city of davenport, city administrator the community Nestled in the heart of America along the mighty , Davenport, Iowa, is a bustling, vibrant community of more than 100,000 people. Located halfway between Chicago and Des Moines in Scott County, with easy access to I-80 and I-74, Davenport covers 65 square miles, is the third largest city in Iowa, the largest of the with a regional population of roughly 385,000 people, and has been declared “The Most Livable Small City in America.” The community boasts a thriving downtown and business-friendly environment, with a focus on development and revitalization. Residents enjoy the endless array of recreational and leisure activities Davenport affords them and take pride in the city’s rich history, traditions, and culture. Established on May 14, 1836, by US Army interpreter Antoine LeClaire, Davenport was named after Colonel George Davenport, a veteran of the War of 1812, and was the site of the signing of the Black Hawk Treaty. The City was incorporated in 1839. Its convenient location on the Mississippi River made it a center for commerce. Davenport's ties to the military remain strong and the city was was recognized in 2015 by G.I. Magazine as a Top 5 Military community. Presently, there are over 15,000 veterans residing in Davenport and Scott County. Today, Davenport is the economic engine of the bi- state Quad Cities area and is a premier place to build or expand a business. With over 37 million people living within a 300-mile radius, Davenport’s central location provides businesses with a strong network of customers and suppliers as well as easy access to the river, major thoroughfares, and excellent public transportation. Additionally, the cost of doing business in the Quad Cities is among the lowest in the country, with a workforce that surpasses national averages in quality, stability, and productivity. The city was ranked the 16th best metro area for high-tech employment growth between 2006 and 2011. The Davenport Now program provides rebates on future taxes for new construction and improvements to existing properties. The program was developed to stimulate growth within the community and has generated more than $207 million in private investment. For these reasons, businesses thrive in Davenport. Major area employers include , Deere & Company, Genesis Health System, Hy-Vee Food Stores, Trinity Regional Health System, Tyson Fresh Meats, Alcoa Inc., Kraft Foods/Oscar Mayer, and the HNI Corporation. Situated along a gorgeous and unique portion of the Mississippi River where the water flows east to west, downtown Davenport is the city’s heart and soul. According to Smart Growth America, Davenport has one of the top 10 fastest-growing downtown populations for mid- sized metro areas. The community’s unique character, history, and future reside in this urban core and it is a hub for entertainment, business, art and culture, shopping, and civic service. With this American landmark as the City’s “front porch,” the river provides the perfect backdrop for riverfront parks and outdoor activities. the community, continued The City invested $77 million in its downtown from 2013-2015. There are $80 million in projects currently under construction, including the City Square project, and more than $145 million slated for the future. Recent developments include the Union Arcade Building, Market Lofts, and Halligan Coffee Building. The Harborview project, a $30 million renovation of nine separate warehouses just east of downtown Davenport, is under construction and two mixed-income housing projects, 501 Brady and Lafayette Square, will begin construction this year. There are currently over 1,200 residential units with additional units in the construction and planning phases. The City is committed to preserving and revitalizing its historic Mississippi riverfront and, in recent years, has enhanced the area with new amenities, including a spray park, active recreation corridor, skate park, and walking and biking trails. One of the riverfront’s main attractions is , home of the QC River Bandits and voted “Best Minor League Ballpark” by USA Today readers and 10 Best in the 2013 10 Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards. As the City’s award-winning RiverVision Plan continues to unfold, there will be more exciting developments along the riverfront in future years. Cultural and recreational activities play a vital role in the lives of Davenport citizens and there is plenty to do in the community whether you are a visitor or year-round resident. The City has an extensive parks and recreation system, with approximately 2,200 acres of park land, and offers a broad range of programs and facilities, from golf courses, tennis courts, and cricket, rugby, baseball, and soccer fields, to botanical gardens, aquatic centers, hiking, walking, biking, and equestrian trails, and a nature preserve. Other attractions include a professional theatre, the Quad Cities Symphony, historic riverboat cruises and gaming, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, the , the world famous Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, and Bix 7 Race. The City is home to the River Center/Adler Theatre, of History and Natural Sciences, a 50-year old children’s theatre program, and one of the largest art institutions in the state of Iowa, the , which has an awe- inspiring collection of paintings and prints by American Regionalist . The serves as a resource center for residents and provides access to a large collection of print, digital, and audiovisual materials, as well as a variety of programming for the whole family. The Davenport Public School District serves almost 16,000 students in grades pre-K through 12. The district includes four high