HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 24, 2004 B-01 SMAGENDA ITEM 130
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Discuss and Provide Direction to Develop a City Manager Candidate Profile and
Recruitment Strategy
MEETING DATE: August 24, 2004
PREPARED BY: City Clerk
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss and provide direction to develop a city manager candidate
profile and recruitment strategy.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This matter appears on the agenda at the request of Mayor Hansen.
Council Members met individually with a representative from CPS
Executive Search on August 18 to develop individual insights
regarding the community's needs and the personal and professional
characteristics desired in a city manager. In addition, at the regular City Council meeting of August 18
Council approved the agreement with CPS Executive Search and appropriated necessary funds.
Task 4 of the Executive Search Process Development of Candidate Profile and Recruitment Straterav
includes the following activities:
The City Council will identify priorities for the new city manager;
➢ The consultant will assist the City Council in identifying the conditions and challenges likely to be
encountered in achieving the priorities;
The City Council will describe the type of working relationship it wishes to establish with the city
manager;
➢ The consultant will assist the City Council in generating a list of specific competencies, experiences,
and personal attributes needed by the new city manager; and
➢ The consultant will present several recruitment and selection strategies for the City Council's
consideration. The City Council will choose the recruitment and selection process most likely to
produce the intended results.
FUNDING: None required.
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
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APPROVED:
Larry V. Hansen,
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CITY OF LODI
CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT
2004
DRAFT PROFILE STATEMENT
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be a seasoned general management professional or top-
level assistant manager with significant experience in a comparably sized
organization, and has extensive knowledge in financial management, economic
development, and community development. This strong, self confident and
energetic leader will bring exceptional interpersonal, communication, and
negotiation skills to the position; be visible in and involved with an active
community; and work closely and effectively with a talented City staff. The new
City Manager will develop a strong relationship with the City Council based on
partnership, mutual trust, respect, regular and candid communication, and equal
treatment of all members. City/local government management experience is
desirable, but not required. Electrical power management experience is also
desirable.
Education
A Bachelor's degree in public or busine dministration or related field is
expected. A Master's degree in a relat filed' desirable.
Leadership and Management Style
• An effective, service oriented manager who respects employees, holds the
organization accountable, and cultivates high morale.
• Someone who will develop a strong identity with the Lodi community, its
citizenry and unique characteristics.
Competencies and Personal Characteristics
In addition to the above qualifications, the City Manager will also:
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• Possess integrity, a strong sense of ethics, and the courage of his/her
convictions
• Maintain and enhance the Citys financial health; manage City resources
wisely.
