Government
BY BEN THOMPSON
Former police chief declines Austin offer Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo declined a position overseeing the Austin Police Department in a newly created execu- tive post Jan. 23, days after his appointment
Taking inventory While thousands of new residential units were added since 2017, fewer were built for lower-income residents than hoped for in a 10-year city housing plan.
Housing units completed, 2018-22
10-year goal
Affordable housing (<80% MFI)
GOAL 60,000
10,444
Middle and high-income housing (>80% MFI)
GOAL 75,000
32,145
SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, HOUSINGWORKS AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
THE AUSTIN AREA'S MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME, OR MFI, IS NOW $122,300 FOR A FOUR-PERSON HOUSEHOLD. THOSE EARNING 80% MFI AND BELOW ARE DEFINED AS LOW-INCOME AND CAN QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
was announced. What happened
City still falls short of affordable housing goals Despite a surge of residential construction in Austin over the years, the city is running out of time to meet its 10-year housing goals. The big picture City Council approved a Strategic Housing Blueprint in 2017 to track local housing gains. A
new report detailed progress toward the plan’s goals over five years, from 2018-22. The shortfall in affordable development continues as median incomes in Austin are rising by thousands of dollars each year, which can price out many lower-income residents. By the numbers Through 2022, just 10,444 affordable units out of a goal of 60,000—17.41%—were added, well off the blueprint’s targets. In the same time, 43% of a 75,000-unit goal for moderate- and high-income residents were built.
Acevedo’s $271,000 offer to serve as assis- tant city manager over the APD immediately generated pushback from City Council given his previous record leading the police force. Acevedo said the new role had become a distraction in his withdrawal statement, and cited “politics and power struggles” as hindering policing improvements in Austin. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza, who named Acevedo to the position, said he would continue to evaluate added support for the APD. 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 Possible city manager selection
Austin city manager position draws ‘strong interest’
drawing “strong interest” before the new year. Once a shortlist of candidates 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.
The search for Austin’s next city manager is ramping up ahead of an anticipated final selection this spring. The approach California-based Mosaic Public Partners opened the application period for the national search Jan. 8, and it closed Feb. 12. Mayor Kirk Watson said the position was already
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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