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Commission selects three executive‑search firms for city manager recruitment; interviews set for June 16
Summary
The commission selected CPS HR, SGR and Raftellus as finalists to run the city manager search and set interviews for June 16, after a subcommittee reviewed ten proposals and scored firms on experience, team composition and demonstrated capacity to recruit diverse candidate slates.
The Kalamazoo City Commission on Monday approved advancing three executive‑search firms as finalists to lead the city manager recruitment, setting interviews for a Committee of the Whole meeting on June 16.
What the commission approved: Following an RFP process, the commission’s recruitment subcommittee recommended three firms — CPS HR, SGR and Raftellus — with Polyhire named as an alternate if a finalist withdraws. The commission voted to invite the three finalists to make presentations and answer commissioner questions on June 16, with each presentation scheduled to allow for commissioner questions.
Selection process and criteria: James Henderson, the city’s director of human resources, told the commission the RFP generated ten proposals. A subcommittee (Vice Mayor Hess, Commissioner Prado and Commissioner Wilson) scored proposals independently using a rubric that weighted professional credentials and comparable search experience, proven success in recruiting diverse candidate pools, the proposed team leader’s experience, firm stability and references. Henderson said the top three firms demonstrated both search capacity and data about diversity in prior placements; commission members requested further conversation about how firms would recruit and present diverse finalist pools.
Community engagement and timelines: Commissioners discussed how to incorporate public input: once a firm is selected to run the search, staff and the firm typically design public engagement tools — surveys, town halls and candidate forums — so residents can submit priorities and questions for finalists. The commission directed staff to schedule the finalists’ presentations during a Committee of the Whole starting at 4 p.m. on June 16 to allow public attendance and to keep the city’s recruitment timeline on track.
Why it matters: The city manager selection will shape senior executive leadership for the city and influence policy priorities and administrative direction; several commissioners emphasized the need for an equity‑focused search and for the final recruitment process to provide meaningful opportunities for public input.
Next steps: Staff will invite finalists to the June 16 interviews, provide packet materials to the public in advance, and design community engagement tools with the selected firm once an executive search firm is engaged.
