Residents urge city manager candidate with economic-development, team-building and climate resilience experience

EUGENE, Ore. — Residents, business leaders and community groups urged the Eugene City Council on Oct. 20 to seek a next city manager with experience in economic development, team-building and sustainability, and to prioritize fiscal stewardship and stronger collaboration between city government and the private sector.

The council held a community listening session on the city manager recruitment after City Manager Sarah Madari announced her retirement effective December. Mayor Knudsen said the council retained Bob Murray & Associates to conduct a nationwide search; applications are due Nov. 3, initial interviews will take place in December and final interviews are planned for mid-January 2026.

Speakers during the allotted two-and-a-half-minute comments emphasized several recurring themes. Nigel Francisco, a Ward 8 resident and local business owner, asked the council to “prioritize ... economic development” and to “make it easier for businesses to operate” in Eugene so more people who grew up in the community can find local employment. Terry Vance, a resident and former Air Force member with public-sector consulting experience, said the city needs a manager who can “develop people and teams” and bring private-sector best practices into local government operations.

Meredith Tufts of Ward 1, speaking as a parent, urged the council to keep “sustainability and community resilience front of mind” as it chooses a manager who must address housing and cost-of-living pressures while planning for climate impacts such as wildfire smoke seasons. Jordan Pappe, CEO of the Pappe Group and chair of the Southern Willamette Valley Innovation Corridor, recommended a candidate with economic-development experience in university towns or cities that have successfully redeveloped districts, warning that AI and automation are reshaping regional opportunities.

Representatives of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce spoke together in separate comments. Tiffany Edwards, speaking for the Chamber and its more than 1,200 members, said the selection “is among the most consequential choices this council will make for the future of our city” and urged a leader who can bring “innovation, courage, and action.” Joe Liebersbach, representing both the Chamber and Eugene Young Professionals, said young professionals want a manager who will “build trust between city hall and the private sector” and make it “easier, not harder, to do work here.”

Council response and process: Councilor Groves thanked the public participants and the many people who submitted written comments, praised City Manager Madari for steady leadership and said the council must prepare the next generation for employment opportunities. Mayor Knudsen said the council will appoint an interim city manager before Madari’s departure and that community representation will be included in the final interview process.

Procedural details: The council set a two-minute, 30-second time limit per speaker and scheduled 90 minutes for the listening session. Staff said seven people had signed up for the topic; six speakers presented (one who was called did not appear). The city encouraged written comments and said members of the public could raise unrelated topics at the Oct. 27 public forum or submit written input if the session ran out of time.

Next steps: Applications are due Nov. 3; initial screening interviews will occur in December with final interviews in mid-January 2026. The council did not request immediate direction or take a formal action during the listening session.