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Home My WebLink AboutCC 1976-04-27 Minutes:I9 Y QF MIAMI SPECIAL COM MISSION MINU TES OF MEETING HELD ON April 27, 1976 PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL RALF11 6. ONGIE I r!Y CLEQIt -1WT--1Wis- MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA * On the 27th day of April, 1976, the City Commiasion of Miami, Florida met at its Regular Meeting Place at City Hall in said City in Special Session to discuss and take action on the following matter: Selection of City Manager. The Meeting was called to order at 2:15 P.M. by Mayor Maurice A. Terre with the following members of the Commission present:,: ALSO PRESENT: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Manolo Reboso Vice Mayor, Rose Gordon Mayor, Maurice A. Ferre P. W. Andrews, City Manager A. P. Crouch, Asst. City Manager John S. Lloyd, City Attorney H. D. Southern, City Clerk Ralph G. Ongie, Asst. City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Rev. Jones who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Mayor Ferre: Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today in the important business of the City of Miami for the selection of a new City Manager. After last Thursday's Commission Meeting, since it was the consensus of the morning when this matter was discussed at approximately 10:00 A.M., that the process be opened to those in executive leadership within the City, Department Heads and Assistant City Managers and the Executive Secretary of the Civil Service Board and City Clerk, that those people, which is approximately 20, who so desire, who wanted to apply for the job be permitted to do so and their applications would be reviewed before the City Commission. At that time, Commissioner Plummer responded by saying that he thought the process should be open to the full process of permitting any quali- fied individual from within the Community who was fired from a job to also apply. Since I, at the outset of the meeting had stated that we would only come to agree- ment in those things that we could unanimously agree on. Since Father Gibson was in the hospital and therefore absent and ._.c.: did not come to an agreement at that point, we passed. I had fully intended, as I though more of it during the day, before the end of that meeting, bring up the subject again because I felt there was a consensus and perhaps in the haste -of -the moment I may have missed it. As you will recall, the Commission meeting lasted till 9:30 that evening and we had started at 8:00 in the morning and after 13 hours, frankly, we were all tired, I was no exception and I forgot to bring the matter up. Therefore, the following day, I called first the City Manager, Mr. Andrews, and reviewed this matter with him and then I called each of the 4 Commissioners individually, having talked to Father Gibson last since he was not at the meeting, and I tried to recreate what we had gone over the morning before and starting with Mr. Plummer, Mr. Plummer told me that he had no objections with the process that I had begun of trying to open the doors to those in the City that wanted to apply but that he had wanted to go further but he had no objections at this point of opening the door to those qualified within the City. After getting that kind of a response from Plummer,.I then proceeded and I talked first to Commissioner Gordon and then to Commissioner Reboso and got their consensus of this and then I called Father Gibson and told him what the consensus of the Commission was and Father Gibson told me that he agreed with the process. Therefore, I called up the City Manager and told him that he should open up the doors and Friday and Monday, receive the applications of those within the City who wanted to apply, As of this moment, as I understand it and you add where I'm missing, we have the application of Chief.Don Hickman, Mr. Joseph Parades, Mr. Charles Crumpton and Mr. Andrew P. Crouch and therefore we have those 4 applications before us at this time. Before we get into the pro- cess of hearing the individuals who wish to be considered, I would like to set the guidelines of how we're going to proceed and if I hear no objections from anybody, that will be the procedure. In the first place, we will, after hearing everybody, I will, as unainan, open up the fleet fot nominations. I will recognize only one nomination pet Commissiofief, It is tot necessary fot a Comtissionet to make a nolinatidt if he or she does fiat desire to do so. Once the nominations have been made and after everybody has had the opportunity to nominate an individual, the nominations will be closed, We will then, after Commission discussion, if there is any discussion, vote on a piece of paper, out choice frott those that have been nominated. If any individual nominated gets three (3) voted or more, he will obvi'- ously be the City Manager selected by this process, If, however, there is no indi- vidual that gets a clear majority, then we will go to further discussion and a second round. If there is nobody who gets three (3) votes, we will go to a third round and a fourth and a fifth. It seems to me that somewhere along the line, after this process has been carried out to a certain point, that we've got to recognize that if somebody does not get a clear mandate, and this is just my personal opinion which I want to share with you, by the fourth, fifth or sixth round, it seems to me that it would be an imposition to have an individual who cannot get a clear mandate by the fifth round and I would then respectfully recommend that if we cannot get a consensus by the fifth time around or the sixth, whatever is the will of the Commission, that we then go back to Arthur D. Little and ask them to once again survey these four (4) applicants that have now applied within the City and others that they might recommend and come back one more time with 5 recommendations and then we will schedule another meeting and hopefully select the City Manager in this form. Now I am hopeful that certainly by the fifth or sixth round, that we will be able to select a Manager. If we cannot come to an agreement by then, again I re- peat that it's just unfair to bring somebody in here who cannot gather more of a consensus of the Commission by the fifth or the sixth vote. Now is this procedure acceptable to the members of the Commission? Mr. Plummer: Mayor, just so the record is clear, I shudder to think that had we followed that procedure, we probably would have not had Father Gibson. Father Gibson, you weren't here, was selected on the 17th ballot. I would prefer, Mr. Mayor, to wait and make that decision after the fifth ballot if it comes to that. Mayor Ferre: Okay, then after the fifth vote, if we should go to a fifth vote, we will then decide what future course to take at that time. Is the rest of the pro- cedure acceptable? Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, it's acceptable to me on the premise that I would extend beyond, if we cannot reach agreement, once again, my position, more so emphatically, if we cannot make a decision by the fifth round, that it be opened to the community of South Florida and more particularly, Dade County. Mayor Ferre: I'm not asking you about that. Sure, I understand. Mr. Plummer: We reiterate that later if it's necessary. Mayor Ferre: We're not crossing that bridge flt this point, I'm just asking if the selection procedure is acceptable as I've outlined it. Okay, now before we get into listening to the four (4) applicants from within the City structure, I would like to read a letter into the record, and I will have copies made, to the members of the Commission and I think it is, I don't want it to be misinterpreted in any way, it is just simply the results of a conversation that I had and that Commissioner Rose Gordon had with Arthur D. Little and Company and Norma Roberts who has been doing the search for us and it seems it's a Special Delivery letter received in my office yesterday afternoon and I apologize for not making this letter available to the Commission before this time, frankly, it just slipped my mind and I had it in this file. The letter is dated April 23rd, and I say it again, I'm reading it before we get started because I would not like to read it after we've gone through the process because it might prove that somehow, in one way, embarassing and this is certainly not the intent. Itis dated April 23rd and it is addressed to me, Arthur D. Little, Inc. "Dear Mayor Ferre, I understand that the City Commission has not yet made a selection of a new City Manager and that consideration is being given to employing the City's Fire Chief in that position. I feel that I would be derelict in my duty to the City of Miami if I did not respond to your request to comment on the situation at this time. The City of Miami spent several thousands of dollars to employ our firm to seek out and screen the best candidates for the position of City Manager based on criteria that was established by you and each- member of the Commission. Adequate opportunity was offered to all interested persons to communicate to us their desire to be City Manager. The opening for the position was widely advertised in Miami and elsewhere, It also invited members of the City Commission to suggest persons whom we should seek out and consider for 2 this position. It was our tesponsibility then to evaluate each applicattt's qualm fications. After cottdL::ting a nationwide executive search, we recotimetided 5 top candidates whom we believed most appropriate according to the ctitetia which the City Cothissioti provided to us, The Catitisgiftete described to us their perception Of the City's priorities, the necessity for having a City Manager who is tell. educated, experienced it dealing with human service problets, capable of developing and implementing modern, fiscal and budgetary technics, able to work with other jurisdictions and to obtain a needed graft program and knowledgable in the area of labor relations was clear. I am not acquainted with the Miami Fire Chief. He, at no time, indicated to us a willingness to become a candidate. We therefore were unable to consider his education and experience along with those of the other applicants. However, I do know enough about the City of Miami and the problems it faces to state that it is highly unlikely for a person whose principle experience is in the fire service to meet your criteria and to properly handle all of the broad responsibilities of a City Manager. I would like to point out that after concluding our search, I had an opportunity to discuss with Commissioner Gordon the possibility that the Fire Chief might be considered for the position. I expressed to her my opinion that since he did not submit an application, it would be unfair • to the more than 170 other candidates and to the citizens of Miami who expected an open selection process in order to hire the best person for the poeition. It is important for the well-being of the City of Miami and for the Council, for the Council Manager Plan in Miami that a capable professional be chosen for this critical job. I hope the Commission will move forward in an expeditious manner in its considerations of the highly qualified and professional Manager candidates presented by us and already interviewed by you. Sincerely, Norman Roberts, Arthur D. Little, Inc.." Now despite this letter, and I:, -:think so that everybody within the City structure will feel that the City of Miami has given an open ear, an open mind and an open heart to those from within the structure that have applied for the job,'it is my opinion, and.I'm glad -to -hear that the Commission agrees with this consensus, that it would be appropriate to hear the four (4) in -City candidates. I think that follows the tradition that this Commission has accepted over the past years, this is the same tradition that brought us the very able Mr. Paul' Andrews, our City Manager, brought us Mr. John Lloyd, City Attorney, Police Chief Watkins and Fire Chief Hickman to name but a few of the people that have been selected from within the City structure. I felt, nevertheless, obligated to submit this into the record for the consideration since, I think, since we have paid Arthur D. Little money to do the search and since Arthur D. Little is probably the most respected professional firm in the United States, that their opinion be a part of the record here today. Mr. Plummer: May I comment? Mayor Ferrer You certainly may. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, let me, for the record so that it will be.clear in the future when this record is read. First of all, let me state the Minutes of January 15th meeting which clearly indicates that I voted against the hiring of an outside consultant and as the days go forty.::::, : feel that more I was right at that time than I ever was in my life. I will say to you that this letter which has been mailed to you and not to other members of this Commission, to phone calls made to you and to Mrs. Gordon and not to other members of this Commission, is exactly the same way that Arthur D. Little has conducted themselves the entire time of this process. I will state quite clearly for the record that I am very much opposed to their way of doing business, I think that they have taken this City and put us and subjected us to things that are totally unfair and I want to make one point and I won't make anymore. Mr. Mayor, I suggested at no uncertain terms to the Arthur D. Little Company that I felt the person that sits in that chair first and foremost needed to be a good Administrator. That they, in fact, not necessarily in my estimation, were bound that a person had to be municipally orientated, that I was looking for the best qualified administrator. Unfortunately, by either design or intent, not one person of the 170 candidates, to my knowledge, were outside of municipal operation. I think that we have to accept the premise that most of the people who were involved in this process did not seek the job. That letters of invitation were, in fact, sent out, and I believe I recall that all of the top 5 choices were people who were solicited, they did not ask for the job. Now Mr. Mayor, it was my understanding that the Arthur D. Little would be the one who would conduct a search of those people who were interested for this job, not that they would go out and solicit us and put us in the position that we found ourselves. I think that the letter is self-evident as it relates to the Fire Chief, how anyone can make a statement that they have not spoken to the Fire Chief or anyone else and then turn around and make the statement that they don't feel that he is qualified, I think, personally, is totally unfair and 1 make that for the record. Mrs. Gordon: Mt. Mayor, may I please put a clarification into the record? Mt, Plummer, I did not cal.,. Ae*hur D. Little Company, my Only conversation With theiil took place When they announced their 5 choices and I questioned Mt, Roberts and said, "HOW come you donit have anyone on your list frot out City Goverment and he said that anyone it: the City Government could apply and those that wished to, did and I said, '+tell, singe you did an outreach progratt apparently, how cote you didn't outreach into our govettimer:0 " And he said, "Weil, if anyone Was interested, of course they could apply." That was his response to me and then I only conversationed and he said; "Well, who did you have in mind", and I said, "Well, several people, I'll name you one or two." I mentioned the Chief and I mentioned another person who is in an Administrative position and that was it. Now I didn't want it mis- understood, I didn't get a letter, I didn't get a telephone call on an individual basis, I just want the record totally clear of that. Mr. Plummer: Rose, I accept that and I find no that I was saying was that the Mayor has always any communication, whether it be by phone or by and for Arthur D. Little not to follow the same think, is wrong. Mayor Ferre: Well, let me clarify so that you'll understand clearly. This was a conversation that I had at my initiation, I called Mr. Norman Roberts on Friday and I discussed with him the candidates that were left and in the course of that con= versation, I brought him up to date and I asked his opinion and he expressed to me that opinion. I told him that I thought that that was something that, if he felt that way, had to be placed on the record. I wasn't trying to create a problem or embarass anybody but I think if we've hired these people and paid them money to do something, that if they have an opinon, this opinion should go on the record. He addressed the letter to me because obviously he had the conversation with me. The letter was Air Mail - Special Delivery, it got here yesterday, I think it was in the afternoon when I saw it, I apologized for not having delivered it to you before but obviously I think it's important to put in into the record. ':,:What else can I tell you except that I'm sorry that I didn't do it within a period sooner than right now, it had to be done. fault with that. made it a policy, letter, all of us procedure of this The only thing whenever he got were copied in Commission, I Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I'm not finding fault with you... Mayor Ferre: I understand, J. L.. May I then just make this other statement. I'm not going to stand here and defend Arthur D. Little, that's their problem, not mine. I want it all on the record again in saying that the selection of a City Manager is perhaps the single, most important vote that I, as a City of Miami Commissioner or Mayor, will make and therefore, I think it's absolutely essential that we follow a completely arms -length above bored, professional approach to the job. Arthur D. Little happens to be, perhaps, the single largest management and search firm in government, this is their business just like your is being an undertaker and mine is being a concrete peddler, that's what I do for a living and that's what these people do, they are professionals at this. It seems very important to obviate or to take a cast or a shadow of potential cr:.ticibm by the people of Miami, not by any individual or any group or any special influence group or any media, but by the people. Now they feel confident that the process that we've followed is one of trying to find the best qualified individual. We gave them the perameters, we told them what they had to deal with, we told them what we were looking for and they, based on what we told them, have searched and have come up with a series of 5 names. To me, that's the cleanest way of doing it, it's the one that's completely beyond reproach. Let everybody come into the process, let everybody take their chances, let everybody follow and take their chances.and be scrutenized and analyzed by people who do this professionally, year-round, year after year. That was the philosophy of this and you disagree with that and you, of course, have that right. The majority of us felt that that was the appropriate way to go and that's the way we've come up until now. I think we've got to open up this process because we're obviously down to 3 candidates and above all, I personally do not want to be critized for saying that we're not going to give an opportunity to those within the system who feel, they feel, might be deserving of that opportunity. I am still going to state what I stated all along that Arthur D. Little is an exceptional company, that they have come up with very fine recommendations and that certainly one of those 5 individuals, now down to 3, is qualified and since that is the pro- cedure that we began with, in my opinion, that is the procedure that we should end with. Now we have 4 individuals. I've written their names down on a piece of paper and I'm going to ask the City Manager, you mix them up, Father or I'll ask Rose, and we'll listen to them in that order. Who is the first? Mrs. Gordon. Mr. Crumpton. 