2016 COMMUNITY VALUE SURVEY
City Manager Jonathan E. Evans, MPA, MBA, ICMA-CM
We want to hear from you! Take our Community Value Survey at hainescity.com/survey to win some really cool prizes!
Make sure you mention "CM Report Contest" in the additional comments section of the survey and provide your email address to be eligible to win. We will randomly draw a winner next Wednesday, April 13th (all prizes are donated). For the past three years, Haines City has given you the opportunity to provide feedback pertaining to City services and what you value most in Haines City via our Community Value Survey. We value your opinions. Therefore, we would like to give you the opportunity to provide feedback via our 2016 Community Value Survey. This survey is a tool intended for City Administration and the City Commission to hear your opinions on City services. Your participation is critical to helping move Haines City forward. Hurry, there are only 9 days left! The survey will remain open until Sunday, April 17, 2016. Thank you again for your participation.
Respectfully submitted, Jonathan E. Evans, MPA, MBA, ICMA-CM City Manager
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SPECIAL EVENTS
Parks & Recreation Director, Auburn Taylor
Easter Egg Hunt 
Thank you to all our volunteers who came out to helped during our Easter Egg Hunt! We wouldn't have been able to do it without you!
IRONMAN 70.3 Florida - Sunday, April 10, 2016
Preparation for IRONMAN is underway at Lake Eva Park. Its three-loop course makes it one of the best races on the 70.3 circuit for spectators, who have multiple chances to cheer on their loved ones, all while enjoying two playgrounds, water slides, a kiddie pool, food vendors and IRONMAN village.
For athletes, IRONMAN 70.3 Florida is a popular early-season race, whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned pro getting your legs ready for the year ahead. Expect a beach start, freshwater lake swim, moderately hilly bike course past orange groves and through downtown, and an energetic three-loop run. The swim course, in particular, receives rave reviews from athletes.
The sunny event is a regional IRONMAN TriClub Championship race, attracting clubs from all over the state with its podium ceremony, pre-race barbecue, and tent city celebration. And for pint-sized athletes, an IRONKIDS race takes place the day before the main event.
The 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 Florida offers 30 qualifying slots to the 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
For more information on how the IRONMAN activities will affect you and your area, please view the attached impact notice.
Memorial Day Ceremony - Monday, May 30, 2016 @ 9:00AM
Please join us for our Memorial Day Ceremony at the Military Court of Honor at Railroad Park in Downtown Haines City - 502 E Main Street, Haines City, FL 33844.
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CITY ADMINISTRATION
City Manager, Jonathan E. Evans, MPA, MBA, ICMA-CM
Meet Two New Members of our Team
Assistant Finance Director, Shantavia Conner
It is with great excitement and pleasure that I announce that the City of Haines City has successfully secured an Assistant Finance Director, Ms. Shantavia Conner, MBA, CPA. Ms. Conner's education, background and experience allow her to be a valuable asset to this organization as we continue to make additional progress to be one of the most effective and transparent organizations in the region.
Ms. Conner is a graduate from the University of Central Florida, she possesses both a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Finance, as well as a Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA). She is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Florida. Being a native of Avon Park, Florida, the daughter of a Law Enforcement Officer of 22 years, and a Registered Nurse, Ms. Conner's passion for public service was displayed during the interview process.
Ms. Conner's start date will be April 11, 2016. We are very fortunate to have a very enthusiastic and dynamic individual join the City's Management Team, and we look forward to working with her as she brings her tremendous skill-set to this organization over the next years.
Human Resources Specialist, Melody Smith
The City is excited and enthusiastic concerning a recent appointment to the position of Human Resources Specialist. Human Resources Director Kandace Tappen, through an extensive recruitment process, has selected Ms. Melody Smith to serve in the Human Resources Specialist position that was approved in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget.
Ms. Smith will be the only individual to ever hold this position and the City is thoroughly excited to welcome her to the organization. She has served as a member of the AmeriCorps (State and National level) where she logged 300 hours. Secondly, she was an award-winning delegate for Model the United Nations Advance Diplomacy Program in 2011.
She possesses a Bachelor's Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Public Management, has also done coursework at the University of Florida in psychology and entrepreneurship, as well as graduate studies at the University of Miami in international economics, government administration, migration and development.
Lastly, she is currently pursuing a Masters of Arts Degree in Globalization, from the University of Central Florida, with an anticipated completion date calendar year 2017. Ms. Smith served in various capacities and will be an invaluable asset to assisting Director Tappen in spearheading and revamping organization-wide policies intended to have this government run as efficiently and as effectively as possible. Her tentative start date is April 18, 2016.
Please come by and meet the newest members of our team!
Economic Summit
Please join us in our first annual Economic Summit on April 15, 2016 at 7:30 AM, at the Lake Eva Event Center - 799 Johns Ave, Haines City, FL 33844, sponsored by the Haines City Economic Development Council.
Meet the Speakers
Carol Johnson - Owner, Continuous Dialog
Carol Johnson is an Economic Development Sales Expert and founder of Continuous Dialog. Her training allows clients to keep, grow and recruit more new jobs.
