Announces a Recruitment For

Transcription

1 Announces a Recruitment For CITY ADMINISTRATOR For THE CITY OF LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN GovHR USA is pleased to announce the recruitment and selection process for a City Administrator for the City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. This brochure provides background information on the City and its organization, as well as the requirements and expected qualifications for the position. Candidates should apply by February 23, 2015 with résumé, cover letter and contact information for five work-related references to current-positions/recruitment to the attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice President, GovHR USA, 650 Dundee Road, #270, Northbrook, IL Tel: The City of Lake Geneva is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice President GovHR USA/Voorhees Associates 650 Dundee Road, Suite 270 Northbrook, IL TEL: FAX: Formal applications should be submitted to:

2 City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT City Administrator, Lake Geneva, WI (pop. 7,696). Historic, beautiful community with a charming downtown, Lake Geneva is 10 miles north of the Illinois state line, 75 miles northwest of Chicago and 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee. It seeks an experienced municipal executive to serve as its next City Administrator. The City is proud of its small-town appeal, historical sites and vibrant residential neighborhoods. The City was recognized in 2009 as One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a merit that showcases the best practices for creating an authentic visitor experience. The City sits on the eastern shore of Geneva Lake in Walworth County. The City has a rich history that complements its current attractions of beaches, boating, specialty shops and galleries, golfing and other outdoor activities. The post-civil war railroad from Chicago made Lake Geneva a summer resort destination for wealthy Chicago families, with much of that distinction still present today, as stately homes and mansions have been built on the lake since the 1850s. Today, the city swells to three times its year-round population during the summer months, and the City provides a range of services to a diverse group of year-round residents and visitors. The City is seeking an experienced, progressive, collaborative professional with strong communication skills. A record of visibility in the community, proven financial/analytical and human resources skills is required. Experience in economic development is a plus. The City has approximately 75 employees, 40 volunteer fire/ems professionals and an $8 million general fund budget. Candidates must have a bachelor s degree in public policy, business administration, public administration, or related field plus seven to 10 years of increasingly responsible municipal executive level experience. Assistant administrator experience in a larger community will also be considered. A Master s degree in public administration, business administration or other advanced executive-level training such as ICMA Credentialed Manager is preferred. Candidates must also possess proven managerial and interpersonal skills to lead a dynamic, financially fit organization in a community with high customer-service expectations. Experience in managing a resort community is a plus. The current Administrator is retiring after 14 years of service to the City. The Administrator is recommended by the City s Personnel Committee of the Common Council, including the Mayor, and confirmed by the entire Common Council. Starting salary range: $100,000+/- DOQ. Candidates should apply by February 23, 2015 with résumé, cover letter and contact information for five work-related references to current-positions/recruitment to the attention of Lee Szymborski, Senior Vice President, GovHR USA, 650 Dundee Road, #270, Northbrook, IL Tel:

3 City Administrator COMMUNITY BACKGROUND A beautiful resort community with 20 downtown buildings on Main Street listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Lake Geneva has a population of 7,696 and is 75 miles northwest of Chicago and 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee. The City is proud of its small-town appeal, historical sites and vibrant residential neighborhoods. Recognized in 2009 as One of a Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the City sits on the eastern shore of Geneva Lake in Walworth County. The first record of European settlers discovering Geneva Lake was a party traveling in 1831 between Chicago (then known as Fort Dearborn) and Portage (Fort Winnebago), an area not previously noted on the river and lake highways mapped by frontier pioneers. Following treaties struck after the Black Hawk War of , Native American tribes were relocated from the area, and white settlers moved in. John Brink, a government surveyor, laid claim to the waterfall at the White River outlet to the lake in 1835, and named the lake after the one in his hometown of Geneva, New York. The late 1830s saw rival claims to the lake s water power, and many mills were built, leading to an influx of settlers from New England. After the Civil War, the railroad from Chicago made Lake Geneva a summer resort destination for industrialists and wealthy families from Chicago. Lake Geneva became known as the Newport (RI) of the West, with the area s growth and reputation as a respite stimulated by the Chicago Fire of 1871 when many families retreated to their summer homes here while Chicago was rebuilt. As stately homes and mansions have been built on the lake since the 1850s, the City has long-established itself as a resort and prestigious, independent community. Today, the City which lies in the triangle of population and development influence of Chicago, Rockford and Milwaukee, swells to three time its year-round population during the summer months. The City provides a range of services to a diverse group of year-round residents and visitors. The focal point of the community, Geneva Lake, is accessible to the public and covers an area of approximately 8.6 square miles, or more than 5,500 acres. The lake is 7.5 miles long and is 144 feet at its deepest. Geologists believe that it is a filled-in basin formed from a receding glacier. Lakeshore attractions include Big Foot Beach State Park operated by the State of Wisconsin, Lake Geneva Yacht Club, Aurora University s George Williams campus, and the Yerkes Observatory, which resides in one of the three communities located on Geneva Lake, the Village of Williams Bay. In addition to Williams Bay and Lake Geneva, the third municipality on the lake is Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake. There are 3,757 households in Lake Geneva. A wide variety of housing sizes, styles and price ranges are available throughout the community, from older structures to new construction home sites. The median household income is $43,205 with a median home value of $200,000 based on 2010 U.S. Census data. The City encompasses approximately six square miles, of which there is significant open and recreational space including more than a dozen parks, two nature preserves, Lake Geneva Beach, and the 23-mile Geneva Lake

