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Austin Transit Partnership approves board appointment, contract extensions and auditing contract
Summary
At its May 21 meeting the Austin Transit Partnership board appointed Lee Crawford as board secretary, approved exercising option years for an Ernst & Young contract, awarded auditing services to Crowe LLP and ratified meeting minutes and a new technical advisory group slate.
The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) Board of Directors on May 21 approved several procedural and contracting items, including appointing Lee Crawford as board secretary, exercising option years on an Ernst & Young infrastructure advisory contract, and awarding a five‑year auditing contract to Crowe LLP.
The board voted unanimously on each item with Mayor Watson and board member Trevillian absent. Board Chair (unnamed in the transcript) called the roll and announced the votes after motions and seconds from members on the dais.
The board appointed Lee Crawford, acting general counsel, to serve as ATP board secretary. Crawford introduced himself during the meeting, saying, “I’ve been in Austin now for about, almost 40 years and have, have loved the community during my entire time here.” The motion to appoint Crawford was moved by Member Horn and seconded by Member Garza; the chair announced the motion passed unanimously with Mayor Watson and member Trevillian absent.
The board approved a request from staff to exercise four one‑year option periods under ATP’s 2022 contract with Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors and to add funding of $19,500,000 for that remaining period. Brad Cummings, ATP’s senior vice president of procurement and contract management, told the board the contract was “instrumental in helping FTA support” ATP’s program delivery and said the team had used Ernst & Young personnel for project management and other staff‑augmentation roles. Cummings also reported the firm is meeting its DBE goal: “they have a 12% goal ... and the last time I checked, they were above 14%.” The motion to authorize the CEO to exercise the four option years was moved by Member Horn, seconded by Member Garza, and approved unanimously with Mayor Watson and Member Trevillian absent.
On auditing services, staff recommended awarding a contract to Crowe LLP after a city evaluation of six RFQ responses. Cummings said Crowe received the highest score across qualifications, approach and cost, and that ATP is asking the board to approve a three‑year base contract with two one‑year options for a five‑year total not to exceed $1,097,000. Member Horn commented she remains “impressed with the thorough and thoughtful procurement process that I’m seeing at ATP.” The contract award to Crowe was moved and seconded and approved unanimously with Mayor Watson and Member Trevillian absent.
The board also approved the March 12 meeting minutes and confirmed the recommended slate of appointees to a combined Technical Advisory Group (finance, design and technical disciplines). Appointees announced in the meeting included Linden Henry, Kevin Rustaghi, Dave Sullivan, Ashley McLean and Jim Walker; staff noted two finance seats remain open and recommended a June 1 start date for the advisory group’s terms.
Votes at a glance - Appointment of Lee Crawford as board secretary — Motion: approve appointment; Mover: Member Horn; Second: Member Garza; Outcome: approved unanimously; Votes recorded: yes 4, absent 2; notes: Mayor Watson and Member Trevillian absent. - Approval of March 12 meeting minutes — Motion: approve minutes; Mover: Member Garza; Second: Member Horn; Outcome: approved unanimously; Votes recorded: yes 4, absent 2. - Ernst & Young Infrastructure Advisors — Motion: authorize CEO to exercise four one‑year options and add funding of $19,500,000 (contract originally procured in 2022; initial base term and previous not‑to‑exceed $17,000,000 referenced); Mover: Member Horn; Second: Member Garza; Outcome: approved unanimously; Votes recorded: yes 4, absent 2; notes: described as staff augmentation and project delivery support for FTA requirements. - Auditing services contract (Crowe LLP) — Motion: award a three‑year base contract with two one‑year options for a total not to exceed $1,097,000; Mover: Member Garza; Second: Member Horn; Outcome: approved unanimously; Votes recorded: yes 4, absent 2. - Technical Advisory Group appointments — Motion: approve recommended appointees; Mover: Member Garza; Second: Member Horn; Outcome: approved; Votes recorded: yes 4, absent 2; notes: two finance seats remain open; recommended term start June 1.
Why it matters: The contract approvals advance ATP’s program delivery and procurement schedule by retaining advisory and audit services, while the new technical advisory group and board officer appointment shape ATP’s governance and public engagement as the agency moves toward large procurements and construction.
