Bellevue council selects Diane Carlson as city manager following public forums

The Bellevue City Council voted Sept. 17 to select Diane Carlson as the city's next city manager and directed staff to begin negotiating an employment contract to be returned to the council for formal appointment.

Councilmembers said they based the decision on a process that included input from staff, residents, consultants and two community forums. Joyce Singh, the city's human resources director, told the council the selection process collected a job profile from council and residents, used consultant interviews and included public forums and a council interview with the acting city manager.

Several councilmembers who addressed the motion described Carlson as experienced, steady and ready to lead. Councilmember Hamilton said the profile and interview process ‘‘strongly pointed us in the direction of our acting city manager,’’ and that feedback collected by staff and the consultant was overwhelmingly positive. Councilmember Stokes and others praised Carlson's regional relationships and leadership in the interim role.

A motion to select Carlson and direct staff to negotiate an employment contract passed after discussion; the mayor called the voice vote in favor. Carlson briefly addressed the council afterward, thanking members and saying she was ‘‘passionate about the city’’ and ready to begin work.

Next steps: staff will begin contract negotiations and prepare an ordinance to formally appoint Carlson for council consideration at a future meeting. The selection followed a change earlier this year from an open national recruitment to a local process that included an interview with the acting city manager and resident forums.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased above appear in the official meeting record and were identified during the Sept. 17 council meeting.