Council approves third‑party facilitator for city‑manager evaluation after split debate

After extended debate, the council approved using a neutral third‑party facilitator to conduct the city‑manager annual evaluation and to compile 360‑degree feedback from staff.

Councilors raised questions about cost, staff anonymity, and whether council members themselves could conduct a fair evaluation. Human resources staff described repeated pain points in the prior process: low staff response rates to written 360 feedback, concerns about confidentiality when colleagues provide feedback to an internal staff facilitator, and unclear, inconsistent council responses that made it difficult for the city manager to get coherent direction.

Staff recommended contracting Rafelis (referred to in the discussion) to perform virtual one‑on‑one interviews with each council member, administer a separate 360 process for executive staff, compile findings into a single report and facilitate the executive‑session evaluation. Staff estimated the consultant fee at roughly $20,000, and noted staff time spent on past evaluations often exceeded that cost.

Councilors split on the proposal in roll‑call discussion, voicing both fiscal restraint and support for a neutral process that could elicit candid feedback. A motion to present the new process in open session so council would vote on it passed; a subsequent motion to proceed with the consultant approach carried after roll‑call votes and further clarification about funding sources. Council also adopted a motion requiring that any substantive future changes to the evaluation process be brought to council in open session prior to publication.

Ending: The third‑party facilitator will conduct interviews and assemble a report for the council; staff will manage contracting and report back in the next month with the completed evaluation timetable.