Development Services Director

Corpus Christi, a year-round coastal city, is located on the Gulf of Mexico and is the second most popular vacation destination in the state of Texas. It is nestled behind the barrier islands of Mustang and Padre. The isles of Texas are a popular summer vacation getaway for many. Corpus Christi is approximately 130 miles from San Antonio and 200 miles from Austin. It is also conveniently located to the Mexico border via Brownsville, approximately 160 miles away. The City is served by Corpus Christi International Airport and includes major air carriers including American Eagle, ASA/The Delta Connection, Continental/ Continental Express and Southwest Airlines.

The Isles of Texas is home to several singular attractions including the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. Padre Island National Seashore includes over 130 miles of beautiful beaches, the longest barrier island in the nation. With the average temperature of 71.2 degrees, Corpus Christi is a year-round outdoor recreation haven. Recreational activities include several golf courses, sailing and windsurfing, a wildlife park, marina, fishing (bay and offshore), tennis, shopping and waterfront restaurants.

Wintertime temperatures reach into the 70’s and 80’s making the City a popular destination for winter residents as well. The City’s current population is over 280,000.

The City is also proud of its cultural attractions including the South Texas Institute for the Arts located on Corpus Christi Bay designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson. In addition, the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History feature a variety of interactive exhibits for families including the world famous 1554 Spanish Shipwreck.

Additionally, there are two universities/colleges in the Corpus Area, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and Del Mar College. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is committed to becoming one of the leading centers of higher education in the Gulf of Mexico region while serving the intellectual, cultural, social, environmental, and economic needs of South Texas. As a result, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will invigorate and strengthen the region and state through its educational programs, research initiatives, and outreach efforts. Del Mar College is a comprehensive community college in Corpus Christi, Texas, offering more academic, occupational, technical and continuing education programs than any other college or university in the area. Each year, over 24,000 students enroll in one of 150 different credit and noncredit programs.

The City is currently expanding the Bayfront Plaza Convention Center and is adding a multi-purpose arena to the Center. Negotiations are currently underway that could bring a minor league baseball team to Corpus Christi by 2005. Other major projects that will affect the City include the dredging of a new channel and the redevelopment of the Bayfront area.

The City of Corpus Christi is proud to have been presented the 2003 All-America City Award, the nation's premier civic recognition award, in June 2003. Corpus Christi is one of just 10 cities nationwide, and the only one in Texas, selected as a 2003 All-America City on June 14, 2003, during a special ceremony in Washington, D.C. Citizens of the City are very proud of this prestigious national award which is recognition for the many ways in which community members, government, businesses and non-profit organizations work together to address critical local issues.

Additional information regarding Corpus Christi can be obtained on the City’s website at www.cctexas.com.

City Government

Corpus Christi has a Council-Manager form of local government. The city manager functions as the chief executive officer, carrying out policy and handling operations as directed by the city council.

The City Council is the City's Legislative body and is composed of the Mayor, one Member from each of the five Districts, and three At-Large Members. The citizens elect each to a two-year term. The Council appoints the City Manager, City Secretary, and Municipal Judges.

The City Manager leads a municipal organization with 3,235 employees and an annual budget of $465 million (FY 2004). The City Manager is assisted by three Assistant City Managers and the Executive Director of Support Services.

George K “Skip” Noe was appointed City Manager by the City Council on April 15, 2003. Previously, Mr. Noe had served as Corpus Christi’s Deputy City Manager.

The City of Corpus Christi constantly strives to improve the programs and services for local residents and visitors, with a special importance placed on responsive customer service.

The Development Services Department is a new organization that consolidates into a single business unit building inspections, permits, planning and special engineering services. The Department was recently established by the City Manager following an extensive process that included the input of customers, end-users and focus groups. Creation of a One-Stop Development Center had been identified by the City Council as a priority during its annual goal-setting retreat.

The Development Services Department has a staff of 53- full time employees and has an annual operating budget of approximately $2,000,000. The Department is financed by fees, licenses, inspections, permits and the general fund. The Department issues over 16,000 permits (building, electrical, plumbing & mechanical) annually. In addition, the Department processes 235 commercial and subdivision plans, processes 134 plats and reviews approximately 1,800 residential and commercial plans each year.

