GULFPORT, FLORIDA
Gulfport is located in Pinellas County, on the central west coast of Florida. It is bordered on the north and east by St. Petersburg and on the south by Boca Ciega Bay. With a population of approximately 12,000, Gulfport is one of the oldest settlements in southern Pinellas County.
The major focus in Gulfport is on quality of life. Recreational venues and programs abound, with many opportunities for residents of all ages. A true sense of community is evident in the many annual celebrations, parks, and recreational facilities throughout the city. Activities for ages preschool through senior citizens are planned at the Recreation Center and Multipurpose Senior Center. The City also has a beach; a full-service Marina; and the Gulfport Casino, which hosts dancing ranging from ballroom to country style.
Gulfport strives to maintain a safe, comfortable living environment through such programs as brick street repairs, alley upgrades, street resurfacing, a Citizens’ Police Academy Program and Crime Awareness Meetings. The Waterfront District has been improved through the installation of antique streetlights, brick crosswalks, and landscaping. Several new parks have been added recently throughout the city and plans are currently underway for improvements to the Tomlinson Park/Tangerine Greenway Area. The Multipurpose Senior Center was recently renovated and the Hickman Theatre performing arts center was recently completed.
The Gulfport Casino and the Marina anchor the Waterfront Redevelopment District, along with a series of attractive storefronts that house restaurants, various shops, and a growing arts community. This area is popular with local residents and has the potential to draw visitors to its rich ambiance and recreational facilities and activities. Gulfport, recognized as a Tree City, prides itself it its abundant tree canopy.
Initial efforts are currently underway in the 49th Street Redevelopment District. These efforts will focus on redevelopment, business recruitment, and beautification along a corridor of older business establishments.
Gulfport places a high priority on youth activities. Among other things, it has organized youth sports, a Teen Council, a skateboard park, and the Southern Regional Little League Headquarters that plays host to games that are part of the Little League World Series, broadcast on ESPN2.
In addition to the many cultural and recreational activities offered by the City, Gulfport is also home to the prestigious Stetson University College of Law.
Gulfport is mainly a residential community, and housing ranges from modest to luxurious. A number of multi-million dollar homes can be found in the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club community, lining the golf course and Boca Ciega Bay.
Under its charter, the City is managed with a Council-Manager form of government. The legislative body consists of a Mayor and four Council Members. Each is elected at large – the Mayor for a three-year term and Council members for two-year staggered terms.
With a staff of approximately 135 full-time and 75 part-time employees, the City of Gulfport is a full-service city, providing police and fire/rescue emergency services, highways and streets construction and maintenance, parks and parkways, recreation, water and sewer, and solid waste. Gulfport contracts with the City of St. Petersburg for water and wastewater treatment. All departments of the City, with the exception of the City Clerk and the City Attorney, are under the supervision and control of the City Manager.
While the City’s population has grown little over the past decade, the tax base has experienced steady increases due to increases in property values. This has allowed the City to maintain an ad valorem tax rate of $4.3 per thousand dollars of taxable value, one of the lowest in the area.
For many years, the City has operated under a pay-as-you-go philosophy. Consequently, the City has no bond issues or loans, and is essentially debt free. At the same time, the City has undertaken a number of capital projects to improve quality of life and services to residents. These projects have primarily been funded through grants and proceeds from the one-cent local option sales tax.
The City has a current General Fund budget of $9 million and a Total Budget of $24 million, with unrestricted reserves of approximately $5 million.
Gulfport is virtually built out, with only limited opportunity for any additional growth through annexation. The focus throughout the community is to maintain a high quality of life. As such, the major issues in Gulfport deal with continued redevelopment, assuring a high quality of life, and protecting the traditions and natural beauty of the City.
The City has built up considerable reserves over the past decade, through efficiencies of operations and its pay-as-you-go philosophy. Yet, these reserves have recently been tapped to fund operational expenses. The city faces the economic challenges of maintaining its low ad valorem tax level while dealing with factors such as increased water and waste water treatment charges levied by St. Petersburg, increased insurance costs, and a low return on investments. Additionally, the utilities infrastructure is in need of improvements and may present the need for significant capital expenditures.
The City has considerable redevelopment opportunities. The Waterfront Redevelopment District has experienced considerable success and initial efforts are underway with the 49th Street Redevelopment District. These, along with other redevelopment efforts provide the potential for not only beautification, but increased property values and City revenues.
The ideal candidate understands redevelopment, is accustomed to a high level of service delivery, has excellent organizational and financial skills, is high energy, and is politically astute and socially adept.
Work Experience ¨ Ideally, the candidate will have at least five year’s experience in county or municipal government as the chief executive officer. However, applicants with extensive experience as an 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 is a plus.
| High level of professional and personal integrity |
| Innovative, proactive, and entrepreneurial |
| Politically sensitive and results oriented |
| Has a vision for the future of the City |
| Sensitive to environmental issues |
| Strong, yet still able to follow the Council’s lead |
| Ability to secure grants |
| Involves staff in decision making |
| Experience with municipal marinas |
| Knowledge of how to develop, maintain, and motivate a good team |
| Friendly and out-going |
| Strong public relations skills |
| Experience with police and fire union negotiations |
| A strong focus on excellent customer service |
| Ability to maintain the trust of the Council, the community, and staff |
| A strong personality, but works well as a team player |
| 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 Council |
| Ability to remain calm, keep others focused, and reach closure |
| Ability to negotiate effectively with other governmental agencies |
| Deals effectively with contractors |
The starting salary range for the position is $90,000 to $110,000, depending on qualifications. Fringe benefits are generous.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary history for initial screening by August 22, 2003 to: Tom D. Freijo, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, The Mercer Group, Inc., tdf_wh@hotmail.com P.O. Box 9328, Winter Haven, Florida 33883. TEL: (863) 299-3571 FAX: (863) 299-6737. The City of Gulfport is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicants should be aware that applications in Florida become a matter of public record upon receipt.