City commissioners got off to an early start with the hiring process Friday with two interviews in City Hall beginning at 8 a.m.
Current Panama City manager Jeff Brown was interviewed earliest, followed by Jonathan Evans, former City Manager of Riviera Beach. Both candidates brought presentations that dived a little deeper into specific strategies to accomplish the goals they set than those of the previous day.
Brown provided the most nuts-and-bolts presentation, with commissioners spending nearly 15 minutes before he began his presentation
talking about his experience with redevelopment in the panhandle city he runs. As Plant City begins to ready a contract with Taurus Investment Holdings for development of the decade-old Midtown redevelopment project, Brown’s Panama City is undergoing a massive redevelopment of its marina, a project similar in scope to Midtown. Brown has also managed the city through the relocation of an airport and development of the 3,200-home Sweetbay development.
Much like commissioners hope to see Midtown’s development spill over to other areas of the city, including Historic Downtown, Brown said the marina development helped bring Lucky’s Market, a much-sought after organic supermarket, to the city.
“We knew with our marina project the spill over would affect downtown and our downtown would be revitalized,” Brown said. “Because of the development happening across the street, Lucky’s Market decided to come to town.”
Evans, who is also known as "Coach John," brought the most dynamically charged presentation to the commission, imbuing his first-year plan with a sports-like approach to team work in the city. Passionate, charismatic and eloquent, the dais seemed electrified as Evans spoke of bringing more technological advancements, like free high-speed internet to the city’s downtown and midtown cores. Mayor Rick Lott and Commissioner Mary Mathis went as far as to tell Evans they might pull some quotes from his presentation for use in future speeches.
Commissioners also seemed intrigued by his idea to use surveys to engage the Plant City community in a way that would help staff identify priorities and inform citizens of exciting things happening in the city.
Lott noted that if “you’re not reaching out across all mediums,” you’re not reaching everyone you can.
One of the youngest applicants, Vice-Mayor Bill Dodson described Evans as a “rising star” in the world of municipal management. Evans said his forward-thinking vision for Plant City was part of what would be a lifelong commitment to the city.
“I’m not looking for my next job,” he said. “I’m looking for my last job.
Evans' most standout idea was adding a citizen-led finance review board to the budgeting process. In past posts, he said, similar boards were comprised of economists, bankers, accountants and other professionals from the community who offered citizen feedback during the process so the commission was more in tune with citizen priorities, and citizens had a better understanding of how the city spends its money and why.
“It provides the residents an opportunity to be engaged and educated on the budget documents,” he said. “It’s a tool that’s utilized to educate those residents, but also have the business community and the residents involved to give all different perspectives.”
Mayor Lott said he did not envy the two presenters that would follow Evans later that afternoon.
“I wouldn’t want to be following you,” he said.