• Able to leam quickly
• Be visible in the community
• Be collaborative; values input from others
• Be an intelligent, strategic thinker
• Possess a strong work ethic
• Be a facilitator of consensus and collaboration
• Be a people person; accessible and approachable
• Be a creative problem solver
• Use a team approach to management
• Serve impressively as City spokesperson when necessary
• Be calm under pressure; thick skinned; and possesses a good sense of
humor
• Be politically astute, yet apolitical
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CITY OF LODI
CITY MANAGER
PROPOSED RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
TASK COMPLETED BY
1. Kickoff meetings;
a. Initial meeting with Mayor 8116
b. Individual City Council member interviews 8118
c. Meet 1 talk with others to develop profile 8119-23
d. Profile development meeting with City 8124
Council; finalize profile & schedule
2. Prepare and place advertising 8125
a. Advertising appears 8/26-9/30
3. Recruitment brochure
a. Draft brochure text submitted to City 8127
b. City provides text changes 913
c. Brochure printed & distributed 9110
4. Identify and contact potential candidates 9/13-10/8
5. Final filing date for candidates 10115
6. Resume review and preliminary interviews
a. Preliminary resume screening by consultant 10118-19
b. Preliminary interviews by consultant 10121-29
7. Meet with 1 present written report to City Council;
Council selects finalists
8. City interviews finalists; recommends top 1-2 11115-19*
candidates
9. Consultant conducts background & reference checks 7-10 days
on top candidates
10. City Council's (including Council members -elect) 11/29 --1 213*
second interview with top candidates
11. City Council makes offer appointment 1213
*date to be determined by City
CITY OF LODI
CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT
2004
COMMUNITY MEMBER CANDIDATE PROFILE COMMENTS
CHALLENGES
1. Economic development ,...
a. developers feel that development in Lodi is costly; inefficient
b. community needs to grow — can't stand still; Lodi must be able
to compete with other communities for sales tax revenues
c. make better economic development effort
d. community has lost some jobs; revenues have reduced
e. need more economic development
2. Staff management
a. need to upgrade quality of some City departments
b. City staff needs firm direction
c. Have good City staff
d. public safety employees underpaid
e. handle increase in employee healthcare costs
f. hold the line on employee compensation increases
g. weak City Human Resources Department; not working
collaboratively with labor groups
3. Groundwater lawsuit
a. make expenditure cuts to pay for
b. CM should express City's position; like captain of the ship
c. City likely over the hump now, but paying for solution still an
issue
d. lawsuit
e. lawsuit; can't keep hitting City rate payers
f. lawsuit
4. City Budget
a. balance budget; work within existing revenues
b. City's service expansion on hold due to reduced revenues
c, hold the line on costs; make tough decisions
d. budget issues; limit effect on service levels
5. City Council relations
a. working to bring the City Council back together again
6. Enhance City's image and credibility
7. Growth issues
a. community is clarifying its growth policies; big box limitation
initiative
b. City struggling with a vision for itself — big box initiative, have
revitalized portion of downtown -- need to do more; growth
issues vlv Stockton
c. agriculture -urban interface issues; need to finance greenbelt;
preserve uniqueness
8. Community improvements
a. Need to consider affordability for community; determine
priorities
9. City may be placing too much importance on results of recent community
survey
BACKGROUND DESIRED
1. Experience
a.
should be experienced manager, not just an assistant or deputy
b.
experience to run this City
c.
could be first time city manager
d.
business management skills more important that government
experience
e.
can come from the private sector
f,
should come out of city government environment; at either city
manager or top assistant; need to limit leaming curve
g.
must know how city works
h.
either public or private sector experience OK
i.
local government experience preferred
j.
must know how to Oran the show" like Hank Glaves; be a strong
leader
k.
need experienced city manager
I.
familiarity with Lodi preferable
m.
need experience in the job; knows the job
n.
could promote from within the City
o.
not necessarily from city government
p.
need best qualified from either public or private sector
q.
experienced managing in difficult situations
2. Economic development
a. have a vision for growth; innovative to achieve more growth &
capital improvements
b. able to manage a city "investment" strategy; see the big picture of
building something
c. economic development skills; bring business in
d. experience with tourism positive
E
3. Financial management background
a. should have background in financial management
b. doesn't need strong financial background; has related help on City
staff
c. understand budgets and finance
4. California experience
a.
not that important
b.
likely not important
c.
not that critical
d.
not that important
e.
a plus
f.
not that important
5. Education
a. BA just fine
6. Other
a. good understanding of Brown Act & public's right to know
b. experience in related groundwater litigation preferable
PERSONAL QUALITIES
1. Integrity
a. Honesty
2. Work with City Council
a. willing to work with the City Council without being adversarial
b. understand politics
c. work well with the City Council; need to be on same page; develop
better harmony
d. work well with the City Council; listen, find best solutions for the
City
e. encourage City Council to do their jobs
3. Leadership
a. must have backbone; stand on principles
b. be a mainstay for the organization and community
c. able to take a stand; tell City Council what is best for the City;
passionate
d. leadership
e. standup on principle
f. able to rally community around leadership
g. viewed as a leader
h. not a politician
i. stand up to criticism
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j. tough
4. Communication skills
a. able to communicate
b. communicator
c. good communicator, professional
d. communication
5. Staff management
a. good working relationship with City employee organizations
b. be a resource to City staff
c. no micro management
d. confident in a team setting
fi. Community involvement
a. credible with the community
b. outgoing with the community
c. involved within community
d. able to build coalitions within the community
7. Common sense
8. Pro -public safety
9. Creativity
a. creative problem solver
10. Confidence
a. self confident, assertive
11. Able to manage multiple projects
12. Collaborative
13. Loyal
a. to the City; take care of City first
b. has greater good of community in mind
14. Decisive
15. Interpersonal skills
a. able to deal effectively with a broad range of personalities
b. able to agree to disagree, and get on with business
c. able to work with a wide variety of individuals
d. people person
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16. Quick leamer
17. Intuitive
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CITY OF LODI
CITY MANAGER RECRUITMENT
2004
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILE COMMENTS
COMMUNITY ASSETS
1. Attractive community -
a. good planning — orderly growth; keep up with infrastructure needs;
clean
b. positive City history
c. attractive homes
d. good growth, keeping small town charm
e. access to amenities
f. many community traditions — Grape Festival; New Year's
celebration, etc.