4 Mayor Ferre: Mr. Crumpton is the first speaker who is the second? Mr► 'iumtner: Mr. Crouch, Mayor Ferre: Mr. Crouch is the second speaker, Mr, Reboso: Mr, Mittman, Mayor Ferre: Mr. Hickman is the third one and Mr. Parades is the last speaker. Now, I think that since we know most of these individuals, it seems to me that half an hour would be an appropriate time for eac:i one of them to express their opinions and for us to ask whatever questions we mij,ht feel necessary so without any further ado, unless that has any objections by any members of the Commission, we will then listen to Mr. Crumpton. I think Mr. Crumpton, the process should be, if it's alright with the Commission, 10 minutes on your part to say anything you want to and then 20 minutes for questions and answers by members of the Commission. Is that acceptable to everybody? Alright, Mr. Crumpton. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, Mr. Andrews brings up a point of information which I'think. we ought to consider. in the previous hearings... Mayor Ferre: We gave each an hour and 10... Mr. Plummer: No sir, the other people were out of the room while they made their presentations... Mayor Ferre: I think that's a completely appropriate request and I would respect- fully ask for Mr. Crouch, Mr. Hickman and Mr. Parades to excuse themselves from the room so that each individual will have the freedom of expression and not feel, in any way, impaired by it so would you completely remove yourselves from this premise for a half hour. Alright, Mr. Crumpton. Alright, let's have your attention if you would all take your seats and I would like to request, from those people who are here in the audience, that this is a governmental procedure, we are being televised and that I hope that everybody will recognize that we must act with civil decorum and I would respectfully request that I don't want any applauses or emotion- alisms or favoritism expressed here, I think it is unfair to the candidates, it is, in my opinion, offensive to those who might be the recipients of booze or of applauses so I would like to urge each and every one of you -to try to be as courteous as you possibly can and let everybody have his day before this Commission without any interruptions. Alright, Mr. Crumpton. Mr. Crumpton: Mr. Mayor and Council, I am Charlie Crumpton, presently holding the position of Assistant City Manager for Community Development activities. You have had my resume with you. I first came to the City , you had my resume, when I submitted it to the Arthur D. Little Company and based upon the actions of last week, you again have my resume. Mayor Ferre: I think we originally had, ------ Mr. Crumpton: Not since that time? Then I will refresh you if I may. Educational. wise, University of Florida graduate in architecture, and am a registered architect in the State of Florida, Master's degree in city planning from Georgia Institute of Technology, my past experiences prior to coming to the City were with the Babcock company which is a builder -developer in this area and has been for the past 40 years, they are a subsidiary of Weirhauser Company, one of the largest timber products companies in the world. I was their vice-president for planning and develpment activities, involved in many matters from seeking and acquiring land,to getting and passing it through the complete process of planning and development to the point of pulling permits for construction purposes. Prior to that, I was the assistant director of planning for Metropolitan Dade County Florida, being with Dade County for eleven and one-half years. So I have been in the Miami area since 1960. I have been in the Florida area all my life. I happen to be a native Floridian, being raised on the west coast of Florida in Tampa. So I am acquainted with the community that has a bi-lingual capability, having gone to school and grown up with my many friends of Hebor City and in the Tampa area. Prior to Metropolitan Dade County, I was with the City of Cincinnatti, over three years, That again, in a planning capacity. Prior to that with Arlington -County in Virginia, for a short period of time. Mt. Grurptoni What 3s not on the resume, but germane, prior to that t was also with the Busttell Steel storks, which is now Florida Steel Corporation, itt the capacity of design and sales engineer with -them, As I mentioned, f at a registered architect in the state. I have done teaching work at the bade ,hitsiotr College system, and at the University of Miami. I have taken a study tour to Europe, to the new towns. An in my military capacities, I have traveled in the Philippine areas, and in Europe. Mayor Ferre: Since we do have a little less time, I•would appreciate as quick an answer as possiblei right to the point, and at any time let me ask my fellow commissioners to feel completely free to join in the questioning process. I will lead on, and you interrupt me anytime you want tc. The first question is, in your present job and in your future job, what have you epent the most time in, and what would you spend the most time in, and in conjunction to that, I think the thrust of this, is what do you feel is the most important area facing the City of Miami. Mr Crumpton: I think there are three very important areas facing the City of Miami. One of course is the budget, number two, for lack of better words, the labor relationships with its employees, and orgainzations, and lastly, with the establishment of the central city as a viable unit in the totality of the Metropolitan regional south Florida area. There are numerous. ways these can be done. Mayor Ferre: What in your opinion, in your present job, do you feel that you have done particularly well? You have been with the city about 10 or 11 months? Mr. Crumpton: Ten months, Mayor Ferre: During the 10 month period, and if you want to expand on that, go back to the years that you were with Metro. Maybe you might want to include that. Mr. Crumpton: It has been my desire for quite a number of years, a decade and a half, really, to see that government, private enterprise, can work hand -in -hand as a team. I have observed this on the governmental side for many years, and as I indicated, got into the private sector again, to see their side of the picture. Unless government, and private enterprise, can work hand -in -hand as a team, then there is no city, there is no community, there is no progress. One cannot continually have a bickering attitude and this is particularly germane between political jurisdictions, metropolitan governments and municipal governments. I have sat for eleven and one-half years, the past 9 years of that eleven and a half, in a position where one could really get into the inter workings of government, from the metropolitan government point of view, and have functioned in that relationship, and now 1 am functioning in the relationship of the central city, and its relationship up to metropolitan government. So the relationship of private enterprise ane g-»vernment must be brought together and the relationship of local government dell metropolitan and/or regional government must be there. And I feel that I have had the experience in both fields, all three, municipal, from my past experiences in Cincinatti, and here, metropolitan and the private sector, to see that this could be worked out. Mayor Ferre: What is your greatest disappointment or frustration in your present job, or in your metropolitan -Dade County job, and where do you feel that you disagree mostlwith your employer. Mr. Crumpton: Frustration, the lack of decision making, is a frustration to administration at all times. I have observed many commissions, city and county, recognizing that these are part-time people, but still recognizing that these part- time people have committed themselves to functioning within their respective governments as leaders of that government, the policy makers of that government. So with that, the frustration comes when at times, (too many times), the decision time comes and deferral takes place. Government must go on, continue on, administration must continue on, but without policy decisions, or decisions on policy matters, and clear directions given, it is superly frustrating to administration to do so. This particular commission, I am not speaking of, I am speaking of all that I have observed and seen and worked with over the 15 years. Mayor Ferre: What, in your opinion, are your greatest strengths you will bring• to the job? Mr. Crumpton; One of these is, from the city point of view, I have used this before, although I am relatively a new broom in the city, I have been in the area and worked in government Long enough to know the; where a bit Of the duet is swept, 6 and which cotter of the rug, softie cf it is under. I feel that I can also bring as a strong point, of the knowledge of working in three different levels, private, municipal and metropolitan levels. That I can also bring a freshness in that. I have not been committed to any particular system of administration, any particular approach of administration, of a budgeting process, I know what should be the end product as far as the details of accomplishing it, that is where your staff and a good sound, qualified staff, is essential. I can bring a freshness, not being bound any any set form. Mayor Ferre: Would you tell us what you consider to be your weakness, or weaknesses, in your opinion. Mr. Crumpton: Attempting to get involved in too many things, and trying to get into the details of those and understand them. When one should be more involved in interpreting policy, working with policy, administering the policy and working with the key members of :the staff so that they would be productive for the city. Mayor Ferre: Would you, since the consent decree, and the approach to the minority problem, since 53% of this community is Spanish speaking and 25% is black, would you tell us your approach to this situation? Your approach to the consent decrees, both the Cohen and the other consent decree, from the Justice department we are involved liith. Mr. Crumpton: Let me answer it this way, that I recognize the population characteristics and percentages. In creating the part one area that came to me when I first came with the City, the employment pattern, community development, as is closely followed, the percentage -wise of population that presently exists in the City of Miami, you also recognize that that are certain tools and rules and regulations that somewhat conflict with one another. These will have to be resolved. The approach will have to be o4e of seeing that there is justice done, rather than letter -of -the -law per se. The law followed, yes, but one can get involved in the technicalities that seem to be contrary to the objective,of the matter of determining the precise objective and moving so that justice can be done. This is not an over -night type of situation. It has come on over a period of years and it is going to take some time to resolve. It is no easy answer. Mayor Ferre:With the importance of the budgetary process and the fiscal restraints that are obviously upon all cities, including the City of Mimai, how would you approach the budget, and how would you involve yourself in the budget process? Mr. Crumpton: The budget must be a balanced budget, but it also must be a realistic budget. This again comes back to an earlier point of decision making and policy making, that we cannot be all everybody. There are going to have to be a set of priorities made to meet the goals that are established, and then allocate the funds to these goals. In the area of capital investment process, capital improvement programs, as it is commonly known, Too often, and -this -is nation-wide, too often the capital program is set without the benefit of the knowledge or let's say the realistic view of how much it is going to cost you to operate. There are certain elements of a physical'nature that come under the capital improvements, that the first year of cost of capital improvement, is a minute piece of the total cost. In other equipment, staffing and programmatic facets, you can in two years, far exceed operating -wise a capital investment. So from that point of view of budgeting the capital programming must be reviewed in what it is going to do as far as operating in the future as well. Without that knowledge you are taking'pig in a poke.' Mayor Ferre: Tell us your opinion with regards to pension and the pension situation.facing the City of Miami. Mr. Crumpton: The pension matter is somewhat of a grave matter in a way. It needs to be re -looked at, particularly in the light of funding as well as benefits. There are those who have said that the benefit facet may be excessive. There are those who have said the benefit facet is not enough. Here again this is an area in dealing with people, and people's lives, future lives, through the pension program. So, it must be people -oriented, but keeping in mind that people are both, the municipal side, which has a fiscal responsibility as well as the potential retiree's side, Mayor Ferret Ara you saying you feel the city of Miami has an obligation on an open-end, fiscal approach to the pensions, or are you saying that there 7 has to be lititatiohs set? Mr. Crumpton: As a precise answer to either one of those of this moment, until it is evaluated, I decline to give an answer. 1 don't know, but philosophically there have to be limitations.i'hilosophically. Nobody gets nothing for free. Somebody has to pay, and too often, philosophically again, which trust be put into practical situations, and I happen to be one of those who maybe naively still believe this, that government is of the people, by the people and for the people. Not to the people. The citizenry must also recognize, and too often this is said, well, we will let government do it, not realizing that they themselves are government, and they must recognize that any time they ask for a program, someone has to pay. Mayor Ferre: With regard to the civil service system, as it exists, and the Booz Allen, would you be committed for the implementation of the Booz Allen report as submitted, or do you feel it needs modification, and if so how. And if you are for the implementation, to what degree and how quickly? Mr. Crumpton: Five questions in one. Mayor Ferre: They are all inter -connected. If you answer one, you will answer all five of them. Mr. Crumpton: That I shall do. As far as this particular matter is concerned, from the Civil Service point of view, yes. There are corrections that need to be made. The facets of Booz Allen per se, there are changes that need to be made. Mayor Ferre: Let's get to the nitty-gritty of it, Mr. Crumpton. Are you for the implementation of a personnel -management system under the administrator and with a human resource department with a head, or do you feel that that area of staffing should be left under the Civil Service Board. Mr. Crumpton:I answer in the affirmative to the approach of Booz Alien, in that it would be under the management in part and in part with Civil Service. A manager cannot manage unless he has the tools to do so. He must have certain priorities, • he must have certain capabilities of appointment and control over certain staffs, and this is essential in any business, anywhere, municipal, county or state or private sector. Mayor Ferre: Do you agree with Unions and the bargaining process as it exists at the present time? Mr. Crumpton: There are areas that need to be changed Mr. Mayor. Here again both the City of Miami and the Union area, in"- : =a^.ognize that they are still a part of the same body, and are as a service to people of the City of Miami, and we cannot get into, should not get into the process of we against they, or they against we. There has to come an understanding and I feel that whenever, reasonable rational people can sit down together and they can come to a reasonable rational, Mayor Ferre: Mr. Crumpton, yes or no, are you for public bargaining of public employees as it exists under the statutes of the State of Florida? Do you agree with the public bargaining procedure. Mr. Crumpton: As the law of the State of Florida, yes. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in the bargaining procedure, do you believe in the unionization of government employees? Do you believe in their ability to strike? Do you believe in complusory arbitration? Mr. Crumpton: In the area of unionization, and the bargaining capabilities of unions, yes. In the ability to strike per se, particularly in the areas of government, no, I don't believe in that. Mayor Ferre; Do you believe in binding arbitration? Mr. Crumpton; Under certain circumstances, yes. As long as by circumstances. I mean that the parameters of the arbitration are both agreed upon prior to, -they cannot be a one-way street, either way, Mayor Ferre; With regard to social services, do you have a commitment to the maintaining of social service programa by the City of Miami? 8 Mr. Cruttptont The City has very few kinds of prograf. Mayor Ferret t atn talking about the ones we have►The Day Cate centers, the Senior Centers,=..