By many metrics, this year has been a difficult one for the city of Austin. The pandemic has played a role in the local unemployment spike, led to a number of permanent business closures and strained the city’s medical staff. But despite the numerous headwinds, City Manager Spencer Cronk is proud of the city’s accomplishments […]
City Manager Spencer Cronk
Posted inPolice
Adler, Pool voice support for cadet class this spring
With Austin police officers either retiring or simply quitting the force in record numbers this year, Mayor Steve Adler told his colleagues at Tuesday’s City Council work session that he really wants to have a cadet class this spring. Council cut the Austin Police Department budget this fall and told department leaders they needed to […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Staff memo spells out options, tight time frame for Council’s push for active transit bond
City staff members have expressed concern to City Council over direction to put together a bond proposal for the November election that would look to generate $750 million to fund sidewalks, trails and other “active transportation” improvements. Last week Council approved on consent a resolution directing the city manager to give Council a plan to […]
Posted inCity Hall
With virus surging, Cronk revises return-to-work plan
City Manager Spencer Cronk announced Thursday that he was postponing reintegrating city employees back into the workplace for a month due to concerns about the increase in Covid-19 cases. Instead of starting on June 29, the first phase is now scheduled for July 27, according to a memo from Cronk to City Council. At about […]
Posted inPolice
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will keep his job, city says, despite calls for his removal
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will stay in his position, a city spokesperson confirmed in an email Thursday. “I have had very pointed conversations with Chief Manley over the last several weeks,” City Manager Spencer Cronk said in the email. “He has assured me he is sincerely committed to making the reforms necessary.” Local activists […]
Posted inAustin
2019 accomplishments: Laying the groundwork for the future
In the final week of 2019, Austin celebrated its 180th birthday. The city has changed a lot since its foundation in 1839. While some things inevitably change as a city grows and evolves, we remain dedicated to our community’s vision of Austin as a beacon of sustainability, social equity and economic opportunity. With that vision […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Cronk names team, spells out process for land use code rewrite
City Manager Spencer Cronk has selected the team that will handle the creation and adoption of the city’s new land use code, with the goal of completing the process by the end of 2019. In a memo issued Tuesday, Cronk gave City Council an outline of the plan he has created for restarting the process […]
Posted inCity Hall
Cronk announces final assistant managers, filling safety and mobility posts
A current assistant city manager and a newcomer to City Hall have been selected as the newest assistant city managers as part of a realignment of top city staff under City Manager Spencer Cronk. On Tuesday, the city announced the selection of Rey Arellano as the city manager in charge of projects and departments related […]
Posted inAustin
City budget boosts spending for homelessness services
The new city manager and City Council agree: The city needs more money to address the homelessness situation. The proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget submitted by City Manager Spencer Cronk includes $3.1 million in new spending on homelessness-related services. That’s on top of the roughly $25 million of spending on such services that will continue […]
Posted inCity Hall
Cronk wants to change assistant city managers
City Manager Spencer Cronk announced via memo to department directors on Friday that he plans to make major changes in the city manager’s office. Cronk said he was appointing Chief Financial Officer Elaine Hart, who served as interim city manager for 16 months prior to Cronk’s appointment, as his deputy. Hart will serve in that […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Soccer games
Bound for Cow Town?… Another new wrinkle in Austin’s (never-ending?) professional soccer saga developed slowly last week after ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman opined, during a segment on Sacramento recently losing out on a Major League Soccer expansion bid, that “I still believe Columbus Crew doesn’t end up in Austin, Texas. I think they end […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: Overheard, signs of the times
And on and on… Last week brought a tentative update to the ongoing labor negotiations with the Austin Police Association. Those negotiations resumed after City Council voted against a proposed contract in December. Since then, police have been operating without a contract. In a memo to Council members and Mayor Steve Adler, City Manager Spencer […]