g. family atmosphere
h. strong capital investments within community in recent years
i. good City layout; slow growth
j. well maintained parks
k. good family community
I. generally safe community; crime not a major issue
m. family oriented, small town charm unlike other many other
Califomia communities
n. good location, climate
2. Actively involved community -
a. many volunteers & civic groups
b. people donate their time
c. civic pride
3. Schools —
a. Clean, safe with good reputation
b. City has excellent working relationship with school district — several
joint projects
c. good schools
4. Community partnerships —
a. good partnership with Chamber of Commerce; Chamber is doing
well for City
b. good partnership with downtown businesses; put in $$$, good tum
around so far with good potential for future improvement
c. good partnership with Hutchins Square Foundation
d. partnering with Lodi Wine & Visitors Bureau — progressing toward
making Lodi more of a tourist destination
e. Grape & Wine Festival improving every year
5. Economic development —
a. though community has lost some jobs, economic development
efforts have brought new business to the area (Kabota Tractor,
Loews)
b. good development and tax revenue increases
6.. City financial strength -
a. good reserves overall
b. maintaining low debt ratio
c. municipal electric utility provides low rates to community; revenue
to the City
d. recently bought water rights from Woodbridge ID to replenish City's
ground water
7. City staff -
a. continuity with City staff
b. confidence in City staff
c. good relations with City employee organizations
CHALLENGES & ISSUES
1. Groundwater pollution issue —
a. Cost? City's liability?
b. How to pay?
c. Resolve litigation; commence cleanup - restore public confidence
2.- Budget out of balance —
a. City drawing down reserves; able to repay internal borrowing?
b. likely need to reduce staff
c. budget shortfall needs to be addressed; reduce draw down on
reserves
3. City's General Plan update scheduled for next year
a. need progressive growth similar to City s history
b. need to welcome families
c. General Plan update; Lodi -Stockton greenbelt
4. Economic development —
a. attract high quality jobs
b. need more land designated for business
S. Community facility needs -
a. East side improvements
b. State mandates on sewage treatment improvements — how to fund
E
c. Community's interest in future capital improvements — animal
shelter, aquatics & indoor sports center -- how to pay?
6. Differences in community; among City Council —
a. Community has differences on keeping things the same vs.
obtaining new amenities
b. City budget, labor negotiationstemployee compensation;
groundwater lawsuit
c. Need interaction with City Council and its differences
d. Consensus building between City Council and City Manager, need
to actively pursue greater sense of team
BACKGROUND DESIRED IN CITY MANAGER
1. Experience
a. city government exp preferred; county government experience
possible
b. understands business, finance & budgets and other aspects of
running a city
c. prefer experience as city manager
d. experienced city manager desirable; top level assistant or
department director, or county management experience acceptable
e. ongoing development; involved in city management profession
f. management experience, not necessarily in government; personnel
management
g. needs some government experience — knows the structure of city
organizations
h. involved with Chamber of Commerce, or professional associations
i. private sector management experience preferred, with some
experience in public sector desirable
j. good mix of executive director or vice president level experience
k. minimal learning curve desired
2. Financial management experience & knowledge
3. Skilled negotiator
4.. Land use knowledge
5. Economic development skills -
a. able to take active part in economic development in Lodi
6. Human resources —
a. understands HIPPA
b. knows employee benefit issues
3
r
7. Electrical power utility knowledge
8.. Califomia experience —
a. might be important
b. preferred, not required
c. not that important
d. not that critical
e. not that Important
9. Education
a. experience more important than education — BA expected, MA
desirable
b. BA expected; MA desirable
c. BA expected, MA nice to have
PERSONAL QUALITIES
1. Integrity; credible; great reputation
a. integrity, honesty
b. strong work ethic
2. Community relations skills —
a. comfortable being with & interacting with community
b. solicits input & opinions of others
c. values community input
d. communicator in the community; able to speak "off the cuff"
e. fosters positive relations within the community
3. Intelligent
a. strategic thinker
4. Able to evaluate and enhance City services
S. Communicate efFedvely
a. expresses self well; good speaker
b. communicates well; orally and in writing
6. Personable
7. Self confident
a. confident in their own skills & knowledge; know who they are
8.. Leadership
a. able to make tough decisions
b. commands respect
c. thick skinned
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9. Works well with elected officials
10. Delegates responsibility & authority —
a. does not micro -manage
b. interact well with City employees
c. team oriented approach to management
11. Politically astute
a. diplomatic
5
To: Lodi City Council Members
From: Pastor Steve Jarrett
Subject: City Manager Recruitment
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I stand before you this morning to express my reservations
concerning the processes that the council has begun concerning the
recruitment of a new City Manager.