schools, four intermediate schools, two K-9 schools, 17 elementary schools, the Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities, Keystone Academy, a network of early childhood learning centers, one athletic stadium, an operations center, and an achievement services center. For those seeking higher education opportunities, Davenport is home to St. Ambrose University, Palmer Chiropractic College (one of the best of its kind in the country), and . and Brown Mackie College are in nearby Bettendorf, and Western University and are a short commute away. The median income in Davenport is $45,034 and the average home value is $125,200. governance & organization Davenport operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of the Mayor and 10 City Council Members. The Mayor and two City Council Members are elected at-large and eight Council Members are elected from wards, with all members serving two year terms. The Mayor and City Council set municipal policies and appoint a City Administrator who is responsible for the overall operations of the organization. The Civil Rights Commission Director and Library Director are appointed by respective oversight boards but are considered part of the senior leadership team. The FY2016 budget is $201 million, including a $40.8 million Capital Improvement Plan. The City employs 772 full-time employees, 111 part-time employees, and more than 70 seasonal employees. Roughly 85% of City employees are unionized, under six different collective bargaining units. The City of Davenport has Nationally Accredited Police, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Library Departments. leadership & innovation city motto As the professional manager of the City’s daily operations, the City Administrator carries out policies and goals set and established by the Mayor and City Council, directs and “Great City, Great Life” coordinates the work of all City Departments, and keeps the Mayor and City Council informed of the condition and needs of the City. The City Administrator prepares and administers the annual budget and ensures that policies and fiscal provisions are upheld. Reporting directly to the City Administrator are the Police Chief, Fire Chief, Chief Information vision statement Officer, Human Resources Director, Parks and Recreation Director, Public Works Director, Finance Director, Community Planning and Economic Development Director, Enhancing the quality of Communications Director, and Assistant City Administrator. life in our community As the City moves forward, Davenport’s next City Administrator will face the following issues Providing the best and challenges: possible services Regional Collaboration and Networking: through open • Davenport and the surrounding communities have recently embraced the “Quad Cities” communication and collaborative approach to market the area and explore means in which services, programs, mutual support and opportunities can be leveraged cooperatively. The Chambers of Commerce have merged throughout the area (on both sides of the Mississippi River so that they now include Becoming a team of Iowa and Illinois). Davenport’s new Mayor Frank Klipsch and the governing body have also embraced the collaborative approach and endorses the same for the City organization. diverse and highly skilled employees who recognize • The transit system is presently managed by a private firm, but City employees make up the entire each other as the City’s staff. Discussions are currently in process regarding merging with one or more other transit providers in the Quad Cities area to provide enhanced regional service at potentially lower costs. most valuable asset • Davenport desires to play a larger role in developing strong legislative delegation Our ultimate goal is relationships to help advocate community needs at both the state and federal level. This is Customer Satisfaction critically important at the federal level given the importance of the Federal Rock Island Arsenal and its 8,000 jobs, which is a key retention strategy for the community’s economy. Strategic Development Planning: strategic goals • Davenport includes a rich mixture of development and redevelopment opportunities in multiple sectors, each with their own unique challenges and dynamics, including riverfront Welcome Investment redevelopment and the adjacent historic and vibrant downtown that has attracted a good blend of office, retail, restaurant, and residential space. There is a desire for neighborhood Support Talent redevelopment adjacent to the downtown, large-scale commercial centers, and industrial development in the northern parts of the City along Interstates 74, 80, and 280. The Enhance Quality of Life Northwest portion of the City remains largely agricultural, with planned conversion to commercial and industrial development. • Viking River Cruise Lines is considering locating a port in Davenport, which, with the relocation of the casino from the waterfront to a new land-based facility that is currently under construction, could serve as a catalyst for other adjacent waterfront development. • The organization has experienced roughly a 100 FTE reduction during the recession, and an evaluation of the current organizational structure and service mix is in order to ensure services and programs are appropriately aligned. • Davenport is focused on ensuring public safety for its residents as the community experiences redevelopments and plans for new growth. The new Administrator will be heavily involved in community relations, playing a key role in assessing community needs and developing strategies to address public safety issues. leadership & innovation, continued • The community would benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the different