Recommendation to Provide Direction on the Selection of an Executive Search Firm for the City Manager Recruitment Process. (Human Resources 2510)
Recruitment and staff is here today to hear your recommendation. I have a question. Could we. How does the an internal if we have candidates that are from within the organization, can we have an internal process that goes to them first or or the separate from this? Is there a separate process? Because this is this is one of the positions. That you get to pick. Whoever you like. So if you want to do an internal recruitment. You may do, though. Remember, Audie. QUESTION Does staff have a preference? I mean, not on internal but on on whether Avery versus Mr. Murray. Staff picked a. Number of firms to show you their brochures. Because they were very. Experienced and frankly. We would be happy working with any of them. And so it really is up. To your. It's a matter of fit, we think. And so I really. Look to your judgment on who. You think you. Would like to work with. Vice mayor. But we have a speaker actually from a non agenda item that yes, we want to continue this first if you want me to call the speaker. Real quick. Yeah. Maybe start before we start the deliberation. It's an off agenda item, right? No, that's not it. Right. Okay. That's right. That man, Mayor? Yes. Vice, continue. Thank you for clearing that up. I. I think. After. That we were going to hear this when? Public Speaker. After I thought it was after. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Mm hmm. I smell. I don't hear. So I do. I'm going to say that both firms, I think, are top notch, but I lean toward Bob Maureen, Associates. Associates, Associates. For two reasons. One is that. He flagged that he worked with a city that was known to be difficult on city managers. And not saying that meat is difficult on city managers, but I think in looking at our history. I think someone else doesn't know aluminum. I think. I think that and I. Understand is the reason he said that. And. I think it speaks to his favor or his firm's favor in the second, and it's a small item. But even he flagged that he knew the difference between Park Street and Webster. So I think he did his homework. Again, I'm looking for differences between two top firms. And that just pushes me there. There are fees. There costs. The total costs are virtually the same. So my vote is for or my of. Yeah, my vote is for Bob Marine. And my understanding is that the ones that presented second. I'm sorry. They're the ones that presented second. Yes. Yes, correct. Their comments. And Brody. Thank you, Madam Mayor. No. I kind of echo part of what the vice mayor said. You know, I kind of felt that both were were very qualified and that both would do a fine job. I felt a stronger comfort level with Mr. Chmura from Avery. I don't know what it was about it, but, you know, we're going to be spending a lot of time with with the individual that. That manages the process. And I just felt this is more of a gut level, comfort level with Mr. Cameron. And, you know, I probably put him a little bit ahead of Mr. Murray, but I thought both of them were very well qualified. I like the fact that not to be too parochial about this, but you know, I liked having Avery being from the Bay Area. I think we have unique challenges here that are different than than city managers, say, in the valley or in Southern California or even in in the Sacramento area. Remember they suck. A thank you. First off, thank you very much to stephanie grant sierra. For bringing two exceptionally qualified firms. So I really appreciate that. And, you know, in the big picture of things, at roughly $25,000, I mean, I think even for them, this probably isn't a big contract, but but it is nonetheless important. The thing that really stuck, I'm looking at my notes from the meeting and the thing that really stuck strikes me is I thought Mr. Kimura gave a little more. A discussion that had more depth when it came to community involvement. My notes just seem to be more about that. So I think on that, that's to me, that's a tie breaker in the direction of Mr. Kimura. So either way it will be a good selection. Amber Ashcraft. Thank you. Mary Spencer I'm just going to pull up my notes from when we interviewed the two candidates on April the 29th. And as my iPad cooperates. Okay. So I also thank Stephanie for Miss Grant Sierra for bringing us these two qualified firms. And I enjoyed hearing from both of them. I do find myself leaning toward Mr. Chmura in his firm for a couple of reasons. One is that his firm is the only Bay Area based recruitment firm, and he emphasized that they have an extensive record of selecting city managers, so they have a strong database. And he also I like the the the use of behavioral interviewing wanting to have input from the community as the city council, of course, will direct and with Mr.. But that said, I