Austin City Council Passes Ordinance to Provide Short-term Solution on Police Compensation and Oversight

 

Ordinance will maintain effective recruitment and retention efforts by ensuring base pay increases and protecting specialty pay and buy-out options.   Austin City Council unanimously approved an ordinance today that will provide a short-term solution for police compensation and oversight. The ordinance, authored by Council Member Ryan Alter and co-sponsored by Mayor Kirk Watson and Council Members Alison Alter, José Velásquez and José “Chito” Vela, fulfills several community needs and only becomes necessary if an agreement on a police contract between the City of Austin and Austin Police Association is not reached.   “With today’s ordinance, we have a short-term solution to ensure our community’s public safety needs are met and that our police officers are appropriately compensated with stable wages and benefits,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “Nobody, me included, thinks this is a perfect solution, but inaction is not an option. Our community needs to be safe and feel safe.”   Watson said he is hopeful negotiations between the City and the Austin Police Association can resume.   “I am disappointed that negotiations between the City and the Austin Police Association haven’t continued,” Watson said. “I am asking the Association to come back to the negotiating table. Let’s work together to figure this out for our police officers and the community.”   The Ordinance contains the following: Financial assurances for police officers that would otherwise be in a contract in the form of base pay increases and protecting specialty pay and buyout options for officers who are retiring. Supplemented recruiting and retention efforts so that current staffing levels can be increased. Police oversight continued to be conducted by the City as authorized by existing state and local laws “While the timing of the current contract’s expiration at the end of March and the upcoming May election have put City Officials and the Police Association in tough positions, I am committed to ensuring that we do what is in the best interest of this community and the officers who protect and serve it,” Council Member Ryan Alter said.   “Today’s Council action provides stable benefits and pay to our officers, while maintaining robust oversight. We cannot go backwards. In the absence of an agreement, we are sending a clear message that - no matter what - we value our officers and want them to continue to serve our communities responsibly.”   Mayor Watson’s amendment made additional provisions directing the City Manager to develop and implement a program to include the following: A base pay increase for all APD officers below the rank of Assistant Chief. A signing bonus for new cadets. A retention strategy that incentivizes officers to extend their service. A financial component for officers that incentivizes the Austin Police Association to immediately return to the negotiating table in good faith. The Ordinance takes effect upon the expiration of the current meet and confer agreement between the City and the Austin Police Association (APA) scheduled to expire on March 31, 2023.

City breaks ground on Goodnight Ranch Joint Fire/EMS Station in Southeast Austin

 

Represents fourth of five high-priority stations being built around Austin

The Goodnight Ranch Station is slated for completion in early 2024.

Austin Public Works, the Austin Fire Department, and Austin-Travis County EMS broke ground today on the Goodnight Ranch joint Fire/EMS station, the fourth of five high-priority stations being built to keep up with the city’s population growth. In May 2018, Council passed a Resolution to develop a plan to fund and build five new Fire/EMS stations in six years, serving areas with low response times and/or high population growth. What will be AFD Station #53/EMS Station #42 is the fourth in the series {Del Valle/Moore’s Crossing (opened July 2020); Travis Country/Sunset Valley (opened July 2021); Loop 360/Davenport (slated to open Spring 2023)}, leaving just one station left to complete Council’s directive; that facility will be located in the Canyon Creek/620 area and is currently in the design phase. District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who represents the community members this station will serve, expressed her excitement with this project: “One of the most important roles I play as a local leader is ensuring our communities have access to quick and reliable public safety. This new joint Fire/EMS Station will provide faster response times while addressing the City’s rapid growth, especially in our Southeast Austin communities. I’m proud to say that once completed, this station will be the second high-priority station built in Southeast Austin in the last three years.” "This has been a true collaborative effort to make sure these high-priority stations stay on track,” Interim Austin Transportation Director Richard Mendoza added. Partners include the Austin Fire Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, Austin Energy, Austin Water, as well as the City’s offices of Budget and Finance, Capital Contracting, Real Estate Services, and more. He continued, “That speaks to the level of commitment and focus the team has to deliver these important community assets, and I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone’s hard work." “Our goal is to respond to those we serve in eight minutes or less, 90 percent of the time,” said Fire Chief Joel G. Baker. “This latest addition to the public safety fabric of this community is an exciting development as we get closer towards the goal of seeing five new stations completed in six years. We are grateful to the Mayor, Council, City Manager, and all those who have worked so hard in making this station, as well as the others, a reality, and we look forward to being back at this site next year for the grand opening!” "This station is another important step in the right direction towards providing our residents with the most equitable deployment of EMS resources across the city," said ATCEMS Chief Robert Luckritz. "We are so thankful to our City leaders and the residents of Austin for their support of this initiative and our department." Features of the new Goodnight Ranch station include: 15,200 SF + training stairs; Four pull-through apparatus bays; Eleven Fire dorms; four EMS dorms; Common Day Room, Kitchen, and Gym; Parking for 21 station personnel; and Exterior space for station personnel.

