Eugene City Council selects Bob Murray Associates for city manager recruitment process

The City Council of Eugene, Oregon, convened on July 9, 2025, for a work session focused on the recruitment process for a new city manager. The meeting highlighted the council's consensus on selecting a recruitment firm, with discussions centering around three primary candidates.

Councilor Yang initiated the conversation by expressing confidence in the top three choices for the recruitment firm, which included Bob Murray and Associates, CPS, and WBC. Each council member shared their preferences, with a strong inclination towards Bob Murray and Associates, noted for their extensive experience in recruiting for medium to large communities, including universities.

Councilor Kaczynski echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Bob Murray's successful track record with past recruitments. Councilor Groves also supported this choice, citing the firm's familiarity with the University of Oregon as a significant factor. Councilor Keating reinforced the group's consensus, stating that the work done by Bob Murray has been effective and reliable.

Councilor Evans contributed to the discussion by sharing his top two candidates, Bob Murray and WBC, and expressed readiness to move forward with a motion. He proposed selecting Bob Murray and Associates to lead the recruitment process, which was met with unanimous support from the council.

The motion to engage Bob Murray and Associates was officially put to a vote and passed with a count of 7 in favor and none opposed. The council expressed gratitude to all involved in the recruitment discussions, recognizing the importance of this decision for the community's future.

As the meeting concluded, the council acknowledged the critical nature of the upcoming recruitment process and the attention it would require in the months ahead. The decision marks a significant step in the city's governance, setting the stage for the next phases of the recruitment effort.