9.C.(2)_City_Manager_Contract

The Cape Coral City Council will discuss an employment agreement for Michael Ilczyszyn for the city manager position, as well as the termination for the Budget Review Committee and Pine Island Road Future Land Use District Wednesday.

Earlier this month Councilmember Tom Hayden made a motion to allow Mayor John Gunter to begin contract negotiations with Ilczyszyn, who has been the city’s interim city manager.

The resulting document states that compensation will be an annual base salary of $285,000 retroactive to Feb. 17 when Ilczyszyn was named interim city manager.

In 12 months, and every 12 months thereafter, City Council would review the Ilczyszyn’s performance. At that time, he would be entitled to receive an increase, if any, as authorized for other non-bargaining employees of the city.

Benefits would include a fully paid city-offered medical plan and a $600-per-month vehicle allowance as well as management-comparable retirement contributions, leave time and the provision of technical devices such as a cell phone as well as professional subscriptions, fees and dues.

The contract calls for an initial term of four years beginning Sept. 20 and expiring at midnight on Sept. 19, 2027. Thereafter, the agreement would be automatically renewed for successive two-year terms unless either party gives notice of non-renewal at least 120 days before the expiration of the current term.

If terminated without cause, the contract calls for the city standard of four months compensation.

Ilczyszyn started his career with the city in 2002 as a Water Treatment Plant operator and most recently served in that department as director. He also previously served as business manager within the City Manager’s Office before returning to Public Works.

He has a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Ilczyszyn was earning a base salary of approximately $175,282 prior to Council’s decision to make him interim city manager with an increase of $46,883 to $222,164 per year.

The city’s former city manager, Rob Hernandez was paid a base salary of approximately $259,130.

Other business:

• Council is expected to vote on terminating the Budget Review Committee.

During last week’s workshop, Councilmember Bill Steinke said as the Budget Review Committee liaison, his concern is that there is opportunity for citizens to be involved in the budget process.

“I have met with the city manager’s office, city attorney, financial services director and collectively we feel we have come up with the solution,” Steinke said at the Sept. 13 workshop.

That solution is to have a town hall style delivery of the budget with citizens having an opportunity to ask questions without a three-minute limitation to speak. The town hall would be offered for the entire city to have the option to interact with all the department heads and the city manager with a proposed time from 3 to 7 p.m. to accommodate those who work during the day and at night.

Other engagement opportunities for the public include Council’s winter and summer retreats, as well as the workshops that are held with the proposed budget assessments and millage rates.

“That would give 11 opportunities, plus a four-hour town hall for all to participate,” Steinke said. “Instead of having seven to nine members for the public to be involved, it would give every citizen an opportunity to get involved and to be as engaged as they would like to be.”

Hayden said although he will never support getting rid of the Budget Review Committee, or other committees, any opportunity they can give for the public to come and connect with the city government is a positive.

“As far as the town hall, it’s another opportunity for the citizens to contribute and it’s a good idea,” Hayden said.

• A discussion will be held concerning the Pine Island Road Future Land Use District, which was established in 2002 and growing rapidly reaching its limits. The district development ranges from residential, hotel rooms, retail, offices, and warehouse use.

According to a presentation to be given Wednesday night, there are approximately 2,300 residential units constructed in the district with another 1,800 approved projects in the process of being constructed. Although the cap has not been breached, between the projects under review, 4,800 units, and projects that have had pre-applications, more than 2,300, that cap will be breached.

Council will be presented with various options ranging from removing residential land from the district, to removing caps.

The City Council meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The final budget hearing will be held the following day, Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5:05 p.m., again in Council chambers.

Editor’s note: Compensation numbers have been modified to reflect updated numbers provided by the city.