Sara Ott, Icma-Cm Email & Phone Number

Grand Junction, Co, Us

Aspen, Colorado, United States

Serve in a highly visible position providing complex administrative and executive leadership over 23 lines of business and 9 direct reports with dotted line accountability to a 500+ workforce with a mix of public and community service responsibilities. Steward fiscal decisions of a $154M budget by approving expenditures and implementing policies, directives, and operational plans set forth by board members in cooperation with community organizations, non-profit entities, business leaders, city staff, and elected officials. Stand as a critical control point in directing economic development strategies and framing communication with community leaders, business owners, and agencies to reinforce relationships and keep the city moving in the right direction. Maintain a constant pulse on economic and community development projects and formulate strategies to promote both short-and long-term planning initiatives and garner stakeholder support. Provide executive leadership support to City Council through budget recommendations, policy considerations, and development and implementation of strategic direction. Produce executive-level summaries and reporting on the city’s finances, operations, community development projects, public works, and cross-organization hazard/continuity/mitigation planning.Transformed accountability for department directors by holding them answerable to measured performance criteria and developing stretch goals to create opportunities for improvement & innovation.Oversee staffing decisions, significant purchases, renovation and construction projects, land acquisition, zoning requirements, land use applications, and permitting.Enforce an operational rhythm of business that continually provides the necessary tangible and intangible services to ensure the very politically engaged community and impassioned residents feel represented and supported.

Dublin, Ohio

Served as the chief executive officer of an organization with 150+ employees and a $23.9M budget for one of the largest growing townships in Ohio. Coordinated administrative activities between multiple local governments and elected board members to maximize resources, partnerships, and strategic planning initiatives. Conferred with department heads regarding annual operating plans and ensured plans were clearly communicated, prioritized, and cascaded to appropriate stakeholders. Stood as a facilitator for the efficient development, implementation, and provisioning of municipal services. Developed proposals on city-wide and community-based projects, represented city council members during public meetings and supported fiscal decisions by preparing budgets, financial summaries, and special assessments of debt, utility billing, licensing, and permitting. Instituted significant policy changes to reduce the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims, including supporting physical fitness standards and addressing mental health. Led voter education process for the renewal of an 8.25M property tax levy for the Fire Department and EMS, establishing the first-ever citizen support committee, which secured 76% voter approval of the measure.Developed the first multi-year Capital Improvement Program and a 10-year fiscal forecast model, which included 2 levy cycles to support spending decisions. Improved citizen communication by building a social media presence with featured articles and implementing new online programs, significantly increasing website traffic by 400% within 6 months after launch. Negotiated the operation and ownership of all park and recreation assets to new contractors, ensuring assets remained available for enjoyment, operated at higher service levels, and allowed $530K to be redirected to other core services.

City Of Dublin, Ohio

Supported 3 City Managers in progressive roles to provide an innovative, growing community with high service level expectations and a history of proactive land-use planning with high-end design standards. Offered executive-level administrative skills to implement policy directives, develop web messaging, and create print collateral for the City Manager and City Council Members. Completed administrative responsibilities to assist 25 divisions in achieving operational excellence across multiple service lines, partnerships, and economic/community development strategies. Led a historic downtown district redevelopment project by formulating the request for proposal process and negotiating $9M in public-private partnership contracts. Stood as an executive management team member to maximize fiscal strategies, make staffing decisions, and address changes impacting the organization.Led a capital improvement program that identified master planning initiatives for bikeways, parkland acquisitions, and real estate right-of-way negotiations.Served as an interim Recreation Services Director responsible for managing 320+ employees, 110K sq ft recreation center, and 2 outdoor aquatic centers with an operating budget of $3M annually.Negotiated 4 public, non-profit partnership agreements and negotiated loan terms on a $800K contribution for an affordable senior housing complex.

Community characteristics: growing community; primarily residential, with emphasis on historic preservation and retail base expansion; experienced financial constraints, resulting in no growth budgets; full service city with Fire, Police, Public Works, Utilities and Parks and Recreation; operating budget of $41.8 million and 200 FT employees; Kansas City metro area. Provided managerial support to City Administrator and Assistant City Administrator. Managed all aspects of human resources for organization including hiring, discipline, evaluation, benefits, pay and classification, EEOC complaint investigations, FMLA, ADA, and personnel policy development. Implemented a comprehensive supervisor training program and employee safety program. Served as risk manager and safety officer for City, including administration of programs and claims for workers compensation, property, general liability, and other coverages. Represented City in municipal government risk pool. Managed comprehensive solid waste program including negotiating new private service contract that locked fees in at the lowest rates in the Kansas City metro area for 10 years. Coordinated budget development for five divisions.Published annual progress report on key initiatives and organizational accomplishments. Provided management direction and staffing in emergency operations center in response to two natural disasters (tornado and major ice storm with long term power outage). Researched, presented, and implemented special projects and programs in support of City Council policy directives.

Bonner Springs, Kansas

Community characteristics: rural community under development pressure from growth in adjacent city; services focused on utilities, public works and policing; operating budget of $7.7 million and 25 FT employees; home to five major entertainment venues for the metro area; Kansas City metro area.Prepared policy recommendations for EMS services to transition from volunteer to staffed service including personnel, finance and legal research. Coordinated with Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services for auditing of services for management and response capabilities; participated in dispatching services reviews with city of Kansas City, KS/Wyandotte County, KS. Research options for development excise tax and impact fees to support capital infrastructure needs. Assisted with GASB Statement 34 implementation, resident inquiries, and event management for nearby NASCAR track.

Master Of Public Administration, Local Government Management

Graduate Certificate In Mediation And Conflict Resolution, Mediation

graduate level studies certificate in mediation, workplace mediation and multi-party negotiations

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government