While views vary, city manager receives good overall performance evaluation from council
The city manager received one perfect review from a Cape Coral City Council member for his recent evaluation.
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn received an overall rating of 3.9 out of 5.
The council scored the city manager on a rubric from five — excellent, almost always exceeds the performance standard, to one — poor, rarely meets the performance standard. There were 10 areas to score.
He received an overall 4.0 for individual characteristics, 4.0 for professional skills and status, 3.6 for relations with elected members of governing body, 4.0 for policy execution, 3.9 for reporting, 3.9 for citizen relations, 3.9 for staffing, 4.2 for supervision, 3.8 for fiscal management and 3.6 for community.
Councilmember Joe Kilraine gave a 5 for all 10 categories.
“In my humble opinion … Legacy leadership involves assembling an organization of great personnel and enabling/empowering them to perform and deliver results. The process is ongoing and requires continues self introspection and correction as deemed appropriate. It includes creating a vision, continually articulating it and relentlessly driving it to completion. The process must be based on simplification, pruning and relentless focus — changing areas less than effective before one is forced to and rewarding performers while correctively acting on non performance. One must earn respect through strong support of the underlying organization but take care of business in private as needed to correct when less desired performance occurs. The city manager gets high marks in all of the above,” he wrote performance areas that he identified as most critical for improvement.
Ilczyszyn’s self-analysis as the third year as the city manager highlighted Cape Compass 2035 strategic plan and the four cardinal points and specific bearings associated with each. Those areas revolved around community health, safety, and quality of life for point one, high-performing government for point two, sustainable infrastructure for point three and thoughtful growth and vibrant economy for point four.
He wrote that there was a 28% overall crime reduction and 84% traffic-fatality reduction year to date, that the Cape Coral Police Department achieved CALEA reaccreditation, the resilience hub design underway, three new parks with 287,000 program attendees and construction of the 250-foot landmark flagpole honoring the nation.
Point two highlighted GFOA Triple Crown, issued $92.2 million utility revenue bonds, $157 million in grant awards, workers’ comp mod rate under 1.0, $2.6 million plus in HR and benefits savings, 5.26% vacancy, 4th Leadership Academy cohort and Yellow AI 311 launch.
The North Water Reclamation Facility and NE Reservoir advanced, weirs 16 and 17 completed at $1.95 million, 131 lane miles resurfaced, 6,186 linear feet of trenchless sewer lining and UEP construction ongoing for point three.
The last, point four, included 25,792 permits processed, HB 803 permitting timeline implementation, Bones Coffee Headquarters construction initiated, Bimini East redevelopment structuring and HCA Hospital memorandum of understanding executed.
Mayor John Gunter gave Ilczyszyn a 4 for reporting and staffing; 4.2 for community; 4.4 for individual characteristics, professional skills and status; relations with elected members of the governing body; citizens relations and fiscal management; and 4.6 for policy execution and supervision.
Councilmember Dr. Derrick Donnell gave a 4.2 for citizen relations and community; 4.6 for policy execution; 4.8 for individual characteristics, professional skills and status, relations with elected members of the governing body; and a 5 for reporting, staffing, supervision, and fiscal responsibility.
“I am requesting that the city manager reflect on the responses of the residents and implements more opportunities for the staff and residents to collaborate and meet for the purpose of building relationship as well as an educational opportunities,” he wrote for performance areas that he identified as most critical for improvement.
Councilmember Rachel Kaduk gave a 2.8 for relations with elected members of the governing body; 3 for individual characteristics, fiscal responsibility, staffing and community; a 3.2 for professional skills and status and citizen relations; 3.4 for reporting; 3.6 for policy execution; and a 4 for supervision.
“I believe I would like to see Mr. Ilczyszyn lead as the manager of the city rather than alongside city staff,” she wrote for performance areas that she identified as most critical for improvement. “This area is tough to improve when you manage the staff you were once a part of. Council has given very clear direction and we have seen where staff has presented something other than what was asked for. Please continue to rebuild the relationship with the public. I can feel that morale is down. We need to turn this around. There will be a new governing body which very much opens a great opportunity for a change that the city needs while we continue to navigate these challenging times.”
Councilmember Jennifer-Nelson Lastra gave a 3.4 for relations with elected members of the governing board and citizen relations; 3.8 for individual characteristics, reporting, fiscal management and community; 4 for professional skills and status, policy execution and staffing; and 4.2 for supervision.
“I would like to you to consider actions that may concern the public like telling us we are out of line but not addressing it during the meeting when it occurred. In those situations, if you bring something like that up after the fact, more context is important so thew public understands. The last budget meeting was confusing for all of us when you brought cuts that we had not previously agreed upon to our public budget meeting. I would prefer we discuss those types of last-minute items publicly through a special meeting,” she wrote for performance areas that she identified as most critical for improvement.
Councilmember Bill Steinke gave a 3.6 for citizen relations; 3.8 for community; 4 for individual characteristics, relations with elected members of the governing board, policy execution, reporting and staffing; 4.2 for supervision and fiscal management; and 4.4 for professional skills and status.
“Focus on thorough understanding of strategic initiatives, options and recommendations by all stakeholders, delivered in easily understood ways. Break down complex, multi-component, projects into stages of the process and tie them all back together for understanding,” he wrote regarding other comments regarding priorities, expectations, goals or objectives for the new rating period.
Councilmember Laurie Lehmann gave a 2.2 for relations with elected members of the governing body; 2.4 for professional skills and status; 2.6 for reporting, fiscal management and community; 2.8 for policy execution; 3 for individual characteristics and supervision; 3.2 for staffing; and 3.6 for citizen relations.
Councilmember Keith Long gave a 2.2 for relations with elected members of the governing board; 2.4 for fiscal management; 2.8 for staffing; 3 for reporting; 3.2 for community; 3.4 for professional skills and status, policy execution and citizen relations; and 3.6 for individual characteristics and supervision.
Ilczyszyn’s total compensation before his annual evaluation was $350,180.80.
As per his request for a lump-sum in lieu of a raise, council unanimously approved a one-time payment of $11,380.88, equivalent to a 3.25% raise, effective the first pay period after Sept. 19.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email mbradbury@breezenewspapers.com