Council to vote on city manager search recommendations

On Thursday, City Council is scheduled to vote on adopting a number of recommendations made by the task force appointed to guide the selection of the next city manager. The central recommendation is the “candidate profile” crafted by the City Manager Search Advisory Task Force, which outlines the characteristics and experience Council should seek in the next city manager. Informing that profile was a survey sent to roughly 800 senior city staffers, nearly 300 of whom replied, as well as a survey of roughly 500 citizens and four hearings open to the public. In addition, the task force has recommended that it be able to talk with the final candidates selected by Russell Reynolds Associates, the head-hunting firm Council has hired to help fill the position that has been vacant since former City Manager Marc Ott left last year. Laura Huffman, the chair of the task force, assured Council members during a Tuesday work session that the task force members will provide feedback on their conversations with the candidates but will not rank them. They have also agreed to keep the names of the candidates confidential.