-' Mr, Crumptont The City should take this kind of responsibility. Mayor FerretShould the City expand on those programs? Or should those moneys for other things and let Metro Dade County pick up, ---- we use Mr. Crompton: This will have to be really truly answered, to find when one comes down to priorities in dollars in budget, • Mayor FErre: That is what we are asking you now. What kind of priority do you give it? That is the question. Mr. Crumpton: Certain kinds of social services I give a high priority for municipalities of the local governments to take care of. There are other social service matters that are explicitly more germane to a Metropolitan or regional type of government, and there are those that best are served" by the State. We have some definition as to which of these would be. Many of those that the city is involved in are local in nature and should remain. Mayor Ferre: With regards to growth, and planning. The City of Miami in the last 15 years has grown basically from a community of 300 thousand to a community of 350 thousand which is not considered a dynamic growth. Do you feel that with the trend to curtail urban sprawl by Metropolitan Dade County, that the City of Miami should grow vertically and should it expand as the core city. Mr. Crumpton: It should definitely expand as the core city and to..do so it will have to grow vertically in various places. Many of the activities going on now that are precipitated by state and county activities primarily are mass transit system, around the station points, --this is where much of the vertical type grow may take place. One other point on growth, Miami, in my opinion,(this is one reason why I am here) has potentialities of becoming a major city in the U.S. to serve the central and south part of our western hemisphere. It also happens to be the closest major city to all of the newer countries that are forming Africa..So, from an international, as well as a hemispheric potentiality of a trade center. The City of Miami has got to take that responsible role. Mayor Ferre: My last question is regarding Metropolitan Dade County. You know we are in the midst of a law suit on double taxation, which will obviously have major impact on the future of this city. What is your personal position and commitment to that law suit and to this relationship these two governments. Mr. Crumpton: Let me answer that by saying this. Back in the early 60's while I was with Metropolitan Dade County Planning, we did a study in relationship of Metropolitan role and local government role. This never came out of its shell by other reasons, which spelled out, back then, and it would have to be up -dated, the role of local governments and the role of Metropolitan government and I believe in this two -levels of government. Mayor Ferre: I assume the answer then is you feel committed to the continuation of a viable, strong city of Miami, --- Mr. Crumpton: By all means. Mayor Ferre:----and that you would as manager have a dedication to that relationship and avoid double taxation with Metro? Mr. Crumpton: Double taxation should never take place. Mayor Ferre; Commission? Mr. Plummer; other people have Mayor Ferre; 35 to 40 minutes, I don't have any other question. Any other questions by the I think you covered it adequately, the questions I had of the been covered, and I have no further questions, Thank you very much Fir. Crompton. I think we took something like The next speaker will be Mr. Andrews Crouch, • NOTE: Mayor Ferre announced a 5 minute redess, after which the Commission reconvened with all members present. Mr. Andrew P. Crouch: Mr. Mayor and members of the CoMmission, 1 at Andrew Po Crouch, t am a Christian husband of Doris Nelson Crouch, and t am the father of four children, We have one grandchild. I have a degree in engineering from the University of Miami. I am a registered engineer in the State of Florida and registered land surveyor, 1 am 49 years old) in reasonably good health. I started my career with the City of Miami it 1947 as a rodman, the department of Water and Sewers. If you are not familiar with what a rodman is, it is equivalent to laborer, at $198.00 a month when 'started in 1947. I progressed through the various chains of elevation in the City classified service to technician, professional level, supervisor, administrator department director and became. the Assistant City Manager by appointment of Mr. Andrews two and one-half years ago. In 1950 I separated from the City of Miami for a 4 month period while I continued my education. I was going to school at the University at night and was unable to get evening courses to continue so I do have separated service, but 'worked for no other employer since 1947. After the 4 month leave from the City I came back as a part-time employee in the now department of public works, while I finished my education and got my degree. I have served in the City of Miami as a section head of a section in the design division. I was appointed assistant division head wherein I oversaw the general design procedures in the department of public works, and engineering as it was at that time. I served as project coordinator in the department of public works and in 1969 I was appointed the head of the department of public properties where I served for approximately 5 years. The special trainings I have had beside my degree at the University of Miami, I have had special training in municipal administration at the University of Miami and performance budgeting and systems through some of the local universities. Special projects that I have personally participated in since I have been with the City of Miami range back to the original plan for the Magic City Center, downtown CBD study, I participated with the second study on the Magic City Center Plan as the City's representative on the Metro study. I was the principal person.involved in the original planning for Seaport when it was under the city's jurisdiction and participated in all phases of that while it was in the city's hands, until it was transferred to Metro. I had participated in various studies for bridges and tunnels in the City, the Orange Bowl stadium studies, t was the responsible party under the now infamous artificial turf situation at the Orange Bowl. I handled approximately 10 years ago the assignment for the acquisition of property for expansion of the Orange Bowl facilities, and under special assignment from the City Manager have for approximately the past 10 years, been in charge of the negotiations for acquisition of property City projects. I have, in my tenure with the City, come into contact with all aspects of municipal administration, especially in the past two and a half years, as Assistant City Manager I have fairly well covered the gamut. of our activities, and the municipal activities the City of Miami is involved in. My personal activities, --I have basically a routine, on Saturday I play golf, on Sunday I go to church, Tuesday I play tennis, and Wednesday I go to choir practice, the nights are basically open, and I do what everybody else does. I spend approximately 60 hours a weeks in my present duties. In any job that I do get, I would not anticipate I would spend anymore. I hope I would not spend anymore. The main features of the City, and the future of the City that I see, that need the attention of a future City Manager, deal in the general area that I call improving the quality of life in the City. The principal things there that are to be dealt with are the crime conditions, housing and solid waste which come to the top of that group. I feel that the city's activities in going forward with the affirmative action program, implementing the terms of the consent decree are some of the very early problems that the new City Manager will have to deal with, and will be facing and I feel that I am informed sufficiently that I could carry on the program in the directions of the City Commission in this regard. As far as philosophy regarding the council-manager form of government, I start from a basic philosophy of the need for trust and confidence between the Manager and the council, It is a two-way street. I feel if a Manager does not have the confidence of a commission, that he cannot function properly and if the Manager does not have confidence in the commission's action expressing the will of the general public who they represent, he should not be in that job. I look to team -type of operation in the council-manager form herelin the City of Miami. 1 believe the Manager and the Commission have to function ae'a team. I see the municipal administration similarly to the captain of a ship, who works for the owners of the ship. The Commission represent the owners of this ship that the chief administration must operate. I feel that there is a need for the captain to be in charge of the ship, I would resist any involvement by the City Commission or 1Q the owners to try to give direction directly to the people that are in the employment Of the manager and I would also take action to see that the converse activities by the City employees directly to the commission would not go on. Because of the circumstances the commission now find themselves in, I feel I would like to express my confidence in the decision that the commission made regarding the selection of Arthur D. Little to conduct a profession search for the City Manager. I believe it was the proper procedure and that that is the best way, and the only way that you can get competent people to direct the future of this city in the role of the chief administrator. I feel that the Arthur D Little firm did their job and I have no compunction about serving under any of the nominees that they have brought forth, or may bring forth in the future. When I took the position of Assistant City Manager I realize that I serve at the will of the City manager and I will continue to do so until the City Manager requests that I take on other duties. I have basically tbld you about me. I will be glad to respond to any questions you may have and possibly will pick up a little time. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Crouch let me begin with a questioning period. In your last job, ----in your present job, excuse me, ---in your present job, what are the things, --and in your future job, should you be selected as Manager, what do you think are the most important areas and what have you dedicated the most of your time to and what would you dedicate most of your time to? What is the most important areas? Mr. Crouch: As I understand your question Mr. Mayor, it is past and future, so in the past two and one-half years as assistant City Manager under Mr. Andrews the principal part of my time on the job has been spent in communication, basically down the organization to various departments and receiving communication up to the departments for the general operation of the ongoing programs of the city. I feel that that would change in a new role as City Manager. I feel that the progressive attitudes of the City Manager do much towards the programs and showing initiative in being creative and responding to things that I feel, or that the Manager and the Commission feel will upgrade the quality of life in the community. I would look for the next manager, and if I take that position to be more closely involved in the planning and programming of the activities than I have been as the Assistant City Manager, because of the need for solid plans to look not just in the things in -hand that have to be dealt with but the need for the future activities of the City to get us where we need to go, that the planning aspects will be enhanced. Mayor Ferre: Would you tell us the three most important areas that you feel you would dedicate your time to. Mr. Crouch: The three most important = •r.it I feel, as City Manager I would have to spend time in is, principally in the organization and the per- formance of the City Administration. The various departments, I feel that we have a strong need for additional training, down the ranks and the supervisory level, to get a better productivity andthat would be one of them, and I am not saying them in the priority that is one of what I would classify as the three main areas that need attention in the City of Miami. I believe that the continuation of the restructuring of the City Manager's office and the restructuring of the departments for the delivery of the services, is a second vital area that needs attention and the third area I believe would classify as,(these are the administrative types of things I think the Manager would addressing himself to rather than the planning aspects for the future),I believe that the implementation of the Affirmative Action Program and defining and getting procedures for carrying out the consent decree structure is the third. Mayor Ferre: All right. What in your opinion are the greatest disappointments or frustrations that you have had in your present job and where are the area of disagreement with your employer. Mr. Crouch: I have found basically, and I will say this politically, Mr. Andrews has been a good boss to work for, he has taken on more than he really should, and I have felt inadequate in assisting him in some of the things he personally had to do. That I feel has been one of the areas where possibly I could have been of better service in the past job. Mayor Ferre;What do you feel has been your greatest frustration and disappointment? Mr. Crouch: That I feel, because we have so many things that need to be done and so little time to deal with theca, its the matter of trying to sift out the 11 things that have to be dealt on a priority basis and leaving some things that need to be dome,=uttdote, for the immediate time. Mayor Ferret What are your strengths, in your opinion? What do you come with, that you add to the Job, that would qualify you for City Manager. What is your greatest strength? Mr. Crouch: I would say my .greatest strength is the fact that I am from inhouse, I have knowledge of the ongoing programs of the city, that possibly in the transitional period, between the departure of Mr. Andrews and the new chief executive, that that time frame might be narrowed and we might be able to carry on specifically some of those programs. A second area I would respond to and I thought of first, in response to your question was my ability to deal with people. I believe I have that ability and I believe it is important in this position. Mayor Ferre: What are your weaknesses? What do you feel is you greatest weakness? Mr. Crouch: I would say the budgeting of time, and trying to get things programmed to get the priorities, and the things initiated that need to be initiated. Dealing with the 'killer time' is most frustrating and I think is my biggest problem. Mayor Ferre: With regards to the consent decree? What in your opinion is the next step in the consent decree and how do you approach the problems of minorities, recognizing that 53% of this community is Spanish speaking and 25% black. Mr. Crouch: The initial problem in the federal consent decree, is one of the legalities in getting them out of the way so that the consent decree can be joined and implemented. I see a rieed for an educational process throughout _ the city administration as to just exactly what is the program, of what needs _ to be done, what are the objectives we are trying to reach and set goals for, the various departments, to make sure that we have complete understanding and things within the organization that would foster the implementation. Mayor FErre: With regards to the budget, what is your approach to the budget and how would you handle it? How much budgetary experience have you personally had. Mr. Crouch: Had very limited budgetary experience.As department director for 5 years I prepared the department budget for the department of public properties, and since I have been in the City Manager's for the past two and a half years, I have been only on a peripheral end of the development of the budget. This is because of the structure, as you probably are aware, Mr. Mayor that we have :. budget office that works directly with the city manager in this preparation and the valuable use of time doesn't permit the time we would like to spend to have others involved in that process. Mayor Ferre: Is that a weakness in your opinion? Mr. Crouch: I certainly feel that is a weakness that I have, because I have not been a budget administrator in the City of Miami or in a municipality, but having carried through in detail the budget process, it could be identified as a weakness. Mayor Ferre: How important is the knowledge in the budgetary process? Mr. Crouch:The things that are achieved in the City of Miami are achieved through the expenditure of funds and the budget, as it is adopted and is proposed to the City Commission, is a very important element of the process we have. Mayor Ferre: Now comes the hard question, which is, if you feel that that is a weakness, and if you feel it is important, then how are you going to overcome that problem. Mr, Crouch: l have the advantage,that other than, someone from internally in the City of Mi.aMi would not have, and that is,l have the working knowledge of the departments, I have the wring knowledge in relationships with the various 12 individuals that ate involved, I believe I can get to the heart of the budgetary pro., cess quicker than someone outside, even with a wider range of experience in budgetary tatters. Mayor Ferre: How strongly do you feel about that answer? Mr. Crouch: Well, I wouldn't be saying it if I didn't believe it. Mayor Ferre: I know you believe it. That is not my question, See, ladies and gentlemen, and this is in the long run, there is nothing like being completely honest. Mr. Crouch is a completely honest man, if I.have ever met one in government. And I want to apologize to you for putting it to you, because I know it really makes it hard for you, and I apologize. I have to ask you the hard question, How do you really feel, and how firm do you feel that answer is? Mr. Crouch: I feel the answer is firm because of Mr. Andrews has offered to the city commission the fact that he has offered to put together the budget for this year, and that if I am the candidate selected, I will participate more strongly and fully in that preparation, and I will have that behind me when the next year comes around and I will be experienced by that one element. Mayor Ferre: With regards to Civil Service andBooz Alien report. What is your opinion of Civil Service as..it exists, what is your opinion of the Booz Allen report and would you be committed to implement it, and if not, how would you change it. How do you stand on that? a Mr. Crouch: As product of the Civil Service System in the City of Miami I am biased, and want to acknowledge that to begin with. I did come up through ranks in the City of Miami, through the civil Service procedures. I think that the Civil Service of theCity of Miami is one of the best that exists, from my reading and my experience. I feel that there is an important place for Civil Service in the future of the City of Miami. I do feel that the recommendations of Booz Alien for the personnel activities to be structured under the City Manager is important for the effectiveness of the future city manager of the City of Miami. I feel basically the recommendations of the Booz Allen report are concepts I would embrace as the City Manager. Mayor Ferre: You would be for the Human Resources Department and the place- ment of staffing responsibility under the administration rather thatn the Civil Service Board. You subscribe to that? Mr. Crouch: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Would you alter the Civil Service system in any other way? Mr. Crouch: No, sir. The alteration of the Civil Service system as I see it, will come about principally due to the consent decree and the affirmative action programs of the City. As far as the process other than the administrative procedures that they now carry out, I have no knowledge of areas where changes are warranted at this time. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in unions for government and the bargaining process as it exists? Mr. Crouch: I certainly do your Honor, and the conflict of collective bargaining and civil service system would probably be a tail -end thing that I would need to put on to the last question in the response I gave you. I believe that with the sophistication of collective bargaining, and the federal and state laws, that this is the future of municipalities, that there is a need to collectively bargain with the employees groups and needs to be addressed over the bargaining table and they can effectively be done that way. