What is your proudest achievement since taking the city's top post Sept. 15?
By far, it's helping to raise public awareness about the Police and Fire pension shortfall. ... Because even though it does get a lot of media attention, I'm still amazed at the number of people I talk to who say, "I haven't heard," or "I don't know that much about it."
That's why we're working so hard right now ... so citizens can make an educated vote Feb. 3 (on the proposed one-cent sales tax to fix the shortfall).
What central facts do voters need to understand about the shortfall?
What they need to remember is that this isn't just a Springfield problem. ... It's not that somebody mismanaged (the fund). It's a series of circumstances - almost a perfect storm of circumstances that came together ... and are affecting cities everywhere. ... Viejo, Calif., just filed bankruptcy for this same issue. San Diego's got an unfunded Police and Fire pension that's in the billions. So does Chicago. ... In the 1990s, markets were going great guns, and during that time, there were benefits given that are ongoing commitments to Police and Fire, and once the markets started going down, those obligations continued. The second thing ... is the scope of the problem. The city's general budget is $73 million a year. Even before the economic downturn, we were $167 million short in the pension fund. That's more than twice the amount that we bring in to the city in a year. With the economic downturn, now that shortfall's $194 million, which means you could almost shut down the city for three complete years just to fund the shortfall ... and it's getting bigger every day.
Do you think voters will approve the tax?
I'm optimistic that the voters will approve it in February, because Ozarkians have a tendency to take things head-on, and this is a challenge that belongs to all of us.
If the tax doesn't pass, what's Plan B?
I've said very publicly that if it doesn't pass in February, I've got to get it back on the ballot as quickly as possibly after that, which is June.
We're doing multiple budget scenarios so that we'll be prepared for the next fiscal year even if it doesn't pass.
How is the pension shortfall affecting hiring for Police and Fire?
It's made recruitment of Police officers and firefighters extremely difficult. ... We're ... not starting new academies for Police or Fire just because the first rule of standing in a hole is (to) stop digging.
What have been the biggest adjustments to moving into city government from education?
At (Missouri State University), I dealt with the media, but not nearly as much as now. Also (dealing) with the number of boards and committees the city manager is automatically on, probably 25. I have now split those up ... so that I'm not the only person on those. One difference is the hours. ... You start early in the morning, meetings at the lunch hour and events at night.
At the time you were hired, you pinpointed a need for strategic planning for the city. What's been accomplished so far?
One of the events we hosted during my fifth week was a strategic planning workshop with The Network, a group of under-40 professionals. ... Eighty people showed up, and it was scheduled to go for 90 minutes. It lasted two and a half hours. ... What we want to do is replicate what we did with The Network and go out into the community and do visioning. Before we do strategic planning, let's determine what the community wants to be, 10, 15, 20 years out.
How do ongoing delays for redevelopment of the Heer's building affect downtown's role in economic development?
It hit me when Scott Tarwater of John Q. Hammons came to City Council and was talking about the car park and other things, and said, "We're having trouble getting credit." When Hammons is having trouble getting money ... you know it's pretty severe.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