would also want to make sure if this is the the firm that we choose, that it is specified in the contract that it is indeed . Mr. Chmura, we're working with the Vice Mayor, and I have had a little history and experience selecting consulting firms. And you, you know, you interview a principal and you get the feel and that's the, you know, the direction you want to go. So then you want to make sure when all is said and done, that's who you're working for. So I would look to staff to take care of that for us. And then with regard to Mr. Murray. He well. I, he does work in a lot of different places, including other states. He's based in Southern California, I think. Roseville. Roseville. Okay. But he does work in all over the state. But also he talked about Arizona and Dallas and Phenix and Tucson. And I, I think I like someone with a lot of focus in California. And the one thing that gave me pause was when he he called Alameda one of California California's jewels. That didn't give me pause. I like that. But he also chose Coronado, California, as the most similar city to to Alameda. And that was because of the strong military presence. Well, Coronado is lovely and an island and all those good things, but the military presence would be San Diego that does still have a functioning naval base. We haven't for quite some time. I mean, to say that we have a strong military presence is is a bit outdated. So, again, I think that we had two great candidates for the reasons that I stated. I leaned toward Mr. Kimura as our selection. Thank you. I personally would prefer if we start with an internal search and not hire a firm at this point. The estimated costs are approximately $25,000. I think we have a good possibility of hiring someone internally for this position. All right. I guess I should be clear. Conducting the search internally or hiring a person who currently works here internally. I'm not understanding which her. I would prefer that we go through an internal process first and determine whether or not we have any candidate from within that we would send an offer to before we commit to hiring a firm for $25,000, approximately. I just went through this process recently with the school district level and. We did end up hiring someone from within. And I just didn't start there. Yes. And I think that there is nothing to preclude an internal candidate from applying through the the system that we would employ if we hire an independent search firm. And I think that for a number of reasons, this is a very important position at a very important juncture in our city's existence. And I think that we should not limit ourselves. I think time is of the essence, and I think we can accomplish the goals that you that the mayor is is speaking of with a search firm, with a with a professionally conducted search. And I just wouldn't want to limit our options. And it may well be that we ended up choosing someone internally, but at least we would know that we made a well informed decision and exercised all of our options. Thanks. Everyday sound. Yes, I am ready to move forward. I think for several weeks now we've been kind of honing it down this track. I appreciate what you're saying, Madumere, but we have been honing down this track and I do see that if there is an internal person who is interested in this, that having either Mr. Chmura or Mr. from the other organization Murray as the person facilitating the process is a benefit and and benefit or vetting. On our behalf, either an internal candidate or vetting on our behalf, you know, someone from the outside. I think it's practical to do it all at once. Well, your emotion. Sure. I'm ready to move forward. I'll move forward. I'm going to move a recommendation with that. Well, actually, I think that council member, as he Ashcraft said it well, in terms of Mr. Chmura, so if you have a motion to make. I'll make the motion. I move that council select Paul Chmura as our professional search firm to conduct the city manager search. A second. All those or any discussion. Although it was be with the assumption that his. With the specification. Specification. Yes. That he indeed be they the principle that we deal with. Okay. And there was a second. Energy. Tony. And all those in favor. I oppose. No. Oppose. Motion passes, 3 to 2. Terrific. Thank you. W are right now are we have a speaker, chris anderson. You may approach this. Please proceed. I apologize in advance. This is a little bit verbose. It's about a minute and a half over 3 minutes without me. Well, if you could try to do it as close to three as possible. I'll try. Thank you. We have till six. I wanted to get a lot of detail. You know, I don't. If you heard member o d he said we have till six. Go ahead. Good evening. Mayor Spencer, vice mayor of Matariki B Manager. I'd like to address the council tonight regarding a small waterfront businesses caught in the bureaucracy of the