The Austin Police Association is willing to return to the negotiating table to develop a new labor contract for the Austin Police Department, APA President Craig Casaday wrote in a Jan. 26 letter to Interim City Manager Elaine Hart. On Dec. 13, the Austin City Council voted to reject a proposed five-year contract negotiated by the APA and city staff, citing concerns over costs and a lack of adequate accountability measures. Without a new contract agreed to, the previous contract expired on Dec. 29 and the Austin Police Department reverted to local civil service law, which affects hiring, promotion, pay and oversight. "On behalf of the Austin Police Association we would like to give notice that the Association has selected its meet and confer team and we will be ready to return to the bargaining table whenever the City of Austin has selected its meet and confer team, and the City of Austin is in a position to make substantive proposals, both economic and non-economics," Casaday said in the Jan. 26 letter. Hart shared the letter with Austin Mayor Steve Adler and council members in a public memo on Jan. 29. She did not, however, indicate the city's response or when negotiations might resume. In his letter, Casaday asked that the city not reduce the pay and benefits of police officers during the period of time it takes to draft and ratify a new contract. Under civil service law, officers do not receive certain stipends, such as those for bilingual officers or those who have received mental health training, agreed to in the previous contract. "The association recognizes that the time needed to reach a new agreement is unknown at this time," Casaday said. At the Dec. 13 meeting, District 9 Council Member Jimmy Flannigan suggested that a revised contract be presented to council by March 22. During a recent interview with Community Impact Newspaper, however, Casaday suggested that it would take longer to reach a compromise. "We've got to start over from the ground level," he said.