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[CALL TO ORDER ]
CITIZENS, NEIGHBORS, GUESTS.WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF ATLANTIC BEACH, DATED SATURDAY, JULY 29TH, 2023, FOR THE PURPOSE OF INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF CITY MANAGER OF ATLANTIC BEACH.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, COMMISSIONER KELLY, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN AN INVOCATION, PLEASE? CREATOR. GOD WATCH OVER THIS COMMUNITY TODAY AS WE SEARCH FOR OUR NEW LEADERS.
MAY WE FOSTER A SENSE OF UNITY AND A VISION OF THE FUTURE IN SELECTING THE BEST CANDIDATE? BLESS US WITH REASON AND SKILL AND DISCERNMENT AND BE WITH THE CITY STAFF, RESIDENTS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WE MAKE THIS CRITICAL TRANSITION.
AMEN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HEY. THIS THIS MEETING, WHICH I'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED, IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION DATED SATURDAY, JULY 29TH, 2023, WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
UM. CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH IT.
SOUND OFF. MR. KELLY SEAT FOUR.
OKAY. LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED.
[1. MAYOR'S OPENING REMARKS ]
I'LL LAY OUT A VERY, VERY SIMPLE.TODAY. WE DON'T HAVE OUR CANDIDATES IN THE ROOM YET.
JOE, ARE WE GOING TO BRING IN THE FIRST ONE AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEN WE'LL GO INTO INTERVIEWS ONE CANDIDATE AT A TIME SO THAT SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE BOTH OF THEM IN THE ROOM AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT WE AVOID ONE OF THEM BEING DISADVANTAGED BY LISTENING TO THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE ARE USING PREDOMINANTLY THE SAME QUESTIONS.
AND AND I'LL CALL ON YOU AND WE'LL WE'LL ASK THOSE.
SO ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SEEING THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE ENTIRE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH HERE THIS MORNING, WE WILL GO WITH FIVE MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
[2. PUBLIC COMMENTS ]
SO FEEL FREE TO USE ALL OF YOUR TIME.AND, YVONNE, ARE YOU READY WITH THAT? OH, OKAY.
SO IF YOU'LL JUST CALL ON OUR FIRST.
DID EVERYBODY SIGN IN THAT WANTS TO SPEAK? NO WORRIES. IF YOU DIDN'T, I'LL CALL ON YOU AT THE END.
SO, YVONNE, DO YOU HAVE NAMES? IDEALIST, NANCY STARTS.
DR. NANCY STARTS. MY ADDRESS IS ON RECORD.
SO THE FIRST ONE BEING WHAT WOULD EACH CANDIDATE CONSIDER TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING ATLANTIC BEACH AND HOW WOULD THEY PLAN TO ADDRESS IT? UM, THE OTHER ANOTHER QUESTION THAT CAME TO MIND AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE NEAR FIVE MINUTES.
HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE CONFLICT EITHER BETWEEN EMPLOYEES OR BETWEEN EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS? AND WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT RECENTLY IS THE RESIGNATION OF OUR CFO RECENTLY AND HOW THEY WOULD DO CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S ALSO RELEVANT TO ASK WHETHER THEY HAVE EITHER A WORKING OR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE CURRENTLY ON OUR CITY COMMISSION, INCLUDING ATTORNEY AND SO ON.
AND DO THEY SEE ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS WITH THAT? AND THEN FINALLY, IF THEY HAD ANY OPINION, EITHER ONE OF THEM IN GENERAL, ON THE QUESTION OF PRIVATIZING CITY OR COUNTY UTILITIES AND WHAT THAT WHAT THEIR OPINION IS ON THAT.
SO. UM, I OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THEM TO KNOW IT'S AN EXTREMELY WELCOMING AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY.
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YES, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY FOLKS HERE TODAY, BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED THAN ARE HERE.AND SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE TWO GOOD CANDIDATES AND I'M ANXIOUS TO TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT.
I MAY HAVE TO DROP OFF EARLY, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
SO WHO WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. THANK YOU TO DR.
STOTTS FOR OPENING THIS MEETING WITH COMMENTS AND WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE ACTUAL INTERVIEWS.
[3. CITY MANAGER CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS ]
KEVIN, ARE YOU GOING TO RETRIEVE OUR APPLICANT? OKAY. AND WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT, I WILL COMMENT OUT OF THE NORM.SO DOCTOR STOTTS, WE DO HAVE SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS ON THE LIST, SO THANKS FOR REINFORCING THAT.
I THINK YOU'LL BE PLEASED WITH WITH THE BROADNESS OF THE QUESTIONS, THE IMPORTANCE, UM, WE'VE SPENT.
I KNOW THAT EACH OF THE COMMISSIONERS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE TELEPHONE INTERVIEW AND ONE FACE TO FACE INTERVIEW, INCLUDING MYSELF, WITH THESE TWO CANDIDATES AND OTHER CANDIDATES THAT, AS YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, WE'VE HAD SOME ATTRITION ON THE LIST, BUT THEY'VE BEEN VERY GOOD, DEEP CONVERSATIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS? OKAY.
MORNING. GOOD MORNING, MR. KILLINGSWORTH. YEAH.
IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME IT'S OCCURRED.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TODAY IS WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS EACH COMMISSIONER, AND WE MAY ASK YOU SOME FOLLOW ON, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT TIME TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
MY NAME IS BILL KILLINGSWORTH, AND.
I HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE LAST NIGHT.
SO THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS THAT I AM VERY TIRED BECAUSE I DID NOT GO BACK TO SLEEP AFTER THAT.
SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE CITY MANAGER AT ATLANTIC BEACH.
AND I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY THROUGH A STORY OF TWO PROJECTS.
THE FIRST PROJECT WAS SAN MARCO BY DESIGN.
THE DOWNTOWN IS SO IN THAT PROJECT.
I WORKED WITH THE LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCILPERSON WITH THE RESIDENTS OF SAN MARCO AND WITH THE BUSINESS OWNERS OF SAN MARCO, AND THEY HAD A STRONG DESIRE TO MAINTAIN THEIR COMMUNITY CHARACTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY JUST LIKE ATLANTIC BEACH.
BUT THEY ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE SOME LEVEL OF GROWTH.
THE SECOND PROJECT WAS A PROJECT CALLED THE EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA CORRIDOR TASK FORCE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE WAS TO IDENTIFY FUTURE POTENTIAL CORRIDORS BETWEEN BREVARD COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY IN A WAY THAT MAINTAINED AND PRESERVED THE AGRICULTURAL RICHNESS OF OSCEOLA COUNTY.
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW, BUT OSCEOLA COUNTY IS HOME TO THE DESERET RANCH.IT'S 132,000 ACRE CALVING OPERATION.
IT'S THE LARGEST CALVING OPERATION EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THE THIRD OBJECTIVE WAS TO MANAGE AND MAINTAIN THE GROWTH PRESSURES ON THE RANCH FROM ORANGE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AND FROM BREVARD COUNTY DEVELOPMENT. SO THE REASON I GAVE YOU THESE TWO EXAMPLES IS THAT FIRST PROJECT OCCURRED AT A VERY INTIMATE LEVEL WHERE I WAS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE CITIZENS, DIRECTLY WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AT A SCALE THAT WAS VERY RELATABLE AND VERY HUMAN.
AND I FOUND THAT KIND OF WORK TO BE VERY FULFILLING.
AND I'VE DONE SIMILAR PROJECTS TO THAT.
THE SECOND PROJECT, WHILE TECHNICALLY WAS VERY CHALLENGING AND IT WAS EXCITING BECAUSE OF THE SCALE, IT WAS ALSO THE WORK WAS ALSO SOMEWHAT ABSTRACT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE SCALE.
SO I FIND THIS OPPORTUNITY EXCITING BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN RETURNING TO WORKING AT A SCALE IN WHICH I'M WORKING DIRECTLY WITH PEOPLE WHO RELATE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S MUCH MORE HUMAN IN SCALE.
COMMISSIONER, YOU ALL HAVE THE QUESTIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COMMISSIONER BOLE.
FIRST OF ALL, BILL, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
I APPRECIATE IT. AS A FATHER OF THREE DAUGHTERS, I GET IT.
OKAY. I'M SURE DOC WATERS GETS IT.
OKAY. JUST TO ADD YOU, SO I'VE GOT A I'VE GOT A TWO PARTER FOR YOU.
ARE YOU FIRST OF ALL, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY'S MISSION, VISION AND VALUES? AND THE SECOND HALF OF THE QUESTION, WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE THE CITY MANAGER HAVING IN ENSURING THE CITY'S OPERATIONS ARE IN LINE WITH THESE? SURE. SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH WITH THE MISSION, THE VISION AND YOUR VALUES.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I COULD REGURGITATE THEM BACK TO YOU, BUT IN ESSENCE, YOUR VISION IS LARGELY ABOUT MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND GOING FORWARD AND DOING DOING IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT PROVIDES RELIABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT WOULD BE THE MISSION TIE IN TO THE VISION.
YOUR VALUES ARE BASICALLY LEADERSHIP, INCLUSIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND EXCELLENCE.
SO THE ROLE THAT THE CITY MANAGER PLAYS IN ENSURING THAT THAT THAT THAT VISION AND THAT VISION, THAT VISION, THE MISSION AND THE VALUES ARE UPHELD BY THE BY STAFF.
THE BIGGEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY MANAGER IS MODELING THOSE RULES.
CHANGE HAS TO MODEL THE VISION AND THE AND THE MISSION AND THE VALUES OF THE ORGANIZATION.
THANK YOU. MR. KELLY. MY DAUGHTER CALLED AT 1:00 AND SAID, WHAT'S OUR INSURANCE NUMBER? OH. UH OH, THAT'S A SCARY QUESTION.
IF YOU WERE GIVEN FREE REIN TO IMPLEMENT ANY CHANGES TO THE CITY'S OPERATION, WHAT WOULD THEY BE? THROUGH THE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER KELLY.
SO THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
SO THE QUESTION PRESUPPOSES, I GUESS IT PRESUPPOSES THAT SOME CHANGES ARE NEEDED.
I HAVEN'T BEEN A CITY MANAGER BEFORE, SO THAT'S CLEARLY A WEAKNESS.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO A STRENGTH BECAUSE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I WOULD COME IN AND LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS AND IDENTIFY WHERE THERE WERE WEAKNESSES WORKING BOTH WITH THE USERS OF THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF THE EMPLOYEES, BUT THE STAKEHOLDERS, WHETHER THEY BE CITIZENS OR THE REGULATED COMMUNITY, ENRICH THE PROCESSES OR REGULATING TO IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MIGHT BE WEAKNESSES IN THE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE.
THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S A PARAGRAPH.
OUR CITY STRONGLY BELIEVES IN ENHANCING, CONSERVING, RESTORING, PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TREE CANOPY AND VEGETATION. OVER AND ABOVE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
THE CITY RECEIVED A LEED GOLD 4.1 CERTIFICATION THIS PAST YEAR.
WE THEN FURTHERED OUR HORIZON BY COMPLETING A SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN.
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PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH TREE CANOPY, CANOPY PRESERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS, SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY IN OUR IN YOUR COMMUNITY. SURE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO IN MY ROLE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, WE HAVE SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES THAT ARE INCORPORATED INTO OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. ONE OF THOSE POLICIES AS AN EXAMPLE IS THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS PROGRAM.
SO IF A IF A BUILDING IS COMING IN AND GOING TO BE BUILT TO ONE OF THE STANDARDS, WHETHER IT'S GREEN GLOBE OR GREEN COUNCIL OR ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD CAN APPROVE ANY OTHER THIRD PARTY STANDARDS, THEN THOSE THOSE BUILDINGS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EXPEDITED REVIEW THROUGH BOTH THE CIVIL PROCESS AND THE BUILDING INSPECTION PROCESS, THE BUILDING PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION PROCESS.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY INTERACTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS THINGS HAPPEN, THERE ARE SOME INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN THE CHARTER AND THE CODE.
SO IN THAT CASE THE CHARTER PREVAILS.
BUT IT'S STILL AWKWARD THAT PEOPLE DON'T READ THE CHARTER.
AND SO THERE'S A FEE THAT THAT YOU PAY FOR THAT WHICH IS SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE.
SO TREE CANOPY AND REGULATING THE TREE CANOPY AND ENFORCING THE TREE CANOPY IS SOMETHING THAT I DO ON A DAILY BASIS AT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
IN TERMS OF RESILIENCY, IT WAS A LONG QUESTION.
SO WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT RESILIENCY IS WHEN I WAS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, THERE WAS A TECHNICAL GUIDE PUT OUT BY DIA CALLED I THINK IT'S TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ON ADAPTATION ACTION AREAS.
ADAPTATION ACTION AREAS ARE A TOOL THAT THE STATE AUTHORIZED TO BE UTILIZED IN THE 2000.
SO THAT MANUAL ON HOW TO ADAPT.
IF YOU LOOK ON THE INSIDE COVER, MY NAME IS ON THAT INSIDE COVER.
WHEN I CAME TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS THAT I DID.
MY RESPONSE TO THAT WAS I GAVE HIM A MEMO FROM MOODY, THE RATING SERVICE IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT IN THE FUTURE THEY WERE GOING TO START RATING MUNICIPALITIES CREDIT BOND CREDITWORTHINESS BASED PARTLY ON THEIR EFFORTS TOWARDS RESILIENCE.
IT WAS AN INTERNAL MEMO FROM THEM THAT THEY PUBLISHED.
SO IT WAS PUBLIC RECORD TO THE MAYOR, AND I WAS GIVEN AUTHORITY TO PROCEED.
SO THE CITY ADOPTED BASICALLY THREE POLICIES WITHIN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
ONE WAS A ADAPTATION ACTION AREA, WHICH INITIALLY WAS JUST OUR COASTAL HIGH HAZARD AREA.
THE OTHER WAS THE REQUIREMENT TO CREATE AN ADAPTATION WORKING GROUP.
AND THE THIRD ONE JUST ESCAPED MY MIND.
THE THIRD ONE WAS THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE PLAN IN THE FUTURE.
FOR THE THIRD ONE WAS THE OBVIOUS ONE THAT WE PLAN IN THE FUTURE FOR THE RISK OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE, AND THAT WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION IN ALL OF OUR ACTIONS THOSE POSSIBILITIES.
SO WE THEN CREATED A WORKING GROUP WITHIN A YEAR OF THAT ADOPTION, AND THAT WORKING GROUP WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEY CAME UP WITH A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES. THREE OF THOSE THEY ELEVATED TO THE TOP AND THEY SAID THESE ARE THE ONES THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE CREATION OF A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER.
THE CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER SITS IN THE OFFICE NEXT TO ME AND REPORTS TO ME.
THE SECOND WAS THE CREATION OF A RESILIENT STRATEGY.
WE'VE LET OUT A CONTRACT TO CREATE A LONG TERM, RESILIENT STRATEGY FOR THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
A DRAFT OF THE OF THAT IS ABOUT TO COME OUT AND BE RELEASED TO THE STAKEHOLDERS FOR THEIR COMMENT.
[00:20:06]
AND THEN WE JUST ENTERED INTO NEGOTIATIONS TO CREATE A PROBABILISTIC FLOOD MODEL.AND WHAT THAT WILL DO IS ALLOW US AT A VERY FINE GRAINED TO INCORPORATE BOTH STORM SURGE RAIN EVENTS AND STORM WATER. AND THE WAY IT BASICALLY WORKS IS THAT THEY ASSIGN PROBABILITIES TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF EVENTS.
WE'LL USE THAT RISK QUOTIENT TO DETERMINE AND PRIORITIZE OUR PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.
SO THAT'S A LONG WINDED ANSWER, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AT THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE.
I WILL SAY TOO. SO THE STRATEGIES AND THE VULNERABILITY THAT IS THE ANALYSIS THERE, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, IN SOME CASES THE BEACHES ARE A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE CITY.
BUT THE ANALYSIS THERE IS LIMITED TO THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE BOUNDARIES.
BUT IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE PROBABILITY FLOOD MODELING WILL BE COUNTY WIDE.
WHAT DID THE CITY BECOME? MORE INVESTED AFTER IRMA.
THEY EITHER MAD TO COMMISSIONER KELLY, SO I'LL BE VERY FRANK ABOUT THAT.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
I HAD TO WORK HARD TO GET THE VOTES TO GET IT OUT.
AND IN THAT HURRICANE, IT WAS KIND OF THE PERFECT STORM, RIGHT? WE HAD RAIN DOWN IN VERO BEACH AREA FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
THE HURRICANE SAT OUT THERE AND JUST RAINED FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
AND BY THE TIME THAT WATER FROM FROM THE VERO BEACH AREA GOT UP HERE, THE HURRICANE WAS UP HERE.
THE ADVANTAGE TO THAT IS THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACCESS TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
AND IT QUICKLY BECAME IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO BE WORKING ON RESILIENCE.
AND WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES SINCE THEN ON ANY OF OUR POLICY MAKING.
OKAY. NEXT UP WOULD BE COMMISSIONER WATERS.
WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP THIS NEW CHAPTER IN YOUR LIFE.
I MET YOU LAST WEEK ON THE PHONE AND YESTERDAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
I REALLY ENJOYED TALKING TO YOU AND I HOPE YOUR DAUGHTER IS OKAY.
I HAVE THREE OF THEM. I'VE RECEIVED THOSE CALLS AND IT'S FRIGHTENING.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EASY ONE, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BREAK HERE.
WHAT MAKES ATLANTIC BEACH UNIQUE TO YOU? AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK HERE? I THINK IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, I KIND OF ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
I'M LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY.
SO I'VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF A LARGE CITY.
I ENJOY A MORE INTIMATE PERSONAL LEVEL.
I ENJOY A COMMUNITY THAT IS IS WALKABLE AND RELATABLE.
BUT AS YOUR CITY MANAGER, WHERE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ALL ASPECTS OF THE CITY THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, AS WELL AS THE EXCITEMENT OF WORKING AT A MORE HUMAN SCALE WITH RELATABLE CITIZENS.
HI. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH? SURE. GREAT QUESTION.
THROUGH THE MAYOR TO COMMISSIONER RING.
SO, I MEAN, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES.
THAT WILL LIKELY REQUIRE A SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT.
CLEARLY, COMPLYING WITH THE SENATE BILL 64 AND SURFACE WATER RELEASE WILL BE BOTH A PHYSICAL AND A AND A FINANCIAL CHALLENGE. SO THOSE ARE PROBABLY OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
[00:25:05]
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A WILLINGNESS OR A DESIRE, BUT I DO THINK AND I'VE TALKED WITH SOME OF YOU ABOUT IT, THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY NOW TO REVISIT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE AND THE BEACHES.THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO DO IT.
YOU HAVE A MAYOR WHO IS A RESIDENT OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND SO AND SO AT BEST, AT WORST, YOU HAVE A FRIENDLY EAR, RIGHT? AT BEST, YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ALLY.
AND AND THAT I BELIEVE PERSONALLY THERE WILL BE SOME OPPOSITION TO THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE BENEFICIARY OF A OF THE DEAL AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN A BETTER DEAL COULDN'T BE CUT.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK MAYPORT ROAD IS AN OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE FOR.
IT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE I MEAN, THERE ARE MARKET FORCES THAT ARE AT PLAY WITH THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION, MR. BOLE. YEAH, BILL.
SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY, SO I'LL THROW YOU ONE.
SURE. I THINK I'LL GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT ANSWER TODAY.
BASED ON CONVERSATIONS FROM LAST NIGHT.
APPARENTLY I HAVE NOT SEEN THE ARTICLE, BUT APPARENTLY THERE WAS AN ARTICLE.
AND THAT WAS REALLY SOUNDLY DEFEATED THE VERY FIRST GO AROUND.
THEIR DISTRICT BOUNDARIES, BASICALLY, THEY REFUSED TO DO SO.
AND WE HAD A THIRD MEMBER WHO WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE PERCENTAGES OF ETHNIC GROUP THAT WOULD MAKE UP HER DISTRICT, SAID SO ON THE RECORD. SO AS CAN BE EXPECTED, THERE WAS A GROUP THAT CHALLENGED THAT AND AND PREVAILED IN COURT AND THE COURT SENT IT BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL, AND THE CITY HIRED A CONSULTANT.
AND THE CONSULTANT PROVIDED TWO MAPS TO THE CITY, AND THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED TWO MAPS TO THE CITY.
ONE OF THE MAPS I WITHDREW PRETTY QUICK BECAUSE IN LOOKING AT THE MAP, IT SEEMED AWFULLY SIMILAR TO THE MAP THAT THE COUNCIL HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED THAT WAS REJECTED.
