE A REPORT BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO GIVE THEM A LAST NAME OF THE PERPETRATOR.
I DID TELL THEM HER FIRST NAME, THE HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT AND HER JOB TITLE AT HER PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
AND THEY SAID THAT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHO SHE WAS AND THAT THEY WOULDN'T TAKE A REPORT.
UM, THAT TO ME IS NOT GOOD POLICE WORK AT ALL.
THEIR JOB IS TO FIGURE OUT WHO THE PERSON IS.
IT'S NOT MY JOB TO FIGURE OUT WHO SHE IS.
UM, ANYWAY, UM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I'VE BEEN UNHOUSED FOR A, OR I WAS UNHOUSED FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S THE THING THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT THAT IS THAT IT'S DIFFICULT AND UNCOMFORTABLE SLEEPING ON THE GROUND UNDER A WHEELCHAIR.
UM, NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S NOW ILLEGAL TO DO SO TOO.
IT'S HARD TO TAKE SHOWERS TO KEEP CLEAN AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS THAT UNHOUSED THAT HOUSE PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED.
I'VE WAITED BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE YEARS TO RECEIVE MY HAKA SERVICES, UM, WHICH I'M NOW ON AND I'M CURRENTLY HOUSED, UM, IN PERMANENT HOUSING.
IT'S NOT THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT I WOULD'VE LIKED, BUT THAT WAIT LIST WAS EVEN LONGER.
AND, UM, I GOT THE HAKA FIRST.
UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED ANY SERVICES SOONER THAN I DID.
IT SHOULD NOT BE A FOUR TO FIVE YEAR WAITING LIST.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS SHORTER NOW, BUT IT'S STILL TOO LONG.
I THINK, UM, THAT RECEIVING, UM, THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WOULD'VE HELPED ME IN MANY WAYS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO NAVIGATE ALL THE SERVICES THAT I NEED ALONE.
WE NEED TO HAVE SHORTER WAIT LISTS BY PUTTING MORE FUNDS INTO THE RAPID REHOUSING PER PER PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE BRIDGE TO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAMS, NOT INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE HOMELESS CRISIS IN AUSTIN RECEIVES ONLY A MINUSCULE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN COMPARISON TO THE HUGE 35 PLUS PERCENT BUDGET FOR THE POLICE.
UM, WE NEED FOR YOU TO SERIOUSLY FOCUS ON THE BENEFITS THAT THE INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WOULD, WOULD CREATE THE, THE MORE THAT IT WOULD WE INCREASE THAT FUNDING, THE FEWER THE HOMELESS PEOPLE OUT THERE, WHICH RE THANK YOU.
MY NAME IS AJ RASKA AND I LIVE IN COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE'S DISTRICT, UM, WHERE I ATTEND AUSTIN PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
UM, I ALSO HAVE A MASTER'S IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
I DON'T HAVE A POLISHED SPEECH BECAUSE I'M IN SEMINARY AND WORKING, AND SO I'M JUST AN AVERAGE CITIZEN.
UM, AND IT'S INTIMIDATING TO COME UP HERE, BUT I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I TOOK THE TIME TO DO THIS.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF PUB UH, PUBLIC HEALTH, WE THINK ABOUT THINGS IN TERMS OF PRIMARY, SECONDARY, AND TERTIARY PREVENTION, AS YOU MAY KNOW.
UM, SO PRIMARY PREVENTION IS PREVENTING A, AN ISSUE BEFORE IT STARTS.
UM, AND THIS CONTRACT DOES NOT ALLOW US TO DO PRIMARY PREVENTION BECAUSE IT'S JUST RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS THAT ALREADY EXIST.
UM, SECONDARY PREVENTION IS PREVENTING A PROBLEM FROM GETTING WORSE.
UM, THIS CONTRACT IS TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM THINGS LIKE, UM, THE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED THREE YEARS AGO AT A BUDGET LEVEL OF 7 MILLION, UM, BUT WAS CUT TO 3 MILLION BY, UM, FORMER CITY MANAGER, JESUS GARZA.
UM, AND IT'S STRUGGLED TO, UM, SERVE THE NEED EVER SINCE.
AND SO IT NEEDS TO BE FUNDED BETTER TO ADDRESS THAT SECONDARY PREVENTION PROBLEM.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY HAS ADDED NO FUNDING TO ASSIST WITH FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE WITH HOUSING AND JOBS.
AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE JOBS AND WHO DON'T HAVE HOUSING ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO, UM, BE INVOLVED IN THE POLICE.
AND, UM, AND SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PREVENTING THOSE THINGS RATHER THAN JUST BEING RESPONSIVE WITH THE POLICE, UM, WHICH CAN LEAD, AS WE'VE HEARD TO VIOLENCE AND OTHER ISSUES.
UM, THE POLICE IS REALLY A TERTIARY, UM, PREVENTION WHERE WE'RE, UM, WE'RE KIND OF ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM IN A LESS COST EFFECTIVE WAY BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT IT AT THE END OF THE CYCLE AND INSTEAD OF INVESTING UPFRONT AND WITH THIS POLICE CONTRACTS, UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, UM, IT WOULD BE 40% OF THE CITY BUDGET AND SPENDING 40% OF THE CITY BUDGET ON SOMETHING THAT'S RESPONDING TO A PROBLEM THAT ALREADY EXISTS IS REALLY NOT THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT PROBLEMS FROM HAPPENING IN THE
[01:35:01]
FIRST PLACE.SO I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PLEASE, UM, UH, REJECT THIS CONTRACT.
I KNOW, UM, LIKE SOMEONE ELSE SAID, IT'S A DIFFICULT POSITION TO BE IN, BUT I STILL, UM, THINK THAT IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO FROM AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE.
ALSO SPEAKING AS A SEMINARIAN, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST, UM, SIDING WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS LIKE THE POLICE CONTRACT.
UM, I JUST ALSO WANNA SAY THAT I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED THAT EMS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DON'T GET THE SAME TREATMENT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GET.
THEY ARE ALSO DOING REALLY IMPORTANT WORK, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FUNDING, UM, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, UM, AND MENTAL RESPONSE SERVICES IN THIS CITY.
NOT THROUGH THE POLICE, BUT THROUGH APPROPRIATE, UM, TRAINED PERSONNEL AND THE POLICE ARE NOT THAT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING.
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR.
UH, MY NAME IS KATE GRAZIANI, ONE OF THE CO-DIRECTORS OF VOCAL TEXAS RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO RENEGOTIATE THIS CONTRACT.
UM, JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, WE MOBILIZED OUR LEADERS, WHO YOU'LL HEAR MORE OF TODAY, UM, AND ALONGSIDE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
AND WE WERE PLEADING, UM, WITH THE CITY TO INVEST IN REAL SOLUTIONS FOR HOMELESSNESS, OVERDOSE PREVENTION, AND MANY OTHER, UM, NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WE WERE MET WITH A DIRE FINANCIAL FORECAST, RIGHT? WE WERE TOLD WE WERE GONNA SEE A $13 MILLION DEFICIT JUST THIS YEAR, 60 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
WE TRIED TO WORK WITH YOUR OFFICES TO SAY, OKAY, WHAT CAN WE FUND? WHERE ARE THE BIGGEST NEEDS? UM, AND NOW JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE $218 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR A POLICE CONTRACT IS, UM, DEVASTATING.
UM, AND AS OTHERS HAVE MENTIONED IT, QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, OUR ABILITY TO TRUST, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CITY IS TELLING AUSTINITES ABOUT OUR BUDGET.
UM, I THINK ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS IS THE ARPA DOLLARS, RIGHT? UM, WE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, THAT WE WERE GONNA BE LOSING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF ARPA DOLLARS.
THESE FUNDS WENT TO HOMELESS SERVICES, LIFESAVING SERVICES, AND THERE WAS NO PLAN FOR THE CITY TO REPLACE THOSE FUNDS.
AND WE WERE GONNA RETURN TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS.
UM, WHICH FOR A PROGRAM LIKE RAPID REHOUSING MEANS SERVING VERY FEW PEOPLE.
AND YET DURING THE PANDEMIC, OUR UNHOUSED POPULATION HAS SKYROCKETED.
UM, SO THE CITY'S PLAN IS TO GO TO PRE PANDEMIC LEVELS ON ONE OF OUR MOST UTILIZED HOMELESS SERVICES PROGRAM.
UM, 218 MILLION TO POLICE IN THE FACE OF THE ARPA CLIFF, UM, FEELS LIKE A REAL MISMANAGEMENT OF MONEY.
AND THE DECISION TO PRIORITIZE POLICE OVER THESE LIFESAVING SERVICES HAS LIKE A REAL HUMAN IMPACT.
UM, JUST THIS WEEKEND, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WAS KICKED OUT OF SHELTER AT 11:00 PM ON A FRIDAY.
UM, A FEW DAYS PRIOR, A PD ACTUALLY HAD SENT HER ON A BUS TO THE MARSHALING YARD.
UM, BUT THE MARSHALING YARD TURNED HER AWAY BECAUSE AS I HOPE YOU ALL KNOW, BUT I DON'T THINK THE COMMUNITY FULLY REALIZES THAT WE HAVE ZERO OPEN SHELTER BEDS RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE ON A FREEZE, NO ONE CAN ACCESS SHELTER.
UM, AND SO SUSIE SLEPT IN THE ALLEY THAT NIGHT.
THE SHELTER STAFF ACTUALLY DUMPED BELONGINGS INTO A TRASH CAN.
UM, AND A PD WAS CALLED ON SCENE.
AND IN THIS INSTANCE DID ASSIST HER IN RETRIEVING HER BELONGINGS FROM THE TRASH, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS FOR EITHER, BECAUSE POLICE AREN'T REAL SOLUTIONS.
I'M HERE, UM, AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, A MOM OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
AND, UM, I WORK AT THE TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AS OUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF POLICY, UM, AT TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT.
WE VALUE THE DIGNITY AND SAFETY OF ALL TEXANS.
AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HERE TODAY, ESPECIALLY ON THIS NATIONAL DAY OF PROTEST TO STOP POLICE BRUTALITY.
JUST WANT TO NOTE, NOTE TODAY THAT POLICE HAVE KILLED 1,069 PEOPLE SO FAR THIS YEAR, 2024.
SO, LAST WORK SESSION, I GOT TO LISTEN IN AND I HEARD FROM MY NEIGHBORS, UH, NOT, NOT MY DIRECT NEIGHBORS, NOT THAT MANY DISTRICT THREE FOLKS THAT I KNOW OF CAME OUT, BUT, UM, MY WEALTHIER NEIGHBORS PROPERTY OWNERS COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHY THEY WANT TO SEE MORE POLICE.
[01:40:01]
I HEARD THEM WHEN THEY SAID THAT IT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T FEEL, FEEL SAFE, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME WHAT I HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE REASON THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED EXISTING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHOUSED EXHIBITING BEHAVIORAL OR MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESSES.UM, AND I TRUST AFTER SO MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH EACH OF YOUR OFFICES OVER THE YEARS, THAT, UM, YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT POLICE RESPONSE IN JAIL IS THE SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM, TO THE ISSUE, THE SOCIAL ISSUE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
UM, SO, UM, Y Y'ALL MAY HAVE HEARD THAT THE GREAT ANGELA DAVIS HAS SAID THAT PRISONS DON'T DISAPPEAR SOCIAL ISSUES, THEY DISAPPEAR HUMAN BEINGS.
UM, AND SO IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING TO KNOW THAT SO MANY OF YOU'RE CONSIDERING ALLOCATING SO MANY MORE OF OUR DOLLARS, SO MUCH MORE OF WHAT IS ALREADY THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR RESOURCES TOWARDS A POLICE CONTRACT THAT WILL ONLY SERVE TO DISAPPEAR MORE HUMAN BEINGS, UM, THEN SPIT THEM OUT OF THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM WITH MORE BARRIERS TO SUCCESS AFTER HAVING, YOU KNOW, A LONGER RAP SHEET ON, ON A, A CRIMINAL RECORD.
UM, THE OTHER FEAR THAT MY, MY NEIGHBORS, UH, EXPRESSED WAS FEAR OF PROPERTY CRIME, UM, UM, THINGS LIKE CRIMES OF SURVIVAL.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT FEWER PEOPLE, UM, STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE MEANS FEWER CRIMES OF SURVIVAL.
SO IF WE FUND THE SOCIAL SERVICES THAT PEOPLE NEED TO THRIVE, WE ELIMINATE THE RELIANCE ON THE INHUMANE PRACTICE OF JUST LOCKING THEM UP.
SO IT'S ALSO, FRANKLY, INSULTING TO THE GROUP OF O OVER 40 GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO WORK TOGETHER NIGHT AND DAY, TO OFFER AND ADVOCATE FOR MODEST SOCIAL SERVICES INCREASE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT BUDGET THAT YOU ALL TURN AROUND MONTHS LATER AND SAY THAT THAT AUSTERITY BUDGET THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH WAS WRONG AND SUDDENLY WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
UM, I WANNA JUST BRIEFLY TOUCH ON THE G FILE ISSUE, UM, BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON THE BOARD AT EQUITY ACTION.
AND SO I KNOW A LITTLE TOO INTIMATELY, UH, THE CHALLENGE WE FACE IN IMPLEMENTING THE A POA OF THIS POLICE CONTRACT GOES INTO EFFECT.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, UM, THE A PA HAS FOUGHT THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.
THEY EVEN STATED RECENTLY, AND I QUOTE, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD THAT THIS CONTRACT SERVES TO GRANDFATHER THE G FILE.
UM, AND WE WOULD REJECT IT ON THOSE GROUNDS ALONE WITH, WITHOUT EVEN THE MONEY ISSUE.
BUT I DO WANNA REMIND THAT THE MOST RECENT POLICE CONTRACT WE REJECTED BEFORE THIS WAS A 40.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47, BARRY JONES, ANNA DUNCAN, CHRIS TORRES, MARIKA SMITH, AND SARAH REYES.
I WAS IN THE LAST GROUP, SO THAT'S FINE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND THE PODIUM'S.
DEAR RAY, MR. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CONTRACT.
I'M A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT THREE.
BEFORE RETIRING, I WAS A PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF HISTORY AND CRIMINOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ST.
I'VE PUBLISHED RESEARCH ON THE HISTORY OF POLICE, AND IN PARTICULAR THE HISTORY OF POLICE UNIONS.
I ADMIRE THE WORK OF THE A PA AND THE POLICE OFFICERS OF AUSTIN.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT TO PUSH HARD.
THE A PA HAS WON IMPRESSIVE ECONOMIC GAINS FOR ITS MEMBERS.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, HOWEVER, ARE MUCH BROADER.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
ITS BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS, VISITORS, OVERALL SAFETY, AND PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF SAFETY.
ALL OF THIS WITH THE TIME PRESSURE OF AN OVERDUE CONTRACT, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS TWO ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT PROPOSAL, EROSION OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY BY EROSION OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'M REFERRING IN PARTICULAR TO THE PRACTICE OF DETA DELAYING THE INTERROGATION OF OFFICERS 48 HOURS, AND TO THE INAPPROPRIATE CONFIDENTIALITY OF MANY DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE RECORDS.
THE G FILE, I USE THE TERM EROSION DESPITE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE LONGSTANDING PRACTICES.
I DO SO TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE DIRECTION OF SUCCESSFUL POLICE REFORM, AS IN OTHER PROFESSIONS LIKE MEDICINE, IS THAT OF IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY.
DEPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY ARE IN FACT FALLING BEHIND.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS A HALLMARK OF EFFECTIVE POLICING, NOT AN OBSTACLE.
IT ENHANCES POLICE MORALE BECAUSE
[01:45:01]
IT MAKES COMMUNITY RESPECT POSSIBLE.IT MAKES POSSIBLE THE COMMUNICATION THAT SUCCESSFUL POLICING REQUIRES.
IT REWARDS EFFECTIVE WORK AND HIGHLIGHTS INAPPROPRIATE PROCEDURES.
CITIES WITH ROBUST INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY HAVE BETTER POLICING OUTCOMES.
IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY WILL GIVE THE CITY MORE INFORMATION FOR REALIZING ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION, THE WELLBEING OF EVERYBODY ACROSS MYRIAD ACTIVITIES, NOT LIMITED TO POLICING, ECONOMIC EXPANSION, PUBLIC HEALTH, THE BUILT IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR COMMENT.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
UH, MY NAME IS BARRY JONES AND I'M A LEADER AT VOCAL TEXAS.
I WANTED TO, UH, I'VE BEEN, UH, RECENTLY COMPLETED A PERIOD OF ALMOST 10 YEARS HOMELESS ON THE STREETS OF AUSTIN, AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SERVICES I RECEIVED FROM A PD.
UH, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I WAS AT WESTGATE TRANSIT CENTER, AND, UH, I WOUND UP EXCHANGING WORDS WITH ONE OF THE BUS DRIVERS.
UH, HE IMMEDIATELY SQUARED OFF WITH ME AND WANTED TO FIGHT.
UH, I DID NOT WANT TO FIGHT BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE POLICE SHOWED UP IN THAT SITUATION.
UM, EVENTUALLY HE GRABBED ME BY THE BODY, THREW ME TO THE CONCRETE, AND STARTED KICKING ME REPEATEDLY IN THE, IN THE RIBS.
UM, WHEN I GOT UP AND RECOVERED, UH, I ASKED A, UH, ONE OF THE OTHER DRIVERS CALL A PD AND EVENTUALLY THEY ARRIVED.
THEY IMMEDIATELY WENT OVER AND STARTED TALKING TO MY ASSAULTER.
UM, I OBJECTED TO THAT AND AFTER SOME DITHERING AROUND, THE POLICE OFFICER CAME AND TALKED TO ME.
SHE TOLD ME THAT, UH, THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FILE AN ASSAULT COMPLAINT, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND, UH, FILE A, A COMPLAINT.
THERE IS ALSO A, A WITNESS TO THE SITUATION THAT HE WANTED TO GET HIS STATEMENT IN.
UM, AS YOU'VE HEARD, UH, MY FRIEND SUZIE BEASON, WHO IS HERE TODAY, UH, I FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT SHE HAD BEEN TURNED OUT OF HER THE A STREET SHELTER, UM, AT 1130 AT NIGHT.
UH, APPARENTLY BECAUSE SOME EMOTIONAL TURMOIL THAT SHE WAS HAVING, I STILL DON'T KNOW THE EXACT REASONS.
UM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMEONE WHO IS FIVE FOOT TWO AND AN ELDERLY SINGLE WOMAN WITH NO FAMILY IN AUSTIN, UH, NO RESOURCES IS AN IMMINENT THREAT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY.
UM, I SUGGEST THAT Y'ALL ASK HER IF SHE FEELS SAFE.
UH, I FEEL LIKE, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE TO INCREASE THE POLICE FUNDS BY 218 MILLION AT THIS TIME.
I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT, UH, IN THE MOST RECENT PROPOSED CITY BUDGET, UH, THE SHARE OF THE POLICE OF THE BUDGET FOR THE POLICE WAS 35%.
THE SHARE OF FUNDS FOR THE HOUSING STRATEGY OFFICE WAS 0.2%.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE HOMELESS SITUATION WITH.
AND I THINK THAT, UH, REFLECTS ON CITY COUNCIL, FRANKLY.
UM, CURRENTLY THERE'S ABOUT 150,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA.
UH, IF AUSTIN WINDS UP LOOKING LIKE, UH, LOS ANGELES, I THINK IT'S GOING TO REST ON YOUR SHOULDER.
MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER TORRES AND I'M A MEMBER OF VOCAL TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
UH, I'M A TEXAS NATIVE AND MY FAMILY HAS LIVED HERE FOR MANY GENERATIONS.
WE HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, POLICE STATE, AND THEIR FAILED POLICIES.
GROWING UP IN THE STREETS AND ASSIST POOL OF TOXICITY, I ACQUIRED SOME ABERRANT BEHAVIORS.
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO OVERCOME THE BAD HABITS THAT KEEP MANY TRAPPED IN A HOPELESS SITUATION.
IT'S BEEN REALLY DISCOURAGING BECAUSE I WAS EXPECTING, UH, I WAS EXPECTING LIFE TO GET BETTER WHEN I MAKE BETTER DECISIONS.
BUT DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS, MY LIVING CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO WORSEN.
[01:50:01]
I DON'T BOTHER ANYONE.TODAY I'M MORE SCRUTINIZED AND WATCHED THAN EVER BEFORE, AS IF I WAS LIVING OUT A PAGE IN A ORWELLIAN NIGHTMARE, BEING SCRUTINIZED BY A BIG BROTHER WHO DOESN'T HAVE MY BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
I DON'T FEEL SAFE AROUND POLICE OFFICERS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE HERE TO PROTECT ME OR MY CHILDREN.
IN FACT, WE ARE MORE IN DANGER TODAY BECAUSE OF THEIR FAILED POLICIES.
IF I WAS IN TROUBLE, I WOULDN'T CALL THE POLICE FOR HELP BECAUSE I JUST DON'T TRUST THEM.
I'M BEING ENGAGED AS IF I WAS THE ENEMY.
I FEEL VERY MUCH LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN WHO DOESN'T GET THE SAME FREEDOMS. THE PROTECTION AND THE PRIVILEGES THAT MIDDLE CLASS AND RICH PEOPLE HAVE, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE POLICE, THEY CREATE VICTIMS OUT OF NONVIOLENT, UH, CRIMINALS.
THEY'RE PROFITING FROM THE UNNECESSARY SUFFERING OF OTHER PEOPLE.
IT'S A SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY THAT NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENTS, PUNISHMENTS ARE NOT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO MITIGATE CRIME OR CORRECT PEOPLE'S BEHAVIOR.
THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM IS PROOF THAT WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING IS OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT INFLUENCES THE CITY IN A HEALTHY AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAY, BUILDS THEM UP INSTEAD OF TEARING THEM DOWN.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE PUBLIC.
THIS IS COMMON SENSE PE MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT OF THE PRISON SYSTEM WORSE THAN THEY WENT IN.
THIS COUNCIL RECENTLY SAID THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND PROGRAMS, BUT HERE YOU ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON FAILED STRATEGY TO ELIMINATE CRIME.
THE POLICE CONTRACT IS A MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.
WASTING A BILLION DOLLARS ON FAILED POLICIES IS NOT A SOLUTION.
NOTHING COMPELS PEOPLE TO BREAK THE LAW MORE THAN BEING FORCED TO LIVE IN DEPRIVATION.
IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE INVEST IN COMMUNAL WELLNESS AND POLICIES THAT ARE BUILT TO SUCCEED.
THINGS LIKE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND SHOWERS BECAUSE MANY BUSINESSES ARE NO LONGER, UH, OPENING THEIR BATHROOMS TO THE PUBLIC, RIGHT? AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING HOPE AND THEY JUST GIVE UP ON THEMSELVES AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE BECAUSE THERE'S NO MEANINGFUL CHANGES OR HOPE ON THE HORIZON, RIGHT? AND SO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX IS BECOMING AN INEFFECTIVE CATCHALL FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISORDERS.
I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
IT'S A MUST THAT WE IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE, THAT CREATE CRIMINAL, CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL INSTABILITY.
MY NAME IS ANNA DUNCAN AND I'M A FOCAL TEXAS LEADER.
I AM CURRENTLY UNHOUSED AND I'M STAYING AT THE MARSHING YARD.
I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS NOW.
PRIOR TO THE MARSHING YARD, I HAVE BEEN STAYING OUT WHEREVER I CAN FIND A PLACE TO SLEEP.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD MANY A TIMES BY MANY PEOPLE, UM, TO MOVE AND IF I DIDN'T MOVE, THEY WOULD CALL A PD ON A TRESPASSING CHARGE.
HAVING NOWHERE TO SLEEP AND BEING TOLD THAT I WOULD BE TICKETING FOR LYING DOWN WAS TERRIFYING FOR ME.
I NEVER GOT A, A TICKET IN MY LIFE.
IT REALLY SUCKS THAT YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO A PD AND NOW THAT I'M STAYING AT THE MARSHING YARD, NOW I HAVE THAT FEAR OF BEING TICKET.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AT THE MARSHING YARD.
FOR INSTANCE, THE WOMEN'S BATHROOM, TWO OR THREE STALLS OR THAT ARE GETTING CLOGGED AND IT THIS FLOODS THE WHOLE FLOOR, THE WHOLE BATHROOM IN BOTH, BOTH BATHROOMS. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE WE JUST NEED MORE TOILETS AND THAT'S NOT IT.
THE WATER PRESSURE, IF IT SUCKS, IT REALLY DO SUCKS.
WHEN I TRY TO TAKE, WHEN WHEN I TRY TO TAKE A SHOWER AFTER WORK, HARDLY WATER, WATER COMES OUT.
IT NEVER, IT IS NEVER HOT WATER.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WARNER COMES? BUT HEY, THAT'S, EVEN IF I TAKE A SHOWER, I WORK AT NIGHT AS A SECURITY GUARD.
THE MARSHAL YARD TURNS OFF THE SHOWERS AT 7:00 PM I HAVE TO SLEEP DIRTY UNTIL 6:00 AM THE NEXT MORNING.
LIKE I SAID, I'M HAPPY STAYING AT THE, I'M HAPPY THAT I'M NOT GETTING A TICKET OR GETTING THE FEAR OF TICKETS SLEEPING ANYWHERE, BUT PUTTING MORE MONEY INTO A PD WHEN ONE YEAH, YOU HAVEN'T MADE SURE WHERE I'M GONNA STAY AFTER
[01:55:01]
WHERE I'M STAYING IS GOING TO BE OPEN.AND FOR TWO, LET ALONE FIX THE THINGS THAT NEEDS THAT ARE BROKEN, I THINK YOU SHOULD VOTE NO ON A CONTRACT AND PUT MORE MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SHELTER IS A PLACE TO WHERE I COULD BE HAPPY AND STAY.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS IS SHELBY BOHANNAN, J POPHAM, MAGGIE LUNA, AND RUTH MOONING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME STRAIGHT TO THE MICROPHONE OR TAKE A SEAT.
AND WHEN IT'S A FREE MICROPHONE, IT'S ALL YOURS.
STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D NINE AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF ITEM 47 48.
UM, I ACTUALLY MET MY COUNSEL MEMBERS THOUGH WHILE WORKING ON THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
I CANVASSED AND CAMPAIGNED FOR HIM BECAUSE HE KINDLY HELPED TO GATHER SIGNATURES FOR THE A POA WHILE WORKING TO GET ON CITY COUNCIL.
