Public Policy Institute of Marion County Hosts
Seminar on Reshaping Local Government
March 29, 2006 – OCALA - FLORIDA - To provide leadership in identifying recommendations for an improved community, the Public Policy Institute (PPI) of Marion County will host a spring seminar entitled: Reshaping Local Government: The Benefits and Disadvantages on Wednesday, April 5, 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Klein Conference Center at Central Florida Community College. The event is free and open to the public.
Keynote speaker Ed Austin, former mayor of Jacksonville, Florida, will highlight the benefits and disadvantages of reshaping local government. Austin was the first pubic defender in Jacksonville during the late 60s when the city and county officially consolidated. Austin also served as state attorney for twenty five years. In addition to Austin’s historical perspectives on government structure, panelists will outline case studies involving city/county mergers, combined service agreements, and strategic plans for organizational and financial management.
Speakers will invite reaction and discussion from the audience. Lynette Vermillion will moderate the session. Panelists include representatives from the Polk County, Florida Efficiency Commission and Jerry Newfarmer, President and CEO of Management Partners, Inc.
Newfarmer founded Management Partners in 1994 to help government leaders improve how their organizations work. The firm has counseled with mayors and city and county managers throughout North America to develop performance measures, strategic plans, and training programs for performance management systems. After serving a ten-year term in San Jose, California city government, concluding as Assistant City Manager, Newfarmer went on to serve as City Manager for Fresno, San Jose, and Cincinnati. He also served as leader of the State and Local Government Team in the National Performance Review, an examination of the operations and management of the Government of the United States. He has been a national leader in local government performance measurement, and was instrumental in establishing ICMA’s Center for Performance Measurement. In addition to his public service, Newfarmer served as President of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, a position he held during the Loma Prieta Earthquake.
Reservations for the seminar are recommended. Reserve your seat via e-mail to flynnc@cf.edu or 352-854-2322, extension 1457.
About PPI: PPI (Public Policy Institute of Marion County) is dedicated to advancing the public interest, building democracy and community, and improving the quality of life by involving citizens in the process.