6 minute read
Serving Our Cities
FLC President’s initiative has three components
By Kelli Gemmer, Florida League of Cities
At the Florida League of Cities (FLC) 2023 Annual Conference, the membership elected Cooper City Mayor Greg Ross to serve as the League’s President . Ross will lead the League for the 2023-2024 term alongside First Vice President Michael Blake, Mayor for the City of Cocoa, and Second Vice President Holly D. Smith, Councilmember for the City of Sanibel. (See information about Blake and Smith on pages 38 and 39.)
“I’m grateful to be chosen to serve as your 2023-24 President,” said Ross immediately following his installation. “For over a century, the Florida League of Cities has been a powerful advocate for the needs of Florida’s cities. Together, we will positively shape the future of the cities we serve.”
Ross’ goals during his presidency center around his initiative: Serving Our Cities. “As city leaders, we should constantly ask: How can we generate momentum and make our cities even stronger?” he said. “Serving Our Cities focuses on the essentials of municipal leadership and the core values that bind us together.”
Serving Our Cities has three pillars:
▸ Intentional collaboration
▸ Expanded education
▸ Respectful public service.
The first pillar, intentional collaboration, centers around reinforcing relationships with state and federal lawmakers and continues to build on the League’s focus on local voices making local choices. “Through intentional collaboration with lawmakers and fellow city officials, we can continue to promote local self-governance,” said Ross. As this last year showed, advocacy starts at home.
Ross is encouraging local elected officials to continue to meet their representatives in their hometowns. Set meetings, make unexpected visits, invite them to City Commission meetings – connect with them wherever and whenever possible. “A deep understanding of the issues results in successful advocacy,” said Ross.
Expanded education, the second pillar, focuses on aiding local elected officials to become even more effective communicators through comprehensive leadership training and new tools provided by the League. The League’s FLC University offers several resources that local leaders can access to expand their education. (For more information, go to bit. ly/3P4q50I.)
Ross hopes to boost outreach, particularly to newly elected officials, and provide customized training. He wants to help them understand their roles and enable them to start strong. He also wants to hear input from his peers on the resources they need to succeed. In addition, the League will debut FLC Leadership Class I. Participation will be capped to ensure full class engagement, and the program will include interactive segments as well as keynote presentations.
Maintaining a commitment to respectful public service is the final pillar of Serving Our Cities. Addressing all challenges respectfully and productively is a critical attribute for local elected officials. This means valuing civility, maintaining decorum and learning how to disagree agreeably.
“The League will provide resources to help us navigate even the toughest situations while we serve our cities,” said Ross, who moderated the workshop on this topic at the 2023 FLC Annual Conference. With this initiative, the League launched the “Respectful Public Service Handbook.” This resource provides tools to help city officials build leadership, character and public trust in their communities when running public meetings. “I hope a copy of this handbook sits at the right hand of every municipal elected official in Florida. It provides guidance and wisdom we all need.” (View the Handbook online at bit.ly/3LCYCB9.)
“Serve” is the keyword that links these three pillars. “It’s our collective goal,” said Ross. “It’s why we’re here. It’s what inspires us to give our best each and every day. No one person can do it alone. It takes others to serve with us and to stand beside us and behind us.”
For Ross, Serving Our Cities means better communication, collaboration and advocacy on behalf of all cities, towns and villages in Florida. He encourages members to get even more involved with FLC through educational opportunities and in-person events, such as Legislative Conference. Ross said they will learn the art of advocacy, which will help their city’s residents. (For more information about Legislative Conference, go to bit.ly/45as2yd.)
“All 411 cities face the same difficulties when preemptions occur,” said Ross. “United, we can fight it together and advocate on behalf of Florida’s cities as one.”
Kelli Gemmer is the Director of Communications at the Florida League of Cities.
FLC President Greg Ross at a Glance
Florida League of Cities (FLC) President Greg Ross grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and relocated to Florida in 1977 to attend law school in Fort Lauderdale. After earning his juris doctor, he became Broward County Assistant State Attorney from 1980 until he opened his Fort Lauderdale law practice in 1984. Ross has served as Cooper City Mayor since 2012.
During his 11 years as Mayor and a member of the FLC, Ross has met hundreds of people, but he looks forward to even more engagement during his presidency.
“The thing I enjoy most about being Mayor of Cooper City is meeting the people and helping them,” said Ross.
His involvement with city government began in 2002 when he was appointed to the Cooper City Planning and Zoning Board, where he served for seven years, including the last year as Chair. From 2006-2012, Ross served as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator for the City and Vice-Chair of Broward County CERT Coordinators. In 2009, he was appointed the City’s Special Magistrate and served until he was appointed Mayor.
Since his election to the City Council, Ross has dedicated his time, service and leadership in multiple roles. He is an active member of the Broward League of Cities and previously served as President and Secretary. Ross has served on the FLC Board of Directors since 2015. He was previously Chair of FLC’s Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) Committee, a Director on the Florida League of Mayors (FLM) Board and Vice Chair of FLC’s Urban Administration Legislative Policy Committee.
Ross works tirelessly to protect the Home Rule powers of Florida’s cities and has been honored with FLC’s Home Rule Hero Award every year since 2015.
How You Can Support the Initiative
There are several ways that you can support the Serving Our Cities initiative from Florida League of Cities President Greg Ross within each pillar.
Intentional Collaboration: Help elevate Local Voices Making Local Choices through intentional collaboration with lawmakers and fellow city officials. Stay engaged with the League’s advocacy efforts by attending Legislative Conference and Legislative Action Days.
Expanded Education: Take full advantage of FLC University’s educational opportunities and be recognized for your efforts by participating in the Certificate Program for Elected Municipal Officials. Sign up today to earn points toward achieving bronze, silver or gold recognition.
Respectful Public Service: Commit to respectful public service by valuing civility, maintaining decorum and learning how to disagree agreeably. Use the League’s "Respectful Public Service Handbook" as a guide, and consider adopting a pledge on decorum. For more information, visit flcities.com/serving-our-cities.
