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Lakewood council asks staff to evaluate two consultant proposals for city manager search
Summary
Councilmembers reviewed two consulting proposals and asked city staff to complete a technical evaluation and return with a recommendation at the first March meeting; council indicated no requirement for an RFP and discussed public outreach and candidate profile development.
At the Feb. 10 study session the Lakewood City Council discussed next steps for a city manager search and reviewed two consultant proposals submitted to assist with recruitment. Councilmembers directed city staff to conduct a technical evaluation of the proposals and return with a recommendation at the council’s first March meeting.
Two firms were identified in proposals distributed to the council; staff reported the fee ranges listed in the proposals were roughly $21,000 to $39,000 plus costs. City staff recommended that internal staff — including human resources — prepare a comparative analysis, check references and bring a recommendation back to the council rather than opening a new public RFP. City staff also said it could present evaluation results and, if the council wished, arrange brief interviews or phone calls with consultant principals.
Why it matters: The choice of a search consultant will shape outreach, candidate profile development and the mechanics of the recruitment. Councilmembers emphasized the need to be deliberate about the attributes sought in a next city manager and for public engagement during the recruitment process.
Council guidance and next steps: Several councilmembers said a consultant’s early work should include facilitation to help the council define the candidate profile; others suggested a smaller subcommittee could meet with finalist firms before full‑council engagement. Interim comments from staff indicated that a formal RFP is not required and that staff expects to return with an evaluation and recommendation at the first March council meeting.
Quotes: City staff said the two proposals "have their pros and cons" and recommended a staff‑led, metric‑driven comparison before the council chooses a firm. Councilmember Branstetter urged the council to define "what we want to tell whomever we choose to assist us" so the search firm can build an appropriate candidate profile.
Ending: Staff will perform reference checks and a technical evaluation of the consultant proposals and return to council with a recommendation in early March. The council may then decide whether to invite one or both firms for brief interviews or a public presentation.
