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Council tables authorization to recruit for several senior positions pending organizational review
Summary
Councilmembers debated requests to recruit for an assistant public works director, chief of police and community services director after a temporary hiring freeze; public commenters and some council members urged pause pending the modernization/organizational review, and the council tabled the items to receive more information in closed session.
Staff sought council authorization to recruit for three senior positions previously frozen under a temporary hiring freeze: an assistant public works director, the chief of police (pending an announced retirement) and the director of community services.
Director Kellogg told the council the request is to permit recruitment while considering internal candidates for the community services director role and noted ongoing consultation with the Blackbird firm on possible organizational changes. Council members asked for clarification on whether positions would be advertised immediately or whether internal candidates would be considered; staff said internal candidates would be evaluated first for some roles.
Public commenters, including Gary Rose, urged postponement until the city’s organizational/modernization work is complete and questioned whether a second assistant public works director was needed given existing interim arrangements. City Manager Anil Camillo and several council members acknowledged the concerns and said an interim appointment for police leadership (Lieutenant Justin Tarp) is available to buy time.
After discussion, council agreed to table the recruitment items 13.1 and 13.2 until staff can provide additional information following a closed‑session briefing on organizational structure; staff indicated they expect to return with more detail at an upcoming meeting.
