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Commission pauses decision on city manager recruitment; asks staff for costed options by May 1
Summary
Facing the retirement of City Manager Wayne Caragino effective Aug. 31, commissioners asked staff to prepare multiple recruitment options — internal only, RFP to executive search firms, or using a vendor sample — with cost estimates. The commission tabled a decision to the May 1 meeting.
The Cocoa Beach City Commission directed staff to prepare detailed, costed recruitment options for replacing City Manager Wayne Caragino, who is set to retire Aug. 31 after 17 years. Commissioners unanimously agreed to table a final decision to the May 1 meeting to give commissioners time to review proposals and for staff to assemble comparative packages.
Human-resources staff member Cindy DePena presented a sample task order from Capital Strategic Solutions showing a not-to-exceed price of $38,950 for a full executive search package; DePena said she provided the sample as an example and that the scope could be scaled down. "It was just a sample to give you an idea of what one of these agencies would do and I asked them to include everything as a sample," DePena said.
Commissioners discussed options that include (1) an internal recruitment run by staff; (2) issuing an RFP for a nationwide executive-search firm (typical industry fees are ~25% of base salary, commission discussion cited roughly $50,000 on the low end); or (3) using a lower-cost service such as an association of retired city managers that provides outreach with only travel/expense charges. DePena said a national executive-search firm often lists advertising and travel expenses separately and that costs can be negotiated.
Commissioners asked staff to return with multiple discrete packages (labeled A, B, C) showing full cost breakdowns and the implications of each approach. Commissioner Williams and others urged the commission to take time to establish selection criteria and to consider whether residency should be required; commissioners agreed to allow internal candidates to apply and to consider a phased approach if an internal hire is chosen. "If you are interested in internal candidates, you probably have a couple of people that would be interested in applying," DePena said.
Several commissioners noted a competitive market for municipal executives and that nearby governments are also recruiting. Commissioners emphasized the need to match recruitment timing with budget season and requested staff include timelines, advertising venues and estimated travel costs for candidate interviews. The motion to table and return with options to May 1 passed by voice vote.