AND I HOPE THAT HE WILL HOLD STRONG TO HIS VALUES AND NOT ALLOW THE POLICE TO USE THE PROMISE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO EXTORT THE CITY FOR ENDLESS MONEY.
CITY SERVICES AND CITY WORKERS WILL INEVITABLY, INEVITABLY BECOME COLLATERAL DAMAGE AS OUR POLICE BUDGET CONTINUES TO BLOAT.
AUSTIN VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY TO ADOPT THE A POA.
THEY ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE POLICE'S PHONY ATTEMPT AT A WATERED DOWN A POA.
WE WANT STRONG OVERSIGHT, NOT HALF-HEARTED PROMISES OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
AUSTIN DID NOT VOTE TO PAY THE POLICE MORE.
TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE WANT IT OUTRIGHT.
IF YOU VOTE TO ADD THE 218 MILLION TO THE NEARLY 3 BILLION ALREADY BEING SPENT UNNECESSARILY ON POLICING, YOU WILL BE TARNISHING YOUR LEGACY ON COUNCIL NEEDS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHY A PD CLAIMS TO NEED THIS MONEY.
WHEN THEY SAY THEY'RE SHORT STAFFED, I HAVE TO SAY THEY SEEM PRETTY WELL STAFFED.
IN APRIL WHEN THEY MOBILIZED TO BEAT UP AND ARREST OVER A HUNDRED STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS SITTING ON THE LAWN AT UT PROTESTING THE GENOCIDE AND PALESTINE, MYSELF INCLUDED, I SAW AN A PD OFFICER TRYING TO BREAK A GIRL'S WRIST AFTER SHE WAS ALREADY HAND HANDCUFFS.
I WITNESSED AN A PD OFFICER BODY SLAM SOMEBODY'S HEAD WHEN THEY WERE ALREADY FACE DOWN.
THAT SAME PERSON WAS LATER LOCKED IN MY CELL BLOCK AND I WATCHED AS THEY WERE WHEELED OUT OF THEIR CELL AFTER THEY WERE SEIZING BECAUSE OF THE HEAD TRAUMA AND THE POLICE IGNORED THEM AND LOCKED THEM IN THEIR CELL FOR NEARLY A DAY.
IF THEY CAN DO THAT, WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IF THEY TRULY CAN'T RESPOND TO AUSTIN KNIGHTS WHEN THEY CALL FOR HELP, OR IF MAYBE THEY'RE CHOOSING NOT TO.
THE CITY ALSO NEEDS TO END THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH RAMPAGE LAW, THE DISGUSTING ORGANIZATION WHOSE CLIENT LIST INCLUDES THE OFFICERS WHO STOOD BY WHILE CHILDREN WERE SLAUGHTERED IN VALDI AND WHO UNBELIEVABLY ARE IN CHARGE OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE CITY.
VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MAYOR.
MY NAME IS MARIKA SMITH AND I'M A MEMBER OF VOCAL TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
A BIT ABOUT MY SITUATION IS THIS.
I'VE BEEN UNHOUSED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, AND HONESTLY IT HAS BEEN HARD AS HELL.
IT'S BEEN SO HARD TO FIND WHERE TO GO, WHERE TO FIND RESOURCES OR TO GET ANY REAL INFORMATION ON THE SERVICES HERE.
THE SHELTERS HERE HAVE GIVEN ME THE RUNAROUND.
I'VE BEEN TOLD TO CALL DIFFERENT NUMBERS AND EVEN BEEN TOLD TO SHOW UP AND SIT OUTSIDE FOR A LOTTERY SYSTEM TO GET A BED.
IMAGINE THE MENTAL STRESS AND MENTAL DETERIORATION THAT CAUSES WHEN YOU HAVE TO SIT AROUND AND HOPE YOU GET TO FEEL SAFE FOR THE NIGHT.
HAVE YOU EVER SLEPT ON A BUS BENCH? I HAVE.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT IT'S LIKE.
IT'S SCARY, IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE, AND YOU REALLY DON'T GET ANY SLEEP BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT ON HIGH ALERT PRAYING THAT YOU DON'T GET HARMED OR YOUR THINGS TOLLING FROM YOU.
I HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES AND HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATION AND I NEED TO LAY DOWN TO PREVENT MY LEGS AND FEET FROM SWELLING.
AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT ON A BUS BENCH.
IT IS SO HUMILIATING AND DEMORALIZING TO HAVE EVERYONE DRIVE BY AND SEE YOU.
BUT BEING THE SURVIVOR THAT I AM, THE STRONG WOMAN THAT I AM, I SAVED UP ENOUGH MONEY TO GET A TENT AND LET ME TELL YOU HOW
[02:00:01]
GOOD THAT WAS.JUST TO FEEL A LITTLE SAFE, TO HAVE A LITTLE PEACE OF MIND.
THE ONLY CHALLENGE WITH THAT, WITH THAT IS TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO SET UP, ONLY TO BE KICKED OUT.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KICKED OUT FROM OUTSIDE? HMM? WHERE DO YOU GO FROM THERE WHERE YOU FIND A PLACE TO HIDE? WELL, THAT'S WHAT MY WIFE AND I DID UNTIL WE GOT SWEPT.
WE WOKE UP EARLY ONE MORNING AND SAW A PD DRIVING AROUND, NOT EVEN REALIZING WHAT WAS HAPPENING BEHIND US AND THAT WE WERE BEING A CIRCLE.
THE OFFICER GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE, CAME UP AND SAID, TIME TO GO.
AS I WAS PULLING UP MY TENT STAKES, HE RIPPED THE ENTIRE TENT OUT OF MY HAND AND SAID, WE GOTTA TAKE THIS.
AND GAVE IT TO THE GARBAGE TRUCK THAT WAS ALSO ENCIRCLED AROUND US, AND THEY PUT IT IN THE BACK AND WE WATCHED OUR ONLY FORM OF SAFETY GET CRUSHED.
THEN HE HAD THE NERVE TO TELL US NOT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE DRUGS ARE
BUT YOU JUST TOOK OUR ONLY FORM OF SAFETY.
THEN HE ASKED IF WE EVER TRIED GETTING INTO A SHELTER.
I'M SORRY, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO, SPEAKING AGAINST 47 AND 48.
UH, I'M INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY GROUPS, HELPED OUT AS A VOLUNTEER DEPUTY REGISTRAR THIS YEAR.
UH, LOVE TO GET OUT AND KNOCK DOORS AND TALK TO OUR NEIGHBORS ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES, BUT I'M HERE TODAY AS A REGULAR GUY.
UH, I FIRST VISITED IN 2012, MY BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT GIRLFRIEND FROM AUSTIN AND MOVED HERE IN 2021 WITH THE SAME PERSON WHO IS NOW MY BEAUTIFUL, BRILLIANT WIFE FROM AUSTIN, WHO I LOVE SO MUCH.
UH, TO BE CLOSER TO OUR WONDERFUL FAMILY FROM AUSTIN.
UH, THE FIRST BIG THING I DID HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER MOVING, UH, WAS PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT IN 2023, AND WAS PROUD TO SEE THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF OUR NEIGHBORS REFLECTED IN THE OUTCOME.
MY HOPE WAS AND REMAINS THAT WITH GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WE CAN GET A REAL SENSE OF WHAT WE'RE COLLECTIVELY DEALING WITH AS A CITY IN HOW WE CHOOSE TO RESPOND.
IN CONTRAST TO MANY OF THE SPEAKERS AT THE LAST WORK SESSION, WE LOVE OUR PLACE IN DOVE SPRINGS AND HAVE ALWAYS FELT SAFE THERE.
I CAN DESCRIBE A FEW SCENARIOS WHERE WE'VE INTERACTED WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM HERE IN AUSTIN SINCE MOVING.
UH, WE'RE BITTEN, REPORTED AND HANDLED BY ANIMAL WELFARE.
UH, THIS IS A VERY MINOR THING.
UH, WE WERE CERTIFIED NOT RABID BY THE CITY LAST YEAR.
UM, BUT NOT SOMETHING THE POLICE ARE REALLY SET UP TO HANDLE.
UM, STILL THIS IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, THIS HAPPENED AT WOODWARD AND ST.
UH, KATHLEEN, MY WIFE, OUR NIECE, AND OUR NEPHEWS WERE ALL IN THE CAR AND THANKFULLY UNHARMED DURING THIS HIT AND RUN.
UH, THEY ARE MY WHOLE WORLD AND 100% OF THE REASON WHY I'M HERE TODAY.
UH, AN OFFICER SHOWED UP TO TAKE THE REPORT AND TOLD US THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
UH, CAMERA FOOTAGE WAS TOO RESOLUTION, TOO LOW RESOLUTION, AND WOULD NOT BE USEFUL IN THE INVESTIGATION.
UH, THERE'S A MILLION THINGS THAT WENT WRONG THERE, BUT WE KNOW THAT STATISTICALLY A UNIFORMED OFFICER WASN'T GOING TO STOP OR PREVENT THAT CRIME.
SAFE STREET DESIGN WOULD BETTER DRIVER REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION WOULD A BETTER TRANSIT SYSTEM WOULD.
THIS IS NOT QUITE PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT WE LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE TALK AND CHECK IN AND TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER'S DOGS AND CATS AND TRASH CANS.
UH, IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE CAN ASK AND WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS. WE KEEP US SAFE.
OUR COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA FUENTES, HAS BEEN A LEADER IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH, FAMILY STABILIZATION SERVICES FOR OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS AND SAFE, RELIABLE TRANSIT.
THIS IS PUBLIC SAFETY WHERE WE ELIMINATE THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME INSTEAD OF DISAPPEARING THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SACRIFICING WITH THIS BLOATED AND NON-STRATEGIC SPEND.
WHAT I MEAN TO POINT OUT COUNCIL MEMBERS IS THAT THIS PUBLIC SAFE, THAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS A LOT OF THINGS.
AND THIS CONTRACT LOCKS US INTO PUBLIC SAFETY BEING JUST ONE THING, MORE UNIFORMED OFFICERS FOREVER.
WE KNOW STABILITY IS THE BIGGEST COMPONENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THIS BUDGET COMMITS OUR CITY TO NOTHING LESS THAN AN ACT.
GENERATIONAL THEFT DUE ASSUAGE OF THE CONCERNS OF THE POWERFUL POLICE LOBBY HERE IN TEXAS.
A BUDGET IS A MORAL DOCUMENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS A DERELICTION OF YOUR DUTY OF CARE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS.
OUR NEIGHBORS, THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN VOTE DOWN THIS CONTRACT AND LET'S BUILD THE PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WE NEED.
I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS 47 48.
UM, I'M THE YOUTH JUSTICE POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE TEXAS CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND HAVE ALSO BEEN A RESIDENT OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE YEARS.
I DID BOTH MY MASTERS AND MY UNDERGRAD HERE AT UT.
AND TODAY I WANNA SPEAK TO YOU IN THE CAPACITY AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL IN AUSTIN.
I WANNA TELL YOU ABOUT A TIME THAT I FELT MOST SAFE HERE AND IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH POLICE OFFICERS.
I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT DISTRICT SEVEN FOR FEW, A FEW YEARS NOW, AND I LOVE TO RUN AND I USUALLY RUN IN THE BRENTWOOD AREA.
AND THE BRENTWOOD PARK HAS BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO STOP AND GRAB SOME WATER DURING
[02:05:01]
MY RUNS.AND BECAUSE I WAS PRETTY CONSISTENT IN GOING THERE, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE SOME FRIENDS THAT I HAVE COME TO REALLY LOVE AND TO LEAN ON.
THE PARK HAS BECOME A PLACE THAT I LOOKED FORWARD TO GOING TO.
I BUILT A LITTLE COMMUNITY IN THAT PARK AND HAS BECOME AND HAS MADE ME FEEL MORE SAFE HERE IN AUSTIN THAN ANY POLICE INTERACTION EVER HAS.
UM, I'VE ALSO WANNA GIVE AN HONORABLE MENTION TO THE METRO RAIL AT THE MIDTOWN.
AS WE KNOW AUSTIN IS EVER GROWING IT HA IT'S, IT'S HARD TO PARK.
UBERS ARE EXPENSIVE AND THE RAIL HAS PROVIDED ME AND MY FRIENDS WITH A SAFE AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO GET TO PLACES LIKE DOWNTOWN OR OR AUSTIN FC GAMES, NON-POLICE INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS PARKS, TRANSPORTATIONS, LIBRARY.
THE ARTS PROGRAMMING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN GENERAL IS WHAT ME AND MY COMMUNITY COMMUNITY ARE CONCERNED WITH BEING FUNDED.
THESE RESOURCES DESERVE TO BE FUNDED NOW AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE YOUTH HERE IN AUSTIN DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND NOT POLICE.
THEY DESERVE, DESERVE TO HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY CAN GROW, FEEL SAFE, AND BUILD COMMUNITY JUST AS I HAVE.
BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO THROW MONEY AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I FEAR THAT AUSTIN WILL BECOME UNRECOGNIZABLE AND WILL NO LONGER BE A PLACE FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY AND FEEL SAFE.
I URGE THEIR COUNCIL TO STOP FUNDING THE, THE POLICE AND FUND WHAT WE KNOW KEEPS THE CITY SAFE.
AND THAT'S THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN AND NOT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MR. BROAD NEXT AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS RUTH MENING AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CURRENT POLICE CONTRACT AS IT IS WRITTEN.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, MY YOUNGEST SON, RAJAN, A TECH ENTREPRENEUR, WAS MURDERED BY AN A PD OFFICER ON HIS FRONT PORCH ON NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022.
WHAT FOLLOWED WAS A STRING OF LIES AND COVERUPS FROM THE THEN POLICE CHIEF AND POLICE UNION.
LUCKILY FOR US, THE RING CAMERA RAJAN INSTALLED ON HIS FRONT PORCH, CAPTURED HOW THE ENTIRE INCIDENT ACTUALLY PLAYED OUT.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE I LOST MY SON.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU, THE PAIN HAS NOT LESSENED.
I MISS HIM TERRIBLY AND FEEL HIS ABSENCE DAILY.
THIS HORRIBLE TRAGEDY HAS MOTIVATED MY FAMILY TO DONATE TO NON-PRO NONPARTISAN CHARITIES THAT ADVOCATE AGGRESSIVELY FOR IMPLEMENTING COMMON SINCE GUN SAFETY MEASURES SURVIVOR ADVOCACY AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY.
MY SONS, MARK AND HAN HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING ON PANELS AND TESTIFYING AT PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT THE PREVALENCE AND INDISCRIMINATE NATURE OF GUN VIOLENCE.
WE ARE PARTNERING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THROUGH OUR FAMILY BUSINESS TO DRIVE DOWN GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS, PARTICULARLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.
IN ADDITION, WE SUPPORT PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES AND APPRECIATE THE PRESSING YOU NEED AND ADVOCATE FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND BETTER TRAINING CONCERNING THE CURRENT PROPOSED POLICE CONTRACT.
ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION NINE, WAGES AND BENEFITS.
THE CONTRACT FOR SHORTS OF LAYING OUT OR INCLUDING ANY INCENTIVES TO ENSURE WE HAVE A WELL-TRAINED POLICE FORCE IN AUSTIN PAY SPECIFICALLY TO ENCOURAGE DEESCALATION THAT REWARDS TRAINING GEARED TO ADDRESS OFFICER SENSITIVITY WHEN DEALING WITH MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES.
THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS MANDATORY TRAINING FOR CADETS ON IMPLICIT BIAS, BUT THE A PD HAS NO INCENTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE ONGOING AND UPDATED TRAINING FOR EXISTING OFFICERS.
EDUCATION WOULD HELP SAVE MORE LIVES.
NOW WHEN DEALING WITH POLICE MISCONDUCT, THE CONTRACT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK.
I'M SORRY, BUT YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS ON 47 IS LILLIAN ORTIZ, SHANE JOHNSON, MARY ELIZABETH ALFREDO REYES JR.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
[02:10:01]
AHEAD.HELLO, MAYOR WATSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS MAGGIE LUNA AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
WE ARE AGAINST GIVING $218 MILLION TO A PDI USE DRUGS ACTIVELY.
FOR 20 YEARS I EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND I PERSONALLY HAVE HAD MANY INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH CHANGED MY LIFE FOR THE WORSE.
I WAS IMPRISONED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CHARGES THAT WERE ALL NONVIOLENT AND DRUG RELATED, BUT NONE OF THESE INTERACTIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT MADE MY COMMUNITY ANY SAFER, NOR DID THEY ALLOW ME TO GET THE HELP THAT I NEEDED.
INSTEAD, THESE INTERACTIONS COST THE PUBLIC MONEY, DELAYED MY SEEKING HELP, AND GOT MY CHILDREN REMOVED FROM MY CUSTODY.
MY FAMILY AND I ARE STILL HEALING YEARS LATER, BUT WHAT ENDED UP HELPING ME WAS FINDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES THAT ALLOWED ME TO ESCAPE SURVIVAL MODE AND ACCESS THE RESOURCES I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW EXISTED.
THE COMMUNITY I FOUND DIDN'T SHAME ME OR CRIMINALIZE ME FOR USING DRUGS, AND INSTEAD THEY HELPED ME ACCESS BASIC NEEDS AND GAIN CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF.
I SEE MYSELF IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS HOPE IF AUSTIN CAN COMMIT TO FUNDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR ITS CITIZENS.
BUT THE ONE THING THAT WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE TO SAFETY IS MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERACTIONS.
OUR TEAM AT TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE IS SMALL AND DEDICATED.
WE ARE MADE UP OF PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF DRUG USE AND INCARCERATION.
WE PROVIDE LIFESAVING SUPPLIES, EDUCATION, AND A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS AND MAY BE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
WE HAVE REACHED 21, SORRY, 2,181, PEOPLE AT RISK OF OVERDOSE THROUGH OUR DROP-IN CENTER AND RE OUTREACH TEAM, WHICH IS CURRENTLY RUNNING ON A SEVEN PERSON STAFF.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED ON OVERDOSE EN EDUCATION AS OVERDOSE IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM INCARCERATION.
WE DO THIS WORK BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN THERE AND WE WORK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY ALIVE AND CONNECTED.
DUE TO THE TRUST THAT WE'VE BUILT WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS, WE ARE ABLE TO DEESCALATE SITUATIONS IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED WAY.
WE HAVE HAD REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO OUR DROP-IN SERVICES AND EXPAND THE REACH OF OUR OUTREACH TEAM.
I'VE SEEN THE STAFF AT THRA DIVERT OUR PARTICIPANTS FROM SPENDING TIME IN THE STREETS JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE OUR DROP-IN ALLOWS PEOPLE TO COME IN AND FEEL SAFE TO LEARN ABOUT AVAILABLE RESOURCES WITHOUT THE GUILT AND SHAME NO MATTER WHAT THE STATUS OF THEIR DRUG USE IS.
SINCE APRIL 27,000 SYRINGES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO US FOR DISPOSAL, THAT'S 27,000 SYRINGES THAT WERE NOT LEFT IN THE STREETS FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND.
WE URGE YOU TO VOTE NO ON THURSDAY.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME.
UH, MY NAME IS LILLIAN ORTIZ AND I WANTED TO START WITH A FEW FACTS.
THE AMERICAN POLICE FORCE AS WE KNOW IT TODAY, IT DIRECTLY COMES FROM SLAVE PATROL.
THE WORD PATROL IS STILL BEING USED TO THIS VERY DAY BY THE ORGANIZATION.
IT'S EVEN STILL ON THE VEHICLES.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE IN THIS ROOM THAT 90% OF ARRESTS ARE BLACK AND BROWN IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE ROCKET SCIENTISTS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
IT'S HEARTBREAKING AND IT AFFECTS MY MENTAL HEALTH DAILY, JUST LIKE I KNOW IT DOES.
IT'S SYSTEMIC, IT'S INSIDIOUS, AND IT AFFECTS ALL OF US.
MY EX-BOYFRIEND, WHITE MALE, HUNG HIMSELF IN A JAIL CELL TWO YEARS AGO, AND I SWEAR TO GOD, I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THAT TO THIS VERY DAY.
WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND INCREDIBLY INTELLIGENT ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS WE HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHERE WE WANT OUR MONEY GOING.
IN REGARDS TO A PA, WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT TYPE OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS NECESSARY FOR US AT THIS TIME TO TRULY PROGRESS.
WE HAVE NEW MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE BEING ROLLED OUT.
IT SHOWS POSSIBILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO USE OUR RESOURCES IN OTHER WAYS, FOUNDED ON INTELLIGENCE, REASON AND LOGIC.
WE DON'T HAVE TO LOCK UP POOR PEOPLE OF COLOR AND POOR WHITES FOR DAYS ON END TO THE DETRIMENT OF NOT ONLY THEM, BUT ALSO US, THE TAXPAYERS.
MIGHT I ADD, TRAVIS COUNTY IS ALSO BARELY, AND I EMPHASIZE BARELY IMPLEMENTING COUNSEL AT FIRST APPEARANCE,
[02:15:01]
MEANING PEOPLE WEREN'T EVEN BEING GIVEN THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS HERE IN THIS CITY.PLEASE DO NOT APPROVE THIS CONTRACT.
KEEP IN MIND THE ORIGINS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS FACTS ONCE AGAIN, AND THE INTELLIGENCE AND THE COMPASSIONATE NATURE OF THE PEOPLE IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
MY NAME'S MARY, FIRST NAME MARY, LAST NAME ELIZABETH.
I SURE HOPE YOU ARE LISTENING.
YOU'VE HEARD SO MUCH INFORMATION, SO MANY DETAILS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE GONNA REMEMBER MOST OF THIS.
I WANT YOU TO GO OVER THIS VIDEO AND LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE.
AGAIN, THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN, THE PEOPLE THEY'RE REPRESENTING ARE, ARE NOT ABERRATIONS.
THEY, THEY ARE EXPERTS ON THE REALITIES THAT PEOPLE FACE HERE IN AUSTIN.
I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE YOU'VE CONSULTED WITH REGARDING THE POLICE CONTRACT, WHICH I'M AGAINST, BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE THE CONSULTANTS YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THE MOST.
$218 MILLION TO THE POLICE BOARDS IS NOT GONNA HELP ANY OF WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THE WRONG DOINGS.
THE GOING BACK ON THE, UM, POLICE OVERSIGHT.
I, I'VE HEARD, SO I'M OVERWHELMED.
YOU CAN TELL THAT I HAD NO IDEA THING.
I KNEW THINGS WERE BAD, BUT NOW I'VE HEARD STORIES THAT ARE JUST OUTRAGEOUS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.
AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT GIVING A PD $218 MILLION IS OUTRAGEOUS.
THERE ARE SO MANY NEEDS HERE THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT WOULD UNDERMINE THAT MONEY NEEDS TO GO THAT REAL PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS, NOT OF THEIR OWN MAKING.
THE NEXT GROUP OF SPEAKERS, CAROLYN WILLIAMS, CHRIS HARRIS, MONICA GUZMAN, PAM MADEIRA, ROBERT CLARK.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS CAROLYN WILLIAMS AND I AM A VOCAL LEADER AT, I AM A LEADER AT VOCAL TEXAS.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME, I WAS UNHOUSED FOR EIGHT MONTHS, BUT NOW I HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING.
UM, I WAS DIAGNOSED 25, UH, IN 1999 WITH HIV AND I WAS WALKING DOWN THE STREETS OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.
BEING HOMELESS WITH HIVI WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT BOWEL MOVEMENTS THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME AND I WOULD BE A MESS ON THE STREETS UNTIL I GOT INTO THE SALVATION ARMY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE UNHOUSED.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA WIPE YOUR BUTT.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GONNA PEE.
YOU DON'T KNOW, KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO EAT.
WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? OKAY? SO FOR ME, IT WAS TERRIBLE BECAUSE I WAS A PERSON WITH AN ILLNESS.
YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T TAKE THE MEDICINE.
WHEN I WOULD TAKE MY MEDICINE.
IT MY, IT WAS JUST RUN RIGHT OUT OF ME.
SO I'M WALKING THE STREETS WITH BOOBOO ALL OVER ME, A PERSON, A STATURE THAT I AM.
I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO ME, BUT IT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE MY SON AND I WERE EVICTED BECAUSE MY SON HAD SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THEY EVICTED US.
WE COULDN'T FIND A PLACE TO STAY BECAUSE MY SON HAD MISDEMEANORS.
AND IN TEXAS, IT'S HARD TO FIND A PLACE WHEN A PERSON HAS MISDEMEANORS.
SO I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW WELL, I JUST TOLD YOU HOW HARD IT WAS.
OKAY? SO RATHER THAN SPEND $2,000,018 ON MORE POLICING, I WOULD URGE YOU TO SPEND MONEY ON HOUSING
[02:20:01]
AND HARM REDUCTION IN MENTAL HEALTHCARE.MY SON WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES BY THE POLICE BECAUSE HE HAD SCHIZOPHRENIA AND IT WAS TRYING TO TELL HIM TO COME HERE WHEN YOU, HE WAS NOT ON HIS MEDS, SO HE DID NOT FOLLOW THROUGH.
SO THEY SHOT HIM FIVE TIMES, ALL UPPER BODY SHOTS, NOT LOWER BODY SHOTS TO STOP HIM, TO WARN HIM, BUT ALL BODY, UPPER BODY SHOTS TO KILL HIM.
WE NEED, AND RATHER THAN SPENDING $218 ON, ON POLICING, WE NEED MORE CASE MANAGEMENT.
WHEN THEY TOLD MY SON HE NEEDED, UM, CA WE WENT FOR HIM TO GET CASE MANAGED, THAT GAVE HIM THREE MONTHS, AND WITHIN THEM THREE MONTHS, MY OTHER SON WAS DEAD.
WE NEED MORE, UH, CASEWORKERS, MORE, UH, UM, MORE CASEWORKERS.
AND AGAIN, AGAIN, MORE HARM REDUCTION.
WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU IF OUR COMMUNITY HAD FUNDING FOR THESE THINGS? COULD YOU, UM, LIST ABOVE INSTEAD OF POLICE INSTEAD OF POLICING? CAN YOU THINK OF SOME OTHER THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP US? THANK YOU.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENT.
AND FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES, I'M A CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
I STAND HERE WITH MANY OTHERS OPPOSED TO ITEMS 47 AND 48.
I HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET FOR MONTHS THIS YEAR, GOING BACK AS FAR AS AT LEAST JULY, AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST YEAR I'VE SPOKEN AGAINST THIS.
YOU'VE HEARD THE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE NEEDS.
