Charged with managing the City’s transition to the Council-Manager form of government in an environment of changing economic circumstances and climate impacts. Issues managed include addressing a city budget structural imbalance, loss of staff and low organizational morale, negotiating four labor union agreements, unauthorized public camping, increasing climate change/wildfire risk, a newly fragile tourism economy, and the need to establish local problem resolution partnerships. Efforts on… Show more Charged with managing the City’s transition to the Council-Manager form of government in an environment of changing economic circumstances and climate impacts. Issues managed include addressing a city budget structural imbalance, loss of staff and low organizational morale, negotiating four labor union agreements, unauthorized public camping, increasing climate change/wildfire risk, a newly fragile tourism economy, and the need to establish local problem resolution partnerships. Efforts on these issues placed the organization, and community at-large, on a strategic path of direction and action under newly adopted City Council vision, values, and strategic priorities statements. FY 2023-2024 budgeted expenditures include approximately $43 million in general fund operations, $60 million in water/wastewater, electric, and fiber network enterprise operations, $38 million in capital budget expenditures and 264 full time employee positions (budget figures are net of Oregon PERS liability allocation and intragovernmental transfers; City population is 21,607). New strategic priority initiatives include:• Establish multi-entity joint emergency operations center under the City’s new Emergency Operations Manager and increase joint efforts to prepare for potential emergency events• Initiate single-role EMS in the county assigned extra-jurisdictional ambulance service area (ASA) to improve response times and firefighter availability• Reestablish City outreach and communications efforts, including a budget options survey, annual townhall, periodic business or economic roundtables and City happenings newsletter • Reinvest to modernize and expand the City’s fiber network utility• Establish homelessness initiatives, including acquisition of new shelter facility for severe weather and to address Governor’s emergency declaration of homelessness• Partner to establish a multi-entity early childhood care and development service initiative Show less

Consultant practice offering expertise in organizational & strategic project management, governmental/community relations, land development and community growth issues. Private entity work experience includes development of a public-private partnership (P3) approach to affordable housing for private equity real estate investors, project management for land development partnerships, marketing services for an electric grid demand response service provider and, negotiating endangered… Show more Consultant practice offering expertise in organizational & strategic project management, governmental/community relations, land development and community growth issues. Private entity work experience includes development of a public-private partnership (P3) approach to affordable housing for private equity real estate investors, project management for land development partnerships, marketing services for an electric grid demand response service provider and, negotiating endangered species mitigation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Travis County, Texas. Public entity project experience includes conceptual drafting of the Travis County, Texas conservation development ordinance, conducting the Southwest Travis County Growth Dialog (community planning effort) for the Lower Colorado River Authority and Travis County, development of the funding approach for the Hays County Regional Habitat Conservation Plan, funding planning for City of Austin and Capital Metro’s regional Project Connect high-capacity transit plan and local funding planning, solicitation and negotiation for the Lone Star Rail District intermunicipal rail project. Show less

Consultancy focused on providing public sector clients with intergovernmental relations/coordination, economic development, strategic project management and organizational alignment services. List of clients includes the Lone Star Rail District providing finance, business plan and real estate project management and intergovernmental funding outreach to city and county governments along its 119-mile LSTAR passenger rail line corridor and, the City of Austin providing strategic project guidance… Show more Consultancy focused on providing public sector clients with intergovernmental relations/coordination, economic development, strategic project management and organizational alignment services. List of clients includes the Lone Star Rail District providing finance, business plan and real estate project management and intergovernmental funding outreach to city and county governments along its 119-mile LSTAR passenger rail line corridor and, the City of Austin providing strategic project guidance and intergovernmental coordination for its Urban Rail and Project Connect regional high-capacity transit planning initiatives. Knudson is a Houston based firm specializing in urban planning, landscape architecture, public participation, economic development and construction management consultant services. Show less

Also offered independent consultant services October 1998-October 2000.Consultant practice offered expertise in strategic planning, organizational management, governmental/community relations, land development and community growth issues.

Responsible for entitlement of a diverse set of commercial and residential land development projects. The firm specializes in entitling and managing properties with unusual or difficult development circumstances requiring an understanding of the development process and government policy orientation. Managed projects totaled $52 million in estimated entitled land value.

Consultant practice offers expertise in organizational & strategic project management, governmental/community relations, land development and community growth issues.

Leadership responsibilities during tenure included, at one time or another, over half of designated City departments. Work included oversight of all the City’s enterprise (electric, water/wastewater, solid waste, convention center and visitors bureau, and aviation), public safety (police, fire and emergency medical service), development (planning, environment, economic development and housing) and infrastructure (public works/real estate) operations. City management issues addressed during… Show more Leadership responsibilities during tenure included, at one time or another, over half of designated City departments. Work included oversight of all the City’s enterprise (electric, water/wastewater, solid waste, convention center and visitors bureau, and aviation), public safety (police, fire and emergency medical service), development (planning, environment, economic development and housing) and infrastructure (public works/real estate) operations. City management issues addressed during this time included reorganizing and continuous improvement implementation for customer service and increased efficiency, and to build an open, teamwork culture out of one characterized as splintered and defensive. Peak budget responsibilities of up to $537 million in operating budget expenditures, $507 million in revenues, $585 million in capital budget and 2,900 full time employee positions (City population grew from 466,000 to 613,000 during tenure). Strategic/economic development accomplishments with the City of Austin include:• Developed street maintenance funding approach, including new Transportation User Fee, negotiation of $60 million support from the Capital Metro and a successful street reconstruction bond election• Established CDBG affordable housing initiative (1,000 units repaired or built annually)• Austin Convention Center Construction & reestablished Austin’s visitors bureau• Administration and funding plan to create 30,428-acre regional multi-species habitat preserve (Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan under a USFWS 10(a) permit)• Redevelopment of Bergstrom Air Force Base into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, including public vote for $400 million of airport bonds and small/minority business outreach• Negotiation of City’s Civil Service (Fire and Police) collective bargaining agreements Show less

Responsible for financial and business planning functions for real estate ownership/management business covering forty-two apartment and condominium communities (8,000+ apartments). Major accomplishments included the redesign of property budget development and expenditure control procedures, rewrite of the division policy manual and computerization of the property management accounting system.

Responsible for managerial and administrative support to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager. Oversight assignments include establishment of the Risk Management Office, annual city employee survey, Management Assistant Program internships and City Council agenda process. (City population over 904,000 during tenure)

Responsible for operation of the only municipally owned commercial radio station in the United States. Accomplishments include development of the station's operating budget; established a multi-year capital improvement program; implemented a performance appraisal system.

Selected to participate in a new two-year training program with rotating assignments. Initial assignment included responsibility for coordinating the City Council agenda process out of the Budget Department. Selected for rotation to the City Manager's Office to serve as Administrative Assistant to an Assistant City Manager. Provided managerial support to the Assistant Manager responsible for Purchasing, Health and Human Services, Public Affairs, Park and Recreation, Consumer Affairs, and… Show more Selected to participate in a new two-year training program with rotating assignments. Initial assignment included responsibility for coordinating the City Council agenda process out of the Budget Department. Selected for rotation to the City Manager's Office to serve as Administrative Assistant to an Assistant City Manager. Provided managerial support to the Assistant Manager responsible for Purchasing, Health and Human Services, Public Affairs, Park and Recreation, Consumer Affairs, and Library departments. Show less