THERE WERE PLACES ON THE PLAINTIFF'S MAP WHERE THEY CROSSED TO 95 ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO TO 95 IS A PRETTY HARD BARRIER.
THE ONLY WAY TO INTERACT BETWEEN THAT IS THROUGH THE INTERCHANGES.
BUT THE MAP WAS STILL CLEARLY THE PLAINTIFF'S MAP JUST ADJUSTED A LITTLE BIT.
WE MADE SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS TO IT TO REFLECT THE DESIRES OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH HAD A STRONG DESIRE TO ENSURE THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO COULD BE REELECTED WERE STILL IN THEIR DISTRICT.
AND WHAT I WILL SAY IS IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP AND YOU GO ON THE RECORD, IT'S CALLED THE ORANGE MAP.
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THEY TOOK THEIR POINTS AND CONSIDERATION.AND I BELIEVE HAD THEY ADOPTED THAT MAP, THAT IT WOULD HAVE GONE FORWARD.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ADOPTED A MAP THAT WAS CALLED THE MAROON FIXED MAP.
AND THAT MAP, QUITE FRANKLY, LOOKED SOMEWHAT SIMILAR, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS THAT THE JUDGE SPECIFICALLY CALLED OUT, LOOKED VERY SIMILAR, AND COUNCIL ENDED UP ADOPTING THAT MAP.
BUT BUT B, I WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING 19 COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LOOK BEYOND STRICTLY PAROCHIAL INTERESTS AND LOOK AT THE GREATER INTEREST OF.
THE IRONY, I BELIEVE, IS THAT HAD THEY FOR BOTH THE COMMUNITY THAT OBJECTED TO THE MAP AND FOR COUNCIL, HAD THEY GONE WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED ORANGE MAP, THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE INTERESTED IN BEING PROTECTED WOULD HAVE STILL HAD A SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGE AND THE CONCERNS THAT COUNCIL HAD WOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED IN BOTH SIDES, COULD HAVE EQUITABLY MET IN THE MIDDLE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY I WAS UNABLE TO GET THERE.
SO THAT IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST FRUSTRATING EVENT THAT I'VE HAD.
I WILL SAY THE REDISTRICTING TEN YEARS BEFORE I ALSO DID AND WE WERE MUCH MORE SUCCESSFUL IN IN ACHIEVING THE GOALS OF THE CITY AND AND CONSTITUENTS WHO LIVED IN THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOWN.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY.
BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CITY MANAGEMENT AND WHY? I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CITY MANAGEMENT OR IN ANY LEADERSHIP POSITION IS COMMUNICATION.
AND SO THE MISSION WAS VERY CLEAR.
YOU DO WHAT THE EXECUTIVE SAYS YOU DO.
SO IN THIS ROLE, I THINK IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT.
IT'S NOT INDIVIDUAL COMMISSION MEMBERS.
AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE EQUITABLY AND FAIRLY AND CONSISTENTLY WITH ALL THE MEMBERS ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE AND TO COMMUNICATE THEIR CONCERNS DOWN TO STAFF AND TO THE PUBLIC.
I HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY WITH FLORIDA SUNSHINE LAW.
SO I GUESS HOW I ANSWER THIS QUESTION WITH WITH HOW I APPLIED.
SO I THINK I MISSED THE POSTING ORIGINALLY WHEN YOU ALL POSTED THE CITY MANAGER JOB, BUT ON THE SECOND GO AROUND I POSTED IT AND I'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE ASK ME, WELL, WHY DID YOU WAIT TILL THE VERY END OF THE SECOND POST? NOT QUITE THE VERY END, BUT PRETTY CLOSE TO THE VERY END TO APPLY.
AND THE REASON I DID THAT WAS AND I APPLIED ON A FRIDAY EVENING.
IS BECAUSE IT'S ALL PUBLIC RECORD AND.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I TIMED THE.
THE EVENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT BY DOING IT ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, IT WAS UNLIKELY.
BUT IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED, IT WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OVER THE WEEKEND.
IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OVER THE WEEK AFTERWARDS.
I WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH MY BOSS, WHICH I DID.
AND. SO, YOU KNOW, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAD THE ONE ON ONE MEETINGS STRICTLY BECAUSE YOU GUYS CAN'T YOU CAN'T BE IN THE SAME ROOM AND TALK TO ME ABOUT ABOUT SOMETHING.
WE'RE IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE COLLECTIVELY YOU CAN TALK TO ME.
PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS ARE IN FLORIDA.
THE SUNSHINE LAW IS VERY BROAD IN FLORIDA.
PUBLIC RECORDS LAW IS THE SAME WAY.
[00:35:03]
AND THE CHALLENGE WITH SOME OF THOSE EMAILS IS THEY'RE QUITE LONG, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO READ THEM.AND BECAUSE SOMEWHERE WITHIN THAT EMAIL THERE MAY BE A THE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO MAKE A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST PER STATUTE, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. IT CAN SIMPLY BE A REQUEST FOR A DOCUMENT.
NOW, YOU DON'T TECHNICALLY HAVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT YOU DO HAVE TO RESPOND TO DOCUMENTS.
AND SO IF THERE'S AN EMBEDDED QUESTION ABOUT A DOCUMENT, THEN YOU HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT.
AND IF YOU DON'T, THERE CAN POTENTIALLY BE CONSEQUENCES TO IT.
COMMISSIONER WATERS. THIS IS INTERESTING.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THE CITY MANAGER HAS IN MANAGING THESE CONFLICTS? I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE CONFLICTS, BUT DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
I THINK THE ROLE THERE COMES DOWN TO EDUCATION ON WHAT IS WHAT THE CITY CAN DO, WHAT THE WHAT THE POLICY OF THE COMMISSION IS.
EXCUSE ME, COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION, PLEASE? ABSOLUTELY. CITIZENS ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND OFTEN HAVE MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THE CITY MANAGER HAS IN MANAGING THESE CONFLICTS? THE. LIKE YOU.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THEY'RE NECESSARILY ALWAYS CONFLICTS.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, IS TO HELP FIND CONSENSUS, PARTICULARLY ON ANY TYPE OF PROJECT AND CONSENSUS, AT LEAST IN MY DEFINITION OF CONSENSUS, ISN'T ALL THAT WE'RE AT THE TABLE SINGING THE PRAISES OF EACH OTHER AND THAT EVERYBODY AGREES WITH EVERY STATEMENT THAT'S BEING MADE. BUT WHAT CONSENSUS DOES MEAN IS THAT NOBODY OBJECTS TO WHATEVER'S BEING DONE SO STRONGLY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC AND IMPOSE IT.
SO FOR ME, THAT'S WHAT CONSENSUS IS.
AND I BELIEVE I HAVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REDISTRICTING, I'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY OF BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THAT BOTH WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND WITH RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU. UH, COMMISSIONER RING, PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A BUDGET TO PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION, KEEPING THE COSTS OF THE GOVERNMENT DOWN WHILE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
AND WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THIS PROCESS FOR YOU? WELL, THE MOST CHALLENGING PART FOR ME WILL BE THAT I'VE NEVER PRESENTED A BUDGET TO A COMMISSION BEFORE.
AND IT'S FOR MY DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
BUT WHAT I CAN SAY TO THAT IS IN TERMS OF LIKE THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, THE DISCRETIONARY PART OF MY BUDGET HAS BASICALLY BEEN HELD FLAT.
WE I DO HAVE A CERTAIN ADVANTAGE IN THAT ALL OF OUR PERMITTING IS ENTERPRISE FUNDED, SO IT'S SELF-FUNDED AND THE ABILITY TO ADJUST BOTH IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES AND TECHNOLOGY IS DRIVEN BY HOW MUCH WORK WE HAVE AND HOW MUCH WORK WE HAVE DETERMINES OUR REVENUE.
SO IT'S EASY TO MAKE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TWO.
THE BIG CONCERN, AT LEAST AMONG OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, IS HOW YOU MANAGE THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS, RIGHT? BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS I WILL WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO ENSURE THAT THEY SUBMIT BUDGETS THAT TO ME FOR REVIEW, THAT MEET THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMISSION AND WHERE I BELIEVE THEY'VE OVERREACHED, I WILL PUSH BACK AND WHERE I BELIEVE THE NEED EXISTS.
A. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ANSWERS YOU'VE GIVEN.
WE'RE CONCLUDING THE QUESTIONS AND I'LL GIVE YOU TIME.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS OR COMMENTS OR.
MR. MAYOR. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW TODAY.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE POSITION.
I SAID THIS TO SOME OF YOU YESTERDAY IN RESPONSE TO TWO QUESTIONS, BUT ON OCTOBER 12TH, 2011, THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION SAID THAT KILLINGSWORTH HAS A RARE COMBINATION OF TALENTS.
AND HE HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT.
I'M PARAPHRASING WHAT THEY SAID, BUT BUT THOSE ARE THE WORDS THEY USED.
[00:40:03]
MANAGER. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ASK IS, AS WE'VE INTERVIEWED THREE TIMES NOW, WE'VE INTERVIEWED ON THE PHONE, EACH INDIVIDUALLY, WE'VE INTERVIEWED IN PERSON, EACH INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUALLY.
AND TODAY YOU'VE INTERVIEWED ME AS A GROUP.
HOPEFULLY I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONVINCE YOU THAT I HAVE BOTH THE TALENT AND THE PERSONALITY TO BE A GOOD CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF FOR THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH. I GOT 31 YEARS SAYING THAT.
IF I'VE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT, THEN I WOULD SIMPLY ASK THAT YOU VOTE YOUR CONSCIENCE.
AND WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT YOU TAKE A SMALL LEAP OF FAITH WITH ME AND SUPPORT ME MONDAY.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW.
AND YOU ARE FREE TO ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SATURDAY.
WE WILL BE MEETING. WHAT TIME IS OUR MEETING? MONDAY? 6 OR 630, I BELIEVE IT'S SIX SIX.
SO FEEL FREE TO TUNE IN ON MONDAY AND YOU'LL SEE THE FINAL DECISION.
BUT REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO COMING PREPARED AND YOUR INTEREST IN THIS POSITION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
THANK YOU. DON'T GET HIRED ANYWHERE ELSE UNTIL THEN.
WELL, I DON'T I DON'T HAVE ANY DAUGHTERS, SO I.
NO, I'M NOT. I ALWAYS WANT I ALWAYS WANTED A DAUGHTER.
THAT'S. YOU NEED TO STICK TO THE SCRIPT ON FAIRNESS.
