Council refers city manager recruitment to personnel committee, sets national search timeline

The Sacramento City Council voted to refer the city manager recruitment to the Personnel and Public Employees (P&PE) Committee and directed the committee to return to council no later than March 1, 2025, with a recommended executive recruitment search firm.

Council Member Jennings, chair of the committee, outlined a recommended schedule to solicit proposals from approved vendors, select two or three finalist firms, interview them on February 18, and present the committee's recommended firm at a February 25 full-council meeting so the council could finalize a selection by March 1.

Several council members emphasized that the search should be a true national recruitment with substantial community consultation. Council Member Dickinson urged a nationwide search and recommended that the selected firm interview each council member individually so the firm could translate council priorities into the recruitment process. Council Member Kaplan suggested an additional public workshop or council discussion to articulate collective priorities publicly so prospective candidates understand the council's values.

Vice Mayor Talamantes, who moved the referral, said he was looking forward to robust outreach and stakeholder participation; Council Member Maple seconded the motion. Public commenters suggested transparency about salary ranges and inclusion of community input before salary or candidate solicitations are released.

The council voted 9-0 to refer the recruitment firm evaluation to P&PE and to have the committee return with a recommendation on or before March 1, 2025.