Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Austin city manager search gets underway The search for Austin’s next city manager is ramping up ahead of an anticipated final selection this spring. How we got here Austin’s government has been operating under interim City Manager, Jesús Garza, since City Council fired former City Manager Spencer Cronk in February 2023. Officials began preparing to find his permanent successor a few months later and in October agreed to a $150,000 contract with Califor- nia-based Mosaic Public Partners to carry out the national search. Mosaic’s application period opened Jan. 8 and will close Feb. 12. Mayor Kirk Watson said the position was already drawing “strong interest” before the new year.
Former police chief declines Austin offer Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo was tapped to oversee the Austin Police Department in a newly created executive post but declined the position Jan. 23, less than a week after it was announced. The details The offer of assistant city manager over the APD immediately generated pushback from City Council given his previous record leading the police force. “Politics and power struggles have hindered our efforts to create real positive improvements for the people of this city,” Acevedo wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I have informed interim City Manager Garza that I cannot accept this position and will pursue other opportunities.”
Search process steps Feb. 2023 Spencer Cronk fired; Jesús Garza appointed as interim city manager Summer 2023 City Council develops request for search firm Oct. 2023 Council selects Mosaic Public Partners to lead search for $150,000 Feb. 2024 Application period closes Jan. 2024 Application period begins April 2024 City manager selection begins
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The approach The search, guided by feedback from City Council members and community stakeholders, will continue before a candidate shortlist is developed in March. A final public selection process will follow and a new city manager could be chosen by mid-April— although the manager’s start date is not locked in. “I want to emphasize that because this is such a big decision, we shouldn’t feel rushed in any way,” Watson said.
Downtown shelter reopens following city purchase After changing operators and being purchased by the city, a key downtown Austin shelter for women and transgender clients is once again housing dozens of people. The background on new management and later buying the entire site—moves totaling more than $20 million.
Eighth Street Shelter Austin Resource Center for the Homeless
The facility reopened as the Eighth Street Shel- ter on Dec. 21 and will gradually ramp up to serve a projected 150 clients by late March. Most beds are available on a referral basis only. The shelter and the neighboring Austin Resource Center for the Homeless, or ARCH, are now both run by nonprofit Urban Alchemy.
35
In early 2023, the former Salvation Army facility was at risk of permanent closure. Austin then tem- porarily extended its operations before bringing
N
11
SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook