As we begin 2014, the Austin Monitor is taking a look back at 2013 in the thoughts and words of City Council members and City Manager Marc Ott. For most of them, 2013 was an important year with many major issues. We asked them to talk about what they thought were the most important events […]
City Manager Marc Ott
Ott was hired by Council members in 2008 and served in that position until his 2016 departure.
Posted inLocal Politics
Ott says 2013 brought both personal, professional accomplishments
City Manager Marc Ott says that, for him, 2013 had a lot of highlights. Some were personal, like being the recipient of the Mark E. Keane Award for Career Excellence, which he received early in the year. That award came with a stipend, which he will donate to the city for something related to […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Strains show between Council, City Manager over Auditors’ office
Tensions continued to mount Tuesday between City Manager Marc Ott and a number of Austin City Council members. At immediate issue is where to relocate the office of City Auditor Ken Mory as City Hall is reconfigured to make room for additional Council members under single member districts. During Tuesday’s work session, there was […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council, City Manager in tug-of-war over location of Auditor’s office
A debate over where the City Auditor sits after the transition to the 10-1 Council Districts government is pitting City Council members against City Manager Marc Ott. The rising tension over the issue finds some Council members preparing a resolution to indicate their official position for the Dec. 12 Council meeting. Meanwhile, city staff has […]
Posted inLocal Government, Public Safety
Local leaders file disaster declarations in hope of federal assistance
Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, and Hays County Judge Bert Cobb have each filed local disaster declarations in the wake of massive flooding that struck Central Texas last week. The move could preface action by Texas Gov. Rick Perry that could also lead to a federal disaster declaration. In a […]
Posted inCity Council
City Manager’s 2014 compensation becomes issue
Austin City Council Member Bill Spelman took the unusual step of abstaining Thursday on a vote over FY2014 compensation and benefits for City Manager Marc Ott. The move came as tension appears to mount between at least two Council offices and the City Manager. In remarks delivered just before his colleagues voted to approve […]