city. My name is Chris Anderson. I represent the Anderson family ownership in Grand Marina. Anderson family developed the Graham Ring in 1985, restoring an unknown, usable, toxic site at the foot of Grand Street. The toxic material in the water and land was removed by the Anderson family, so the public now enjoys the waterfront, access and landscaping. Currently, the Grand Marina is considered among the nicest in Alameda. Several new residential neighborhoods have been developed to enjoy landscaping and public pathways installed and maintained by the Grand Marina. Prior to Grand Marina from 67 to 85, the Anderson family owned and operated the Alameda Yacht Harbor, which is now known as Fortman Marina. Both marinas utilize tidal and submerged lease land to operate their maritime operations. Anderson Family has never missed a rent payment, nor has created any problems for the city in the 48 years of history. Beginning in 2005 and foreseeing a necessary necessity to make substantial maintenance repairs to the city owned structures, the Grand Marina leases. Graham GREENE approached the city to renew its tidelands lease. The current lease will expire in 2029, but Graham Marina wanted to secure a long term lease so that conventional financing would be available to make improvements to the property's buildings and wharfs. Because the city has been unwilling to prioritize these efforts for a new lease, the wharfs and buildings have deteriorated exponentially. The cost of repairs turned into cost of replacement in the current lease. The responsibility of major construction is not that of the lessee, but in good faith and what was thought to be in good standing with the city. The marina was willing to rebuild, retrofit failing structures using its own assets if long term financing were achievable. Over many years, Graham Arena has met with the changing administrations of economic development, community development, city management, city attorney and the third party consultants such as PM Realty and now Cushman Wakefield. With each new administration, the interpretation of a new lease would contradict the previous and create new requirements for Graham Arena. The latest proposed by the city would increase our yearly rent by more than 20 times. Graham Arena certainly understands rent will increase with a new lease. But it should be economically reasonable and reasonable. By ignoring Graham Ring in around 2005, the city has potentially lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent. The marina has 14 years left on its current lease. This could be potentially a loss to the city of nearly $2 million. As a resident of Alameda and knowing the tough economic times that we've been through and may face in the near future, I question the basic understanding of economics and the city staff. I wonder how many other leases or assets are being ignored? As an. Its continue. As an officer of this corporation, I've fiduciary duty to the shareholders to protect assets and revenues. Graham Arena has been given the runaround from the city for so long and I would have to suppose that the city does not have any interest to renew the lease and that the Graham Marina should start planning for such an event . The time has come to realize that the city owned structures are failing and almost beyond reasonable repair. If there isn't something done to retrofit or reconstruct the buildings, there have become an unreasonable asset for the city quickly turning into a liability. Graham Arena does not own all the land, but owns many of the shoreline parcels and fee as well as the floating docks. Theoretic Theory. Ethically, if a favorable lease cannot be negotiated with the Graham Marina, it's possible to relocate to a more business friendly environment. Because of the Bccdc Bay feel restrictions, the city or a private developer would not be able to rebuild another marina in the same location. Waterfront landscaping and pathways would no longer be maintained, nor would the two public restrooms. The city would be left with 24,000 square feet of aging building and no parking or access. A condemned and condemned 10,000 square foot wharf with no marina, no commerce from the 400 marina tenants, not only with the city not realizing an increase in rent, but potentially no rent at all. I hope that this information would urge the Council to urge the staff to take the lease negotiations more seriously with Graham Marina. Thank you. Thank you. And staff look into that it shouldn't have. Dr. Council, thank you so much. All right. So we'll be taking a short recess. Our budget item supposed to begin at 6:00. Thank you. Thank you. Keep your sandwiches. Oh. Oh. Well, we're. We're going to read. Thank you, everyone. We're going to resume with the budget. Item. Three B. Receive presentations from non-German, French departments and programs on the proposed budget for. Fiscal year. 2015, 16 and 1617.