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Council narrows city manager search: 12 candidates to submit short video answers, city staff to vet responses
Summary
After reviewing 112 applications, the council agreed to retain 12 candidates for the next screening step in the city manager recruitment: each candidate will respond to a set of council questions via a short video. Council set a timeline for questions and candidate responses ahead of a Sept. 23 workshop.
City Human Resources Director Renina Fuller updated the Palm Coast City Council on the city manager recruitment process and presented a list of applicants who met the threshold set earlier in the process. Council members had each marked top candidates from a pool of 112 applicants; the agreed rule was that any applicant selected by at least three council members would be advanced. Fuller presented the resulting list and sought council direction on how to proceed.
Council members agreed to narrow the field using a remote, recorded‑video step before in‑person interviews. The agreed process: each council member will submit two written questions (no duplicates encouraged), the city will deliver those to the 12 advance candidates, and each candidate will submit video responses: two answers of up to three minutes each (about a 30‑minute viewing load per candidate). Candidates will be asked to confirm continued interest and availability; staff will notify the selected candidates that they remain under consideration.
Timing and next steps set at the workshop: council members were asked to submit questions to HR by the end of the week; Fuller will send questions to candidates and set a candidate response deadline of Sept. 18. Council will receive the videos in advance and convene a workshop on Sept. 23 to review responses and further narrow the group. Fuller confirmed that formal background checks will not begin until after a conditional offer has been made; however, staff will perform routine internet and social media checks and flag any glaring issues during the screening process.
Council discussion included two issues council members emphasized: (1) candidate executive experience and budgetary experience — Council member Gambarro highlighted applicants with broad executive budgets and large‑organization management and recommended interviewing Brig. Gen. Norman West (ret.) because of his leadership and budget credentials; (2) process fairness and agreed standards — Council members stressed adherence to the previously agreed threshold (selection by at least three council members) and cautioned against re‑opening the list to add additional candidates without council consensus.
The HR team said it will contact the candidates immediately, request video responses, and provide the council with materials for review in advance of the Sept. 23 workshop. Fuller said 5 of the 11 previously circulated finalists reside in Florida and the rest are out of state. Councilmembers asked staff to compile candidate location and resume details for council review and to provide contact and verification steps for finalists identified after the video screening.
Sources: HR presentation by Renina Fuller at the Sept. 9 workshop; council discussion and directives during the workshop.
