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Title:
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Discussion Regarding the Recruitment Process for City Manager and Potential Direction to Staff Related Thereto.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
A4-1
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council discuss the recruitment process for City Manager and
provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND:
At the October 27, 2008 City Council meeting, the Council discussed a variety of
recruitment options for the City Manager position, including processes that have been
used in the past and methods utilized by some of our neighboring cities. At Council’s
direction, staff conducted further research to ascertain the pros and cons of the various
methods.
DISCUSSION:
Council expressed interest in receiving input from the community for this important
recruitment. There are many options that can be used to achieve this. Staff spoke with a
number of cities in regards to the processes that were used to determine the feasibility of
each method. In addition, staff contacted West Los Angeles Community College to
discuss the recent recruitment that was conducted for College President.
The following outlines staff’s professional recommendation for the City Manager
recruitment in light of the City Council’s comments, feedback received from other cities,
and staff’s previous experience.
Meeting Date: 11/03/08 Item Number: A-4
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion Regarding the Recruitment Process for City Manager
and Potential Direction to Staff Related Thereto
Contact Person/Dept.: Serena Wright Phone Number: (310) 253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Master E-Mail Notification List on 10/31/08
Department Approval:
Serena Wright (10/31/08)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (10/31/08)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (10/31/08 )
City Manager Approval:
Jerry Fulwood (10/31/08) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
A4-2
Public outreach
As noted in the prior report dated October 27, 2008, the City of Pasadena used their city
website to allow the public the opportunity to provide comments on what characteristics
were important for the new City Manager to possess. John Richo, Culver City’s Chief
Information Officer, has indicated that this is something that can be placed on our
website. The comments posted by the community would then be provided directly to the
executive recruiter.
Public outreach can also be gathered by conducting a Saturday Town Hall meeting. This
meeting will allow community members the opportunity to express their thoughts directly
to Human Resources and the executive recruiter.
Comments from the Town Hall meeting and via the website could then be summarized
and provided to the City Council for consideration in developing the ideal candidate
profile.
Applicant Confidentiality
Community input is an important part of the recruitment process for the City Manager.
However, the City Council should also consider the potential consequences of early
disclosure of candidates’ names. Based upon input from other employers and
professional recruitment firms, the possibility of having candidates’ identity disclosed prior
to the consummation of an employment contract may discourage otherwise qualified
candidates from participating in the recruitment process. Therefore, staff is
recommending that public input be gathered via the website and town hall meetings.
Interview process
Once viable candidates have been identified, the Council may want to consider one of the
following options in developing its interview panel for the first interviews:
• Option one: Three mixed panels consisting of local city managers, community
members (each councilmember selects one) and the chair of each of the City
Commissions.
• Option two: Three distinct panels consisting of City Council, local city managers
and community members.
• Option three: Two panels consisting of City Council and executive management
team.
• Option four: Two mixed panels consisting of local city managers, labor
representatives, management representatives, and community members.
City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
A4-3
All of the above options would end with the City Council receiving feedback from the
interview panels after which the City Council would privately determine the final 2-3
candidates. The final interview panels could consist separately of City Council and the
executive management team. The executive management team would debrief with
City Council before the Council makes their final determination.
Once the top candidate has been identified, the City Council may determine to
continue past practice by authorizing the Mayor and one other Councilmember to
contact the Mayor and another Councilmember of the candidates’ current City (or in
the case a non City Manager candidate is selected, both the Mayor and the selected
Councilmember could speak with the candidates’ supervisor). The recruiter will
conduct extensive background and reference checks.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There may be minimal costs associated with this recruitment. However, this can be
absorbed within the current year’s adopted budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
MOTION:
That the City Council:
1. Discuss the recruitment process for City Manager and provide direction to
staff.