With reorganization, new city leadership aims to improve services BY BEN THOMPSON
changes are needed to position us for the best possible service delivery now and into the future,” Garza said in a statement. “My highest priority is to organize our people and our work so that we are operating cohesively and focused on problem-solving. I believe this structure will be conducive to reducing process redundancies and to operating at the highest efficiency.” Among the significant changes out- lined by Garza are the consolidation of the city’s transportation and public works departments into one entity alongside the Corridor Program Office and Project Connect Office. The move comes over a decade after Austin had split its transportation and public works departments apart. Additionally, Garza created a
that Jacqueline Yaft, Austin-Berg- strom International Airport’s execu- tive director, had retired. An April city audit report found Yaft violated city conflict-of-interest rules during her tenure at the airport, which she denied through a lawyer. That announcement was followed in late March by even more extensive restructuring across city departments overseeing transportation, housing and development, and safety. While no changes immediately affect the city’s offerings to residents, Garza said he hopes to streamline operations affecting Austinites while responding to elected city officials’ priorities. “I have assessed the inner workings of this organization and believe
new planning department. Lauren Middleton-Pratt, the assistant city manager for development in Buda, will head that branch focused on civic planning. Garza also moved departments related to Austin’s economy and local development review under new leadership with Assistant City Manag- ers Rodney Gonzales and Veronica Briseño swapping oversight roles. On top of the organizational realignments, Garza started special evaluations tied to his office. Austin’s emergency operations are now under review by Ken Snipes, former director of Austin Resource Recovery. Jason Alexander, Garza’s chief of staff, is on special assignment to assess airport operations.
Since his appointment in February, interim City Manager Jesús Garza has announced several organiza- tional shakeups he said are aimed at improving city services and address- ing City Council priorities. The adjustments include several staffing reassignments and depart- mental shifts within city government following other recent turnover as well as the election of Mayor Kirk Watson and three new council members in December. Weeks after council fired former City Manager Spencer Cronk and tapped Garza to replace him, he announced the assistant city man- ager overseeing Austin’s many public safety departments was retiring and
A DIFFERENT LOOK Since last fall, Austin elected four new city officials and the government structure has been shaken up.
departmental and assistant city manager changes 14
city department changes 3
Mayor and City Council A new mayor and 3 new council members were elected in December.
City auditor
The airport and city emergency operations are under special review
City clerk
New leadership
New department
Municipal court
Combined department
No change
City manager Spencer Cronk was fired in February; Jesús Garza is now interim.
Police oversight
Chief of staff
Austin Energy
Austin Water
Law department
STRATEGIC OUTCOMES
CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE ORGANIZED UNDER BROAD
Health and environment; culture and learning
Development Services** Economy and development
Public safety
Government
Mobility
“STRATEGIC OUTCOMES”
Downtown Court
Public Works and Transportation Department*
Civil rights Communications and technology management Human resources
NOTE: CITY DEPARTMENTS WITH NO LEADERSHIP OR STRUCTURE CHANGES ARE NOT SHOWN.
Emergency Management
Resource Recovery
Planning Department
Aviation
**THE OLD CODE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSOLIDATED INTO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES *THE NEW TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONSOLIDATED TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AND THE PROJECT CONNECT AND CORRIDOR PROGRAM OFFICES
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • APRIL 2023
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