HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2022-12-05 Item 4 - Appointment - Peter Mayer to Position of Parks and Recreation DirectorCOUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
Initials
Meeting Date
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Mayor's review
Council review
12/5/22
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ITEM INFORMATION
ITEM No.
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STAFF SPONSOR: MAYOR EKBERG
ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 12/5/22
AGENDA ITEM TITLE Recommended Appointment of Pete Mayer as Parks & Recreation Director
CATEGORY ❑ Discussion
Mtg Date
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Motion
Date 12/5/22
❑ Resolution
Mtg Date
❑ Ordinance
Mtg Date
❑ Bid Award
Mtg Date
❑ Public Hearing
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❑ Other
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Mtg
SPONSOR ❑ Council ❑ Mayor ❑ Admin Svcs ❑ DCD ❑ Finance ❑ Fire ❑ P&R ❑ Police ❑ PJV
SPONSOR'S Recommended Appointment of Pete Mayer as Parks & Recreation Director
SUMMARY
REVIEWED BY ❑ Trans&Infrastructure Svcs ❑ Community Svcs/Safety ❑ Finance & Governance ❑ Planning & Community Dev.
❑ LTAC ❑ Arts Comm. ❑ Parks Comm. ❑ Planning Comm.
DATE: COMMITTEE CHAIR:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR/ADMIN.
COMMITTEE
COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
$ $
Fund Source:
Comments:
MTG. DATE
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
12/5/22
MTG. DATE
ATTACHMENTS
12/5/22
Informational Memorandum dated 11/28/2022
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City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: November 28, 2022
SUBJECT: Appointment of Pete Mayer as Parks & Recreation Director
ISSUE
I am excited to appoint Pete Mayer as the next permanent Parks and Recreation Director and to
seek your confirmation on December 5.
Mr. Mayer has a Master's Degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Washington State
University and has 27 years of public sector management experience in public administration,
parks, and public health. He brings broad executive experiences leading and supporting local,
regional, and state government organizations. Mr. Mayer has demonstrated tremendous
leadership skills over these past four months as the Acting Director. His strategic planning skills
and experience will be useful to the Parks and Recreation Department going forward.
We recognize that there have been many transitions and changes in the Parks and Recreation
Department. Mr. Mayer prides himself on being a dynamic and inclusive leader who inspires
teamwork while also focusing on continuous improvement. He is committed to being transparent
and working directly with staff, the community, and all of you to make positive changes going
forward while continuing to provide the highest quality services.
RECOMMENDATION
I am recommending the appointment of Pete Mayer be confirmed by Council at the December
5, 2022 Council Meeting. If you have any comments or questions, please contact me.
ATTACHMENT
Resume
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PETER M. MAYER
Issaquah, Washington
https://mw.linkedin.com/in/pete-mayer-71b1 7210
SUMMARY
• Twenty-seven years of public sector management in public administration, parks, and public health
• Broad executive experience leading and supporting local, regional, and state government organizations
• Systems thinker skilled in authentic and collaborative strategic planning and collective impact
• Dynamic and inclusive leader who inspires teamwork, continuous improvement, and fun
KEY COMPETENCIES
• Strategic and Annual Work Planning
• Intergovernmental and Cross -Sector Relations
• Project Management and Quality Improvement
• Policy Development and Implementation
• Workforce Development and Staff Engagement
• Business Support and Operations
SELECT EXPERIENCE
Local Government & Non -Profit Independent Consultant- Issaquah, WA (March 2022 -Present)
• Consulting with local governments and non -profits on business and operational strategies, government
relations and coalition building.
• Developing workforce development plans including talent acquisition and retention strategies, workforce
forecasting, and recommending promising and best practices supporting business needs.
• Collaborated with clients to identify business needs and work products, developed business proposals,
scopes of work and budgets.
Director
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission- Olympia, WA (March 2021 -October 2021)
Appointed by a seven -member Commission to lead a team of 1,000 employees, including 170 commissioned law
enforcement officers, all elements of the 137,000 -acre state park system, including a $212 million operating and $103
million capital biennial budget. Supervised the Directors for Operations, Park Development, Administrative Services,
Policy/Legislative Affairs, Communications and Human Resources as well as the Executive Assistant.
• Developed relationships with the Governor's Office, state legislators and agency leaders, tribes, county and
city officials and outdoor recreation affinity groups.
• Toured 90+ state parks in 8 months meeting park operations and management staff identifying key themes
and priorities for the agency.
• Recruited and hired the first Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and advanced the Commission's
priorities for diversity, equity and inclusion through internal and external workshops and listening sessions;
affinity group representation on hiring panels.
• Introduced new cross -functional team approaches to further the Commission's priorities for developing long-
distance trails, including negotiating a multi -agency trails partnership and creation of a new Statewide Trails
Program Manager position reporting to the Director.
• Led a multi -faceted organizational assessment and development process to support the agency's leadership
transition, biennial work plan, Commission priorities and Legislatures' policy agenda.
Deputy Executive Director
Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma- Tacoma, WA (April 2017 -March 2021)
Chief Operating Officer of a nationally accredited agency serving over 213,000 residents with 3,000 acres of park and
recreation assets employing 337 full-time and over 600 part-time employees. Supported an independently elected 5 -
member Park Board and secured approval of the $128 million operating and $54.6 million capital budgets. Led the
Business & Innovations Department with a $12.6 million budget supporting H.R./Organizational Development, Data
Analytics and GIS, Finance and IT, Communications/Public Affairs, and Marketing/Resource Development.
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PETER M. MAYER
• Brokered complex intergovernmental projects and agreements with City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Schools
and Tacoma -Pierce County Health Department.
