CITY MANAGER

CITY OF GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA

THE COMMUNITY

Gainesville is situated on the I-75 corridor, 85 miles south of the Georgia border, 50 miles east of the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles west of the Atlantic Ocean. Marking the northern border is the Santa Fe River, part of the freshwater system located in the area. Covering 54 square miles, Gainesville has 117,000 residents.

Gainesville is the largest city and is the county seat of Alachua County. Home of Florida's largest and oldest university, Gainesville is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida, with a student body of 48,000 students, and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville's numerous parks, museums, and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors.

Gainesville is a beautiful and progressive city – a leader in promoting intelligent, sustainable growth. A dense canopy of trees justifies the description of Gainesville as a "city in a forest." For the 21st consecutive year, the National Arbor Day Foundation honored Gainesville as a "Tree City USA."

In addition to the University of Florida, the State’s leading research institution, Gainesville is home to Santa Fe Community College, a top-tier institution with 16,000 students, that provides excellent professional and vocational education. Gainesville has one of the largest medical communities in the Southeastern U.S. and is a center for commerce, art, and culture in North Central Florida.

Gainesville continues to rank as one of the best places to live in the United States. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban "forest," Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida.

The City provides a full range of municipal services, including police and fire protection; comprehensive land use planning and zoning services; code enforcement and neighborhood improvement; streets and drainage construction and maintenance; traffic engineering services; refuse and recycling services through a franchised operator; recreation and parks; cultural and nature services; and necessary administrative services to support these activities. Additionally, the City owns a regional transit system; a municipal airport; a 72 par championship golf course; and a full-service utility that provides electric generation, water, wastewater, natural gas, and telecommunications.

In September of 1995 the City was ranked by Money Magazine as the best place to live in America. For five consecutive years, it has been tapped as Florida's most livable city and has ranked among the leaders in the nation.

The City of Gainesville has a Council-Manager form of government. The City Commission is comprised of six Commissioners and the Mayor. Four Commissioners are elected from single-member districts. The Mayor and two Commissioners are elected City-wide. The City Charter prohibits consecutive service on the City Commission for more than two three-year terms. The City Commission adopts the City’s budget, sets the millage rate, and adopts the ordinances and resolutions, which are local laws and policies.

The City Commission appoints the City’s six charter officers – City Manager, City Attorney, Clerk of the Commission, City Auditor, Equal Opportunity Director, and General Manager for Utilities.

The City Manager is the administrative head of City government, responsible for the administration of all departments except for those under the direction of the other charter officers. The City Manager’s office oversees all general government programs and services; is responsible for enforcing all City laws, ordinances and policies; acts as purchasing agent for the City; prepares the budget; and performs other duties as assigned by the City Commission.

The City Manager performs the duties of the position through the selection and supervision of the Assistant City Manager, Administrative Services Director, Police and Fire Chiefs, Public Works Director, Community Development Director, and Human Resources Director. There are 1,200 employees under the City Manager’s span of control. The City employees have five unions and seven contracts.

Gainesville’s current general fund budget is $83 million, with a total budget of $203 million. The City’s millage rate is slightly under $5 per thousand dollars of assessable value.

A continuing challenge for the City of Gainesville is that over one half of the City’s land area is used for public or non-profit purposes and, thus, not subject to property tax assessments. Dividends from the utility help to offset these "lost revenues."

Another challenge is to fully take advantage of the University of Florida’s presence as an engine for economic development. It is perceived that the University’s status as a major research university has not been fully utilized in attracting businesses for which universities of this type often serve as a magnet. In addition, as the University of Florida enjoys escalating prestige as a first tier public university, the City is committed to continued development of the quality-of-life amenities that will make it a "great university city" and a great city for all of its residents.

Greater economic diversity, an expanded and vibrant downtown, growth that is sensitive to quality of life and environmental issues, and redevelopment within its four Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) districts are all goals of the City Commission. As is common in growing communities across the state and nation, there is not unanimity about how this growth should proceed, either in the community or on the Commission.

Another issue relates to infrastructure funding, particularly as it concerns local road maintenance and provision of recreational facilities and services.

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of economic development, community redevelopment and growth issues, finances, and "university town" culture; likes a challenge; and can relate effectively to various constituencies and guide them toward consensus.

Education The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in Public Administration. The successful candidate will have at least a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Public Administration or a related area. Training in planning and finance would be a plus.

Work Experience Ideally, the candidate will have at least five year’s experience in municipal or county government as the manager. However, applicants with extensive experience as a deputy or assistant manager or other high-level public sector experience will be given consideration, particularly if they bring strong skills in areas such as planning and finance. Florida experience would be helpful, and experience in university communities is important.

Desired Attributes

•    Politically sensitive and results oriented

•    Strong, yet still able to follow the Commission’s lead

•    Experience and skill with economic development

•    Experience with rapid growth

•    Experience with university communities

•    Understanding of and experience with the dynamics of urban development

•    Excellent employee management skills

•    Creative and innovative

•    Strong focus on customer service

•    Commitment to diversity

•    Strong strategic planning skills

•    Knowledge of how to develop and motivate a good team

•    Willingness to become an active participant in the life of the community

•    Strong people skills and a diplomatic approach

•    Sound knowledge of utilities

•    Ability to gain the trust of the Commission, the community, and staff

•    Experience with Community Redevelopment Agencies

•    A strong personality, but works well as a team player

•    Capacity for inspiring, by word and example, employees to use their talents to the fullest

•    Experience and strong skills in budgeting and financial oversight

•    Possesses a high energy level and seeks challenges

•    Relates effectively to diverse constituents

•    Communicates effectively with citizens and with the Commission

•    Ability to work effectively with the other City Charter Officers

•    Ability to negotiate effectively with other governmental agencies

•    Experience with interest-based bargaining

The starting salary range for the position is $135,000 to $175,000, depending on qualifications.

Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary history for initial screening by June 20, 2005 to: Tom D. Freijo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, The Mercer Group, Inc., Freijo@Mercerfl.com P.O. Box 9328, Winter Haven, Florida 33883. TEL: (863) 299-3571 FAX: (863) 299-6737. The City of Gainesville provides equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, gender, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability.

Applicants should be aware that applications in Florida become a matter of public record upon receipt.