In an unusual arrangement, the Palm Coast City Council is set to vote on an agreement that would bring Mark Strobridge, Sheriff Rick Staly’s chief of staff and right-hand man, as assistant city manager for a few months, with a focus on operations and the city’s leaderless Utilities Department. Acting Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston finalized the plans today after approaching Strobridge about it a few weeks ago.
Strobridge will seek to hire a new utilities director and “improve efficiencies across the city,” Strobridge said. “I would be looking at all operations of the city.”
“City council’s priorities are very important and I want to make sure they stay on track through this time of transition, and an extra set of eyes and hands, all of that is helpful,” Johnston said. “We all have good intentions with this. We’re trying to do better, have an outside person review our processes, our policies, and ultimately make a recommendation of things we should change.”
Staly is fully supporting Strobridge. But when Strobridge talked of taking the assignment, “I looked at him, I said, do you really want to do this? Because I think you’re crazy,” the sheriff said he told him. “This is like doing another transition of an agency. But he wanted to help out Lauren Johnston, and he’s going to gain some experience and knowledge that he may ot have had.”
It isn’t unusual for local governments to borrow personnel from each other for targeted purposes. As Johnston notes, Chief Bradd Clark, second in command at the Palm Coast Fire Department, served as interim fire chief for the county before Michael Tucker was appointed chief. The county lent its accounting staff to the East Flagler Mosquito Control District to clean up a severe deficit in 2017. The county’s finance staff helped Bunnell government after an exodus of personnel there in 2019.
What’s unusual in the Palm Coast arrangement is that the city has a $9 million contract with the Sheriff’s Office (as of the beginning of the fiscal year), the general fund’s single-largest contract with an outside entity. Strobridge negotiates those contracts. And budget season is just beginning. The sheriff has not yet turned in his budget to Palm Coast for next year, Brittany Kershaw, the city’s chief spokesperson, said today, except for “rough numbers.” Next year’s budget is expected to be $11.38 million. Strobridge will not be negotiating this year’s agreement beyond what his work on it so far.
Florida law prohibits public employees from having contractual relationships or employment with any entity that does business with their agency. In the law’s wording: “No public officer or employee of an agency shall have or hold any employment or contractual relationship with any business entity or any agency which is subject to the regulation of, or is doing business with, an agency of which he or she is an officer or employee.”
In what appears to be an effort to answer questions raised to that effect, the city opted to craft a joint agreement with the Sheriff’s Office–called an interlocal agreement–where the sheriff himself is assigning Strobridge to the city. State law allows local governments to enter into such agreements for the sake of efficiencies and the public good. Whether that’s enough to clear the law’s hurdle is a matter of interpretation. The agreement leaves it in the hands of Johnston to define the scope of the arrangement with Strobridge, who will be considered an assistant city manager. The agreement goes in effect this evening. It includes a conflict-of-interest clause, but it is very general.
Strobridge will be reporting to Johnston, who said she’s bringing him on precisely so she can focus on the budget over the next few months. Strobridge, she said, will not have eyes on the sheriff’s budget, which she said is “pretty much wrapped up.”
Though it is an administrative hire that does not require the council’s approval, Johnston this afternoon added the Strobridge hire on this evening’s council agenda to seek that approval anyway since it is now a joint agreement–an indication of the sensitivity of the move tha at some point in the last 24 hours, after a reporter inquired about it, kicked in the interlocal approach.
A majority of council members are fully supportive of the arrangement. They had been briefed on the hire last week and this week. They do not see conflict-of-interest issues.
“Chief Strobridge has the utmost amount of integrity and I don’t think would be self-serving with his limited role with the city,” Council member Theresa Pontieri said. “I don’t know what conflict his role would play. For me it’ll be a non-issue.” Pontieri said Johnston intends to assign Strobridge to projects she herself hasn’t had time to take “deep dives” into. The city has itself relied on Strobridge as Staly’s right-hand man, she said, and “to now impugn his integrity would be inappropriate.”
Pontieri spoke of the matter on Monday, when the hire was not yet in final form, and wasn’t on tonight’s agenda. But she did see it as a matter for discussion. “We as council make the final decision as to whether or not we move in this vein,” she said. “Not an official vote, but is the majority of the council comfortable with taking this step forward.”
Unlike, say. Bunnell’s city government, the Palm Coast council does not “confirm” directors’ hires. But this particular hire would be different.
“I think it’s a great opportunity to have an executive from a highly effective organization give us a second set of eyes on process and efficiencies as well as take on some of the management burden even if temporary,” Council member Ty Miller said. “Because of his role in the Sheriff’s Office I think it lends immediate credibility to city staff. I’m looking forward to him helping us out and very appreciative of his willingness to do this.”
As for any conflicts, “we’re always operating on an assumption of good faith between us and the sheriff’s department, and we already have a multi-year plan in place in terms of bridging a gap in service level,” he said. “So barring an ask to make a large departure from that, I think we have 99 percent of the contract defined.”
The city is in the middle of a three-year agreement with the sheriff to add nine deputies to the city’s contract every year. The coming fiscal year would be the second year of that cycle. That’s generally the chief sticking point in negotiations. But since the council settled that question two years ago, Johnston considers the rest of the budget process with the sheriff to be mostly routine and unlikely to be controversial.
Strobridge will not be leaving the Sheriff’s Office in any way. He is merely on loan. The Sheriff’s Office continues to pay his salary of around $146,000 a year. But Palm Coast will reimburse his salary and benefits for the period he is employed with the city ($22,700 a month). The joint agreement calls for a 90-day stint, extendable in 30-day increments.
Strobridge will be wearing civilian clothes when he is with the city. He will continue some functions at the Sheriff’s Office. “There’s a couple of items I’ll continue to have oversight on, like for example the sheriff’s budget with the BOCC and such,” Strobridge said, referring to the County Commission, which has oversight and approval power on the sheriff’s overall budget. “It will be limited.” The sheriff did not respond to an inquiry before this article initially published, but early this evening spoke at length of his support of the agreement. “I’m just trying to be a good partner,” he said, comparing the agreement to the way the agency helps the Bunnell and Flagler Beach police departments and other local agencies.
Reached on Monday, Council member Dave Sullivan said the city administration “just asked me not to say anything about it,” but allowed that “it needs explanation publicly by the people who are involved doing it, and I think we have to make sure all five council members are briefed on it before everything goes through.” A reporter’s inquiries may have spurred the administration to add the item to tonight’s agenda.
Regarding the city’s contractual relationship with the Sheriff’s Office, Strobridge “won’t be able to touch that contract, I would guess,” Sullivan said, or “any individual coming in from the Sheriff’s Office.” He added: “If there’s a big uproar about it, I guess we’ll get into it.”
Johnston said she reached out to Strobridge to discuss the possibility of a temporary move after the city’s efforts to hire a city manager collapsed last month. She said Strobridge’s long connection to the community, familiarity with the city and his skill set, which includes numerous responsibilities that echo municipal government management–human resources, efficiencies, policies and procedures–would be to the administration’s benefit. Johnston said the hire would be vetted by the city attorney.
Johnston had been the assistant city manager before she took on her role as acting manager after the council’s firing of Denise Bevan a year ago. The council hoped to have a new city manager in place by now. Council instability last year and internecine conflict on the council since November scared off applicants. The search is ongoing. That’s left Johnston filling both her roles, with Jason DeLorenzo continuing as chief of staff. It’s taken a toll.
Dirty Laundry says
Anyone with a brain can tell this is corrupt politics at is finest.
Ray says
Are you kidding me? This City is out of control. And Staly is getting 9 more cops a year! Hell, they don’t do much anyway but find hiding places. I see it all over town, just parked doing nothing!
I can’t believe this!
Duane says
Look who just let the fox into the hen house.
Why not call upon the FCCMA Senior Advisors for advice.
They can even send you an interim person to get things OnTrack and help with hiring a permanent manager.
Stop the mistakes before you loose complete control.
This place just keeps getting worse.
Molly's pub.... says
Mark is an amazing leader and person, I’m 100% sure he will do an awesome job…
Ed says
Another chance of corruption and deception. Not a good option to hire your largest “customer” to watch the vault.
Maybe he can recommend Palm Coast starts its own PD and stop sucking County resources. Unincorporated Flagler County is severely underserved by FCSO.
3 weeks ago I had reason to call S.O
Guess what. Nobody showed up. 53 minutes later I was called and asked if I still needed response
Scrubblade.... says
Finally, a person of high integrity.
There will be no games with this man on board.
Great job Lauren Johnston you made an excellent plan. The City will get on the right track.
Hopefully this will help Norris be a Mayor.
Jack says
You can not make this up. As stated in the article …
“Florida law prohibits public employees from having contractual relationships or employment with any entity that does business with their agency.”
Yet our distinguished city council and city manager Lauren Johnston go behind closed doors to negotiate a deal with the sheriff to bypass Florida law…only in Flagler County this is ok.
Why are we even doing this, Mark Strobridge doesn’t have experience managing a city department. There is something more to this shady deal that we may never know.
Mayor Noris, please do not sign this agreement.
Marchesa Negroni says
What specific expertise in city management justifies a $22,700 monthly salary reimbursement for this individual?
JimboXYZ says
“…the city’s leaderless Utilities Department.”
“Strobridge will seek to hire a new utilities director…”
That’s rather disturbing, considering the next 4-5 years are going to be base fee hikes & rate increases for anything Utilities Department for Palm Coast ? How does a city the size of Palm Coast with a Utilities Department not have a Utilities Director ? How long has Palm Coast operated & lacked a Utilities Director ?