COMMISSIONER, WHAT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO YOU AS FAR AS THE JACKSONVILLE ATHLETIC? WELL, I'M JUST GOING TO GO JUST FROM THE FOUNTAIN.
WATCH OUT. I CAN GO GET YOU A BOTTLE.
NO, I JUST WANT TO GO. LOOK AT ME THROUGH THE NEXT ONE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. JUST GO START WITHOUT ME.
YOU KNOW. YOU THINK THEY GONE AWAY? I WONDER WHAT YOU. I'VE HAD THOSE CALLS.
THING YOU SAID. GOT THE T SHIRT.
SO ALWAYS GIVE HIM A LOOK RIGHT UP FRONT, YOU KNOW? YEAH. IT MUST BE CONFUSED.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? RIGHT.
MY GO RUCK BUDDY DOWN THE STREET CAN JUST TAKE HIM BY HIS HOUSE.
HE'S PROBABLY GOT EVERY BIG GUN GOING TO HAVE VERY MUCH.
BUT I'VE SEEN THEM UNLOAD ILLEGAL FIREARMS IT THAT WAY.
HIS HIS WIFE WAS A CIA AGENT IN WEST AFRICA AND HE WAS AN ARMY RANGER AND NOW RUNS A, YOU KNOW, RUGGED, YOU KNOW, THAT GOES OUT.
IT SMILES AT YOU'RE THINKING NOT SHE COULD.
YEAH. I'VE ALREADY BEEN READING.
I'VE BEEN IN PRISON. WELL, THEY HAVE.
THEY HAVE SURVIVAL. ESCAPE RESISTANCE.
IT'S A P.O.W. CAMP, AND THEY CATCH YOU AND THROW YOU IN.
I GOT WATERBOARDED THREE TIMES.
TWICE I GOT IN THE SMOKEHOUSE WHERE THEY PUT THE SMOKE INTO AND THEN THEY PUT YOU IN A BOX.
WE DIDN'T OFFICIALLY ADJOURN, BUT WE'RE KIND OF OFFICIALLY RESTARTING.
UH, WELCOME TO MR. NEW. PLEASE JOIN US AT THE LECTERN, IF YOU WOULD.
[00:45:11]
WHICH FOR THOSE I KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.YOU CAN TALK ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR FAMILY, WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON.
MY NAME IS MIKE NEW AND I'M EXCITED TO MEET WITH YOU TODAY.
SOME WEEKS BACK, WHEN REVIEWING YOUR JOB POSTING, I WAS STRUCK BY HOW WELL MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHIES OVERLAP WITH THE QUALITIES THAT YOU SEEK IN YOUR NEXT MANAGER. I BELIEVE MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS, MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL TRAINING, COMBINED WITH MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGING ISSUES FACING NORTH FLORIDA'S MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION IN YOUR ADVERTISEMENT.
FURTHER. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NORTH FLORIDA.
I GREW UP IN NEARBY FERNANDINA BEACH BEFORE MOVING TO THE GAINESVILLE AREA.
LITTLE KNOWN POINT, THE VERY FIRST TOUCHDOWN THAT AN EIGHT YEAR OLD QUARTERBACK ON A POP WARNER FOOTBALL TEAM SCORED IN HIS CAREER AND IT WAS ONE OF VERY FEW TOUCHDOWNS. MAY HAVE BEEN AT FLETCHER HIGH SCHOOL'S FOOTBALL FIELD MAY HAVE BEEN.
BUT FURTHER, I THINK MY FAMILIARITY WITH NORTH FLORIDA AFFORDS ME A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURE AND THE COMMUNITY FABRIC THAT WILL PROVE VITAL FOR THIS LEADERSHIP POSITION.
MY WORK EXPERIENCES INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT IN BOTH LARGE AND SMALL MULTI UTILITY MUNICIPAL ORGANIZATIONS AS THE CITY OF NEWBERRY'S CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR.
I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING ALL OF THE CITY'S SERVICE OFFERINGS, INCLUDING PUBLIC UTILITIES, PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, PLANNING, FINANCE, RECREATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
DURING MY TENURES WITH THE CITY OF ALACHUA AND NEWBERRY, I'VE DEVELOPED A GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE DIVERSITY OF ISSUES THAT ADMINISTRATORS IN SMALL CITIES MUST ADDRESS.
IN ADDITION, I HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE NEGOTIATING SERVICE AND UNION CONTRACTS, DEVELOPING COMPLEX FINANCIAL AND UTILITY RATE MODELS, AND NEGOTIATING WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT MY FRONTLINE EXPERIENCES IN OPERATIONS WILL PROVIDE VALUE TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER BOLE.
FIRST OF ALL, MIKE, THANKS FOR COMING.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE GOING TO DINNER.
YOU DO REALIZE THAT WAS IN NEPTUNE BEACH, CORRECT? WHERE AND YOU DID MAKE IT BACK STRAIGHT OUT OF THERE AND.
MY SON'S VEHICLE GOT TOWED, SO HE'S.
WELCOME TO ATLANTIC NEPTUNE BEACH.
HE'S A YOUNG MAN OF 26 YEARS OLD TO THE BEACH, LEARNING LIFE'S LESSONS.
NOT THE FIRST OR LAST PERSON TO BE TOWED OR DAUGHTER TO BE TOWED FROM THAT.
AND SO YOU GOT KIND OF A LOCAL FLAVOR.
THAT'S GOOD. SO FIRST QUESTION IS, ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY'S MISSION, VISION AND VALUES? AND KIND OF A FOLLOW ON TO THAT, WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE THE CITY MANAGER HAVING IN ENSUING ENSURING THE CITY'S OPERATIONS ARE IN LINE WITH THESE? I AM AND WAS PROVIDED WITH ANOTHER COPY AGAIN TODAY.
IT'S IN YOUR YOUR ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE POSITION.
AND I WOULD SAY ONE, THEY'RE ADMIRABLE, THEY'RE ASPIRATIONAL.
AND I THINK A CITY MANAGER'S JOB IS TO TAKE ASPIRATIONAL GOALS, MISSION VALUES AND WEAVE THEM INTO EVERYDAY OPERATIONS SO THAT THE THE TEAM THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS, THESE THIS MISSION STATEMENT, IT SEES THEM AS PART OF THEIR EVERYDAY IS JUST WOVEN STRAIGHT INTO THEIR WORK EVERY DAY.
SO I TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN OUR ROLE OF OPERATIONS, WE WANT TO PROVIDE EXCELLENCE IN OUR LEVEL OF CARE AND OUR STANDARD OF QUALITY OF CARE. AND I'VE LEARNED, I LEARNED LONG AGO THAT WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OR PERCEPTION ON WHAT EXCELLENCE HAS TO BE.
[00:50:09]
AND SO WE TRY TO QUANTIFY.BUT I THINK IF WE TAKE THE CITY'S MISSION VALUES VISION STATEMENT AND WE SET IT ON A SHELF AND IT DOESN'T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY UNTIL NEXT YEAR'S CHARRETTE, WHEN WE DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN, UM.
AN EXAMPLE IN THE CITY OF NEWBURY, BECAUSE I'M VERY PRAGMATIC ABOUT HOW I DO THINGS AND I WANT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A TANGIBLE, MEASURABLE OUTCOME IS WE HAVE WE TOOK OUR OLD PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND WHAT I HAVE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH AND WE THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW AND WE DEVELOPED A PERFORMANCE EVALUATION THAT ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH THE CITY'S VALUES.
AND SO WE MEASURE OUR TEAM ON THE VALUES THAT OUR CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED FOR OUR CITY, AND WE SEE THAT AS GREATLY INCREASING OUR CULTURE AND HOW WE CAN MORE TANGIBLY TIE THESE IDEOLOGICAL VALUES THAT WE HOLD TO OUR EVERYDAY OPERATIONS.
NEXT QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER KELLY.
SO. HAVING GIVEN TIME TO EVALUATE IF YOU WERE GIVEN FREE REIN TO IMPLEMENT ANY CHANGES TO THE CITY'S OPERATION, WHAT MIGHT THEY BE? UM, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH X, Y AND Z IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF OUR OPERATION.
AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF ENVY IN THAT.
BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN THAT NOT WORK NEARLY AS WELL.
IT IS GREAT ON THE OPENING DAY OF WORK WHEN WE HEAR THE MESSAGE, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BEST WAY THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING BUSINESSES, DOING THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS OF THE CITY.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S A TWO PART QUESTION.
ONE, HOW WOULD YOU GO ABOUT CHANGE AND WHAT CHANGES WOULD YOU MAKE? THE HOW YOU GO ABOUT CHANGE, IN MY OPINION, IS, IS THAT YOU OBSERVE AND IT'S PROBABLY THE FRESHEST SET OF EYES YOU'LL EVER HAVE IS YOUR FIRST SIX MONTHS IN AN ORGANIZATION.
SO ANY TIME YOU GO INTO A NEW ORGANIZATION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK IT'S THE PROCESS OF HOW WE IMPLEMENT CHANGE THAT'S REALLY VITAL TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
AND TO ME THAT PROCESS IS WE CAN ALL SEE AND WE'RE FREE TO OFFER OUR IDEAS AND WE ENCOURAGE IT.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PEOPLE THAT THE CHANGE IS GOING TO AFFECT AND RUN IT BY THEM, RUN IT UP A FLAGPOLE, SEE HOW IT AFFECTS THEIR LIVES. WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT IT? DO THEY SEE IT AS POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE? AND OFTEN PEOPLE ARE RESISTANT AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A BAD IDEA.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S COMMON FOR A LEADER TO HAVE TO CHALLENGE PEOPLE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE.
LET'S GIVE IT A WHIRL. IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT, WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK.
I WOULDN'T PRETEND TO WALK INTO ATLANTIC BEACH AND MAKE ANY RADICAL CHANGES.
I WOULD SPEND THE FIRST SIX MONTHS IN A YEAR LOOKING VERY HARD AND THEN WITH THE TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, WOULD THE COMMUNITY, WOULD THE ELECTED LEADERS TO A COMMUNITY WILL SEE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE ORGANIZATION.
YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS IS MY QUESTION.
THE CITY STRONGLY BELIEVES IN ENHANCING, CONSERVING, RESTORING, PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO TREE CANOPY AND VEGETATION OVER AND ABOVE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.
THE CITY RECEIVED A LEED GOLD 4.1 CERTIFICATION.
WE THEN FURTHERED OUR HORIZON BY COMPLETING A SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN.
