The FCCMA Podcast

Sarah Campbell, City Manager of Fernandina Beach and current FCCMA president, joins host Steve Vancore to discuss some of the most pressing financial challenges facing Florida municipalities. With her term ending in May 2026, Sarah reflects on her advocacy work, including testimony before the Florida legislature on how property taxes fund local government and the importance of transparency in the budget-building process.
Sarah and Steve also dig into the ripple effects of the state-mandated minimum wage increase, particularly the wage compression it created among frontline workers, and what that means for cities trying to attract and retain talent.

Ifo Pili, City Manager of West Valley City, Utah, joins host Steve Vancore to share one of the most distinctive career journeys in local government — from professional football player to city manager. Ifo reflects on his experiences leading multiple cities, including Eagle Mountain and Las Cruces, and the philosophy that has guided him throughout: falling in love with every city he serves.
Ifo and Steve explore the contrasting challenges of managing fast-growing cities versus built-out ones, and dive into economic development strategies, including how to attract data centers and other businesses. Ifo makes the case for post-performance incentives and shares the importance of removing friction so companies can easily say “yes” to calling a city home. It's an energizing conversation about leadership, community investment, and what drives the most effective managers in local government.

Host Steve Vancore talks with KellyWestlund, Deputy Administrator of Bay County, Wisconsin, about the real-worldchallenges of environmental infrastructure and how communities respond whencosts and growth collide.
 
Kelly shares how aging septic systemsand population shifts are straining water quality in northern Wisconsin,drawing parallels to Florida’s septic-to-sewer debates. The conversationhighlights why environmental issues gain traction only when framed aroundtangible outcomes that residents value—clean water, reliable services, andcommunity resilience.
 
They also discuss resistance to waterrate increases, renewable energy investments like solar microgrids in BayfieldCounty, and the difficulty of advancing affordable housing amid NIMBY concerns.The episode underscores a central theme: technical solutions matter, but clear,locally grounded messaging is what turns long-term needs into public support.

Carlos Sanchez joins host SteveVancore to share his transition from military service to a leadership role inPanama City through the ICMA Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship.During his four-month fellowship, Carlos worked across departments, contributedto safety improvements, and helped shape policy for a new recreation center.
 
Now serving as Utility OperationsManager, Carlos oversees wastewater, underground utilities, and lift stations.He and Steve discuss how the fellowship program offers a valuable, low-risk wayfor cities to onboard transitioning service members while strengthening theirworkforce.

In this episode, host Steve Vancorespeaks with Dale Pazdra and Kathy Reul about Coral Springs’ long-runningleadership development and succession planning program. Launched in 2007, theprogram features in-person training, monthly mentoring themes, andcross-departmental exposure, all through a competitive application process. Theresult has been a strong internal leadership pipeline, with many departmentheads rising through the program.
 
Dale and Kathy explain how CoralSprings has sustained the initiative for nearly two decades through regularparticipant feedback, a focus on employee engagement, and an organizationalculture committed to growth. The program has helped reduce turnover, savetraining costs, and strengthen collaboration across departments.