Controversial plans for the redevelopment of the historic Austin Opera House took one step forward; a study into expanded paid parental leave benefits was approved; and the city agreed to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars settling another lawsuit tied to police brutality amid the protests of May 2020.
Council next meets later this month for a work session May 17 and a voting session May 19. Among other issues, officials are likely to resurface land-use discussions tied to boosting housing along major corridors alongside a proposal to expand Austin's vertical mixed-use development bonus program.
Police misconduct bill increases
City Council agreed to settle another lawsuit brought against the city by individuals claiming they were harmed by police in the May 2020 protests following the killings of George Floyd and Michael Ramos.
The suit from self-identified "street medic" Maredith Drake claimed Drake was attempting to help a protester injured by police when an officer fired at her with a bean bag shotgun. The shot "severely damaged" her hands and left her with "significant pain, mental anguish, impairment, injury, and disfigurement," according to the lawsuit.
Council voted unanimously in favor of an $850,000 settlement. Officials have now authorized payments totaling $13.95 million to settle cases stemming from "brutal and excessive force" allegedly used by police during the protests.
Council backs up firefighters' arbitration rights
A resolution brought by District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen and unanimously approved May 5 cements a bargaining right that voters had granted to firefighters in the city election last spring.
The landslide passage of May 2021's Proposition A allowed the use of binding arbitration by the city or Austin Firefighters Association if either side believes labor contract negotiations have hit a standstill. Contract talks between the city and labor groups for all three first responder branches are continuing this year.
"The city has a long history of bargaining in good faith with its employees and their labor organizations. It is important, however, as the voters recognized, to provide a mechanism for resolving disputes," Kitchen wrote in a council message board post ahead of the meeting. "Binding interest arbitration has been adopted and used successfully in cities across the state of Texas as a fair and cost-effective way to resolve differences between labor and management during negotiations with public safety employees."
Expanded leave benefits to be explored
Following related action at the county level this week, Austin is now set to launch an evaluation of potentially extending paid parental leave benefits for city employees. District 2 Council Member Vanessa Fuentes proposed the study, which will look into increasing paid leave for eligible staff from six to as many as 12 weeks in addition to lowering the accrual period for the benefit.
“I firmly believe that all workers should be guaranteed this critical time to help new parents recover from childbirth and bond with their newborns, foster, or adopted children,” Fuentes said in a statement. “Austin can be the most family-friendly workplace, so let’s lead the way.”
Opera house revival remains in the works
The rezoning of 200 Academy Drive, which could allow for the old Austin Opera House in South River City to be redeveloped with a new music venue, lounge and housing development, passed on the second of three readings before council May 5.
The rezoning case cleared council's first reading in January; however, both developers and neighbors said more time is still needed to work out conflicting views on the project's scope before a potential final approval. Both sides requested to set the final reading of the proposal June 9.
"The parties acknowledge that further discussion and investigation will occur before third reading in connection with the provision which restricts the building height within a certain distance of [single family 3-zoned] property. ... They are working on the venue’s most appropriate capacity and putting it into a conditional overlay," representatives said in a statement read by staff.
