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Pacifica council forms ad hoc to oversee city manager recruitment
Summary
Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution creating a two-member ad hoc subcommittee, to be chaired by the mayor and vice mayor, to screen executive recruitment firms and recommend a firm to the full council.
The Pacifica City Council voted Oct. 13 to form an ad hoc subcommittee to assist with the search for a replacement city manager.
City Attorney Michelle Kenyon told the council that City Manager Kevin Woodhouse had tendered his resignation Sept. 26, effective March 11, 2026, and outlined a commonly used recruitment path: hire an executive search firm, develop a candidate profile, solicit applications and present finalists for council consideration. Kenyon said an ad hoc of two council members often interviews recruiting firms and returns a recommendation to the full council, though the council may choose a different process.
Council Member Gideon Beier moved to adopt the resolution attached to the staff report and appoint Mayor Sue Beckmeyer and Vice Mayor Christine Bowles to the city-manager recruitment ad hoc; Council Member Greg Wright seconded. The council recorded unanimous support on a roll-call vote.
Kenyon described staff and recruiter roles: the executive recruiter typically develops the candidate profile in consultation with council and conducts outreach; city legal staff work with the council on closed-session interviews and other procedural matters. Council members asked staff to include public and staff input on the position profile and to ask recruiters how they would incorporate community outreach.
The ad hoc will interview recruiting firms and return a recommendation to the full council in a public meeting. Council members said they expect the full council to be able to question shortlisted firms during an agendized session; some members said individual council members could also contact candidate firms to gather information before formal interviews.
Council discussion emphasized that the council itself would make the final hiring decision and that the policy and timeline for public and staff input should be resolved during the recruitment process. The council directed staff to return an administrative policy or resolution for the council’s approval at a later meeting to formalize the arrangement.
No cost or vendor was approved at this meeting; the ad hoc will evaluate proposals before any contract award.