The Department is organized into the following Divisions: Inspection Operations; Planning and Special Engineering Services. Inspection Operations includes: Plan Review, Backflow Prevention, Building Inspection, Electrical Inspection, Plumbing/Mechanical Inspection and Permits. Planning includes: Ordinance Administration, Comprehensive Planning and Geographical Information Services.

Special Engineering Services provides Administration for any infrastructure work serving plats and developed property. In addition, this section provides administration of any private construction work built in the public right-of-way or on City property.

In March 2003, the Development Services Department moved into a newly renovated space located in the Frost Bank Building at 2406 Leopard Street, near the intersection of Port and Leopard. The Development Services Department occupies the first floor of this building (approximately 17,240 square feet). Fire Administration is located on the second and third floor. Emergency Management is on the fourth floor.

The Building Inspection Division is responsible for residential and commercial plan review, permitting and inspections of residential and commercial construction, and administration of vendor permits, electrician’s licenses, and liquor licenses. It also administers the City’s Community Rating System annual application for community flood insurance premiums and the Insurance Services, Inc. rating.

The Building Inspection Division maintains and enforces the technical construction codes adopted by the City of Corpus Christi. The construction codes adopted by the City are the 1997 Standard Building, 1997 Standard Plumbing, 1997 Standard Gas, and the 1997 Standard Mechanical Codes, and the 1999 National Electric Code, and the Flood Hazard prevention code, all with local amendments. Public health, safety, and welfare are provided through these codes, which are all uniformly administered.

The Corpus Christi City Charter mandates comprehensive planning as a continuous governmental function in order to guide, regulate and manage future development and redevelopment within the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city to assure the most appropriate and beneficial use of the land, water and other natural resources, consistent with the public interest.

The Comprehensive Plan consists of a series of plans that provide the public and private sectors with a guideline for development. The geographic scope of the Comprehensive Plan includes the City Limits and land five miles outward, known as the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction. The plan contains the city’s policies for future land use, urban design, transportation, public services, economic development and environmental protection. The Comprehensive Plan is composed of the Corpus Christi Policy Statements, Area Development Plans, Capital Improvement Program, Master Service Plans and Special Area Plans.

Under the direction of the Assistant City Manager-Development Services, The Director of Development Services is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Department of Development Services.

Essential functions include the following examples of key responsibilities and duties:

Manage the department of development services. Analyze activities, costs, and operations. Establishes and sets procedures to monitor the budget. Evaluates senior staff and enforces city and departmental policy.

Administers by oversight and regulatory programs of the city. Assists with development and adoption of the technical construction codes, TNRCC regulations and the flood hazard prevention code. Assists with development and changes to the zoning and platting ordinance. Monitors legislation to determine effects on the development.

Staff liaison to various internal and external boards and commissions, including: Planning Commission, Historic Landmark Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, Plumbing and Mechanical Committee, Electrical Advisory Committee and the Building Code Board of Appeals. Oversees the maintenance of records accounting actions and decisions. Assists with appointments.

Administration of the customer service initiative. Attends meetings with the development community. Makes presentations to the public and the development community. Handles internal and external complaints. Handles customers in a consistent professional manner. Also attends council meetings and community meetings.

The next Director will have a broad understanding of the development process, planning and zoning and be involved in a comprehensive rewrite of the unified development codes. Strong organizational skills are required with significant management and supervisory experience. The next Director will also have a strong background in process improvement and have exceptional customer service skills and sensitivities. Ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with appointed officials, city staff, citizen committees, architects, developers, engineers and other customers. Requires a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of five years experience in development service or related field.

Compensation

To Apply

Interested candidates should send their resume to Gerald Plock Associates Inc., 7501 Stallion Circle, Flower Mound, Texas 75022. Tel: 817-464-4610 or fax 817/464-4061. Email geraldplock@geraldplockassoc.com An accelerated search is expected.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Recruiter. The City values diversity at all levels of its workforce. Women, minorities and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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Director of Development Services

Compensation

To Apply