4 City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin shore path that encircles the lake, and is open to the public. There are more than two dozen golf courses within a thirty-minute drive from Lake Geneva. Community residents have a choice of both public and private elementary and high schools. Lake Geneva is served by the Lake Geneva Joint One School District which consists of one middle school and three elementary schools, and the Lake Geneva-Genoa City Union High School District, which consists of Badger High School. There are additional feeder schools covering three elementary schools and one middle school, along with parochial and private schools. Gateway Technical College, a public community college, is close by in Racine, Wisconsin and offers vocational and college transfer classes. Two of the state s schools in the University of Wisconsin System are within a short distance from Lake Geneva. The University of Wisconsin Whitewater, a four-year university of more than 12,000 students noted for its business administration program, is located in nearby Whitewater. The University of Wisconsin Parkside is located approximately 35 miles southeast in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Community spirit and activities are bountiful in Lake Geneva. The community is home to close to three dozen hotels and resorts, and is host to a wide variety of year-round activities including the annual Winterfest and U. S. Nationals Snow Sculpting Competition, Lake Geneva Restaurant Week, Geneva Lake Art Association Paint-In, Venetian Festival, an annual Oktoberfest and many more community events. CITY GOVERNMENT The City, incorporated first as a village in 1856, then as a city in 1886, is governed by a Mayor and eight Aldermen. Two Aldermen are elected to each of four districts on a non-partisan basis for staggered two-year terms. The City also has an elected Judge and Attorney. The City employs a full-time professional City Administrator along with well-qualified Department Heads to professionally manage the City s affairs and public services. The City Administrator has served the City for the last 14 years, and is retiring April 1, Major areas of operation include the Department of Public Works and Utilities with water distribution and wastewater systems, Streets Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Building and Zoning Department, and other professional support staff. The City is also served by a public library, a recreation program operated in collaboration with the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA, and economic development efforts in partnership with the Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation.

5 City Administrator The City employs approximately 75 employees, along with 40 volunteer fire/ems professionals and an $8.3 million general fund budget. The City s equalized value in 2014 was more than $1 billion. The City Administrator manages the day-to-day operations of City government, and is the Mayor and Common Council s key point of contact. The City Administrator is the City s public information officer. The City Administrator is also responsible for oversight of the management team and other City employees, recommending the appointment, discipline and if appropriate, termination of staff not subject to personnel decisions by the board of police and fire commissioners or the library board. By state statute, the Police and Fire Commission has oversight and appointment authority for the Police and Fire Chiefs. In addition, the City Administrator is responsible for the annual development and administration of the City s budget, capital improvement plan and its longrange financial management plan. The next City Administrator will find a talented group of department heads that work collaboratively in the planning for and delivery of city services. The City is assisted in its policy development by numerous Boards and Commissions, and the City Administrator is a staff-liaison to a number of those volunteer groups. MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to preserve its small city atmosphere, reasonable cost of living and high quality of life by carefully controlling land use and development and delivering high quality programs and services in a responsible manner. LAKE GENEVA AT A GLANCE Population: 7,696 Households: 3,757 Equalized Assessed Value: $1.1 billion Land Area: 6 square miles Median Home Value: $200,000 Median Household Income: $43,205 Median Family Income: $56,700 Bond Rating: AA2 City of Lake Geneva Workforce: 75 Full-time and 40 Part-time employees Total FY 2015 General Fund Budget: $8,328,154

6 City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The City is in a strong financial position, with its fund balance exceeding 27%. Like all Wisconsin municipalities, however, the City s finances are tested by various parameters guiding the generation of new sources of revenues, as well as State of Wisconsin tax levy limits. The next City Administrator can expect to work closely with the elected and appointed officials on seeking out new sources of revenue as well as continuing to find ways to most efficiently deliver City services. The community prides itself on being a resort community, paired with a long heritage of yearround residents, and it has been undergoing managed growth both in residential units and commercial development over a number of years, growth that serves permanent residents and seasonal visitors alike. There continues to be potential for growth through vacant land opportunities. The Common Council sees its next City Administrator working in cooperation with the Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation to complement their efforts that compete with neighboring communities for economic development activity. The next City Administrator joins a fresh team of professionals in the community, as new Executive Directors for the Chamber of Commerce and Lake Geneva Economic Development Corporation have recently been hired. As a result, a renewed opportunity to develop synergistic relationships between the three organizations presents itself and is encouraged. The new City Administrator is encouraged to look at the municipal organization and over time, evaluate service delivery processes, procedures and methods, departmental and division organization, collaboration, and resource-sharing. The City is dedicated to continuous improvement and sees this recruitment as an opportunity for a fresh look at the organization. In a small community where residents and visitors have high customer-service expectations and involvement in civic affairs, the next City Administrator should be comfortable having a visible role in the City, easily interacting with, and embracing a wide spectrum of residents, individuals, and community businesses and organizations. In the last several years, the City purchased about 18 acres of vacant land from the regional utility (We Energies), using some of the property for right-of-way, and selling a few acres. About eight acres remain, and are suitable for development. The next City Administrator will help guide the City in determining appropriate future uses for the property.

