“MINUTES”
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Saturday, April 30, 2011 9:00 A.M.
Council Chambers
East side of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh Avenues
Archived video streaming
II. ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Council Members Burnett, Hazdovac, Sharp, Talmage, Mayor McCloud
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Heidi Burch, Assistant City Administrator/City Clerk
IV. Orders of Council
A. Interviews with representatives of selected firms interested in conducting the recruitment of the City Administrator.
Mayor McCloud opened and closed the meeting to public comment.
AVERY & ASSOCIATES:
Les White, Management Group, Avery & Associates, gave his presentation.
• Les White stated that Bill Avery, President, would be the lead on recruitment, with his assistance. Avery (President) would do 75% of the recruitment search.
• Les White is a former city manager of San Jose and Fullerton.
•Avery & Associates has been in business for 30 years; the last 20 years in executive recruitment. The firm had done 20 plus recruitments in Monterey County.
• White stated that the firm has “management consulting experience, organizational analysis, executive evaluation experience” and “recruitment experience” to give the city the kind of service needed.
• White communicated testimonials from past city clients. Among the strengths of Avery & Associates include assessing candidates’ ability to perform, thoroughness of the profiles based on information from all constituencies, thorough reference checks, weekly updates by email and guarantee to stay with search until candidate chosen, and if candidate leaves within two years, firm will perform another search at no additional cost to the City.
• Les White described the process, including orientation, scope position, information developed and placed in brochures and marketed on internet, magazines, assistance groups, et cetera, candidate screening, conduct interviews, selection process and recommend appointment.
• White stated that Avery & Associates knows the Peninsula well and some qualities of Carmel and knows the field of city management and can apply that knowledge to Carmel’s unique situation.
• Les White stated that the two most important things are getting a good understanding from the community through the council what qualities the city wants in a city administrator and checking to make certain candidates possess those qualities.
ADDENDUM:
Leaders in Leadership Search
Current Searches
Note: Includes, as follows:
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District
General Manager
Final Filing Date: May 15, 2011
RALPH ANDERSEN & ASSOCIATES:
Heather Renschler, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Andersen & Associates, gave the presentation.
• Heather Renschler, President and Chief Executive Officer, has been with Ralph Andersen & Associates since 1985: CEO for last thirteen-fourteen years. She would be the Project Director; she would meet with council, collectively and individually, meet with staff and department heads, and conduct a public forum with thecommunity.
• Renschler stated that Ralph Andersen & Associates brings “stability and a reputation for integrity and quality searches in the public sector." The firm is small, (twelve employees), but has a “national reach.”
• Renschler is familiar with coastal cities. She conducted city manager searches for the cities of Sausalito, Tiburon, Belvedere, all “high end communities,” and all within the last five years.
• Renschler stated that City brochure is an important piece of information; it represents your collective vision of what you want your city manager to do and to be, states priorities and desire in what you want to be able to accomplish. Information is collected by the council, community members and business and residential groups.
• Renschler has a private sector focus; economy, revenues and expenditures, salary and benefits, familiar with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.
• Renschler stated that Ralph Andersen & Associates was one of the first public sector search firms in the U.S. Ralph Andersen was “a pioneer;” and since 1972 the firm has the most successful track record by “volume.” The firm has never been involved in any litigation or lawsuit. The firm is the “longest standing, public sector search firm that has been independently owned.”
• Renschler encouraged council members to contact her references, including clients and council members. She stated that her retention levels for placements are extremely high, 97% or 98% on city manager searches and she has a strong track record of repeat business and clients.
• Renschler stated that extent of community participation is the responsibility of the city council. She recommended that process allow community involvement, but not too early so as to severely limit the number of potential candidates. Public forum best with final candidates.
• Renschler stated she is committed to “aggressive outreach” by relationships. For a “stable of candidates,” she needs more insight into what the council wants in a city manager.
• Regarding references, checking references involves verifing education and credentials and contacting references supplied by candidates; also includes DMV, civil and criminal, credit, newspaper and goggle searches, city blogs, et cetera.
• Renschler stated it is city council’s determination to use a community panel; she reported that there are positive and negative aspects (negative mostly due to leaks, breaches of confidentiality).
Note: Interim City Administrator John Goss recused himself from the recruitment process due to his relationship with Ralph Andersen & Associates.
ADDENDUM:
Comprehensive Listing of Current and Recently
Completed Executive Recruitments For Heather Renschler
Note: Includes, as follows:
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
• Community Development Director
• Interim General Manager, Sunset Theatre Center
• Community Planning and Building Director
• Police Chief
The Search Process
Professional Resources
B. Selection of a recruiting firm to conduct the recruitment of the City Administrator.
By consensus, the City Council decided to remove Avery & Associates from the list due to not fact that the Council did not meet Bill Avery in person.
Council Member Jason Burnett stated he was impressed by “demonstrated integrity” of Heather Renschler and Bobbi Peckham.
Council Member Ken Talmage noted a point of differentiation between firms was Bobbi Peckham’s commitment to “do it all,” including interviews, reference checks, meet with people, et cetera, as opposed to a team approach.
Council Member Karen Sharp stated her preference for Peckham & McKenney and Ralph Andersen & Associates, specifically individuals Bobbi Peckham and Heather Renschler, respectively.
Council Member Paula Hazdovac stated her preference for Bobbi Peckham due to her leaning towards potential candidates from California, as opposed to potential candidates national-wide.
Council Member Talmage ranked Bobbi Peckham first due to her “energy” and “openness” and her work with cities similar to Carmel, such as Woodside, Del Mar, Mill Valley, Moraga, St. Helena, Park City and Vail, as contrasted to Beverly Hills from Heather Renschler.
By consensus, the council removed Bob Murray from consideration.
Council Member Jason Burnett ranked Bobbi Peckham first also.
Mayor McCloud stated that Bob Murray has a larger database than the other firms.
Council Talmage stated that he was impressed with Bobbi Peckham’s database of over 25 years used as a “strategic tool.”
Council Member Paula Hazdovac observed Peckham & McKenney as a “boutique” firm versus Ralph Andersen as a “corporate” firm and her preference for Peckham & McKenney.
After Council Members Jason Burnett and Karen Sharp expressed desire for public comment, Mayor McCloud opened the meeting for public comment.
Monte Miller agreed he was impressed with Heather Renschler and Bobbi Peckham and especially impressed with Heather Renschler.
Mayor McCloud closed the meeting for public comment.
Mayor McCloud stated that Bobbi has never worked for the City, whereas Heather had worked for the City. She stated that Heather was “more articulate.”
Council Member Talmage stated that Heather was “rigid.”
Council Member Sharp commented on Bobbi Peckham’s comfort level of six-eight searches, currently has three searches, will work directly with the council, two year guarantee and 94% placement rate. Sharp ranked Bobbi Peckham as number one.
By consensus, the City Council selected Peckham & McKenney as the recruiting firm to conduct the recruitment for the City Administrator.
1 comment:
It is not so much about interim city administrator John Goss recusing himself during the process of selecting a recruiting firm for the city administrator position. Rather, it is about the council selecting a person on the staff of one of the search firms under consideration as interim city administrator when council members knew Ralph Andersen was a finalist for the job. In other words, by selecting Goss, the council set it up so that Goss was unable to guide the council with his professional suggestions and recommendations with the aim of selecting the best recruitment firm. Too many years have gone by with an impotent city administrator that the council needs to recognize that they need to stop micromanaging and limit their activities to providing broad policy direction and leave the management of the city to the professional city administrator.
Post a Comment