Conversation by: Kylie Cooper Photos by: Lillian Reitz
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It’s been a little over three months now, since you’ve beenbrappointed to the position of City Manager. How have these first few monthsbrbeen?
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The first three months have been fast-charging. My days have been filledbrwith meeting and greeting and further getting to know the goals andbraspirations of our Mayor and City Council, key stakeholders, and ourbrresidents. I have focused on assessing our leadership team—those professionals heading up our 25 City Departments—and have begun to llbrkey vacancies within the organization.
Can you tell me what some of that looks like?
I have made nine executive appointments so far, eight of whom are individuals within a minority classification. And, while addressing sever-bral major policy issues that have been lingering for some time, such asbrour land ll operations contract, our utility customer billing issues, andbrseveral parks and recreation maintenance items, I have developed, together with our financial management team, a well-received $1.1 billionbrFY 2020 Annual Operating and Capital Budget that I presented to CitybrCouncil on July 30 for the fiscal year that begins on October 1.
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What inspiredbryou to go out for this position in the first place?
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It did not take me long to realize Corpus Christi, who had been search-bring for a City Manager for several months, needed a strong leader tobrhelp guide this great city forward during a time of a tremendous growth.brI have known about Corpus Christi’s and the greater Coastal Bend’s extraordinary assets since relocating to San Antonio some 22 years ago.brHaving the opportunity to lead a large city organization forward, together with a strong Mayor and City Council, in times of tremendousbrgrowth while capitalizing on our strong assets, was the driving force inbrseeking the appointment as City Manager. Leading a team of professionals who will help move our City forward in these unprecedentedbrtimes is truly exciting.
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So, youbrworked for the city of San Antonio prior to this position. How do you thinkbryour time there has influenced you and the ideas you’ll bring to Corpus Christi?
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I worked for the City of San Antonio organization for 22 years. I spent 9brof those 22 years in the City Manager’s Office—and most of which wasbrin the capacity of Deputy City Manager, a second in command position.brIn San Antonio, I worked on the development and implementation ofbrthe City’s largest infrastructure programs; the City’s annual street re-brconstruction and maintenance programs; urban and neighborhoodbrplanning and development; and, maintenance of the City’s numerous assets. I plan to utilize these experiences and expertise here in CorpusbrChristi. e top priorities of the community are in areas for which I wasbrthe lead executive in San Antonio including strong financial management, planning and development, and infrastructure development andbrmaintenance.
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What arebrsome of the immediate goals you have been working towards during these firstbrfew months in your position?
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Other than the previously mentioned items, I have focused on the community’s top three priorities which are: improving our streets, our development services operations, and our park system.br
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I have made strong financial investment recommendations in the FYbr2020 Proposed City Budget to include a funding level of $128 millionbrfor new, reconstructed, and maintained streets – which is more thanbrthe funding budgeted for the past two fiscal years combined. I also recommended more funding in the budget for park maintenance and recommended eliminating all City pool entrance fees for our patrons forbrthe 2020 pool season. I have also worked with our department directorsbrand budget staff to cut waste in order to develop a more efficient organization. For the FY 2020 Proposed Budget, we have identified nearly $4brmillion in savings that is being redirected to Council and communitybrdriven priority areas. Finally, I am working with my leadership team tobrdevelop project workplans for initiatives underway. These workplansbrwill increase accountability and ensure that directors are following-thrubrto complete City services and infrastructure projects.br
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