HomeMy WebLinkAboutOtte, Anthony - ResumeAnthony G. Otte
919 Campbell Avenue ∙ Lake Wales, Florida 33853 ∙ (863) 605-1743 ∙ tony.otte@gmail.com
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
A city manager with 23 years of experience in three Central
Florida cities: Tavares, Leesburg, and Lake Wales. Currently serving as the Interim Community Redevelopment Director for the City of New Smyrna Beach. Superior skills in budgeting and
finance, grants acquisition, cost reduction, redevelopment, advancing progressive/innovative initiatives, and strategic thinking/planning activities. Focus areas include working closely
with the business community, customer service excellence, and government transparency. Personal attributes include being outgoing, friendly, and approachable; being fiscally conservative,
analytical, and achievement oriented. Experience in two Kentucky regional agencies in finance and grants acquisition.
SUPERIOR SKILLS
Budgeting and Finance
When newly hired in Lake
Wales, discovered a previously undisclosed financial crisis and directed a financial turnaround.
In Lake Wales, increased General Fund reserves to the highest level in city history:
27.8% of budgeted operating expense with encumbered reserves, 18.4% for non-encumbered reserves. At the same time, reduced the tax rate to a 17 year low.
Produced “user friendly” budgets
with charts, graphs, and performance objectives; and interim financial statements with revenue and expenditure targets in comparison to performance. The city of Leesburg won its first
Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) budget award during my tenure.
Introduced a fiscal impact section to each agenda item to ensure that impacts are identified and properly
considered.
Managed several bond re-financings, bond issues, and a tax-exempt bond for a retirement development.
Planned, financed, and directed the construction of over $56 million
in capital projects.
Tavares won its first GFOA award during my tenure, for “excellence” in the presentation of financial statements.
Implemented one of the earliest Stormwater Utility
programs in the state - in Tavares in the 1980’s, which provided a funding source for needed stormwater projects.
Grants Acquisition
Acquired over $16,000,000 in grant funds as a city
manager from programs including the Community Development Block Grant program (in all CDBG categories: housing re-hab, neighborhood revitalization, commercial revitalization, and economic
development). Airport improvement grants; Florida Forever; Library construction grant; Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program; and Historic Preservation Grants.
Cost Reduction
In Lake Wales, saved over $113,000 in operating costs through changing from self-insurance to a conventional health insurance plan, changing the procedure for delinquent
water bill notices, computerizing the fueling system, and having paperless City Commission agenda packets.
In Lake Wales reduced the number of city positions over time by 18 positions,
nearly 10%.
Initiated and negotiated cost cutting agreements for services in Lake Wales - with the Chamber of Commerce (Main Street program), the adult softball league (maintenance of
softball fields), little league (maintenance of little league fields), two neighborhood groups (for maintenance of city landscaped right of ways), and the Boys and Girls club (staffing
of the city gym).
Prepared the conceptual design for the parking lot for the Polk State College project (noted below) which saved several hundred thousand dollars from the original design.
Partnered
with the local soccer league in the building of a new city soccer/multi-purpose complex. With grants and donations, the park was built with virtually no city capital costs.
Redevelopment
Revitalized
downtown Leesburg with a $2.4 million new Town Square and streetscape. Afterwards, adjacent occupancy rates rose from 60 to 99% and private property improvements increased the tax base
by nearly $6 million.
Helped create the Community Development Corporation of Greater Leesburg. Working together and with grant funds, removed and/or improved over 100 houses. This effort
won an award from the National League of Cities, Caucus of Black Elected Officials.
Negotiated the contract to partner with Polk State College to convey the former city hall building
and have it remodeled as a branch college campus downtown.
Directed an aggressive code enforcement program that brought about the demolition of over 50 buildings, including two brownfield
sites. Three residential lots were conveyed for redevelopment.
Progressive/Innovative Initiatives
Directed negotiations with a dial-up vendor for the profitable creation of a new utility
for the City of Leesburg: Internet Service Provider. This effort won a First Place Award for Innovation in Communications and Technology from the Florida City and County Management Association.
The city receives free internet service for a cost savings estimated at nearly $10,000 per year.
Initiated a curfew in response to a shooting incident and the need to curtail late-night
juvenile activity. Juvenile arrests (minus curfew violations) dropped 61% the next year.
Strategic Thinking /Planning Activities
Initiated and wrote the City of Lake Wales Strategic Plan.
Initiated a “zoning in progress” and directed staff in the revision of the Lake Wales
land development code and comprehensive plan to prepare the city for growth and redevelopment. Revised the comprehensive plan and managed the preparation of the first comprehensive
utility specification in Tavares.
Initiated the development of water and sewer master plans in Tavares and Lake Wales, and a sidewalk plan in Leesburg. Initiated the first formal impact
fee study in Lake Wales.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Interim Community Redevelopment Director, City of New Smyrna Beach – Present position
City Manager/CRA Director, City of Lake Wales
2001-2009
Realtor, Commercial properties, Tom Grizzard ERA Realty, Leesburg 2001
City Manager/CRA Director, City of Leesburg, 1996-2000
City Administrator, City of Tavares, 1985-1996
Division
Coordinator, Finance and Administration Division, and two other positions, Northern Kentucky Area Development District 1976-1985
Grant Writer, Campbell-Kenton Regional Crime Council,
Newport, Kentucky, 1972-1976
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS/PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITES
Dedication and Commitment Award, the Leesburg Downtown Partnership
Golden Hammer Award, Leesburg Area Chamber
of Commerce
Man of Courage Award, Community Development Corporation of Greater Leesburg
Awarded the “Key to the City” by the Mayor of Tavares
Recognition for 35 years of service to local
government, International City/County Management Association
Full Member, International City/County Management Association
Member, Florida City and County Management Association
Member,
American Planning Association
Member, Florida Association of Code Enforcement
Certificate of Achievement, 33rd Basic Economic Development Course, University of South Florida
Florida
Real Estate Salesperson License (currently voluntarily in-active)
Former Area Governor and Club President, Toastmasters International
EDUCATION
Master of Public Affairs, University
of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bachelor of Arts, Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, Kentucky