Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
New transparency standards set for public safety labor negotiations All discussions and documents tied to future negotiations with Austin’s police, re and emer- gency medical services labor groups will now be fully accessible to the public, after materials used during last year’s bargaining with the Austin Police Association were withheld. The big picture Last year’s contentious labor talks between Austin and the APA were open to attend and livestreamed, but documents such as draft agreements and nancial information were not available to the public. This change from pre- vious rounds of negotiations was requested by APA, citing state law that makes such materials available only once a deal is nalized. City Council passed a resolution from council
$32M awarded for Austin solar projects Austin is moving closer to rolling out millions of dollars in support for commu- nity solar projects. The details The Texas Solar for All Coalition won a nearly quarter-billion dollar Environmental Protection Agency grant last year to “trans- form access to distributed solar” in commu- nities statewide, according to the EPA. Austin leaders moved last fall to accept $31.59 million of the statewide grant, and on Feb. 27 they voted to nalize the city’s agreement with Harris County to move forward with the funding and Solar for All initiative. The local solar improvements will center on providing free solar and batteries to low-income residents.
City of Austin Police Association labor negotiators met last year to hash out a new police contract.
BEN THOMPSON COMMUNITY IMPACT
member Ryan Alter on Feb. 27 requiring future labor talks to be publicly recorded and broadcast, with all documents publicly accessible through the process. Private negotiations are allowed if needed, with formal council approval. The update was disputed by APA President Michael Bullock, who expressed disappoint- ment in the policy he said runs afoul of state standards.
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