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Home My WebLink About1998 09 14 Informational Item A COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM A September 14. 1998 Meeting MG~PT Authorization Consent Informational X Public Hearing Regular REQUEST: City Manager informing the City Commission that the City of Winter Springs received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Florida league of Cities for the City's contribution to the 1998 City Innovations Showcase. PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to inform the City Commission that the City of Winter Springs received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Florida League of Cities in recognition of the City's contribution to the 1998 City Innovations Showcase. CONSIDERATION: Every two years the Florida League of Cities produces a publication entitled "City Innovations Showcase." The publication focuses on specific ways that cities provide better services, save tax dollars or create a brighter future for their communities. This year's showcase featured 191 innovative entries. The City of Winter Springs entries included the Floor Offset Pension Plan and the Police Chief Selection Process. The "City Innovations Showcase" has become a resource base publication for innovative ideas to be shared among Florida's local governments. The publication benefits all Florida citizens as elected officials and staff learn new ways to enhance services, save taxpayer dollars, involve residents in their local programs and meet local needs. FUNDING: None RECOMMENDATION: For informational purposes. IMPLEMENTATION: None ATTACHMENT: Certificate of Appreciation Copy of Page 7 from the 1998 Innovations Showcase publication featuring the City's entries. COMMISSION ACTION: Certificate of Appreciation The Florida League of Cities, Inc. extends its sincere appreciation to City of Winter Springs for contributing to the success of the 1998 City Innovations Showcase Florida Cities. . . Great Places to Live I Work and Play Samuel J. F ,Mayor, City of Greenacres 1997-98 Pr nt. Florida League of Cities, Inc. Administration developed as an intergovernmen- tal project involving 10 local gov- ernments. This 20-year-old consortium built and maintains an emergency services training facility, which is equipped with $3 million worth of state-of-the-art training props. Board adminis- tration for the Institute is housed with the City of Orlando, and the interlocal agreement partners include: (1) the cities of Kissimmee, Maitland, Orlando, S1. Cloud, Winter Garden, and Winter Park; (2) the county governments of Orange and Seminole; (3) the Orange County School Board; and (4) a volunteer fire department. Contact: Jodi Litchfod, Esquire, Board Counsel for the Central Florida Emergency Services Institute and Chief Assistant City Attorney, City of Orlando, 400 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801; (407) 246-3480; or William L. Miles, Academy Coordinator, Central Florida Emergency Ser- vices Institute, 2966 West Oak Ridge Road, Orlando, FL 32809; (407) 855-3281; e-mail: cfesi@cfesi.tech.fl.us. City Committee Addresses Year 2000 Software Problem - St. Petersburg (See Administration - Technology and Telecommunications) Employee Achievement Award Program - St. Petersburg In June 1997, the city's Employee Relations Department initiated a coordinated Employee Achievement Award Program to reward employees for a job well done. The umbrella program in- cludes gifts for employees for length of service, awards for outstanding achievements and performance, awards for various years of service, and special awards, such as "Hats Off' and "Service # 1," for employees who perform in an exemplary fashion. Contact: Bob Turel, Training Coordinator, Employee Relations Department, City of St. Peters- burg, Post Office Box 2842, St. Petersburg, FL 33731; (813) 892- 5457. Junior Lifeguard Program - Vero Beach (See Community Enhancement - Recreation Programs) Employee Programs - Winter Springs "Floor Offset Plan" - With a work force composed of a mix of young, new employees and older employees, the city faced the challenge of designing a pension plan that addressed the retire- ment needs of all employees with- , out significantly increasing costs to either the city or the employ- ees. Since the typical defmed benefit plan favors older employ- ees and the typical deferred con- tribution plan favors younger employees, the city designed a Floor Offset Plan that blends the two plans into one plan. Thus, employees can now receive the greatest possible benefit, depen- dent upon age, years of service, and contribution level. The Floor Offset Plan offered the following improvements; reduced vesting and waiting periods; two early retirement provisions; unlimited buy in for past governmental and military service; death benefits; and disability (work and non- work related). The former plan had a contribution rate of 7 per- cent city and 1 percent employee. The new plan's contribution rate is 8 percent city and 2 percent employee. "Police Chief Selection Plan" - The city employed a three-tier selection process to evaluate and select the best-qualified candidate for the position of police chief. The first tier involved the appointment of a citizen selection committee that recommended five finalists based on work and edu- cational experience. The second tier was an assessment center composed of law enforcement experts, local government offi- cials, and citizens. The assess- ment center members measured the following dimensions: com- mand presence, technical and professional knowledge, commu- nications, planning and organiza- tion, interpersonal sensitivity, leadership, and executive skills. In the third tier, the fmalists held a "fire-side chat" with Police Department personnel so that compatibility with the depart- ment and the community could be determined. The selection plan identified a highly qualified, community-minded police chief that is producing positive results. This selection plan approach provides a model that could be used to identify and select any local government manager. Contact: Mary Wilson, Human Resources Coordinator, City of Winter Springs, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708; (407) 327-1800. Review, Planning and Reorganization for Efficiency CORE Team - Altamonte Springs (See Public Safety - Health and Safety) Customer Service System - Aventura (See Comunity Relations - Public Relations) Municipal Marina and Municipal Fishing Pier Business Plans - Clearwater (See Community Enhancement - Recreation Programs) Five-Year Solid Waste Business Plan - Dunedin (See Public Works - Solid Waste Management)