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**Financial Services Corner
**U.S. Communities
The League is a sponsor of the government purchasing alliance, U.S. Communities. This nonprofit instrumentality of government helps public agencies reduce the cost of purchased goods by combining the purchasing power of public agencies nationwide. This objective is accomplished by competitively soliciting quality products by a single lead public agency and making the resulting contract available to other public agencies nationwide. U.S. Communities’ founding co-sponsors include the National League of Cities, the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Counties, the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the United States Conference of Mayors. These founding co-sponsors also serve on the Governing Board. As of July, 7, 2008, all U.S. Communities participants can enjoy Tier 3 pricing on automotive parts and accessories contracts through AutoZone. The discount is now 15 percent off of AutoZone’s best zone pricing. Thank you to everyone for contributing to the overall program volume, which helped trigger the automated discount tier system for the new pricing. For more information about this free service to League members, contact Melanie Gillespie at (850) 701-3641 or mgillespie@flicties.com.
**Grants Corner
**Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has established an application submission period for the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) for FY 2009-10. The submission period is September 15, 2008 - September 30, 2008, and applications must be postmarked by September 30, 2008. The maximum grant amount is $200,000; the total number of active projects allowed is three and the total number of applications allowed during each submission cycle is two.
Matching Ratio:
Eligible applicants include all local governments, including municipalities in Florida and other legal constituted local governmental entities of the state with legal responsibility for the provision of outdoor recreation sites and facilities for the use and benefit of the public. For further information/application packets, contact Angie Bright at (850) 245-2501 or angie.bright@dep.state.fl.us. **An article in the May/June Quality Cities, “Despite Budget Woes, This Was a Busy Session for the Environmental Issues,” contained incorrect information regarding the number of grant applications any local government may submit for funding through the FRDAP program and the amount of money they can receive. Please refer to the corrected information above.
**2008 FLC Annual Conference Begins August 14
The Florida League of Cities 82nd Annual Conference will be held August 14-16 at the Tampa Convention Center/Tampa Marriott Waterside. Registration information and the tentative program are available online at www.flcities.com under “News & Hot Links.” If you haven’t registered yet but would like to attend, please register on-site. The on-site registration fees are $355 for government and $520 for corporate registrations.
Upcoming IEMO and Advanced IEMO
The next Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO) will be held October 3-5 at the Regal Sun Resort in Orlando. The primary objective of the IEMO is to provide elected municipal officials with an intensive academic program that will assist them in effectively meeting the requirements of their elected role. The program offers a comprehensive overview of Florida municipal government, presented by a faculty of top professionals in the field. Each site is hosted by the respective Institute of Government affiliate in the area. Call (407) 235-3960 by September 19 to register. Registration costs $275, and includes lunch on Friday and Sunday. The Advanced IEMO will be held October 24-25 at the Deerfield Beach Hilton. The Advanced Institute is reserved for participants and graduates of the IEMO, or those elected city officials who have completed one or more terms in office. Designed to pick up where the IEMO leaves off, this two-day program features four classes and two workshop-style lunches. Registration costs $245 and includes lunch on Friday and Saturday. Call (561) 297-3749 by October 10 to register. More information is available at http://www.flcities.com under the “News & Hot Links” menu or by contacting Gail Dennard (gdennard@flcities.com) at the League.
Florida Association of City Clerks Education Academy
The Florida Association of City Clerks (FACC) Professional Education Academy will be held from October 5-10, 2009, at the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in St. Augustine. Visit http://www.flcities.com/flcevent/default.asp?regid=72 to register or contact Anjie Cheatham at (850) 222-9684 or acheatham@flcities.com for more information.
November/December Quality Cities News Briefs
Has your city recently started a new program, solved a problem or done something great? If so, let Mandy Stark at the League know! She is compiling News Briefs for the November/December issue of Quality Cities, and wants to include photos and information about the great things League members are doing. E-mail her at mstark@flcities.com by September 5, or call her at (850) 701-3638 to submit your innovative solutions, successful programs or moments of pride.
State Recycling Goal
The 2008 Energy Bill (HB 7135) signed into law by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist includes language that establishes a new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent to be achieved by the year 2020. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will develop a plan by 2010 designed to achieve this goal, and will submit it to the Florida Legislature for approval by January 1, 2010. A public meeting for sharing ideas and exchanging information will be held September 22 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Orlando's City Hall. Contact Ron Henricks at ron.henricks@dep.state.fl.us or (850) 245-8717 for more information.
