GET TO KNOW WINTER HAVEN With a history in citrus, lakes, and Americana rock & roll, the Winter Haven, Florida experience is a chorus of modern lifestyle possibilities in harmony with our roots. Winter Haven is where affordable lake living is a reality, and water play is a natural requirement. It’s a place where there’s a concert on every corner and family excitement in every park. It’s that classic small town that chooses to differentiate itself with an understated cool vibe. Arts and culture, playful fun, music fusion, affordable homes, a craft brewery, and local eateries are just a sampling of daily life. And let’s not forget about Winter Haven’s hometown connection to family-friendly LEGOLAND Florida Resort just down the block from the City core. Winter Haven continues to experience steady, quality growth as it transforms into a distinctively unique City, embracing the values and needs of its residents. Partnerships and a cooperative spirit make Winter Haven an attractive City for new businesses and entrepreneurs. The City’s progress and success are owned by each of its residents, and planning for the future can never stop. Winter Haven is an exceptional destination offering all of life’s desires within its boundaries. The City of Winter Haven staff looks forward to serving its residents, businesses and visitors as we all enjoy Winter Haven’s special lifestyle. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY The Winter Haven Community Redevelopment Agency, established in 2000, fosters and promotes community redevelopment activities in two designated districts: Downtown and Florence Villa. The CRA is a “special district” under Florida Statute. Activities of the CRA are detailed in redevelopment plans customized for each district and include: • Infrastructure Improvements • Streetscaping or Beautification • Affordable Housing • Recreation & Park Facility Improvements • Economic Development • Transportation • Neighborhood Enhancement The CRA is operated by a Board of Directors, including the five current City Commissioners and two City residents. The board receives input from two advisory committees, one for each district. The CRA is primarily funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a process of capturing property tax revenues that would normally go to Polk County and the City. TIF funds are deposited into a Redevelopment Trust Fund that can then be spent on specific projects or used to leverage additional financing for larger projects. FLORENCE VILLA CRA NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER JOB DESCRIPTION The Florence Villa community is a community with a rich history, multiple activist and community groups, and full of opportunities. The neighborhood planner will serve as a community coordinator so they must be able to navigate diverse personalities and opinions through sincere relationship-building and strong community-relations skills. The Neighborhood Planner will be responsible for building relationships with and understanding the wants and needs of all the neighborhoods within the Florence Villa CRA. They will be a primary point-of-contact for citizens and business owners within the CRA district as they advocate for the area and clearly communicate the various ways the City is investing in the community. The Neighborhood Planner will find creative ways to meet the needs of the community including nonprofit partnerships, identifying and applying for funding, and implementing projects and programs created and funded through the CRA plan. They will compile feedback from conversations and public meetings, data from surveys and studies, and information from zoning and regulations into comprehensive plans and recommended redevelopment strategies. The Neighborhood Planner serves as a liaison coordinating with multiple City of Winter Haven departments including Public Affairs and Communications, Public Safety, Public Works, and Utilities. They promote redevelopment; support City staff; and facilitate the exchange of information between citizens, neighborhood organizations and City staff. Communication may occur in individual meetings, electronically, at CRA public meetings, and during community events. The Neighborhood Planner must have a willingness and ability to attend, lead conversation, and successfully navigate these different settings. The end goal of these efforts is to coordinate and facilitate efforts to improve neighborhoods to achieve more livable and sustainable conditions. The Neighborhood Planner is someone passionate about this cause and is ready to creatively problem-solve and utilize resources to achieve the goals of the Florence Villa CRA Plan.
ABOUT A NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNER A Neighborhood Planner should have a genuine concern for the growth and success of the Florence Villa CRA district and its residents. They model selflessness, compassion, customer service and have core values that align with the City of Winter Haven’s vision, mission and values. The Neighborhood Planner should demonstrate professional resiliency, agility, and the willingness to adapt. The Neighborhood Planner should bring knowledge of the principles and accepted practices of neighborhood planning, coordination, organization and redevelopment along with a working knowledge of the functions and goals of a Community Redevelopment District. Additionally, excellent communication skills, research and analysis skills, and the ability to compile recommendations and reports are critical to success in this role. EDUCATION Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a degree in Planning or related field, including urban studies, geography, public administration, political science, urban design, environmental studies, economic development or other similarly related fields. WORK EXPERIENCE Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a degree in Planning or related field, including urban studies, geography, public administration, political science, urban design, environmental studies, economic development or other similarly related fields. An Equal Opportunity Employer
