Raytown City Administrator - Strategic Government Resources

City of Raytown, Missouri
City Administrator
The Community
Raytown, Missouri, ideally situated just 10 miles from downtown Kansas City, blends
the best of urban and suburban living in a safe, welcoming environment that has a
small-town feel. Home to almost 30,000 residents, Raytown is a family-oriented
community with stellar schools, a strong workforce, and easy access to big city
amenities. Centrally located in the fast-growing eastern section of Jackson County,
the City’s convenient access to interstates 435, 470, and 70, as well as its proximity
to the Kansas City International Airport, have made it a major economic hub.
Raytown began as a Santa Fe Trail stop just eight miles south of Independence
and is probably the second oldest town in Jackson County. The opening of the
Santa Fe Trail drew settlers to the region, with blacksmiths, wagon makers, and
iron workers soon setting up shop to meet the growing demand for wagon trains.
The City is named in honor of William Ray, a blacksmith who moved to Jackson
County around 1848 and established a smithy along the Santa Fe Trail, at what
is now the intersection of 63rd Street and Raytown Road. After area residents
began to clamor for better roads to Kansas City and Independence,
commissioners laid out and approved Raytown Road, and Ray’s shop became a
geographic landmark along the road. The settlement was known first as “Ray’s
Town” and, by 1854, as “Raytown.” The City was incorporated on July 17, 1950.
Though Raytown is landlocked by surrounding communities and there is no room for
expansion in those directions, there is development space within the City boundaries
that could suit a wide variety of private and public growth, including a tract of
approximately two acres just outside the Downtown District. The City is experiencing
growth in both commercial and residential development, particularly along the
Highway 350 corridor and is currently a market for independent senior living
communities. The City has several economic development opportunities. The
Truman Sports Complex and the Cerner Office Campus impact the Raytown
community and economy. Major area employers include Raytown Quality Schools,
Wal-Mart, Hy-Vee Food & Drug Stores, USA 800, and KCP&L.
Raytown’s Central Business District serves as the heart of this first tier suburb.
The District is slated for a multi-phase revitalization to strengthen and support
the economic development potential of this area. Throughout the City’s history,
the area around East 63rd Street and Raytown Road has been the center of
community activity, commerce, and social interaction. In order to create a more
attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment that is conducive to retail and
commercial activity, the City is undertaking a physical transformation of the
area’s streets. In June 2015, Raytown was awarded a Bronze Level Designation
for the work the City has done to make the community more livable for All Ages.
There is abundant family-friendly leisure, recreational, and cultural offerings in and
around the City. The Raytown Historical Society and Museum and Rice-Tremonti
Farm House offer visitors a glimpse into the City’s past, and Cave Spring, a 36acre urban nature center and historic area in Van Buren, reflects the diversity of
the region’s cultural and natural history. Raytown has a strong parks system, with
youth, adult, and senior programming year-round, and there are several reservoirs
that provide ideal settings for fishing, swimming, and other water sports. Raytown
is also home to a BMX track and to the Extreme Grand Prix Indoor Family Fun
Center. Several annual festivals, including the Raytown Arts & Music Festival and
the Craft Beer Festival of the Lost Township, draw visitors from all over the region.
“Reaching for Tomorrow”
The Community, continued
The greater Kansas City metro area offers additional opportunities for
entertainment. Cultural offerings such as the Kansas City Art Institute, NelsonAtkins Museum of Art, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Crossroads Art
District, and the Kansas City Music Hall are a short distance from Raytown.
Sports fans can enjoy professional games at the Arrowhead Stadium, home to
the Kansas City Chiefs, Kauffman Stadium, home to the 2015 MLB World
Champion Kansas City Royals, and racing at the Kansas Speedway.