types of development and redevelopment opportunities available in the region. Both the City and Chamber have undertaken a variety of visioning studies, but a comprehensive plan to coordinate and implement the associated long- and short-term goals is needed. • The city desires to “connect the dots” between the various community plans, annual budgets, and alignment of staff resources to accomplish desired outcomes. Capital Planning and Improvement: • As an historic city, the new City Administrator will require a keen understanding of capital infrastructure needs in aging systems, coupled with planned growth in the northern corridors. This will require a balanced strategy to ensure both new infrastructure investments and short- and long-term infrastructure reinvestments are occurring equally. • As the community transitions with varying industries, a keen understanding of utility rate structures will be helpful to ensure utility rates are equitable among various use classes and are sufficient to ensure appropriate reinvestment into the respective operations. • Davenport is currently considering a public-private partnership for the development of a fiber network to provide high speed internet access throughout the community. The City Administrator will play a key role in assessing the cost and economic feasibility of such. ideal candidate The City of Davenport seeks an experienced, collaborative, and visionary City Administrator with strong participatory leadership skills. The ideal candidate will possess the tenacity and determination necessary to help the City achieve its goals for sustainable development and will facilitate regional collaboration throughout the Quad Cities area. Team-building skills are essential to help the governing body, senior leadership, and City staff achieve broad consensus on both short- and long-term goals and objectives. The next City Administrator will encourage collaboration across departments and advance options and alternatives that help build consensus on preferred directional outcomes. The chosen candidate should be willing and able to advance creative, “outside-the-box” ideas and help the governing body and community understand the benefits and risks of alternate approaches. The next City Administrator will have considerable experience and skills in intergovernmental relations and will be able to think regionally when formulating strategies for development. There is a strong desire to have the City Administrator be an active participant in area meetings with neighboring communities and peer groups and to establish and maintain strong “Town/Gown” relationships with the various colleges and universities in the area. The chosen candidate will be able to establish a natural engagement with people of all educational levels, races, and socio-economic backgrounds and should be highly visible and engaged in all aspects of Davenport, not just municipal operations. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated collaborative communication strategies, both within the organization and throughout the community, are required qualifications. The successful candidate will embrace transparency regarding City operations and programs, both within the organization and externally in the community. The new City Administrator will serve as a mentor to senior staff to assist in their personal and professional development and will have a demonstrated cooperative and unifying management style. The selected individual will possess a firm understanding of budgeting and the fiscal skills needed to prioritize resource allocation in annual budgets and address growth issues, while at the same time recognizing the needs of existing programs, services, and infrastructure. Strong economic development skills in the areas of riverfront development, urban and neighborhood revitalization, and related utility infrastructures are highly desired. education & experience A master’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field is required. The next City Administrator must have at least eight years of increasingly responsible experience in a local public agency in an administrative and managerial capacity involving the development and administration of organization-wide policies and procedures and the supervision of management-level employees. An equivalent combination of education and experience, including military service, may be considered. compensation & benefits The City of Davenport offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The City participates in the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) with an employee contribution of 5.95% and a City contribution of 8.93%. The City also offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, a retirement health savings plan, car allowance, technology allowance, vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays. application process Please apply online at http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches For more information on this position, contact: Doug Thomas, Regional Director Strategic Government Resources [email protected] 863-860-9314 The City of Davenport is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check. resources City of Davenport http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/ Downtown Davenport http://www.downtowndavenport.com/ Quad Cities CVB http://www.visitquadcities.com/ RiverVision Plan http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/ egov/documents/1407854342_5268.pdf social media City of Davenport, IA YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/cityofdavenport City of Davenport, IA Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DavenportToday City of Davenport, IA Twitter https://twitter.com/cityofdavenport