CITY MANAGER

CITY OF TREASURE ISLAND, FLORIDA

Treasure Island is a beautiful residential island community on the west central coast of Florida in Pinellas County, just west of St. Petersburg. Bordered on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east by Boca Ciega Bay, Treasure Island is about three miles long.

Treasure Island has a population of about 7,500 fulltime residents. The population increases to over 20,000 in tourist season. This resort community of 1.3 square miles with 3 miles of pristine beaches on the Gulf of Mexico was incorporated in 1955.

The City is actually comprised of four islands. Three of these islands jut out into Boca Ciega Bay and are primarily residential in nature. These islands have many "fingers" that reach out into the Bay, providing many miles of waterfront residences.

Treasure Island has a healthy tourism trade, bolstered by its beautiful beach and moderately priced accommodations. A number of smaller motels and hotels are interspersed with resort condos and time share apartments. Downtown is lined with small businesses housed in older, well-kept buildings. A number of restaurants spread throughout the island offer a wide variety of sea food and other choices.

A number of active and passive parks dot the City’s landscape. Many of the parks include modern playground equipment. One park accommodates little league baseball, while another has a full tennis program and a par-3 nine-hole golf course. A number of City-sponsored special events, such as "Sun, Sand & Symphony" attract thousands of residents and visitors.

The housing stock runs the gamut from modest, older, well-kept homes to large and elaborate newer homes. Throughout both the residential and businesses areas, buildings and grounds are well-maintained. The whole island conveys the sense of being clean, bright, and well cared for.

Residents of Treasure Island are within minutes of downtown St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and an array of colleges and universities. They are within an hour of downtown Tampa, Tampa International Airport, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Treasure Island’s beautiful beaches, broad array of hotels and motels, shops, restaurants and clean and safe environment make it a highly desirable option for both residents and tourists.

CITY GOVERNMENT

The City of Treasure Island operates under the Commission-Manager form of government. The City Commission consists of the Mayor, elected by the citizens at-large for a three-year term, and four Commissioners, elected from districts for staggered two-year terms.

The City Manager, who also serves as the City Clerk, is appointed by the Commission. The City Attorney is a contracted position. In addition to the City Manager, Treasure Island has a Police Chief, Fire Chief, Public Works Director, Community Improvement Director, and Recreation Director who provide direct services to citizens. Support services are provided by the Finance Director, Personnel Director, Information Technology Director, and Deputy City Clerk.

Police, fire, EMS, recreation, streets and facilities maintenance, and solid waste collection are all provided directly by the City. The City owns and maintains the infrastructure related to water and wastewater, but water is purchased from Pinellas County and wastewater treatment is purchased from the City of St. Petersburg. The City has 111 fulltime employees and 30 part-time employees.

The City of Treasure Island’s current annual general fund budget is about $7 million, with a total operating budget of approximately $20 million. Almost 40% of the general fund revenues are derived from ad valorem taxes. The current ad valorem tax rate is only approximately $2.6 per thousand dollars of assessed value, the lowest of any full-service city in Pinellas County. The City is virtually debt-free.

The City has a history of stability in City Manager tenure – two managers in the past 25 years. Staff is professional and team oriented.

GOALS AND CHALLENGES

Treasure Island is virtually totally built-out. The biggest challenge facing Treasure Island is reaching consensus in the community concerning redevelopment. One major issue is how best to control the character and size of new structures in a manner that retains the flavor of the community and preserves physical and visual access to the Gulf. A related issue is maintaining a balance between meeting tourism needs and protecting the quality of life for fulltime residents.

Another challenge facing the community is a $65 million bridge replacement project. The project, being paid for through federal funding, is underway and scheduled for completion in about three years. The City is currently planning how it can join cooperatively with surrounding governmental entities to accommodate maintenance of the bridge and the access roadways.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Education ¨ The ideal candidate will have a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, or a management-related field. The successful candidate must have at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration or a closely-related field.

Work Experience ¨ Ideally, the candidate will have at least seven year’s experience as a city manager or other high-level position in local government. Beachfront experience is highly desirable. Florida experience is a plus, but not essential.

    Demonstrated experience in managing a multi-faceted local government organization

    Knowledge and experience with growth management issues

    Strong leadership skills

    Experience in applying for and obtaining grants

    Strong interpersonal skills

    Ability to maintain the trust of the Commission, the community, and staff

    Ability to establish quality working relationships among employees and to foster  employee empowerment

    A team-building orientation

    Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with the County and other governmental entities

    Understanding of progressive management techniques

    Skill and experience in community visioning

    Strong consensus-building skills

    Possesses a visionary perspective and high sense of organizational mission

    Understanding of and dedication to quality of life issues

    Has a proactive orientation

    Broad knowledge and experience with budgeting and financial oversight

    Ability to develop creative solutions to complex organizational issues

    Excellent written and oral communication skills

    Possesses computer literacy

    Ability to convey information forcefully and convincingly, while maintaining an atmosphere of decorum and respect

    High level of energy and enthusiasm for accomplishing organizational goals

    High sense of accountability

    A strong focus on excellent customer service

    Knowledge of Florida’s "Sunshine Laws"

COMPENSATION

The salary range for the position is $80,000 to $105,000, DOQ. Fringe benefits are generous.