Responsibilities
The City Manager is appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the City Council, and serves as the administrative head of the city government. The City Manager is responsible for the City's daily operations, including decisions relating to staff, resources and provision of the daily services, enforcement of City laws and ordinances, preparation of the annual budget, and attendance at Council Meetings.
Biography
Dr. James A. Poag is a distinguished public administration professional with more than 20 years of experience in local, county, and regional government. He was appointed City Manager for the City of Florida City in December 2025. In this role, Dr. Poag oversees the day-to-day operations of the City and is responsible for faithfully executing the laws of the City Charter and the directives of the City Council.
Before joining the Florida City leadership team, Dr. Poag served as the Director of the Office of Civic Engagement for the City of Miami Gardens. In that capacity, he led initiatives to strengthen the City's relationship with residents and expand civic awareness. He oversaw major City-wide events, managed economic development initiatives, and coordinated the planning and execution of $60 million in general obligation bond projects for parks and recreation facilities, including a state-of-the-art senior center.
Prior to his work in Miami Gardens, Dr. Poag served the Village of Wellington as Director of Community Services, Director of Internal Audit, and Interim Chief Financial Officer. He managed the daily operations of five functional areas—Safe Neighborhoods, Senior Services, Community Outreach, Education, and Public Safety. During his tenure, he successfully developed youth outreach programs that promoted inclusivity and unity among residents from diverse backgrounds.
Dr. Poag holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, a Master of Public Management from St. Thomas University, and a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University. While at FAMU, he was a member of the 1990 MEAC Championship Football Team under Hall of Fame Coach Ken Riley.
He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., the Miami-Dade County FAMU Alumni Association, FAMU F Club, 5000 Role Models of Excellence, the Miami-Dade NAACP, and several other professional organizations.
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Dr. James A. Poag, City Manager
City of Florida City · 404 W Palm Dr · Florida City, FL 33034