The Eugene City Council on Dec. 5 approved a four-day in-person interview process for finalists for the city manager job, setting a schedule of meet-and-greet and panel interviews the week of Jan. 11.

Mia, the city’s central services executive director, told the council candidates would arrive Sunday, Jan. 11 for a private meet-and-greet; Monday would feature executive-team panel interviews, a community tour and a ranked community-stakeholder panel; Tuesday would include agency partner interviews and a public panel interview at midday, followed by standing-committee interviews that evening; Wednesday was reserved for a noon work session and a 1:45 p.m. deliberation period. "We are asking the candidates to arrive by Sunday, January 11 so that they can participate in a meet and greet with all of you," Mia said.

The plan assumes two to three finalists and names the private recruiter working with the city; Mia referenced the recruiter as "Bob Moran Associates" and later in the meeting staff also said "Bob Murray and Associates." Mia said the recruiter will assist candidates in moving through the process and that staff will manage logistics.

Councilors raised questions about public access and timing of materials. Councilor Clark urged that community members have an opportunity in a social setting to assess candidates' "soft skills," saying she "believes there's value" in such interaction. Councilor Eric Groves responded that informal sessions risk letting one person monopolize a candidate’s time and argued the Sunday informal session should remain limited to council. Councilor Zelenka moved to add Dan Bryant to the community panel "if he's available," a change staff said could be accommodated.

On background checks, Mia said the recruiter had done some reference checks and informal background work before presenting candidates and that more formal background checks would occur after a finalist is identified; she added the recruiter could expand checks to the two or three finalists if council requests. "If there's something more intentional you'd like them to do, they certainly can," she said.

Councilor Yeh asked that the council receive an overview of panel feedback at the start of Wednesday's deliberations for transparency; Mia said materials could be sent late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning and that staff could provide an overview at the start of deliberations. Yeh said he would not object to adding Dan Bryant so long as it did not displace another panelist.

Councilor Zelenka moved to approve the process "as presented." The mayor called the vote and announced, "the motion passes with a vote of 8 2 0." The council then recessed for a 15-minute break before reconvening at 9:30 a.m. to enter executive session to begin candidate interviews. The mayor recited statutory citations authorizing executive session attendance and limits on reporting (transcript cites ORS 192.6602 and ORS 192.3552). The meeting concluded after the announcement that representatives of the news media and designated staff may attend the executive session but must not record deliberations.

The council’s next formal step will be the scheduled executive session at 9:30 a.m. to begin candidate interviews; staff also said they will share panel feedback and existing reference-check materials with councilors before Wednesday's deliberations.