The City is served by Raytown Quality Schools, which provides excellent
education to nearly 9,000 K through 12 students across 17 campuses. There is a
strong tradition of community support for the district. Residents “expect the
exceptional” in student and teacher performance and academic programs, and
the district continues to meet the high standards it has established. Raytown
students are currently working with Interorbital Systems to build, test, and launch
a low-orbit satellite into space, becoming one of only a handful of districts in the
country to send a payload into orbit.
Though the district’s first priority is educating school-age children, it also provides
programs that reflect the community’s commitment to education at any age. From
early childhood education to adult education, the district strives to make learning
an inviting and rewarding experience for all. Known for its specialized programs
designed to meet a variety of student needs, the district offers the Herndon Career
Center, Raytown Success Academy, and complete special education services. The
district has received many awards and accolades, including recognition as a
Common Sense Digital Citizenship Certified District by Common Sense, the
national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and families thrive in a
world of digital media and technology.
For those seeking higher education, there are many options throughout the area.
Rockhurst University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Metropolitan
Community College-Kansas City, Wright Career College, Johnson County
Community College, Kansas City Kansas Community College, and Park
University are all located within 20 miles of Raytown.
Median income in Raytown is $49,629 and the City’s average home value is
$89,900.
Governance and Organization
The City of Raytown is governed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The
Board is made up of 11 members, including the Mayor, with two Aldermen per
district serving four-year terms with no term limits.
The role of the City Administrator is to assist the Mayor with leadership,
guidance, and support in the delivery of efficient and effective management of all
City operations. Except as otherwise specified by ordinance or by the law of the
State of Missouri, the City Administrator coordinates and generally supervises
the operation of all departments of the City of Raytown.
Raytown, Missouri
City Administrator
Governance and Organization, continued
Elected positions include the Chief of Police, Municipal Judge, and City Collector.
The Board of Aldermen appoints the City Administrator, City Clerk, and Director of
Finance. With the recommendation of the City Administrator, the Board of
Aldermen also appoints the Director of Development and Public Affairs, Director of
Emergency Medical Services, and Director of Public Works. The Director of Parks
and Recreation is appointed by and reports solely to the Park Board.
Raytown is served by a fire protection district, two independent water production
companies, and an independent wastewater district as well as Kansas City
wastewater treatment services. In addition, the Parks and Recreation
Department was established under its own Board of Directors.
The City’s annual budget is $28.9 million and it employs 183 staff. The City’s
property tax rate is $0.5539 per $100 of assessed valuation.
Leadership and Innovation
The next City Administrator will help the City address several issues and
challenges:
Economic Sustainability. Redevelopment is a key to the success of the
community. Raytown has a central location in the metro area, with easy freeway
access, but is land-locked with little room for growth. The City’s revenues are not
growing, a TIF is under-performing, and commercial corridors are aging. The
City has a very low property tax rate and is dependent upon growth in sales tax.
Recent successes highlight a community spirit for redevelopment, but a
collaborative, visionary economic development plan with a marketing component
must be developed to capture future opportunities.
Aging Infrastructure. Maintaining streets, sidewalks, storm water facilities,
public facilities, and street lights is an ongoing challenge, as is funding for sewer
improvements to reduce infiltration and inflow. With limited resources, creative
methods to fund infrastructure must be developed.
Aging Housing Stock. The existing housing stock consists of several
neighborhoods with large lots and homes built in the 1950s and 60s. There are
concerns about the decline in owner-occupied houses, and there is a need for
new housing as the City continues to develop. There is also a need for stricter
code enforcement, with neighborhood preservation a focus. The Development
and Public Affairs neighborhood revitalization program continues to expand, and
the City’s efforts with Communities for All Ages, Builders Development
Corporation, and Habitat for Humanity are strengthening neighborhoods
throughout the community.
Collaboration with Other Governmental Agencies. Raytown is served by an
elected police chief, a fire protection district, two independent water production
companies, an independent wastewater district, and has a levy dedicated to parks
and recreation services. In addition, the community is served by a Downtown Main
Street organization, a Chamber of Commerce, and many neighborhood
organizations. Collaboration with these agencies is essential to increase the City’s
participation in regional activities, better leverage resources, and instigate creative
partnerships to spur development and investment in Raytown.
