Austin hopes to have new City Manager in office by Sept 1st, 2024

Mark your calendars for Sept. 1, 2024! City officials aim to have a new chief administrator in office after the ousting of City Manager Spencer Cronk in February. The council voted to fire Cronk partly due to the city’s response to an ice storm that left thousands without power. The city manager functions like a CEO, overseeing policies approved by the mayor and City Council.

The search for the new city manager is well underway! Council Members Paige Ellis, Leslie Pool, José Vela, and Vanessa Fuentes are forming a committee to find a search firm and facilitate the candidate hunt. Their goal is to narrow the field to a few firms that will be reviewed and selected by the full council on Oct. 5. By October 2024, the search firm will begin recruiting candidates and engaging the community to meet the finalists.

In the past, the city faced challenges in finding a permanent replacement. But this time, they’re committed to finding the right balance between openness and candidate privacy.

With the new city manager expected to start on Sept. 1, 2024, the transition will allow for the completion of the fiscal 2024-25 budget without disruptions.

Stay tuned for updates as Austin looks forward to welcoming its new city manager and prepares for the general election! What qualities do you think are essential for a successful city manager?