City Council Workshop

Differentiators: They don't go in with assumptions. They are process oriented and thorough. They understand Texas government: they placed city managers in San Antonio, Round Rock, Austin, McKinney, San Marcos, and many others.

Questions:

• Cole: Do you realize the uniqueness of Killeen? Answer: Yes, and we've done searches for cities with large military bases (San Antonio; Huntsville, AL).
• Rivera: What happens after the first 90 days? Answer: 45 days to recruit, 15 days to winnow the list. The remaining time is the city interviewing the list.
• Rivera: what are these fees? Answer: $20,000 executive search fee. Up to $5000 is for additional costs (might include cost of bringing candidates in.) $25,000 is maximum fee.
• Mayor: We're one of the most diverse cities of our size; what's your experience with diverse cities? Answer: we did Austin: that's pretty diverse. They have done places like Ann Arbor, Round Rock, cities from 25,000 to 1.2 million.
• Mayor: Explain how you get the people you are going to interview. Answer: there are pro-active candidates who are looking for a job and contact them. They'll post the opening widely. They will also seek out candidates directly.
• Mayor: what does "gain input from key stake-holders" mean? Answer: Stake-holders include the council, Chamber of Commerce, business and religious leaders, etc. Whoever are the driving factors in the community.
• Mayor: How do you identify the stake-holders? Answer: They can give advice, but will rely on the Mayor or Council to suggest the right people.
• Cosper: Tell me about a time when you didn't achieve the results you expected. Answer: One polarized council had a faction that was pushing a particular candidate that Affion didn't consider qualified; they hired him anyway. And recently they did the search in Savannah, GA; the search was racially charged; Affion got bad press.
• Clark: how does your guarantee work? Answer: they've never had to use it, but they would do the search over again for free plus expenses.

Questions from Affion: Where is the council and city going from here? What should I tell the candidates about the recall? Rivera: Tell them the truth! Mayor: stress that the city council changes all the time; this isn't much different. Cole: we have to keep the city moving; it doesn't make sense for Killeen or a candidate to wait until after November. Mayor: our charter defines the duties and responsibilities of a city manager; that's the basis for the job. Workman: Citizens want a fresh start, city to move forward, industry. We want a strong independent manager who will say no to the city council. Cosper: I'd tell them we support Ft Hood, with a $1B hosipital going in; lots or R&D, TAMCT. With all that going on, there's lots of opportunities for the city and the city manager. Rivera: tell them it will be challenging. But the candidates have to know there will be no buyout in the contract. Clark: I'd like to see a city manager with corporate connections, mainly to do training. Mayor: people are trying to get staff away from Killeen. It should be a good place for a city manager to succeed. Don't let mistakes we have made deter you.

The mayor kept calling the City Charter the "Citizens' Charter." I haven't heard him say that before. He also referred to "mistakes the council and I have made", referring, I assume, to the Connie Greene matter.

Methodology:

• Phase1: Prepare Organizational Needs survey.
• Phase 2 Refine recruitment strategy and identify qualify applcants.
• Phase 3: screen applicants, prepare applicant profiles and findings
• Phase 4: Condiuct reference checks, background and academics records verification
• Phase 5: Recommend a list of finalists.

They have something called ASSESS Systems Survey which formalizes their process.

• Cole: is the price ($18,000?) the guaranteed maximum? Answer: Yes, but it might be less.
• Cole: What's this assessment center? Answer: sort of a simulated day at the office, but there are variations. They can tailor it for us.
• Cole: Diversity. Answer: They've worked with cities with large bases, diverse places like Berkely, CA.
• Cole: Do we tell you what we're wolling to pay a city manager, or do you tell us what they expect? Answer: they can do that either way and can tell us what other cities are paying and what is likely to be acceptable.
• Rivera: $2500 for background check? Answer: it can be reduced by doing it within CPS. It's higher if they use a PI to do an on-site check.
• Rivera: How do you handle the recall thing? Answer: They want to represent the real situation to the candidates. Candidates have to feel they have a good chance to stay the 2.5 to 3 years that is now common. They'll work with the council to put that story together.
• Rivera: I won't support a big buyout. Answer: That's the kind of condition we will work with you to understand and make clear to candidates.
• Cosper: tell me about a difficult placement. Answer: Sacremento: polarization on council. They can work through it. In another case, requirements changed early in the process; so they redid everything.
• Mayor: My intent is to bring citizens into the process to select a city manager. The stakeholders have to include more than city councilmen who are "in limbo".
• Workman: What he said before. Answser: what they said before. They will make personal contact with the most likely candidates to make sure they understand the situation and opportunities here.
• Clark, Rivera: [this deteriorated into speeches.]
• Rivera: In 16 weeks, how many times would you visit Killeen? Answer: At least 4 times.
• Rivera: What are you looking for when you come to a city like Killeen? Answer: To understand your rules, procedures, processes, values.
• Clark: What do you think about Rivera's idea of no buyout? The knife cuts both ways. Answer: we just have to make your requirements clear.

Questions from CPS to council:

• When do you want a new city manager? Answer from most: Now or sooner. Cole: realistically we just want you to start immediately; 60-90 days. Clark: by October 1.

Workman called the new councilman, Terry Clark, "Mr. Terry", perhaps confusing him with Clark Terry, the jazz trumpeter?

Rivera: didn't we turn this one down? Answer: no, that was farther north. This one is in accordance with the comprehensive plan.