THE POLICE CANNOT HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS, BUT INVESTING IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TENANT RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, THAT'S WHAT HELPS PEOPLE.
YOU NEED TO INVEST MONEY IN SOCIAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE BASIC NEEDS, THE CRITICAL NEEDS.
THE MORE MONEY THAT IS PUT INTO THE POLICE BUDGET IS LESS MONEY FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AS WAS STATED EARLIER, AND I'M SORRY I DID NOT CATCH HER NAME.
YOU AS A WHOLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THIS CITY.
SAFETY DOES NOT EQUATE THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SAFETY DOES NOT EQUATE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SAFETY IS ABOUT HAVING HOMES THAT WE KNOW ARE NOT GONNA FALL DOWN AROUND US THANKS TO NEGLIGENT LANDLORDS.
SAFETY IS ABOUT KNOWING WE CAN STAY SAFELY IN OUR HOMES WHEN WE'RE EXPERIENCING CLIMATE STRESSORS.
SAFETY IS ACCESS TO FOOD, TO PARKS, URBAN CANOPY.
WE NEED TO THINK HOLISTICALLY, AND SO DO YOU.
THE BIGGEST HEIGHT DIFFERENCE IN SPEAKERS TODAY.
I'M A RESIDENT DISTRICT NINE, AND I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF EQUITY ACTION.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I'M ONE OF THE CO-AUTHORS OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, PASSING THIS CONTRACT.
THIS DEAL UNDERMINES NOT JUST OUR BALLOT MEASURE, BUT THE VALUES OF TRUTH, DEMOCRACY, TRANSPARENCY, JUSTICE, GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND THE PUBLIC GOOD.
THE PEOPLE PUSHING THIS DEAL CAN HONESTLY CLAIM THIS DEAL, HOLD UPHOLDS ANY OF THESE VALUES AND HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING VERY PUBLICLY WRONG.
CITY LEGAL HAS BEEN WRONG ABOUT THE G FILE FOR A GENERATION AT LEAST, OKAY? MAY HAS MEANT MAY FOR AS LONG AS THAT LAWS EXISTED, AND WE COULD HAVE HAD MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THIS CITY.
IT TOOK OUR BALLOT MEASURE A LAWSUIT AND A COURT OPINION TO FINALLY OPEN, UH, THAT VAULT.
AND THAT JUST HAPPENED LAST WEEK.
YOU, YOURSELF, NOTICE YOU TRY TO REPLACE THEM.
YOU PUT SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT FOR THIS NOVEMBER THAT WOULD'VE ALLOWED YOU TO GET YOUR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL.
YOU CANNOT RELY ON THEIR INTERPRETATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THIS, UH, DEAL, UH, UM, IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BALLOT MEASURE.
AND AS THE AUTHORS WE'RE HERE TO TELL YOU THAT NO, IT IS NOT.
YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THE CONFLICTING ADVICE FROM CITY BUDGET AND, AND WHY THESE BUDGET PROJECTIONS, STRAIN, CRED, DUALITY.
SO I WON'T, UH, CONTINUE THERE, BUT I DO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT THE NEGOTIATORS.
YOU KNOW, IN 2017, WE CAME HERE WITH A A A, A CAMPAIGN CALLED BETTER BEFORE MORE, AND THE DEAL ON THE TABLE THEN, UH, HAD VERY FEW, UH, IMPROVEMENTS AROUND OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY.
AND IT WAS A FIVE YEAR DEAL FOR $82 MILLION.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THIS COUNCIL WITH OUR SUPPORT PASSED A
[02:25:01]
POLICE CONTRACT AS WELL AS A CORRESPONDING ORDINANCE THAT CREATED THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT WITH NEW POWERS.AND THAT DEAL WAS FOR FOUR YEARS AND $44 MILLION.
OKAY? JUST LAST YEAR THERE WAS A PROPOSAL, OF COURSE, INTENDED TO, UH, PREEMPT OUR BALLOT MEASURE.
AND IT WAS FOR FOUR YEARS AND $74 MILLION.
OKAY? LAST YEAR, FOUR YEARS, $74 MILLION.
AND NOW A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, YOU'RE BEING TOLD THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND $218 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.
WHAT CHANGED IN A YEAR AND A HALF? OKAY, NOW SOMEBODY SAY, OH, OUR BALLOT MEASURE PASSED AND WE HAVE TO PAY THEM FOR THAT.
WELL, LET'S REMEMBER IN JUNE, THE POLICE ASSOCIATION CAME OUT WITH THESE WILD DEMANDS FOR SALARY.
OUR LAWSUIT HAD NOT BEEN DECIDED.
THE CITY WAS NOT IMPLEMENTING OUR BALLOT MEASURE, NOR HAD IT DEEMED IT NECESSARY TO DO SO IN THE CONTRACT.
AND YET OUR CITY NEGOTIATORS WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THOSE DEMANDS.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT OUR BALLOT MEASURE.
SO WHAT IS IT YOU'VE HEARD, UH, FROM PEOPLE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY POLICE VIOLENCE TODAY? SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS, ALL IN PROPOSITIONS TO THIS CONTRACT.
JOHN, UH, MORNING SHANE JOHNSON, D SEVEN, AS ARE MY PARENTS AND TWO BROTHERS.
I'M AN ORGANIZER WHO HELPED THE COMMUNITY BEAT THE TERRIBLE CONTRACT IN 2018.
CHRIS JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT WOULD'VE BLOCKED ALL ACCOUNTABILITY AND NEARLY BANKRUPTED THE CITY.
THIS COUNCIL, HOWEVER, SEEMS POISED TO UNDO ALL OF THAT ORGANIZING, UNDO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE BY BLOCKING THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
WITH THIS CONTRACT, NOT ONLY CAN THE CITY NOT TRULY AFFORD THIS CONTRACT, NOT ONLY IS IT NOW ILLEGAL TO LOWER A POLICE BUDGET, NOT ONLY IS IT PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR A PD TO FILL ALL OF THEIR VACANCIES, MEANING THEY HAVE MORE BUDGET RIGHT NOW THAN THEY CAN LITERALLY SPEND, BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME, UH, THIS WOULD UNDO KEY ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT ISSUES.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS CONTRACT WOULD MEAN WE FAIL TO FUND SMALLER DOLLAR, BUT IMPORTANT REQUESTS LIKE FAMILY STABILIZATION, A ID PARENT, UH, UH, PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALISTS, EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH.
FIRST RESPONSE, YOU MUST VOTE KNOW ON THIS CONTRACT.
NOW, AS AN ORGANIZER, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ONE, Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THE INTERSECTIONS OF POLICING WITH THE ISSUES I WORK ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND TWO, HAVE A HISTORY LESSON ABOUT OUR STORY IN MAYOR WATSON.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS DIOCESE KNOWS ME FOR WORKING ON ON AUSTIN ENERGY, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, AE IS FINANCIALLY STRUGGLING AND THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE 11.6% GENERAL FUND TRANSFER.
MANY FOLKS REFER TO AE AS THE CITY'S PIGGY BANK.
AND NOW I KNOW THIS ABSURD INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT WOULD CO WOULD COME PRIMARILY FROM INCREASING TAXES THAT PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD RIGHT NOW, UH, AND FROM DEFUNDING OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS.
UM, BUT A THIRD WAY IS TO INCREASE TRANSFERS FROM AUSTIN ENERGY.
RIGHT NOW, AUSTIN ENERGY AND OTHER CITY LEADERSHIP WANT TO POLLUTE OUR AIR WITH A NEW GAS PLANT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.
THE PRESSURE THIS CONTRACT WOULD CAUSE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD MAKE INCREASING TRANSFERS FROM AE APPEALING.
THE PROBLEM WITH THAT APPROACH IS THAT BASED ON THE CURRENT ACTIONS OF MUCH OF CITY LEADERSHIP, THEY WOULD USE THIS AS EVEN MORE REASON TO THROW AWAY OUR CLIMATE GOALS FOR MORE FOSSIL FUEL INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE MORE MONEY.
SECOND OF ALL, I NEED THIS DUS AND THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TODAY IN LARGE PART FIGHTING FOR POLICE OVERSIGHT BECAUSE OF MAYOR WATSON'S FIRST TERM.
IN 2001, WHEN THE VERY FIRST POLICE CONTRACT WAS CRAFTED, WATSON IN A CLOSED DOOR MEETING REMOVED THE OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, MEASURES THAT IN IT.
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER THAN A LOT WHAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD RECENTLY, JUST ONE YEAR LATER, HE WAS ENDORSED BY THE STATEWIDE POLICE UNIONS FOR TEXAS SENATE.
WE NEED TO KNOW THAT HISTORY AND WE CANNOT JUST FALL IN LINE WITH, YOU KNOW, PRO-POLICE POLITICIANS.
SO, COUNSEL, ARE YOU GOING TO REPEAT HISTORY? ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE US BACK TO, TO 2001 BY FALLING IN, IN LINE WITH MAYOR WATSON? ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE BRAVE 2024 LEADERS WE NEED YOU TO BE AND VOTE NO.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER.
UM, AS I SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO ALL OF THE TESTIMONY TODAY, I FEEL LIKE THE CONTRACT IS BEING CONFUSED.
UM, AND A LOT OF THE ISSUES WITH THE CONTRACT ARE BEING CONFLATED WITH OTHER ISSUES THAT WE, WE ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH HERE IN AUSTIN AND WITH ANY GROWING CITY, THINGS LIKE HOMELESSNESS, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND OTHER NEEDS.
AND WE'RE HERE TODAY AND, AND ON THURSDAY TO TALK ABOUT THE CONTRACT.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL AND THE CITY HAS DONE,
[02:30:01]
UM, OVER THE LAST MANY, MANY MONTHS AND INCREDIBLY HARD WORK TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS TO EVALUATE THE BUDGET AND TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WORKS FOR THIS COMMUNITY.I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE POLICE CONTRACT.
I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET THAT'S WITHIN THE POLICE CONTRACT AND THAT IT NOT BE CUT.
UH, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
GOOD MORNING MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL.
ROBERT CLARK FROM THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU AGAIN THIS MORNING TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO WORK IN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I RECOGNIZE THE PAIN BACKWARDS.
I'VE LISTENED TO IT THIS MORNING, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES IN MOVING FORWARD.
THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES US THE SUBSTANTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD, TO ESTABLISH AND SOLIDIFY THE OPERATIONS WITHIN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE THE NEW CHIEF WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THAT SHE NEEDS IN ORDER TO BRING SOLIDARITY TO THE ENTIRE CITY, NOT JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE FOUNDATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMEN AND MEN WHO DO THE JOB EVERY DAY ARE SUPPORTED AND RECEIVE THE, THE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES AND TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO DO THE JOB THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO, THAT THE CALLS ASK THEM TO RESPOND TO MANY TIMES IN THE FACE OF DANGER.
I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS STILL MORE WORK TO DO IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS CONTRACT, BUT THE APPROVAL OF THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO STABILIZE AND SOLIDIFY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS SO THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON MANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT I'VE HEARD HERE THIS MORNING AND THAT I'VE WITNESSED IN THE 90 PLUS DAYS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE IN AUSTIN.
I DON'T PRETEND TO BE AN EXPERT, BUT I AM A 39 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL FROM ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
AND I RECOGNIZE THESE ISSUES TO BE VERY INDICATIVE OF A RELATIONSHIP THAT NEEDS TO BE BUILT, NEEDS TO BE SOLIDIFIED, AND NEEDS TO BE COOPERATIVE AND COLLABORATIVE IN ORDER FOR US TO BRING TRUE PUBLIC SAFETY TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
SO I ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR COURAGE.
ALEX GON ALEX, PLEASE, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.
YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
WHY THE LAST GROUP OF NO, NOT, THAT'S NOT THE REASON WHY WE'RE GOING TO ACT WITH DECORUM.
PLEASE, PLEASE GO AHEAD AND CALL THE NAMES ASHLEY COPELAND.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER.
KEN SAXON CAN'T CONTROL YOURSELF.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
MY NAME'S ASHLEY COPELAND AND I'M WITH THE CENTRAL TEXAS PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION.
AND LET ME BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE UNIMAGINABLE HURT AND HEARTBREAK THAT THE CITY'S FACED.
WE'VE HEARD IT TODAY, AND LIKE SO MANY GROWING CITIES, AUSTIN CONTINUES TO FEEL THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE IN MANY FORMS. NO FAMILY, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY, THE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT SUPPORT THEM OR OUR CHILDREN, SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THE FEAR OR THE HURT THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO TODAY.
BUT THAT IS THE VERY REASON WHY THIS CONTRACT IS SO IMPORTANT TO PASS.
IT'S WHY IT'S SO CRITICAL BY PROVIDING OFFICERS WITH THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED, WHETHER IT'S BETTER TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT OF OUR OFFICERS, IMPROVE DATA COLLECTION MECHANISMS TO HELP ENHANCE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY.
WE CAN CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE, AND WE WANNA INVEST IN A POLICE FORCE THAT IS MORE EQUIPPED TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH COMPASSION AND WITH CARE.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. MAYOR.
I THINK THE MIC IS STILL AT CHRIS HARRIS HEIGHT, UM, SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO HEAR EVERYBODY ELSE.
SO IF WE COULD JUST HAVE THEM LOWER IT.
IF YOU'RE NOT ABOUT SIX FIVE OR SIX SIX, YOU MIGHT WANT LOWER THE MICROPHONE.
DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S BETTER.
MY NAME IS KIM SAXON AND I'M A LIFETIME RESIDENT OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, 60 PLUS YEARS.
AND I GREW UP IN THE AUSTIN THAT A LOT OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW OR, OR HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT IT WAS LIKE, BUT IT IS A REMARKABLE TOWN.
AND IN ORDER TO KEEP THAT COMMUNITY THE SAME AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, WHERE YOU JUST ARE PROUD OF IT AND YOU FEEL SAFE AND YOU JUST FEEL VERY BLESSED TO LIVE IN SUCH A PLACE THAT THIS, YOU NEED A STRONG POLICE FORCE.
SO I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTRACT, I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE BUDGET.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT TAKE ANY FUNDS AWAY FROM THE POLICE BECAUSE WE NEED THAT STRONG POLICE FORCE TO HAVE THE AUSTIN THAT I REMEMBER.
UH, SUSAN SPIT, AND I'M A A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT EIGHT, AND I WANNA KIND OF TALK ABOUT A FEW TECHNICAL THINGS
[02:35:01]
SINCE THIS IS KIND OF A WORK SESSION.UM, FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE IN A CRISIS PUBLIC SAFETY SITUATION.
I MEAN, YOU HEARD OF THE LAST WORK SESSION BUSINESSES THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. UM, PEOPLE DON'T WANNA WORK AT THOSE BUSINESSES AND WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VISITORS THAT'S SERIOUS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT MONEY COMING IN, THOSE BUSINESSES PROVIDE MONEY COMING IN, AND WE NEED THAT AS A CITY.
UM, SOME, ONE OF THE, UH, I HAVE A LADY FRIEND THAT LIVES IN ONE OF THE CONDOMINIUMS DOWNTOWN, AND I WAS HORRIFIED TO BE HONEST, TO FIND OUT THAT HER PROPERTY TAXES WERE $87,000 A YEAR, PAY $87,000 A YEAR IN PROPERTY TAXES.
AND YOU OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT ON THE STREETS, BE SAFE, GO TO A RESTAURANT, GO LISTEN TO MUSIC, OR GO TO A PLAY.
SO I, IT'S A SERIOUS SITUATION.
UM, THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THE LARGEST VACANCY OF ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT YOU HAVE, AND THEY'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH FOR TWO CONTRACTS.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A REAL DISADVANTAGE TO SUDDENLY AGAIN, HAVE THEM NEGOTIATE.
THEY NEGOTIATE HARD AND YOU DON'T DO A CONTRACT WITH THEM.
ONE OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID TODAY ARE KIND OF, I'VE GONE TO A LOT OF THE, UH, CAMPAIGN, UH, MEETINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
IF YOU'RE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, YOU KNOW THAT.
AND TO GET A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THAT'S GOOD.
AND TO GET PEOPLE TO STAY, YOU NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY NEED TO BE WELL PAID AND THEY NEED TO BE APPRECIATED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE TRUTH IS, SOME OF THE ATTACKS ON THE POLICE AND THE WAY THEY'VE BEEN TREATED HERE BY ABOLITIONISTS WOULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM COMING HERE.
WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO PAY MORE MONEY.
THE NEXT THING IS THE COST OF LIVING HERE IS REALLY HIGH.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MANY OFFICIALS IN THIS COMMUNITY ARE THE HIGHEST PAID IN TEXAS BECAUSE OF OUR OUR COST OF LIVING.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE, UH, AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THIS, BUT WHEN WE WERE HAVING THOSE TERRIBLE PROTESTS IN MAY, 2020, UM, PEOPLE WERE THROWING, WERE SPITTING ON OUR POLICE.
THEY WERE THROWING BOTTLES AT THEM AND HORRIBLE THINGS.
AND IN THE, IN THE GROUP THAT WAS DOING THAT WAS OUR MAYOR AND A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THEIR FIST UP LIKE THIS.
AND I THOUGHT AT, YOU KNOW, I HAD 82 PEOPLE WORKING FOR ME BEFORE I RETIRED, AND I THOUGHT, WHAT WOULD EVER CAUSE ME TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO SPIT ON THE FACE OF MY EMPLOYEES AND STAND WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THAT.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE, WE RECRUITING THE OTHER THING, QUESTION, SINCE I'M AN ACCOUNTANT, UH, PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONING THE, THE BUDGET AND I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOUR STAFF.
I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB ON THE BUDGET.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL SPEAKERS ON ITEM 47.
FIRST WE HAVE SAGE WEST REMOTE, LITERALLY LIKE NEIGHBORS IN A COMMUNITY MEETING, UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS IN SOME KIND.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE VERBIAGE IN THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT DOES NOT, UM, DOES NOT, IS NOT, UM, DOESN'T HAVE SPECIFICS ON HOW THE OVERSIGHT WILL BE ADDED.
OUR POLICE FORCE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY AN INDEPENDENT, UH, COMMISSION.
POLICE CAN'T POLICE THEMSELVES
AND FRANKLY, THIS BUDGET INCREASE IS A GROSS MISUSE OF FUNDS, AS HAS BEEN STATED.
AND THE POLICE DON'T TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
[02:40:01]
COMPASSION TO THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN UNHOUSED OR ARE FOOD INSECURE OR HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS AND CAN'T, UH, CAN'T NECESSARILY COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY TO OUR OFFICERS.AND ALSO THEY REFUSE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED WITH INCREDIBLE, UH, WITH REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE.
I WATCHED MY NEIGHBOR TAKE HER LAST BREATH AFTER HER EX SHOT HER MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER SHE HAD REACHED OUT TO A TD REQUESTING HELP.
AND NOT ONLY DID THEY REFUSE HER THE ABILITY TO HAVE A RESTRAINING ORDER OR SOMETHING, UM, THERE WAS NO REASONABLE RESPONSE TIME SHE DIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WITHIN 15 MINUTES OR SO.
IT TOOK SO LONG AND THE AMOUNT OF THE INCREASE IS THANK YOU.
I'M A 25 YEAR RESIDENT OF D ONE.
I'D FIRST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MAIN SPEAKERS TODAY WHO SHARE THEIR TESTIMONY OF BEING UNHOUSED AND STRUGGLING IN THE CITY.
INSIGHT YOUR TESTIMONY OFFERS IS A GIFT TO THIS CONVERSATION.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE OUR REPRESENTATIVES NEED TO HEAR, BUT I'M GOING TO PROCEED WITH MY PREPARED COMMENTS.
I'M HERE TODAY IMPLORING YOU TO VOTE NO ON THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
IF BLATANTLY VIOLATES THE WILL AND NEEDS OF AUSTIN VOTERS TO HAVE AN ACCOUNTABLE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND A CITY WITH ADEQUATELY FUNDED, IF NOT WELL-FUNDED SERVICES.
WHERE'S THE FUNDING FOR RESILIENCE HUBS AND AN IMPROVED EXTREME WEATHER EMERGENCY RESPONSE? WE'RE COMING UPON ANOTHER WINTER WONDERING WHAT CHALLENGES WE AS THE CITY MIGHT FACE, KNOWING IT WILL LIKELY BE INCUMBENT ON THE COMMUNITIES OURSELVES TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED SUPPORT SYSTEMS TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE AN IMPROVED RESPONSE SYSTEM HAS STILL NOT BEEN PRIORITIZED.
UM, THERE'S NO REASON A CITY LIKE AUSTIN WITH THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES WE HAVE SHOULD BE OPERATING IN THIS MANNER THAT IS SHAMEFUL AND INEXCUSABLE.
OUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT THE MOST BASIC LEVELS MUST BE PRIORITIZED, OVERINFLATED AND IRRESPONSIBLE POLICE FUNDING.
THE POLICE CANNOT RESPOND TO AN OVERWHELMING PORTION OF OUR NEEDS, AND WE SHOULD STOP FUNDING THEM AS IF THEY CAN.
THE PROPOSED 218 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE SAFETY NET WE HAVE BUILT FOR AUSTINITES AND HOUSING AND SHELTER CRISIS.
DISPOSING OF THE KINDS OF SUPPORT SERVICE DENIGRATES OUR NOTION OF COMMUNITY AND PUTS ALL AUSTINITE AT RISK.
POLICE CANNOT BE A PATCH FOR UNDERFUNDED COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HOUSING CRISIS.
WE WILL NOT CREATE PUBLIC SAFETY BY NEGLECTING THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS AND TRYING TO POLICE THAT AWAY.
THAT HAS NEVER WORKED AS WELL.
AUSTIN HAS A HARROWING RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO DANGEROUS AND OFTEN LETHAL PLACE POLICE RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES.
WHILE SOME STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO REDIRECT THE PROCESS OF POLICE RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, WE ARE MASSIVELY SHORTING FUNDING FOR CRITICAL EMS AND INTEGRAL CARE CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES, SETTING THE STAGE FOR CONTINUED DANGERS TO OUR RESIDENTS, FAILURES OF CARE, AND AN EVEN LARGER CRISIS.
THIS IS INSULTING TO OUR CITIZENS AS WELL, TO OUR FRONTLINE PROVIDERS WHO ARE WORKING HARD TO RESPOND TO THESE CRISIS ON SCRAP AND TO AUSTINITE WHO DESERVE, HAVE THIS KIND OF BASIC CARE FUNDED FOR THE WELLBEING OF ALL.
ADDITIONALLY, AUSTIN IS A CITY BUILT AROUND A BEAUTIFUL PARK SYSTEM, SOMETHING EVERYONE ENJOYS AND A STANDOUT FEATURE OF OUR CITY.
YET THIS CONTRACT IS WILLING TO CONTINUE TO NEGLECT THAT SYSTEM.
WE CANNOT RISK THE LONG-TERM STABILITY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BUILD IN THE LAST TWO BUDGET CYCLES.
LOCKING IN SOMETHING AS IRRESPONSIBLE AS THIS CONTRACT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE CANNOT GO ON OUTSIZED FUNDING FOR POLICE BUDGET THAT DOES NOT HONOR THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.
FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND OVERSIGHT.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO BE HEARD? WE NEED YOU TO STAY THIS COURSE.
WE NEED TO UPHOLD OUR CITY VALUES.
WE NEED YOU TO FIGHT FOR US AND SAY NO TO THOSE THIS PROPOSED DECIMATION OF OUR BUDGET.
UM, I'M REESE ARMSTRONG, THE CO-CHAIR OF THE LOSA YOUNG DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.
UM, I'M CALLING YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF OUR
[02:45:01]
MEMBERSHIP.UM, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS LOCATED IN DISTRICT THREE, AND WE WANT TO STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS POLICE CONTRACT.
THIS POLICE CONTRACT UNDERMINES THE OVERSIGHT WE PASS, UM, WITH 80% SUPPORT FROM VOTERS.
IT UNDERMINES THE G FILE AND IT TRIES TO LEGISLATE IT BACK IN USING THE CONTRACT.
I ADDITIONALLY WOULD LIKE TO IMPLORE THE CITY TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH OPENLY IN FRONT OF OUR PUBLIC INSTEAD OF TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND THEN PRESENTING A CONTRACT OUT OF THIN AIR THAT SPENDS $218 MILLION ON THE COPS WHEN WE CAN'T FUND CITY SERVICES.
UM, I JUST, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT OUR MEMBERSHIP STRONGLY OPPOSES THIS.
MOVING TO IN PERSON, I'LL CALL THE FIRST FIVE SPEAKERS, MICHAEL WARD, JR.
SHA CHAZ MOORE, DANIELLA SILVA, SAM KIRSCH, LAUREN ORLE.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
PATRICIA FORBES, JEN MARGULIES, JEN RAMOS, CATHERINE MC MCCARDLE, THOMAS DOWNING, PHYLLIS THOMPSON, MICHAEL CS, BRIANNA, K ELIZABETH GONZALEZ, WILLIAM BUNCH.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
JUST IDENTIFY YOURSELF PLEASE.
HI, I AM BRIANNA COLER FROM DISTRICT FIVE.
I CHOSE THIS ITEM BECAUSE IT WAS MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, ADDRESSING THE BUDGET.
UH, I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ITEMS 48 AND 47.
I BELIEVE AUSTIN POLICE ARE ALREADY OVERUSED, AND THAT ACCEPTING THIS AGREEMENT IS BOTH PREMATURE AND A POOR USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ADD EVEN MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE BUDGET, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT RAISES ARE IRREVERSIBLE.
IT IS ALSO UNREASONABLE TO ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT THAT DIFFERENT GROUPS DO NOT ACTUALLY AGREE ON BECAUSE THEY'RE READING THE CONTRACT DIFFERENTLY.
AS IN THE CASE OF GRANDFATHERING THE G FILE, EVERY TIME I'VE HAD TO REPORT SOMETHING TO THE POLICE, LIKE WHEN MY CAR WAS STOLEN AND I HAD TO FILE OFFICIAL STATEMENTS FOR INSURANCE, I'VE WISHED I COULD GO THROUGH ANOTHER AGENCY THAT WAS BETTER SUITED OR LESS TAXED.
THAT PROCESS WAS COMPLETELY UNINTUITIVE AND A WASTE OF EVERYONE'S TIME.
SINCE I WASN'T IN TOWN, OFFICERS DECLINED TO SHOW UP UNTIL A NEIGHBOR MISTAKENLY CALLED 9 1 1 OF MY FRIENDS WHO WERE HELPING CLEAN UP IN MANY MINOR CASES LIKE FINDING LARGE DEBRIS ON THE HIGHWAY.
