Kalamazoo begins search for next city manager; consultant outlines timeline, qualifications

Kalamazoo — The Kalamazoo City Commission’s Committee of the Whole on Aug. 11 received a recruitment timeline and candidate qualifications for the city manager search from consultant Pamela Weidman of Raftelis, who outlined steps from outreach and brochure posting through candidate review and final interviews.

Weidman said her team began discovery meetings with commissioners in mid-July and received a “notice to proceed in early July.” She described a schedule that calls for a recruitment brochure and posting within days, candidate screening beginning with a first review of applicants on Sept. 12, a closed-session candidate review on Oct. 6 and finalist interviews and community meet-and-greets in October, with a projected announcement of the selected candidate on Oct. 20.

The timeline matters because the city manager serves as Kalamazoo’s chief executive officer, responsible for daily operations and implementing policy set by the commission. Commissioners and several public commenters at the meeting pressed for inclusive community engagement to ensure the hire reflects local priorities.

Weidman said the recruitment brochure will include “position priorities,” minimum and preferred qualifications, compensation and benefits and…