Palestine City Manager - Strategic Government Resources

CITY MANAGER
THE COMMUNITY
Palestine, Texas, a charming city with a southern feel, is the county seat of Anderson County, ideally situated at
the intersection of US Highways 79 and 287, and located 108 miles southeast of Dallas and 150 miles north of
Houston. Pronounced “PAL-e-steen,” this family-oriented community is home to approximately 19,000 people
and provides the comfort of small town living with the limitless opportunity for business growth and
development.
Established in 1846, and originally prospering from the transportation of goods down the Trinity River, Palestine
saw a large population increase in the 1870s with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad.
In 2014, Palestine was ranked #14 in the Texas Highways Magazine Top 40 Travel Destinations list. Palestine
features enchanting bed and breakfasts in restored Victorian homes, modern hotels, a variety of restaurants, and
parks filled with magnolia and dogwood trees. The Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration began in 1938, and
attracts visitors from around the region each year. Davey Dogwood Park, the main location of the driving trails,
is filled with dazzling white dogwood blossoms every spring.
In the early 1980s, seeing the advantage of Palestine’s central location, Walmart built its first fashion
distribution center outside of its Arkansas headquarters. This facility continues to operate as one of only seven
Walmart fashion distribution centers in the US. The success of this project led Walmart to build a second
Palestine distribution center in 1994, and today it is one of 43 regional distribution centers across the US,
shipping and receiving $2 billion in merchandise annually. Palestine remains an ideal location for distribution to
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, and is also home to wholesale beverage distributors, aerospace parts
distributors, and a wholesale giftware company. Sanderson Farms, Inc. has invested $150 million in a major
expansion initiative, adding approximately 1,350 jobs to the area and is expected to be the catalyst for additional
growth and development in the community.
Not only is Palestine an optimal site for distribution and warehousing, it is also a great place to establish
regional healthcare facilities. Palestine Regional Medical Center and Palestine Regional Rehabilitation Hospital
provide a full range of comprehensive care and consist of 500 employees, 50 volunteers, and over 80 physicians
representing 28 different medical specialties. The current target industries for the city are transportation and
logistics, healthcare, energy and renewable energy, retail, and hospitality.
Palestine is a designated Texas Main Street City with historic architecture dating back from the early 1800s
through the 1950s. The Main Street District covers 44 blocks filled with eclectic boutiques, antique stores,
bakeries, and unique restaurants. The Old Town District offers a relaxed atmosphere and live music venues,
including an outdoor stage used for concerts, military re-enactments, and other local events. Popular attractions
include the Museum for East Texas Culture, the Texas Theatre, and Eilenberger's Bakery. The historic Texas
State Railroad is a local attraction offering both steam and diesel excursions between Palestine and Rusk.
Special Events throughout the year include, The Polar ExpressTM, Valentine's Dinner Train, and the Pumpkin
Patch Express.
Palestine families are served by two excellent school districts. Palestine ISD serves more than 3,300 students in
Pre-K through 12 on eight campuses and meets all Texas Education Agency standards. Westwood ISD provides
quality education to 1,700 students in grades Pre-K through 12 on four campuses.
CITY OF PALESTINE, TEXAS CITY MANAGER
THE COMMUNITY, continued
The City is proud of its two colleges. The University of Texas at Tyler-Palestine campus offers bachelor and
master degree programs in Nursing and Business Administration, as well as courses in education, technology,
health, kinesiology, and liberal arts. Trinity Valley Community College-Palestine offers a variety of academic
transfer courses and vocational-technical training. TVCC also helps to meet the economic needs of the
community with the Small Business Development Center.
The City of Palestine has a median household income of $35,035 and a median home value of $83,358.
GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATION
Palestine is a home-rule City operating under a council-manager form of government. The Palestine City
Council is comprised of the Mayor, elected at large, and six City Council members representing single-member
districts.
The City has 167 employees delivering a full range of municipal services with an annual budget of $27.5
million, and an ad valorem tax rate of $0.64889 per $100 of assessed valuation.
LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
Economic Development and Tourism. Palestine has a sales and use tax at the rate of one-fourth of one percent
that is devoted to economic development. Currently, the City’s economic development arm is formed under the
“4B” status. Economic development is an ongoing priority, and the City Council would like to see an increased
emphasis on tourism, to include a focus on the City’s historic downtown and sports tourism.
