Council OKs telework amendments

After a lot of consternation about the city’s telework policy, City Council took a step toward enshrining remote work on Thursday, with the approval of a resolution that will make amendments to the city’s Climate Equity Plan, Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan and the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. The changes, which affirm the city’s goals of conservation, reduced traffic and less car use as they apply to city employees, were recommended by the Planning Commission and are supported by the city employees’ union, AFSCME. In a post on the City Council Message Board, Council Member Vanessa Fuentes explained her sponsorship of the resolution, saying, “I believe it is essential for the City to show leadership in achieving our goals with regard to telework, and I am encouraged that the current work being done by our city management and AFSCME to determine our telework policies will exemplify that leadership.”