The meeting featured the approval of Casar's final two sponsored items as a council member, a pair of resolutions that will bring city code amendments centered on renters' rights back to council in the coming months. The directives passed with some changes from Mayor Steve Adler and District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly.
“During the pandemic, we put in place protections that have kept thousands of people in their homes, even in the worst of times,” Casar said in a statement after the items' passage. “We need renters’ rights protection for good. If we want to stop pushing people out of the city, we need to protect renters. If we want to reduce homelessness, we need to prevent evictions.”
Council is scheduled to meet for a broad discussion of policy goals Feb. 8 followed by a work session Feb. 15 and regular voting meeting Feb. 17.
Workforce development and child care support
Two three-year social service contracts were approved Feb. 3 as part of Austin's continued allocation of its tens of millions of federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
The first of the approved items will send $3.51 million to United Way for Greater Austin for child care and family support services in Austin and Travis County. Through the second, Capital Idea will receive $1.5 million for workforce development services for 30 low-income workers seeking to pursue careers in health care.
Police equestrian facility purchased
Council authorized the $1.82 million purchase of the Austin Equestrian Center, located at 1495 W. Hwy. 21, Cedar Creek, for the Austin Police Department's Mounted Patrol Unit. The city had previously solicited bids for the construction of a brand new facility for the patrol unit, with the lone submission coming in 2020 and totaling $14.3 million.
The 61.69-acre Cedar Creek site has served as the temporary home of APD's horses since Winter Storm Uri, and a staff report on the purchase said the equestrian center has resulted in a "significant improvement in the health and well-being of the horses" compared with the unit's former space it had leased for more than 20 years.
APD settlement approved
Council also voted 10-1, with Kelly against, for the settlement of a case brought against APD in 2020 by Arianna Chavez. Chavez allegedly experienced "brutal and excessive force" at the hands of an unnamed officer while protesting downtown on May 31, 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's murder. In the lawsuit, Chavez said the officer shot her in the back of the head with a projectile leading to "head trauma and a concussion."
Council approved a $150,000 settlement of the case, bringing the total spent on lawsuits over APD activity in the past week to $1.03 million following council's approval of an $875,000 settlement package for survivors of sexual assault in the city Jan. 27.
Casar says goodbye
Council members spent over a half-hour in the middle of their mostly virtual session to give thanks and say goodbye to Casar, who leaves City Hall for his campaign to represent the 35th Congressional District. Council also approved the canvass of the January special election to select Casar's successor, José "Chito" Vela, who will be sworn in Feb. 7.
Comments on Casar ranged from Kelly's appreciation for their cordial relationship in office despite polar political differences to credits from council members Kathie Tovo and Pio Renteria for his work on housing and labor issues. In remarks stretching on for more than 15 minutes, Adler also hailed Casar's push for "big, bold, transformative change” on a variety of issues and his "foundational" role as part of Austin's first 10-1 City Council.
"This is a council that was imagined as a council of change and of equity and of access, new voices at the table. And you helped fulfill that potential and that promise together with your colleagues on this council in just an absolutely grand way," Adler said.
Casar said he steps off the dais with hope for the many issues left to tackle in the city, including support for those in the community with less influence.
“Democracy is how we care for one another," he said. "I believe we do our best when we all stick to that goal."