I'VE CALLED 3 1 1 THINKING I WOULD BE SPEAKING TO AN AGENCY OUTSIDE OF THE A PD.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN IT SHOULD, AND THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE ADDING MORE BUDGET FOR THEM TO DO THOSE JOBS.
AS MUCH AS I WOULD PREFER TO SEE POLICE DIRECTING TRAFFIC THAN ESCALATING AT NONVIOLENT PROTESTS, NEITHER NEEDS TO BE THEIR JOB.
IT IS A FALLACY THAT INCREASING POLICE BUDGETS PREVENTS CRIME.
IN FACT, THIS FANTASY LEADS TO RECKLESS SPENDING AND ENTITLEMENT FROM RESIDENTS WHO THINK THEY'RE SIMPLY PAYING THE POLICE AS PRIVATE SECURITY.
STARTING TODAY, TRAVIS COUNTY VOTERS ARE WEIGHING IN ON PROPOSITIONS TO RAISE TAXES, TO COVER CHILDCARE, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR TAXES SHOULD BE USED FOR.
WHY ARE WE UNABLE TO FIND THE BUDGET FOR THOSE INITIATIVES IN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE? I STRONGLY PREFER TO SUPPORT THINGS THAT HELP FAMILIES IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH OR SUPPORT CREATIVES LIKE THE RED RIVER CULTURAL DISTRICT, WHICH IS ALWAYS FIGHTING FOR MORE FUNDING.
KATHY MITCHELL, AMY CRESIN, KRAMEN, GERDA RAY, ALICIA CASTILLO, AMANDA WEEMS. ANDY COCO, WHEN YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I AM JUST GONNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH WHAT I WAS GONNA SAY A FEW MINUTES AGO.
UM, QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO CAME IN TODAY TO CONTINUE THEIR COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE THIS CONTRACT WILL DO.
IT DOES NOT ADDRESS POLICE TRAINING TO RUTH MINK'S COMMENT.
IT WILL NOT IMPROVE DEESCALATION.
THAT IS NOT WHAT A POLICE CONTRACT HAS DONE.
UM, I THINK THAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE THAT IT'S SOMEHOW GOING TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS.
THE REASON YOU ARE PAYING $218 MILLION FOR THIS POLICE CONTRACT IS BECAUSE IT WILL GIVE OFFICERS A VERY SIGNIFICANT RAISE AND WE CAN DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T HAVE THAT SIGNIFICANT OF A RAISE.
BUT THE REAL DEBATE SHOULD BE ABOUT DOES THAT IN ANY WAY ADDRESS THE ISSUES BOTH AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND IN OUR CITY THAT WE WANT ADDRESSED WITH THE LIMITED DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE?
[02:50:01]
AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO GET TO IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENT, THIS DEBATE, HOW SHOULD WE SPEND OUR LIMITED DOLLARS TO THE BEST END RESULT FOR OUR COMMUNITY? AND IS IT POLICING OR IS IT EVERYTHING ELSE? IS EXACTLY THE DEBATE THAT VOTERS ARE FACING IN DALLAS RIGHT NOW, WHERE THEY HAVE TH NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE SEPARATE BALLOT MEASURES, ALL DESIGNED TO BRING MORE DOLLARS TO POLICE AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERYONE ELSE.AND YOU ALL ARE AWARE THAT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A PLAN TO SQUEEZE DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED CITIES BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
YOU ARE FACING REVENUE CAPS AND SPENDING MANDATES.
AND THE ONLY SPENDING MANDATE THAT THE OTHER PARTY IS INTERESTED IN MAKING IN EVERY DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED CITY IS MORE POLICE AND BIGGER JAILS, EVEN THEIR OWN BASE DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS.
THIS IS THIS POLITICAL STRATEGY.
IT'S ABOUT THE ELECTION, AND IT'S NOT WHERE ALL OF YOU IN THIS TOWN SHOULD BE CONSIDERING YOUR SPACE TO WORK.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOUR VOTERS HAVE DEMANDED, AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOUR VOTERS ARE DEMANDING THIS NOVEMBER.
SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CRAZY TIME.
BUT WHEN WE SEE WHAT IS ON THE TABLE, WE SHOULD ACT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR VALUES.
AND IN THIS TOWN OUR VALUES ARE THE VALUES OF SHARING AND CARING.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE HEADING WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND.
I'M HERE REPRESENTING TEXAS CIVIL RIGHTS PROJECT AND AGAINST ITEMS 47 AND 48.
UM, OH, WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER, I'LL JUST FINISH MY COMMENTS, IS THAT THE, THE MOST RECENT POLICE CONTRACT THAT WE ENDED UP BEFORE THIS PROPOSAL VOTING DOWN WAS A $44 MILLION INCREASE OVER FOUR YEARS.
AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS CONTRACT PROPOSAL IS $218 MILLION INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS, WHICH IS JUST A DRASTIC UNWARRANTED GIVEAWAY.
AND, UM, IN, IN ADDITION TO ONE THAT WOULD WEAKEN THE VOTER MANDATED POLICE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'LL ALLOW US TO INTRODUCE THE PETTY GRIEVANCES ONCE AGAIN, WHICH IS HOW WE ORIGINALLY LOST OUR ONCE FUNCTIONAL POLICE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM IN AUSTIN.
SO I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU ARE, ARE NOT MANY OF YOU, BUT A FEW OF YOU ARE PROBABLY REALLY EXCITED TO OFFER THIS MUCH MONEY AND A SHOW OF SUPPORT TO THE POLICE.
BUT I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU FEEL THAT YOUR HANDS ARE TIED AND THAT WE'RE STUCK IN THIS POSITION BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN BACK AND FORTH WITH THE A PA FOR SO MANY YEARS.
BUT AS SOMEONE PERSONALLY WHO HAS BEEN IN BATTLE WITH THE A PA FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE NOT GIVE UP AT THIS MOMENT ON BEING THE CITY THAT WE COULD BE BY GIVING THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR RESOURCES OVER TO THE POLICE, UM, WHEN WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO.
WE WON ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE THE VOTER SAID THAT WE GET THAT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT ANYMORE.
IT'S NO LONGER A BARGAINING CHIP THAT HAS TO BE ON THE TABLE.
SO, UM, WE'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, I'M IF, IF IT'S TRUE THAT OUR BUDGET IS SO ROSY, UH, THANK GOODNESS.
AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN USE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME THE MOST INNOVATIVE CITY IN THE NATION BY FULFILLING ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICE NEEDS AND FUNDING, UM, ALL THAT WE CAN TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF SAFETY, UM, AND CRIME CONCERNS AND NATURALLY REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON THE INHERENTLY RACIST AND VIOLENT PRACTICE OF REACTING TO HARM ONCE IT'S HAPPENED BY POLICE.
UM, SO ASKING AGAIN THAT YOU REJECT THIS CONTRACT HEAD BACK TO THE TABLE AND WITH A NEW LAW FIRM, NOT RAMPAGE LAW FIRM, UM, ALSO ASKING Y'ALL TO FIRE THEM.
I'M STILL PROFESSOR RAY, YOU'RE STILL THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT ENHANCED ACCOUNTABILITY TO PROMOTE POLICE PROFESSIONALISM, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE THE CITY LEADERSHIP WITH THE INFORMATION THAT IT NEEDS.
AND IT'S HERE THAT WE ENCOUNTER THE PROBLEM OF FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.
WHAT'S THE RIGHT SIZE FOR OUR POLICE BUDGET? IT MUST BE AN AMOUNT THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE FUNDING NEEDS OF ALL CITY FUNCTIONS AND THE COMPENSATION OF ALL CITY WORKERS.
IT'S NOT THE JOB OF THE A PA TO FORMULATE DEMANDS THAT WEIGH IN BALANCE COMPETING FISCAL DEMANDS.
IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY'S LEADERSHIP.
THIS ALREADY DIFFICULT TASK IS MADE EVEN HARDER
[02:55:01]
BY THE STATE MANDATED ONE WAY RATCHETING OF FUTURE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS.BEST PRACTICES OF COMMUNITY SAFETY ARE CHANGING RAPIDLY AND HOST CHANGING BY THE MINUTE.
CONTEMPORARY POLICING DEMANDS A VARIETY OF SKILLS AND RESOURCES.
WILL ALL OF THESE RESOURCES IN THE FUTURE BE BEST ADMINISTERED THROUGH A POLICE DEPARTMENT? THE PROPOSED CONTRACT LOCKS IN A RIGID COMMITMENT THAT DOES NOT LEAVE ROOM FOR THE ENTIRETY OF CITY FUNCTIONS.
IT UNDERMINES THE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT STRENGTHENS POLICE PROFESSIONALISM AND EFFECTIVE POLICING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
JJ RAMIREZ, BILL WALLACE, KATE GRAZIANI, LAURA ANN MARTINEZ, BARRY JONES, ANNA DUNCAN, CHRIS TORRES, MARIKA SMITH, SARAH REYES, SHELBY BOHANNON, JAY POPHAM, MAGGIE LUNA, RUTH MOONING.
IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WISH TO, TO SPEAK, PLEASE COME FORWARD.
I WANTED TO YIELD THE REST OF MY TIME TO CHRIS HARRIS, SO WELL, HIS NAME HADN'T BEEN CALLED YET, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DONATE THE TIME, YOU NEED TO GO OVER THERE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR THAT.
WHEN WE CALL MR. HARRIS, WE'LL GIVE HIM SOME WHEN WE CALL HIM, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DONATE THAT TIME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOUR NAME'S BEEN CALLED AND YOU WANT TO TALK.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN.
I SPEAK TO YOU TODAY IN OPPOSITION TO ITEMS 47 AND 48 BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE CAN PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL COMMON SENSE.
IF THIS CONTRACT PASSES, WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT 3 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF SPENDING DUE TO THE POLICE, WHETHER IT BE THIS CONTRACT APDS, YEAR AFTER YEAR EXPENDITURES, AS WELL AS PAYMENTS MADE TO VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND POLICE BRUTALITY, WHICH DO NOT COME OUT OF APDS BUDGET BECAUSE OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.
THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN WHATSOEVER.
JUST LAST YEAR, THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION PURPOSEFULLY MISLED THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN SPENT $287,000 TO CREATE THE FRONT GROUP VOTERS FOR OVERSIGHT AND POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THEN LIED TO AUSTINITES IN ORDER TO GET THEIR PROP B ON THE MAY, 2023 BALLOT.
AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IT WAS ACTUALLY COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WHO CAUGHT THEM RED HANDED DOING THIS.
THESE PEOPLE DON'T PLAY FAIR OR NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH AND DO NOT DESERVE A CONTRACT APPROVED ON THEIR TERMS. THAT BRINGS ME TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S NEGOTIATING TEAM.
THE CITY'S NEGOTIATING TEAM CONSISTS OF LAWYERS FROM RAMPAGE LAW, SPECIFICALLY SARAH GRIFFIN AND LOWELL DENTON.
RAMPAGE LAW TYPICALLY DEFENDS POLICE AGAINST VICTIMS OF WRONGFUL DEATH AND POLICE BRUTALITY, AND ALSO DEFENDED THE CITY OF UVALDE.
AFTER 19, CHILDREN WERE MASSED BY A SCHOOL SHOOTER WHILE THEIR POLICE AND DPS STOOD BY DOING NOTHING.
THESE ARE THE SAME ATTORNEYS WHOSE WORD YOU'RE TAKING, THAT THIS CONTRACT RESPECTS EVERY CLAUSE OF THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.
AUSTINITES DESERVE BETTER THAN TO HAVE HIRED FOXES GUARDING THE HENHOUSE.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONTRACT REPRESENT A COMPLETE CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE LAWYERS WHO NEGOTIATE, NEGOTIATED IT, BUT IT'S ALSO DEEPLY UNPOPULAR WITH KNIGHTS.
A RECENT CBS POLL SHOWED THAT 79% OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN OPPOSE THIS CONTRACT.
PROBABLY NOT SO CO COINCIDENTALLY, THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF AUSTIN VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR THE REAL AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT LAST YEAR, AS IF IT WEREN'T ENOUGH FOR THIS CONTRACT TO JUST UNDERMINE OVERSIGHT.
THE ENORMOUS COST WOULD ALSO COME AT THE EXPENSE OF FIRE EMS PARKS, PUBLIC POOLS, LIBRARIES, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND CITY WORKERS ACROSS THE BOARD.
PREVIOUS PROJECTIONS BY THE BUDGET OFFICE ARE OPTIMISTIC TO THE POINT OF PURE DELUSION.
I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO LOOK CLOSELY AT PREVIOUS FIVE-YEAR BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND DEMAND MORE REALISTIC BUDGET FORECAST.
I ALSO URGE THIS COUNSEL TO REMEMBER THAT A PD BUDGET INCREASES ARE PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO STOP THE POLICE FROM DEFUNDING US.
COUNSEL SHOULD NOT ONLY REJECT THIS CONTRACT, BUT ALSO SEVER TIES WITH RAMPAGE LAW.
A VESTIGIAL APPENDIX LEFT OVER FROM SPENCER CROS, TIME AS CITY MANAGER AND HIRE NEW, NEW NEGOTIATORS WHO WILL STAND UP TO THE AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, NOT COLLABORATE WITH THEM.
I STAND WITH AFSCME 1624 UNITED WORKERS OF INTEGRAL CARE, IBEW FIVE 20 AND THE AUSTIN CENTRAL LABOR COUNCIL IN OPPOSING THIS CONTRACT.
AND FREE PALESTINE, MARY ELIZABETH ALFREDO REYES JR.
PHILIPPE BZA, CAROLYN WILLIAMS.
[03:00:04]
NOW, UH OH, STILL MORNING.UM, I'LL JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND REEMPHASIZE SOME OF THE THINGS I SAID.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IN, UH, ONE, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, VOTE NO ON THE CONTRACT.
THAT'S THE ONLY REASONABLE AND FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE DECISION YOU ALL CAN MAKE.
UM, I MENTIONED I'LL REEMPHASIZE THAT.
YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE SHOULDN'T EVER INCREASE THE POLICE BUDGET AGAIN, IT'S ILLEGAL TO LOWER IT.
WE CANNOT, THAT'S NOT FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE.
BUT WITH, UH, THE VACANCY, THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES, THE, UM, CAN'T REMEMBER THE TECHNICAL NUMBER, BUT THE, THE RATE AT WHICH, UH, UH, POTENTIALLY NEW OFFICERS CADETS DROP OUT OF THE, THE, THE, THE ACADEMY, THE ATTRITION RATE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE FOR A PD TO FILL ALL OF THEIR VACANCIES.
THAT IS EXTRA BUDGET MONEY THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF ALLOCATING THINGS FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND INCREASING THAT PERCENTAGE.
WE CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT DO THAT.
UH, SO PLEASE DON'T, DON'T DO THAT AGAIN.
YOU ALREADY DID THIS LAST YEAR AND THAT WAS A MAJOR FAILURE ON YOUR YOU ALL'S PART.
UM, I'LL ALSO REITERATE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN WHAT WE SHOULD BE FUNDING ARE SPECIAL REQUESTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE FAMILY STABILIZATION GRANT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, UH, REQUESTED AS WELL AS RAPID REHOUSING, A IC PARENTAL SUPPORT, JOSE VELASQUEZ REQUESTED, UH, COUNCILOR RYAN ALTI, REQUESTED EXPANDED MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONSE, UH, COUNCIL, SOMEONE OF THE
UH, AND MANY OF THESE ARE ONE TIME EXPENSES, BUT WE SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY UNTIL IT WAS FOR THE POLICE.
AND SO THAT'S THE STUFF THAT WE NEED TO, IT, IT, AND LIKE SEVERAL SPEAKERS SAID EARLIER, THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE.
WE ALREADY HAVE A BLOATED POLICE, UH, BUDGET, AND THEY DON'T MEET OUR NEEDS.
THEY CAN'T, UH, YOU CAN'T ARREST YOUR WAY OUT OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
YOU CAN'T ARREST YOUR WAY, WAY OUT OF POVERTY, OUT OF, UM, OUT OF ALL THESE OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS. UH, AND, AND DEFUNDING OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO THEN OVERFUND THE POLICE.
THAT'S WHAT SYSTEMIC RACISM LOOKS LIKE.
SO PLEASE VOTE AGAINST THIS CONTRACT.
UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW, LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY TRANS GENERAL FUND OR TRANSFERS TO GENERAL FUND INCREASING THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE.
BUT THAT CAN BE A VERY REAL, UH, POSSIBILITY WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR OR ANOTHER, MAYBE A STATE LAW PASSED AGAIN, THAT PARTIALLY DEFUND THE CITY, THE CITY BUDGET, LIKE THE PROPERTY TAX CAP.
WE'RE NOT PLANNING FOR FURTHER STATE ACTION THAT COULD HARM OUR, OUR, OUR FUNDING AND THE GENERAL FUND.
IF WE, IF WE PASS, UH, A POLICE CONTRACT LIKE THIS, THAT'S GONNA GIVE TOO MUCH MONEY.
CHRIS HARRIS WITH TIME DONATED BY SARAH REYES.
SIX MINUTES FROM MR. HARRIS AND EVERYONE'S NAME HAS BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME FOR 48.
HI, COUNCIL MAYOR, THANK YOU AGAIN, UH, FOR THE TIME.
UM, SO I, I LEFT OFF TALKING ABOUT, UH, ABOUT SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MOST RECENT DEALS, UH, AND HOW, UH, UNPRECEDENTED THIS CURRENT DEAL IS FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE DEALS AS IT RELATES TO THE, THE OVERSIGHT PIECE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR, FOR THIS CON CONVERSATION.
AND NOTABLY THAT IN 2018, UM, UM, WE CAME, UH, I, I STOOD HERE, UH,
UH, I STOOD HERE AND I ENCOURAGED THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME, UH, TO VOTE FOR THAT DEAL, UH, AND TO DO SO, UH, ALONGSIDE AN ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED THAT SAME MEETING THAT CREATED THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT SET UP THE STRONGER SYSTEM, UH, THAT WE HAD ALL, INCLUDING THE POLICE ASSOCIATION HAD SAT AROUND A TABLE FOR MONTHS, UH, DELIBERATING, UH, AND, AND CREATING AND UNBEKNOWNST TO US, UH, THAT DEAL, UH, HAD A POISON PILL, UH, INSERTED INSIDE OF IT, UH, A RESTRICTION ON THE POLICE OVERSIGHT OFFICE CONDUCTING INVESTIGATIONS, WHICH THE POLICE ASSOCIATION TOOK TO, TO MEAN THAT THE NEW POWERS GRANTED IN THE LAW, IN THE ORDINANCE FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT OFFICE TO CONDUCT PRELIMINARY REVIEWS WERE ACTUALLY, UH, IN VIOLATION OF THAT CONTRACT.
AND THEY PROCEEDED, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE MONTHS AND YEARS TO COME
[03:05:01]
TO FILE DOZENS OF GRIEVANCES AGAINST THE POLICE OVERSIGHT OFFICE, UH, CULMINATING IN THE DECEMBER, 2021 ARBITRATION DECISION THAT THAT OVERTURNED THOSE POWERS THAT WEAKENED OUR POLICE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM AND THEN DIRECTLY LED US TO RIGHT AND PASS THE POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT.RIGHT? SO THIS IS THE HISTORY.
IT'S A HISTORY THAT, UM, THAT SHOWS ONE
AND TWO, THAT, THAT WE ARE AGREEABLE AND WE CAN COME TO A DEAL AND, AND WE CAN ACTUALLY STAND UP HERE AND, AND, AND, AND, AND SUPPORT A POLICE CONTRACT.
AND SO IN THAT, IN THAT MIND FRAME, UH, AND, AND ALSO GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF SOME OF THE SUPPORTERS OF THIS DEAL, UH, WHO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING CONCRETE THAT THIS POLICE CONTRACT WILL DO, UH, MORE CON CONCEPTS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, UH, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MOVING FORWARD LOOKS LIKE.
'CAUSE TO US, THERE IS A, A OBVIOUS PATH FORWARD.
AND THAT PATH, UH, INVOLVES POSTPONING THE, THE VOTE ON THIS DEAL TODAY, SENDING IT BACK, UH, TO, UH, THE NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH DIRECTION, DIRECTION, UH, FIRSTLY TO, TO GET RID OF THESE POISON PILLS, UH, AS WE SEE THEM.
UH, THESE TOOLS THAT WILL BE USED BY THE POLICE ASSOCIATION ONCE AGAIN TO FILE GRIEVANCES AND TEAR DOWN YET ANOTHER LAW THAT THIS CITY HAS PASSED.
AND NOW NOT JUST THE LAW THAT Y'ALL PASSED, BUT THE LAW THAT OUR VOTERS PASSED, AND TWO, UH, TO LOOK AT THE DOLLARS, RIGHT? AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DEAL THAT IS, IS UNPRECEDENTED IN HIS COST WITH RESPECT TO POLICE CONTRACTS IN THE CITY'S HISTORY.
AND, AND TO QUESTION WHY THAT IS.
AND, AND SO WHAT IS THE RIGHT NUMBER? WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT A NUMBER THAT THAT ALLOWS YOU TO GIVE THE SAME, AT LEAST THE SAME RAISES TO ALL OF YOUR OTHER CITY WORKERS AND ASSUME SOME GROWTH, UH, IN, IN, IN CITY SERVICES, UH, UH, THE GROWTH THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO SERVE THIS GROWING CITY, AS WELL AS TO ADDRESS ONE UNDER FUNDING THAT WE KNOW EXISTS ACROSS THE NUMBER OF SERVICES.
AND TWO, UH, THE GROW EVER-GROWING CLIMATE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE, UH, EVIDENCED BY THE NOW ALMOST ANNUAL MAJOR DISASTERS THAT WE FACE, UH, THAT UPEND THE CITY AND, AND, AND, AND PUT MANY PEOPLE IN CRISIS MODE.
SO, SO THIS IS THE PATH FORWARD.
UH, THERE, IT DOESN'T EVEN NEED TO HAVE A, A VOTE ON THURSDAY.
WE CAN POSTPONE THIS DEAL YET AGAIN, SEND IT BACK, UH, TO, TO RENEGOTIATE FOR, FOR A FAIR DEAL, UH, IN LINE WITH THE CONTRACTS THAT, THAT THIS CITY HAS PASSED IN ITS HISTORY CONTRACTS THAT AGAIN, UH, PEOPLE LIKE ME HAVE STOOD UP HERE AND SUPPORTED.
AND, UH, TO ENSURE THAT IT DOESN'T INC INCLUDE, INCLUDE THE POISON PILLS THAT WE'VE SEEN USED, UH, NOT JUST IN 2018, BUT EVEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE VERY FIRST POLICE CONTRACT.
UH, ALSO SHEPHERDED BY A CURRENT MAYOR, UH, THAT HAVE TO DOWN POLICE OVERSIGHT SYSTEMS, UH, CO-CREATED BY NOT JUST COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, BUT THAT INVOLVED THE POLICE ASSOCIATION.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S OUR REQUEST TO YOU HERE TODAY, UH, IS TO IS IS NOT TO BE TIME BOUND RUSHED, UH, BECAUSE IN, IN A REALITY, YOU COULD HAVE HAD THIS CONVERSATION SIX MONTHS AGO, 12 MONTHS AGO AFTER THIS BALLOT MEASURE INITIALLY PASSED.
YOU COULD BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION SIX MONTHS FROM NOW OR 12 MONTHS FROM NOW.
UH, THERE IS NO, UH, RUSH YOU, YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WAYS TO CONTINUE TO COMPENSATE OFFICERS, UH, IN PEERS WHEN THERE HASN'T BEEN A DEAL.
UH, OBVIOUSLY WE, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DEAL DONE AND LIKE, THIS IS NOT A THING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TODAY, TOMORROW, OR THURSDAY.
AND SO AGAIN, THERE'S A PATH FORWARD AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO, TO BEING UP HERE AGAIN, LIKE WE WERE IN 2018, SUPPORTING A COMPREHENSIVE DEAL THAT ENSURES, UH, THAT OUR ONGOING NEEDS CAN BE MET, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THE CRISES THAT FACE OUR CITY, INCLUDING HOUSING AND THE INCREASING WEATHER DISASTERS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY PAY OUR OTHER CITY WORKERS WHO ARE NOT THE BEST PAID IN THE STATE, LIKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS MUCH OR MORE IN RAISES OVER TIME, AND THAT WE CAN MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF THIS CITY AND WE CAN FINALLY, FINALLY CREATE A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM OF OVERSIGHT THAT NOW NOT ONLY HAS YOUR BACKING, BUT HAS THE BACKING OF 80% OF THIS CITY'S RESIDENTS OR THIS CITY'S VOTERS.
UM, WITH THAT, ARE YOU ON MY TIME? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL SPEAKERS FOR ITEMS 47 48 HAVE BEEN CALLED AT THIS TIME.
UH, MEMBERS, THAT CONCLUDES THE PUBLIC COMMENT ON, UH, ITEMS 47 AND 48.
UH, I'LL RECOGNIZE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, IF ANYBODY WANTS, UH, TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF, UM, AT THIS POINT IN TIME ARE, ARE, THEY CAN DO THEIR PRESENTATION FIRST AND THEN WELL, I, I, I, I, THAT'S WHY I ASKED WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD A PRESENTATION.
I'M, I'M UNCLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE STATUS OF THAT IS, SO THANK YOU.
SO, UM, CARRIE LANG, BUDGET OFFICER FOR, UM, FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS, UM, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND SO WE DID PRESENT WELL GOOD.
[03:10:01]
A PRESENTATION IN, IN, UM, PREPARATION, IN, IN ADVANCE FOR THOSE QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCIL HAD SOME QUESTIONS FOR US TODAY.I HOPING TO ANSWER AND I, I MISUNDERSTOOD YOUR SILENCE BEFORE, SO WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND DO THAT PRESENTATION.
SO, SO IN UM, PREPARATION FOR TODAY, WE WANT TO REALLY START BY TALKING AND REITERATING THAT WHEN WE, WHEN WE, UM, GOT THROUGH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, OUR APPROVED BUDGET FOR, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, WE WENT THROUGH THE PROPO, THE APPROVED BUDGET, AND WE HAD A BALANCED FISCAL YEAR 25, A BALANCED FISCAL YEAR 26, UM, WITH THE, UM, UPDATES FROM OUR CERTIFIED TAX ROLE, UM, CHANGES IN, IN THAT ADDITIONAL, UM, FUNDING FROM THE CERTIFIED TAX ROLE THAT, UM, UPDATED OUR FINANCIAL FORECAST AND, UM, RESULTED IN A BALANCED FINANCIAL FORECAST THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 29 WITH A $1 MILLION DEFICIT BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 28 AND A MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT IN FISCAL YEAR 29.
