Loading...
Item 4H Item 4H: Confirm City Manager’s Appointment of Alison Ortowski as Director of Economic Development & Tourism December 6, 2016 Hello Mayor and members of the City Council. I will be presenting Item 4H, Confirm City Manager’s Appointment of Alison Ortowski as Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Upon confirmation of her appointment, Ms. Ortowski will take on these responsibilities in addition to continuing to perform in her role as Assistant City Manager. 1 City of Southlake Strategy Map The City of Southlake provides municipal services that support the highest quality of life for our residents, businesses, and visitors. We do this by being an exemplary model of balancing efficiency, fiscal responsibility, transparency, and sustainability. C1 Achieve the highest standards of safety & security C2 Provide travel convenience within City & region C3 Provide attractive & unique spaces for enjoyment of personal interests C4 Attract & keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic & sustainable economic environment C5 Promote opportunities for partnerships & volunteer involvement Serve our Customers Manage the Business B1 Achieve best-in-class status in all City disciplines B2 Collaborate with select partners to implement service solutions B3 Enhance resident quality of life & business vitality through tourism B4 Provide high quality services through sustainable business practices B5 Enhance service delivery through continual process improvement B6 Optimize use of technology Provide Financial Stewardship Promote Learning and Growth F1 Adhere to financial management principles & budget F2 Invest to provide & maintain high quality public assets F3 Achieve fiscal wellness standards F4 Establish & maintain effective internal controls L1 Ensure our people understand the strategy & how they contribute to it L2 Enhance leadership capabilities to deliver results L3 Attract, develop & retain a skilled workforce L4 Recognize & reward high performers L5 Empower informed decision-making at all levels in the organization C6 Enhance the sense of community by providing excellent customer service and citizen engagement opportunities L6 Foster positive employee engagement Deliver on Our Focus Areas The City’s economic development and tourism programs are specifically linked to two strategic corporate objectives on the City’s strategy map, C4, “Attract and keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic and sustainable economic environment” and B3, “Enhance resident quality of life and business vitality through tourism.” These strategic corporate objectives support Council’s priority of “Quality Development” for the City. 2 Purpose Southlake’s City Charter, Chapter 4 The head of each department … shall be appointed by the City Manager subject to the approval of the Council... The purpose of this item is to gain approval of the Council for the appointment of the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Chapter 4 of the City of Southlake Charter requires such approval and states “The head of each department shall be a chief, director, or superintendent who shall be appointed by the City Manager subject to the approval of the Council and such chief, director or superintendent shall have supervisory authority and financial control over his/her department.” 3 About the Position Full management responsibility Manages all Economic Development & Tourism activities Manages development & implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities First, I would like to take a moment to tell you about the position and the department, and then I will talk about individual recommended for appointment. The Director of Economic Development and Tourism has full management responsibility for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. The position oversees all activities related to the administration of the Economic Development and Tourism Department including business attraction, business retention and expansion, community support and interaction, financial analysis and support, marketing and promotion, and tourism. The Director coordinates economic development activities with other City departments and with outside agencies, including the Chamber of Commerce and area regional, state, and national development organizations. The Director manages the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities in alignment with the City’s Strategic Management System and Southlake 2035 Comprehensive Plan elements, including the Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan. Ensuring a strong economy, positive business climate and highlighting Southlake as a destination are priorities for the Director, who must pursue these goals in accordance with the City’s development goals and preferences. 4 Alison Ortowski The City Manager has carefully considered this appointment, weighing the option of hiring a new Economic Development and Tourism Director against the idea of managing the program through the City Manager’s Office. The City Manager has determined that managing the program through the CMO has numerous advantages, as this time. Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski has economic development background, and has, in fact, provided oversight to Southlake’s program since 2013. During that time she has served as Interim Director twice. Prior to coming to Southlake, Ms. Ortowski managed numerous programs and intiatives related to economic development for other cities. Ms. Ortowski understands economic development, tourism, and marketing. Additionally, she understands Southlake’s economy and development aspirations. She is familiar with both economic development and tourism master plans, City sites, incentive agreements and development history. In short, her background and experience make her an ideal appointment for these duties. Rather than seek a Director from outside the organization, the City Manager is recommending appointing Ms. Ortowski to fill the role of director. 5 Supporting Team Daniel Cortez, Economic Development Jill Lind, Tourism & Marketing To assist her with the program, she will work closely with Daniel Cortez and Jill Lind, as well as Jintana Jones who serves as the Administrative Secretary in the City Manager’s Office. Mr. Cortez will move into an economic development role, managing day-to-day business recruitment and retention programs. His work will be guided by the recommendations of the newly approved Economic Development master plan. Mr. Cortez – who has worked for the City since 2008 -- brings invaluable insight as a former member of the Planning & Development Services team. He understands Southlake’s land use and zoning regulations thoroughly, and has personal strengths that lend themselves to excelling in this role. Ms. Jill Lind will continue to manage the City’s tourism programs. She will be a member of a newly-formed Office of Marketing & Tourism, but will continue to be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the City’s Tourism Plan. She will work closely with Ms. Ortowski to ensure that Southlake is marketed appropriately for encouraging tourism and hotel stays in the City. Jintana Jones will provide administrative support for the program. The team will work closely together to meet Council’s economic development and tourism expectations. 6 Staff Recommends Council Confirm the City Manager’s Appointment of Alison Ortowski as Director of Economic Development & Tourism, in addition to her role as Assistant City Manager. For the reasons noted in this presentation, the City Manager recommends that Council confirm the City Manager’s Appointment of Alison Ortowski as Director of Economic Development & Tourism. 7 Questions? 8 Thank you for your time and attention. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact City Manager Yelverton at the number shown on the screen.