City Tim says
What the city pays the sheriff is for extra security, they don’t need to pay them if the city doesn’t want the extra protection.
celia pugliese says
Shame on Palm Coast Council for not hearing their constituents pleads.
Leila says
I have never seen such ignorant attacks in the 25 years I have lived here. The writers of some of these extremely rude attacks wouldn’t know an ethical employee and public servant if it bit them in the ass. You are an embarrassment to this community and you need to be sued for slander.
Good God. Save us from these loudmouth clowns.
Robjr says
The Palm Coast version of DOGE
Lol
Greg says
All I can say is I’m dumbfounded. Laugh my ass off
Jack says
Ms Pontieri asked Ms Johnston a GREAT question last night…,Why are we voting on this item?
Ms Johnston lied to you Ms Pontieri, the council and the citizens with a straight face.
The real reason is because she needed to bypass Florida law “Florida law prohibits public employees from having contractual relationships or employment with any entity that does business with their agency.” Ms Johnston used an elected body to accomplished a very shady deal that blindsided the Mayor, the council and we the taxpayers. Nicely done Ms City Manager.
Ms Johnston could never hire Mark Strobridge directly without breaking the law (she could hire any other civilian, but not A Sheriff employee), she knew that (just ask her). Instead she came up with this fake need of an ILA instrument and you all fell for it. One wonders what else is going on in city hall…
The reputation of the city is going down the drain, This looks to me like the city manager intentionally mislead the city council on the record without any mercy, just to get her way.
Its time to clean house, don’t allow your staff to manipulate you into such shady deals. I can’t believe that Sheriff Staly also fell into this trap. This is not looking good for any of the elected officials.
Reverse this action now, before its too late.
Sunny says
FCS has an UNLIMITED BUDGET @ our expense! Top of line building, toy storage & toys now a F-ing special ordered helicopter! People working in the county are losing their jobs to pay for SAND! I called FCS once I was told I didn’t live in the county! WTF Flagler is a joke after 50 yrs I’m out!
Darlene Shelley says
With over 600 well compensated city employees, does the City of Palm Coast really have no one qualified to assist as an interim assistant city manager? As many residents pointed out to the council at the meeting, this is an obvious conflict of interest and according to the article, apparently against Florida law! WE ALREADY PAY through the nose for FCSO services, but now another $68,000 for THREE MONTHS of “assistance”??? What is the end game here, fox in charge of the hen house, lack of transparency, no succession planning, disregard for mandated protections for residents, exorbitant water and utility fees, health and wellness concerns ignored, urban sprawl, lack of infrastructure, traffic gridlocks, approval of incompatible development that lowers home values, lack of action to protect the community, children, and the environment from the EPA reported known health hazards from excessive training school aircraft operations that continue to emit hundreds of pounds of lead and other toxic emissions over our homes, schools, hospitals, hospice care, and densely populated businesses. THIS IS INSANE. WE HAVE RIGHTS. A complacent and apathic community will be the death of the beautiful Palm Coast we knew when we chose to move here. Growth At Any Cost is destroying our beloved city, decimating the environment, harming the wildlife and protected species, lowing our quality of life, negatively affecting our safety, health, and welfare, and causing many of the issues we are now facing. This is just another decision that gives the public reason to question the ulterior motive and hope for a time in which council decisions will be based on raising the quality of life for the residents and not driven by profit and the desire of the developers, landowners, and those that seek to sell out our city to the highest bidder, no matter what the consequence to We the People.
James says
What a tricky move by the FCSO and Sheriff Staly. Yes, Chief Strobridge is a good man, but he’s a police officer. Suddenly he knows about the inner workings of city gov’t, as opposed to law enforcement, where he’s been? Crazy.
This also proves Lauren Johnston cannot do the job. She needs to focus her full energy on the budget and cannot perform the other duties of a City Manager? Lauren is a great person, too…but that doesn’t mean she should be in the role she’s in, and it certainly doesn’t mean we bring in the Sheriff’s office to run the city while she’s eyeballs deep in the budget process.
I have NEVER agreed with the Mayor, but there’s a first time for everything. This move stinks of corruption. Palm Coast is a straight up dumpster fire that continues to burn. This is what a void in leadership creates.
Sherry2 says
Unbelievable that they couldn’t hire a new City Manager, and now this! I don’t have faith in this Council Manager weak Mayor form of government we have. Along with a new charter, I think we should look into a new form of government while we are at it. The unelected manager has way too much power. We need a strong Mayor form.
Sherry2 says
Ms. Pontieri asked why the council was voting on this. Yes if the manager can hire and fire, why did they have to vote on this? It was a work around. It is a direct conflict of interest. Illegal. I would like to know who helped the manager figure out this maneuver. Was it the city attorney or possibly a council member who is an attorney? It was a well placed question by Pontieri. A very convenient question. Just a thought, not an accusation.