Tarpon Springs, incorporated in 1887, is a historic, culturally rich city that blends its Greek heritage with Victorian-era buildings and homes. Famous for its working seaport and sponging industry, the waterfront has evolved into a shopping and restaurant destination known as the Sponge Docks — one of the top tourist destinations in Florida. Downtown is a showcase of historic buildings and homes, and the City boasts more than 50 miles of waterways, parks, and charming neighborhoods. As a business location, Tarpon Springs has distinct retail, office, marine, and industrial sectors which offer opportunity for high visibility, growth, and success.
With a population of 25,752, Tarpon Springs provides a small-town atmosphere with big city amenities. Within its City limits are a full-service hospital; one of the nation's top eye institutes; a four-year college; a performing arts center; a world-class museum and several local historical museums; an 18-hole golf course; dozens of parks, two beaches, five marinas and a working seaport; a historic downtown; Greektown with the cultural Sponge Docks; a full-service police and fire department; a public recreation and health center and more.
Tarpon Springs has more waterways, parks, and open space than any other community in Pinellas County. The City is comprised of 16.9 sq. miles, of which 7.8 sq. miles (45%) is water. In addition, 26% of the land area is recreational or open green space. Along with the Gulf of Mexico at its western border, Tarpon Springs has six saltwater bayous, four lakes, the Anclote River, several canal waterways, and 20 parks and playgrounds spread throughout the City providing for an abundance of recreation opportunities.
Tarpon Springs has been an arts destination since the early 1900s, and the City maintains its commitment to the cultural arts through City-owned cultural, arts, historic, and theater venues including five historic sites for arts and heritage tourism in its National Register District. The City is home to several renowned artists including Christopher Still, Florida's most celebrated painter. The Tarpon Springs Library is a full-service library located downtown.
Tarpon Springs offers excellent public elementary and secondary schools that are among the best in the region. They offer students a solid foundation for post-secondary and technical learning. More than 22 accredited universities and colleges are located within an hour's drive of Tarpon Springs. The City has several distinct business districts with unique characteristics that fit the needs of any new or expanding business to be successful. The City's form-based code allows for flexibility in zoning and land uses and provides for maximum development of the land area.
The City operates under a commission-manager form of government. Policy-making and legislative authority are vested in the Mayor and Board of Commissioners consisting of four commissioners (City Commission). All are elected on a non-partisan basis to three-year staggered terms. Each member may serve up to two three-year terms. The City Commission is responsible for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring the City's Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and Internal Auditor.
As a Charter employee, the City Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Commission. The City Manager is the chief administrative officer of the City and has the power to execute the laws and to administer the government of the City. The City Charter provides that the City Manager is responsible to the City Commission for the proper administration of all affairs of the City and to that end shall has the rights, powers, and duties needed to properly fulfill the assigned responsibilities. City Charter assigned duties and responsibilities include the efficient and effective management and supervision of the City's affairs in accordance with policies adopted by the City Commission, the City Charter and applicable state law and municipal ordinances. Responsibilities are performed with wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative within the framework of established policies, laws, charter provisions and ordinances.
The City Manager is responsible for appointing and, when deemed necessary, suspend, or remove any City employee except as otherwise provided by law, the Charter, or personnel rules adopted pursuant to the Charter. He or she is also responsible to appoint, terminate, and suspend all department heads with the ratification of the City Commission.
Tarpon Springs provides a full range of municipal services including police and fire protection; construction and maintenance of streets, bridges, sidewalks, storm drainage, public parks and recreation facilities; City planning, zoning, sub-division and building code regulation and enforcement; supervised recreation programs; public libraries; redevelopment of declining commercial and residential neighborhoods; refuse, recycling and yard waste collection; water supply and distribution; waste water collection, treatment and disposal; re-use water, supply and distribution; and operation of the Citywide parking system. The City has a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) governed by a Board of Directors with the same members as the City Commission. The City Manager provides administrative support to the CRA.
The City has 351 FTE’s. Police and Fire employees are represented by unions. The City’s FY 2023 Budget is $75,152,850.
Requirements include a combination of education and experience equivalent to attainment of a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or related field (Master’s degree preferred) and at least five years’ experience as a manager in a commission/manager or related system of government. An equivalent combination of education/training and experience may be substituted.
Compensation And Benefits
Compensation for the position will be highly competitive. Beginning compensation is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. The City offers excellent employee benefits which include generous paid time off, medical and dental insurance, life/AD&D, retirement benefits (Mission Square Retirement (401(a), deferred compensation (457(b) and more.
To Apply
The recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. The first review of applications is scheduled for June 9, 2023. Please submit a letter of interest, detailed résumé, and current salary to:
Robert E. Slavin, President or Barbara Lipscomb, Managing Consultant
SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
3040 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite A-1
Norcross, Georgia 30071
Phone: (770) 449-4656
Fax: (770) 416-0848
E-mail: slavin@bellsouth.net
Electronic submissions are preferred.
A detailed recruitment profile for this position is available at https://slavinweb.com
Note: Under Florida Law, resumes are public documents and will be provided to the media upon request. Please call prior to submitting your resume if confidentiality is important to you.
Titusville is located on the east coast of Florida, 40 miles east of Orlando, along the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County. The City covers 30 square miles and serves a population of 50,000 citizens. The City’s central location provides easy access to Canaveral National Seashore, Daytona International Speedway, Port Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and all Orlando attractions. Titusville was primarily a residential City serving the space industry, but in the past decade has evolved into a landing spot for industries serving the expanding public and private ventures of Cape Canaveral, US Space Force and NASA.
Titusville has a sustained thriving local economy spurred by the space industry and is a destination of choice for US residential and industrial relocations targeting sunny Florida and an income tax-free, business-friendly environment. Titusville is also 40 minutes away from Orlando, the southeast US’s premier business and supply hub. Despite its economic viability and modern housing options, Titusville retains a small-town feel with easy access to rural village living.
