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2012-27873 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2012-27873 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONSENTING TO AND CONFIRMING THE APPOINTMENT OF JAVIER H. OTERO AS THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. WHEREAS, The City Administration engaged in a very thorough open recruitment and selection process for the purpose of identifying the best candidate for consideration for appointment as the next Fire Chief; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Article IV, Section 4.02 of the City of Miami Beach Charter, the City Manager has the power to appoint directors of the City departments with the consent of the Mayor and the City Commission; and WHEREAS, as a result of the open recruitment process, Javier H. Otero has been appointed as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, subject to consent of the City Commission; and WHEREAS, Javier H. Otero began his career with the Miami Beach Fire Department in 1989, serving in numerous capacities and ranks leading up to his promotion to the position of Assistant Fire Chief; and has a proven track of achievements demonstrating strong management skills and leadership abilities. WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Commission wish to consent to and confirm the appointment of Javier Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, consent to and confirm the appointment of Javier H. Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, effective April 1, 2012. PASSED and ADOPTED this ?/S- day of QrC 2012. INCORP ORATED' O ATTEST: -ro ( PAA CIS APPROVED AS TO CITY CLERK FORM &LANGUAGE &FOR EXECUTION Ity Attom �(l. Date TAAGENDA\2012\3-21-12\Fire Chief RESOLUTION.dou ?1C ® MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK State of Florida County of Miami-Dade I, Javier H. Otero, a citizen of the State of Florida and of the United States of America, and being employed by or an officer of the City of Miami Beach and a recipient of public funds as such employee or officer, do hereby solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of the State of Florida; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, effective April 1 , 2012. 4. Javier H. Otero Sworn to and subscribed before me this 215f day of March, 2012 o7o M� Robert Parcher City Clerk F:\CLER\CLER\OATH\Oath Otero.doc COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY Condensed Title: Consenting to the appointment of Assistant Fire Chief Javier H. Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach. Key Intended Outcome Supported: Ensure safety and appearance of building structures and sites. Increase community satisfaction with City government. Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc.): Issue: Shall the Mayor and City Commission adopt the attached Resolution consenting and confirming Javier H. Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach? Item Summa /Recommendation: Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City of Miami Beach Charter requires the consent of the City Commission for the appointments of department directors. The Fire Department is tasked with providing Miami Beach residents and visitors with the highest level of safety and security through the delivery of fire suppression, emergency medical services, disaster response, ocean rescue, fire prevention, and public education programs. The City Administration began an open competitive recruitment and selection process in December 2011, for the purpose of identifying the best candidate for appointment as the next Fire Chief. The top candidate that emerged from this process is City of Miami Beach Assistant Fire Chief Javier Otero. Assistant Chief Otero began his career with the City of Miami Beach Fire Department in 1989 as a Firefighter I; he served in numerous capacities and ranks leading up to the position of Assistant Fire Chief to which he was promoted in 2008. Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Otero has demonstrated strong management skills and leadership abilities. Apart from his tenure with the City of Miami Beach Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief Otero has had a distinguished career with the United States Military. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Assistant Fire Chief Otero earned multiple Army Commendation Medals, one in particular for exceptional valor and heroism when he used his own body to shield civilians and soldiers from a grenade. He also earned the Bronze Star Medal for his exceptional efforts in planning the reconstruction of the emergency medical service capabilities of the Iraqi Government. It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the resolution consenting and confirming Javier H. Otero, effective April 1, 2012, as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, Florida. Advisory Board Recommendation: N/A Financial Information: Source of Amount Account Approved Funds: 1 � 1 2 OBPI Total Financial Impact Summary: City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking: Ramiro Inguanzo, Human Resources Sign-Offs: De a rtment/9 irector I Assistant City Manager City Manager T:IAGEND 12 01 213-2 1- Chi f ITEM SUMMARY.docx r MAN BEACH A ENDA IT I DATE 3-2-1—/Z ® MIANAMEACH City of Miami Beath, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,wvvw.miamibeachfl.gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the Ci Commission FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager DATE: March 21, 2012 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONSENTING TO THE APPOINTMENT OF JAVIER H. OTERO AS THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the Mayor and Commission adopt the attached resolution consenting and confirming the appointment of Javier H. Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach. Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City of Miami Beach Charter requires the consent of the City Commission for the appointments of Department Directors. BACKGROUND /ANALYSIS The current Fire Chief, Eric Yuhr, is in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) and separates from the City effective March 31, 2011. The City Administration began an open competitive recruitment process in December 2011 for the purpose of identifying the best candidate for my consideration for appointment as the next Fire Chief. The top candidate that emerged from this process is City of Miami Beach Assistant Fire Chief Javier H. Otero. Attached is Assistant Fire Chief Otero's resume. The Fire Chief position was advertised nationally from December 20, 2011 through January 31, 2012. A total of forty-nine (49) candidates applied for the position. Following an internal screening process and an initial review of all applications, this number was narrowed down to the seven top candidates. These candidates were invited to participate in the in-person panel interviews. The top seven candidates consisted of (in alphabetical order): • William Amador, Fire Chief, Town of Palm Beach, Florida • Virgilio Fernandez, Fire Chief, Hollywood, Florida • Donald Jones, Independent Fire Rescue Consultant, ICMA and former Assistant Fire Chief, Miami-Dade County • Charles Moreland, Former Director/Fire Chief, Jacksonville, Florida • Edward Moran, Former Fire Chief, Town of Palm Beach, Florida • David Noel, Division Chief, City of Miami Beach, Florida • Javier H. Otero, Assistant Fire Chief, City of Miami Beach, Florida To ensure that we had the benefit of diverse perspectives, the in-person panelists included a mix of individuals from the greater Miami Beach community who have occasion to interact with the City and the Miami Beach Fire Department. The mix of individuals included: Marcos de la Rosa, Fire Chief, City of Hialeah; Rafael Granado, Assistant Human Resources Director, City of Miami Beach; Shawn Hauver, Managing Director, Loews Miami Beach Hotel; Rhonda Montoya, First Assistant City Attorney, City of Miami Beach; Stephen Scott, Building Director, City of Miami Beach; and Elsa Urquiza, Miami Beach resident and former U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) employee. The direction to the members of the panel in meeting with the candidates was to take into consideration the following traits and characteristics as they evaluated each candidate: team builder and ability to positively impact employee morale; dedication and commitment to fire service and the community; demonstrated and proven leadership abilities and capabilities; commitment to the concept of fire safety and prevention; and the ability to effectively deal with labor unions. The panel interviewed the candidates on February 27, 2012, and recommended that two of the seven candidates proceed to the next level of the recruitment process: Hollywood Fire Chief Virgilio Fernandez and Miami Beach Assistant Fire Chief Javier H. Otero. The next level of the recruitment process was a final interview with City Attorney Jose Smith, Fire Chief Eric Yuhr, Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Genaro "Chip" Iglesias, whose responsibility includes public safety, and I. The final interviews with Chief Fernandez and Assistant Fire Chief Otero took place on March 7, 2012. After considering input from members of both panels, and subsequently speaking individually with the top candidates, I have decided to appoint Javier H. Otero as Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, effective April 1, 2012. Assistant Fire Chief Otero began his career with the City of Miami Beach Fire Department in 1989 as a Firefighter I and he served in numerous capacities and ranks leading up to the position of Assistant Fire Chief to which he was promoted in 2008. Throughout his career, Assistant Chief Otero has demonstrated strong management skills and leadership abilities. In 1997, he was promoted to the rank of Fire Lieutenant; in this capacity he had direct supervision of an engine company and rescue units at a fire station. He was also responsible for coaching, training and the development of direct reports. In 1999, Otero was promoted to the rank of Fire Captain in the Combat Division where his duties included the direct supervision of a fire station and was responsible for assigning and supervising routine station duties, company inspections and public education efforts. In 2000, he was assigned as the Fire Captain in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) where he was responsible for the research, development, and purchasing of fire equipment and supplies; the daily management of the EMS budget; quality assurance, training and remediation of EMS skills and medical care delivery; and the investigation of complaints and violations. In 2002, Otero was promoted to the rank of Division Chief in EMS where he was directly responsible for the operations and administration of the EMS Division. From 2004 to 2007 he served as the Division Chief of Support Service and Training, where he was responsible for supervising the design, ordering and maintenance of all apparatus and equipment, as well as ensuring their operational readiness. From 2007 to 2008 he was the Division Chief of Operations, where he directly supervised the three Division Chiefs in charge of the operational shifts. In 2008, Otero was promoted to the position of Assistant Fire Chief. In this capacity, he assumed the supervision over five Division Chiefs (Support Services, Operations, EMS/Rescue, Ocean Rescue and Fire Prevention); he also became instrumental in planning and managing the Department's budget and served as the Department's representative on labor relations activities, including collective bargaining negotiations. Apart from his tenure with the City of Miami Beach Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief Otero has had a distinguished career with the United States Military. Enlisting in the Army in 1983, Assistant Fire Chief Otero maintained his status as a Noncommissioned Officer and in 2003 was deployed to Iraq as a Master Sergeant. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Assistant Fire Chief Otero earned multiple Army Commendation Medals, one in particular for exceptional valor and heroism when he used his own body to shield civilians and soldiers from a grenade. In 2004, he earned the Bronze Star Medal for his exceptional efforts in planning the reconstruction of the emergency medical service capabilities of the Iraqi Government. I plan to provide the new Fire Chief with a "charge memorandum" which will set forth my expectations and priorities for the Fire Chief and the Fire Department and will identify both short and long term tasks that I will identify and prioritize for action. CONCLUSION Following an extensive recruitment process, I have assessed the current needs of our City and our Fire Department and have concluded that Assistant Fire Chief Otero is the best candidate to serve the residents of our City as the Fire Chief. Pursuant to the requirements of Article IV, Section 4.02, of the City Charter, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission adopt the resolution consenting and confirming Javier H. Otero as the Fire Chief for the City of Miami Beach, Florida, effective April 1, 2012. TAGENDA\2012\3-21-12\Fire Chief Commission Memo.docx Javier Otero Executive Profile Disciplined people focused leader with a passion for constant analysis and action leading to positive change. Inspired to serve the public and city administration by focusing my team on current opportunities to overcome challenges and benefit from real and perceived threats. Skill Highlights • Mission focused people sensitive • Understand internal culture process improvement (balance) (positive/negative and opportunities) • Leadership (communicate, challenge, • Fair and balanced coach, discipline) • Enjoy and embrace diversity • Ethics and fiscal responsibility • Conflict resolution (seek • Results oriented (achievable, understanding and balance) sustainable and resilient) Core Accomplishments Budget and Finance • Developed and managed budget for rescue division FY 2002, Support Services 2005- 2007, Combat Division 2008 and oversee entire department budget since 2008 • Designed and initiated use of computer programs to track inventory, purchasing and disposal of equipment and supplies in rescue division resulting in reduced waste and loss due to expiration of medical supplies. • Coached subordinate officers in support services to develop improved equipment/supplies inventory, maintenance and training initiatives. Their efforts resulted in development of better accountability measures which increased productivity, reduced costs, extended useful life of equipment and eliminated duplication of effort and erroneous data. • Assumed role of treasurer for the Fire Officers Association of Miami Dade County. Initiating accounting measures which allowed the organization to reinstate as a corporation in good standing with the State. • While serving as fund-raising chair of Calusa Elementary PTA raised yearly fund raising from less that $15,000 to over 30,000 • While deployed to Iraq, volunteered to help improve public safety. Received Bronze Star Medal for efforts leading to the improved operations and safety practices throughout Iraq. Leadership and Development • Most firefighters and all officers that have worked under my guidance have been highly successful in the promotional process and are highly regarded by peers, supervisors and subordinates • All officers who have worked in my divisions on day shift have volunteered to work with me although they had sufficient seniority to remain on 24 hour shift. • Although I set high expectations, provide honest and critical feedback, and challenge my subordinates, I am regarded as fair, consistent and easy to work with. • While deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Master Sergeant, was appointed and given authority above each Sergeant Major of three separate units to consolidate as one unit with a single command. I earned the respect and loyalty of the three Sergeant Majors who outranked me and their subordinates. • Redesigned and implemented recruit training program while assigned to support services. This program has reduced the number of recruits that fail the program while increasing the performance standard. Relationship Building • Having been a member of staff though three different Fire Chiefs, I have always maintained loyalty to each fire chief while remaining sensitive and responsive to the bargaining groups. I value and honor the role of labor and management and the system of checks and balances assured by their contributions. Large organizations tend to develop a culture of rejecting outside influence and increasingly becoming self absorbed. I openly challenge signs and symptoms of this potentially negative tendency and have successfully fostered good relationships and collaboration with other city departments, citizens, and non Governmental organizations. • 1 love my subordinates as an insider but critique them as an outsider. This allows me to remain sensitive to personnel issues without compromising the department's mission and reason for existence. I challenge and develop my subordinates to identify and resist negative competition, territoriality and other negative forces that impede true teamwork, unity and loyalty.