Grant Writing Workshop in Lakeland
The Central Florida Development Council of Polk County, the Small Business Development Center and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop in Lakeland, October 13-14. Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county and state agencies are invited to attend. Tuition is $425 and includes all materials. Multi-enrollment discounts are available. Seating is limited; online reservations are necessary. For more information call Cathy at 1-(800) 814-8191 or visit http://grantwritingusa.com/events/write/pofl1008.html.
Request for Information
The League is conducting research to determine if any Florida municipalities relax (or excuse) building permit requirements for property owners who are attempting to mitigate wind damage by retrofitting/upgrading existing buildings as a part of the Florida Department of Financial Services' MySafe Florida Home Program. Please contact Eric Hartwell at ehartwell@flcities.com at the League (850) 222-9684 to provide information.
Positions Open
All positions advertised in the Datagram must be division-head level or above.
Information Systems Manager – City of Casselberry.
(pop. 25,000) The City of Casselberry is accepting applications for the position of information systems manager. Salary range: $53,447 - $89,078. Starting salary up to $70,000 DOQ. This is a management position which is responsible for strategic planning, project management, administrative and operational functions associated with the Information Systems Division. Responsible for the design and development of all systems for the complete enterprise, budgeting, procurement and IT policies. Responsible for ownership and delivery of IT management in a complex environment utilizing a combination of internal and outsourced delivery partners. Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in management of information systems, computer science, public administration or directly related field (MIS or similar preferred). The successful candidate must have strong leadership and project management experience, including management of outsourced service partners. Candidates must have a minimum of three years of experience in the management of an organization’s information systems, including a minimum of two years at a division/department-head level. Interested candidates must apply online to be considered for the position at www.casselberry.org. Position is open until filled. DFW/EOE.
Utilities Director – City of Lake Worth.
(pop. 36,000) Incorporated in 1913 and located on the Atlantic Ocean in Southeast Florida, Lake Worth is a vibrant and historic community, rich in racial, ethnic, economic and philosophical diversity. Unlike Florida’s newer cities, it has a true downtown, essentially fully developed and focused on the arts and culture. It covers 5.5 square miles and has an enormous amount of potential. The residents take pride in their city, are happy to say they are from Lake Worth and are active and involved. Council meetings attract a relatively large number of people, and they are very outspoken, particularly about wanting to preserve the city’s hometown feel. They are also, however, often divided over the best way to approach the future so there is a great deal of debate and progress can be slow. Lake Worth is a full-service city, providing police; fire; parks and recreation; community development; public works; in-house garbage and trash collection; library services; a golf course; a cemetery; a municipal beach; a community pool; and water, wastewater and electric utilities. There are approximately 500 full-time employees. Its general fund budget is $45 million, and its total budget exceeds $140 million. The city is governed by a mayor and four commissioners who serve staggered two-year terms. The next election will be in March 2009 when the mayor’s and two commissioners’ seats will be up for election. Overseeing the city’s water, sewer and electric utilities, the director will report to the city manager and be responsible for 26,000 customers within the city and adjacent unincorporated areas, a service area of approximately nine square miles, 140 employees, an operating budget of $85 million and a capital improvement program of $60 million. The city treats and distributes water, and collects and transfers wastewater through a regional pumping station (which it operates) to a regional wastewater utility. The city presently has a lime-softening water-treatment plant and a permit to extract approximately six million gallons per day (MGD) from the ground. It also has three existing and permitted reverse-osmosis wells which are not in use. Finally, it recently acquired the ability to purchase two MGD (growing to six MGD) from the county once a bulk water line connection is completed. The city owns and operates an electrical generation and distribution system. It is a member of the Florida Municipal Power Agency (FMPA) and the All-Requirements Project. Presently, the generation facility operates primarily during the summer months when electricity demand is highest in the community and the state. The actual distribution system has a 4kV component (about 75 percent of the system and primarily east of I-95) and a 26 kV (about 25 percent of the system and primarily west of I-95). The completion of the upgrade to 26 kVs is presently on hold while the utility focuses on catching up with improving electrical infrastructure and maintenance that had previously been deferred. Virtually all of the utility’s employees are unionized – the IBEW represents the field staff and the PEU/PMSA represents the office staff and managers/supervisors. The challenges the next director faces will be substantial but by no means insurmountable. The good news is staff is solid and capable. Issues revolve primarily around infrastructure and future supply. Strong leadership, communication and team-building skills will be critical. Much of the infrastructure is 30 - 40 years old