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HR presents draft public survey for city manager search; consultant meet‑and‑greet planned
Summary
Human Resources presented a draft public survey and the proposed approach to select a consultant for the permanent city manager recruitment; committee suggested clarifying the city manager role in outreach and using concise survey length and competency descriptions.
Human Resources staff briefed OSAC on Sept. 12 about a draft public survey and consultant process to inform the permanent city manager recruitment.
Why it matters: the survey and chosen search consultant will shape outreach and candidate evaluation criteria for the city’s next city manager.
What HR presented
Keith from Human Resources said the draft introduction explains the purpose of the survey and that the city will use responses to inform candidate profiles. “Your input will help city council understand what quality, skills, and experience are most important in choosing the right person for this important role,” the draft introduction reads, as presented by HR staff.
The draft includes a question asking respondents to identify their connection to the city, a ranking of eight competencies, a prompt to name top knowledge/skill areas, and an open question inviting the public to suggest one question they would ask finalists. HR staff proposed using Microsoft Forms or SurveyMonkey for distribution and said they plan outreach to employees, community groups and affinity organizations.
Feedback from OSAC
Committee members suggested edits to improve clarity and response rates: link or briefly explain the city manager’s role in the survey materials so community members unfamiliar with local government can provide informed feedback; present competency lists with short definitions; use letters for question subparts (A, B, C) rather than numbers for readability; and include an estimated time to complete the survey (several members suggested labeling it as a 2–3 minute or short survey to encourage responses). Several members also recommended using a short explanatory video or partnering with a civic organization to explain the city manager role in accessible terms.
Consultant selection and next steps
HR said it is vetting consultants and plans to bring a preferred consultant to OSAC for a meet‑and‑greet before the full search launches. HR also noted an instance where an initially suggested Prothman staff candidate was a currently‑elected local official and that HR asked Prothman to propose someone without an active local elective role. HR will incorporate the committee’s suggested edits and return with a refined survey and a consultant introduction at the next OSAC meeting.
