The upcoming retirement of Key West's port director will lead to some organizational changes within the city.

Port Director Raymond Archer's last official day is March 31, but he has been enjoying retirement for the past week by using accrued leave time.

City officials are accepting applications for Archer's successor, but it is a different job than the one being vacated.

City Manager Jim Scholl wants to hire a port and transit director, who will oversee all modes of transportation within the city, including buses, cruise ships and ferries.

"I want a specific director of focus on all transportation modes because of the necessary relationships with state and federal government agencies," he said, adding that the new director will have to work with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Ports Council, Homeland Security and law enforcement. "That person also will have to preserve our transportation funding."

No municipality can operate a public transportation bus system without subsidies, and the new director will have to ensure that those subsidies continue for Key West buses.

While the new port and transit director will have greater responsibilities than the previous port director, Scholl has lightened the load by removing marina management from the job description that includes a minimum annual salary of $85,000.

Marilyn Wilbarger has been promoted to senior property manager, and will oversee all city-owned property that generates revenue through leases, Scholl said.

Wilbarger also will oversee the operations of Key West Bight and Garrison Bight. Those duties previously were handled by Archer.

"Marilyn was hired as property manager for the port-area properties, but I have increased her responsibilities to include all of the city's income-producing resources," Scholl said. "A lot of things fell under the Port Department, but I believe will be better served by putting them under the property manager."

The impending development of Truman Waterfront will be overseen by Doug Bradshaw, who handles the city's areas of redevelopment, Scholl said.

Bradshaw also is one of five applicants for the port and transit director position, according to the city's Human Resources Department.

The reorganization may work well, as Archer said he often felt pulled in too many directions -- a situation that sometimes led to a reactive, rather than proactive position.

"The port is a high-profile area and someone in the new director position needs to get out there and reach out to the community to ensure that we're going in the direction people want," Archer said. "The Port Department needs to allocate more time and energy to the community."

He used the cruise ship industry as an example.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, the cruise ship industry increased exponentially, Archer said, but the city did not discuss its growth with the citizens.

He also encouraged his successor to be prepared for the opening of Cuba, and anticipate its impacts on Key West.

"It behooves us to start setting parameters now," he said, adding that he always did his best for the city. "The city needs an impact assessment of cruise ships to strike a workable balance."

Archer started working for the city in 1990 and was the director of engineering services before taking over as port director in 1998.

"I just thank the citizens for giving me the chance," he said.

mbolen@keysnews.com