Meet your new city manager

With the search now narrowed to two, Austinites will have the chance to meet the final candidates being considered for the position of city manager. T.C. Broadnax and Sara Hensley will attend a “meet the candidate” event 6 to 7:30 p.m. March 25 at the Planning and Development Center. The event will feature a moderated discussion, with questions solicited in advance through SpeakUp Austin or by calling 311 through March 20. After the discussion, audience members will have the opportunity to talk with candidates during a meet-and-greet reception. Following that, the candidates will talk to city staff and, the next day, City Council will conduct official interviews in a closed session. The goal, according to a message board post from Mayor Kirk Watson, is to take action in early April. “Depending on the interviews, and as indicated previously, we may invite one or both prospects back for activity/interviews on April 1st and/or 2nd. We will have posted Council action for the April 4th meeting. The posted action will be to direct our search firm to negotiate a contract with the specific person. I previously wrote that we might do this on April 2nd. But that would make it difficult to allow the required public comment on a council action item if, in fact, we bring someone back for more interviews. And waiting two days for a regular meeting is less rushed and just makes sense. We don’t have to take action on April 4th, but we will be posted and in a position to do so, if we want,” Watson wrote.