| | Dear neighbors,
I am pleased to report that today we voted unanimously to approve a new police contract. Please see the below overview released this evening by myself and my colleagues Council Members Flannigan, Houston, Kitchen, and Troxclair.
Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 |
| |
AUSTIN, TEXAS (Nov. 15, 2018) – A coalition of five council members – Alison Alter, Jimmy Flannigan, Ora Houston, Ann Kitchen and Ellen Troxclair – share support and express gratitude of the approved police contract. The Austin City Council has voted unanimously to approve the four-year agreement with the Austin Police Association (APA). The negotiated contract, which also was approved by the APA, is the result of collaboration between the city manager, city staff, council members, community advocates, and union representatives.
“I believe we are stronger when there is no ‘us’ vs. ‘them’, but a ‘we’ who are committed to securing the best future for Austin,” said Council Member Alison Alter. “This agreement embodies cooperation across a diversity of perspectives and reimagines what public safety can be in this city. Thanks to everyone’s dedication and willingness to innovate, we now have a contract that honors our officers and their sacrifices, restores trust within the community, and enables us to meet critical needs throughout Austin.”
The contract comes after many hours of negotiations and reflects innovative reforms to Austin’s public safety. Improvements to oversight, transparency, efficiency, and sustainability were derived from the Council direction given in Resolution 20180322-047 and mirror many of the recommendations issued in October by the 15-member Police Oversight Advisory Working Group.
“This contract demonstrates respect and gratitude to our police officers and their families for keeping us safe, building community trust and committing to our city's future,” said Council Member Ann Kitchen. “With this agreement we can hire new officers in line with a multi-year staffing plan and continue to pay our officers at the highest level in the state.”
The contract exemplifies mutually beneficial gains for all stakeholders. Coupled with the Council-approved ordinance that creates the Office of Police Oversight, the agreement establishes specific procedures for enhancing police accountability. The contract also shows respect for officers, solidifying the Austin Police Department’s position as the highest paid police force in the state of Texas. Additionally, the contract plans for the future, modernizing the department’s hiring and advancement processes to provide opportunities for greater diversity among Austin officers.
“Keeping our community safe is the most important thing that we can do for the future of our city,” said Council Member Ellen Troxclair. “This contract is fiscally sustainable, ensures our officers remain the highest paid in the state, and allows for the financial flexibility to hire additional officers of the quality and caliber we expect for our City, which is one of the safest in America. Thank you to our officers who ensure the safety of our families and perform these duties honorably every day.”
The culmination of the contract drew praise from individuals from all sides, and is seen by many to encapsulate the best outcome for all of Austin.
“I am encouraged by the hard and difficult work everyone has done to listen to the concerns of the community and the needs of our officers,” said Council Member Ora Houston. “I am hopeful that this will place all of us on a path to continue to work on rebuilding relationships and trust with the community and our officers.”
The successful passage of a long-term contract follows a temporary impasse and an interim period where the Austin Police Department operated under the state law.
“This was a contentious negotiation, which I think was good for the city,” said Council Member Jimmy Flannigan. “What that means is that both sides had their issues heard, both sides had their outcomes measured, and at the end, both sides feel like they got as much as they could possibly get. We can now celebrate the fact that we will have the most forward-looking police contract in the nation and the highest paid police force in the state. Those two things are something we can all be proud of.”
The contract will go into effect on Nov. 15, 2018.
### |
| |
|