7 City Administrator CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA The following factors of education, experience, leadership, management style, and personal traits have been identified as ideal attributes for the City Administrator to possess in order to function effectively and achieve a high level of success in the position. Education and Experience Candidates must have a bachelor s degree in public policy, business administration, public administration, or related field plus seven to 10 years of increasingly responsible municipal executive level experience. Assistant administrator experience in a larger community will also be considered. A Master s degree in public administration, business administration or other advanced executive level training such as ICMA Credentialed Manager is preferred. Experience in managing a resort community is a plus. Candidates must also possess proven managerial and interpersonal skills to lead a dynamic, financially fit organization in a community with high customer-service expectations. Possess strong financial management abilities, including financial forecasting, revenue enhancement, capital improvement programming, and budget development and control. Have experience with and be skilled in working with the Common Council as a group, and in a system of standing committees, supplemented by advisory Boards and Commissions. Have experience in working with elected officials, City department heads and staff, and the public in a positive, cooperative, and teamoriented approach to addressing issues and solving problems. Have an understanding of strategic planning processes, and possess the ability to help the Mayor, Common Council, and City Staff articulate a community vision, develop a strategic plan, and deliver on the plan s goals and objectives. Have experience in delivering a contemporary human resources program for City employees, developing and maintaining strong work relationships with City staff that builds morale while also holding employees professionally accountable. Be adept at professional development and succession planning. Have an orientation toward continuing education and professional development for self, staff, and employees keeping up to date and abreast of modern, innovative methods. Have a solid record of dealing fairly with all organization staff and employees, committed to treating all with dignity and respect.

8 City of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Have management experience in creating an environment of trust, integrity and mentorship where employees respect one another and where the organization consistently functions at a high level of customer service. Have experience in redevelopment, business retention, and economic development programs and activities. Have experience in intergovernmental relations, working with appropriate local, regional, state, and federal jurisdictions and agencies in a constructive and cooperative manner, presenting and representing City-approved policies in an effective manner. Have a successful record of working with community institutions, business leaders, and citizens groups in a cooperative and friendly manner, open to the input and suggestion of all. Have a record of keeping up to date and abreast of modern/innovative municipal technology, programs and procedures, understanding how technology can be used to enhance transparency in government, increase efficiencies and provide better customer service for residents. Management Style and Personal Traits Have the maturity, self-confidence, and strength of professional convictions to provide administrative insights and administrative counsel to the Mayor, Common Council and Staff, being able to firmly and diplomatically present professional views and carry out administrative decisions in a timely, professional, and impartial manner. Be an articulate and an effective communicator, both orally and in writing; someone who is comfortable listening to and talking with a wide spectrum of people; someone who can clearly and concisely present written and oral information to decision makers. Be a strong administrative leader and be able to successfully facilitate and assist Staff to identify, analyze, prioritize, and thoroughly deliberate and address administrative and management issues which are critical toward meeting both current and longer range needs of the overall community. Be comfortable in delegating responsibility and authority to professional staff as a team player while remaining informed and conversant on the status of all programs and projects. Be a self-starter who has the vitality and energy to motivate and lead others; someone who seeks and enjoys a challenge. Possess well developed organizational skills, able to balance numerous projects and issues, keeping on task.

9 City Administrator Be a team leader who can coach and develop employees to meet organizational and employee goals. Be a people person, sincerely personable, patient, and accessible, and one who can relate with all persons in the community. Promote a strong, service-oriented, customer relations approach by all municipal employees in dealing with citizenry. Be a role model to Staff, leading by example with integrity, offering support and counsel as appropriate. Have complete personal and professional integrity, gaining respect and inspiring the trust and confidence of subordinates, co-workers, and elected and appointed officials, as well as the general public. Have a genuine passion for public service from both an internal, department standpoint and for service to the community; be devoted to customer and community service. Be proactive, anticipatory and innovative; be someone who can make difficult decisions and stand behind those decisions. Have an open, friendly personality and communication style and a calm demeanor; be one who can establish trust quickly with others. Have a sense of humor when appropriate to the circumstances.