North Central Austin Edition | February 2024

Government

BY ELLE BENT & BEN THOMPSON

Council pushes for climate investment plan City Council voted to prioritize new sustain- ability and environmental investments to address slow progress on Austin’s Climate Equity Plan and resilience eorts. A closer look A resolution passed Feb. 15 directed city man- agement to seek community input and outline the investments needed to fulll several adopted city plans related to the environment. The Climate Equity Plan outlines 74 strategies like greenhouse gas reduction and support for community-led initiatives. Austin’s $5.47 billion scal year 2023-24 budget includes $385,000 in one-time funding for climate plan recommendations. Council member Ryan Alter said a goal of the eort is to look at how city ocials can budget for specic investments toward climate.

Austin police contract remains in limbo A year after negotiations between Austin and the local police union fell apart, police ocers continue working under temporary pay and benets as city ocials hope to restart talks for a deal. The context In February, City Council approved a stop- gap ocer pay package valid through next March and voted to spend up to $250,000 on anticipated negotiations with the Austin Police Association. The outlook for a new city-APA meet and confer agreement remains tied to voter-ap- proved police oversight provisions enacted last year. A lawsuit led against Austin leaders in late 2023 claimed those policies aren’t fully being carried out, while some police representatives oppose the changes.

"We as a city have made a lot of plans with a lot of great environmental goals

for reducing our impact on the climate but in too many instances have failed to make the investments needed to meet those goals or just, quite frankly, [have been] falling short" RYAN ALTER, COUNCIL MEMBER

Funding could come through increased utility rates, general fund spending, or new bonds. Despite city sta recommending council pause on bond elections until 2026, Alter said the matter is too pressing to wait another two years. What’s next A public hearing will take place May 30 regard- ing the city’s climate investments. A location and time are to be determined.

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