[00:55:06]
UM, WELL, IF I OFFER TO BEGIN WITH THAT I'VE OPERATED ELECTRIC UTILITIES FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS OF MY CAREER.YOU MAY THINK THAT. WELL, THIS GENTLEMAN CARES NOTHING ABOUT TREE CANOPY, BUT.
SO THERE IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO PRUNE TREES AND FOR TO PROTECT A TREE CANOPY WHERE TREES CAN LIVE.
SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THRIVE EVEN WHERE WE HAVE UTILITY OPERATIONS.
I THINK AS I READ YOUR LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION AND THE STRONG STATEMENTS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ADOPTED AND THE COMMISSION HAS ADOPTED ON ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, IT'S CLEAR TO ME THAT THE COMMITMENT IS THERE.
AGAIN, IT'S AN ASPIRATIONAL, UM, OBJECTIVE.
AND I THINK WHAT IS KEY UPON LEADERSHIP AMONG CITY OPERATIONS IS, IS THAT WE LEARN HOW TO TAKE THOSE ASPIRATIONS AND WEAVE THEM INTO EVERYDAY OPERATIONS.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I DON'T PRESUME THAT THAT HASN'T ALREADY OCCURRED, BUT I THINK THAT IF OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT OR OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS HAS TREE PRUNING AS A FUNCTION OF WHAT THEY DO, THAT WE BETTER SET THE STANDARD FOR HOW THE COMMUNITY DOES IT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE SEE OUR NEIGHBORS OR WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR NEIGHBORS TO BE DOING WITH PRESERVING TREE CANOPY.
I THINK THAT COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO VEGETATION AND TREE CANOPY ALSO FOLLOW IT UP WITH THINGS LIKE THE YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY INTO CARROT INCENTIVES VERSUS STICK.
PUNISHMENT TYPE OF FOLLOW THROUGH.
AND SO I THINK LIKE TREE PROGRAMS, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE WE CAN TANGIBLY HELP OUT IS IF WE DO AN ARBOR DAY OR A TREE GIVEAWAY ON A PERIODIC BASIS. WHEN WE LOOK AT ALL THE CITY PROPERTIES AND WE DO A TREE SURVEY AND WE WE ASSURE THAT WE'VE DONE THE BEST FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR TREE CANOPY THERE IN TERMS OF OTHER THINGS BEYOND THE TREE CANOPY.
SO FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S COME UP A TIME OR TWO IN CONVERSATION.
AS A YOUNG LAD OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOR FURTHER EDUCATION.
AND I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I HAD A STRENGTH IN MATH AND SCIENCE, THAT I NEEDED TO BE AN ENGINEER.
AND YOU ALL REMEMBER BEING 18 AND NOT QUITE SURE WHAT ANY OF IT MEANS.
AND THEY TELL YOU EVERY WEEK IT'S A NEW CLASS ON WHAT THIS WHAT THIS DISCIPLINE DOES.
SO WE GET TO ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING.
AND I'M A GENTLEMAN THAT GREW UP IN A COASTAL AREA OF FLORIDA.
AND THEN I GO AND I LEARN THAT REALLY WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS, POLLUTION CONTROL, ENGINEERING, IT IS ENGINEERS THAT DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO LEARN HOW TO DESIGN AND INSTALL SYSTEMS THAT PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
NEVER, NEVER WEAVED AND RECEIVED A DEGREE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING.
WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE, I WENT TO WORK FOR THE UTILITY SECTOR, BOTH WITH JACKSONVILLE ELECTRIC AUTHORITY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN WITH GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITY WORKING IN WATER AND WASTEWATER, PROTECTING THE QUALITY OF WATER IN THE REGION OF THE WORLD THAT I WAS LIVING IN.
AND I HAVE EMBARRASSED TO SAY NEARLY 40 YEARS IN THAT CAREER FIELD NOW.
BUT I HAVE MADE A CAREER OUT OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT AND UNDERSTANDING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES.
MAYBE I'M BOBBING A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH.
BUT SO I'VE MADE A CAREER OUT OF THAT.
AND NORMALLY I'M ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE.
I'D LIKE TO TELL TO TELL PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND THEY'RE USUALLY EXPRESSING THEIR DISPLEASURE AT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY'S DOING, HOW WE REGULATING WITH A HEAVY HAND.
AND I SAID, WELL, MY ENTIRE CAREER IN CITY OPERATIONS, I'VE BEEN THE REGULATOR.
AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO BE REGULATED, BUT I'M VERY OFTEN MAYBE EQUALLY OFTEN I'M THE REGULATOR.
I'M APPLYING FOR A PERMIT WITH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND AND I'M GOING THROUGH THE SAME PAIN THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
[01:00:07]
THAT THE BEST CHOICE OUT THERE IS TO TO UNDERSTAND THOSE REGULATIONS AND CONDUCT OUR OPERATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEM.AND ON THE DAYS THAT WE'RE THE REGULATOR, LET'S DO IT WITH EMPATHY.
LET'S HELP PEOPLE GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND THEY THEY WANT TO REMOVE A TREE, THERE'S PROBABLY A GENUINE INTEREST THERE.
NO ONE WANTS THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO BE A BURDEN.
THANK YOU. AS A FOLLOW ON AND I'M SORRY BECAUSE YOU'VE JUST GIVEN US SO MUCH IN THAT ANSWER, BUT YOU SPENT THE PAST TEN YEARS IN A NON-COASTAL COMMUNITY IN NEWBURY, WHICH IS PART OF ALACHUA COUNTY.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS DIFFERENT IN THE APPLICATION? AND THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION MORE SPECIFICALLY ON SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY IN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH VERSUS NEWBURY.
I WOULD SAY THAT NEWBERRY AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY HASN'T TAKEN ON SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES THAT I SEE ATLANTIC BEACH TAKING ON, BUT IT DOESN'T AT ALL DETRACT FROM MY AWARENESS.
I JUST HAPPEN TO LIVE IN A COUNTY THAT HAS A STRONG COUNTY CHARTER AND PUTS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES SQUARELY IN THEIR COURT, AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT'S ALL ABOUT STAYING IN THE RIGHT LANE.
SO OUR COUNTY HAS PUT TOGETHER IRRIGATION ORDINANCES, HAS TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCES THAT ALL OF THAT REGULATORY STUFF THAT IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD IS A FUNCTION OF LOCAL MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS OCCURRING WITHIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN ALACHUA COUNTY.
SO AS WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS THIS ENTIRE WEEKEND ABOUT ATLANTIC BEACH AND MANY OF YOUR INITIATIVES, THERE'S A STRONG AWARENESS OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
WE RECENTLY PUT IN A STORMWATER NEW STORMWATER DESIGN PARAMETERS.
SO IN ADDITION TO GETTING A PERMIT FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA THROUGH THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IN A NEW SUBDIVISION OR A NEW SHOPPING CENTER OR SIMPLY BUILD A NEW MUNICIPAL BUILDING, WE'RE APPLYING FOR A PERMIT WITH BOTH THE ALACHUA COUNTY AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT THESE DAYS.
I THINK THAT'S DUPLICITY, AND I'VE ADVOCATED THAT THE THE COUNTY AND THE STATE WORK TOGETHER TO DECIDE THAT ONE OR THE OTHER, THE STORMWATER PERMITTING.
I'VE I'VE MADE THAT REQUEST, THAT ARGUMENT UNSUCCESSFULLY SO FAR.
BUT IF IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, YOU ADVOCATE FOR IT AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER WATERS.
YEAH, MIKE, THANKS FOR THANKS FOR STEPPING UP FOR THIS POSITION.
I'VE ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATIONS.
THIS IS AN EASY ONE FOR YOU, I BELIEVE.
BUT WHAT MAKES ATLANTIC BEACH UNIQUE TO YOU AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK HERE? OH, ATLANTIC BEACH OFFERS.
IT'S A IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT'S MUCH, MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I HAVE LIVED IN IN THE LAST 40 YEARS.
BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE AND I, I HAVE FROM DAY ONE LOVED THE WORK I DO.
UM, BUT I'M A COASTAL BOY AND, AND SO MY ROOTS ARE DEEP.
AND THERE'S SOME TRUTH TO THAT.
SO FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS, MY FAMILY HAS VACATIONED SOMEWHERE ON THE COAST.
MY MOTHER STILL LIVES ON THE COAST.
UM, AND EVERY TIME MY WIFE AND I MAKE A WEEKEND GETAWAY, WE'RE WE'RE ON THE COAST SOMEWHERE.
SO THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN MY CAREER SEGMENT, UH, IN THAT COME OPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. AND WHEN THEY DO, I TAKE A GOOD LOOK AND SEE IF WE'D BE A GOOD FIT.
AND I WOULD TELL YOU THAT, UM, I'M, I HAVE A REALLY GOOD EMPLOYMENT SITUATION WHERE I'M FROM AND IT TAKES A LOT TO, TO GET THAT APPLICATION COMING FORWARD.
I THINK THERE ARE 4 OR 5 COASTAL CITY MANAGER POSITIONS OPEN, AND WHEN I SAY COASTAL, I DON'T THINK I COULD I WOULD BE VERY EFFECTIVE SOUTH OF THE MIDDLE OF THE STATE. SO IF YOU GET MUCH FURTHER SOUTH THAN VERO BEACH, IT'S PROBABLY A DIFFERENT KIND OF WORLD AND I MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST FIT.
SO THERE'S 4 OR 5 OF THOSE POSITIONS OPEN NOW.
I'M AN OPERATIONAL SPECIALIST THAT HAS SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER.
[01:05:04]
I'VE BEEN IN THE METER READING WORLD.I'VE BEEN IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WORLD.
I THINK ATLANTIC BEACH IS A SMALL ORGANIZATION THAT HAS HAS ITSELF POSITIONED WHERE I CAN STEP IN AND AND I CAN ACTUALLY BENEFIT ATLANTIC BEACH AS MUCH AS MUCH AS I WILL ENJOY THE CAREER OPPORTUNITY AND THE GROWTH THAT I'VE RECEIVED IF I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
NEXT QUESTION. COMMISSIONER RING.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FACING THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH? THE. WELL, WE WILL START WITH CHALLENGES.
I THINK THAT IN A COMMUNITY OF ATLANTA BEACH, I'D SAY TO START WITH, IT'S IT'S CONSTRAINED.
THERE MAY BE HALF A DOZEN LOTS THAT ARE STILL DEVELOPABLE IN TOWN.