Austin Public Works Begins Construction of Zilker Park Multimodal Access Improvements

 

Rendering of the planned shared use path, pedestrian crossing, and bus stop on Barton Springs Road.

In 2024 Austin resident and visitors alike will be able to walk, bike or roll comfortably between MoPac and Zilker Park. Austin Public Works recently kicked off construction of improvements to transform an intimidating .7-mile stretch of Barton Springs Road and Stratford Drive into a comfortable and walkable destination.   Once complete, these improvements will transform pedestrian, bicycle and transit access to Zilker Park, Zilker Botanical Garden and the Austin Nature and Science Center. The project includes:   Shared use paths along Barton Springs Road and Stratford Drive  A landscaped buffer between the shared use path and vehicular travel lanes along Barton Springs Road   Improvements to bus stops on both sides of Barton Springs Road including new concrete pads and benches  A pedestrian hybrid beacon and crosswalk across Barton Springs Road near the Zilker Botanical Garden entrance   View the project fact sheet.

Illustrated map of the project limits. Map is not drawn to scale or intended to be used for engineering purposes.

“I am so excited to put my district's Quarter Cent funding to work in this way,” said Mayor Pro Tem Paige Ellis, who represents District 8 on Austin’s City Council. “Giving our residents more options for getting around safely is a top priority for my office. Improving this stretch of Barton Springs Road will make a huge difference in unlocking access to Zilker Park for families, people with disabilities, and transit riders in south Austin and beyond.”    The Zilker Park Multimodal Access Improvements project is made possible through Quarter Cent funding allocated by City Council as well as the 2016 and 2020 Mobility Bonds. Austin Public Works’ Sidewalk Program is managing the construction of the safety improvement project in partnership with Austin Transportation, Capital Metro, Austin Parks and Recreation, and Zilker Botanical Garden.  “This project is a great example of the importance of collaboration,” remarked James Snow, Austin Public Works Interim Director. “Our staff is always looking for ways to leverage and stretch the Mobility Bond dollars to go further. Our partners are helping us take this from a straightforward safety project to a beautiful, green community benefit.”

An interdepartmental project team met on site in January to review the project design and coordinate the sequencing of construction.

“The shared use path will greatly improve safety and access to the area, especially since many people who visit Zilker Botanical Garden arrive on foot, by bicycle or via the bus.” said Cynthia Klemmer, Program Manager of Environmental Conservation at Austin Parks and Recreation.  Barring weather delays or other unforeseen circumstances, construction is expected to take 12-18 months to complete. Work will occur in three phases. Barton Springs Road and Stratford Drive will remain accessible in both directions during construction. However, park visitors and commuters traveling through the work zone should proceed cautiously and stay alert for traffic signs, cones and flaggers.

A crew works to form and pour the section of shared use path just west of the Zilker Botanical Garden entrance on Barton Springs Road.

