The FCCMA Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode #142: Terry Atchley – The Hardee County Perspective Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Terry Atchley, Hardee County Manager, returns to the show in Episode #142 after his initial appearance in Episode #39. Steve and Terry explore the parallels and distinctions between managing public entities and private businesses. Terry shares the current financial hurdles facing Hardee County's public utilities and the proactive measures being implemented to address these issues, offering a transparent look at public administration's unique challenges.

Episode #141: Charles Chapman – Legislative Liaison Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Charles Chapman, with a rich background in city and county management, and current consultant for the Florida League of Cities, dives into the pivotal role of the Florida Legislature in Episode #141. Drawing from his extensive experience across Gadsden and Hendry Counties and Naples city management, Charles presents insightful case studies from the 2024 Legislative Session. He highlights proposed bills that could have dramatically altered city/county manager contract renewals around election times and scrutinizes enterprise fund transfers and their implications on municipal utilities. Furthermore, he underscores the criticality of municipal officers engaging in the legislative process.

Episode #140: Scott Andrews – A Cross-Country Journey in Public Service Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

In Episode #140, we hear from Scott Andrews, whose initial career as a fitness trainer in Temple Terrace laid the foundation for a career journey under the guidance of a pivotal mentor. Celebrated with the FCCMA award in 2014, Scott epitomizes the ethos "If you care, you do." Now in Bakersfield, California, Scott reflects on his diverse experiences across Florida, Georgia and California, illuminating the distinct nuances of city government in each state. With an emphasis on the transportability of skills, he cautions that success in one city doesn't guarantee replication elsewhere, underscoring the uniqueness of each community.

Episode #139: Michael Pleus – Candid Conversations for Community Progress Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Michael Pleus shares insights from his 16-year tenure as the city manager of DeLand, beginning from his initial role as assistant city manager. He contrasts strategic planning with goal setting, describing how individual goals contribute to fulfilling broader strategic objectives. Michael touches upon the importance of resident feedback, obtained through active social media engagement, and the necessity of being open to the responses received. He and Steve discuss DeLand's strategic approach to addressing homelessness, including the creation of The Bridge, a facility aimed at providing solutions for the homeless community.

Episode #138: Matthew Spoor - Embracing Community Growth Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Returning guest Matt Spoor, who first appeared in episode #17, reflects on Safety Harbor's remarkable growth since 2004. Matt details the community's evolution and the associated challenges of managing expansion. The conversation revisits Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs), highlighting Safety Harbor's success in leveraging CRAs for community and infrastructure betterment and defining it as a unique entity within government. The dialogue with Steve also covers topics like workforce recruitment and retention, with an emphasis on the variability in difficulty across different departments and divisions.

Episode #137: Edward Pidermann - Serving Miami Lakes Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Eddie Pidermann, a 32-year resident and influential citizen of Miami Lakes, recounts his journey of public service, which includes authoring the town's original charter. He shares the town's practice of inducting new officials through a comprehensive orientation across various departments. Eddie's extensive experience, comprising a 30-year tenure with the city of Miami and a three-year stint at the Broward County Sheriff’s Fire Department, provides a backdrop to a rich discussion with Steve. They delve into the history of Miami Lakes, Eddie’s firefighting days and the challenges of managing the town's infrastructure.

Episode #136 John D’Agostino - Employing Technology to Reduce Crime Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

John D'Agostino, Town Manager of Lake Park, shares his experience in employing technology to reduce crime in a majority-minority community. With a background in public administration, John discusses the economic development needs of Lake Park upon his arrival. He highlights the success of creating private investments and addresses community concerns through public outreach meetings. The episode also touches on Lake Park's unique allowance of breweries by special permit and the significant drop in crime rate over the last 7 years. John reflects on his commitment to leaving the community better off and the responsibility of a public servant to enhance the areas they serve.

Episode #135: Courtney Barker - Don’t step over a dollar to pick up a nickel Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Satellite Beach City Manager Courtney Barker discusses the impact of PFAS chemicals from a nearby space force base, the difficulties of remediation and the economic significance of the base to Satellite Beach. Courtney emphasizes the importance of doing things right the first time and discusses measures like implementing paid beach parking driven by community needs.

Episode #134: Charles ‘Tony’ Hammond - Bringing Sewer to a Small City Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Archer City Manager Tony Hammond discusses the unique challenges faced by smaller communities. With a background in smaller municipalities, Tony addresses the difficulties of securing grants for infrastructure projects and the particular struggle the City of Archer faces in bringing sewer to the community.

Re-Release Episode #92: Jim Hanson - Preparing for Retirement, FCCMA Senior Advisors, and Advice for Managers in Transition Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Former Atlantic Beach City Manager Jim Hanson understands better than most how much stress city and county managers experience. In this episode, he talks about preparing for retirement, being an FCCMA Senior Advisor, and what to do if you ever expect to be a manager in transition (according to Jim, you should expect to!)

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