Interim Austin City Manager Jesús Garza Announces Significant Leadership Reorg
On Friday (3.24.2023), Jesús Garza, Interim Austin City Manager released a memo announcing a significant reorganization of the portfolios for his assistant city managers (ACM) and the Chief Financial Officer.
“I have assessed the inner workings of this organization and believe changes are needed to position us for the best possible service delivery now and into the future,” Mr. Garza stated. “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.”
Changes were effective immediately. Major tenets of the reorganization include:
CFO Ed Van Eenoo will now report directly to the City Manager (he previously reported to ACM Veronica Briseño;
A new executive position is being created for strategic communications and external affairs reporting directly to the City Manager;
Consolidation of ACM department assignments; and
Creating a Planning Department to allow for equal focus on the importance of affordable housing and planning in our community. This includes hiring Lauren Middleton-Pratt, currently an ACM with the City of Buda, to serve as the new Planning Director effective May 1st.
Mr. Garza added, “We need to deliver basic city services with excellence and reliability while supporting the City Council’s highest priorities and ensuring we are making meaningful progress on those priorities. I cannot emphasize enough the importance and value of teamwork, encouraging innovation and promoting high standards for public service within this organization.”
This marks the most significant overhaul to City staff leadership since Mr. Garza was appointed on February 15th of this year. It comes on the relative heels another reorganization on March 1st of this year.
You can view the press release and memo here.
Also, for a visual comparison of what’s changed, check out our redline org chart below: