City Manager semifinalists to be interviewed
By JOE POTTER
ZOOM interviews will be held on July 30 for six semifinalists for the position of Dade City’s City Manager.
That position has been vacant since Oct. 10 following the resignation of Leslie Porter. She had been City Manager for about five years. Prior to that, she was the city’s finance officer from 2014-2019.
Ana M. Alvarez, Taylor Brown, Anthony Schembiri, Jeff Shoobridge, Jacob Smith and Merieke vanErven are the semifinalists for the position.
Alvarez was hired as City Manager for Hayward, Calif., earlier this year. She was Deputy General Manager for East Bay Regional Park District, a California Special District, from 2016-2024.
Brown has been Executive Director of the Taylor County Development Authority, the City of Perry, Fla., from 2023-2024. Prior to that, he was City Manager for the City of Perry, Fla., from 2018-2023.
Schembiri was previously County Administrator for Citrus County, Fla. He held that position for about a year before resigning on March 16, 2009.Prior to that he was Secretary of Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice from May 2004 toNovember 2006. He also previously served as Corrections Commissioner for New York City overseeing 14,000 sworn officers and 5,000 civilian employees.
Shoobridge has been City Administrator for Crookston, Minn., from 2023-present. Prior to that he was Town Administrator for Redington Shores, Fla., from April 2022-June 2023; and City Administrator for Madison Lake, Minn., from November 2019-April 2022.
Smith has been City Administrator for the City of Apopka, Fla., from May 2024-May 2025. Prior to that, he was City Manager for Fruit Heights City, Utah, from April 2023-November 2023; and Assistant City Manager/Finance Director for Centerville City, Utah, from April 2012-May 2023.
Miss vanErven has been Dade City’s acting city manager since Oct. 11, 2024. Prior to that, she was Executive Assistant to Dade City’s City Manager/Public Information Specialist/Staff Liaison for Community Redevelopment Agency, Redevelopment Advisory Committee and Youth Council from April 2023-October 2023.
In other business on July 8, City Commissioners:
Approved an ordinance prohibiting smoking or vaping in and on any of the city’s parks. The ordinance warrants a justifiable and reasonable concern for the health, safety or welfare of the public.
It’s also intended to prevent tobacco related items, including cigarette butt filters, cigar or cigarillo tips, cigarette packs, cigar or cigarillo wrappers, electronic smoking devices of all types, electronic smoking device cartridges or refill containers, plastic packaging, foil, or other disposable tobacco product remnants or tobacco product packaging in any form to be discarded in and on any of the city’s parks.
Anyone violating this ordinance would be subject to a $55 fine.
Approved an ordinance formally designating the city’s municipal seal. The ordinance established clear standards for its manufacturing, use, display and reproduction and outlines its authorized use. This ordinance gives Dade City the legal framework necessary to control unauthorized or inappropriate use of the seal. Any unauthorized use of the City seal by any person or entity would constitute a second-degree misdemeanor with punishment occurring in accordance with the applicable sections of Florida Statutes as amended from time to time.The potential punishments for violation of this ordinance could be sentenced to 60 days in jail or ordered to pay a $500 fine.
Were told by Catherine Ralston, the City’s Community and Economic Development Director, that Chick-fil-A plans to break ground for construction of one of its fast food restaurants in October 2025.
Chick-fil-A has filed an application for a site plan for the restaurant that will be constructed on U.S. 301. It will be located between Winn-Dixie and the Jarrett Ford dealership that is currently being constructed, Ralston said.