I wish to say to the council very clearly and very loudly — SLOW
DOWNH
As of this morning it has only been 17 days since the City
Manager has resigned. Already you have decided the process to be
used, the firm that will find the new city manager and set a time frame
to find this new city manger in as little as 12 weeks.
My question to you this morning is: Why the rush? I do not see
need and I feel that it is not prudent or in the best interests of the
citizens of Lodi. Let me explain why I think this.
1. I do not believe that this Council, at the present time, has the
confidence of the citizens of Lodi to choose a new City Manager. The
city has just gone through the firing of the City Attorney and the abrupt
resignation of the City Manager because of the current problems and
issues besetting the city. These current problems and issues are the
result of the decisions made by both City Management Staff and the
Council, albeit both present and past councils. Citizens are concerned
with the current direction of their city government. -
2. This concern with the current direction of their city government
causes citizens to want to have a voice concerning this direction
through the voting process which will take place on November 2"d.
With the selection of two new Council members, the council then, with
integrity, can determine the desire of the citizens of Lodi with much
more clarity. The new makeup of the new council can then determine
what is needed in a new City Manager to lead us through the current
problems and issues.
3. I do not believe that the recruitment will generate quality
candidates for the City Manager position because of the current
condition of the city. The current issues concerning the State of
California withholding funds for at least for the next two years, the
current budget shortfall of 1.9 million dollars, the 20 million dollar debt
on the loan for the contamination lawsuit litigation, the continuing
costs of the that litigation, the project costs of the cleanup of the
contamination, the fact that there is a brand new Finance Director, a
brand new City Attorney, a slow growth cap of 2% a year, the
possibility of a city ordinance being passed that would complicate new
large retail coming to the city, all of these issues spell a time of
extremely hard going in the office of the City Manager. I believe
recruitment will generate less than stellar candidates.
4. If by chance a quality individual did apply. With the integrity, skills
and experience we desperately need, they will require a higher salary
than we are offering. This would create within the Council the felt need
to meet the income requirements of this candidate. If the council did
that, raised the salary, that would be a disservice to the employees of
the City of Lodi and a disservice to the citizens of Lodi. This Council,
although forced to do so, has asked each city employee to do more
than their fair share. The hiring freeze, although needed, has placed
more burden on every single employee. To pay more than the current
budget amount for the City Manager would be dishonoring their
sacrifice. To pay more than the current budget amount for the City
Manager would be dishonoring each and every citizen of Lodi who is
suffering because of the lack of employees. Everyone who has to wait
longer for services, pay more for services, or maybe even have
services removed because of the current budget limitations.
These are the reasons why I oppose the Council's current strategy.
Now, because I feel that it is the responsibility of everyone not only to
voice their complaints but to also contribute to the solution, I submit.
the following for your consideration:
The Council should offer the current Interim City Manager a three year
contract at the current budgeted amount for the City Manager position.
Here is why I believe this to be a prudent action.
1. In three years the State's budget situation will hopefully be
resolved and we will have a clear indication as to what we can expect
in revenues from the State which.will greatly impact our budget and
help determine our fiscal strategy. It is anticipated that we will be
receiving what is owed to us and that will allow us to be in a better
financial situation.
2. In three years the new Council will have brought to completion the
contamination lawsuit, one way or another. The financial impact of
that will be known and with clarity a strategy for repayment
established.
3. In three years the new Council will have determined what will be
needed to clean up the contamination. It will have determined the
costs and found the resources. The financial impact it on the City will
be known.
4. In three years, the new Council, working with the community, will
have updated the general plan, teamed with commerce andthe
citizens to determine the vision and direction that Lodi will take.
It only after these four things have been accomplished that Lodi will
truly be ready for a quality candidate for City Manager. A candidate to
manage the city government with the quality and competency we
require.