Eugene council directs staff to schedule public forum for city manager search, endorses confidential recruitment process

The Eugene City Council on Sept. 8 directed staff to schedule a public forum to gather community input for the city manager recruitment and endorsed maintaining confidentiality for early candidate screening, voting 8-0 to authorize the forum.

Consultants from Bob Murray & Associates presented the recruitment timeline, outreach options and a draft job brochure. Valerie Phillips, a consultant with the firm, described a confidential screening approach and recommended holding community listening sessions and optional Zoom “drop-in” sessions before the application window closes. “To me, the more outreach, the better,” Phillips said.

The council’s vote authorized staff to schedule a forum “in alignment with the proposal presented by Bob Murray and Associates.” The motion to direct staff was made by the council president and seconded; the mayor called the voice vote and recorded the outcome as 8-0 in favor.

Why it matters: The city manager is the top executive for city operations; the recruitment process will shape which candidates apply and how residents can offer input. Councilors emphasized balancing candidate confidentiality with broad public outreach so prospective applicants — particularly sitting municipal managers — will not face employment risks for applying.

What the council heard and agreed…