Ms. Johnson's finance and marketing skills were developed at Kraft, General Foods in New York. It was where she gained her first site selection experience from the corporate finance perspective. Sales and Sales Management success was realized in leading successful sales and customer service teams in telecommunications. Ms. Johnson won awards for new products that contributed millions to the bottom-line as well as top sales honors in every sales leadership position held.
She holds a BA in Marketing from Florida State University and MBA in Finance from Indiana University. Ms. Johnson lives in Atlanta, is married and has two daughters. She is active in the community and social initiatives, as well as youth leadership.
Dr. Chris Jones - President, Florida Economic Advisors Instructor, University of South Florida
Florida Economic Advisors was established in 2003 by Dr. Chris Jones, one of Central Florida's most experienced regional economists. Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D in economics from the University of South Florida, and additional graduate degrees in business from USF and Rollins College. With an undergraduate education in resource economics from the University of Florida, Dr. Jones brings 11 years of university training and five college degrees to his consulting resume.
Dr. Jones' 22-year professional career includes extensive private and public sector expertise. After beginning his career in 1992 with an Orlando economic consulting group, Dr. Jones moved on to spend eight years as Director of Economic Consulting for one of Central Florida's largest real estate advisory firms. Dr. Jones' public sector work includes a term as Chief Economist for the City of Orlando, and membership on Governor Jeb Bush's Fiscal Impact Advisory Committee.
Dr. Jones is a full-time faculty member of the Economics Department at the University of South Florida. In addition, he also teaches courses in business and economics at Florida Southern College, and Hillsborough Community College.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Human Resources Director
Haines City is hiring! Please visit us at http://hainescity.com/jobs/ to view a listing of positions open to receive applications. When completed, your application and resume may be e-mail to [email protected]. For more information, please call the Human Resources Department (863) 421-9927.
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PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Director Auburn Taylor
Certifications
Parks department staff members attended the Florida Water Star Water Conservation training seminar by Southwest Florida Water Management District. Florida Water Star is a water conservation certification program for new and existing homes and commercial developments. Standards and guidelines for water efficiency are included for: indoor fixtures and appliances, landscape design and irrigation systems.
Parks department staff members also attended the Florida Department of Transportation Intermediate Maintenance of Traffic course provided by SafetyLinks. This course is required for those who set up, maintain, inspect, or design work zones or traffic control devices.
We are offering both middle school & elementary school summer camp this year! Registration has started for Summer Camp and will be open until May 13, 2016. Fees vary based on residency - $575 for residents; $700 for non-city residents. Payment plan options are available with a $200 down payment. The programs run from June 13-August 5, 2016. Breakfast and lunch are included.
Aquatic Center/Swim Lessons
The Lake Eva Aquatic Center will be opening up on weekends starting April 16th. The facility will be open from 12-6 PM, and admission is $5.00 per person. Individual and family season passes are available.
Registrations for swim lessons have begun. Classes are available for ages 6 months - adults. Fee is $40.00 per session. Registration is available in person only at the Lake Eva Community Center.
For more information on any aquatics programs or services, please contact Haines City Parks & Recreation at (863) 421-3700.
We had our FIRST child complete reading 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. Trinity Ferguson received a backpack filled with supplies she'll need to start Kindergarten off on the right page. There are a few more participants (including her little sister) approaching the finish line. KEEP IT UP TINY READERS!!
Library Events
Our Doctor Who Party is approaching quickly! Saturday, April 16, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM come join us at the Whovian event to remember - FREE Admission, Food, Cosplay & Prizes!! https://youtu.be/LP3jiHHQwig (Link to video)
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FIRE DEPARTMENT
Assistant Fire Chief, Stuart McCutcheon
Fire Department Response Time 
To the right is a map displaying the response capabilities for the Fire Department, as well as a graphic display of the 2015 call volume.
Green dots are calls within the City limits that the Fire Department can respond to in less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds from the time Fire/EMS is contacted at the dispatch center (6 minutes 30 seconds is the upper limit benchmark for accreditation, the additional minute accounts for travel variation). Dots in the red shading are within that transition area. This was calculated using ArcMap based upon PCSO street mapping (mph) and the State Plane FL West (US Feet) data source accurate to with 0.00001 feet. Red dots are those that fall outside of that window, and/or the department does not respond to at all due to distances involved.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
Assistant Police Chief, Brian McNulty
Officer Christopher Todd Horner Memorialized
On the 18th year anniversary of losing a member of Haines City's Finest, Officer Christopher Todd Horner was forever memorialized by the City during a dedication ceremony renaming the portion of the roadway in front of the Haines City Police Department to Officer Horner Memorial Lane.
On March 3, 1998, Haines City Police Officer Christopher Horner was shot and killed while checking on a suspicious vehicle in the Oakland Cemetery. In an effort to honor a man who made the ultimate sacrifice for his family, his community and his department, we, as a department and as a City, feel it is only right to name the street in front of the Police Department after Officer Horner.
The dedication ceremony had in its attendance local dignitaries, local law enforcement, local fire department, former employees, and Officer Horner's daughter. The official unveiling was well received. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this happen.
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WOW (Watched Outstanding Work!)
The City of Haines City would like to thank all of our excellent, dedicated employees and volunteers who help make the City a great place to work, live and play. Have you "Watched Outstanding Work" within the City lately? Let us know at [email protected].
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