SO I THINK MOST OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT IS MORE REDEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S UNIQUE. MOST OF FLORIDA IS IS SEEING SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NEW GROWTH.
NEWBERRY WE'RE BUILDING 150 NEW HOMES A YEAR.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW GROWTH IN OUR BIG STATE.
BUT IN LAND CONSTRAINED ATLANTIC BEACH, I THINK DEVELOPING SMARTLY AND DEALING WITH THE PRESSURES OF OF WE ARE MOSTLY BUILT OUT I THINK IS A CHALLENGE.
WE WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME THAT THE THE NEW DEVELOPMENT REALLY PAYS CARRIES A LOT OF OF THE WEIGHT OF OF THE COST FOR FOR OUR SERVICES.
AND IF YOU'RE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS NO GROWTH, THEN YOUR TAXPAYERS ARE FEELING THE ACTUAL BURDEN OF OF WHAT IT COSTS TO OPERATE A FUNCTIONAL CITY GOVERNMENT.
SO I SEE THAT AS A AS A CHALLENGE, DEFINITELY NOT AN OVERCOMING CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT ATLANTIC BEACH IS IS FACED WITH AND MUST BE WILLING TO DEAL WITH. I THINK LIKE EVERY COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA, YOU'RE DEALING WITH AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE LOOKS FORWARD, LOOKS FORWARD AND IS THERE TO SERVE YOU.
WE ALL KNOW ABOUT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR WATER MAINS ARE TOO SMALL AND THEY DON'T PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION OR WHERE OUR SEWER SYSTEM IS A LITTLE LEAKIER THAN WE WANT IT TO BE.
AND WE HAVE REGULATORY PRESSURES TO TIGHTEN IT UP.
ALL THE NUMBERS SO ASTRONOMICAL THAT JUST THAT.
AND SO IT IS MY BELIEF, THOUGH, THAT YOU MUST TAKE THOSE ON THAT IT'S REQUISITE.
THEY THESE PROBLEMS WON'T GO AWAY.
AND MY BEST SOLUTION FOR HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THOSE PROBLEMS IS, IS YOU START IS HOW DO YOU EAT ELEPHANT IS PROGRAMMATICALLY I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOUR BUDGET IS INCLUDING FUNDING TO ADDRESS THESE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES BECAUSE.
AS I LOOK IN YOUR BUDGET, YOU ARE DOING THINGS TO ADDRESS THEM AND YOU'RE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THAT.
AND THOSE PRESSURES ARE CAUSED ARE RESULTING IN THE COST OF HOUSING GOING, GOING UP, UP, UP.
AND YOUR WORKFORCE IS STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT CAN BE.
SO THEY'RE COMMUTING GREAT DISTANCE AND IT SETS UP A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE YOU HAVE DIFFERENT SOCIOECONOMIC CLASSES THAT USUALLY IN A COMMUNITY OF THIS FABRIC THAT YOU JUST PREFER NOT TO HAVE.
EVERY YEAR THE STATE LEGISLATURE COMES UP WITH NEW REGULATIONS ABOUT THAT ARE PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, BOTH ON THE WATER AND THE AIR SIDE, SOLID WASTE SIDE. AND AND THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR EVERY COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA.
BUT IT IS A SUPER UBER CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE IN FLORIDA.
[01:10:03]
SOME SOME TOUGH TIMES AHEAD BECAUSE THERE'S A RECOGNITION THAT IF WE DON'T ACT NOW, WE COULD BE IN TROUBLE.SO I SEE THAT AS ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
WEATHER EVENTS, I WON'T GO DEEPLY INTO THAT.
I HEAR METEOROLOGISTS TELLING US THAT IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.
BUT IT WAS BACK IN THE 20S AND 30S AND FRANKLY, WE JUST DON'T REMEMBER THOSE THINGS.
I THINK A GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST RELATES TO GEOGRAPHY.
YOU'RE IN A DESIRABLE PART OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
I THINK YOU SEE THAT EVERY DAY WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD REALLY LIKE TO BE HERE.
AND I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A YOU HAVE A VERY CLOSE KNIT COMMUNITY, FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER.
I THINK YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS VERY WELL COMPARED TO MANY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
I GET TO SEE A LOT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND HOW FUNCTIONAL THEY MAY BE.
I KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES WE IT'S YOUR FAMILY.
YOU THINK YOUR FAMILY IS SUPER DYSFUNCTIONAL.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU IF YOU LIVE IN ATLANTIC BEACH RIGHT NOW, YOU MAY SEE SOME OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHALLENGES AS BEING GREATER THAN THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD MIGHT SEE.
I THINK YOUR GOVERNMENT IS IN GREAT FINANCIAL SHAPE.
AND AGAIN, I THINK PEOPLE WILL DEBATE THAT.
BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THAT PEOPLE REALLY ARE FAMILIAR WITH.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THE BANKING ACCOUNT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE.
I THINK THAT THAT WITH YOUR TEN YEAR PLANS, WITH THE COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT, WITH WHAT YOU'RE ACCOMPLISHING IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN YOUR CIP AND WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR UPCOMING CIP, I SEE YOU AS A VERY PROGRESSIVE, FORWARD THINKING GOVERNMENT THAT HAS THE BALL MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE VERY THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
UM, MR. NEW, YOU'RE INLAND, SO THIS MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE TOP OF YOUR RADAR, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION ANYWAYS.
RECENTLY, FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSED AND THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A NEW FLORIDA STATUTE.
I BELIEVE IT'S REFERRED TO AS LIVE LOCAL.
AND THAT TIES INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT? OPINIONS ON THAT? I THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO BE WELL, ONE, THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE RARELY MISSES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREEMPT LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND AND I'M I HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN OUR AREA.
BUT I CAN JUST TELL YOU THAT OVER 20 YEARS OF WATCHING, PREEMPTING THE CITIES AND COUNTIES ARE A HOBBY OF LOCAL OF FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.
SO UM AND SO THE LIVE LOCAL ACT I THINK PRESENTS CHALLENGES FOR CITIES.
I THINK I THINK THAT ATLANTIC BEACH RIGHTFULLY HAS MORE CONCERNS THAN, SAY, THE CITY OF NEWBERRY IS GOING TO HAVE WITH REGARDS TO LIVE LOCAL. IF AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE NUANCES OF OF LIVE LOCAL JUST YET, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S GOING TO PREEMPT OUR LEGISLATIVE BODY YOU FROM CERTAIN REGULATIONS AS LONG AS DEVELOPMENT COMES WITH IN KEEPING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PROVIDE, I BELIEVE IT'S 60% OF THE HOUSING THAT'S BEING CREATED THROUGH DEVELOPMENT FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING, THEN ESSENTIALLY THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT YOUR AUTHORIZATION AND THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU.
I THINK YOU HAVE A GREAT ALLY IN THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES.
THEY'RE A GREAT WATCHDOG GROUP.
THEY'RE ALSO GREAT AT DEVELOPING STRATEGY FOR HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THESE.
AND I THINK I THINK IT IS ASPIRATIONAL THAT WE DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO PREEMPT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ANY LONGER.
BUT I THINK OPERATIONALLY, THAT'S A THAT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.
AND IT MAY NOT BE AS GOOD FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS IT AS IT SEEMS UPON FIRST BLUSH.
THANK YOU. AND I'VE GOT SO ENGAGED IN LISTENING TO YOU, I'VE FORGOTTEN WHICH QUESTION WE'RE ON.
[01:15:03]
SIX. NUMBER TEN.COMMISSIONER BOLE. MIKE, WITH YOUR PARKING EXPERIENCE, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION FOR YOU.
WE. THAT WE COULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME, WE COULD HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THIS CONVERSATION.
SO I'LL I'LL START WITH 1 OR 2.
IF WE GET LONG WINDED, WE'LL JUST CUT IT BACK.
BUT WHEN NEWBERRY OWNS A WORLD CLASS BASEBALL FACILITY, IT'S YOUTH BASEBALL FACILITY.
16 FIELDS IS BUILT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY.
IT'S ASTROTURF AND TEAMS. TRAVEL TEAMS COME IN AND THEY PLAY IN THIS FACILITY.
AND IT'S IT'S A REALLY NEAT PLACE.
AND IT WAS KIND OF ILL CONCEIVED.
AND WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN NEWBERRY, IT WAS A YEAR OLD AND IT HAD NOT HOSTED ANY TOURNAMENTS YET.
AND OUR COMMISSION WAS REALLY DISMAYED BY THAT.
THE DEAL WAS THE COUNTY PAID FOR IT, BUT THE CITY OWNED IT AND THEY HADN'T SUCCESSFULLY.
WAS HE WAS A THOUGHT TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONS OF THIS BALLPARK.
BUT THIS WAS A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BALLPARK AND HE WAS OVER HIS HEAD FINANCIALLY.
AND THE CONSEQUENCES WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT $8 MILLION THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RETURN IF WE DIDN'T MEET CERTAIN OBJECTIVES, NUMBER OF TOURNAMENTS THAT WE HOST IN THE YEAR NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WE THE OBJECT OF THE PARK WAS TO PUT HEADS IN BEDS.
AND THIS GENTLEMAN WAS OPERATING THE PARK WHEN I GOT THERE AND WE WERE NOT ACHIEVING OUR OBJECTIVES.
AND HE HAD EXTENSIVE RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS AND HE WASN'T INTERESTED IN ANY OF IT.
BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT IT WASN'T WORKING AND HE WAS IN BREACH OF CONTRACT.
AND IT WAS A SOFTBALL LIST OF CURES.
THAT WAS THE HEY, WE'RE TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION HERE, BUT WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BREAK YOU.
AND HE IGNORED THE LETTER, WADDED IT UP, THREW IT IN THE TRASH CAN.
SO 30 DAYS LATER, HE GOT A NOTICE OF TERMINATION AND WE TERMINATED HIS CONTRACT FOR CAUSE AND ALL OF THAT WAS DONE AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL. AND OUR COMMUNITY HAD A COW.
HE HAD A COW. THE COMMUNITY HAD A COW.
AND I RECEIVED LOTS OF PHONE CALLS AND IT ENDED UP THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AGAINST CITY OPERATIONS STAFF AND THE NEW CITY MANAGER THAT HAD CANCELED THIS CONTRACT.
AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE WE EDUCATED ELECTED OFFICIALS AND GAVE THEM ENOUGH INFORMATION TO TO FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THERE WAS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS YOUNG MAN TO BECOME THE OPERATOR AGAIN.