and needs improved maintenance. On the water side, in a number of places, two-inch water mains still distribute water to residents. The water treatment plant has not been painted since 1988 and that is symptomatic of the rest of the plant. Another issue on the water side is what should be done with the city’s three RO wells which were recently constructed but are not presently being used. Further, its current water supply is also experiencing the beginnings of salt-water intrusion and its consumptive-use permit was recently reduced from 7.59 MGD to 5.9 MGD with further reductions expected over the long term. Ideally some sort of a regional partnership would be established to make use of the existent RO wells and to provide water for the city’s future. On the electric side, as noted, the staff is focusing on replacing aged switches, relays, transformers and transmission lines. That will need to continue and a regular preventative maintenance program instituted. The change over to the 26kV system needs to be completed and a long-term source of supply determined. Does the city wish to return to full-scale generation, work within the FMPA or obtain its power from Florida Power and Light? The city seeks a self-starter with a blend of management and technical skills, with management skills being more important. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated history of performance excellence and a track record reflecting organizational skills, achievement, creativity, team-building skills and leadership. The ability to communicate is absolutely essential whether it be with laborers, managers, residents of all socio/economic strata or elected officials. The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of progressively more responsible public-sector experience, at least some of which is in utilities, and be a seasoned change agent. Experience with capital programming and financing, and electric utility operations are desirable. A four-year degree is required, preferably (but not necessarily) in engineering. Salary is DOQ but the range is $100,000 - $140,000 and the city will pay the top of the range for the truly exceptional candidate. The city also offers excellent benefits. Forward résumé to recruitthree@cb-asso.com by August 30, 2008. Questions should be addressed to Colin Baenziger of Colin Baenziger & Associates at (561) 707-3537. At the present time, the city does require the selected individual to reside in the city. That requirement is under review. Under the Florida Public Records Act, all applications are subject to public disclosure. Equal Opportunity Employer and minorities are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ Preference will be awarded if applicable and per Florida statute.
Town Clerk – Town of Palm Beach.
(pop. 9,744) Starting salary: $63,336 - $82,254 depending on experience and qualifications. Salary range: $63,336 - $97,060. This is a highly responsible position requiring management and administrative experience to serve as town clerk and to direct the activities of the Office of the Town Clerk, under the supervision of the finance director. Duties include: recording and transcribing minutes for the Town Council and other advisory board meetings; directing the publication, filing, indexing and safekeeping of all proceedings of the Town Council; maintaining custody of municipal records and the town seal; preparing and publishing legal advertisements; administering the publication, maintenance and distribution of the town Code of Ordinances; administering and conducting municipal elections; managing the Town Clerk Office budget. Minimum requirements: Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) with bachelor’s degree preferred; supplemented by five years of previous experience and/or training that includes municipal clerk office operations, management of official records, office management, customer service and computer-office equipment. Must be proficient in Wordperfect, Word and other Microsoft Office software, and have experience with records management and document imaging systems. Must have considerable knowledge of relevant state and federal law. Must be able to obtain or possess a valid notary public certification by the State of Florida. Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be substituted. Valid Florida driver’s license. Application procedure: Visit www.townofpalmbeach.com to view complete job description. Submit your application and résumé by e-mail (agarcia@townofpalmbeach.com) or mail to the Human Resources Department, Town of Palm Beach, 360 S. County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480. EOE.
Public Works Director – City of Sebring.
(pop. 10,361) Salary: $54,000 - $64,000 DOQ. Responsible for directing all activities of the Public Works Department including street construction and maintenance, sidewalks, stormwater systems, vehicle maintenance, cemeteries, facility maintenance and sanitation programs. Supervises departmental employees, manages department budget and serves as staff liaison to several boards and committees. May be required to make presentations before the City Council and other governmental agencies. Must have good communications skills. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in public administration, engineering, applied science or a related field. A comparable amount of experience in a progressively responsible position is required. Experience in administrative/supervision of public services activities or equivalent training and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills may be submitted for education requirement. Open until filled. For an application, contact Charlotte Mann at City Hall, 368 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870 or call (863) 471-5100. The City of Sebring does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or provision of services. Drug-Free Workplace, EOE, Veterans’ Preference.
City Manager – City of Williston.