Statement from Mayor Kirk Watson Regarding Illegal Street Racing Incidents

“As the Austin Police Department has stated, the street takeovers over the weekend were illegal and outrageous; they will result in arrest. I’m relieved that the injured police officer is doing OK and the vehicle damage was limited.
 
“The dramatic videos have gone viral and made some folks Internet famous but, for me, the bigger issue is the significant wait times for 911 calls. Our 911 call center received four times the normal number of 911 calls during the incident on Saturday night and that led to unacceptably long waits. I’ve talked to Interim City Manager Jesús Garza and Chief Chacon about our options for dealing with our ongoing staffing challenges at 911 and hope to have at least a temporary solution soon.

“The Austin Police Association posted some false comments on Sunday that appeared to wrongly conflate this illegal incident with important community conversations about safety and oversight. Twitter is not an appropriate forum for contract negotiations, and no Austinite should ever accept the false choice between public safety and responsible policing — Austin can, and will, have both. If the Austin Police Association would like to talk about staffing and other issues, we welcome them back to the negotiating table to discuss a one-year contract.
 
“While we wait on the APA, the Austin City Council will take up an ordinance this week that will assure APD officers’ wages, benefits and payout of sick leave hours upon separation are continued as covered under the current contract, even if the City and the police union do not reach an agreement before the current contract expires on March 31. We want our police officers and their families to know that they are supported by this City.
 
“This ordinance will also establish the authority of the Office of the Police Oversight as an investigator as permitted by state law.  This option will allow for investigations of anonymous complaints by citizens and police officers.
 
“I believe this ordinance can accomplish our goals, protect and provide security for our police officers, and allow for a robust and effective civilian oversight.  But let me be clear – this is not a better outcome than a one-year agreement with the police association.  It would be better for everyone if they would return to the negotiating table now, but if they do not then we must pass this ordinance to maintain effective recruiting and retention of APD officers.”

Austin Resource Recovery announces updated storm debris collection timeline

Austin Resource Recovery (ARR), a department of the City of Austin, is collecting unprecedented storm debris from the 2023 winter storm. In just one week of collection, the total tonnage of material collected from the 2021 winter storm was exceeded.  

With the combined forces of 70+ staff and contracted crews, ARR anticipates it will complete the first of several passes through the city collecting storm debris by the end of first week of March. Many areas will likely require a second or third collection to clear all storm debris, and ARR expects those will be completed by April 30, 2023. After that, ARR will change focus from broad passes through the city, and continue collections as needed, strictly through special storm debris collection requests made through Austin 3-1-1. This will continue through June 30, 2023. 

By February 16, more than 34,828 tons of storm debris were collected through 4,985 truckloads. ARR estimates that its first pass through the city is roughly halfway completed.  

Currently, storm debris collection routes are based on the volume of service requests in a given area. ARR uses 3-1-1 service requests in an area as a guide to determine which neighborhoods/regions have material set out and ready for collection and should be serviced first. Still, ARR will collect all storm debris from its customers – that is properly placed at the curb – on that same street regardless of a request being submitted for a specific address.  

ARR will only collect storm debris from its curbside customers (single-family homes, duplexes and four-plexes in Austin). If someone is unsure if they are an ARR customer, they can search their address online at austintexas.gov/myschedule. If the address does not show up as an ARR customer, the name of their hauler is typically imprinted in their trash and recycling carts; that is who they should contact for storm debris removal options. 

Regardless of whether they are ARR customers, Austin and Travis County residents can also drop off storm debris (large tree limbs, small and large branches, shrubs and leaves) at Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant (2210 FM 973, Austin, TX): get operation times and drop-off details. More than 3,500 loads of storm debris have been dropped off at the facility by residents, weighing in at 1,382 tons through February 16. 
 

