City manager search subcommittee finalizes RFP draft, sets timeline and confidentiality rules

The Independence City Council city manager recruitment subcommittee met Sept. 3 to finish revisions to a request for proposals for an executive search firm and to set a timeline for advertising, review and finalist presentations. The subcommittee agreed on a tentative public schedule, clarified scope and reporting lines in the RFP, and directed staff to work with the city attorney to add reciprocal nondisclosure and noncompete language to the contract.

The subcommittee’s work matters because the RFP will shape how the city attracts and screens candidates who may be actively employed elsewhere, and the schedule will determine when the council receives finalist candidates for interviews. The city’s approach aims to balance candidate confidentiality with public transparency for finalist interviews.

The committee settled a tentative public timetable and related deadlines. If the full council signs off, the RFP will be released in early September (the group discussed Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 as release options). The subcommittee set a tentative pre-proposal conference for Sept. 12, a deadline for questions on Sept. 17 and a proposals-due date of Sept. 24 (close of business). The subcommittee will begin paper review Oct. 6, submit individual scoring by Oct. 7, hold a final paper review on Oct. 8 to…