|
 Kenneth L. Chandler
Portsmouth City Manager
Phone: (757) 393-8641
Kenneth L. Chandler has assumed the position of
Portsmouth City Manager effective July 30, 2007. He was unanimously
selected by the City Council for the City’s chief executive post on
June 8. As the City’s CEO, he manages a local government of 22
departments, more than 2,000 employees, and an annual budget of more
than $400 million.
A native of Southeastern Virginia, Chandler has a career in local
government in Virginia and Texas that spans 20 years. In his most
recent position, he was Executive General Manager for the City of
Dallas, Texas, serving as executive liaison in the City Manager’s
Office responsible for the coordination of high profile economic
development projects for the nation’s ninth largest city.
In Virginia, he has served as Deputy County Manager for the
Arlington County, Public Utilities Director for the City of
Richmond, County Administrator for Charles City County, Human
Resources Director for the City of Petersburg, Administrative
Services Manager/Personnel Officer for the City of Hopewell, and
Assistant to the County Administrator for Isle of Wight County.
He is a 1987 graduate of Morehouse College, holds a Master of Public
Administration degree from Old Dominion University and has completed
several professional development studies including the Senior
Executive Institute in Charlottesville. He is a member of the
International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and has
served on numerous boards and task forces.
The City Manager serves as the City’s Chief Administrative and
Executive Officer. He is appointed by and reports directly to the
City Council.
The City Manager has developed the following initiatives:
- Destination Portsmouth. From Portsmouth
City Council’s vision came Destination 2025 – the award winning
Comprehensive Plan for the City. This document is Portsmouth’s
strong vision statement that directly reflects the
values, aspirations and priorities expressed by citizens during
an extensive two-year planning process. This vision has laid
the framework for the City’s future and the foundation with over
$1 billion investment in new development projects throughout the
city.
Destination Portsmouth is a Series of Adopted Development
Strategies, Plans and Initiatives which will implement the 2025
vision by proactively planning for our continued renaissance and
completing the ground work necessary to make Portsmouth the
Destination of Choice.
- Biennial Budgeting. A Biennial budget is
for two individual, discreet fiscal years. City Council will
adopt the appropriations and tax rate for the first year, while
the second year is used for long-term planning. Biennial
budgeting helps to provide a comprehensive assessment of future
budgetary risks and such a long-term plan is favored by the
credit rating agencies. Other benefits of the Biennial budgeting
process include: enhanced succession and contingency planning;
effective information and management systems; targeted and well-defined
economic development strategies; timely disclosure of material
impact events; and, regular economic and revenue reviews to
proactively identify potential problems.
- Budgeting for Outcomes. Budgeting for
Outcomes is a process designed to create a government that works
better and costs less.
Traditional budgeting involves a process that starts with
predetermined maximum spending limits and focuses on what is
allowed to be spent, as opposed to what resources are needed.
Budgeting for Outcomes focuses on results and
priorities, not on cost. The budget process shifts from paying
for costs to buying results. It puts citizens and priorities first. It emphasizes
accountability, innovation and partnerships.
|