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in the right of the city employees to strike? Mr. Crouch ; No, sir, 1 certainly do not? Mayor Ferre Do you believe in compulsory arbitration? Mr. Crouch; No, sir, I don't ascribe to that at this time, 13 Mayor Ferre: Do you don't find any conflict between not giving employees the tight to strike and on the other hand not going to compulsory arbitration. Mr. Crouch: The conflict I see in those two relationships are basically the impact upon the community: I believe the rights of the citizen ate paramount above the rights of the employee, for the delivery of services and the need for effective services to be continued without interruption. Mayor Ferre: Tell us about your view of the pension system and the pending problems that we have in funding and how would you solve it. How would you approach the problem of pensions. Mr. Crouch: I am presently a member, -of the System BoarcW and I speak basically because I am here interviewing today as the perspective candidate for the City Manager position. I believe the present problems that have been brought up regarding the 4 mill levy, the purported misuse and misexpenditure of city funds do not exist. I believe from the information I have, that those are unfortunately the things that have come upon the scene that can be clarified with proper information and I believe that the city pension system is one of the most sound, both the Plan and the System, is one of the most sound systems in the United States. Mayor Ferre: Would you be in favor of altering it in any way? Do you feel that we should continue on an open-end financing, by the city, of it, or should it be modified? Mr. Crouch: I ')elieve the pension system for the city employees has to take its proper place in the funding with the tax dollars that is available to do things. I believe that with the escalating costs that the city is dealing with, the tax mill limit that has been placed on by the state, that there is going to have to be some adjustment if we are going to stay fiscally sound. Mayor Ferre: Then you are saying that there would be some adjustment necessary? Mr. Crouch: I feel that in the immediate future, probably not, but in the longer range that will have to be. _ Mayor Ferre: With regards to growth and planning, do you feel the City of Miami should grow and if so, what kind of growth should it be? Mr. Crouch: I have participated as a representative of the City in some of the planning studies like the rapid transit study that has gone on . I see the future role of the City of Miami to be the heart of this metropolitan area. I :eel there is a need and we have to prepare for the growth and for the delivery of services that would foster that growth. I believe _tic %:i6y of Miami population -wise, if you take that as a factor of growth, probably will not grow tremendouly. Highrise apartments moving to the downtown area, I believe, will not appreciably impact upon our present 350,000 population, but I do believe that economically, and material growth of the city is vital. Mayor Ferre: Do I understand your answer to mean you are not for population growth of the city? Mr. Crouch: No, sir, I didn't mean to say that, if I did. I said I am only forecasting that I believe that the actual population area is pretty well, Mayor Ferre: I am not asking for your forecast. I am asking you for your belief. Do you philosophically believe that the City of Miami should grow population -wise? Mr, Crouch: Yes, I believe that it should, if proper facilities and construction to accommodate that growth can be provided, Mayor Ferre: With regards to social services, do you feel that the City of Miami should have a continuing commitment to social services and if so, to what extent? Where, if any, should we expand social services? Mr, Crouch:This is one I wish you had not mentioned because I feel that that answer lies with the commission rather than with the Manager, Mayor Ferre; I am asking your personal belief and philosophy. Mr. Crouch: I am about to tell you what it is and that is the fact that if the City Commission believe that the delivery of the social services and Welfare programs of Dade County are tot sufficient to take care of the needs of the citizens of the City of Miami, then I believe they should adopt appropriate legislation to get tts into that aspect. The present posture of the City Commission, we are into it under the funding that has been provided through revenue sharing funds and we have kind of backed into it, rather than come into on a planned basis. I believe those police decisions rest with the commission rather that with the Management. Mayor Ferre: With regards to Metropolitan Dade County, and double taxation, and the relationship between us and Metro, can you tell us your opinion. Are you for consolidation of any kind? Do you believe there should be a two-tier form of government and what should the relationship be between the City of Miami and Metro? Mr. Crouch: I ascribe to the two-tier form of government. I believe that the effective delivery of services can best be accommodated on the municipal level, that the activiites of Metro demonstrate the need for creating paper cities in order to deliver such services; I believe the forum of the municipal government should always be available for the citizens to come forward and get their dirty linen washed if necessary and be able to speak for, --or have a proper forum before a legislative body. Your second element in there regarding the double taxation issue, I believe that it has been amply demontrated that the citizens of the city of Miami are on the short end of the stick as far as Metropolitan's delivery, and that I believe the lawsuit that has been initiated is the only way we are going to bring about a reversal of the trend to tax the citizens unfairly for delivery of services in the unincorporated area. Mayor Ferre: Are there any other questions from the Commission? Mr. Plummer: Mr. Crouch, this questions will only be addressed to two of you. You know what the question is? Why didn't you file the first go -round? Mr. Crouch: I felt, as I said earlier, that the City Commission had chosen the right path in selecting a professional recruiting firm to seek out and receive applications of qualified candidates. I felt that I as Asst. City Manager of the City of Miami was well known to the City Commission and the professional solicitation process that a application by me, would be unprofessional, in the fact that I would bring pressures upon the City Commission, that were not proper in the process. that was going on. I felt that Arthur D. Little, with the charge given to them by the City Commission had the responsibility, seek out and to bring before the City Com- mission proper candiates, and I felt that if T one, they would so find me, and I wasn't that hard to find if they wanted to look for me. Mr. Plummer: Were you given an invitation? Mr. Crouch: No, sir. Mr. Plummer: The second question, you talked in parameters, I ask you now, and Mr. Mayor I would like the opportunity to go back and ask Mr..Crumpton, what dd you feel the single most important priority ifyou were to be chosen manager. Mr.'Crouch: The important priority I believe is our crime situation in the city of Miami. Mayor Ferre:What? Mr. Crouch: Crime. W. Plummer: The third question I would like to ask, in known, very well known, declining revenues, what do you feel you could do as Manager so this City would not find itself in a position in cutting back on services? i r. CroucH: You are asking me to give you a statement that l really find quite difficult to give you honest answer to, I feel that as Manager I would be compelled to seek out additional sources of revenue to fund those service delivery systems that we have. What those sources are, if as we have discussed here to this commission chamber, the federal government's revenue sharing wasito be stopped drastically, we would be in a very difficult situation financially and What resources I5 I could assist in, in overcoming that large deficit it our funding ptogtatn, I could not say, but I believe there are yet some untapped areas and I believe the one of double taxation with Metro is the principal area for relief to citizens of the City of Miami. Mayor Ferre: Let me hasten to add quickly before we get an editorial tomorrow that the Asst. Manager admitted that the City of. Miami would be in financial difficulty without federal funding, that that is absolutely the same with Metro Dade County and about every other municiaplity in the United States with the exception of Dallas and Houston. Mr. Plummer: If not more so. Mr. Andrews: I am reluctant to add but on the record also, we have some assets or resources, that the commission as the last resort could get, ----account for and we might not be as bad off as other municipalities are, or as Dade County. Mr. Plummer: I have one final question. And I have to lead up to this. It is a loaded question, but it has to be. Mr. Crouch, you have been with the City how long? Mr. Crouch: Approximately 29 years. Mr. Plummer: You are 49 years of age? Mr. Crouch: Yes. Mr. Plummer: You will eligible in 6 years for retirement? Mr. Crouch: Age 55 is the minimum retirement age, but there is vested rights or retirement through reduced program. It is available to any employee. Mr. Plummer: Barring that, how long wouldylike to serve as City Manager, knowing you have been with the city 29 years. Mr. Crouch: I feel I am sufficiently young, and if I were to go to another job, I would locate somewhere in south Florida. Taould not leave south Florida. Barring any unforseen conditions now, I would continue past age 55 which is the minimum retirement age. Mr. Plummer: What you are saying is, as I understand it, that you would serve in this capacity no less than 6 years. Mr. Crouch: If possible. Mr. Plummer: Okay. Thank you. Mayor Ferre:Any other questions? Thank you very much Mr. Crouch. The next person is Chief Hickman, if someone would advise Chief Hickman. Chief Hickman: starting as a firefighter, was privileged to grow with the City through competitive examinations to the rank of chief fire officer. In February 1964 I was appointed Assistant Chief in charge of fire suppression and presonnel by the then City Manager M.L. Reese. On February 20, 1974 I was appointed director of the department of Fire of the City of Miami by City Manager Paul W. Andrews and now serve on his staff with the police chief and four assistant City Managers. Throughout my career I have served in many areas of the fire department although I have always been interested and concerned in our community. As president of our benevolent association, I work closely with the mentally retarded children and the crippled children society. I served as chairman of the Dade County Firefighters' March for Muscular Distrophy for 3 years, and have continued to actively support this organization. I served as area chairman for the United Good Neighbor campaign, the Miami Heart Association, and as chairman of the Fire Department's United Fund Drive. From 1972 to 1976 I was a member of Planner of Dade County's master plan, and have also participated in the Fire and REscue Plan of Dade County. I have since initiated the preparation of a fire and rescue plan with the assistance of our, planning department. We are presently drafting a fire protection and master Plan specifically for the City of Miami. This plan will serve as a guide for the Miami lA__ ■ Fite Department during the next two years. As you know, factual planning is necessary in Order for us to cope with the diluting econotaic status and the changing social and ethnic makeup of out community. While serving as president of the Miami Firefighters Local 587 in 1954 and 1955 I represented the employees of this organization. In the capacity of Asst. Fire Chief,'however I served Oh manager's side on the table in negotiations in 1973)1974 and 1975. In essence I understand and respect the negotiating process. At a time when the city has lost its chief negotiator, I feel that my understanding of the local employees situation and the employees faith and trust in me, will allow me best to deal with the negotiatings facing our city. I can bring about an agreement with the 5 employee groups which will be in the interest of both'the city and the employees. I have also served as president of the following: Miami Fire Officers Association, Dade County Fire Chiefs Association, Dade County Municipal Employees Association, Miami Firemen's Credit Union. For 14 years I served on the board of directors of the Northeast HOme IMprovement Association and was president from 1971 to 1974. In 1966 president Lyndon Johnson appointed me to the Selective Service Board and I served as board chairman since 1973. In 1974 Gov. Reuben Askeso:appointed me to the Florida State Firefighters Council where I now serve as chairman of this board and of the Florida State Fire College. I am presently serving as chairman of the Mutual Aid Committee in developing and coordinating the county -wide emergency medical transportation during the ambulance strike. I am first vice-president of Florida Fire Chief's Association and serve on several committees of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and southeastern division. In 1975, as a result of this association and working with the Miami Metro News and Convention Bureau, I succeeded in bringing the Metropolitan Fire Chief Conference to Miami. This June the southeastern division of the International Associa- tion of Fire Chiefs will hold their convention in our city at my invitation. For two years I have served as the director of the Miami Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund and presently serve on the General Employees Pension Fund. Always interested in our youth, I served as scout master for several years, and sponsored and coached little league baseball. Early in my career I was employed by Gunn and Gunn Construction Company serving in the capacity of estimator, adjustor, and superintendent of construction and maintenence in large and small buildings.&gaining experience in negotiating contracts with archi- tects and engineers and insurance firms. I mention this because the major part of my life has been taken up with my city, it problems, growth and future. I have been a part of the growth of our city and you might say I have a deep, on-the-job training exposure over the years. In the fire department, due to the nature of our operations, we deal directly with other major city departments in such areas as police operations, building department, planning department, zoning department, and consequently, a fire chief of necessity inherits a considerable amount of knowledge about his community due to there inter -related associations within the administration, which are so diretly related to the public safety and the resulting assessments and taxes which our residents pay. I believe I offer my city something unique as a candidate for city manager. I suggest that those years of experience and the practical day-to-day problems of the city of Miami are extremely valuable and that there will be ,a -continuity of .effective administration without a long gap while someone little or no knowledge of our city receives his on-the-job training.A new city manager will have to get to know each department head, each man of his team before he can function with complete effective- ness. In all modesty, I do know every department head. Not only in the City of Miami, but a vast majority of those in the county government and all our surrounding neighbors. To me this is most important because it relates directly to the communications between you, the elected officials sitting at the policy -making rostrum in this room, and your city manager in carrying out those policies. I am not suggesting that these acquaintances constitute a buddy -system relationship, but mention these administrative relationships only for the purpose of equating many sensitive areas of mutual interest. I offer myself as a candidate because I believe that your manager can be valuable to you if he knows the leaders of all the divergent groups that make up the composite population of our community. We have many challenges facing us in the City of Miami. We have a dedicated team of department heads and employees throughout the city who will continue to give you their best efforts in making us No. 1 in every municipal department. I know I can do the job. I hope you will give me the opportunity. _ Mayor Ferro; Chief, in your present job and if you were to be selected as City Manager, what in your opinion is the area that you would spend the most time with and what area do you think is the most important? Chief Hickman; in my present job? 17. Mayor Fare: Both. In your present job, where have you dedicated the Most tithe In your future job, if you should be appointed City Manager what would you dedicate most of your time to. Specifically, in your opinion, that are the moat important areas? Chief Hickman: In try present job, I have probably denoted most of my time to planning, implettenting programs, motivating'my men to carry these programs out. also applied a lot of time for the rating which came into our city in 1975 which left us with a class 1 fire department and class II city. The future j.ob, I would feel that.I would put most of my time in the human development area, working with people. I am cognizant of city problems, also cognizant of the peculiar interests of the three main groups in our city and all my life as a fireman, I have been reaching out to people to help them. As a fire chief I did this, and if selected as city manager I would apply a lot of effort in this direction. Mayor Ferre: On a more specific basis, we have the previous two candidates today to name the three most important areas besetting the City. You mentioned human development, that is relationships with people. Would you add two others? Chief Hickman: Budgetry, and a close relationship, working with the department heads effectively and efficiently, to carry out the service that the citizens pay for. Mayor Ferro: Okay. What in your present job do you feel is the most frustrating aspect, what is the moat difficult part of:the job and where have you found the most disagreement with your present employer, or boas. Chief Hickman: The only disagreement I have ever had with my present boss was the pay raise when I was appointed, and we have a slight disagreement over air-conditioned cars. That is it. He is an excellent boss to work for. The only frustration I have ever had in my job, is it is a cumbersome organization because it works one day on and two days off. When you build programs and educate, motivate and try to implement thee, the end result seems to take a long time. Mayor Ferret What in your opinion would you bring to the job. What would be your greatest strength as City Manager? Chief