THIS IS THE UPDATED FINANCIAL FORECAST AS OF APPROVED BUDGET.
UM, AND WHAT I WANT TO REITERATE AS IS AS WE GO THROUGH OUR FORECASTING EACH, UM, EACH YEAR WE START WITH A FINANCIAL FORECAST IN APRIL.
THAT FINANCIAL FORECAST IS VERY HIGH LEVEL BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AT THAT TIME.
UM, WE BEGIN IN APRIL WITH INFORMATION WITH ABOUT, UM, FOUR MONTHS OF DATA SALES, TAX DATA ESTIMATES FROM OUR, UM, APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.
AND THEN WE BEGIN WITH, UM, THAT, THAT HIGH LEVEL FORECAST, WE GIVE AN UPDATED FORECAST AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THEN ANOTHER UPDATED FORECAST DIALED IN BASED ON OUR APPROVED BUDGET.
THIS IS WHAT YOU, UM, SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS BASED ON THE APPROVED BUDGET.
AT EACH ITERATION OF OUR FORECAST, WE DO INCLUDE ASSUMPTIONS.
UM, WE INCLUDE OUR ASSUMPTIONS WITH, UM, UM, OUR BASE RATE INCREASES.
OUR BASE, UH, LEVEL INCREASES FOR, UM, THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT OUR, OUR, UH, BUDGETING SUCH AS, UH, BASE RATES INCREASES AND, UM, HEALTH INCREASES, OUR WAGE INCREASES.
WE INCLUDE ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE CONTRACTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF EVERY ITERATION OF OUR, OF OUR, UM, FORECAST.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS CONTRACT, WE ALREADY INCLUDED, UH, ASSUMPTIONS FOR THE CONTRACT AT EVERY ITERATION OF THE FORECAST.
IT WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WERE HAVING, UM, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE FORECAST AT PROPOSE.
AND ALSO WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THE FORECAST AT THE APPROVED RIGHT HERE, WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE FORECAST WITH THE, UH, CONTRACT AS OF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.
AND YOU SEE THE, THE INCREASE IN THE COST, UM, OF THE, WHICH INCLUDES THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.
UM, YOU SEE THAT AS OF FISCAL YEAR 26, YOU SEE THE $2 MILLION DEFICIT.
UM, IN THE MEMO THAT I SENT OUT ON LAST WEEK, IT TALKS ABOUT THE $14 MILLION, UM, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE APPROVED, UM, BUDGET AND THE COST OF THE CONTRACT.
UM, AND SO YOU SEE THAT 2 MILLION STARTING IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILLION IN 27, 6 MILLION IN 28 AND 6 MILLION IN 29 FOR THE FULL 14 MILLION.
UM, AND THAT IS THE FULL COST OF THE CONTRACT ABOVE WHAT WE, UH, PROJECTED OR INCLUDED IN THE, IN THE, UH, BUDGET OR IN THE FORECAST PERIOD.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS OF WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, UM, LOOKING AT THE POLICE BUDGET WITH THE CONTRACT, THE POLICE BUDGET INCREASES TO 36% OF THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS SLIDE HERE ASKS, IS ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND SO THAT THE, UM, POLICE BUDGET STAYS AT 36% RELATIVE TO THE REST OF THE GENERAL FUND.
WHAT WOULD THE GENERAL FUND HAVE TO INCREASE TO THIS SLIDE? SHOWS THAT INCREASE THE GENERAL FUND, UM, WOULD THEN INCREASE THE DEFICIT TO $4 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 26.
IF WE LOOK OUT TO THE FORECAST, UM, PERIOD, BY FISCAL YEAR 29, THAT DEFICIT INCREASES TO 33 MILLION.
AND SO WE'RE INCREASING THE GENERAL FUND AS A WHOLE PROPORTIONATELY WHERE YOU SEE
[03:15:01]
THE, UM, THE POLICE BUDGET STAYING AT 36% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUNDS.SO THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS WILL INCREASE, REMAIN SO THAT THE POLICE BUDGET STAYS AT 36% WITH THE CONTRACT INCLUDED IN THE POLICE BUDGET.
MS. MEMBER FUENTES, THANK YOU.
BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU INCLUDED THIS SLIDE.
'CAUSE I THINK THE COMMENTARY THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT HOW IF WE APPROVE THIS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, THE IMPACT THAT THAT WOULD HAVE ON THE OTHER PARTS OF CITY SERVICES, BECAUSE IT ASSUMES NO, THE FORECAST ON SLIDE THREE ASSUMES NO NEW ADDED FTES FOR HOMELESSNESS, FOR PARKS MAINTENANCE FOR FIRE PARAMEDICS.
BUT WITH THIS SLIDE FOUR, WHAT YOU'RE GIVING US IS A FORECAST THAT ASSUMES GROWTH IN ALL THE OTHER AREAS OF OUR CITY BUDGET.
IS THAT CORRECT? AM I UNDERSTANDING THAT CORRECTLY, THIS FORECAST WOULD ASSUME THAT THERE WOULD BE GROWTH THAT WOULD YES.
IT EN ASSUMES GROWTH IN THE OTHER AREAS.
AND THIS JUST SHOWS WHAT THE, THE DEFICIT.
IT SH IT ASSUMES GROWTH IN EXPENDITURES AND IT SHOWS THE DEFICIT THAT WOULD BE CAUSED IF WE SHOWED, SHOWED THAT GROWTH IN EXPENDITURES.
SO THIS IS A MORE REALISTIC FORECAST IF WE WERE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN CITY SERVICES AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY WHILE RECOGNIZING THAT WE'RE A GROWING CITY, THAT WE ANTICIPATE THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADD FTES TO OUR BUDGET.
THIS FORECAST ON SLIDE FOUR, WOULD YOU SAY IS A MORE REALISTIC PICTURE OF, OF THE, THE FINANCIAL OUTLOOK? WE WERE REALLY JUST TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF HOW COULD WE MAINTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE GENERAL FUND AS A WHOLE TO KEEP THE POLICE BUDGET AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE OF 36%.
UM, IT, WE, WE DIDN'T LOOK AT WHERE THE FUNDS WOULD GO ACROSS THE GENERAL FUND, SO THAT WOULD BE A CONVERSATION WHERE WE WOULD DIAL IN TO SEE EXACTLY WHERE THE FUNDING WOULD GO.
WE WOULD JUST, THIS IS JUST SHOWING HOW THE GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO GROW HOLISTICALLY TO REMAIN SO THAT THAT POLICE'S BUDGET WILL REMAIN PROPORTIONATE TO WHERE IT IS TODAY WITH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, WE AS A COUNCIL AND I UNDERSTAND THE HISTORY OF TRYING TO REDUCE THE PROPORTION OF THE OVERALL POLICE SPENDING AS PART OF OUR GENERAL FUND, AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF PROPORTION.
CAN I JUST MAKE ONE OBSERVATION ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WALTER CHART? UM, SO EVEN THOUGH THAT HAS SOME GROWTH, IF YOU JUST COMPARE LIKE THE 4 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR, UM, VERSUS, UM, THE SLIDE THREE THAT HAS 2 MILLION, YOU'RE ONLY GETTING $2 MILLION OF GROWTH IN OTHER THINGS NEXT YEAR.
I MEAN, SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING LIKE THAT SLIDE UNDERESTIMATES HOW MUCH GROWTH YOU MIGHT WANT IF YOU WANTED OTHER THINGS TO GROW.
AND THIS SLIDE SPEAKS TO, UM, THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASES RELATIVE TO THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO, UM, FUND THAT INCREASED GROWTH AND EXPENDITURES OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD TO FUND, UM, THAT INCREASED GROWTH IN EXPEN THE INCREASED GROWTH IN EXPENDITURE.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT, UM, THE, THE, UM, TAX RATE INCREASES, SO YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL, UM, TRES THAT WE, THAT WOULD BE NEEDED IS 4%, 5%, 5% AND 4% TO COVER THE COST OF THAT UP TO 33 MILLION BY FISCAL YEAR 29.
NOW, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT YOU COULD FUND THAT.
THIS IS JUST ONE SCENARIO THAT, UM, WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU AT HOW COULD YOU FUND THIS IF WE NEEDED TO FUND THAT INCREASED COST BASED ON KEEPING POLICE AT 30, AT 36% OVER THE LIFE OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SALES TAX REVENUE.
UM, AND THIS SLIDE HERE LOOKS AT OUR SALES TAX TRENDS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS FOR THE CITY.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SALES TAX, UM, OF THE 10 YEARS PRIOR TO, UM, COVID, IT WAS AVERAGED AT 5.9% OF THE, OF ANNUAL GROWTH.
AND THEN THE 10 YEARS, UM, PROJECTIONS FOR FUTURE PROJECTIONS IS 5.9%.
NOW IN OUR MEMO LAST WEEK, WE SPOKE TO OUR 10 YEAR COMPOUND AVERAGE, UM,
[03:20:01]
THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 23.UM, AND THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE COLLECTIONS, EXCLUDING THE 2019 THROUGH 2022 DISTORTION, THAT IS 5.7%, UM, IF WE EXCLUDE THAT DISTORTION PERIOD OF COVID.
UM, AND THEN, AND WHAT WE ARE PROJECTING OUT FOR, UM, THE OUT YEARS BEGINNING IN FISCAL YEAR 26 IS 4%.
LOOKING AT OUR SALES TAX UPDATE FOR, FOR, UM, THE REMAINDER OF FISCAL YEAR 24 THROUGH 11 PAYMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, WE'RE AT 1.7% GROWTH.
UM, 2 MILLION BELOW OUR FISCAL, OH, EXCUSE ME, 0.2 MILLION BELOW 200,000.
BELOW OUR, UM, FISCAL YEAR, UH, YEAR END ESTIMATE.
WE ARE, UM, 1.8% GROWTH SHOWING 1.8% GROWTH.
WE ARE, UM, SHOWING A, UH, 0.5% FOR OCTOBER OF 2024.
SO THIS MONTH WE ARE CURRENTLY, UM, SHOWING A 0.5% GROWTH.
UM, WE REALLY EXPECT TO BE ABOUT, I THINK 200,000.
UM, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR, OUR, UM, YEAR END.
SO WE ARE RIGHT AT WHAT WE ANTICIPATED FOR YEAR END CLOSING THE YEAR.
WE HAVE, UM, ANOTHER PAYMENT TO COME IN.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ENDING THE YEAR RIGHT AROUND WHAT WE ANTICIPATED FOR FOR YEAR IN.
AND THEN WE ARE ANTICIPATING, UH, THREE AND A HALF IS WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR FISCAL YEAR 25.
AND THEN WE RECEIVED A QUESTION ABOUT, UM, HOW MUCH DID WE FUND IN ONE TIME FOR CONTRACTS, UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25? AND THIS IS, UM, JUST LOOKING AT HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE CONTRACT DID.
WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT OUR CONTRACTS IN OUR ONE TIME FROM IN OUR BUDGET STABILIZATION RESERVE FUND OR MANY OF OUR ONE TIME, TIME CONTRACTED FUNDS.
THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS A LIST OF THE, UM, TYPES OF CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE.
IT RANGES FROM RAPID REHOUSING, UM, TO, UM, OUR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, OUR COLLECTIVE SI COLLECTIVE SEX CRIMES RESPONSE MODEL, AS WELL AS OUR FOOD INSURANCE PREMIUM SUB SUBSIDIES.
AND SO THERE ARE SEVERAL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE FUNDED AT ONE TIME IN FISCAL YEAR 25 FOR YOU ALL TO IDENT BE REMINDED OF AND IDENTIFY OF THINGS THAT WE FUNDED, UM, IN THE APPROVED BUDGET THIS FISCAL YEAR.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR, UM, A, UM, FUNDING.
WE RECEIVED $188.5 MILLION IN TOTAL APPROPRIATION IN ARPA.
UM, MANY OF THOSE PROGRAMS WERE, UM, ONE-TIME PROGRAMS OR THERE WERE SOME CAPITAL PROGRAMS THAT WERE, UH, FUNDED THROUGH ARPA.
THESE ARE THE, THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WITH DEPARTMENTS, UM, THAT WE ANTICIPATE HAVING SOME ONGOING NEEDS.
UM, BUT, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT OPERA WILL BE ENDING, UM, BY THE END OF, OF OF 2026.
UM, AND SO WHEN WE TALK TO THE DEPARTMENTS, OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE HAVE, UM, HAS ABOUT $15.4 MILLION OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATE IS ANNUALIZED ONGOING COST AROUND RAPID REHOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
THAT INCLUDES, UM, RAPID REHOUSING AROUND HILL, THE HILL INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS EMERGENCY SHELTERS FOR THE MARSHALING YARD.
AND, UM, CAMP ESPERANZA IN THE OTHER ONES FOUNDATION.
UM, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH HAS ABOUT $3 MILLION OF, UM, EXPECTED ONGOING COST IN THEIR IT SUPPORT AND THEN EXPANDED SERVICES.
UM, THEY HAVE, UM, GENERAL FUNDS FUNDING IN, IN, IN THESE PROGRAMS, BUT THESE ARE EXPANDED SERVICES THAT THEY EXPANDED DURING COVID, UM, WITH THE HEALTH EQUITY LINE, THEIR COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS THEIR STI MOBILE OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY MOBILE IMMUNIZATION.
AND THEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR COMMUNITY NAVIGATION SERVICES AS WELL AS THEIR, THEIR EXPANDED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES REWORK NOW, UM, ACCC SKILLED TRADES AND NURSING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THEIR CHILDCARE PROGRAMS RELATED TO THEIR WORKFORCE CHILDCARE SUPPORT MAYOR PRO KIM.
AND THIS IS JUST FOR, THOSE NUMBERS ARE JUST FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, IS THAT RIGHT? THOSE ARE THE ANNUALIZED COSTS.
SO THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD NEED ANNUALLY TO CONTINUE THESE PROGRAMS. UM, ONCE ARPA HAS COMPLETELY ENDED SOME OF THESE
[03:25:01]
PROGRAMS, THEY ARE RAMPING DOWN.FOR EXAMPLE, AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, IS RAMPING DOWN THESE PROGRAMS AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
UM, AND, UM, SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE RAMPED DOWN THROUGH THE END OF 20, UM, FIVE AND THIS, SO THEY'RE RAMPING DOWN DIFFERENT MOMENTS.
AND THIS REPRESENTS, UM, CONTINUED FUNDING OF, OF AN ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE PUT INTO, UM, SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS AND HOMELESSNESS OVER THE LAST, I MEAN, JUST EVEN FOUR YEARS SINCE THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE HAVE A TOTAL ESTIMATE TOTAL OF HOW MUCH THAT HAS BEEN OVER THAT TIME.
I'LL HAVE TO GIVE YOU THE TOTAL.
THANKS COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES.
UM, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT STAFF HAS NOW, YOU KNOW, OUT OF THE 188 MILLION THAT WE HAVE INJECTED INTO OUR COMMUNITY USING OUR FEDERAL RELIEF DOLLARS OF THAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING ABOUT 31 MILLION OF ONGOING NEED OF, OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AS A CONTINUED NEED FOR THE HOMELESSNESS.
ONE FOR 15.4 MILLION, IT SAYS EMERGENCY SHELTERS.
DOES THAT INCLUDE THE CONTINUING OPERATION OF THE MARSHALING YARD AND OR THE RELOCATION OF IT? YES.
UM, CAN I GO OFF TO MY OTHER? SURE, SURE.
SO I GUESS I WANTED TO, IF WE CAN TAKE IT BACK TO THE SALES TAX, UM, PROJECTIONS.
SO I I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU WALKED US THROUGH, UM, THE AVERAGE RATE BEFORE COVID AT A 5.9%.
YOU, YOU ARE FORECASTING A 4%.
UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW SOME OF YOU KNOW ON FIRST GLANCE, UM, THE 4% SALES TAX GROWTH SEEMED OPTIMISTIC AND, BUT IN YOUR, IN YOUR RECOMMENDATION, UH, 4% IS, IS ON PAR BASED ON OUR HISTORICAL TRENDS.
AND, AND COLLEAGUES, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE DELIBERATING THIS AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONSIDERING A CONTRACT THAT IS ROOTED IN TRANSPARENCY.
AND AS PART OF THAT, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS.
STAFF HAS BEEN SUPER RESPONSIVE IN SENDING US MEMOS, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF, OF THE DELIBERATIONS.
AND WE'VE BEEN READING, UM, THOSE MEMOS AS THEY COME IN.
BUT THIS IS FOR A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE HEARING ABOUT IT.
AND THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUT THE INFORMATION WE ARE RECEIVING, UM, WITH THE, THERE WAS ONE PORTION OF THE CONTRACT THAT I WANNA DIG INTO REGARDING OVERTIME, BUT I WILL HOLD THAT UNTIL WE, OR I GUESS I CAN GO NOW OR, OKAY.
UM, THE OVERTIME PART OF THE CONTRACT YOU HAVE AT A 20 MILLION OVER THE FIVE YEARS OF THE AGREEMENT.
CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE RATIONALE ON MAINTAINING IT AT 20 MILLION FOR EACH OF THE FIVE YEARS? WE KNOW WE ENDED LAST YEAR WITH ABOUT A $50 MILLION EXPENDITURE ON OVERTIME.
UM, CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT AS TO THE 20 MILLION PROJECTION? SO WE, WE LEFT VACANCY SAVINGS AND OVERTIME STATIC ON THE PROJECTED, UM, ON THE MEMO BECAUSE, UM, WE HAD NOT DONE THE ANALYSIS ON THE OUT YEARS ON HOW, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE HIRING IN THOSE OUT YEARS.
WE DON'T KNOW THEIR STAFFING PLAN, UM, WHEN THEIR, UM, ACADEMIES WILL BE HIRING, HOW FAST THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HIRE, UM, TO PROJECT OUT HOW THAT OVERTIME AND THE VACANCIES WILL BE, UM, HOW THE VACANCIES WILL BE FILLED TO IMPACT BOTH THE OVERTIME AND THE VACANCY RATE.
SO AS THEIR VACANCIES ARE FILLED, THE VACANCY RATES WILL GO DOWN, WHICH MEANS THE OVERTIME COSTS WILL GO DOWN.
AND, AND SO WITHOUT KNOWING THAT, THAT INFORMATION, WITHOUT DOING THAT FULL ANALYSIS, WE JUST LEFT THOSE NUMBERS FLAT AND WE PUT A ASTERISK AT THE BOTTOM, A NOTE AT THE BOTTOM AND SAY, THESE, THESE NUMBERS WILL FLUCTUATE AS STAFFING LEVELS CHANGE.
UM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT AS THE DEPARTMENT MAKES THOSE CHANGES, THEY WILL, THAT WILL PLAY WITH ALL THOSE, UM, LEVERS.
ALL THOSE VARIABLES WILL CHANGE OVER TIME.
AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE DIFFERENCES, UM, IN THOSE THREE NUMBERS, WHETHER IT IS THE STAFFING NUMBERS, THE OVERTIME NUMBERS, AND THE VACANCY SAVINGS, YOU'LL SEE THOSE VARIABLES CHANGED IN THE ACTUAL BUDGETS.
BUT WE JUST LEFT THOSE VARIABLES CHA THOSE VARIABLES THE SAME IN THE ASSUMPTIONS AND MADE THE NOTE NOTATIONS AT THE BOTTOM.
I GUESS I WOULD'VE HOPED FOR, I MEAN, A LITTLE BIT OF MODELING THERE, JUST KNOWING THAT THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CADET CADETS THAT WERE GRADUATING WITH EACH ACADEMY.
WE KNOW THE AMOUNT OF ACADEMIES WE DO PER YEAR.
WE KIND OF HAVE AN AVERAGE OF OUR RETIREMENT ATTRITION RATE.
UM, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU SHARING THAT CONTEXT IS, IS HELPFUL.
[03:30:01]
LAST, UH, BUT NOT LEAST ON MY END, UM, FOR THE FINANCIAL QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANTED TO, TO HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, STAFF NOTE HAS RECOMMENDED OR SUGGESTED AT THE VERY LEAST THAT THERE'S $31 MILLION OF ONGOING NEED FOR US TO CONTINUE IN OUR SERVICES AROUND HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.UM, WE KNOW THAT, UH, JUST LAST YEAR WE FUNDED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS AT A ONE-TIME ALLOCATION OF 11 MILLION.
THERE'S CLEARLY A NEED FOR US TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THESE INVESTMENTS.
UH, I KNOW AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS CONTRACT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY PUT US INTO A TAX RATE ELECTION, UM, JUST ON ITS ON ITS OWN.
BUT I DO WANNA SURFACE THAT THAT IS THE REALITY THAT WE'RE HEADING INTO.
AND I'M PREPARED AND CONTINUE TO, AND CONTINUE, WILL SUPPORT US MAKING THE NECESSARY, UH, INVESTMENTS AND KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD SUPPORT US AND MAKING THE NECESSARY INVESTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE, UH, TO MOVE FORWARD ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THESE INITIATIVES.
UH, SO ALSO JUST WANTED TO SURFACE THE TAX RATE ELECTION IS, IS LIKELY ON THE HORIZON BEFORE I
AS, AS THIS COUNCIL HAS SAID, MORE THAN ONCE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HORIZON AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO DO SOMETHING BEYOND THAT, THAT THAT CAP TO ADDRESS THE, THE MULTIPLE NEEDS.
IT'S TOO OFTEN SAID AND MAYBE WAY TOO OFTEN SAID, AND CERTAINLY TODAY IT WAS SAID MANY TIMES THAT WE SEEM TO BE IN A ZERO SUM GAME.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE IN A ZERO SUM GAME.
AND SO I I I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT WHAT YOU JUST SAID, COUNCIL MEMBER.
'CAUSE I THINK WE, WE DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO, TO WHERE THAT LEADS US, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER VELA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, I, I, COULD WE GET THE, THE GFI LANGUAGE UP ON THE SCREEN? UH, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH PAGE IT WAS, BUT, UH, THE, THAT PROVISION RELATED TO THE G FILE, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THAT.
AND, AND I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A CRITICAL PART OF THE CONTRACT.
IF WE, UH, IT, IT, IT'S KIND OF A RED LINE WHERE WE KNOW WE'VE GOTTA GET THE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY THAT AUSTIN VOTERS HAVE DEMANDED.
IF WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT, UH, I THINK WE'RE DONE, UH, HERE.
BUT IF WE ARE GETTING THAT, THEN I THINK WE GO INTO THE MORE KIND OF THE BUDGETARY ANALYSIS AND, AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF, UH, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO I JUST WANT TO, UH, LEMME FLIP OVER TO, UH, ON THE FIRST, HOLD ON JUST A SECOND.
AND I JUST WANT TO GO THROUGH THE LANGUAGE AGAIN, UH, RIGHT QUICK, UH, AND MAKE SURE THAT, UH, WE ARE OKAY ON THAT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE DESCRIBING WHAT THE RULES ARE GONNA BE AROUND, UH, GFI ACCESSIBILITY.
UH, AND AGAIN, THEY'VE KIND OF SEPARATED INTO TWO PARTS.
AND, AND AGAIN, PLEASE, UH, UH, UH, JUMP IN IF, IF I'M MISSTATING EVERYTHING, ANYTHING.
BUT FOR, UH, PRIOR, FOR RECORDS THAT ARE NOT PART OF THIS CONTRACT, THAT FIRST SENTENCE OF SECTION FOUR A SAYS THAT FOR COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED MISCONDUCT, WHICH OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FOLLOW, UH, UH, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 1 43 0.089.
UM, AND COULD YOU EXPLAIN, UH, UH, MS. STEVENS JUST A BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT 1 43 0.089 COVERS? UM, YES, ABSOLUTELY.
ROXANNA STEVENS A DEPUTY LABOR RELATIONS OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
UM, SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CONTRACT AND WE'RE NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACT ONLY TOUCHES A CERTAIN TIMEFRAME.
IN THIS INSTANCE, IT'S FIVE YEARS.
WE CALL THAT THE CONTRACT TIMEFRAME.
UM, IN NEGOTIATING THIS CONTRACT AND ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH, UM, THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT FOR THE, UM, SO THAT G FILES OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE IN A G FILE IS PUBLIC, UH, WE LOOKED AT TO WHAT WE HAD TO DEVIATE FROM 1 43 IN RESPECT TO THE G FILE IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT AND BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH PROP EIGHT MM-HMM,
[03:35:01]
AT 180 9 AS A WHOLE, THAT'S NOT ONLY THE G FILE THAT INCLUDES THE A FILE, WHICH IS THE PERSONNEL FILE, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES, UH, SECTION B THAT STATES WHAT CANNOT BE IN THE A FILE.SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESSED EACH OF THOSE ITEMS IN OH EIGHT NINE, UH, WITHIN THE CONTRACT.
UH, WE ALSO WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT BEFORE THE CON THAT THOSE PROVISIONS RELATING TO WHAT THE CONTRACT'S GONNA ADDRESS STARTED WITH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE CONTRACT.
AND ANYTHING BEFORE THAT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO, UH, THAT ENTIRE SECTION OH EIGHT NINE OF THE LO TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
AND WHATEVER A COURT TELLS US THAT MEANS, AND THAT WAS MADE VERY CLEAR ON THE RECORD, UH, BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ALSO BY THE, UM, AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION.
AND THAT STRUCTURE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS, IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND SENTENCE WHERE, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EFFECTIVE UPON EXECUTION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
THE CITY SHALL NOT MAINTAIN A CONFIDENTIAL POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL FILE UNDER G THEN THAT INSTEAD WHAT WE ARE GONNA DO IS PLACE THE G FILE RECORDS IN THE A FILE, WHICH IS THE, A FILE IS THE PRESUMPTIVELY PUBLIC PORTION OF THE, UH, UH, OF THE, THE LAW ESSENTIALLY.
IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
SO FOR THOSE FIVE YEARS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT A COURT SAYS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE MAKES A CHANGE IN THE LAW PER CONTRACT, THOSE G FILE RECORDS WILL BE PUBLIC? YES.
THAT'S THE PROVISION THAT WAS AGREED TO WITHIN THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONTRACT TIMEFRAME.