• Led the response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic while addressing an $18 million budget gap.
• Spearheaded the first update in 10 years to the Tacoma Municipal Code regarding conduct in parks.
• Facilitated a cross -functional work team structure resulting in 5 new inter -departmental teams aligning
workflow and improved collaboration and teamwork.
• Championed an agency -wide information technology strategic plan guiding investment over next 3-5 years.
• Helped achieve national re -accreditation through the development of updated standards and best practices.
• Successfully brokered a 3 -year labor agreement for maintenance and trades staff.
Deputy Director I Chief Operating Officer
Snohomish Health District- Everett, WA (July 2012 -April 2017)
Oversaw all management responsibilities of an independent municipal corporation of 150 full-time employees, guided
the largest 15 -member Board of Health in the State of Washington and adoption of an annual budget of $20 million
focused on disease prevention, health promotion and protecting 745,000 residents from environmental threats.
Responsible for all of the agency's divisions, including Human Resources, Information Services, Finance, Health
Policy and Communications, Community Health, Environmental Health and Communicable Disease
Control/Emergency Preparedness & Response.
• Led multi-year strategic planning and implementation process with staff, Board of Health and community
providers that included quality improvement initiatives, technology investments, workforce development,
program transition, and development of new revenue sources.
• Authored new agency -wide financial management policies and obtained Board approval for establishing
new working capital and emergency reserves providing greater fiscal stability and sustainability.
• Incident Commander leading the public health response to the SR530 Mudslide and Flooding Event in Oso,
WA, and guided the preparedness and threat response to Ebola Virus Disease in Snohomish County.
Parks and Recreation Director
Vancouver -Clark Parks and Recreation- Vancouver, WA (April 2009 -June 2012)
Led a consolidated city and county parks and recreation agency and metropolitan park district serving over 430,000
residents with a combined 75 full-time employees and approximately 350 part-time staff. Responsible for $17 million
in annual operating and $18 million in capital funds supporting over 190 park sites and 7,200 acres of parks and open
space. Guided the policy work of a 13 -member citizen Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.
• Co -led the development of a priority -of -government process using the city's strategic plan to address a city-
wide structural deficit of $32 million.
• Planned and implemented the first park fee increase in over 17 years to help address $3.6 million in parks
and recreation service reductions.
• Led a year-long regional parks and recreation planning process with elected officials and community
members from six Southwest Washington cities leading to a new strategic funding and governance initiative
and a metropolitan park district ballot measure.
Assistant City Manager and Parks and Recreation Director
City of Mercer Island- Mercer Island, WA (August 2000- March 2009)
Led IT and GIS functions and the City's $35 -million -dollar capital improvement program for streets, utilities, facilities,
parks and open space, fleet, public safety, and IT. Supported City Council in policy planning and implementation,
prepared levy and bond ballot measures and served as liaison to multiple citizen advisory councils. Concurrently
served as Parks and Recreation Director managing a 475 -acre park system and 27 full-time staff.
• Successfully merged separate GIS and IT functions into new Information and Geographic Services group,
initiated a new GIS/IT strategic planning process yielding a new guiding vision, secured agency and council
support for additional FTE and facilitated a replacement of a 20+year telecommunications system;
• Led the City-wide capital improvement program (CIP), including leading the capital budgeting process,
overseeing projects, leading project management team meetings, and providing routine status updates.
• Successfully brokered a new labor contract for parks, public works and city hall employees.
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PETER M. MAYER
EDUCATION
• Masters of Science
Recreation and Leisure Studies
• Bachelor of Arts
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
Washington State University
Pullman, WA
BOARD APPOINTMENTS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND REGIONAL COALITIONS
Governor and Agency Appointed Boards
• Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (Governor Appointed} (2011-2016)- Citizen -
at -large Governor appointee responsible for administering over $500 million in federal and state grants
supporting investments in farmland preservation, land conservation, recreation amenities and park and trail
acquisition and development.
• Skagit Valley College- Park Law Enforcement Academy Technical Advisory Committee (1997 -2013) -
Industry representative providing support and guidance to the 720 hour-long nationally accredited academy
preparing cadets for careers as law enforcement rangers within National, State, County and local park
systems. Guest lecturer on topics of civil and criminal liability, risk management and safety.
State and National Associations
• Washington City/County Management Association
• International City/County Management Association
• Association of Washington Cities (2012-2021)
• Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials
o President/Board Chair (2016) o Vice -Chair, Executive Leadership Committee (2014-2016)
o Vice-President/President-Elect, (2015) o Legislative Committee (2014-2016)
• Washington State Public Health Association (2012- 2016)
o Board member (2016)
• Washington Recreation and Park Association (1996 -present)
o Past President (2007) o Vice -President (2004)
o President (2006) o Legislative Committee (2004-2021)
o President -Elect (2005)
• National Recreation and Park Association (1987-2012)
o Co -Chair, Local Host Committee, 2006 National Recreation and Park Association Congress (2004-06)
Regional Coalitions and Alliances
• Leafline Trails Coalition (2020 -present) and inaugural Coalition Chair (2020-21)
• Event Coordinator, Washington Recreation & Park Association Risk Management Workshop Series (2020)
• Moderator, Weekly COVID-19 Coordination Calls with Statewide Park & Recreation Leaders (Mar 2020 -Mar 2021)
• Founding Member, University of Washington -Tacoma Community Partnership Advisory Council (2019-2021)
• Board Member, Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board (2018-2021)
• Founding Member, South Sound Alliance (2017-2021)
• Washington State Trails Coalition (1999 -present)
o Founding Member & Past Vice -President (1999-2000)
• Leadership Circle, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition (2009-2012)
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