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City Departments - General Services Mark Coopersmith - Director
Tel: 305.224.4603
Email

Mission Statement

The mission of the General Services Department is to empower and facilitate the other City departments by providing efficient and cost effective internal support services.

Services, Functions and Activities

The General Services Department consists of five divisions:

Information Technology Services
Provides support to the City’s operating groups with information services through the coordination and application of computer and communications technologies. The Division is responsible for all computer projects, equipment and services for the City including computer hardware/software procurements and contracts administration, evaluation, design, development and implementation and training. The Division also has the responsibility for administering the City telephone systems/services and acts as coordinator for VHF radio network activities in non-public safety departments.

Procurements & Contracts Services
Functions include procurement of a variety of assigned commodity groups and services, preparation of bid documents, conducting pre-bid conferences, analyzing bid responses and the preparation of central purchase orders. The Procurement & Contract Services Division (“PCS”) conducts assigned research and develops recommendations of procurement and contract services feasibility and contract placement; evaluates existing maintenance and service contract coverage and duration and recommends appropriate modifications based upon the best interests of the City of Homestead.  In addition, this Division oversees the disposition of surplus, confiscated and abandoned property. PCS works closely with the City Manager’s, City Attorney’s and City Clerk’s offices to assure an efficient and smooth procurement service.

Special Projects
Tasked with implementing projects and systems throughout the City. The Division performs analysis, designs solutions, formulates implementation plans, implements, creates documentation and, in many cases, turns the project over to other departments for ongoing administration. The division also functions as a “catch-all,” assuming responsibility for operations that are not tasked to specific Departments, and may cross Department boundaries.

Fleet Management
Responsible for the stocking of parts, fuels, coordination of fleet purchases and the maintenance of small engines, sedans, light and heavy trucks, tire repair services and off-road equipment owned by the City, in a cost-effective, reliable and customer-friendly manner; (with the exception of paint and body, glass, heavy welding, diesel engine overhaul and automatic transmission repair).  It maintains more than 601 vehicles/equipment, two 12,000 gallon fuel tanks and dispensers and manages permits and contract work.

Customer Service
The Customer Service Division provides the interface between the City’s Utility operations (Electric, Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, etc.) and the citizens (customers). Their functions include utility billing, cash collections and meter reading.  The current number of utility accounts exceeds 25,000, and is expected to continue to grow following the recent rapid growth of the City.

Goals And Measurements

Organizational Performance:
To provide reliable, efficient and timely operational support to city departments

• Increase overall productivity
• Increase cost savings
• Increase effectiveness
• Increase customer service

Fiscal Year Highlights

This fiscal year the department will continue adding functionality to the City’s web site, which will lead to more interactive (resident participation) functions.  Enhancements and additions continue to be made to the existing Geographic Information Systems (Utility Engineering, Code Enforcement, Business Licensing, Permitting and Inspections).  Additional Interactive Voice Response applications and software will be added to enhance operations in the Parks and Recreation, the City Clerk’s office, Procurement and Contracts and other Customer Service functions.

Fleet Management will purchase 55 new vehicles as part of the City’s vehicle lease replacement program.

Customer Service will continue the implementation of Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs) of utility meters.  A study is underway regarding the retrofitting of older, existing meters.  A presentation on the study’s findings will be made to Council and we will provide them with recommendations.

Click here for organizational chart

Departmental Expenditure Summary Final Budget
FY 06/07Actual / Unaudited
FY 06/07Adopted
FY 07/08General Fund*   Personnel Services1,399,807 1,380,9771,622,158Operating Expenditures700,691447,777592,936Capital Outlay461,482169,7590Other0014,874Total2,561,9801,998,5132,229,968    Internal Service Fund   Personnel Services2,195,4102,148,1462,254,033Operating Expenditures910,1642,690,113940,880Capital Outlay84,9137,3860Other2,000,0001,902,591313,495Total5,190,4876,748,2363,508,408    Total Expenditures 7,752,4678,746,7495,738,376