Hickman: I think I know the priorities of what our community needs. I have worked in organizations all my life and know how to organizes and I know how to get an end result. I know how to work with people. Mayor Ferro: What would you say are your weaknesses? What is your greatest weakness? Chief Hickman: I get impatient sometimes if end -results are not forthcoming. Mayor Ferro: With regards to the whole area of affirmative action, the two consent decrees, the areas of minorities, seeing the city of Miami has 53% Spanish speaking, 252 black, haw would you approach all of those problems. YOu have had a department responsibility. Perhaps you can tall us how you have approached it:iand how would you approach it as city manager? Chief Hickman: I believe when I took over as chief in 1974, I had.26 uniform and non -uniform minorities in our fire department. At the present time there is 86. I was first to initiate an affirmative action program. This brought us 114 results out of a recruitment program that cost the city no money at all, in cooperation with the International Association of Firefighters. The only money it cost the city was Lt. Jordan, firefighter, Willis Waters and Omar Molina working in recruiting and tutoring the minorities. Out of the 21 were hired, about 30% off the first list. And that was a very short list. T had a lust, when 1 took over that ran until about November of that year. Last year I asked and received through my budget for $7500. to carry out another affirmative action program. Of this 308 minorities took the exam and 288 passed, representing about 652.If they are first-class, if I cannot have a ,disagreement with Mr_. Andrews on a first class in June, half of those being considered will be minorities. Let me point out to you that we only spent $4.600.00 on this recruitment program . So this is the way money should be managed. High reeulta. Mayor Terre; Versus, what you are Baying that 1 $uese the implication ie, that in the police +iron we spout close to one-half million dollars between the testing en4 the tri-cultura1 program. • Mayor Ferre: You spent how much? Chief Hickman: I spent $4,674.00, of the two. t received a $10,000, aid'.in= grant from the labor department for the first one, but it did not cost the city anything. Mayor Ferre: How many employees does the fire department have at the present time? Chief Hickman: 752 including C.E.T.A. and manpower. Mayor Ferree You have 60 that are minorities. That would not include women? Chief Hickman: 86 are minorities, including women. Mayor Ferre: As I understand it, of the 86, that does include women, and blacks and Latins. How many blacks are presently in the fire department? Chief Hickman: Are you talking about the uniform? Mayor Ferre: Yes, the uniform and then everybody. Chief Hickman: There are probably 27. Mayor Ferre: And uniformed? Chief Hickman: You said uniform and everybody. I have 10 uniformed black firefighters and officers, but let me point this out to you sir. It is like inheriting the Avondale fire. I came on, there was three blacks, when I became Chief. Mayor Ferre: Now tell us about your approach to the consent decrees, both of them and minority hiring as fax as the City of Miami is concerned in total. Chief Hickman: I have an affirmative action program, a committee which consists of two blacks and two Latins. Mayor Ferre: I am talking about as City Manager. Chief Hickman: As City Manager? I would have to study it and work with the attorney on that, sir. And study each department as the consent decree speaks to As far as the fire department is concerned, I think we are following the consent decree right now. Mayor Ferre: I think the thrust of the question is, are you specifically committed to affirmative action so that over a short period of time, the employee ranks of the city would represent the make-up of this community? Chief Hickman: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: With regards to the budget, I notice that you mention in the three important things the budget? How you handle the budget, and how would you approach that problem? Chief Hickman; I think the City Manager is entirely responsible for the budget of the city of Miami. He goes through a procedure through his budget department after they have estimated for him the expense that shall occur, estimated expense, and the total revenue coming in. I would probably use the budget department as my right arm to recommend to me the monies we have so we could balance the budget as we have been working out this year's. By the way, I have cut my budget twice this year, and I am up defending giving away people. I feel I would utilize the department heads and the budget department to work the budget. Mayor Ferre; Do you feel qualified to handle the City of Miami's budget and understand it and lead the city in that process? Chief Hickman; Yes, I do, Mayor Ferre; Po you feel that the job you have had up till now has qualified for the preparation of the budget? l9 Chief Hickman: Yes, sir, Mayor Ferret You don't feel that there are any special needs that the job would require of you that you presently do not have. Chief Hickman: Mr. Mayor I attended a 3 month school under now County Manager Ray Goode in PPBS, budgeting, several years ago. Many years ago I attended 'a 3 month school also under now City Manager Paul W. Andrews on ICMA budgeting. I don't think anyone ever knows enough about the budget, sir, but I certainly know where to go and who is the specialist in our area. Mayor Ferre: With regards to civil service. Do you agree with the system as it exists. If not, would you change it in any way? Chief Hickman: I am a product of this system sir. I have worked with it many years, seen many changes. I think there possibly will be many more changes as the times dictate. I feel that the human resource, affirmative action, working with the civil service and with guidance of the city commissioners, there will be changes. But I think it can be worked together. Mayor Ferre: Specifically in the Booz Allen report, with regards to the human resources department and the changes they recommend, that it be put under the Manager, the staff servicing. Do you believe in that? Chief Hickman: I believe in some parts of the Booz Allen report. I believe it is an excellent report. I do not at this time say I would go for that. Mayor Ferre: Specifically, the question of creating a Human Resources Department, with a head, a personnel department, a creating of staff? Chief Hickman: Yes, I buy that, but I thought you meant abolishing civil service. Mayor Ferre: No, I don't mean abolish civil service. The Booz Allen report does not recommend the abolishment of civil service. They recommend putting the whole staffing procedure under the Manager rather than under civil service. Civil Service would no longer have a staff. It would just be a Board. Chief Hickman: I would have to evaluate that. At this time I would not, no. Mayor Ferre: With regards to the pension system. Would you change the pension system in anyway? Chief Hickman: I see a few changes in the pension system, but as it stands I think it is a very sound system. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in the open-end funding of the pension system? As it presently exists? Chief Hickman:Yes, I do. Mayor Ferre: You would not change that? Chief Hickman: No. Mayor Fevre: You do not feel that the pension system, if it becomes an over -burden on the citizens -taxpayers, the budget, you still would not change that? Chief Hickman: Yes, I would change it if it became an over -burden. There are many recommendations, if you had to, if you have an over -burden of the taxpayers, or if we don't have the money to fund it. Mayor Ferre: Then you are open on that? Chief Hickman: Yes. Mayor Fevre: Do you believe in unions for city governments? Do you believe in collective bargainings process? Chief Hickman: Absolutely. 20 Mayor Ferret Do you believe in strikes by City employees? Chief Hickman: No,sir. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in compulsory arbitration? Chief Hickman: Yes, I believe in compulsory, arbitration, but in binding arbitration, just as we have it now. Mayor Ferre: As advisory but not on a binding basis. Chief Hickman: Not on a binding basis. Mayor Ferre: With regards to social services, what is your opinion and what type of commitment would you have to the social services program that the City of Miami presently has. How would you expand it in any way? Chief Hickman: I think the City of Miami has a good social service program. I feel it should be evaluated and see if we could proceed in a more orderly direction and have better control over them. Yes I would consider expanding them. Mayor Ferre: In what areas? Chief Hickman: I think in the areas of children, the aged, senior citizens particularly. Mayor Ferre: What percentage of the budget.. Do you know how much we presently spend in social services? Chief Hickman: I think over a million. Mayor Ferre: It is over two and one-half million,----2.8 million dollars. Chief Hickman: That is community development completely. Mayor Ferre: That includes everything. We are responsible for the whole thing. The question to you is, how much would you expand that. Chief Hickman: Mr. Mayor until I sit down and evaluate the budget, and went through it with the staff of the City Manager, I could not tell you that sir. It is according to how much money and how much revenue we have coming in. Mayor Ferre: In relation to that, comes a question that Mr. Plummer asks and I will beat him to it and as the question. With regards to the relationship between taxes and services, how would you decrease taxes and increase services. How would approach that._ The. relationship between those. L Mr. Plummer: That wasn't my question. Chief Hickman: At the present time I am not sure we can decrease taxes. The key to that would be in greater productivity from your department heads and I am not sure we are going to be able to decrease taxes. Mayor Ferre; Do you feel the City of Miami should grow? Chief Hickman: Yes, sir I do. I think it should particularly grow downtown.l'm not Burl rapid transit is any nearer to us than it was 10 years ago. I feel people must be moved closer to their jobs so we don't have to face both problems. I feel the downtown area is dynamic place that we should work towards, even moving our city hall, And I think we should take that step, to Hagler Street. Mayor Ferre; With regards to growth, would you include population growth? Chief Hickman:Yes. I don't think anyone can plan the City of Miamitand say that only so many people will come is here. The. weather is too beautiful, Mayor Ferre; With regard to the relationship with Metropolitan Dade County, Are you for the existing city. Would you be in favor of consolidation of any of the 21 departments or services we render, do you believe in the two.tier forth of govetnteitt? Chief Hickman: I believe sincerely in the two-tier form of government. I always want the City of Miami to be here. Mayor Ferre: Would you consolidate any of the services we presently have? Chief Hickman: Not at the present time, without study. Mayor Ferre: But you would be open for the discussion of the turning over of services to Metropolitan Dade County? Chief Hickman: If it was better for the area -wide citizens at large, I possibly would consider it, but at the present time I can think of none. Mayor Ferre: With regards to Metro, what is your opinion of double taxation suit we presently have and how do you regard that? Chief Hickman: I would like to advise you Chief is sitting in the audience. It is a very unfair question. I think we are going to win. Mayor Ferre: You feel personally committed there is double taxation and that it is unfair. Chief Hickman: I certainly do. It would be nice for the taxpayers to receive two mills sir. We may then at that time raise the taxes. It might be very palatable then, after we win. Mayor FErre: Any other questions of the Chief? Mr. Plummer: Chief, I will ask of you, it only applies to you and Mr. Crouch, why you didn't file the first go -round? Chief Hickman: I am astute enough to realize that I have been washed out. Mr. Plummer:In your estimation, what is the single most important thing you will do as manager. What will you address? Chief Hickman: The single most important thing any City Manager has to do ------- Mr. Plummer: What do you think are our biggest problems? Chief Hickman: Balancing the budget, developing human relation -social services, ----- Mayor Ferre: He said one. The single most important thing. Chief Hickman: The City has quite a few problems. I would say the largest city problem we have, is that we have 3 main communities in this city and I think we are going to have to learn to live together equally in order to improve our city. Mr. Plummer: Chief, you have been with the City 29 years. You were eligible for retirement 5 years ago? If you were to become city manager how long would you want your tenure to be? God willing, no unforseen thing happening? Chief Hickman: I have at least 5 years before my pension says it is mandatory retirement. I am not sure that would apply if I was city manager. Nr, Plummer: It would not. Chief Hickman: Good, I may go to 70 then. Mr. Plummer: You are a brave man or a masochist. I don't know which. Mayor Ferre: I sorry I missed that. M, Plummer: He answer Mr. Mayor that his present option with the pension it is mandatory he retire at age 60. The Mananager and I both agree that if he were to be manager, that would not apply to him. He said he would go for 5 years and possibly Longer. Mayor Ferre; What is the single most important thing affecting us, Chief, Z2 Chief Hickman: Mr. Mayor, I think our community is divided into three main areas - the Latin, the Black and the Anglo-Saxon and I think I would have to develop utili- zing the news media, community relations of learning us all to live together; that is the only way we're ever going to have a successful City here. Mayor Ferre: That is the single and most important thing? Chief Hickman: Yes. Mayor Ferre: You know, when we asked you that before, you mentioned human develop- ment within the system of people, employees and so on, the budgetary, the budget and department heads in the services rendered but you didn't cover that particular point. Chief Hickman: Well I wasn't pinned down to the single one, sir. Mayor Ferre: Yes but you didn't mention it in any of the three. Chief Hickman: I'm an operational man. Mayor Ferre: But you feel that the single most important thing is the relationship between the different communities and getting everybody working together. Chief Hickman: Absolutely. Mayor Ferre: Any other questions? Mr. Plummer: You've covered the rest of them. Let me just ask the other question so I will be fair, Don. The question is, in a known declining revenue, we know it, Mr. Andrews has reiterated it, what would you do or what would you propose so that we don't have to cut services? Chief Hickman: You have to motivate you Department Head to increase your producti- vity. You also have to set the tone of the budget in which you live and that may mean taking out some of the soft stuff that we possibly might have but I would work the budget very frutal before I would cut the City employee off because service is the name of the game in a City. Mayor Ferre; Are there any further questions of the Chief? If not, thank you very much, Chief Hickman. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I just want other members of the Commission to maybe con- sider this. Out of fairness, Mr. Mayor, there was, and I'm only asking for con- sideration, I'm not even going to put it to a vote, there was an article which appeared on the front headlines of today's paper and I think that maybe this Commission, it relates to Mr. Crouch and I feel that maybe this Commission might want to give Mr. Crouch the opportunity to state his position in relation to that article out of fairness,.. Mayor Ferre; I will take that into consideration after we've finished the process of interviewing, as we have with the last three, the Last candidate and then we will entertain that at that time. Mr. Plummer: Fine, I merely bring that up for the interest of fairness. Mayor Ferree r would be grateful if you would extend the same courtesies to Mr, Parades that have been extended to the other three individuals that have talked up until now. Mr. Parades, you will have half an hour, if you go over that titre and it's a reasonable amount of time, that would be acceptable, If you would please make about a 10 minute general presentation about yourself, you could say anything you want, maybe you don't want to take the full 10 minutes, that's alright too, you suit yourself. I'd like to ask for the members of the audience, especially the people in the back of the room, Mr. Andrews, if you would have somebody survey that area and ask that... Would the police aides ask, would you ask that there be some order in the back of the room. Thank you. Before we listen to Mr. Parades, I'm very happy to inform the Commission and the public that as of just a little while ago, the City of Miami is the proud owner of the frontage of the FEC property along Biscayne Boulevard. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: The money has been deposited, the court has turned the property over to us, the bulldozers are on their way over to the property. Alright, Mr. Parades. Mr. Joseph Parades: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, I feel that I will start with general background on my educational experience and work. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Florida, I attended the Graduate School of Business Administration at New York University and I obtained a Master's Degree in Public Administration from F. I. U.. Since joining the City of Miami in 1972, I have held different administrative positions within the Office of the City Manager and am currently serving as Assistant City Manager for Administra- tive Services. This position provides me with direct management responsibilities for the departments of Finance, Management Services, Public Properties, Communica- tions and the newly established Department of Human Resources. Also, I have had responsibility in the City's organizational improvement program in which the full range of management responsibilities including the formulation and evaluation of policies, program budget activities and the management of large, multi -disciplinary projects have been undertaken. Since the appointment to Assistant City Manager, I have been working with the Departments of Finance and Management Services. In the implementation of a financial management information system and an integrated City- wide resource management system. Also, we're beginning the development of admini- strative policies and procedures of the new Department of Human Resources. Prior to becoming an Assistant City Manager, I worked as the Director of the Office of Community Affairs. In this area, it included the administration of the divisions of inter -governmental affairs, Manpower Administration, Community Analysis and Community Services. Also, I directed the tasks of the community needs assessment, a three year planning plan and the administrative requirements needed to complete the first year community development program. Prior to joining the City of Miami, I was Budget Administrator in the City of Hollywood, Florida where I was responsi- ble for budget planning and analysis, personnel studies, program analysis and evaluation. These assignments encompasse of management systems of your organization and I have also been involved in operational audits, administrative directives and procedure writing. Prior to joining the City of Hollywood, I was an operations analyst with the International Division of Allied Chemical Corporation in New York City. I worked in the areas of planning and divisional forecasting . for the Latin American operations of the corporation. This work included preparing reports on departamental operations and performance evaluation against the profit plan. Prior to joining the INternational Division, I worked as a staff analyst with the Process Plants Constructional Division of Allied Chemical Corporation in Morristown, New Jersey where I participated in preparing capital budgets, construction programs and the investment programs of the division. After graduating from college, I joined the General Motors Corporation in their automobile after market division. In this area, I worked in the area of merchandising and marketing and I was involved in assignments including marketing strategies, distribution to General Motor dealers, warehouses, oil companies and oil company marketing representatives. I'm presently a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the American Economic Association, the American Management Association and a Board member of the South Florida Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and I am also a member of the International City Managers Association. I am married for 9 years and I have three daughters. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER; How old are you? 30? Mr, Parades; Yes, sir, UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER; How long have you lived in this City? Mr, Parades: Since 1912, Mayor 'ette: 'in sorry, I didn't hear the question, Mr. Parades: I'm 30 years old and I've been with the City since 1972, Mayor Ferre: Alright, he's 30 years old and he's been With the City since You have been with the City for four years now, Mr, Parades: Mayor Ferree most time to? cate the most Yes sir, I have, 1972, In your preseht job, what is the area that you have dedicated the If you were to be selected City Manager, what area would you dedi- time to? Mr, Parades: In my present job it has really been a transitional job. Prior to assuming the responsibilities of Assistant City Manager, I also had the responsi- bilities of directing the Miami Management Improvement Program. As you recall, this is a program that the City embarked upon about three years ago with funds from HUT 701 programs to improve the productivity and the efficiency of our munici- pal delivery system. These are some of the reports that have been produced by the firm of Booze -Allen and really the incorporation of some of those recommendations into reorganizing City Government. Also, working with the Department of Management Services and also with the Department of Finance, we hopefully will have a financial information system for the next budget year where we will be able to have a more sophisticated financial information system to help the departments and to have a financial system that would be service -oriented to the operational departments. Mayor Ferre: As City Manager, what are the areas that you would dedicate most of your time to? Mr. Parades: I think it would be right now to obtain a balanced budget and give the City Commission some valid alternatives to project a balanced growth within City Governments. I think that we're a mature organization now. What I mean by mature is in the number of employees and the mix of services that we currently provide, we're going to have to define very explicitly and this is a task that the City Commission will have to get involved in and of course the Manager then would would be the primary area, have to implement this but in the redifinition of the objectives of this organiza- tion, I don't think that we will be able to afford great increases either in personnel or in tremendous additional amount of resources so I think that the first thing would be to provide a balanced budget, number two, to provide you with alternatives so we can produce a system of growth that we could balance our resources with the delivery of services. Mayor Ferre: Would you tell us specifically what are the three most important areas that you feel the City of Miami, that you, as Manager, would have to address your- self to. Mr. Parades: Budgetary process, growth of the City in terms of providing the structure and the economic base for orderly growth and establishing the City as a point of credibility so we, in ourselves, become a very dynamic center within South Florida and that we begin to define even a much more positive identity than we have had so far. No questions about the future of the City of Miami. Mayor Ferre: And the third? You mentioned two -- budget and the growth of the City, that's all. What would be the third area? Mr. Parades: The third would be in the area of personnel. I think that we have to look into the whole area of our personnel system not only in-house but how it re- lates to the community. Mayor Ferre: Alright, in your present job, what do you feel is the most frustra- ting aspect of your job? What do you have the most difficulty with and where have you and your present employer, which would be the City Manager, disagreed? Mr. Parades: I think it has been, perhaps, in my eagerness for action and the limitations both institutional and organizational limitations imposed within the Organization, Perhaps I would like to go faster in some areas than management feels would be adequate and in $ome areas I feel that we should go slower so it would really be a question of the judgement on what dynamic rate of we should be getting into, l think we all have pretty much concern, our concerns and our objectives are pretty well defined, I think it's how we get there and how ccka.y 2i Mayor Ferre: What areas of disagreement have you had with your present employet? Mr. Parades: Hasioally, it would have to be in the area of what t would say managefent style, not in philosophical points of view but primarily on the style that one would have versus the other one. I don't know if 1 should elabor" ate into spedifids. Mayor Ferre: tell, f think so because obviously that becomes very important. You're not saying that you disagree with any of the philosophy of what has been implemented or done bait you're saying in style. So you are obviously going to have to elaborate. Mr. Parades: Yes. What I feel is that perhaps the alternatives, or I should say• the priorities that I view right now as mentioned previously from my point of view would have a greater degree of attention and time than perhaps it's being devoted. Of course, i come from a perhaps different perspective that I have to worry now on some areas that are shared in other areas.by other Assistant Managers. Mayor Ferre: Now you first talked about style now you're talking about substance and philosophy. You said that the three most important things were budget, the growth of the city and personnel systems. Mr. Parades: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: It seems to me, and I put this in the form of a question that that really has also been a very major consideration of the present administration. So again then your distinction would be in style. How would you differ then in style? Mr. Parades: It would be perhaps the difference in the personal attention given to each specific way perhaps in additional utilization of resources within the organiz- ation and without the organization perhaps some of the models for citizen participat- ion they have been used. And also, I'm a strong believer in management by objectives and defining objectives very readily at the beginning of any given problem. I don't think that the administration, any administration should administer just for the sake of administering any given process. I think that we have to get a consensus. I think after you establish that policy we have to define that policy in terms of the object- ives of city governments and then put those resources to work. Mayor Ferre: The establishment of consensus and, therefore, the establishment of policy is under the Charter the purview of the City Commission. Mr. Parades: Yes, sir, it is. Mayor Ferre: So, aren't you contradicting by the statement you just made, the Charter of the City of Miami? Mr. Parades: No, sir. I feel that way. I feel that the Manager and staff are your professional people and I think that whatever policy decisions you make should be based on the best available information at that given time. I don't think that you would make policy in a vacuum the same :.t:n'you would not make policy with the best information at any given time... Mayor Ferre: Well, would you be trying to direct the direction of the consensus? You're establishing it... Mr. Parades: No. What you would be doing is after that policy is established, established by the commission, there has to be an implementation process. I think we have to have an objective to manage that process. Mayor Ferre: How can you establish policy if you don't have consensus? You wouldn't establish consensus after the policy is established. Mr. Parades: No, that would be a process in itself in which the commission dialogue, workshops and a growth process between, and I think perhaps tha there should be a personal growth process between the commission as a body and the manager in the administration. Mayor Ferre: No, but I'm getting to the question of the establishment of consensus. You seem to indicate that the manager in style should be more involved in the estab- lishment of consensus and I ask you again whether or not that conflicts with the Charter. Isn't that the job of the commission in establishing consensus. Mr. Parades; I definitely agree yes. It is the job of the commission and I think that a Manager should, of course, not only follow the Charter itself but I think it goes beyond that. I think it's given you collectively the tools that you need to reach that consensus. 2b Mayor Ferret So I misunderstood, What you were then saying is that you would assist the coaniesion in establishing consensus of the coflfi pity but not trey to guide it or give it c1ireotion yourself, Mr, Parades: EXaotiy. Mayor ?erre: Alright. what do you personalty believe are your strengths that you would bring to this job/ Mr. Parades: Well, I have a personal commitment to this job, I think that I have demonstrated that at different times and I also have a great deal of faith in the city, I have faith in the employees, I have faith in the administration and I have faith in you in terms as the policy making body. And I think that this ' perhaps commttnent and this faith and also the fact that I strongly believe in staff develop- ment would gel a comprehensive program to really carry the city ahead, Mayor Ferre: So your greatest strength then is the faith that you have in the city. Mr. Parades: This city, the personal commitments... Mayor Ferre: Your personal commitment. Mr. Parades: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: what do you believe are your weaknesses or your single largest weakness? Mr. Parades: I think perhaps impatience; impatience in trying to get something done and then perhaps somewhat ambivalent. Sometimes I feel that I tend to be over aca- demic in my approach to solving a problem and at the same time sometimes I feel that I over simplify problems so that I can get at a ready solution. So in that sense I feel some deal of ambivalence. (1) I want to follow a well defined process, perhaps being somewhat academic. By the same token there are some problems that I feel I react to by being over simplistic because I want a quick action in that specific area. Mayor Ferre: Which side wins? Mr. Parades: I think the second one does. Mayor Ferre: The over simplifying of a problem. Mr. Parades: Perhaps yes. I don't want to leave you with the impression that over simplification would be simply a mental process where you would not go through some rational process. I simply mean that I would try to make that an expedient process to get at the root of the matter rather quickly, analyze it and do something about it. Mayor Ferre: I have to ask you, and I hope you'll forgive me because it is somewhat of an unfair question but it really has to be asked. You don't think that that's all a process of being 30 years old? Mr. Parades: It could very well be. Mayor Ferre: Well, I must say just as a comment on the record that we certainly have had honest answers from all of these four potential management candidates and I really want to commend you and all of them for being as honest as you have been. I feel very proud, I really do feel very proud of Chief Hickman and Andy Crouch and Charlie Crumpton and you, Joe. I think it really is commendable that you have answered some- thing like this when you could have evaded the question and you answered it honestly and I commend you for that. With regards to the Consent Decree, minorities, Affirm- ative Action, the area where we obviously are deeply involved in the city - 53% Latin population and 25% black, what are your feelings about it and how would you go about the implemention in this very difficult area between all these departments and people and the Justice Department, the lawyers and various groups, etc.? How would you go about this? Mx. Parades: I think that before you go into the actual administrative processes of managing a Consent Decree you have to have a feeling; (1) Where does the commis- sion stand? (2) Where does the administration stand? (3) What sort of supports you can get within city government itself. The reasons for doing this would be that you would have to be aware of the resources that you would have available, I would try to, well first of all I think I have both a personal and a philosophical commitment to equal employment and Affirmative Action, By the same token I also have a deep convincement in the merit system. I think that the City of Miami in a sense has skirted the issue by talking about decrees, by talking about specific numerical goals, t,- t think what we should be taking about would be ah analysis of the organization both structurally and institutionally. I don't if future questions will ask about the position of visas,,vi- Civil Service, I Would state again that I believe in the merit system but I'think that if the Manager, any manager here in the city, the county or private enterprise is going to be accountable the level of accountability is going to be there you have to give hit the resources. What I mean by that is I belieVe in a merit system. I believe in a Civil Service SysteM but I belieVe that a professional department - Human Resources, personnel, Whatever you want to call it - should be categorically under the City Manager. Mayor Ferre: Well, that leads me to the next question, Are you saying then that you feel that all of the Civil Service System should be under the City Manager? Mr. Parades: No, I did not, Civil Service as a system is a body of laws I believe embodied in the Charter and changed through a process by ordinance. I feel that the body of law and the process of having sort of an appellate body where the employees can have a system to address their problems should be separate from the administrative process. However, the professional administrative processes of personnel should be under the Manager. Mayor Ferre: In other words you agree with a full implementation of the Booz-Allen Report in Human Resources. Mr. parades: I do. Mayor Ferre: Without any qualifications or changes? Mr. Parades: There would be some qualifications in the second report entitled "Developing of a Human Resources Department" where I think some of the functions that they mention would not be followed specifically. But in general in terns of a philo- sophical point of view, in terms of the managerial point of view yes. Mayor Ferre: Specifically, you would implement the Human Resources Department? Mr. Parades: Yes, I would. Mayor Ferre: And Civil Service would not have any staff of its own? Mr. Parades: Well, Civil Service Would have the staff necessary to become a board that would deal with... Mayor Ferre: Who would the staff report to? Mr. Parades: An Executive Secretary of the Board. Mayor Ferre: So you would then have a Civil Service staff under the secretary and also a... Mr. Parades: It would have to be a combina';_:•• resources, some people from one department flowing into another one. Mayor Ferre: I see. Well, that is not what Booz-Allen recommends. Mr. Parades: Yes, it is. Mayor Ferre: Alright. With regards to the budget process, how would you approach the budget process and how qualified do you feel you are in following the budget process? Mr. Parades: I think the primary effort in the budget process is that if we look at our General Fund today and we look at the limitations imposed by the 10 mill cap, if we look at the limitations imposed by the trend of future economic growth in this area we find that we're really not going to identify too many new readily accessible funding sources. I think that what we have to do, we have to measure the effective- ness of our current delivery. I think we have to be more cost -effectiveness -conscious and that we have to begin to, as I mentioned before, I feel that we are a mature organization. What I mean by that is that I don't see us growing tremendously in terms of employees and perhaps not even'in terms of programs. But those that we have should probably be the best ones that we can give the residents of the area, Mayor Ferre; Do you feel qualified to guide the city through a budgetary process? Mr, Parades: Yes, X do. 1 Mayor Ferre: Do you feel that your experience is sufficient? Mr, Parades: Yea, I do, Mayor ere With regards tb pensions, do you agree with the existing Pension System that exists in the City of Miami.? Mr, Parades: I'm really not that familiar at the level of specificity that I think that perhaps you're looking for an answer. I have a general feeling of what the pension is going through, Y think that the primary emphasis that I would put is "Can we afford it?" and "What can we do to afford it?". I think it is a commitment that we have to the employees that we can provide a good Pension System and at the same time we have to be financially stable so we can provide that. Mayor Ferret Do you believe in the open end commitment of the City of Miami to the pension? Mr. Parades: No, I do not. Mayor Ferre: You feel that there might be a limitation? Mr. Parades: Yes, sir, because by the mere fact, when I say open end, the mere fact that we have a 10 mill cap, I'm not believing that the legislature will leave that for you wherein the sense impose that for you. It could conceivably if you extend that logically go over 10 mills which you cannot do now. So by definition you can- not say that you are. Mayor Ferre: Have you had any personal experience in establishing budgets? Mr. Parades: Yes, sir, I have. Mayor Ferre: Have you in the City of Miami? Mr. Parades: No, sir, two years ago I worked in the budget process of the City of Miami. I did not work as the principle individual with the responsibility of putting the budget together. Prior to coming to the City of u iami, yes, sir, I put two bud- gets together for the City of Hollywood. Mayor Ferre: Were you directly involved? Mr. Parades: Yes, sir, I was. Mayor Ferre: To the City Manager? Mr. Parades: Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: With regards to the unions, do you believe in the collective bargaining system in the City of Miami? Mr. Parades: I certainly do. Yes, sir. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe in the right for employees to strike? Mr. Parades: Not within the public sector. I believe that there are many other avenues available right now to public employees that the need to strike, really I think it would be a sad comment both in labor and management. I don't take the attitude that it's them and us. I think that one of the things that perhaps should be done in labor management relations is that we're all together to provide a basic service and working within one organization. Mayor Ferre: Would you believe in compulsory arbitration, binding compulsory arbit- ration? Mr. Parades: Yes, I do. Mayor Ferre: You believe in binding compulsory arbitration? Mr. Parades: Well, I believe in compulsory, not binding because the problem with a binding arbitration at the public sector... Mayor Ferre: Yes or no? Do you ,'... Mr. Parades; No, X do not believe in binding arbitration. Mayor Ferre; Now expand. 29 et, Mt, Parades: Ok. Binding could put a constraint oil you as elected officials and ifdividtia1s administering the city that would not be equitable to the public that you represent of for the oeople that we work for, I thihk that arbitration should be advisory and t thihk we have enough techanismis Within the current that problems atd eonflicte can be resolved, Mayor Perret Do you believe in the browth of the City of Miami? Mr, parades: 1 certainly do. Mayor Ferret Population -wise? Mr. Parades: Well, in terms of population, I don't have, for instance specific fig- tires as to What it would cost for additional...the relationship of additional people to the relationship of services. I think that perhaps some of the new types of build- ing going up in terms of condominiums determines that the level of services provided per individual in those units are not as high as it is on a horizontal base. Yes, I would be very much in favor of it. And secondly, also I think that we have to look at downtown Miami(or I shouldn't perhaps call it downtown) the central core of Miami as really the heart of a very dynamic area which is South Florida. I do believe in that. Mayor Ferre: With regards to Social Services, you know the City of Miami is in Soc- ial Service Programs. What is your personal belief of these programs? Do you think it is the right approach for the city, how deeply should we be committed to it? Should they be expanded and if so, where? Mr. Parades: The minute that you say expand Social Services what in my mind comes, it would be a competition of resources. I think that that is a decision that perhaps as the Manager I or whomever is Manager should not make. I think that all you should request of that Manager is alternatives - if we spend this for Social Services we can not spend this for somebody else. Mayor Ferre: I understand that. I'm asking you for your personal viewpoint and your commitment. Mr. Parades: Ok. I think that the expectations of residents of Miami right now are that although we might not be able to provide a full comprehensive range of Social Services there are some Social Services that we have to provide. I strongly believe that for local government to be an effective type of government there are some minor things that although in terms of total budget they're not great increments. You have to provide a feeling of, I shouldn't say a feeling, but to provide a nearness to the people that you're serving. Perhaps some social programs in terms of what you're buying in terms of that delivery of services is not all that great but in terms of the involvement of that community with your government and with some other units of services then I would answer yes, limited. Mayor Ferre: Do you feel that Social Services should be expanded? Mr. Parades: Not at the expense of perhaps providing those basic services that we have to provide. What I'm saying by that is I don't think that we should provide a way out for other agencies that have the Charter responsibility of providing those services. I think those services should be supplemental to those residents of Miami that need those services but in no way should they supplant services that should be provided by other levels of government. Mayor Ferre: With regards to the relationships with other governmental units, how would you approach the relationship with Metro? Do you feel that the City of Miami should turn over any more services or departments to Metro? And if not, how would you approach the relationship? Mr. Parades: The first answer would be no, no further departments. And (2) I think we have to deal with them on an equal basis. I think that in the areas that we have dealt with them on a professional equitable base we have been very fortunate. As an example, Community Development naturally expending some funds from the Community Development Funds within the City of Miami because we have worked with them in a well thought out process of equal partners. The same thing within the area of Man- power in which the City of Miami is a voting member of the Manpower Planning Council. Many of the things that we have worked with Metro we are equal to them, Mayor Ferre; iiow would you establish this equity and this equality? Mr, Parades; Well, in the programs that 1 have talked about before really there hasn't been a change to express a feeling of being equitable vis= -vis what we feel are our needs. Those have been given to us by the federal government, Mayor Ferre: Well, how would you go about it then as Manager? Mr. parades: Well, I think that the whole area that we're pursuing now is this area of double taxatioh, hot to mdke a value judgement either way the way that whol process will go because t doll t feel qualified, I'm not an attorney to go into that, put from both personal and a professional poir1t of View in the other side I feel sort of, I shouldn't say proud but I feel rewarded that about 3 years ago under the direction of the Mana er I started the initial analysis of the services that were provided by Mett Vis'.a.vis the moseys that we paid into their General Fund. That, of course, was prior to passing the state law in which now there is no way that Metro or in unincorporated areas can tax a municipality to provide municipal services. Mayor Ferre: Are you then saying that you believe in the taxing district? Mr. Parades: I do. Mayor Ferre: Do you believe, from what you know of it, that our double taxation suit is proper? Mr. Parades: I do. Mayor Ferre: And you would be committed to pursuing that. Mr. Parades: I think that perhaps... My statement to that was that I sort of felt in a sense proud but 3 years ago the Manager requested that I start that analysis prior to, of course, the changing of the law which we were taking a different approach. Mayor Ferre: Well, that's why I want to get it on the record. That you are, should you be successful. Mr. Parades: Yes, sir, I am. Mayor Ferre: With regards to increased taxes and increase services or decrease services, would you elaborate on the relationship and do you feel that as Manager you could decrease taxes and increase services? Mr. Parades: Any Manager that can answer you off -hand like that yes, either grab him because he knows something that we all don't or he'll be somewhat cautious. I don't think that I could answer that honestly. I think that it is a balance that we have to deal with. Are you willing to pay for additional services. That's the question I think I would like to answer. Then it would depend on what you feel the residents of Miami want. Mayor Ferre: Alright. Are there further questions of Mr. Parades? Mr. Plummer: Try to work through this, now. What do you feel, Joe, is the single most important issue that would face you as the Manager, the single most, not the three or five, the one priority problem area? Mr. Parades: To provide an atmosphere that the city can continue to provide the best services available. Mayor Ferre: Why don't you elaborate on that because I didn't understand. What is an atmosphere? Mr. Parades: An atmosphere is a milieu. It is a state of mind perhaps that to me has a great deal of value not only in terms of the technical know-how of producing a balanced budget but perhaps having a great deal of assurances that you know that the people representing you and the people working for you really have a great deal of personal involvement and investment in this city. Mayor Ferre; Mr. Parades, if you don't make it as City Manager I would say that some day you could be a great social scientist and a philosopher. That was worthy of any social philosopher that I've read in a long time. What other questions are there? Mr. Plummer; Well, at 30 years of age I don't know that this really applies. Mr. Parades, to be fair with you as the others, how long would you anticipate to keep this job? Mr. Parades; As long as the City Commission felt that I was doing an adequate job. Mayor Ferre; Do you have any more bright questions like that, Mr. Plummer? Mr. Plummer; l just wanted to be fair across the board. The other things, Mr. Mayor, he has covered in his presentation and you have covered in the questioning. so l will rest at this point. 31 Mayor Ferret Are there any other question?If not; thank you Mr. Parades for your sigwets. t think that this will be, we're going to be voting ih a moment and you as the outgoing Cit• Manager, a roah who has dedicated 25 years to the city and with a Visidn, if you have anythifg that you want to add or say that is your prerogative, t would only.,, If you wish. This is completely up to you. Let's wait until everybody takes their seats. I would respectfully, Mr. Andrews, could you send somebody out to keep peace out there in the hall ways? May t have your... May we have some silence ih the back there in the right hand corner? We're about to vote. I have asked the City Manager, Mr, Paul Andrews, that if he wishes to say anything at this time as the outgoing Ciiy Manager with 25 years of dedicated service that I feel he is entitled if he wants to make a comment. If he doesn't that's alright and we'll get on with the procedure. Mt. Andrews: Mr. Mayor and members of the commission, I would like to make some comments and some observations. I hope that in doing so that I'm of assistance to the commission and that through the statements I make or the observations that I have I hope that they're not interpreted in such a way that they create a prob- lem greater than you may be facing as you take on this extremely important task, and as each of you has expressed, perhaps one of the most important votes that you will cast as you go through the process of being Mayor and City Commissioners. The advice that I would give the commission as you proceed through this process is that you employed the Arthur D. Little firm for a specific task; I would recom- mend that you continue to trust their judgement in the first 5 applicants that they submitted to you which now are three and that as you go about the process of deciding who shall be the next City Manager that you first give credence to those three applicants that remain if after, and someone has indicated five ballots I think is a perameter which you set for yourself that if after that process of balloting you reached the point after the 5th ballot that there is no clear choice of one of those three applicants that you then refer back to the Arthur D. Little firm and ask them to supply two additional candidates to bring the total to five, and particularly in those directions to have them examine the credentials of the four individuals who have made presentations to you today to determine whether those four should be included in the additional candidates to be presented to the commission. Following that process then I think that the commission would be in better light in selection of the new City Manager. Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mr. Andrews. At this time I will open the floor for nom- inations for... Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, before you do that, sir, I asked you to consider before the opportunity to Mr. Crouch if he wishes. Mayor Ferre: Is Mr. Crouch in the audience? Mr. Crouch, Commissioner Plummer pointed out that there is a front page article in the afternoon paper which refers to you. If you feel that you need to clarify that the microphones are open for you. Mr. Crouch: I really haven't read the newspaper article. I have heard from news- paper reporters. Mayor Ferre: Basically what it says is that Judge Silver has ruled that your mak- ing a bid for property in the Convention area. Have you got the headline in that paper? It says, "Judge rules aide, not city made land buy, Convention Center de- layed". First of all, for the press that is here, I think with all due respects that that is an improper headline. The Convention Center is not delayed. This piece of property is in no way essential to the Convention Center. That is mis- leading and factually not so. But with regards to the main context, you go ahead and explain it. Mr. Crouch: Mr. Mayor and members of the commission, I have heard through the news media this morning that the judge had submitted a ruling and it was explained to me and I called the City Attorney's Office and the information I got from the Assistant City Attorney was that the judge had ruled that the foreclosure sale was sustained and that it meant that the title to the property was vested and my under- standing, although the Department of Law had not gotten a copy at that time of the ruling, was that the property was to be conveyed to me as Assistant City Manager which is the way the title, the way the receipt was signed when the deposit was made following the instructions of the City Commission. And so my discussion with the Law Department is that at the time that title is transferred the Law Department will have prepared a second deed from me as Assistant City Manager, if that's the way it is conveyed, to the City of Miami so that this Property has proper clear title for city use, Mr, Plummer: For the record, you Promise to. give it back? Mr, Crouch; Yes, 32 1 Mayor Ferre: Any further questions on this item? If not, thank you, Mr. Crouch. At this tine I will open up the process for the nomination of candidates for City Manager to be voted upcn by the Comtission. Mr, Plummer: Mr. Mayor, everything else fails in that long silence, I'll be glad to, Mr. Mayor, I'm not going to go into a long and arduous type of speech. I have made My point very clear from the very beginning. It is still tiny thought that first and foremost I want a man who knows the probleMs of this city, a ttan who I feel can be ready to go to work the day he is selected. And I feel that in this peraineter in my estimation 1 would like to nominate Chief Don Hickman. Mayor Ferre: Alright, Chief Don Hickman is one of the nominees. Mr. Reboso: Mr. Mayor, at this time I am proud to nominate for Manager of the City of Miami, Jose Parades. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, may I ask you to keep order, please. I would appreciate very much if we wouldn't have any show of either, as the Mayor asked earlier in the day, demonstration out of courtesy. Thank you. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I want to do more than nominate. Mr. Mayor, I feel com- pelled to say this and to point out to the public what I am going to do and I trust you will give me the time since I got up out of bed to come tell you this. Those of us who love Miami and are natives of Miami and those of you who have come here and enjoy this city must understand that we are about to make perhaps one of the most crucial decisions in the history of this community. This decision may mean the life or the death of this community. We should not become emotional, we should not lose sight of the larger gold, we should go up on the mountain top, we ought to get out of the valley, we should stop skirting around in the wilderness. It's very important that you get to that point in this community. This community is at a crossroad whether you like it or not. And those of us who sit up here are charged with the responsibility and have the corresponding obligation to do that which is right, fair, and just for this community. It disturbs me, it disturbs me that we want to become emotional about this. It disturbs me that we want to interject our friendships. It disturbs me that Miami can't be seen as the most important thing, object, phklosophy, system. Let me go on further. I doubt seriously any of you, those of you who would know me - I am a native. I was 61 on Saturday. I doubt any of you can doubt my loyalty to Miami. I doubt any of my fellow commissioners can doubt my loyalty to being fair. I've tried. I have not always been right but I want to assure you I've tried to be right. I've seen this community go through many paces. And of all of you here I could say what no one of you or two, three of you could say - I gave it my all. This community could have burned down, could have been destroyed, could have been dissipated but always upper most in my heart and mind was what's good for Miami. I've gone against black people. Black people thought that I ought to do this and I ought to do that and "You aren't militant enough". And I've said to them, "My brotheren, if I am the leader I have a respon- sibility to lead, not to follow, not to listen to the angry mob but to do what is right, just and fair." If I didn't take that attitude and that position we never would have integrated this community. Thee: I.Ju who are here now enjoying the pleasantries and all the other things, you don't know how bad this community was. But because I had a desire to work with the people who really had vested interests in this community, and I'm talking about money, we were able to integrate this way southern community such as no other southern community was able to do - a very interesting thing. Miami is the gateway to the Americas. Donlst let us forget that. You know what is really bothering me? I don't think any of you can say that I don't like Latins as Archbishop Coleman Carrol when the Latins were coming in you know and everybody was saying about jobs and all that. I said, well even so, they have a right, they ought to come. That's what America is all about. Ok? So you can't say that about me. And the blacks can't say that I don't like whites because I lined up against the blacks for the whites because,it wasn't right. Ok? Let me go to the other thing. As we nominate here I have no special liking for anybody. We employed a firm, the firm came back positively, directly, concisely and told us these are five people we ought to look at realistically. Listen to what, for you the public who may not have had this, all the rest - the 5 of us - had this; we also talked with three candidates who are currently employed by the City of Miami and serve in senior level positions. We found them to be dedicated and competent. Yet, we believe they lack the breath of experience needed for the job of City man- ager and do not meet the commission's criteria as well as those recommended for interview. Arthur D, Little that you paid $10,000 plus more or less, to is the agency that said this. And you know, telling me that tells me an awful lot. I asked the candidates, "Why didn't you apply?" You know, I'd be washed out or you knew. They knew we said you could apply, why didn't they apply? Ok? It disturbs me. I don't want to be the recruiter, I don't want to be the agency to certify nor passify, At that point I become judge and jury. Having told you let me tell. you about the man I want to nominate. 