Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel And Performance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Springfield brings in Jensen Strategies to lead 2025 city manager evaluation using ICMA criteria
Summary
Council introduced Eric Jensen of Jensen Strategies to run the 2025 evaluation of City Manager Nancy Newton using ICMA core criteria; consultant will conduct up to 21 confidential interviews Sept. 15–30, present a draft in executive session Oct. 20 and meet with the manager Nov. 10 for final review and goal‑setting.
The Springfield City Council introduced Jensen Strategies to oversee its 2025 evaluation of City Manager Nancy Newton and agreed to use the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) criteria as the evaluation framework.
Eric Jensen, principal of Jensen Strategies, described the firm as a Portland-based management-consulting practice that works with local governments. "We are a management consulting firm based in Portland. We work almost exclusively with local and state government," Jensen said. He told the council the firm would conduct confidential Zoom interviews with up to 21 participants — council members, department heads, the city attorney and staff — likely scheduled between Sept. 15 and Sept. 30.
Jensen outlined the timeline: Jensen Strategies will prepare a draft report summarizing interviews without attributing comments to individuals and present that draft in executive session on Oct. 20. The consultant will meet with City Manager Nancy Newton to review the draft before the council meets in executive session on Nov. 10 for performance discussion and annual goal‑setting. Jensen said the interview summaries are qualitative and are intended to provide context against the ICMA's 14 core criteria.
Nancy Newton, Springfield's city manager, told the council she had reviewed the proposed criteria and welcomed the approach. "I just wanted to thank the mayor and council for putting ... a baseline," Newton said, noting the value of an external, standardized framework and a baseline for future reviews.
Human Resources will coordinate scheduling; Jensen said he will be assisted in interviews by Jeff Oprady. Staff will contact interviewees and set Zoom appointments. Councilors asked clarifying questions about applying and adapting ICMA criteria — including equity and how to compare qualitative responses — and Jensen said the interview results will surface themes that the council can use to inform ratings and goal setting.
The council did not take a formal roll-call vote on the consultant engagement during the work session; members discussed and expressed general support for proceeding with the consultant-led ICMA-based evaluation and the timeline described by staff and the consultant.