NOW, WITH REGARD TO, PRIOR TO THAT, WE'RE JUST IN A, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M READING THIS WRONG, BUT WE'RE JUST DEFAULTING AND WE'RE SAYING APPLY STATE LAW FOR, UH, ANY RECORDS THAT EXISTED PRIOR TO THE, UH, THE, THE, THE AGREEMENT.
UH, AND CURRENTLY, UH, STATE LAW, AGAIN, IT SAYS THAT A CITY MAY, UH, CREATE A G FILE AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THOSE RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL.
THE CITY OF AUSTIN, VIA THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT THAT WAS PASSED IN IN 2023, HAS CHOSEN TO NOT, UH, MAINTAIN A G FILE ANYMORE.
SO AGAIN, THE REFERENCE TO STATE LAW, UH, INCLUDES THE DECISION BY THE CITY.
IT HAS TO INCLUDE THE DECISION BY THE CITY BECAUSE THE STATE LAW IS, IS DISCRETIONARY.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO YOU COULDN'T JUST LOOK TO 1 43 0.089, YOU'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT ALSO WHAT THE CITY'S, UH, INTERNAL DECISION WAS.
AND, AND, AND WE'VE MADE THAT DECISION.
AND THAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE, THE, THE DISTRICT COURT DECISION THAT WE RECENTLY HAD.
UH, YES, THE RULING STATED THAT THERE SHALL NO LONGER BE G FILES.
THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS ISSUED AN OPINION, UH, THAT THEY'RE GONNA FOLLOW THE RULING.
UH, AND SO IT HIT THE UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS PROVISION IS THAT WHATEVER THE COURT HAS TOLD US, THAT LAW IS, WILL BE FOLLOWED OUTSIDE OF THAT CONTRACT.
AND SO WE, OUR INTERPRETATION BEING THE CITY ATTORNEY AND, AND, UH, THE COUNCIL'S, UH, UH, VIEW AT THIS POINT IS THAT WITHIN THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, PER THE CONTRACT, NO G FILE, UH, OUTSIDE OF THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, WE'RE DEFAULTING TO STATE LAW, WHICH ALSO SAYS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT MAINTAIN A G FILES.
NOW, I KNOW THAT MR. UH, BULLOCK FROM THE, UH, AUSTIN POLICE ASSOCIATION, UH, CAME UP HERE AND, AND MAYOR, YOU ASKED HIM QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY THAT THIS IS THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE G FILE.
AND MR. BULLOCK DID CONFIRM THAT THEY AGREE WITH THAT INTERPRETATION OF THE G FILE.
UH, AND COULD WE PULL UP THE, UH, TRANSCRIPT, UH, FOR THE, THE DISCUSSION? AND I APPRECIATE, UH, MS. EVES VERY MUCH THAT YOU SENDING ME THIS 'CAUSE I THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.
AND IN THE TRANSCRIPT, LEMME GET MY GLASSES.
I WAS GONNA SAY, IF YOU CAN READ THAT
UH, SO HERE WHERE, AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A TRANSCRIPT FROM THE, THE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE BARGAINING TABLE WHERE THE, UH, THE, THE, THE LABOR RELATIONS OFFICER, UH, MS. GRIFFIN IS SAYING THAT, UM, WE LOOKED AT IT AND WE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT DURING THE TERM OF THIS CONTRACT, IT 100% COMPLIES WITH PROP A.
AND THIS IS WHAT SHE SAYS THAT THIS PROVISION DOES.
IT REMOVES THE G FILE DURING THAT ENTIRE TIMEFRAME.
IT DOES NOT TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM ANYTHING CREATED PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE CONTRACT.
WE ARE NOT DEALING WITH THE TIMEFRAME PRIOR TO OR AFTER THE CONTRACT.
THE LAW IS WHAT IT IS, AND THE COURTS WILL TELL US WHAT THE LAW IS.
WE ARE ONLY DEALING WITH THE TIMEFRAME OF THE CONTRACT.
THAT IS WHAT OUR PRIOR, UH, TEMPORARY AGREEMENT AGREED TO, TO REMOVE THE G FILE DURING
[03:40:01]
THAT TIMEFRAME.AND THAT IS A POSITION THAT WE ARE GOING BACK TO.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, WE ARE WITHDRAWING OUR LANGUAGE.
AND THEN ESSENTIALLY SHE ASKED THE, UH, AUSTIN, UH, POLICE ASSOCIATION ATTORNEY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY THINK OF THAT, AND THEY COME BACK AND THEY, THEY SAY AGAIN, TYLER LATHAM FROM THE A PA SAYS, ALL RIGHT, YEAH, WE ARE GOOD WITH THAT.
AND THE REASON THAT I, I HIGHLIGHT THAT IS JUST I, YOU, THERE'S, THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING OF THE MINDS.
WE DON'T HAVE CLARITY AROUND THE G FILE, BUT I THINK THE LANGUAGE OF THE CONTRACT IS RELATIVELY CLEAR.
UH, THE POLICE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT CAME UP AND SAID THAT HE AGREES WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S INTERPRETATION OF THE CONTRACT.
UH, AND NOW WE HAVE ALSO THE TRANSCRIPT FROM THE LABOR NEGOTIATIONS WHERE THEY ARE AT THE TABLE AGREEING TO THE SAME INTERPRETATION THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY HAS.
AGAIN, ECHOING WHAT, UM, UH, MICHAEL BULLOCK, UH, MENTIONED.
SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, UH, CONCERN ABOUT, UH, UH, THE G FILE.
I KNOW THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS LAST TIME WITH THE OPO AND, AND AGAIN, ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE VERY, VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE AGREED TO AND, AND MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THE G FILE IS PUBLIC.
BUT, UM, I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT, THAT Y'ALL HAVE PUT INTO IT, THE CITY ATTORNEY AS WELL.
BUT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS LANGUAGE THAT IT DOES LOCK IN, UH, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
I'M PUTTING ASIDE THE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT I, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS ANY CONCERNS WITH, UH, WITH REGARD TO THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
BUT ULTIMATELY, I'M, I'M COMFORTABLE, UH, UH, WITH THIS, UH, LANGUAGE.
AND, UH, AND THEN FINALLY, UM, THE, THE CITY ATTORNEY, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR GFI INFORMATION FOR, UH, POLICE OFFICERS.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING, JUST FROM CONVERSATIONS THAT I'VE HAD WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE, IS THAT WE ARE NOW RELEASING, WE ARE NOW RESPONDING TO THOSE REQUESTS AND RELEASING PREVIOUSLY CONFIDENTIAL GFI INFORMATION.
I, IS THAT, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
I THINK THAT'S A HUGE STEP FORWARD.
UH, THE, THE REFERENCE, I KNOW SOMEONE, UH, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS EARLIER WERE REFERENCING SOME OF THE DISCIPLINARY, UH, UH, FINDINGS OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN PUBLICLY RELEASED.
AND, UH, AND AGAIN, I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY TROUBLING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HEAR, UH, THOSE DESCRIPTIONS OF, UH, OF POLICE, UH, UH, ABUSE OF MISCONDUCT, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I AM SO GLAD THAT THAT DOCUMENTATION IS OUT IN PUBLIC NOW, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, UH, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ULTIMATELY ABLE TO HOLD, UH, OUR POLICE, UH, OFFICERS IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE.
UH, AND I, I JUST, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, THAT WE HAVE TAKEN THESE STEPS.
I DO NOT WANT TO UNDERESTIMATE HOW IMPORTANT OF A WIN IT IS TO ACTUALLY HAVE THESE RECORDS OUT IN PUBLIC, FINALLY.
UH, AND, AND I DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT HOW IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE TO LOCK IN THESE, UH, GAINS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, AS A PART OF THE, THE, THE CONTRACT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ULTRA, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANNA PICK UP ON THE CONVERSATION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES THE MAYOR HAD A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE, THE PROJECTION, WHETHER IT'S THE WHOLE PIE GROWING, UH, AT THE SAME RATE AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR, OR NOT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE UNDER, UH, THE RESTRAINTS THAT WE'RE UNDER BECAUSE OF AN ARTIFICIAL LIMITATION PUT UPON US BY THE STATE.
UH, I THINK THAT JUST HAS BECOME SO CLEAR IN THE PAST, UH, FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN UNDER THIS, THIS LIMIT IN THAT IN INFLATION HAS OUTSTRIPPED THAT BY ITSELF.
SO LET ALONE THE FACT THAT THE CITY'S BEEN GROWING, LET ALONE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO MEET INCREASED SERVICE DEMAND, PAY OUR WORKERS MORE, JUST KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION.
WE'RE ALREADY AT AN IMBALANCE IN OUR BUDGET.
AND SO TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION THAT IT HAS TO BE THIS OR THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS, THAT IS THE ARTIFICIAL LIMITATION WE'VE BEEN PUT UNDER.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO PLAY JUST WITHIN, UH, THOSE PARAMETERS.
WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS SHOULD, UH, WE DECIDE TO PUT THAT TO THEM TO DECIDE THEMSELVES AT A TAX RATE ELECTION.
UH, LOOKING AT THE ARPA SLIDE, UM, I WANT TO LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT
[03:45:01]
THE HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICE ITEM OR FIGURE.UM, I WENT BACK AND I LOOKED AT THE PRESENTATION THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE GOT ON RAPID REHOUSING A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND IN THAT PRESENTATION WE SAW THAT, UH, THE CITY HAD $42 MILLION ALLOCATED FROM ARPA FUNDS FOR RAPID REHOUSING.
THAT $42 MILLION WAS SPENT OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD LAST YEAR.
AND THIS YEAR, SO AT AN ANNUALIZED RATE OF ABOUT 2020 $1 MILLION.
WHAT IS IN THIS NUMBER? THE 15.4 IS ONLY 4 MILLION OF THAT 20 MILLION.
SO IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE ANY LEVEL WITHIN THAT, IT, IT'S GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE A HIGHER NUMBER, UH, THAN EVEN THE 15 MILLION THAT WE'RE SEEING THERE.
SO I JUST, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE REALITY, I THINK THE REAL, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT EXACTLY THAT NUMBER IS, BUT THE REALITY IS, IT'S, IT'S GOING TO BE A LARGE NUMBER THAT WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OF HOW WE ADDRESS WHERE THOSE SERVICES FIT INTO THE PRIORITIES OF THIS CITY, AND ULTIMATELY WHAT THE VOTERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROVIDED TO THEM FROM A SERVICE DELIVERY PERSPECTIVE.
UM, I DO ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE, SORRY, I HAVE A COUPLE TABS OPEN, UH, ON THE, THE, THE SWORN VACANCY SAVINGS QUESTION VERSUS OVERTIME, OVERTIME COSTS ARE A MULTIPLE OF SALARY, RIGHT? IF WE'RE PAYING OVERTIME, IT'S JUST 50% GREATER THAN THE CURRENT SALARY COST IS, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY.
AND SO FAIR TO ASSUME THAT AS WE ARE PAYING OFFICERS MORE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THAT MULTIPLIER FOR OVERTIME IS GOING TO BE A LARGER NUMBER, RIGHT? CORRECT.
UM, NOW WORKING AGAINST THAT, AS YOU ALSO TALKED ABOUT, YOU GUYS KEPT THE, THE VACANCY SAVINGS NUMBER FLAT.
IF, IF WE HAVE A POSITION THAT IS OPEN TODAY, BUT START PAYING THAT POSITION MORE, THE VACANCY SAVINGS ELEMENT OF THAT WILL ALSO GROW BECAUSE THE UNDERLYING POSITION IS NOW GETTING, UH, A 28% RAISE OVER THE FIVE YEARS.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, BUT LOOKING HISTORICALLY, LAST YEAR, 47 MILLION, THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, I THINK IT WAS 30 SOMETHING MILLION, IT, IT IS LIKELY THAT 20 MILLION OVER TIME ALONE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE SUFFICIENT.
BUT HOW THE VACANCY SAVINGS MATCHES WITH THAT KIND OF A, WE'LL SEE
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACT, TO BE PROACTIVE.
UH, AND SO I THINK THAT IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I ALSO, UH, COMPLETELY SHIFT GEARS HERE, HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY AS IT RELATES TO THE INVESTIGATIONS ELEMENT.
UM, I'M A LITTLE OUTTA MY DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE ON THIS ONE.
SO I WAS HOPING YOU COULD HELP ILLUMINATE A, AN OFFICER'S LOUDERMILL HEARING, WHICH IS WHEN, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS BEFORE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS TAKEN, UH, NOT JUST A POLICE OFFICER, BUT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO BASICALLY HAVE A HEARING AND AND PRESENT THEIR SIDE.
AND THAT ESSENTIALLY IS YOU, YOU HAVE AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS THAT HAS COMPLETED, WE THEN GET TO THAT HEARING, AND THEN, UH, THERE'S A DECISION ABOUT WHATEVER OUTCOME IS OF, OF THAT CASE, WHETHER IT'S FIRING OR REPRIMAND OR OTHERWISE THAT CORRECT.
SO I'M, I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE INTERPLAY OF THAT WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WE HEARD HERE FROM REPRESENTATIVES FROM EQUITY ACTION, AND THEY HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT BEING EXCLUDED FROM THE INVESTIGATION.
AND SO MY TAKE OF THE SITUATION, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET CLARIFICATION
[03:50:01]
IS THAT THE INVESTIGATION HAPPENS SEPARATE.AND SO THAT'S WHY WE SAY THAT WHEN THE OFFICER SHOWS UP TO THAT HEARING, WHAT THEY SAY IS NOT PART OF THE INVESTIGATION 'CAUSE THE INVESTIGATION'S ALREADY HAPPENED.
AND SO IS THAT THE REASON WHY IT'S LEFT, WHY THE LANGUAGE IN, IN ARTICLE 16, SECTION SIX A SAYS QUESTIONS POSED AT THE DRH, WHICH IS THE DEPARTMENT REVIEW HEARING, DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN INVESTIGATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO H IS? THAT'S CORRECT.
NOW, THE, THE, UM, THE, UH, OFFICE, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT CAN STILL ASK QUESTIONS.
IT'S JUST NOT PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN THE, AND UNDER THE A POA, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT STILL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT THEY THINK THE OUTCOME SHOULD BE.
UH, LET ME JUST DOUBLE CHECK MY 10 TABS THAT ARE OPEN HERE.
UH, I, I THINK THIS LAST, AND, AND NOT LEAST AS WE LOOK FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY, UH, THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OFFERED BY COLLEAGUES HERE ABOUT HOW WE MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THIS.
AND THIS IS JUST A PIECE, WHETHER IT'S CUNY VIOLENCE, INTERRUPTERS, THAT I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER VELASQUEZ HAS BEEN A GREAT CHAMPION OF, UH, ADDRESSING SOCIAL, SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, UH, OF, OF CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS THAT, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES AND OTHERS, AND, AND I KNOW, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER HAS DONE SO MUCH WORK AS IT RELATES TO THE ACADEMY AND THE WORK WE STILL NEED TO DO THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE OFFICERS WE DO BRING IN ARE GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE TYPE OF SERVICE AND SAFETY THAT OUR COMMUNITY, UH, NEEDS.
AND SO THIS IS JUST A PIECE, AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES GETS LOST IN THE, THE BROADER CONVERSATION.
WE, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS PIECE AS PART OF THE, UH, THE BROADER WORK.
AND SO I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT HOLISTIC CONVERSATION BEYOND THE CONTRACT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARPER MADISON, FOLLOWED BY COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I'D, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK MOST OF MY QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED, AND IT JUST BRINGS ME BACK TO, UM, SO COUNCIL MEMBER VELA TOUCHED ON SOME OF MY QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER DID ALSO, BUT TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES LINE OF QUESTIONING, AND, UM, MS. LANG, YOUR ANSWER ABOUT, YOU KNOW, REMAINING FLAT, I WANTED TO ASK, I, IS THERE ANY WAY IN TERMS OF ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE WHAT THE RATE OF COMPLETION IS FOR THE ACADEMY? 'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE FOUND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY TO DETERMINE HOW MANY CADETS COMPLETE ACADEMY.
AND SO I JUST WONDER IF THERE'S ANY WAY FOR US TO GET SOME SORT OF PROJECTION, SOME SORT OF, SORT OF, SORT OF GENERAL PERCENTAGE OF CAN OF CANDIDATES THAT ACTUALLY COMPLETE ACADEMY, BECAUSE THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH VACANCY, UM, CONSIDERATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN ASKED OF THE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE'LL CHECK IN WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A RESPONSE.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.
I WANNA JUST THROW OUT SOME THOUGHTS ON THE, THE BUDGET PART OF THIS.
THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL BE ON THE DAIS NEXT YEAR FOR BUDGET ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME CONFUSION IN THE PUBLIC.
AND SO I WANNA TRY AND GO THROUGH A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS, UM, TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT CONFUSION.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT BUDGETING IS AS AN ART AS MUCH AS IT IS A SCIENCE.
UM, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS SO THAT WE CAN FORECAST.
AND THOSE ASSUMPTIONS SOMETIMES ARE RIGHT, SOMETIMES THEY'RE WRONG.
WE'VE BEEN REALLY, REALLY FORTUNATE IN AUSTIN THAT WE ARE OFTEN ABOVE OUR ASSUMPTIONS IN TERMS OF REVENUE, ET CETERA.
UM, BUT WE ARE AT A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME WHERE WE, WE MAY BE SEEING SOME CHANGES TO THAT.
AND WE NEED, WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION IN THE PUBLIC ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW DID OUR FORECAST CHANGE? AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF DID TO, TO PRESENT THAT, UM, IN A MEMO THAT IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, UM, IF YOU WANNA SEE IT.
AND WE HAD A FORECAST IN APRIL.
WE HAD THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT HAD A FIVE-YEAR FORECAST, AND WE HAVE SORT OF THE APPROVED BUDGET, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, WHAT IS THE APPROVED BUDGET LOOK LIKE, UM, WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT CHANGE, SOME OF WHICH WE'VE PAID ATTENTION TO AND SOME OF WHICH WE HAVEN'T, THAT I, THAT I DO WANT TO SURFACE.
UM, SO, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THERE WAS IN THE FORECAST ALWAYS A BUCKET OF MONEY.
THAT WAS, I THINK, IN MANAGEMENT SERVICES THAT WAS SET ASIDE FOR,
[03:55:01]
UM, PAYING WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE PAYING IN THE CONTRACT, ASSUMING THAT WE ALL WANTED TO GET TO A DEAL, UM, WOULD'VE BEEN IMPRUDENT IF WE JUST SUDDENLY GOT TO THE END OF BUDGET AND WE HADN'T BUDGETED FOR IT.UM, SO FROM THE GET GO IN APRIL AND ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS PROCESS UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY CAN SEE WHAT IT WAS, TA'ED, WE HAD A POT OF MONEY, THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE NUMBER 48.
WE HAVE TO MOVE THAT MONEY FROM ONE PART OF THE BUDGET TO ANOTHER.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHARTS, UM, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT WE, WE PRETTY MUCH ANTICIPATED WHERE WE WOULD BE FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, WE'RE HIGHER OVER TIME FOR WHERE WE LANDED, UM, WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND, AND CARRIE, IF I GET ANY OF THIS WRONG AT SOME POINT, PLEASE CORRECT ME.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T BUST THE BUDGET THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE HAD PLANNED FOR IT.
AND WE CHOSE NOT TO RAID THAT MONEY TO SPEND IT ON OTHER THINGS SO THAT WE COULD COMMIT, KEEP OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR OFFICERS THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE BARGAINING, UM, IN GOOD FAITH.
THEN YOU HAVE THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH BUDGETS ALL THE TIME WHERE YOU HAVE ASSUMPTIONS THAT CHANGE.
YOU MAKE ASSESSMENTS OF WHAT YOUR PROPERTY TAXES COME IN.
SO WE HAD GOTTEN AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT OUR PROPERTY TAXES WOULD BE IN APRIL.
THEY HAD THE ESTIMATE THAT THEY HAD FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THEN THERE WAS A SHIFT WHEN THEY GOT THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.
UM, AND BECAUSE OF A QUIRK OF THE 3.5% CAP, UM, WE ENDED UP WITH MORE MONEY IN TAXES, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD LESS PROPERTY VALUE ON OUR ROLES, WHICH STILL BOGGLES THE MIND, BUT IS HOW WE GOT THERE.
SO WE HAD MORE MONEY WHEN WE WENT INTO THE BUDGET FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES THAN WE HAD ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED.
SO THAT CLOSED SOME OF THAT GAP IN APRIL.
OUR CITY MANAGER AT THE TIME MADE AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT THE TRANSFER FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, AND THIS IS WHEN WE HAVEN'T TALKED VERY MUCH.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF US NOTICED IT IN APRIL.
THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION IN APRIL THAT WE WERE GOING TO CAP THAT TRANSFER ON A 2% GROWTH BASIS.
THAT WAS SHIFTED OVER TIME TO BE OUR ACTUAL POLICY, WHICH IS 11.6%, UM, THERE.
AND SO THAT WAS AN $18 MILLION CHANGE.
UM, WE THEN HAD SALES TAX AND SALES TAX HAS BEEN VERY VOLATILE FOR US.
AND WE, IT'S ALWAYS SOMEWHAT VOLATILE BECAUSE WE HAVE, UM, THE SPRING FESTIVALS AND WE HAVE ACL AND SO WE HAVE SOME MONTHS WHEN WE HAVE HUGE AMOUNTS OF GROWTH, ET CETERA.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN LOWER IN OUR SALES TAX GROWTH THAN WE HAVE IN PREVIOUS PERIODS.
WE HAD A CONCERN THAT WE WOULD BE BELOW WHERE WE WERE WITH BUDGET AND, UM, WHERE WE, WE LANDED, WHERE WE RE-ESTIMATE IT, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2%.
THEN WE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS MOVING FORWARD ABOUT WHAT THAT SALES TAX WOULD BE.
UM, AND THOSE ASSUMPTIONS ARE HIGHER THAN MAYBE, UM, COMFORTABLE WITH OR WHATEVER, BUT THEY'RE HISTORICALLY REASONABLE GUESSES, BUT THAT'S ALL THAT THEY ARE.
UM, BUT EACH OF THOSE PERCENTAGES DIFFERENCES IS ONLY ABOUT $3 MILLION, WHICH IN A $5.9 BILLION BUDGET'S NOT THAT MUCH MONEY.
SO, AND WE MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ON HEALTHCARE.
I BRING ALL OF THIS UP BECAUSE IF YOU ACTUALLY INTERROGATE THE DIFFERENT CHARTS, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT THERE.
UM, AND SOME OF THIS IS JUST THE ART OF BUDGETING, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE ASSUMPTIONS.
YOU GET DIFFERENT INFORMATION AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE PROCESS.
SO JUST BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE DOESN'T MAKE IT NEFARIOUS.
NOW, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, 'CAUSE TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE AT ONCE, IS THAT THE BUDGET FORECAST NEVER ASSUMED GROWTH IN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANNA SEE US SPENDING MONEY ON.
IT NEVER ASSUMED THAT WE WERE ADDING FIREFIGHTERS TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO ADDRESS OVERTIME AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR FIRE.
IT NEVER SET OUT THAT WE WERE GONNA MAKE PERMANENT FTES FOR THE EMS THAT WE ALL CLEARLY IN BUDGET WANTED IT, NEVER PUT IN MORE MONEY FOR LIBRARIES.
IT DIDN'T ADD TO, YOU KNOW, WE SET OUT THAT WE WANTED TO ADDRESS PARKS MAINTENANCE.
IT DIDN'T SET OUT TO ADD MORE PEOPLE, IT JUST SAID WE WERE GOING TO RETAIN IT, AND IT'S WORKING OFF A TAIL END OF A BOND THAT WHEN THOSE THINGS COME ON, THAT WE WILL FUND THOSE, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO ANOTHER BOND.
AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE FUNDED IN TERMS OF ONGOING EITHER.
AND THEN TODAY, UM, WE WERE PRESENTED WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WE ALL KNEW WERE THERE WITH RESPECT TO ARPA, UH, WHICH IS $31 MILLION, JUST IF WE WANTED TO DO ONGOING.
AND THERE'S SOME REALLY, REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S HOMELESSNESS SERVICES OR CHILDCARE OR WORKFORCE, UM, AUSTINVILLE AND CONSERVATION CORPS, PUBLIC HEALTH, A LOT OF REALLY GOOD THINGS IN THERE AS WELL AS THE ONE TIME FUNDING THAT WE DID WITH THE, WITH THE CONTRACT.
AND SO BOTH THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
ON ONE HAND, THE BUDGET FORECAST PROCESS IS THIS ART, UM, NOT A SCIENCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT CAN BE BALANCED, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT IT DIDN'T EVER GIVE US ANY MORE INVESTMENTS IN THOSE THINGS.
[04:00:01]
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO SORT OF DECIDE IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE WANT TO ASSUME ABOUT OUR ABILITY? UM, NOW, NOW IT'S BEEN MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT A ZERO SUM GAME, AND WE, WE, WE, WE WANNA, WE WANNA LAY BLAME.I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF THE 3.5%.
UM, BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY NOT A ZERO SUM GAME IF WE TAX SOMEBODY MORE MONEY.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'M REALLY HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT THEY CAN'T HANDLE TOO MANY MORE TAXES.
AND WE HAVE PROPOSITIONS, WHICH I HOPE WILL PASS RIGHT NOW, THAT ARE GONNA ADD TAXES TO FOLKS FOR WORTHY THINGS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE CAN'T JUST KEEP ADDING THE TAXES.
AND SO WE CAN HOPE THAT OUR SALES TAX GOES UP, WE CAN HOPE THAT OUR PROPERTY TAX GOES UP.
UM, BUT WE ALSO CAN CUT SOMETHING AND WE CAN HAVE A BUDGET PROCESS THAT GETS US TO BE ABLE TO FUND THESE OTHER THINGS.
IF WE CUT SOMETHING, UM, WE CAN, UM, YOU KNOW, WE MAY NEED TO DO SOME OF THAT STUFF.
SO IF WE WANNA FIX THE OVERTIME EXPENDITURES AND FIRE, WE MAY HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY, UM, TO DO THAT.
SO WE DO HAVE TOOLS, BUT IT'S NOT JUST GOING AND TAXING PEOPLE THAT'S GONNA GONNA FIX IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE BUDGETS TOO.
UM, AND WE, WE HAVE TO BE, BE CAREFUL THAT, THAT WE CAN'T JUST GO TO THIS CASH MACHINE AND SAY THAT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.
