CITY OF NIXA, MISSOURI

CITY ADMINISTRATOR

THE COMMUNITY A progressive and fast-growing community ideally situated in the Springfield Metro Area, Nixa, Missouri, is home to approximately 21,000. The City is located in Christian County, one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri, and covers 8.48 square miles. Residents of Nixa appreciate the City’s small-town ambiance, while enjoying its close proximity to Springfield on a major four-lane highway, with no more than 45 minutes commuting time from any major employment center in Springfield. The Springfield National Airport is just 20 miles away.

Incorporated as a village in 1902, Nixa became a fourth class city under Missouri law on June 7, 1946, and it became a Home Rule Charter City in April 2010. Since the City’s first census count in 1940, Nixa’s population has grown rapidly and has far outpaced growth for Christian County and the state of Missouri. The City’s high quality educational opportunities, great connectivity, low crime rate, availability of quality housing, and small-town feel continue to draw families to the area.

As Christian County’s largest city and the second largest in the Springfield MSA (which includes Greene, Christian, and Webster counties), Nixa is an important part of the greater metropolitan area. The City’s economic structure reflects this role. While the economy of Nixa is dominated by retail and service activities, Nixa contains several small- to medium-sized manufacturing firms. Some are typical of smaller communities located in metropolitan areas, such as small printing and publishing, engineering and metal working, and food processing firms. Also included is a relatively large plastics manufacturer. The City’s largest employers include Nixa School District, Walmart, City of Nixa, Diversified Plastics, Accurate Plastics, Christian Health & Rehabilitation, Ample Industries, and Nixa Hardware.

MOTTONeighbors committed

to an exceptional quality of life.

Since the Imagine Nixa report was published in 1996, the Nixa Industrial Park has almost completely built-out and the City is examining possibilities for expanding the current industrial park or developing a new industrial park. Much of Nixa’s manufacturing is located on the northern edge of the City in the industrial park and the area along U.S. Highway 160. Nixa is still in a favorable position for growth in manufacturing firms.

While the City actively pursues growth and development opportunities, tremendous efforts have been made to ensure that continued growth is sustainable. The City recently reached an agreement to purchase 100% of the power generated from the newly completed Nixa Solar Farm—a 72-acre facility which includes 33,288 solar panels. The solar farm is capable of generating up to 7.92 megawatts of AC power which will provide over 15 million kilowatt hours per year, roughly 9% of Nixa’s annual energy consumption. The project reduces the City’s carbon footprint (Co2 emissions) by 10,542 metric tons per year, equivalent to burning over 11 million pounds of coal or nearly 1.2 million gallons of gasoline. The savings amount to approximately $2.5 million over the 25-year contract. These savings mean Nixa can continue to keep rates low for Nixa Utility customers while continuing to improve its electric infrastructure and connect new homes and businesses in this growing community.

Named one of the “Best Places to Live in America” by Time Magazine and one of Money Magazine’s “7 Best Places to Retire Right Now” in 2017, Nixa offers residents a variety of recreational and other amenities. The City is on the doorstep of the Ozarks and is 10 minutes from several tourist attractions in Springfield, including the Bass Pro Shops and Wonders of Wildlife. Nixa residents can also visit the popular vacation destination Branson, Missouri, in 30 minutes, and Table Rock Lake in 30-45 minutes. The Nixa Community Center, McCauley Park, Rotary Park, the

Gardens at Woodfield, and Nixa Parks and Recreation provide high-quality programming and activities as well.

Nixa Public Schools is a “Triple A” (AAA) School System that serves over 6,000 students on 12 campuses. For those seeking higher education opportunities, Nixa’s close proximity to Springfield provides residents and employees in the Nixa area with convenient access to Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College, Drury University, Evangel University, and Southwest Baptist University, with Crowder College and Missouri Southern State University just over 60 miles away.

Nixa has a median home value of $135,400 and a median household income of $51,471. The City has a real property tax rate of $5.8613 per $100 of assessed valuation, plus $.3400 of commercial surcharge.

GOVERNANCE & ORGANIZATIONThe City of Nixa is a home rule city and operates under a council-manager form of government. The City is led by a Mayor and six City Council representatives who are elected by the public and serve alternating three-year terms. A professional City Administrator is hired to manage the day-to-day operations of the City. The City Administrator, City Clerk, and Police Chief report directly to council. The staff leadership team consists of the City Administrator and City Clerk, as well as the heads of the City’s departments, including Police, Parks & Recreation, Planning & Development, and Public Works departments. The Public Information Officer, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, Director of Parks, and Director of Planning and Development report directly to the City Administrator.

Within Public Works, the City operates a public-owned utility (Nixa Utilities) made up of the electric, water, and

wastewater departments. Public Works also houses the stormwater, street, and recycling departments, as well as an internal vehicle maintenance shop. Administrative departments encompass utility billing, building inspections, code enforcement, animal control, finance, municipal court, human resources, communications, and the office of the City Clerk. Services are also provided by regional fire and ambulance districts and a county library system.

