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Item 4I MemoITEM 41 ICITY OF SOUTHLAKE MEMORANDUM June 9, 2020 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: Shana K. Yelverton, City Manager SUBJECT: City Council confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of Daniel Cortez as the Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Action Requested: City Council confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of Daniel Cortez as Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Southlake. Background Information: Chapter 4 of the Southlake Charter requires that "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." Since December 2016, Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski has played a dual role for the City of Southlake, serving as both Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic Development and Tourism. In January 2017, Daniel Cortez was promoted to Deputy Director of Economic Development and Tourism to oversee some of the day-to- day operations related to business retention and its numerous programs, while Ms. Ortowski provided strategic leadership for the department. With his promotion to Deputy Director in 2017, he has advanced the City's economic development efforts by ensuring that assigned recommendations in the Southlake 2035 Economic Development Comprehensive Plan have been implemented on schedule. Just a few of these key accomplishments are noted below: • Creation and implementation of the commercial site assessment project which has enhanced our future - readiness; Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council June 9, 2020 Page 2 ITEM 41 • Completion of the City's first Business Climate Survey, which has provided valuable insight into the Southlake business community; • Advancement of the City's business retention efforts significantly establishing strong relationships with the Southlake business community through the Southlake Business Engagement Program and the creation of Southlake Business Buddies; • Creation and administration of the Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership (SKIL) program to engage Southlake's youth in the various aspects of the City, our operations and leadership lessons; and • Leadership of the City's efforts to provide relevant, timely communication, resources, and support to the business community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Cortez has been employed by the City of Southlake since October 7, 2008 and has served in the roles of Planner I, Planner II, Principal Planner, Assistant to the City Manager, and most recently, Deputy Director of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Cortez has a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Texas at Dallas and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from California State University. He is a Certified Planner from the American Institute of Certified Planner and received the 2019 Chairman's Director of the Year award from the Southlake Chamber of Commerce. As the Director of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Cortez will assume full management and leadership responsibility for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and its programs, with the exception of managing incentive requests which will remain a responsibility of CFO Sharen Jackson and Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski. In addition, he will also serve as the liaison with the City's utility providers. Mr. Cortez's appointment provides for management continuity and stability for the organization and provides no negative budgetary impact. The Deputy Director of Economic Development and Tourism position will be eliminated with the promotion of Mr. Cortez to Director. With your ratification, Mr. Cortez's appointment will be effective on July 1, 2020. Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council ITEM 41 June 9, 2020 Page 3 Financial Considerations: An offer of promotion has been extended to Mr. Cortez with a monthly salary of $9,601.67 plus the standard executive benefits package. Strategic Link: Performance Management and Service Delivery: Attract, develop, and retain a skilled workforce. Citizen Input/ Board Review: N/A Legal Review: N/A Alternatives: N/A Supporting Documents: Mr. Cortez's Resume Staff Recommendation: City Council confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of Daniel Cortez as Director of Economic Development and Tourism. DANIEL CORTEZ AICP To be part of a team that integrates its values into its corporate culture, implements its goals through established strategies and organizational expectations, safeguards the public's trust and encourages transparency, maintains a customer -centric work environment, and demonstrates a willingness to adapt to a changing political and economic environment. HONORS 2019 Chairman's Director City of Southlake, Texas of the Year Chamber Board of Directors Southlake 2030 Comprehensive Plan • Southlake Chamber of Developed the City's comprehensive plan consisting of various elements including Land Use, Parks, Commerce Community Facilities, Sustainability and Mobility. 2015 Citizen Satisfaction Survey 2011 Directors Award Conducted and reported on the City-wide survey of residents, done on a biennial basis, that Planning & Development assesses the City's performance in its quality and delivery of services in addition to the evaluation Services Department • City of its management of public issues. of Southlake Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership (S.K.I.L.) Established framework, managed and coordinate the joint youth leadership program since 2015 S K I L L S between the City of Southlake, Carroll Independent School District, Southlake Chamber of Commerce and TD Ameritrade. Southlake 2035 — Economic Development Master Plan Customer Service Developed and implemented, with oversight and guidance of the City's Community Enhancement and Development Corporation, the City Council's adopted economic strategies and initiatives since Servant Leadership 2017. Empathic Listening Business Engagement Program Communication Established a meaningful business engagement program that built stronger relationships and promoted useful conversations about building a better community and economic environment Relationship Building between City staff, its elected and appointed officials, and the business community. Strategic Management Business Climate Survey Program Strategic Planning Conducted the City's first business climate survey which provided a deep insight as to the current economic and business conditions in the City, in addition to providing a productive channel of Comprehensive Planning communication to the business community. Business Attraction Business Retention & Expansion Development & University of North Texas at Dallas (2017) Entitlement Dallas, Texas Employee Engagement ' Master of Business Administration with concentration in Strategic Management Zoning & Platting California State University (2007) San Bernardino, California Data Analysis ■ Bachelor of Arts in Geography 0 Undergraduate Certificate in Urban/Regional Planning C L I F T 0 N STRENGTHS Clifton Strengths represents a person's talent DNA. My top five strengths listed below represent the unique ways I accomplish my goals by building relationships, thinking strategically, executing plans and influencing others. Relator People exceptionally talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal. Responsibility People exceptionally talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty. Adaptability People exceptionally talented in the Adaptability theme enable them to respond willingly to the demands of the moment, even if circumstances pull them away from their plans. Command People exceptionally talented in the Command theme have presence. They can take control of a situation and make decisions. Communication People exceptionally talented in the Communication theme generally find it easy to put their thoughts into words. They are good conversationalists and DANIEL CORTEZ AICP City of Southlake, Texas Planning & Zoning Commission • Support Staff • 2008 — 2015 Southlake 2030 • Program Manager • 200 7 1 — 2015 Community Engagement Committee • Staff Liaison • 20 7 5 — 20 7 7 Southlake Program for the Involvement of Neighborhoods • Staff Liaison • 2015 — 2017 Southlake Kids Interested in Leadership • Program Manager • 20 7 5 - Present Community Enhancement & Development Corp. • Staff Liaison • 2017 - Present City Council • Support Staff • 2008 - Present Southlake Chamber of Commerce Chamber Board of Directors • Ex-Officio • 2077 - Present City of Riverside, California Planning Commission • Support Staff • 2006 - 2008 Deputy Director of Economic Development Economic Development & Tourism • City of Southlake, Texas • January 2017 - Present Assistant to the City Manager City Manager's Office • City of Southlake, Texas • June 2015 - December 2016 Planner I & 11, Principal Planner Planning & Development Services • City of Southlake, Texas • October 2008 - May 2015 Intern & Planning Technician Community & Economic Development • City of Riverside, California • July 2006 — September 2008 American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) ■ Certified Planner No. 026171 Lean Six Sigma — Yellow Belt Certified American Planning Association, Texas Chapter, Economic Development Division International Economic Development Council Texas Economic Development Council presenters.