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Photo by Dan DuChene
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After more than three years, Assistant City Manager for Ypsilanti Robert Bruner will be leaving his position for the city of Ferndale.
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Editor's Note: The following is a Q&A with Robert Bruner, Ypsilanti assistant city manager. After more than three years on the job, Bruner will be leaving his position Friday for a post with the city of Ferndale. In the following, Bruner discusses pending issues affecting the city, his accomplishments over his tenure and his disappointments.
What first attracted you to Ypsilanti?
I was attracted by Ypsilanti's vibrant urban character and the opportunity to do meaningful work. In Oak Park, I had experience dealing with many of the same challenges Ypsilanti faces. I had seen the toll reduced state funding was having on fully developed communities. Coming in Ypsilanti gave me the opportunity to continue working to reform our state's institutional formula for bankruptcy.
How would you sum up your experience here?
In a word: Serendipity. I interviewed for more than a dozen jobs in nine states from California to Florida before coming to Ypsilanti. In March 2004, I interviewed for three jobs in two states, Arizona and Colorado, on three consecutive business days. However, it is difficult to imagine any of those opportunities would have been as personally or professionally fulfilling as my experience in Ypsilanti has been.
My experience has been personally fulfilling because I met my wonderful wife at an Ypsilanti City Council meeting and professionally fulfilling because my experience here has given me the opportunity to hone my skills and prepared me for my new position in Ferndale.
How has your age affected your work?
When I came to Ypsilanti, my fellow department directors had an average of more than 13 years with the city and 6 1/2 years in their positions.
The fire chief and police chief had been city employees since before I was born. I was afraid I might encounter some ageism from some of the more senior employees, but it was never an issue.
My peers have been very supportive. I have been involved in some fairly contentious issues during my tenure with the city, so I have been forced to assert myself from time to time. Some people will walk all over you if you let them. However, if you politely stand your ground you will usually earn their respect. You cannot go wrong treating other people how you want to be treated.
What was your greatest achievement in Ypsilanti?
My greatest achievement, besides meeting and convincing my wife to marry me, has been helping guide the organization through change. The turnover of key positions in the organization has been over emphasized. I am very happy with the hiring decisions I have been involved with. I think the city has a great management team well positioned to lead the organization through the challenges ahead.
What was your greatest disappointment?
My greatest disappointment was being forced to close the Ypsilanti Freighthouse. Turning the freighthouse into a successful public-private partnership was one of the first projects I was tasked with when I came to Ypsilanti. I asked the loss control consultant from the city's insurance company to come take a look at the building and make suggestions for our capital improvement plan.
I never dreamed the insurance company would pull the city's collapse coverage and force us to close the building. The closure disappointed a lot of people, including the five brides and grooms whose weddings we displaced. That was a real low point for me.
Why did you decide to move to Ferndale?
Like Ypsilanti, Ferndale was a cool city before we started calling cities cool. When I was working in Oak Park I had a college friend who lived in Hazel Park. We decided to meet for drinks at Woodward Avenue Brewers in Ferndale (Ferndale is directly between Oak Park and Hazel Park). I liked it so much I bought a house nearby.
Who will fill your position while the city finds a new assistant city manager?
Many of the projects I've been working on will be put on the back burner until a new Assistant City Manager is hired.
The things that can't wait will be divided up among several people. City Manager Ed Koryzno, City Clerk Rebecca Bintz, Finance Director Marilou Uy, Public Works Director Bill Bohlen, Accounting Supervisor Sallea Tisch, Human Resources Generalist Judi Smith, and Management Intern Jason Wicha will all play a part. It is going to be a team effort.
What do you expect in Ferndale?
I expect to face many of the same challenges we've been facing in Ypsilanti, but on a somewhat lesser scale.
What are you looking forward to in Ferndale?
I'm looking forward to leaving my imprint on the organization.
The community has embraced change and I'm looking forward to making changes in city hall to allow the organization to meet the community's expectations.
What are you going to miss here?
I am going to miss my coworkers because we have a great team here. I am going to miss the income tax debate because challenges of this magnitude do not come around often. I am going to miss Depot Town because I like eating out. I am going to miss downtown because it is underappreciated. I am going to miss the summer beer festival and the Corner Brewery because I like beer.
How are Ypsilanti and Ferndale similar?
The communities are similar in size (Ypsilanti 4.42 is square miles and is Ferndale 3.87 is square miles according to SEMCOG) and population (Census 2000: Ypsilanti 22,237, Ferndale 22,105).
Their downtown districts are divided by state highways (Ferndale has Woodward Ave and Ypsilanti has Michigan Ave). They both have great breweries.
How are the two cities different?
Ypsilanti his home to Eastern Michigan University so I think it feels larger than other communities of similar size. Although Ypsilanti is more than 12 percent larger than Ferndale geographically, Ypsilanti's tax base is about half the size of Ferndale's. This allows Ferndale to generate more property tax revenue (about $17 million compared to Ypsilanti's $14.5 million) with a lower tax rate (about 14.5 mills compared to Ypsilanti's 19 mills).
Do you have any advice for the City of Ypsilanti?
The City of Ypsilanti is facing complex problems caused by market forces well beyond its control.
Nearly half the city is non-taxable and the city has lost several of its largest taxpayers in the last several years (The only metro Detroit communities similar in size to Ypsilanti with lower taxable values are Hamtramck, Highland Park and Inkster).
However, the demand for services has not decreased. Ypsilanti residents still expect the public services they rely on. Things are going to get worse before they get better.
A lot of people are going to spend a lot of time and energy seeking answers to these problems and trying to convince you their answers are the best.
Twentieth-century journalist, satirist, social critic, cynic and freethinker, H. L. Mencken once said, "For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple and wrong."
My advice is this: Listen the most to those who promise the least. As in all things, if the promises sound too good to be true, they probably are. The answers to Ypsilanti's complex problems will not be easy.
Do you have any advice for the incoming assistant city manager?
My advice for the incoming assistant city manager is to multitask, prioritize, and embrace change. Flexibility, patience and a sense of humor will serve you well. It is the toughest job you will ever love.
What else would you like to say to the citizens of Ypsilanti?
It has been my pleasure to serve you. Good night and good luck.
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