As the Miami-Dade deputy mayor overseeing the county’s recently consolidated Permitting, Environment and Regulatory Affairs Department and Sustainability, Planning and Economic Enhancement Department, Jack Osterholt has a busy year ahead of him.

The former Broward county manager said that he plans to use the experience he gained as executive director of the South Florida Regional Planning Council in his new role, which Mayor Carlos Gimenez assigned him just three months ago.

Despite the difficult budget year, Mr. Osterholt said that he plans to work with the county’s many economic development agencies, including the Beacon Council, the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, to create a short path toward financial sustainability.

“They are partners in this process,” he said. “We need to develop strong partnerships and we need to have them understand what we’re trying to accomplish so we can all work together to pull in the same direction.”

While the budget is at his mind’s forefront, Mr. Osterholt also intends to lead Mr. Gimenez’s push to create a viable South Florida region. He said that he plans to partner with Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties to pinpoint and promote area initiatives.

“We need to understand how our futures are linked together and we need to work together to take advantage of the opportunities that are here,” he said. “Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville are all organized…We’re not at that state yet. We need to get to a point where the big issues between all of South Florida we can agree to.”

Mr. Osterholt discussed his thoughts on the county’s upcoming budget year, his views on the county restructuring plan and his push to create local jobs with Miami Today staff writer Ashley Hopkins at his downtown office in the Stephen P. Clark Government Center