Raytown, Missouri
City Administrator
Leadership and Innovation, continued
Financial Management. Creative partnerships, financial strategies, debt
management, staff compensation, emergency medical service funding, and
infrastructure funding are challenges. Leadership must meet their financial and
fiduciary responsibilities and direct the forecast of funds needed for staffing,
equipment, materials, and supplies, while ensuring compliance with all legal and
procedural requirements.
Ideal Candidate
The City of Raytown seeks a visionary and charismatic leader to serve as its
next City Administrator. The ideal candidate will build a strong leadership team,
foster organization-wide accountability and transparency to ensure efficient
operations, build and support community partnerships, and develop a strategic
vision for future development as the community continues to grow. This will be
an excellent opportunity for a confident local government professional to take a
city poised for transition and redevelopment to the next level of performance.
The chosen candidate must be dedicated to providing exceptional customer
service and willing to partner with community organizations and facilitate
collaboration throughout the region for the benefit of the City. Engaged and
personable, the next City Administrator will be passionate about public service
and continually work toward the improvement of services for all citizens. The
selected individual will embrace the diversity of this unique community and be
aware of the ways in which decisions can impact individual stakeholders and the
community as a whole.
An experienced leader and team builder, the City Administrator will delegate with
authority and clarity and encourage an environment of high performance and
accountability throughout the organization. The next City Administrator will inspire
and motivate the organization to continually raise the bar on performance and
service by establishing trust, loyalty, and credibility with staff members and
recognizing their accomplishments. The City’s next Administrator will need to
provide a sense of stability and continuity for the organization but will also need to
be flexible as the situation demands and open to change when the need for it
arises.
A strong communicator with exceptional speaking, writing, presenting, and
listening skills, the City Administrator will maintain open paths of communication,
conveying information in a timely manner to the appropriate parties and adjusting
communication levels to suit the audience or individual. The City Administrator
must be well-informed at all times, responsive to requests from the Board, and
able to offer sound advice to the Board and other stakeholders on issues
impacting the City. The successful candidate will be friendly, honest, and
respectful when interacting with the Board, staff, and residents.
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned, politically astute city management
professional who has experience working with a diverse citizenry and a record of
achievement in economic revitalization and financial management. It is expected
that the City Administrator be invested in the community, both professionally and
personally.
Raytown, Missouri
City Administrator
Raytown, Missouri
City Administrator
Education and Experience
A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a
related field is required. A master’s degree is preferred. Ten years of
progressively responsible municipal government experience, including at least
three years of experience as a City/County Manager or Assistant City/County
Manager, are required.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The City
participates in the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System
(LAGERS) and requires five years of service for vesting. The City also offers a
Deferred Compensation program through either ICMA-RC or Nationwide. Auto
allowance, cell phone/data allowance, paid professional development expenses,
civic membership dues, health insurance, paid leave, and holidays are also
provided.
Application Process
Please apply online at: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches
For more information on this position contact:
Kirk Davis, Senior Vice President
Strategic Government Resources
[email protected]
816-455-2719
This position is open until filled. To view the status of this position, please visit:
http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches
The City of Raytown is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its
workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a
comprehensive background check.
Resources
City of Raytown
www.raytown.mo.us
Raytown Parks and Recreation
www.raytownparks.com
Raytown Chamber of Commerce
www.raytownchamber.com
City of Raytown on Facebook
www.facebook.com/CityofRaytown
Visit Kansas City
www.visitkc.com
City of Raytown on Twitter
twitter.com/CityofRaytown
Jackson County
www.jacksongov.org
City of Raytown on YouTube
www.youtube.com/user/CityofRaytown
Raytown Police
www.raytownpolice.org
Raytown Quality Schools
www.raytownschools.org