"It is the Mission of the City of Central Point to build and maintain a highly livable community by working in harmony and being a catalyst for partnership with all the members of the community, public and private."

The City Council appoints the City Manager who is then responsible for general administrative functions and management of the Department Directors and Managers.  The City Manager is ultimately responsible to see that the day-to-day operations of all City Departments contribute to building and maintaining "...a highly livable community..."

Five Department Directors assist the Manager in the day-to-day management of the City: Finance; Human Resources, Parks and Public Works, Community Development, and Police.

The City Manager is also assisted by the Assistant City Manager, and the City Recorder.  The Assistant City Manager assists in the areas relating to budget preparation and administration; policy development and implementation; capital improvement projects; and design and construction of all city infrastructure and facilities. The Recorder is responsible for the City Council agenda, and the storage and records management of ordinances, resolutions and public records.  

The Administration Department is also responsible for the oversight of all departments, and for two City Council agendas and one Study Session per month along with an annual Mayor/Council/Staff retreat, weekly management meetings, preparation of resolutions and ordinances, quarterly "all-employee" meetings, and support to the Mayor and Council on policy decisions.

The City Manager also represents the City in several regional bodies:  He is an alternate on the Regional Problem Solving policy board, a member of the Jackson County Public Safety Coordinating Council, City liaison to the Central Point Chamber of Commerce and a Trustee on the Board of the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

Phil Messina, Central Point's current City Manager has over twenty years experience managing cities.  He started his career as an intern in the historic Pudget Sound community of Steilacoom, Washington's oldest incorporated City.  He then went on to become City Administrator in Colfax, Burlington and North Ben Washington before making the move to Central Point in 2002.  He is past president of the Oregon City/County Managers Association, and a member of the International City Managers Association.  Part of his personal philosophy is to, "Always leave things better than you found them."  Click this link to send Mr. Messina an email.