IF WE WE WENT RIGHT BACK OUT FOR BID TO OPERATE THE SERVICES AND STAFF WASN'T GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT HE BECOME THE OPERATOR, BUT ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE GOING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. HE DIDN'T GET IN THE BALLPARK.
WE GOT A MUCH BETTER OPERATOR IN THERE.
AND BUT DEFINITELY A TOUGH GO AT IT FROM AN OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE.
AND I WON'T ELABORATE QUITE SO MUCH, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE CITY OF ALACHUA, UM, PRETTY QUICKLY AFTER GETTING THERE, I WAS, CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE WERE LOSING MONEY, HEMORRHAGING IN OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES AND THAT WE HADN'T RAISED RATES
[01:20:06]
IN 18 OR 19 YEARS.IT WAS ABOUT A 50 CENT, 50% RATE INCREASE.
SO WE WE WENT THROUGH THE STEPS THAT WE GO THROUGH.
GOT IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, BUT IT WAS STILL A 50% RATE INCREASE.
BUT WHEN THEY GET THEIR UTILITY BILL, THEY'RE WATCHING.
SO THE UTILITY BILLS COME OUT, THEY'RE EXPENSIVE AND PEOPLE BEGIN TO COMPLAIN.
AND I WAS AT A CONFERENCE ONE DAY AND WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF OUR RESIDENTS WHO ATTACHED A STATE LAW THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF THAT FRANKLY EVERYONE IN OUR CITY WAS ALL AWARE OF ABOUT HOW YOU HAVE TO NOTICE INCREASES IN WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.
SO FOR WATER AND RATE RATE CHANGES, IT'S NOT JUST YOUR NORMAL ORDINANCE ADVERTISING.
YOU HAVE TO SEND A LETTER IN THE BILL.
JOE KNOWS THIS. HE'S HE'S NOT IN HIS HEAD.
HOW COULD YOU HAVE MISSED THAT? WE DIDN'T SEND THE LETTER IN THE BILL AHEAD OF TIME NOTICING THEM.
OTHER RATE CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO. SO WE HAD DONE THIS FOR TWO MONTHS NOW AND GOT TOGETHER.
WE RETURNED THE MONEY AND RETURNED THE MONEY TO EVERYBODY ON THEIR NEXT BILL.
EVERYBODY GOT A BIG CREDIT AND THERE WAS EGG ON OUR FACE.
IT WAS EMBARRASSING, BUT WE WERE STILL NEEDING A RATE AND A RATE CHANGE.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, IF YOU EVER WANT TO HAVE FUN AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, INCREASE EVERYONE'S RATE BY 50%, LET THEM TRY IT OUT FOR TWO MONTHS, THEN SEND THEM A LETTER AND SAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING TO TALK ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE.
AND SO THE ROOM WAS PACKED AND IT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
COULDN'T GET A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
BUT BUT WE DID GET A RATE IN THERE THAT WAS SUFFICIENT SO THAT THE UTILITIES QUIT LOSING MONEY.
NOT THE FUNNEST DAY TO BE A UTILITY DIRECTOR.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KELLY BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE DID ELABORATE STUDY BUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
FIVE SO WE'VE DONE THAT STEP ALREADY.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CITY MANAGEMENT AND WHY? THINK FROM A CITY OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE.
IT IS DEVELOPING A COHESIVENESS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
MOST BUSINESSES THAT OPERATE THERE, THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE BUSINESS, ARE ALL GEARED TOWARD THE SAME END GOAL, AND THAT'S TRUE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
BUT THE DIVERSITY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE VERY BROAD.
YOU HAVE FIRE PROTECTION AND POLICE PROTECTION AND UTILITY SERVICE AND RECREATION AND.
NOT SO MUCH COMMONALITY BETWEEN THEM.
ASIDE FROM THEIR NOT PROFITABLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND IF RESIDENTS WANT THEM, GOVERNMENTS A LIKELY CANDIDATE TO TAKE THEM ON BECAUSE WE CAN OPERATE IN A BREAK EVEN ENVIRONMENT OR WE'RE WILLING TO SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THESE OPERATIONS THROUGH THROUGH OUR TAXES.
AND MOST TIMES THAT'S TONGUE IN CHEEK.
BUT THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME TRUTH IN THOSE STATEMENTS.
AND I PERSONALLY TAKE OFFENSE AT THAT.
AND BUT IT STARTS WITH ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN ANY ORGANIZATION.
YOU'VE GOT TO PUT IT INTO ACTION.
[01:25:05]
EXCEL AT WHAT WE DO.I'M GOING TO EXCEL AT BEING A LIFEGUARD.
IF I'M A POLICE OFFICER, I'M GOING TO EXCEL AT BEING A POLICE OFFICER.
AND AND I THINK AS YOU START MOVING THAT DIRECTION OR ACHIEVE THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT WE'RE NOT THERE ALREADY, SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THING IS MAINTAINING EXCELLENCE AND OPERATION.
GETTING THERE CAN BE A LITTLE EASIER THAN MAINTAINING IT, BUT I THINK THAT IS A PRIMARY FUNCTION OF YOUR CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IS TO GET YOUR TEAM MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, PULLING HARD SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
AND WHEN THOSE JOKES HAPPEN ABOUT WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A TEASING COMMENT ABOUT GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, WE'LL KNOW IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN ATLANTIC BEACH.
THANK YOU. YES. NEXT QUESTION.
UM, WELL, AGAIN, MR. MAYOR, AT THE AT THE RISK OF BEING HERE ALL DAY, UM, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THAT FLORIDA IS SERIOUS ABOUT ENSURING THAT GOVERNMENT IS TRANSPARENT.
UM, AND SO THEY HAVE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT ESSENTIALLY SAYS THAT THE ONLY TIME ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN DISCUSS ISSUES THAT ARE PERTINENT TO THE CITY IS IN A PUBLICLY NOTICED MEETING WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN SIT IN AND LISTEN AND AT TIMES PARTICIPATE IN THAT DIALOG.
SO THAT'S THE MANDATE THAT WE ALL HAVE.
YOU KNOW, I WAS KIND OF PICKING ON THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE A LITTLE EARLIER.
I'LL JUST POINT THAT OUT FOR YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.
THEY CAN THEY CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND DISCUSS ALL THESE ISSUES.
BUT SO YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY WELL VERSED ON SUNSHINE FROM A CITY STAFF PERSPECTIVE.
WE CAN'T SIT DOWN WITH ANY ELECTED OFFICIAL AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT THE OTHER FOLKS ARE THINKING.
TRY TO COMPILE, UM, A CONSENSUS OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH ETHICS TRAINING.
YOU GET FOUR HOURS WORTH OF ETHICS TRAINING EVERY YEAR.
IT'S THE MOST MIND STIMULATING THING YOU DO EVERY YEAR, I'M PRETTY CERTAIN.
UM, AND WE STAFF SITS IN ON THOSE.
IT'S THE THOSE SUNSHINE LAWS ARE UPDATED ALMOST EVERY YEAR BY THE LEGISLATURE.
AND SO WE HAVE TO STAY ABREAST OF THAT AGAIN.
FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES IS A GREAT PARTNER, KEEPING US ABREAST OF WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIPES AND HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT COME DOWN THE PIPE INTO THOSE, UH, REQUIREMENTS AND REGULATIONS INTO OUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
THEY WON TRANSPARENT FOR OUR PUBLIC, BUT TO IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
THE NEXT QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER WATERS.
WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THE CITY MANAGER HAS IN MANAGING THESE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES OR CONFLICTS? THE CITY MANAGER'S PRIMARY ROLE IS RELATE TO OPERATIONS.
SO IF IT'S AN A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE, THEN THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE IS SIMPLY TO PROVIDE FACTUAL INFORMATION TO LEGISLATURES THAT ARE CONSIDERING IT OR WATCH GROUPS THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED AND KIND OF WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BASIS FOR HOW WE DO WHAT WE DO.
IT'S NOT THE CITY MANAGER'S ROLE NECESSARILY TO GET INTO THAT CONVERSATION, BUT AS IT RELATES TO GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND THAT'S OFTEN A CONVERSATION. PEOPLE WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE BY A LEGISLATIVE BODY, HOW THEY TRANSLATE INTO OPERATIONS, WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO? WHY DID MS.. SMITH UTILITIES GET CUT OFF? SHE'S SHE'S GREAT AND WE ALL LIKE HER.
AND WHY WOULD YOU WHY WOULD YOU CUT MISS SMITH'S UTILITIES OFF FOR NONPAYMENT? AND SO I HAVE TONS OF THOSE QUESTIONS EVERY DAY OF MY CAREER FROM EVEN BEFORE I WAS A CITY ADMINISTRATOR AS A UTILITY DIRECTOR.
UM, THE RESIDENTS THAT ARE BRINGING THOSE QUESTIONS, THEY'RE THEY DON'T KNOW.
THEY'RE NOT EXPERTS AT WHAT YOU DO, AND WE ARE EXPERTS AT WHAT WE DO.
[01:30:01]
AND, AND HOPE THAT THAT SATISFIED WE, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE WILLING TO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T SATISFY EVERYONE.AND SO YOU EXPLAIN AS BEST YOU CAN.
I THINK AN EDUCATED POPULATION IS YOUR BEST ADVOCATE.
IF YOU CAN EXPLAIN THE WHY BEHIND THE WHAT, WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, IT IS VERY DISARMING.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S DEFENSE NUMBER ONE.
I THINK IT'S I HAVE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THOSE CONVERSATIONS EXTEND WAY LONGER THAN.
AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A THIS IS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
IT'S AN OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT AND NOT EVERYONE NECESSARILY WOULD AGREE AGREE WITH IT, BUT HOPEFULLY EVERYONE CAN AGREE THAT CITY OPERATIONS IS DOING ITS LEVEL BEST TO CARRY OUT THE WILL OF OUR ELECTED BODY AND THE WILL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT ELECTED THEM.
RING. MIKE, THIS IS YOUR LAST ONE, ALL RIGHT? ALL RIGHT. I'D RATHER BE HERE ALL AFTERNOON.
YEAH, WELL, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET YOU OUT BEFORE THE CLOUDS COME IN SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE BEACH.
BUT PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS FOR DEVELOPING A BUDGET TO PRESENT TO THE COMMISSION, KEEPING THE COSTS OF GOVERNMENT DOWN WHILE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC. AND WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THAT PROCESS TO YOU? UM, PROCESS FOR ME IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT STARTS IN JANUARY.
