Austin City Manager Marc Ott announced he’s resigning from the city, effective October 30. Ott has accepted a new position in D.C., where he’ll serve as executive director of the International City/County Management Association, a group that advocates for city management.
In a statement from the city confirming his resignation, Ott said his decision to move on wasn't an easy one:
"I’ve dedicated myself to the residents and employees of Austin for almost nine years,” said Ott. “But this is a unique opportunity – one that allows me to apply 30 years of experience toward advancing the profession and bettering communities around the world. My experience here in Austin has prepared me well for this new challenge.”
The city manager is appointed by city council members. And in a statement, Mayor Steve Adler said he and his colleagues should appoint an interim manager soon.
"The Council needs to move quickly to name an interim manager while we begin the process of looking for a permanent one," Adler said. "Austin’s loss is also an opportunity to find the right leadership to guide our city as we deal with affordability and mobility.”
Ott initially announced he was being courted by the D.C.-based firm in June, telling council he'd have a definite answer as to whether he'd stay in mid-July.
Ott has been Austin’s city manager since 2008. He was hired after a stint as assistant city manager in Fort Worth.
While council sets policy, the city manager is responsible for implementing policy and running the day-to-day business of the city. Austin has seen record growth during his tenure, but it hasn’t been without some friction.
Ott's scheduled a press conference to formally announce his resignation this afternoon.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