UM, SO I APPRECIATE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK THIS, THIS, TO EXPLAIN THIS AT LEAST ALLOWED FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHERS, I'M JUST HEARING A LOT OF CONFUSION.
UM, AND, AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD THAT, THAT WE WERE TAKING SERIOUSLY THE QUESTIONS AND THE CONCERNS.
UM, BUT BOTH OF THOSE THREE THINGS CAN BE TRUE.
AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION MAKING, UM, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE ON THE SORT OF FINANCIAL SIDE.
UM, AND I'VE HEARD SOME COLLEAGUES SAY, WELL, YEAH, WE GOT THE G FILE AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE GOT THE G FILE AND NOW IT'S RELEASED.
WELL, GUESS WHAT? ONLY SOME OF IT GETS RELEASED.
IT ONLY GETS RELEASED IF THERE'S NOT A CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
SO SOME OF THE CASES WE MOST WANT TO GET, WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET RELEASED.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE SPENT ALL OF THIS MONEY, AND IN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CASES, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THE TRANSPARENCY.
UM, BUT IT'S NOT THIS PANACEA, UM, FOR OVERSIGHT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I REMAIN THAT THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN HERE AND I'M STILL FIGURING OUT AND LISTENING TO FOLKS.
UM, BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE CHOICES ARE THERE, UM, THAT WE HAVE.
UM, I DID WANNA JUST UNDERSTAND, UM, THIS IS GONNA SWITCH GEARS TO THE LEGAL PART, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS DEBORAH OR, OR, UM, THE NEGOTIATING TEAM, BUT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S A, THERE'S A PART OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S ASKING ABOUT WITH RESPECT TO GRIEVING, UM, CASES.
SO WHEN WE DID THE CONTRACT IN 2018, WE HAD THE INVESTIGATIONS WITH OA, UM, OPO, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GRIEVE THAT PROVISION.
AND SO THEN WE LOST OUR ABILITY, UM, FOR OUR OPO TO HAVE TEETH.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE ARGUING THAT THERE IS A SIMILAR POISON PILL IN HERE, BUT I'M NOT REALLY UNDERSTANDING, UM, WHAT THE ARGUMENT IS AND WHERE I THINK WE HAVE CLARITY ON THE, THE G FILE PIECE, ALTHOUGH EVEN WITH THE G FILE, IF IT'S PRE OR POST, IT'S UP TO STATE LAW AND STATE LAW AND CHANGE.
UM, SO WHERE IS THIS, WHERE IS THE ISSUE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS COMING AND TELLING US? IS THERE, UM, ROXANNE IS STEVENS DEPUTY LABOR RELATIONS OFFICER.
UM, WHEN WE NEGOTIATED THIS CONTRACT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID WAS REVIEW, THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE A POA LOOK AT EACH PROVISION.
AND ONE OF THEM WAS SPECIFICALLY WAS THE GRIEVANCES.
AND WE LOOKED AT THAT AND WE NEGOTIATED THIS SPECIFIC PART BECAUSE THE CONTRACT WAS NOT A SOLUTION FOR THE ENTIRE A POA RIGHT? A POA ON MOST OF IT STANDS ON ITS OWN.
AND PURSUANT TO THE STATUTE, THE ONLY THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO ADDRESS WERE THE THINGS THAT NEEDED A DEVIATION FROM 1 43 THAT WERE SUBJECT TO THE AUTHORITY OF BEING BARGAINED IN THE CONTRACT.
SO WHAT WE DID, UH, WITH THIS LANGUAGE, UM, IS THE THINGS THAT WE AGREED TO THAT COMPLIED WERE IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH A POA, WE INSERTED INTO THE CONTRACT.
THAT'S A PROVISION THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE AGREED TO WITHIN THE CONTRACT.
IF WE EXERCISE THAT PROVISION SUCH AS RELEASING THE G FILE UNDER THE CONTRACT, UH, DOING ISSUING DIS THE CHIEF ISSUING DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE 365 DAYS, ITEMS LIKE THAT, THE LANGUAGE AND THE GRIEVANCE PROVISION PREVENTS,
[04:05:01]
PREVENTS ANY KIND OF GRIEVANCE ON THOSE THAT ARE, THOSE ACTIONS THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH A POE AS IT STANDS TODAY AS TWO 15.AND WITH, UM, WITH THE PROVISIONS IN THE CONTRACT, THEY CAN'T, WE CAN'T AGREE TO IT.
AND THEN THEY, LATER ON, THEY AGREE, THEY DISAGREE AND, AND FILE A GRIEVANCE.
THEY HAVE SAID, WE HAVE NEGOTIATED THE, AND WRITTEN THE LANGUAGE TO SAY IF IT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE AGREE TO, IT'S NOT GRIEVABLE.
UM, UM, I AM UNSURE THERE MAY BE CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT CAN BE GRIEVABLE.
THE ONLY THING THAT CAN BE GRIEVABLE IS A PROVISION IN THE ACTUAL CONTRACT, SOMETHING THAT IS INCLUDED IN HERE.
THE PORTIONS OF THE A POA, UM, THAT ARE NOT IN THE CONTRACT, ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THIS GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE THAT'S SUBJECT TO AN ENTIRELY OTHER PROCESS TO CHALLENGE, WHETHER IT BE THROUGH LITIGATION OR ANY WHATEVER IS AVAILABLE, UH, FOR THAT.
BUT THE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ONLY ONLY APPLIES TO THE WORDS IN THIS DOCUMENT AND, AND ONLY SPECIFIC WORDS IN THIS DOCUMENT.
AND THEN IT'S FURTHER LIMITED BY SAYING IF WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT WE AGREED TO, ESPECIALLY WITH THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT, THAT CANNOT BE GRIEVABLE.
SO I BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF THE ISSUE IS BASED ON CONFUSION AS TO WHAT THAT GRIEVANCE PROCESS IS FOR, WHAT IT APPLIES TO.
AND WE HAVE NEGOTIATED THIS VERY CAREFULLY, UM, AND DISCUSS THIS ON THE RECORD IN ORDER TO, UH, ALL BE OF ACCORD THAT THE ITEMS THAT WE INCLUDED IN THIS CONTRACT TO OBTAIN THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY CERTIFICATION, THAT IT'S IN COMPLIANCE, AND TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH PROP A CANNOT BE GRIEVED AS WE AGREED TO THEM.
UH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE OF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT WANT TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY STATEMENTS.
UM, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, THANKS TO THE PUBLIC FOR ITS, ITS COMMENTS MEMBERS, UNLESS THERE'S AN OBJECTION, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS WE RECESS UNTIL ONE 30 AND WE COME BACK AND WE TAKE UP, UM, AT THAT POINT, ITEM 42.
AND THAT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY, UH, A BRIEFING ON ITEM B ONE.
BUT WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE WILL BE IN RECESS UNTIL 1:30 PM IT IS 1:07 PM AND SO, LIKE I'M IN.
I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION.
IT'S OCTOBER 22ND, 2024, AND IT'S 1:32 PM WE HAVE A QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
WE'RE MEETING IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 3 0 1 WEST SECOND STREET.
WE WILL NOW TAKE UP ITEM NUMBER
[42. Approve an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Special Revenue Fund (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to accept and appropriate grant funds from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $47,854,062 and amending the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Transportation and Public Works Department Capital Budget (Ordinance No. 20240814-007) to transfer in and appropriate $47,854,062 for Mobility Hub projects and regional mobility education.]
42.UM, I, I THINK WHAT WE'LL DO IS I'LL FIRST ASK THE CITY CLERK TO LET US KNOW, UH, IF WE HAVE, WE, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
UH, WE WILL GET THAT PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE WILL, UH, I'LL ASK COUNCIL MEMBERS TO PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF A DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER, RICARDO GUERRERO.
LET ME, UH, RECOGNIZE ANY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER 42.
I DID, I HAD A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, I DID SEE DIRECTOR MENDOZA WAS HERE EARLIER.
UM, THANKS FOR RECOGNIZING ME, MAYOR.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER CADRE VELA, RYAN ALTER, AND I, UM, HAD TALKED ABOUT ITEM NUMBER 42, SO I WANTED TO PULL IT.
IT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD NEWS PULL.
UM, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WAS CLEAR.
UM, THIS IS AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A 4.9 $47.9 MILLION EPA GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT.
UM, THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF THE FEDERAL INFLATION REDUCTION ACT AND AN INVESTMENT UNPRECEDENTED $5 BILLION IN FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE AND AIR POLLUTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
SO IT'S A RARE AND EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON OUR CLIMATE GOALS.
I KNOW THAT I AND SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, ALL THE OTHER DELEGATES FOR CAMPO HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS A LOT OVER THE PAST YEAR OR TWO ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION PLANNING, AND WHAT ARE THE FEDERAL GRANTS COMING DOWN AND HOW ARE THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER.
UM, SO GIVEN THE SIZE OF THIS ONE, ALMOST $50 MILLION, I WANTED TO SHARE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT IT.
UM, DIRECTOR MENDOZA HAD PUT TOGETHER A MEMO.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HAVE THAT AVAILABLE.
[04:10:01]
IN BACKUP, BUT, UM, WANTED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD SENT ALONG BRIEFLY.COUNCIL MEMBER THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
RICHARD MENDOZA, DIRECTOR FOR TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UM, OUR DEPARTMENT'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS GRANT AWARD FROM THE EPA.
UH, THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT IS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES, EMISSIONS, AND OTHER HARMFUL AIR POLLUTION.
AND THE REALLY NICE THING ABOUT THIS PROGRAM IS, UH, WE UNDERSTAND TO BE IMPACTFUL AS A REGION, UM, WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE.
THERE'S A BIG COMPONENT, UH, WORKING ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO AFFECT THIS, UM, UH, POLLUTION REDUCTION FOR OUR REGION.
THAT THIS $48 MILLION IS GOING TO, UH, REALLY PROVIDE THAT SHOT IN THE ARM TO MOVE OUR STRATEGIES FORWARD, UH, QUICKER.
AND SO TO SPEAK TO YOUR QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBER, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN AND HOW OF HOW AND WHEN THESE DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT ON EACH STRATEGY AND THE TIMELINE.
AND SO THERE'S THREE PRIMARY STRATEGIES THAT WE ARE GOING TO IMPLEMENT WITH THIS MONEY OVER A FIVE YEAR TIMELINE TO AFFECT THIS, UH, POLLUTION REDUCTIONS, THE FIRST OF WHICH IS SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS.
SO THESE SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS ARE, UH, ARE GONNA INVOLVE 17 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS.
AND THIS IS ENHANCED SERVICE FROM OUR TRANS TRANSIT AREA AGENCIES.
UH, THOSE PARTNERS INCLUDE CAP, METRO SERVICE, CARTS SERVICE, AS WELL AS PRIVATE SHUTTLE SERVICES.
UH, THE THIRD, THE SECOND STRATEGY IS INVEST IN MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR $7,140,000.
AND WHAT THIS WILL ENTAIL IS THE CREATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MOBILITY HUBS, UH, AROUND STRATEGIC, UH, PLACES THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THESE MOBILITY HUBS ARE CENTRALIZED LOCATIONS THAT PROVIDE AN, A MOBILITY, UH, MIX OF ALTERNATIVES TO INCLUDE TRANSIT, TO INCLUDE, UH, BICYCLE SHARED BIKES, MICRO MOBILITY, UH, SHARED RIDERSHIP LIKE, UM, UH, UBER.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT STRATEGY.
THE THIRD MAJOR STRATEGY IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
THE KEY IMPLEMENTERS FOR THAT SECOND STRATEGY ARE THE CITY OF AUSTIN CAP METRO AND OUR, UH, CAP COG, OUR COUNCIL OF AREA, UH, GOVERNMENTS.
THE THIRD STRATEGY, AGAIN, IS BEHAVIORAL CHANGE.
SO WE HAVE TO AFFECT A CHANGE IN HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT GETTING AROUND DIFFERENTLY, UH, RATHER THAN SINGLE OCCUPANCY VEHICLES TO AFFECT THE PRODUCTION IN POLLUTION.
SO WE HAVE PROPOSED AND PROVIDED A WORK PLAN TO THE EPA OF $22.6 MILLION WITH, UH, ENHANCING OUR TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLATFORMS, UH, IN, UH, MARKETING EDUCATION AND PROVIDING DIRECT INCENTIVES FOR OUR POPULACE TO CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE MODES.
KEY IMPLEMENTERS FOR THIS, UM, STRATEGY OR THE CITY OF AUSTIN ARE PARTNERS AT MOVABILITY AS WELL AS TDOT AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR, UH, CAMPO UH, PARTNERS.
AND SO THOSE ARE THE THREE STRATEGIES AND THE AMOUNTS OVER A FIVE YEAR, UH, PERIOD.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT OUTCOMES AND GOALS DO WE AIM TO ACCOMPLISH, UH, WITH THIS PROGRAM OVER FIVE YEARS? THE KEY OUTCOMES AND GOALS INCLUDE, UH, FIRST CONGESTION RELIEF, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPTIONS FOR OUR TRAVELERS SUPPORTING TRANSIT USE, AND PRIMING THE REGION FOR INCREASED ADOPT ADOPTION OF THE ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS THAT WILL COME ONLINE OVER THE NEXT, UH, DECADE, INCLUDING LIGHT RAIL, BUS, RAPID TRANSIT, HOV LANES AND NEW ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ROUTES.
YOU KNOW, THE AWARD OF THIS MONEY COULD NOT COME MORE TIMELY.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE QUITE A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION IN OUR MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, THROUGH PROJECT CONNECT AND I 35.
AND SO TO MITIGATE THOSE EFFECTS, UH, THIS, UH, GRANT WILL GREATLY ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE THESE ALTERNATIVES FOR OUR PUBLIC TO HELP LESSEN, UM, THE, THE IMPACTS OF THAT IMPENDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION.
NUMBER FOUR, HOW WILL COUNCIL BE KEPT INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE IM IMPLEMENTATION? WELL, UH, WE WILL BE KEEPING COUNSEL INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE CPRG UM, PROCESS, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING FORWARD SEVERAL ITEMS AS WE WORK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THE WORK PLANS WITH OUR PARTNER AGENCIES.
THIS, THESE WILL REQUIRE, UH, INTERGOVERNMENTAL, UM,
[04:15:01]
ILAS AGREEMENTS AS WELL AS FUNDING AGREEMENTS, SO THEY CAN PARTNER WITH US ON ROLLING OUT, UH, THESE OBJECTIVES.AND THEN FIVE, HOW CAN COUNCIL SUPPORT THIS IMPLEMENTATION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? UH, COUNCIL WILL BE A KEY PART IN ADVOCATING OUR COMMUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS, THESE, UH, POLLUTION REDUCTION GRANT PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES.
SO THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, THERE'LL BE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS GRANT WILL HELP IMPROVE SERVICES AND INCENTIVES AND SO THAT FOLKS CAN CHOOSE ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MOVE AROUND OUR CITY.
SO THAT'S JUST A BROAD OVERVIEW.
UM, I WANNA THANK MY STAFF FOR WORKING ON THIS GRANT APPLICATION.
THEY'RE HERE TO ANSWER ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I, COUNCIL MEMBER RES YOU STILL HAVE THE FLOOR.
I WAS ALSO GONNA, UH, EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THEIR WORK.
UH, THE TPW DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO BRING DOWN MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS.
UM, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HAVE, UH, THE TRUST OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT WHEN THEY DO APPLY THESE GRANTS AND GIVE THEM TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE WELL EXECUTED AND THAT THE, UM, THE END USERS OF THE PRODUCTS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE, THE SAFER MOBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND CLEANER AIR AND WATER QUALITY AS A RESULT OF THAT.
UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE CAMPO ALREADY HAS SOME REGIONAL FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THEM FOR TDM.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS? HOW ARE YOU, UM, WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DUPLICATION OF SERVICES? I KNOW THERE'S A HANDFUL OF AGENCIES THAT MAY TAKE ON SIMILAR TOPICS.
UM, ARE YOU IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO'S COVERING WHAT, WHAT SERVICES? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER, ACTUALLY, OUR GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS STARTED WITH THE WORK THAT CAMPO HAD ALREADY LAID ON THE GROUND.
THEY WERE AFFORDED A $1 MILLION CONTRACT TO DEVELOP A REGIONAL, UM, UM, UM, POLLUTION REDUCTION STRATEGY AND PLAN.
AND SO THE PROJECTS THAT OUR TEAM WORKED ON AS GOOD CANDIDATES FOR THIS GRANT WERE VETTED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THAT CAMPO, UH, PRIOR WORK.
SO THAT HELPED LAUNCH THIS YES.
'CAUSE ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS THAT I HAD LEARNED ABOUT THROUGH CAMPO WAS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS SOMETHING CALLED SCHOOL POOL, AND IT'S HELPING PARENTS WHO ARE DRIVING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THOSE, UM, FEWER OCCUPANT VEHICLES.
SO IT'S NOT ONE PARENT, YOU KNOW, TAKING ONE CHILD.
THERE'S WAYS TO TAG TEAM WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ELIMINATING, UM, ADDITIONAL POLLUTION THAT MIGHT BE ON THE ROAD THERE.
UM, ON ONE OF THEM, TXDOT WAS LISTED AS A KEY IMPLEMENTER FOR $23 MILLION IN BEHAVIOR CHANGE FUNDING.
DO YOU, DO YOU KNOW HOW THEY PLAN TO INCORPORATE THAT WORK OR WHERE WE COULD FIND THOSE RESOURCES? SO ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TDOT AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE THE CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
AND PART OF THAT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THESE STRATEGIES IN TERMS OF INFORMING, UH, THE PUBLIC OF IMPACTS TO THEIR DAILY COMMUTES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPENDING, UH, CONSTRUCTION.
SO TXDOT IS PUTTING TOGETHER THE, UM, UM, UH, THE SOFTWARE AND THE APPLICATIONS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ROLL OUT THE CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM AND THAT THAT WILL DOVETAIL DIRECTLY WITH THIS, UM, BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AND, AND EDUCATION.
BECAUSE PART OF THAT IS, IS, UH, YOU KNOW, MAKING OUR PUBLIC FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH ACCEPTING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF GETTING AROUND TOWN.
AND THEN ON MEASURE NUMBER TWO, THE MOBILITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, WHAT EXTENT DO WE HAVE DISCRETION OVER REBALANCING FUNDS? UM, I HAVEN'T SEEN THE EXACT APPLICATION, SO I WASN'T SURE HOW SPECIFIC THE DETAILS GOT OR IF SOME OF THE MONEY COULD BE MOVED AROUND, LIKE BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
I KNOW OUR SIDEWALK PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS PROPER FUNDING.
CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DETAILS AND HOW FLEXIBLE SOME OF THE PROJECTS MIGHT BE? MOST CERTAINLY.
SO THERE'S A GRANT ADMINISTRATOR WITH THE EPA THAT WE'VE BEEN IN ALMOST WEEKLY CONVERSATION WITH.
UM, THEY'RE REQUIRING A 21 TURNAROUND A DAY TURNAROUND, UH, FOR EXECUTING ON THE GRANT AGREEMENT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE THIS WEEK.
AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO HAD TO PROVIDE THE, UM, THE DRAFT OR BEGINNINGS OF A WORK PLAN.
AND SO THEY'RE GONNA BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN, NOT JUST ON HOW WE PLAN TO ROLL THIS OUT, BUT ALSO HOW DO WE MEASURE THE OUTCOMES AND THE SUCCESSES AND THE DESIRED, UH, LEVELS OF POLLUTION REDUCTION.
SO WHILE I ANTICIPATE IF WE WANT TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND, UH, TO ACROSS THESE THREE STRATEGIES, UH, THEY WOULD BE OPEN TO THAT.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, IN TERMS OF PLANNING PROCESSES, UH, THEY NEED TO SEE HOW
[04:20:01]
WE INTEND TO INVEST THESE MONIES ACROSS THESE THREE STRATEGIES.BUT WE'RE ALWAYS, UH, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH THEM AND WE CAN WORK WITH THEM IF WE MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS GOING FORWARD.
AND THEN AS FAR AS THE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PORTIONS OF THE GRANT, UM, DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE? LIKE, WOULD SHADE TREES BE PART OF THE REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GASES OR IS IT SOME OTHER ANGLE OF TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE POLLUTION? THE PRIMARY ANGLE FOR REDUCING POLLUTION, UH, THAT THIS GRANT, UH, ANTICIPATES ACHIEVING OR JUST THE REDUCTION IN THE VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED? UH, IF YOU LOOK AT STUDIES DONE, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS, THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR, UH, TO GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS ARE VEHICLE UH, EMISSIONS.
AND SO WHILE SHADE TREES, UH, UM, CERTAINLY COULD BE ONE, UH, COMPONENT, UH, OF THAT, 'CAUSE THEY DO CLEAN THE AIR, UH, THE BULK OF, AND, AND THE GRANT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOR MONITORING DEVICES.
SO WE CAN MEASURE VERY PRECISELY, UH, HOW, UH, THIS, THESE PROGRAMS ARE IMPROVING OUR AIR.
UH, BUT SHADE TREE'S, UH, MAY BE ONE COMPONENT OF THAT, BUT WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THE WORK PLAN, UH, WITH THE EPA AND WITH OUR PARTNERS.
I'D LOVE TO KEEP MY EYE ON THAT AS THINGS PROGRESS.
UM, I KNOW THE CONVERSATIONS WILL BE ROBUST.
UM, I REMEMBER THAT THE CLIMATE EQUITY PLAN TALKS ABOUT GREENHOUSE GASES, AND SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE USING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CO LEVERAGE THE WORK HAPPENING WITH TPW AND, UM, THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE TO HELP MAKE SURE SOME OF THOSE ARE DONE.
UM, THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAD FOR THIS ONE, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO IF ANY COLLEAGUES HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
YES, MR. FUENTES, BUT APPRECIATE, UM, YOU TAKING TIME TO PUT THAT MEMO TOGETHER.
IT IS IN THE COUNCIL Q AND A REPORT.
WHERE CAN I FIND THE MEMO? SO IT'S IN THE Q AND A REPORT.
AND THEN DIRECTOR MENDOZA, THANK YOU FOR THIS INFORMATION.
THANK YOU COUNCILOR MORE ELLIS FOR PULLING IT.
INCREDIBLE NEWS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M EXCITED FOR WHAT'S TO COME AND IT COULDN'T COME AT A MORE PERFECT TIME GIVEN, UM, THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY WE'LL BE IN AS A, AS A COMMUNITY, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A FOLLOW UP MEETING.
AND IF I CAN, IF I CAN REVIEW THE APPLICATION ITSELF, I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT STAFF HAD IN MIND WITH THESE FUNDS.
UM, AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO TALK THROUGH THE CARTS PIECE AS A PARTNER IS A, A PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME IN OUR DELL VALLEY COMMUNITY, AND WANTING TO ENSURE THAT WE LEVERAGE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR OUR SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORS.
UH, SO WE'D LOVE TO HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING.
CERTAINLY WILLING, HAPPY TO DO THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MEMBER RYAN ALTER.
AND I KNOW THE, I I THINK IT'S THE MEMO OR THE FISCAL NOTE, ONE OF THE DOCUMENTS REFERENCES, YOU KNOW, THESE IS JUST SOME OF THE BROADER, UH, STRATEGIES THAT WERE SOLICITED BY THE, UM, SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE.
AND SO JUST AS WE CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT OUR REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, WOULD LOVE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S APPLYING FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO FUND SOME OF THOSE THINGS, UH, OR JUST MAKING US AWARE OF SOME OF THOSE IDEAS SO WE CAN TRY TO INCORPORATE THEM IN, IN WHATEVER, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING.
WILL DO ANYTHING MORE? COUNSEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY, THANKS FOR THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT MEMBERS.
[B1. Proposed updates to Austin’s Water Forward Integrated Water Resource Plan and Austin’s Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans.]
ONE, WHICH IS AN UPDATE, UH, PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE AUSTIN WA AUSTIN'S WATER FORWARD PLAN.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M SHAY RAWLS ROLSON, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN WATER.
AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU TODAY ON OUR UPDATES TO THE WATER FORWARD PLAN, THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN, AND THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS.
THESE ITEMS WILL BE COMING FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AT YOUR NOVEMBER 21ST COUNCIL MEETING.
SO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF YOU ON THEM TODAY.
KIND OF FAST ON THE CLICKER THERE.
AUSTIN, UH, WATER FORWARD IS AUSTIN'S 100 YEAR INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLAN.
AND THE REALLY IMPORTANT SLIDE, UH, WORDS ON THIS SLIDE ARE THAT THIS PLAN NEEDS TO BE ADAPTIVE TO GROWTH, DROUGHT, AND CLIMATE CHANGE FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO TO, TO UNDERSTAND, UM, UH, WATER FORWARD, IT HELPS TO UNDERSTAND AUSTIN'S WATER.
WE GET ALL OF OUR WATER FROM THE TEXAS, COLORADO RIVER.
UH, WE TAKE WATER OUT OF LAKES, TRAVIS AND AUSTIN, TREAT IT, DELIVER IT TO OUR
[04:25:01]
CUSTOMERS, UH, COLLECT IT BACK FROM THEM, TREAT IT AGAIN, AND PUT IT BACK IN THE COLORADO RIVER.A PORTION OF THAT, UH, HIGHLY TREATED EFFLUENT IS SENT BACK THROUGH OUR PURPLE PIPES FOR NON-DRINKING WATER USES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY IS BASED ON OUR VERY, UH, SENIOR WATER RIGHTS IN THE COLORADO RIVER, AS WELL AS CONTRACTS WITH THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR STORED WATER.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STORED WATER, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE COMBINED STORAGE OF LAKES, BUCHANAN AND TRAVIS.
UM, THIS GRAPH SHOWS YOU HOW THOSE STORAGE LEVELS HAVE VARIED OVER TIME, BACK TO THE BEGINNING, UH, WHEN THE DAMS WERE CONSTRUCTED.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LAKE LEVELS VARY SEASONALLY.
WE HAD TWO VERY SIGNIFICANT DROUGHTS IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, AND THEN A LONG PERIOD OF SEASONAL CHANGES WHERE THE LAKES WOULD FALL AND FILL OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR OR SO UNTIL THE DROUGHT OF 2008 TO 2016, WHICH WAS LONGER AND DEEPER THAN ANY WE HAD EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
AND THAT WAS THE IMPETUS OF THE WATER FORWARD PLAN.
SO OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THIS PLAN ARE REALLY ROOTED IN RESILIENCY IN OUR COMMUNITY, VALUES IN PROJECTING THE COLORADO RIVER IN EQUITY AND AFFORDABILITY.
AND THEY'RE ALSO WELL INTEGRATED WITH ALL OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING, UH, THAT THE CITY DOES.
UM, ALL OF THESE PLANS ARE REALLY FOUNDED ON THE THREE-LEGGED STOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE EQUITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND RELIABILITY AND RESILIENCY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BEING ADAPTIVE, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT PLANNING FOR UNCERTAINTY.
UH, WE KNOW THAT AUSTIN IS GONNA GROW, BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE OR WHEN THAT GROWTH WILL HAPPEN.
WE KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING OUR WATER SUPPLY, BUT WE DON'T YET KNOW THE SEVERITY OF CLIMATE CHANGE, UH, IN OUR A HUNDRED YEAR TIME STEP THAT WE'LL, WE WILL EXPERIENCE AND WE KNOW WE'LL EXPERIENCE DROUGHTS.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WHEN AND HOW LONG, UM, IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO BE READY TO ADAPT TO.
SO THIS, UH, PLAN IS FOUNDED FIRST AND FOREMOST ON CONSERVATION AND REUSE, BECAUSE EVERY DROP OF WATER THAT WE DON'T USE OR THAT WE REUSE IS A DROP OF WATER WE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE FROM THE COLORADO RIVER.
AND THEN LAYERED ON TOP OF THAT IS STRETCHING OUR WATER SUPPLIES, UM, THROUGH STRATEGIES OF STORAGE AND DEVELOPING NEW SUPPLIES BEYOND THE COLORADO RIVER.
AND THEN WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY, UM, THAT DEPENDS ON THE WATER, UH, FROM THE TEXAS, COLORADO RIVER, WHERE WE HAVE VERY STRONG PARTNERSHIPS IN THE BASIN.
AND THOSE PARTNERSHIPS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
SO, ABOUT THREE YEARS WORTH OF WORK WENT INTO THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ONE SLIDE.
I HAVE ABOUT 50 BACKUP SLIDES,
UM, BUT, UH, FUNDAMENTALLY WHAT WE DID WAS WE PROJECTED OUR DEMANDS.
WE DEVELOPED, UM, PROJECTIONS OF OUR AVAILABLE SUPPLY.
WE MODELED THOSE, HOW WE WOULD MEET THOSE RESULTING NEEDS, AND THEN WE IDENTIFIED STRATEGIES TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOXES ON THE RIGHT, THAT'S REALLY THAT LAYER THAT I WAS TA LAYERED APPROACH THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT TOP ROW IS REDUCING OUR OVERALL WATER USE.
THAT MIDDLE ROW IS STRETCHING OUR SUPPLIES AND REUSING THE WATER THAT WE HAVE.
AND THEN THE BOTTOM ROW IS ADDING NEW SUPPLY TO OUR PORTFOLIO.
SO WE DID A HIGHLY, UM, TECHNICAL AND COMPLEX EVALUATION.
WE HAD A LOT OF, UM, PARTNERS IN THIS WORK, UH, FROM THE CONSULTING AND, AND, UM, ACADEMIC, UH, COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, AND WE TESTED, UH, A A MILLION LITERALLY, UM, OF, UH, STRATEGIES AND PORTFOLIOS AGAINST THE VARIOUS, UH, POSSIBLE FUTURES THAT WE MAY FACE.
THAT GRAPH ON THE LEFT SHOWS YOU, AND THE X AXIS IS THE PERFORMANCE, RELATIVE PERFORMANCE SCORE OF THESE PORTFOLIOS AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THE Y AXIS IS THE RELATIVE COST.
AND SO WE PULLED OUT 10 PORTFOLIOS WHERE THEY, FOR ANY GIVEN COST, THEY HAD THE BEST PERFORMANCE, AND WE COMPARED THOSE PORTFOLIOS TO ONE ANOTHER.
AND ON THE RIGHT YOU CAN SEE THAT ALL 10 OF THOSE PORTFOLIOS USED THE FULL SUITE OF CONSERVATION AND REUSE STRATEGIES, AND THEN DIFFERED IN HOW THEY INCORPORATED WATER SUPPLY, UM, UH, AND NEW, UH, WATER.
SO STORAGE AND NEW WATER SUPPLY STRATEGIES.
[04:30:01]
IS, UM, AGAIN, ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE FULL SUITE OF CONSERVATION AND REUSE STRATEGIES.AND THEN TOP RIGHT IS OUR, UH, WATER SUPPLY STORAGE, UM, STRETCHING OUR COLORADO RIVER SUPPLIES WITH AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY, A NEW OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR AT, UH, LAKE WALTER, LONG AND INDIRECT POTABLE REUSE AND THE NEW WATER SUPPLIES.
AT SOME POINT IN OUR FUTURE, UM, WE, WE WOULD BEGIN WITH BRACKISH GROUNDWATER DESALINATION.
SO THAT IS WHAT IS IN THIS RECOMMENDED PORTFOLIO OF WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THE FIRST 50 YEARS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAVE STRATEGIES FOR ADAPTING.
UM, THIS PLAN WILL BE UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND THAT ALLOWS US TO INCORPORATE THE LATEST SCIENCE AND PROJECTIONS AND, UH, AND MAKE, UM, INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR, TO OUR PLAN.
SO ON THE TOPIC OF CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT PLANNING, UH, WE REALLY HAVE TWO PLANS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY OUR STATE AGENCIES TO BE SUBMITTED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN IS HOW OUR COMMUNITY USES WATER ALL YEAR ROUND.
AND THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN IS, UM, HOW WE WILL RATCHET DOWN OUR USE OF WATER IN RESPONSE TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
UM, THESE PLANS WERE DUE TO, UM, THE STATE AGENCIES IN MAY.
UM, THIS COUNCIL APPROVED THEM, UH, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE TO CONTINUE TO REVISE THESE PLANS, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UPDATES TO THE WATER FORWARD PLAN SO THAT WE COULD BRING THEM ALL BACK TO YOU, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION TOGETHER, WHICH IS WHAT WE'LL DO ON NOVEMBER 21ST.
SO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW, UM, WHY WE, UH, AGREED TO KEEP WORKING ON THEM.
UM, OUR PLAN, OUR 2029, UH, UM, WATER CONSERVATION PLAN HAD PROPOSED CONSERVATION GOALS, UM, IN GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY.
SO WHAT GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY IS, IS OUR, WE TAKE ALL OF OUR OVERALL WATER USE AND WE DIVIDE IT BY THE MILLION OR SO PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, AND THAT IS OUR GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY.
SO IT'S A VERY BROAD METRIC, BUT IT GIVES US A SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE ARE DOING IN WATER USE.
UM, IN 2019, WE WERE COMING DOWN, OUR GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY HAD BEEN DECLINING STEEPLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AS OUR COMMUNITY REALLY LEANED INTO CONSERVATION FOLLOWING THE DROUGHT.
AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD CONTINUE THAT TREND.
AND SO WE SET A, A GOAL FOR OUR FIVE-YEAR GOAL OF 119 GALLONS PER CAPITA PER DAY.
HOWEVER, OUR BASELINE STAYED ABOUT THE SAME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
SO WHAT WE DID WHEN WE DEVELOPED THIS PLAN WAS WE LOOKED AT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE, UH, HAVE PLANNED CAN DO TO CONTINUE TO BRING DOWN OUR GPCD NUMBERS.
UM, AND YOU CAN SEE THE KIND OF, UM, HIGH LEVEL SUMMARY ON THE RIGHT THERE OF THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE WERE, UH, THAT HAVE, ARE INCLUDED IN THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.
UM, SO YOU MIGHT ASK, WELL, WHY, WHY DID THE, WHY DID OUR WATER USE STAY ABOUT THE SAME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS? AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT'S A PRETTY COMPLEX PICTURE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
UM, THE, THE, UM, WATER LOSS, WE HAD, UH, EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE WATER LOSS OUT OF OUR SYSTEM MORE SIGNIFICANTLY THAN WE WERE ABLE TO DO.
BUT WE'VE NOW COMPLETED OUR WATER LOSS STUDY, AND WE'LL BE IMPLEMENTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UM, WE HAD POST PANDEMIC CHANGES IN THE WAY OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS USED WATER.
UM, WE HAD PREVIOUSLY ANTICIPATED THAT OUR ROLLOUT OF THE, OF MY A TX WATER, OUR AUTOMATED METERING SYSTEM WOULD GET DONE FASTER THAN IT ACTUALLY DID.
AND SO THERE JUST WERE KIND OF A LOT OF FACTORS THAT, THAT WERE AT PLAY HERE, UM, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
SO, UM, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE'VE, WE'VE REALLY DUG INTO THIS AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT ARE NOW INCORPORATED IN THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.
UM, THOSE INCLUDE RESTRICTING DRIP IRRIGATION, UH, THE GO PURPLE PROGRAM, WHICH YOU ALL, UM, APPROVED IN MARCH AND WENT INTO EFFECT APRIL 1ST.
THAT'S NOW FULLY IMPLEMENTED, UH, OR INCLUDED IN THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.
UM, I MENTIONED THE WATER LOSS, UH, EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THAT PROGRAM THAT WE WILL NOW BE IMPLEMENTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, WE ARE COMPLETING THE ROLLOUT OF OUR AUTOMATED METERS NOW, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF SUCCESS, UH, FROM THAT PROGRAM IN COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS AND ACHIEVING, UM, WATER REDUCTION, USE REDUCTION.
AND THEN I REALLY WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL REPORTS.
[04:35:01]
OUR STRATEGIES, BUT ALL OF THE SUB STRATEGIES, AND WE WILL BE REPORTING OUT ON THOSE ON A QUARTERLY AND ANNUAL BASIS.SO IN A, SO THAT WE CAN CHECK ON OUR PROGRESS AND SEE WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS IN ON IMPLEMENTATION SO THAT YOU ALL WILL HAVE, UH, A MORE TRANSPARENT VIEW OF HOW THAT'S GOING, AND SO THAT OUR CUSTOMERS AND OUR COMMUNITY CAN SEE THE WAYS IN WHICH, UH, THEIR ACTIVITIES, UM, AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMS CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY MEET OUR GOALS.
SO HERE'S A VISUAL OF HOW ALL THAT, UH, FITS TOGETHER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT VERY STEEP DECLINE FROM 2011 TO 2015 IN OUR COMMUNITY'S WATER, WATER USE.
AND THEN, UH, YOU CAN SEE IT KIND LEVELING OFF WITH SOME NOISE IN THE DATA THERE THROUGH, UM, THROUGH 2023.
THE GREEN LINE IS, IS, WAS OUR GOAL IN OUR 2019 WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.
AND THEN THE ORANGE LINE IS OUR UPDATED GOAL.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE STILL VERY COMMITTED TO, UH, WATER CONSERVATION.
THIS IS, AS I HAVE SAID THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION, FOUNDATIONAL TO MEETING OUR GOALS FOR WATER FORWARD.
UM, AND SO WE, WE CONTINUE TO COMMIT TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO DRIVE DOWN WATER USE AND TO REPORT TO YOU ON A REGULAR BASIS OF HOW, HOW WE'RE DOING.
SO I'LL JUST WRAP UP WITH, UM, AN UPDATE ON ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, THIS ONLY GOES BACK TO MID-JULY, BUT, UM, WE HAVE BEEN VERY ENGAGED WITH OUR WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE, UH, WITH PUBLIC WORKSHOPS WITH WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION.
THOSE THREE BODIES WILL BE VOTING ON THESE PLANS IN NOVEMBER AND THEN, UH, AND MAKING A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU ON WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE THEM.
AND THEN WE'LL BRING THEM TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION ON NOVEMBER 21ST.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL MEMBERS, QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I'VE GOT SOME, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
SOME FOLKS ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DRIP IRRIGATION.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT CONVERSATION? HOW WOULD THERE BE LIMITS ON DRIP IRRIGATION AND WHAT'S THE, THE PURPOSE? IS IT ABOUT TIMING? IS IT ABOUT PEOPLE NOT KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE A LEAK? UM, CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES? SURE.
AND WE HAVE, UM, DIVISION MANAGER, KEVIN KLU GAVE OUR WATER CONSERVATION DIVISION THAT CAN HELP ME WITH THE DETAILS.
UM, BUT THE GENERALLY, WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY NOT HAD RESTRICTIONS ON DRIP IRRIGATION, WHEREAS, UM, AUTOMATIC SPRAY IRRIGATION AND HOSE AND IRRIGATION ARE RESTRICTED TO ONE DAY A WEEK AND TWO DAYS A WEEK.
UM, DRIP IRRIGATION IS A, CAN BE, IT SHOULD BE A MORE EFFICIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BUT IT CAN ALSO BE INEFFICIENT IF IT'S NOT, UM, INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED CORRECTLY.
AND SO, UM, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT WE IMPLEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON DRIP IRRIGATION.
THAT WOULD BE TWO DAYS A WEEK.
WE WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH, UH, LAND THE LANDSCAPING COMMUNITY ON THOSE PROPOSED LIMITATIONS.
UM, AND WE FEEL THAT WE'VE STRUCK A BALANCE OF, UM, RECOGNIZING THAT THAT'S A MORE EFFICIENT SYSTEM AND, UH, THAT WE STILL NEED TO HAVE SOME GUARDRAILS AROUND THE USAGE DRIP IRRIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING USED EFFECTIVELY.
AND WILL THERE BE OUTREACH TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY USING IRRIGATION SYSTEMS JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES COMING? YES, WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE COMMUNICATED ALREADY WITH TNLA
UM, AND, UH, AND WE WILL HAVE COMMUNICATIONS TO OUR CUSTOMERS ON THE, ON THE OUTCOME OF THE CHANGES TO THE WATER CONSERVATION PLAN AS WELL.
AND SO THIS MIGHT JUST BE FOR ANYONE WITH A HOSE DRIP IRRIGATE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO NEW, YOU KNOW, NEWLY CONSTRUCTED IRRIGATION.
IT WILL, IT WILL APPLY TO ANYONE WHO HAS DRIP IRRIGATION NOW.
YOU MAY HAVE SPRAYER IRRIGATION IN YOUR YARD.
YOU MAY JUST WATER YOUR YARD WITH A HOSE, YOU MAY HAVE DRIP IRRIGATION.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND YOU HAVE, THERE WILL BE, UM, THERE WILL BE TIME AND DAY, UH, RESTRICTIONS FOR, FOR THE IRRIGATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING MORE INFORMATION.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE FOLKS IN MY DISTRICT AT LEAST ARE AWARE THAT THESE CHANGES MIGHT COME AND HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
WE WELCOME THE QUESTIONS AND IN FACT, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE, THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR, WE'VE, WE'VE, UH, WE'VE TAKEN THAT FEEDBACK AND WE'VE MADE CHANGES TO WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING.
SO WE, WE BELIEVE WE'VE STRUCK A BALANCE, BUT WE WELCOME THE FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU FOR THE INFO MAYOR PRO TIM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, UM, A LITTLE FURTHER ON WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE DRIP IRRIGATION AND BUBBLERS AND SO FORTH.
ANOTHER GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT YOU MIGHT, UM, MAKE SURE ARE INCLUDED IN, IN, UH, THE EDUCATION AND THE UPDATES WOULD BE REAL ESTATE AGENTS.
I, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE TALKED TO REAL ESTATE AGENTS
[04:40:03]
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT, BUT WE WILL, WE'LL TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.COUNCIL MEMBER ALTER, YOU HAD YOUR LIGHT ON FOR A SECOND AND IT'S WENT OFF.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S OFF NOW, BUT, UH, OKAY.
WHEN I PUSH WHATEVER
UM, SO I WANTED TO ASK, UM, IS THERE SOMEPLACE WHERE WE CAN SEE WHERE THE PORTFOLIO CHANGED FROM THE FIRST VERSION OF WATER FORWARD? AND NOW, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, MARISA FLORES GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE SUPERVISOR OF OUR WATER RESOURCES TEAM TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 2018 PLAN AND THE 2024 PLAN.
AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO GO THROUGH THE DETAILS WHY I WAS, I HAVEN'T READ THE NEW PLAN, SO I WAS SORT OF HOPING THAT YOU COULD POINT ME TO WHERE I COULD MEET IT, BUT YOU'RE WELCOME.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE EXACTLY THAT TABLE.
SO, MARISA FLORES GONZALEZ, I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF THE WATER RESOURCES TEAM AT AUSTIN WATER.
WE HAVE A COMPARISON TABLE IN, UM, SOME MATERIALS THAT WE PRESENTED TO THE WATER FORWARD TASK FORCE AT THEIR PREVIOUS MEETING, UM, ON OCTOBER, UH, 20, UH, OCTOBER 18TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS.
AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT COMPARISON TABLE TO YOU.
IN SUMMARY, THERE'S A, A SLIGHT DOWNSHIFT IN THE VOLUMES FROM SOME OF THE STRATEGIES.
THE, UM, BIGGEST CHANGE BETWEEN STRATEGIES FROM 2018 TO TODAY'S PLAN 2024, IS THAT RATHER THAN BUILDING A NEW OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR IN THE 2070 TIME STEP, WE'RE PROPOSING TO USE, UM, LAKE WALTER E. LONG AS AN OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR AND, UM, A AND USING THAT RESERVOIR, UM, IN SUCH A WAY AS THE LAKE LEVEL WOULD REMAIN LARGELY CONSTANT AND WOULD ONLY FLUCTUATE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF FIVE FEET DURING DROUGHT CONDITIONS.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHICH OF YOU THIS WOULD BE FOR.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING A LOT AT ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR CITY BUILDINGS AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO HAVE SOLAR AND, AND OTHER THINGS.
AND, AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A, UM, WATER TREATMENT TYPE REUSE AT THE, THE PDC, WE TALKED LESS ABOUT THAT WITH OUR BUILDINGS.
UM, I KNOW WHEN I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT WITH RESPECT TO OUR POOLS BECAUSE OUR POOLS WERE LEAKING.
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW AUSTIN WATER IS WORKING WITH OUR CITY FACILITIES BROADLY DEFINED, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE WATER THAT'S COMING THROUGH OUR SYSTEMS? SO WE, I AM THINKING ABOUT HOW TO ANSWER THAT.
I THINK WE HAVE MADE OURSELVES AVAILABLE TO OUR, UM, TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ASSIST THEM WITH THEIR QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT WATER EFFICIENCY.
AND WE HAVE SOME STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN, UM, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO DO THAT WORK.
UM, AND DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? ONE OF YOU,
UM, I'LL JUST ADD, SO AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE WATER 4 20 18 PLANNER, AS A PART OF THAT, ONE OF THE, UM, UH, KIND OF DIRECTIONS FROM COUNCIL THAT WE RECEIVED WAS TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS ABOUT THINGS LIKE POOL EFFICIENCIES, UM, AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, UH, FOR EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION, UM, AS WELL AS REUSE.
UM, SO WE HAVE BEEN ENG UH, HAVING ONGOING ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, UH, AS WELL AS AUSTIN ENERGY AND OTHERS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO CONNECT TO OUR CENTRALIZED RECLAIM WATER SYSTEM TO MAKE USE OF REUS WATER.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER CONSERVATION.
UM, ACTUALLY IN THE, UM, UH, IN THE WORK THAT OUR, UH, STAFF WAS DOING TO PUT TOGETHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE, UM, UM, THE KIND OF RECENT PROPOSALS RELATED TO THE, UM, UH, KIND OF CLIMATE PROJECTS, UM, THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SPRING, WE WORKED WITH PAR AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO PUT TOGETHER SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER EFFICIENCY.
SO WE HAVE SOME, UH, WE HAVE THAT ONGOING CONVERSATION HAPPENING WITH OTHER STATE DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN WE HAVE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE ALSO PLANNED FOR OUR OWN, UM, FACILITIES WITHIN AUSTIN WATER.
AND, UM, UH, WAYS THAT WE CAN REUSE, UM, UH, WATER WITHIN OUR OWN FACILITIES AS WELL.
DO WE HAVE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR OWN FACILITIES TO GO THROUGH? UM, I BELIEVE THAT CITY OF AUSTIN BUILDINGS HAVE TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN, UM, STANDARDS IN TERMS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, AUSTIN GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS, WHICH ALSO RELATES TO LEAD REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS THAT WE OWN AND ALSO POTENTIALLY FOR BUILDINGS THAT WE LEASE.
AND, UM, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE KIND OF UPDATES TO THOSE STANDARDS IN THE PAST TO, UH, UH, TRY TO ENCOURAGE WATER
[04:45:01]
REUSE AS WELL AS CONSERVATION AND EFFICIENCY WITHIN THOSE STANDARDS.SO I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE EFFICIENCY STANDARDS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR CITY OF AUSTIN FACILITIES.
UM, AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH THE WATER MAIN LINKS.
WE'VE SEEN, I THINK, THREE MAJOR WATER MAIN LEAKS IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, UM, WITH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME OR AT A WALK, BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND, AND HAVE YOU SPEAK TO THOSE LEAKS.
AND IF IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE TO DO IT AT A WALK WITH A PREPARED PRESENTATION, THAT'S FINE TOO, BUT, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS AND WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IF THIS IS JUST FOLKS INADVERTENTLY HITTING A PIPE WHEN IT WAS ALL SIGNED AND WHATEVER, AND THEY MADE A MISTAKE, OR IF IT'S SHIFTING CLIMATE ISSUES THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO LEAKS OR, OR, AND EXACTLY HOW MUCH WATER WE'RE LOSING AND, AND WHAT HAVE BEEN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS? UH, I'LL SAY BROADLY THAT IT'S, IT'S GENERALLY A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.
SO WE, UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD RAIN IN SEVERAL WEEKS, AND SO SHIFTING SOILS, UM, WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE OUR, UM, MAIN BREAKS TO, TO SPIKE.
UM, AND THEN WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTORS OUT WORKING IN OUR SYSTEM, UM, THAT, UH, THAT DO OCCASIONALLY HIT, UM, HIT OUR, OUR PIPES.
UM, WE, YOU KNOW, WE, WE RESPOND, WE HAVE A VERY RAPID RESPONSE PROGRAM TO GET OUT AND DE CHLORINATE THAT WATER BEFORE IT REACHES WATERWAYS WITH FISH.
UM, WE DON'T ALWAYS GET THERE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN TIME TO PREVENT THE INITIAL FISH, UH, BEING IMPACTED.
UM, BUT, UM, WE CAN, UM, MAYBE DISCUSS WITH YOUR OFFICE THE KINDS OF INFORMATION THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE THAT MORE COMPLETELY.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY A, UM, A A BROAD AND COMPLEX, UH, SITUATION THAT WE FACE IN THE FIELD.
AND, UM, MAYOR PROTIME POOL, I THINK WE ASKED FOR THAT TO BE ON THE, UM, A WALK AGENDA.
UM, SO THAT WOULD BE, BE GREAT IF WE COULD DO THAT THERE.
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBERS? MAYOR, ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES.
UH, I DO HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION TO PICK UP WHERE COUNCIL MEMBER ALICE MALTER LEFT OFF THERE, YOU OVER THE FLOOR.
I WAS HOPING YOU, AND, AND IF IT IS AT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THAT'S FINE AS WELL.
BUT IF YOU COULD EXPOUND UPON WHAT WE'RE DOING, EITHER THROUGH WATER FORWARD, THROUGH OUR CONSERVATION PLAN OR JUST ALTOGETHER, SEPARATELY AS IT RELATES TO THE WATER LOSS IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO WE, UM, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE, UH, OR MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WE BROUGHT ON A CONSULTANT TO REVIEW OUR WATER LOSS PROGRAM.
AND, UH, AND THEY, THAT REPORT WAS JUST FINISHED AND WE, WE SENT OUT, UM, THAT REPORT AND OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND A MEMO TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL EARLIER THIS MONTH.
UM, AND SO WE'VE, WE'VE IDENTIFIED, UH, A CROSS DEPARTMENTAL TEAM THAT WILL BE FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THAT REPORT.
THEY'RE GONNA TOUCH PRETTY MUCH EVERY PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
UM, AND WE'RE GONNA USE THOSE, THAT ROADMAP, UM, TO, TO BE HIGHLY FOCUSED ON, UM, REDUCING WATER LOSS OUT OF AUSTIN WATER SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, ONE TO, TO FIVE YEARS.
WELL, I, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO IDENTIFY, UH, IF ANYTHING IS SCALABLE.
FOR INSTANCE, I KNOW OUR PIPE REPLACEMENT, YOU KNOW, WE DO A CERTAIN AMOUNT, THE STUDY HAS RECOMMENDED, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL AMOUNTS, BUT IF THAT FACTORS INTO WATER FORWARD OR A, A SEPARATE DECISION, JUST IF Y'ALL CAN, CAN KIND OF SHOW US, YOU KNOW, IF WE GO FORWARD, LET'S SAY WITH A 2% REPLACEMENT, THIS IS HOW MUCH WATER WE THINK WE'RE GONNA SAVE A TWO AND A HALF PERCENT, UH, WHAT MIGHT YIELD THIS AT, YOU KNOW, AND AT WHAT COST? UH, IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL IN, IN MAKING SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.
Y YOU KNOW, TO THE, TO THE POINT ABOUT MAIN REPLACEMENTS, WE IMPLEMENTED THE RENEWING AUSTIN PROGRAM, UM, ABOUT, UH, 12 OR 13 YEARS AGO.
AND NOW OUR MAIN BREAKS ARE ACTUALLY WELL BELOW WHAT'S, UH, UH, THE AVERAGE AND EVEN BELOW WHAT'S CONSIDERED TO BE AN OPTIMIZED UTILITY.
SO FROM A MAIN BREAK PERSPECTIVE, WE PERFORM VERY WELL WHERE WE, WHAT REALLY CAME OUT OF THIS WATER LOSS STUDY, UM, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF THERE, THERE'S LOTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA IMPLEMENT, BUT ONE BIG TAKEAWAY WAS THAT WE HAVE HIGHER RATES OF BREAKS IN OUR SERVICE LINES.
AND SO THAT'S, WE HAVE PROGRAMS NOW TO REPLACE POOR PERFORMING SERVICE LINES AND THAT WILL DEFINITELY BE AN AREA WHERE WE WILL LOOK TO SCALE THOSE EFFORTS.
[04:50:01]
I APPRECIATE IT.COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYTHING MORE? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR THE TIME MEMBERS, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
THE WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 22ND, 2024 WILL BE ADJOURNED.
IT IS 2:14 PM WE ARE ADJOURNED.