FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcia Hope Goodwin 407-246-3107

MAYOR BUDDY DYER ANNOUNCES
CITY RESTRUCTURING

ORLANDO, FL (May 30, 2003) -- Only days after receiving his transition team report, Mayor Buddy Dyer has quickly developed a bold plan to restructure Orlando City government. The new structure will give the Mayor direct oversight of the city’s major departments and will place a greater emphasis on the City’s fiscal accountability.

After completing a thorough review of his transition team’s report and conducting his own assessment of city operations, Mayor Dyer structured his plan to establish clear lines of accountability and greater top-to-bottom awareness of the city’s goals and mission.

“The management staff will work directly with me,” said Mayor Dyer. “I will be responsible to the citizens, because the buck stops with the Mayor.”

The new organizational structure creates a Mayor’s cabinet, consisting of nine departments that report directly to the Mayor. Although several departments include functions different from the current city structure, only three new departments are proposed: Families, Parks and Recreation; Economic Development and Housing.

“This is necessary to execute our emphasis on the economic vitality of our city, including home ownership and affordability,” Dyer said.

Other departmental changes involve moving General Services, which will include technology management, personnel management, purchasing and fleet/facilities management under the City Clerk’s office, streamlining the Office of Management and Budget and eliminating the Community and Youth Services Department.

The plan will also create a new office in the Mayor’s Office, called Child Welfare and Education, to address a variety of children’s issues and needs; and will combine two existing offices, Communications and Neighborhood Services, into the Office of Communications and Neighborhood Enhancement.

To ensure greater fiscal oversight and accountability, the Mayor is also recommending the creation of a permanent Finance Committee and the hiring of an independent financial advisor, as oversight for the Chief Financial Office.

The Mayor’s Cabinet will consist of:

Chief Financial Office, G. Michael Miller
Office of Management and Budget, Robert Garner
Police Department, Michael McCoy
Fire Department
City Clerk/General Administration, Jose I. Fernandez
Public Works, David Metzker
Department of Economic Development, Richard Levey (interim)
Department of Housing, Lelia Allen
Department of Families, Parks and Recreation, Byron Brooks

In Dyer’s plan, the City Attorney continues to report directly to the Mayor, as does his Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer. These positions will serve on the Mayor’s cabinet. An ordinance is required to create or eliminate city departments. The plan and an ordinance supporting it will be presented to the Orlando City Council in a 10:30 a.m. workshop on Monday, June 2, in City Council Chambers.

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