(pop. 2,557) The City of Williston, a mayor/council municipality, located in Levy County, is seeking an experienced, professional to serve as city manager. Reporting directly to the five- member City Council, the city manager is the chief administrative officer for the city. The city, with an annual budget of $13.8 million and 71 employees, provides full municipal services to its citizens, including public works (electric, water, sewer, gas and solid waste), library, parks and recreation. The city also has an airport and industrial park. The city is poised for significant growth, with the completion of the four laning of U.S. Highway 27 from I-75 to U.S. Highway 19. The City of Williston offers a relaxing small-city atmosphere while being nearby to larger city amenities. It is within 25 miles of both Gainesville and Ocala, and within a two-hour drive of Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville, and activities including fishing, hunting, golf and diving. Several Gulf Coast communities, including Cedar Key and Crystal River are within a short drive. The ideal candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree in public administration or business administration with three to five years of public employment in Florida in increasingly responsible administrative positions either at the city-manager level or one step below; strong interpersonal, public presentation and writing skills; an extensive knowledge of Florida public administration principles and practices in the areas of governmental budgeting and finance, grants, planning, economic development, fire, police and public works; a career path which demonstrates increasingly progressive responsibility in a similar public-sector organization and computer skills including word processing, spreadsheet and e-mail. General benefits package, with salary dependent upon qualifications. The starting salary is $59,500. Position available immediately. Open until filled. Interested applicants should reply with cover letter, résumé and availability to city clerk Barbara Henson, by mail to P.O. Drawer 160, Williston, FL 32696 or e-mail hensonb@ci.williston.fl.us.
(See the July 31, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
City Engineer/Public Services Director – City of Cresent City.
(pop. 1,778) Salary: $45,000 - $65,000.
Public Services Director – City of Destin.
(pop. 12,225) Salary: $66,000 DOQ.
Main Street/Special Projects Coordinator – City of Marianna.
(pop. 5,992)
Finance Director – City of Oviedo.
(pop. 33,000) Salary: mid-$80,000 - low-$90,000 DOQ.
Town Attorney – Town of St. Leo.
(pop. 1,250)
Finance Director – City of Treasure Island.
(pop. 7,597) Salary: $64,890 - $95,790 DOQ. Open until filled.
(See the June 16, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
Deputy City Attorney/Assistant City Attorney – City of Boca Raton.
(pop. 85,296) Salary: $82,876.35 - $121,566.02 for the deputy position; $71,375.41 - $110,573.42 for the assistant position. Open until filled.
Planning, Zoning and Development Director – City of Boca Raton.
(pop. 85,296) Salary: $139,689 DOQ.
Deputy Director of Human Services – Broward County.
(pop. 1.8 million) Salary: $92,508 - $151,712 DOE/Q. Open until filled.
Wastewater and Stormwater Utility Manager – City of Marathon.
(pop. 10,396) Salary: $63,000 - $68,000.
Finance Director – City of Mulberry.
(pop. 3,495) Salary: $43,000 - $52,000.
City Manager – City of Quincy.
(pop. 7,436) Salary: $80,000 - $110,000. Closing date: July 3, 2008.
(See the May 30, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
Police Chief – City of Marco Island.
(pop. 15,000 year-round/35,000 winter) Salary: $103,364 DOQ. Open until filled.
Public Works Director – City of Naples.
(pop. 22,000) Salary: $95,228 - $132,261 DOQ. Closing date: June 20, 2008.
City Attorney – City of Quincy.
(pop. 6,975) Closing date: June 25, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Water Conservation Director – St. John’s River Water Management District.
Public Works Director – Town of Surfside.
(pop. 5,700) Salary: $72,296 - $105,446 DOQ/E. Closing date: July 15, 2008.
Finance Manager – City of Titusville.
(pop. 42,614) Salary: $54,017 - $67,516.
See the May 15, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
Deputy Director of Human Services – Broward County.
(pop. 1.8 million) Salary: $92,508 - $151,712 DOQ/E. Open until filled.
Public Works Director – City of Live Oak.
(pop. 6,634)
City Clerk – City of North Lauderdale.
(pop. 42,000) Salary: $60,000 - $90,000. Open until filled.
Airport/Property Manager – City of Palatka.
(pop. 11,417) Closing date: May 30, 2008.
Recreation Director – City of Sanibel.
(pop. 6,321) Salary: $61,928 - $98,669. Open until filled.
Engineering Supervisor Traffic Signals – Sarasota County.
(pop. 369,535) Salary: $53,310 - $68,723.
(See the April 30, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
Finance Director – City of Sanibel.
(pop. 6,321) Salary: $87,628 - $131,348. Open until filled.
See the April 15, 2008, issue of the Datagram for full copy of the ads below.)
Police Chief – Town of Juno Beach.
(pop. 3,644) Salary: $64,700 - $108,700. Closing date: May 15, 2008.
Finance Director – City of Sanibel.
(pop. 6,321) Salary: $87,628 - $131,348. Open until filled.
Proposed Water Production Superintendent – City of Titusville.
(pop. 44,020) Salary: $54,017 - $67,516.
City Attorney – City of West Melbourne.
(pop. 15,777) Salary: $100,000 - $140,000. Open until filled.
Finance Director – City of Winter Garden.
(pop. 28,440) Salary: DOQ. |