1 don't know hint. He Lade no promises to Me. The one requirement 1 asked ever' candidate was, "1f Arthur b. tittle has said your ate professionally qualified, I'll buy that, If you're qualified 1 want to make sure that you're truthful, you're honest and you intend to do the right thing." 1 made sure and raised the question of every candidate. "You understand the percent- age composition of this community/" They did, they told me they did. bhe Man was playing me cheap. Ufa said, 1 asked hint about the Consent Decree and he said he didn't know about it. And you know what 1 told him? He and his wife were together. So hell, you don't want this job. dust like that, ok, listen to this. I want you to listen very carefully what I'm about to say now having given you that background. Joseph 11, Grassie is a white man, came up in Argentina. Is that right? An Argentine, studied in Europe, studied in America, eminently qualified just like all the other people who are qualified. But listen to the further thing, and I must tell you a story about this: 1 serve on the Board of Theological Education at the Episcopal Church and we made a grant. The grant was for the purpose of getting all the Latin Bishops together and all the Caribbean Bishops together. The Caribvean Bishops, for those of you who don't know are pretty much all black like Theodore. All the Latin Bishops were other than black. Ok? In the meeting right here in one of the hotels, Mr. Mayor, the Everglades Hotel, we were carrying on a seminar and the best you could do was to have an interpreter. The best you could do is have an interpreter. The interpreter began to say to the Caribbean bishops what or what he thought the Latin Bishops wanted them to hear. In the midst of the discussion, listen to this, in the midst of the discussion there was a black bishop and you saw him here about two weeks ago, the Bishop of Beliz, British Honduras was in the crowd. The Bishop of Beliz got up and said no, that's not what they're saying. This shook the conference. The conference didn't know that this black man knew enough Spanish. He caught them off guard, caught them off guard. In Grassie you have a white man who speaks, English. Arthur D. Little says in Grassie you have a white man who not only speaks Spanish but writes it fluently and has contributed in Spanish in his profession. Grassie married a woman who speaks 5 different languages, that ought to mean something to us. Grassie is a professional. Now if you don't know this, I need to tell you that 60 to 70% of all the key jobs in the City of Miami are held by white Anglo-Saxon Americans. They have to have a rela- tive degree of assurance that they aren't going to be done -in, you, the Latins, who constitute 50 + percent of the population depending on who's counting and who is talking and when, you want a piece of the action and note, I'm not nominating a black, I'm nominating a white man that I think when the whites go to him, see, the staff can't jive him and when you Latins go to him, I'll be damned if you're going to jive him because he knows, he's between the Devil and the deep blue sea and he had better come clean and all I'm saying to you, for God's sake, don't let our emotions run away with good common sense, I have nothing to gain and for me to do what I have done is political suicide but I want to tell you this, I have lived dangerously all of my life and I'm too old now to change. I'm willing to make the sacrifice I just made and I make it only because I love this City, I love you my Latin brothers and I love you my white brothers and I love the blacks. I have nothing to gain and everything to lose; if I run again, you'll hold it against me but I'll tell you this, truth crushed to earth will rise again and Isaiah the prophet said, "They that wait upon the Lord should renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles, they win 'or. and not be weary, they'll walk and not faint." I urge you, my fellow Commissioners, I urge you who sit in the audience, I urge you. This is the hour of decision for us, don't fail the people and that's Joseph R. Grassie. Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Joseph R. Grassie stands in nomination. Mrs. Gordon: I'm not making any... Mayor Ferre: You're not making any nominations. Mrs. Gordon: Not now. Mayor Ferre: And at this time I will not make any nominations and I willexplain my vote at the proper time once it has been recorded. If you will now take a piece of paper and I would like to ask for the silence of the audience. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, before the vote is taken and before the cast of the vote, I would like to proffer to this Commission that whoever the winner is, that this Commission, as we have done in the past, go on record as a unanimous ballot for that individual. X don't think that we should give any indication that the mix- ture of ballots we cannot unite behind a single individual so I hope that the,.. Mayor Ferre: I agree with that. Without any further ado, if you would write the name down and put your name in the corner so that it is in the record as to who each one of us voted for and pass it down to the Clerk. If the Clerk would now read the... VIre SOUthernt Alriqht, Mri Reboso cast his vote for Joseph Patedea, ReV. Gibabh cast his vote for Josepli dt-assie, Mta. Gordon dast her vote Ebt Chief RickMan, Mayor Pette cast his Vote for Joseph draSsie, and Mre Plummer cast his vote for Chief HickMan. Mayor Perret The results are a tie between Chief Hickman and Joseph Grassie and at this point then, the Chair will open Up for further discussion and then we will once again cast A Vote, t would like to, at this point, explain my Vote. Anita COMpiho is here, and I have her ah envelope a little while ago, I was hot privy to the way anybody would vote, but 1 assumed, took the pertogative of Writing dawn on a piece of paper how I thought this Commission would vote. I put down exactly the way everybody voted. 1 did not miss one, I want to explain to my Latin friends, my Cuban friends and my Puerto Rican friends who are here that I could have taken a politically expedient approach to this problem since, had I voted for Parades on the first time around, there would have been a tie, two for Parades, two for Hickman and one for Gtassie and I would have then faced the Latin community and said that I fulfilled my obligation and you couldn't have questioned it. Because I would have said I voted for the Latin first. And then, since it was a tie, I could have switched my vote later on and we could have gone through that process. / did not do that. I want to explain to the record and to all of you I consider my friends and those that do not consider themselves my friends, that I did not vote against anybody. I did not vote against Chief Hickman, I did not vote against Joseph Parades. I voted my conscience. I voted sincerely and deeply what I thought would be the best thing for the City of Miami. Mr. Grassie is a professional in his chosen field. Mr. Grassie is 42 years old. He was born in Argentina and grew up as a young man and speaks perfect Spanish. I have spoken long with him in Spanish. But he brings other qualifications. He brings with him experience. He served for two years in Nicaragua, he has served with distinction in Cost Rica, he has served for seven years in a most difficult job where the City Manager never lasted; they got in and were kicked out. They couldn't get along with the community, they couldn't get along with the Commission. This man has lasted for 7 years and / think that speaks well for an individual. He comes with the highest recommendations. I might say that a former President of the American Association of City Managers, ACME, when I asked his opinion, recommended Mr. Grassie of the five Arthur D. Little chose as the number one candidate. I might point out that a former County Manager who I have the greatest respect for, served this community with great distinction, also in the grading process, rated Mr. Grassie as Number 1; just to name two people / highly regard. I have spent many, many hours calling on the phone all over the nation. I have talked., I have asked individuals who have worked with Mr. Grassie to check him out, black and white. I have people within our community to check him out. I have asked members of the employee orgainzations, in one particularly large orgainzation, Mr. Grassie was the first choice as I was told by the head of the organization. I have found nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Grassie every- where. Lastly, Commissioner Reboso flew up to Grand Rapids on Sunday and spent all of yesterday with Mr. Grassie. I spent some time in discussion with Commissioner Reboso asking him his opinion. He talked to the Mayor, he talked to the Chief of Police, he talked to the newspaper people, he talked to many individuals and Mr. Grassie has the highest regard, the highest xec;umtuendation, he is a true professional, he is highly regarded by his piers, he is highly regarded by the employees, he is highly regarded by the community that he presently serves and has served for seven years. I think the bi-lingual aspect is not enough. What I think is important about Mr. Grassie is not only that he is bi-lingual but much more important is that he is bi-cultural. That means to me a man who is bi-cultural means that he is able and capable of understanding more than one ethnic group and one culture. Mr. Grassie's wife was born in Turkey. She does speak five languages. It is not sufficient for a person to indicate or imply that he is able to understand the black community or that he is able to say that he can deal with the Latin com- munity because this City does not belong to the Latins even though we constitute 53%, no more than the County belongs to the Anglo-Saxons, even though they con- stitute a majority. Nobody in the Spanish speaking community has a deeper com- mitment to the impending importance of the recognition that we live in multi- ethnic community. This is not a melting pot any longer, this is a salad. We, all of us, come from different cultural backgrounds, we bring different values, we are not melted into one. We keep our cultural identity, we keep ethnic factors and we are proud of our heritage. It is no longer necessary for someone who comes from a Polich or Italian or Lithuanian background to forget that heritage but that does not mean that that individual is less of an American than someone who is of Irish stock or who is pure Anglo-Saxon. It means that we are slowly recognizing in our country the diversity and depth and that we recognize by that, that our future is very dependent on the recognition, that the majority of Americans, the majority of the 220 million (220,000,000) people who call themselves American citizens, do not come from an Anglo-Saxon stock, If you add the German, Irish, Polish, Slovic, Spanish, Black, Greek, Italian and other minorities, they constitute a majority 35 4 of what the United States is all abet. We, in Miaftti, are a microcosm of that prowess. Mianit is, as the groat poet Sloan once said, not an island unto itself, we are a part of a whole. I thick the importance of whoever is to be City Manager here is the deep eonvictian and understanding of this process and the demonstrated ability to understand that we do not live alone. Miami does hot belong to the Latin community no more than bade County belongs to the Aiglo..Saxon community, no more than Harlem belongs to the blacks and no More than Boston belongs to the Irish, We cannot demand for ourselves what we oppose for others, We cannot say in Miarrti that we Wish something that we have opposed in East Bronx or in Chicago or Los Angeles, This is not the process we ate in the midst of, We are not going to create islands within this country. What we must be conscious of is the delicate and essential balance in right and wrong, in a country based on laws and justice, that what we mist strive for is ustiOe for all, hot for one j group. The fact that certain groups have been denied due process, the fact that certain people have been disenfranchised from the process does not, at any point along the road, give us the right to deny that equal right, that equal access to due process to others, What is involved here is not only justice but much more important than justice, what is right. I am not saying that I, in any way, deny that ability and that comprehen- sion to either Chief Hickman or Joseph Parades. I do, however, feel that Joseph Grassie, at age 42, has a demonstrated record as a professional administrator with success. That he comes highly recommended, that he comes with the highest recom- mendation from Arthur D. Little, that Arthur D. Little classified him to me per- sonally as certainly one of the finalists in this process even though they could. not take this posture publicly. I would like to, in closing my remarks, say this. The City of Miami is in a very precarious posture. We are at the crossroads. If we do not establish our mark in the next few years, the City of Miami will not exist three years from now or four years from now. Not because the citizens of Miami will not want it to exist, because on the electorial ballot I doubt very much if the citizens in the near future would vote the City of Miami out of existence. But if we do not meet the Consent Decree properly, if we cannot seek a proper balance with our employees, with the Pension System, with the unions we must deal with, if we do not proceed with the projects we have begun, and most important, if we do not approach the very difficult budget with extreme care and very dedicated ability and knowledge, we will find ourselves either before the courts or on the verge of bankruptcy or on the verge of as a going entity. I think that Don Hickman can do the job and 1 think that we could do it well. I think that Joseph Parades could do the job and I think he could do it well. I was very impressed with both of their answers today but my concern is that of taking any chances. I am not absolutely certain that Chief Hickman could do the job because I don't feel comfortable with what I perceive as the very job. I think, not because he is 30 years old, but because Joseph Parades' experience has been four years in the City of Miami, he started when he was 26. I think what he learned in the City of Holly- wood, I think that his knowledge is extremely impressive, but I do not feel comfortable that at age 30 he could cope with the difficult problems that confront us. I could not be more honest, therefore Parades, I feel that I must make my choice and in my conscience I feel is the best thing for the citizens of Miami and the City of Miami, therefore, voting my conscience, I voted for Joseph Grassie. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, may I be accorded to priviledge at one other thing. I forgot to say, in my remarks, I would trust that nobody would leave here with the feeling or thought that I have anything against Chief Hickman and that I have anything against Mr. Parades, nothing please, and I want to tell you this that I did not know which way the vote was going. If the Commission were to vote for either man, Theodore Gibson will be the first to support whoever that man is. Please, I hope everybody understands that. Mayor Ferre: Well as I understand it, the process is that the two finalists are Joseph Grassie and Chief Hickman who each received two votes. At this time then, if you will write the name of your candidate and put a two up at the top so that there's no confusion... Mr. Reboso: Mr. Mayor, are we limited to those two candidates or... Mayor Ferre: Well I think that the process is that we only have, we had three candidates, two received two and I would imagine that unless the will of the Commission is to do it otherwise, that we are now down to two candidates, Grassie and Rickman, Everybody voted? Read the votes, Mr, Southern; Mr. Plummer votes for Chief Rickman, Mrs, .Gordon votes for Chief Hickman, Rev, Gibson votes for Joseph Grassie, Mr. Reboso votes for Joseph Grassie and Mayor Ferre votes for Joseph Grassie, 36 Mayor Ferre: will now entettaih a :notion by Mrs. Gordon. Mrs. Gordon: Well Plummer Wished to make it, I'll second it. May Ferret Mr. PlUMMer, you want to make it unanimous? Mr. Pluiiuer: I make a unanimous ballot for Mr. Joseph Grassie. Mrs, Gordon: I'll second that motion. Mayor Ferret There's a motion and a second. Further discussion? Call the roll please. Upon a roll call vote, the motion was passed and adopted by a unanimous vote of the Commission to appoint Joseph R. Grassie as City Manager. Said Motion was designated Motion No. 76-440. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, may I say a few words? Mayor Ferre: Yes. Now ladies and gentlemen, would you sit down and give Mrs. Gordon the courtesy of you attention. Mrs. Gordon: I want to reiterate that I feel today that this has been a very demo-. cratic Commission, I'm very proud to serve with you and my fellow Commissioners, I am most impressed with the comments that Father Gibson and you have made, I feel deeply in the feeling of a local man, however, we were not able to receive one, I wish Mr. Grassie well and I will certainly want to cooperate with him. I have nothing against Mr. Parades, I feel that someday he may fit very well into a managerial slot when he has had more experience and background. Chief Hickman, I have admired his proficiency in his department and his activities in the community for many years and this was one way that I could show him the confidence that I have in him and in his ability and his right to have an opportunity to serve in a very important post and that he is qualified to serve. ADJOURNMENT: Thence being no iwrthen bu i ebb to come be6oke the C,c ty Commae.Lon, on motion duty made and 4econded, the meet ig wab adjoun.n.ed at 6:35 O'Ceociz P.M.. MAURICE A. FERRE ,MAYOR ATTEST: H. D. SOUTHERN CITY CLERK RALPH G. ONGIE .ASSISTANT CITY CLERK 37