How the TxDOT $25M Boardwalk became a career ladder for the Parks Department Director in 2023-2024: A City of Austin audit request

I believe that the City of Austin Parks Department has a problem: It is called the “revolving door.” Wikipedia:

Revolving door employment refers to the movement of individuals between high-level public sector positions (government/regulatory agencies) and private sector roles (lobbyists, consultants, or executives in industries they previously regulated). This cycle raises ethics concerns regarding conflicts of interest, influence peddling, and the potential for using public office to secure lucrative private employment. 

Many current City of Austin Parks Department employees were former employees of nonprofit partners of the Parks Department. The current Parks Director was previously the CEO of Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. 

High-level positions at park nonprofits earn higher salaries than Parks Department employees. Aguirre earned over $300K in 2023 as CEO of the nonprofit Waterloo Greenway Conservancy. McNeeley earned $120K for 6 months of employment as the CEO of TTC in 2024.

By her 2023 authorization approving TxDOT payment of $25M in 4F mitigation funding to the Trail Conservancy rather than paid to the CoA Parks Department, former Parks Director McNeeley appears to have ensured her future employment -- at a higher salary -- as the next TTC CEO in 2024.

The issue of the TxDOT $25M is only an example of a broader problem. But I hope that the CoA Auditor will review my audit request and publish their own findings on this issue.

My TxDOT-TTC McNeeley $25M Audit Request 02-25-2026.

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Timeline overview of McNeeley’s actions in the TTC-TxDOT framework: 

May 2023 Entry: McNeeley joins TTC to present Hyatt PUD Boardwalk to TxDOT.

Aug 2023 Official Status: TxDOT FEIS published; mitigation coordinated with COA PARD.

Sept 2023 The Choice: TTC CEO asks McNeeley to decide if the City or TTC leads the project.

Oct 2023 The Bypass: Direction given to TxDOT for $25M to bypass COA PARD.

Nov '23 – Jan '24 Transition: TTC CEO search begins; McNeeley applies for the position and is hired. PIR evidence shows McNeeley did not discuss the $25M to TTC with her PARD boss.

July 2024 New Role: McNeeley (now TTC CEO) puts $25M Boardwalk on APFC agenda.

Aug 2024 PARD Reaction: Staff (Kallivoka & Soliz) express "shock" and lack of awareness.

Jan 2025 On the Record: Kallivoka confirms PARD was excluded from $25M fund decisions.

Feb 2025 Finalization: Draft AFA shows only TTC and APFC receiving the $25M.