Operations in some city parks 

Austinites should be aware that some city parks (Circle C Ranch Metro Park, Bolm District Park and Old Manor Road) are being utilized as a temporary storage areas for ARR contractors to clear large tree limbs and branches from neighborhoods. After it’s brought to the park, storm debris will be ground into mulch and transported to Austin Water's Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant, where it will be used to create Dillo Dirt. ARR is working with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department to minimize the impact on park operations. The use of these locations is helping ARR speed up storm debris collection efforts by providing a nearby place for truckloads of debris to be emptied. These locations will be active until storm clean-up is complete, and then parks will be returned to their normal state. 

These are not a public drop-off locations, and contractors must have a City-issued contract and approval for use. Verification of credentials is required for drop offs.  

ARR thanks Austinites for their patience as it works to restore our community. 

 About Austin Resource Recovery   
Austin Resource Recovery provides a wide range of services designed to transform waste into resources while keeping our community clean. Services include curbside collection of recycling, trash, yard trimming and large brush and bulk items; street sweeping; dead animal collection; household hazardous waste disposal and recycling; and outreach and education. In December 2011, the Austin City Council approved the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan, which is the City’s roadmap to Zero Waste. The City of Austin is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to area landfills by 90 percent by 2040 or sooner. Stay connected with @AustinRecycles on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter. Learn more about our services at austinrecycles.com.

Public Works Releases 2022 Annual Report

 

Quick Snapshot Spotlights Yearly Stats

Public Works applied street treatments to 706 lane miles in 2022 to keep Austin roads in good condition. The department manages almost 8,000 total lane miles across the city.

The City of Austin's Public Works Department has published its 2022 Annual Report. Public Works houses programs that span a wide spectrum – everything from infrastructure improvements to maintenance of the city's streets, sidewalks, and bridges to managing capital projects and more. The Annual Report outlines the department's various services by providing a summer of the year's highlights in bite-size form while also spotlighting a busy year. Achievements documented in the report are focused on the City's Fiscal Year 2022 (Oct. 1, 2021-Sept. 30, 2022). Download photos of Public Works activities that are featured in the report here. “Public Works continues to set the bar high as we move forward and as Austin maintains its status as one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.,” says Robert Goode, Interim Assistant City Manager over Mobility. "Our goal is to continue to anticipate and meet our residents' expectations for our services." The online report is organized in three sections that show how Public Works helps create a community that is not only well-built and well-maintained, but provides well-being for all residents. “Our people are integral to our success,” says Public Works Interim Director James Snow. “They hold years of experience and collective knowledge that help us not only function in the day-to-day but succeed over the long run. With this kind of foundation, we are able to focus on our steadfast commitment to serving the community.” Highlights of the 2022 Annual Report include:  Repaired 1,447 potholes, 96% of which were addressed within 48 hours of reporting Maintained the City's 7,998 lane miles of streets, 75% of which are in satisfactory condition Constructed and repaired 35 miles of sidewalk Managed $363 million worth of spending for capital projects Completed 10 neighborhood-driven projects through the Neighborhood Partnering Program Supplying 96 schools with crossing guards to help students get to and from school safely To view the 2022 Austin Public Works Annual Report, visit: atxpwreport2022.com.

The Stassney Lane Reconstruction Project, funded by the voter-approved 2018 Bond, represents one of many projects that Public Works managed in 2022.

### About Austin Public Works:  The City of Austin's Public Works Department designs, manages, and inspects major capital improvement projects; promotes bicycle, pedestrian, safe routes to school, and urban trail projects; and maintains the City's network of urban trails, sidewalks, roadways, and bridges once they are built. The Neighborhood Partnering Program provides opportunities for local groups to make public improvements within their community.

Overnight Cold Weather Shelters Activation Thursday, Feb. 16

Cold weather shelters will be open overnight Thursday, Feb. 16. 

Go to One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road from 6 - 8 p.m. to register for overnight shelter. 

The following CapMetro bus lines will take you to OTC: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, 801. 

For the activation status of cold weather shelters, call 512-305-4233.