In 2017, the City launched an employee think tank which generates and develops solutions from staff representatives from each department for presentation and adoption by management and/or Council. The City of Nixa demonstrates its compassion through Helping from the Heart, a charitable organization operated by a staff committee, and also administers an employee wellness program.

The City has an annual budget of $38 million and 130 FTEs. Nixa has received the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION The new City Administrator will find Nixa a friendly, diverse City with a stable government, unparalleled amenities and municipal services, and the usual challenges and opportunities that are characteristic of a thriving and growing community. The next City Administrator will develop long-term strategies that will help the City address the following challenges and realize its mission of providing a high quality of life to its citizens:

Connectivity The City will develop and implement plans to improve connectivity, both internally and externally, for various modes of transportation to reduce congestion and increase safety. The new City Administrator will oversee the implementation of a long-term transportation master plan that will include a prioritization of projects. The City will enhance requirements to accommodate pedestrian safety and vehicle capacity around school zones.

Community Engagement The City of Nixa will develop and implement plans to involve citizens and encourage participation to enhance the community’s position in the region, including the expansion and enhancement of the content of all City communication channels, the creation of a welcoming environment that reflects positive customer service, and the forging of partnerships with area businesses and organizations to promote community involvement and encourage volunteerism.

Growth and Development

City Mantra: “DISCOVER Greatness”

DependableIntegritySupportiveCommunicativeOptimisticVisibleExcellentResponsible

The City of Nixa will develop and implement plans to create an environment to promote business development and encourage business growth, including the allocation of funding for economic growth, business retention, and the revitalization of commercial areas. The City will partner with regional educational entities to train and develop the local workforce. The City will utilize the services of an economic development director for growth of business and will develop and implement plans to acquire additional recreational spaces, develop current park properties, and expand recreational services, including the establishment of additional revenue to fund current programs and future growth. Additionally, the City plans to develop sponsorship opportunities, explore options for indoor aquatics, acquire spaces promoting park connectivity, and develop newly acquired park land and a dog park. Continued progress on current plans for infrastructure improvements will be a priority.

IDEAL CANDIDATE The selected City Administrator will be a creative, progressive, and visionary leader with a positive approach to management. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a strong customer service focus and commitment to the community. It will be important for the next City Administrator to maintain an environment of transparency and trust and to foster positive and productive relationships with the Council, City staff, and the public. The City Administrator will champion the implementation of policies that will guide this diverse and dynamic community on the path to continuous, sustainable growth, while honoring its heritage, history, and small-town culture.

The next City Administrator will be an energetic multi-tasker and decisive problem-solver with plenty of project management experience and proven strategic planning skills. Previous budget and accounting experience will be required to skillfully guide the City in developing budgets, identifying new sources of revenue, implementing cost saving techniques, and meeting current and future fiduciary responsibilities. Economic development and municipal finance skills are needed to ensure development opportunities are sought and implemented using fiscally responsible processes and procedures that make the best use of the City’s resources. The City Administrator will need to successfully merge new developments with existing developments without compromising the unique charm of the City. Experience with ballot issues, municipal utilities services, and Strategic Planning is strongly desired.

The successful candidate will be a trust builder who possesses exceptional communication skills, with the ability to effectively and articulately present pertinent information to the Council, staff, residents, business community, county legislators, and other stakeholders. The City Administrator will handle sensitive issues with tact, diplomacy, and discretion. The ideal candidate shall be an excellent communicator who is well-versed in municipal operations and skilled in the use of social media, with the ability to listen and convey information to a variety of audiences. The Council desires a candidate who will communicate with them sincerely and candidly.

The City Administrator will be a highly ethical, honest, and confident servant leader who will provide consistency in management throughout the organization, delegate to staff with authority, and clearly communicate expectations to ensure employee success. The ideal candidate will maintain a harmonious, positive, and collaborative work environment and will develop synergy between departments, uniting the organization with a shared sense of purpose. The selected individual will support a culture of accountability within the organization and encourage employee development and enrichment opportunities that improve performance. Good management instincts and a sense of humor are essential.

The successful candidate will be a people person who is highly visible and involved in the community and will frequently participate in community activities. The candidate should be congenial, approachable, and at-ease in a variety of social settings. A candidate who values public/private partnerships will be successful.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCEA bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required. A master’s degree is preferred. The selected candidate must have 5-10 years of senior level management experience in local, regional, or national government or within the private sector. Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge and skills will be considered. ICMA credentialing a plus. Residency is required by the City Charter but can be waived by Council.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITSThe salary range for this position is $120,000 to $160,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The City provides a generous benefits program including health, dental, life insurance, and paid vacation and sick leave. The City participates in the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System (LAGERS) at a 4% employee salary deposit rate, with vesting after five years, and also offers a voluntary deferred compensation plan.

RESOURCESCity of Nixa

nixa.com/

Economic Development nixa.com/business/economic-development

Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce nixachamber.com

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APPLICATION PROCESS Please apply online at: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches

For more information on this position contact:

Kirk Davis, Senior Vice President Strategic Government Resources KirkDavis@GovernmentResource.com 816-210-3543

This position is open until filled. To view the status of this position, please visit: http://bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches

The City of Nixa 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.