Historic Preservation. Since 1986, Palestine Main Street has utilized a proven method of preservation and
revitalization, the Main Street Four-Point Approach, which involves Economic Restructuring, Organization,
Design, and Promotion. The ideal candidate will have previous experience with historic preservation, and it will
be important for the new City Manager to intensely focus on historic preservation and revitalization of Main
Street.
Housing Shortage. Residential housing developments are greatly needed in order to keep up with commercial
growth. The next City Manager will need to adequately address these needs.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The City Council is seeking a dedicated and energetic individual with a servant leadership philosophy to become
Palestine’s next City Manager.
The successful candidate will maintain open communication and build a rapport with staff, City Council,
community leaders, and citizens. It will be important for the new City Manager to develop and nurture positive
partnerships with the county, school districts, and other local organizations.
It will be critical for the incoming City Manager to have highly advanced interpersonal skills and the ability to
effectively interact with all types of people. A direct communicator and consensus builder who effectively
handles conflict and stays calm in tense situations will be successful.
MISSION
STATEMENT
The City of Palestine is a
municipal government
dedicated to equality, justice,
and well being of all by
focusing on public safety, code
enforcement, and maintenance
of its infrastructure and master
plan. We emphasize balanced
growth and provide a quality
environment in which to live,
work, and play.
CITY OF PALESTINE, TEXAS CITY MANAGER
IDEAL CANDIDATE, continued
The ideal candidate will be a team builder who is caring and empathetic, but with the ability to be firm when
needed. The successful candidate will work to attract and retain quality employees and give them the
responsibility and latitude to do their jobs. The ideal candidate will have strong managerial skills with an eye for
improvement and have the ability to delegate effectively, hold employees accountable, inspire and motivate
staff, and lead by example. However, the new City Manager will not be afraid to be assertive when dealing with
challenging issues or to take personnel action when warranted.
The new City Manager should be highly skilled at guiding a diverse City Council with differing opinions
through the policy-making process, being politically savvy while always remaining politically neutral.
The ideal candidate will be a local government professional who has had a stable career and wants to make
Palestine home. The City Manager will be expected to be a visible and active member of the community, both
professionally and socially.
The successful candidate will be fiscally conservative with a thorough understanding of municipal government
finance and budget development and administration. The new City Manager will advocate a transparent budget
process and ensure that all financial management processes are based on sound accounting principles and in
accordance with GASB.
The new City Manager will be knowledgeable of complex public policy issues and well informed and
experienced in interpreting and applying Federal, State, and Local government codes, rules, and regulations. The
successful candidate will work to understand existing city policies and procedures and recommend changes as
necessary. An innovative problem solver will be successful in this position.
The successful candidate will have a broad range of experience and knowledge across all areas of municipal
operations including finance, economic development, public safety, and public works.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
This position requires a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field
and five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government, including three years of
experience as a city manager, assistant city manager, or department head. A master’s degree in public
administration or a related field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may also
be considered.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The starting salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The City participates in the Texas
Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at a mandatory employee deposit rate of 6% and a municipal matching
ratio of 2:1. A full range of leave and insurance benefits is also provided, including a 457 deferred compensation
plan and a flexible spending account.
MISSION
GOAL
Citizens trust that City Council
members, employees, and
board and commission
members are aligned and acting
on principles in the mission
statement.
CITY OF PALESTINE, TEXAS CITY MANAGER
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please apply online at: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches.
For more information on this position, contact:
Larry Gilley, Senior Vice President
Strategic Government Resources
LarryGilley@GovernmentResource.com
325-660-4208
The position is open until filled. To view the status of this position, please visit:
http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches.
The City of Palestine 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 Palestine
www.cityofpalestinetx.com
Palestine Economic Development Corporation
www.palestinetexas.net
Palestine Chamber of Commerce
www.palestinechamber.org
Anderson County Texas
www.co.anderson.tx.us
Visit Palestine
www.visitpalestine.com
Palestine Independent School District
www.palestineschools.org
Westwood Independent School District
www.westwoodisd.net
The University of Texas at Tyler – Palestine Campus
www.uttyler.edu/palestine
Trinity Valley Community College
www.tvcc.edu
VISION
STATEMENT
The City of Palestine City
Council members and
employees visualize and work to
advocate a community that is:
• Progressive
• Naturally beautiful
• Strong business and industryattractive to new business
• Good job opportunities for all
• Quality business,
government, community, and
educational organizations
• Well planned and maintained
functional infrastructure
• Healthy and safe
• Ample recreation, cultural,
and artistic opportunities
• A historical treasure
• A place all are proud to call
home