Form of Government
Established in 1963, the City of Portage is a professional and experienced government service that operates with a Council/ Manager form of government. The Mayor and Councilmembers, elected at large, serve as the policy-making arm of the city. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to handle the day-to-day administrative duties of the city. The City Manager makes recommendations to the City Council as a group and the Council acts on business at twice-monthly meetings (usually the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month) at 7 PM.
The Portage City Council consists of a Mayor and six Councilmembers (non-partisan). Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms, staggered every two years (three Councilmembers are elected every two years). The Mayor is elected every two years and is the presiding officer of the Council. The Council is responsible for adopting and amending city ordinances, determining city policies, and approving contracts for goods and services. The Council also authorizes the annual city budget, which runs on a fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and determines the city tax millage and utility rates.
The City Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the City Council. She or he advises the Council and makes recommendations on matters related to the operation of the city including the responsibility for overseeing all departments and staff. The City Manager prepares the agenda for each City Council meeting and provides the Council with all necessary documentation regarding each order of business. The annual budget is prepared and presented to the City Council by the City Manager, along with the Capital Improvement Program, which provides the city with direction for the future.
As the administrative head of the government, the City Manager appoints all department heads. Portage provides a full array of municipal services from twelve departments: City Assessor, City Clerk, Community Development, Finance & Purchasing, Human Resources, Parks & Recreation, Senior Citizen Services, Public Information, Public Safety (Police & Fire), Public Works, Technology Services, and Transportation & Utilities. The city employs nearly 222 full-time employees who have an average of more than ten years of service, along with 46 part-time and seasonal employees.
Organizational Chart
Administration
Adam Herringa, Acting City Manager
Michael Carroll, Deputy City Manager
Erica L. Eklov, City Clerk
Kelly Peterson, Director of Community Development
Shannon Hertz, Director of Human Services
Lauren VanderVeen, Finance Director
Kathleen Hoyle, Director of Parks, Recreation & Senior Citizen Services
Mary Beth Block, Public Information Officer
Rodney Russell, Director of Public Works
Nicholas Armold, Public Safety Director - Police / Fire Chief
Devin Mackinder, Director of Technology Services
Kendra Gwin, Director of Transportation & Utilities
Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented an award for Distinguished Budget Presentation to the City of Portage for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021.
In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.The award is valid for a period of one year only. We believe our current budget continues to conform to program requirements, and we are submitting it to GFOA to determine its eligibility for another award.