Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council will decide what method it will use to search for a new city manager during its regular meeting on July 12, but it did review and refine its profile and application packet last week in preparation for the search.
Interim City Manager Christy Wurster walked the councilors through the packet in a special meeting held on June 28. They made a few small adjustments along the way.
Recruitment efforts in Oregon have had some 20 to 30 applicants with 10 to 12 qualified applicants, Wurster said. “Your pool’s kind of small.”
When she helped recruit a new city manager for Fairview, a city about the size of Sweet Home in Multnomah County, Wurster said, the city had 33 applicants with eight finalists.
The packet describes Sweet Home’s city manager-council form of government in which the city manager serves as the administrative head of the organization and is directly responsible to the mayor and City Council.
It describes the city, the area and the services the city offers, including, library, police, utilities, planning, parks and building inspection, as well as the community, its schools and major employers.
While the City Council has not finalized its goals, Wurster used its draft goals for the year to outline what the city is planning to do.
Upcoming projects, like the potential relocation of City Hall, are the most interesting information for prospective city managers, who like to match their skills up with the needs of the city when they apply, Wurster said. A city hall project is particularly interesting because city hall projects are relatively rare. The packet also mentions plans to emphasize economic development, upgrade the wastewater treatment plant and expanding the trail system in the city and surrounding area.
The ideal candidate, according to the packet will be someone who has experience and the drive to pursue community and economic development, which are high priorities for the city. Candidates should have an understanding of financial management, land use and administration with an emphasis in economic development.
Councilor Jeff Goodwin said he would like emphasize experience in economic development, to bring in and attract new business while supporting businesses already here.
“We have a dire need for more jobs, more economic activity,” Goodwin said. “Really, that’s what I’m looking for more than anything else. We have a lot of people out of work.”
The council discussed how to add that to what was already in the document and added that the candidate should be a “community-oriented individual with the knowledge and willingness to work to attract business and investment opportunities.”
The candidate should also have an interest in technological improvements, transparency and communication with the public and a desire to assist in the vision for land use and strategic planning while bring prepared to execute the work.
A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration or a related field is required, and a master’s degree is preferred.
The position provides generous benefits and medical benefits, according to the packet. The council will offer up to $8,500 per month in salary.
Which retirement system the city manager will receive is up in the air. City staff will be gathering information about joining the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System. Currently, management employees and general employees receive retirement benefits through the International City Managers Association.
Many potential applicants, city managers from Oregon, will already be part of PERS, Wurster said, and PERS will attract them, and it’s “a fantastic retirement plan.”
ICMA retirement will be more attractive to applicants from out of state, like Alaska, from which many qualified candidates come, she said. With local funding based on oil revenue, Alaskan cities are facing shortfalls.
The council acted later Tuesday, June 28, during its regular meeting, passing a resolution directing staff to gather information about joining PERS. Rather than offering one or the other at this point, the packet lists “generous” retirement.
Initially offering $7,627 to $8,500, the council chose to drop the minimum salary number, extrapolated by a cost-of-living increase to the previous city manager’s salary.
Goodwin said he could see paying a city manager less, if the applicant had a bachelor’s degree and no experience, for example. He could see paying the right candidate more.
Wurster suggested naming only the top end of possible salaries.
“That would give you some flexibility in your initial offer,” Wurster said, which could help with some managers who seek lower salaries to put more money into retirement.
Wurster provided a chart comparing city manager salaries from eight cities with populations ranging from 7,700 to 11,910. Minimum salaries ranged from $7,055 per month in Sandy, population 10,170, to $10,747 per month in Cornelius, population 11,910. Sweet Home is at $7,160 per month this year. The average was $8,825.25 per month.
The council discussed a recruitment schedule beginning July 12 with the approval of the position profile and packet. Under the schedule, the city will begin advertising and accepting applications on July 13. The application period closes Aug. 12.
From Aug. 15 to 20, the council will screen and rate applications. On Aug. 23, councilors will discuss which recommended candidates to interview and determine costs to pay for finalists invited to formal interviews. During the regular meeting that night, the council will vote whether authorize moving forward with initial interviews by Skype or phone.
Those interviews may be scheduled for Sept. 6 or earlier. Final interviews are tentatively set for 4 p.m. on Sept. 19. They may be in open session or in a closed executive session.
Councilor Dave Trask said that he prefers they remain open to the public.
Prior to the interviews, the finalists may tour the city and attend a meet-and-greet session.
The council will meet in executive session on Sept. 27 to determine the finalist, discuss a job offer and authorize a representative to negotiate with the candidate and prepare a written job offer. Between Sept. 27 and Oct. 7, the council will negotiate a a contract and conduct a reference and background check.
The council is scheduled to approve a contract on Oct. 11, with the new manager starting between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15.
The council has not decided yet whether it would prefer to use the interim manager to run the recruitment process or work with an outside organization, which would be an additional cost.
Trask expressed concerns about giving Wurster an option to apply for the job as well. That would be a problem, were she to run the recruitment process.
But using her to recruit the new manager saves money, said Councilor James Goble. It was one of the reasons for bringing in an interim city manager.
It might be best if she didn’t apply, Wurster said. If she applied, it might limit the city’s applicant pool because possible candidates might assume she had an advantage. She doesn’t want to limit the applicant pool.
Next, the council will consider approval of the position profile packet and schedule at its regular meeting on July 12.
Attending the special session were councilors Goble, Trask, Goodwin, Greg Mahler and Ryan Underwood. Mayor Jim Gourley attended initially by phone, but the council lost connection to him. The council’s seventh seat is vacant.