BUDGETING IS A YEAR ROUND FUNCTION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO I THINK THAT OUR CITY'S FINANCE, YOU CAN'T OPERATE THE CITY WITHOUT HAVING A PARTNERSHIP OR A VERY REALISTIC I KNOW WHAT I'M SPENDING.
I'VE GOT TO WORK TO DO AND I'M GOING TO GET HER DONE.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I'VE GOT TO SPEND ON IT.
COMMUNICATING THAT IS CHALLENGING BECAUSE GOVERNMENT FINANCES ARE COMPLEX AND YOUR CREW LEADERS AND YOUR SUPERVISORS OFTENTIMES AREN'T LIKE SOME OF THE TOOLS TO BE GOOD AT BUDGETING.
UM, JUST KIND OF TO MY TRAINING.
I BREAK THINGS DOWN SO THAT I CAN.
SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT BUDGETS AS A PERSONNEL BUDGET.
LET'S TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH INDIANS TO PERFORM ALL THE WORK THAT WE WANT TO GET DONE AROUND HERE? WHO'S LOOKING? WHO'S LOOKING FOR NEW STAFF? WHY CAN WE DECREASE? WAS TELLING TALKING WITH SOMEONE ABOUT WHAT WE CALL FORWARD PASS AND BACKWARDS PASS.
WHEN WE LOOK AT AT THE CONSTRUCTION, IT'S A WAY OF LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
BUT WHEN WE BUILD THE BUDGET, OFTEN WE'RE GREAT AT THE FORWARD PASS.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO TO FUND ALL THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GREAT AT THE BACKWARDS PASS.
WHEN WE SAY NOW, WHAT ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE COULD ELIMINATE AND STILL ACCOMPLISH THE WORK THAT THE PUBLIC AND THE COMMISSION EXPECTS US TO DO? AND THAT BACKWARDS PASS CAN SHOW YOU THINGS THAT ARE OBSOLETE IN YOUR BUDGET AND SERVICES YOU MAY BE NOT PROVIDING.
IT'S THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE COULD GET BY ON.
SO I THINK WE IMPLEMENT TOOLS LIKE THAT.
WE TALK ABOUT PERSONNEL AS PERSONNEL.
WE WOULD THEN MOVE INTO OPERATIONS AND TALK ABOUT YOUR STANDARD DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AND THEN FINALLY WE WOULD TALK ABOUT EXTRAORDINARY EXPENSES, YOUR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, DO WE NEED NEW FLEET? AND I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THAT WE WOULD HAVE A STANDING FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN SIMILAR TO YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
SO YOU CAN SEE A TEN YEAR PROJECTION ON WHAT YOU THINK YOUR FLEET NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURY, WE HAVE A TEN YEAR STAFFING PLAN.
WE WE KNOW EACH DEPARTMENT HOW WE THINK IT'S GOING TO STAFF AND WE UPDATED EVERY YEAR FOR GOING OUT TEN YEARS AND WE REVIEW IT EVERY YEAR TO SEE ARE WE IN KEEPING WITH THAT? CAN WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO ADD A PERSON THIS YEAR, A NEW PLANNER THIS YEAR? IS THE WORKLOAD THERE TO WARRANT IT? YES OR NO? AND IF IT'S NO, CAN WE PUSH IT OUT TWO YEARS TO DEFER THOSE COSTS? SO THE PROCESS IS IS IT'S ULTIMATELY A YEAR ROUND.
[01:35:01]
YOU START HAVING BUDGET WORKSHOPS WHERE YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO GET WHAT THEIR EXPECTATIONS ARE.NEWBURY WE DO FOUR OR MORE WORKSHOPS EACH YEAR AND THEY'RE USUALLY FOCUSED SIMILAR.
WE TALK ABOUT OUR OUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS, WHICH ARE YOUR GENERAL FUND AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THEN WE'LL MOVE OVER INTO ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WE'LL HAVE AN A WORKSHOP ON OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS WHERE WE'LL TALK ABOUT OUR UTILITY COSTS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THE SPECIAL FUNDS THAT WE WORK OUT OF, WE THIS WILL BE OUR FOURTH WORKSHOP.
AND JUST JUST SAW AN EMAIL WHERE I LEARNED A NEW RULE.
THE WE'VE HAD OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS FOR OUR BUDGET SET FOR MANY MOONS TO BE THE YOU KNOW, THE NIGHT THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY HAVE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS IN SEPTEMBER. AND THE SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO MOVE THEIR BUDGET ADOPTION HEARING TO TO OUR NIGHT AND WELL, TWO ORGANIZATIONS, STATES THERE'S TWO ORGANIZATIONS CAN'T HAVE THEIR BUDGET ADOPTION ON THE SAME NIGHT.
SO THE CITIZENS OF NEWBURY WILL GET TO HAVE A SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING SOME OTHER TIME SO THAT WE DON'T CONFLICT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD AND JUST THE THINGS YOU LEARN IN GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, 39 YEARS IN AND I'M STILL LEARNING NUANCES OF WHO KNEW.
SO THAT'S HOW A BUDGET PROCESS GOES FOR ME.
I THINK THE COMMISSION APPROVES IT IN SEPTEMBER AND WE PLAN FOR IT TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER.
AND THEN THE FIRST FULL MONTH OF OCTOBER, WE'RE WE'RE ROLLING IT OUT WITH OUR TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SUPERVISORS THAT I MENTIONED, THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS UP TO SPEED ON EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY'VE GOT TO DO, WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO DO.
AND I WOULD TELL YOU, I'M I'M PROUD WE PRESENTED OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT TO OUR COMMISSION SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD NO FINDINGS CLEAN, UNMODIFIED AUDIT.
AND AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
THANK YOU. AS WE CONCLUDE OUR TIME TODAY, I WISH TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR PROCESS. I REALIZE IT SOUNDS A BIT NERDY, BUT I THOROUGHLY ENJOY DISCUSSING LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE ROLE. I BELIEVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, AND THE MORE WE CAN DO TO EDUCATE THEM, THE BETTER THEY'LL FEEL ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE ARE PROVIDING FOR THEM.
THE DEPTH OF OUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF ATLANTIC BEACH AND THE CRITICAL ROLE THE CITY MANAGER PLAYS IN SHAPING ITS FUTURE HAS ONLY STRENGTHENED MY DESIRE TO BE PART OF THIS INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY.
YOUR CITY MANAGER POSITION PRESENTS A UNIQUE CHALLENGE TO LEVERAGE MY EXPERIENCE, MY SKILLS AND PASSION FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TO DRIVE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE AND BUILD A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ATLANTIC BEACH.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN TODAY'S WORLD DEMAND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS AND A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT MY TRACK RECORD OF FOSTERING STRONG, INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION AND LEADING CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS WILL BE AN ASSET IN ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS. AS I ENVISION THE POSSIBILITIES THAT LIE AHEAD.
I SEE A CITY THAT EMBRACES ITS FUTURE AND EMPOWERS ITS CITIZENS TO THRIVE.
MY COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE AND LIFE QUALITY EXTENDS BEYOND MERE WORDS.
IT DRIVES MY ACTIONS AND DECISIONS.
I'M EAGER TO WORK CLOSELY WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COMMISSION.
COMMUNITY LEADERS, DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS, SERVANTS TO OPERATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN A MANNER THAT IS TRANSPARENT BUT ALSO IMPACTFUL AN ORGANIZATION THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE PROUD OF.
[01:40:03]
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MAINTAINING THE CITY'S FINANCIAL HEALTH.I'M PREPARED TO DILIGENTLY MANAGE RESOURCES, IDENTIFY COST SAVING OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT YIELD THE GREATEST BENEFITS FOR ATLANTIC BEACH AND ITS RESIDENTS.
TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL UNDERPIN ALL FINANCIAL DECISIONS.
ENSURING THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN THEIR GOVERNMENT REMAINS UNWAVERING.
IF GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS YOUR CITY MANAGER, I WILL IMMERSE MYSELF IN UNDERSTANDING THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE WITHIN ATLANTIC BEACH. BY LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS OF RESIDENTS AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF OPEN COMMUNICATION, I WILL LEAD WITH EMPATHY AND INTEGRITY TO CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION INNOVATION CAN FLOURISH.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW FOR ATLANTIC BEACH'S CITY MANAGER POSITION.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT MY FRONT LINE EXPERIENCES IN OPERATIONS WILL PROVIDE VALUE TO ATLANTIC BEACH.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO TO RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
GOOD NEWS IS YOU'VE GOT THE REST OF THE DAY TO ENJOY OUR BEACH OR NEARBY.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO AVOID NEPTUNE BEACH PARKING, BUT THANK YOU FOR FOR TRAVELING SO FAR.
AND DELIGHTED TO MEET BOTH YOU AND YOUR WIFE LAST EVENING.
BEST WISHES AND WE WILL BE RECONVENING MONDAY EVENING AT 6 P.M.
YOU MAY WANT THE RESULTS OF THAT MEETING.
WE WILL BE MAKING DECISIONS THEN.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.
WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEETING THAT NIGHT, SO I WILL BE.
I WILL BE IN A MEETING ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF RESIDENTS TALKING ABOUT CITY OPERATIONS.
I WILL CATCH UP AS SOON AS THAT MEETING ENDS.
I'LL. I'LL TUNE IN TO SEE HOW BEEN ALL.
VERY GRACIOUS. AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND. THANK YOU.
OKAY. SO FOR THE CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE TODAY, THERE'S NOTHING MORE TO DISCUSS TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE NEXT TWO DAYS TO FULLY DISCERN ALL THAT WE'VE HEARD TODAY AND MAKE A GOOD DECISION ON MONDAY EVENING.
FEEL FREE TO EMAIL US, CALL US.
LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IF YOU HAVE THOSE.
I. JOE ASKED ME BEFORE THE MEETING, DO I REALLY NEED TO BE IN THIS INTERVIEW? AND I SAID, ABSOLUTELY.
AND JOE, I'M SORRY YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO DO ANYTHING TODAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO, I. I DO HAVE ONE COMMENT.
YOU GUYS ARE IN THE ENVIABLE POSITION OF HAVING TWO VERY WELL QUALIFIED PEOPLE TO CHOOSE FROM.
YOU'RE IN THE UNENVIABLE POSITION OF HAVING TO CHOOSE JUST ONE OF THEM.
SO IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS TODAY, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.