Edwards to retire

There’s another name to add to the growing list of top-brass departures. This week, Assistant City Manager Sue Edwards made her March retirement public. In a memo to the mayor and City Council, Interim City Manager Elaine Hart praised Edwards’ long work history with the city, which includes stints as director of several city departments in the 1980s before taking a break to work in the private sector in 1985. Edwards returned to city employ in 1994, as the director of Emergency Medical Services. She moved on to start what is now the Economic Development Department, which she directed until 2008. Hart wrote, “During her tenure with the City, ACM Edwards negotiated and oversaw redevelopment of the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Seaholm Power Plant, Downtown Block 21, and the former Green Water Treatment Plant. She also led negotiations that resulted in the formation of the Waller Creek Conservancy that is responsible for development of a string of parks and trails along Waller Creek. Under Sue’s leadership, the City created a Music and Entertainment Program, adopted the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, re-designed the permitting and development review process, and initiated a rewrite of the Land Development Code known as CodeNEXT.” Edwards’ retirement begins March 3, and Hart will appoint an interim assistant city manager at that time.