Qualifications For New City Clerk

Article Source: City of San Bruno CA

DATE: October 10, 2017

TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

FROM: Connie Jackson, City Manager

SUBJECT: Receive Report and Provide Direction to Staff Regarding the Recruitment Process for the City Clerk Position

BACKGROUND:

At the September 26, 2017 meeting, the City Council authorized a contract for recruitment services with Ralph Andersen Associates for recruitment of the new City Clerk. The current elected City Clerk's term ends on December 5, 2017, and consistent with the November, 2015 ballot measure approved by the voters the position of City Clerk will become appointive effective that date. Subsequent discussion and action by the City Council at the meeting on April 11, 2017 confirmed that the City Clerk will be selected by, and will report to the City Council.

The City Clerk position is responsible for recording actions of the City Council, creating City Council meeting minutes, preparing and distributing City Council meeting agenda packets, maintaining the City's official records, conducting municipal elections and a wide variety of duties associated with overseeing required conflict of interest and other filings by elected and appointed City officials among other duties. The City Clerk position plays a critical role in support of the City Council and all operations delivered through all City departments.

The ideal candidate to fill the position of City Clerk is a dedicated professional with technical expertise in these important areas of the City's operation and possessing the specialized education and experience required to properly perform the critical duties identified in the job description.

DISCUSSION:

In summary, the services to be performed by Ralph Andersen Associates in completing the recruitment for the City Clerk position include the following:

• Develop Candidate Profile - meet with the City Council to identify the desired attributes and expectation for the City Clerk.
• Develop Recruitment Brochure and Advertise Position
• Recruit Candidates - use professional network and contacts and conduct direct outreach to identify and recruit candidates
• Screen Candidates - review resumes and select most highly qualified candidates for interview
• Personal Interviews - conduct interviews with top candidates selected based on the identified City Council criteria
• Final Interview - schedule interviews and support the City Council in conducting Finalist interviews
• Reference Checks - contact identified references and other knowledgeable persons regarding the strengths/weaknesses of the top one to three candidates

· Present Recommendation - develop detailed report reviewing top candidates recommended for interview with the City Council

The recruitment process is expected to take approximately 90-120 days with the selected candidate beginning work within 30 days thereafter. The first step in the recruitment process is for the recruiter to meet with the City Council to develop information about the City Council's specific interests in the desirable characteristics of the next City Clerk. This information is included in the recruitment brochure that will be circulated by the recruiter.

Staff has coordinated with the recruiter to begin the recruitment process, and based on this discussion is seeking guidance from the City Council on two topics.

The recruitment and appointment process will span the time period between now and following the December 5, 2017 swearing-in of the newly elected City Councilmembers and the new City Council will be making the City Clerk appointment. The recruiter advises that it may create delay in the overall process if the candidate profile is developed by the seated City Council and then there is interest to make changes once the new City Council takes office. Staff is seeking the City Council's guidance and preference regarding waiting to begin the recruitment until after the election and the swearing-in of new City Councilmembers so that the entire process is conducted by the new City Council or alternatively to proceed as outlined below.

In order to allow the process to move forward now without delay, City Councilmembers who will be continuing on the Council (O'Connell/M. Medina) could meet with the recruiter as a subcommittee to develop the candidate profile. The recruiter is available as soon as Friday October 13 th to meet with Councilmembers. The City Council can also consider arranging Skype or telephone interviews with individual continuing Councilmembers and newly elected Councilmembers beginning after the election to gather information that would then be assembled into the candidate profile and recruitment brochure.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The fiscal year 2017-18 Operating Budget includes $35,000 for costs associated with recruitment of the new City Clerk. This amount is sufficient to cover the $26,775 fixed cost of the contract for this recruitment.

ALTERNATIVES:

• Direct staff to proceed now with scheduling a meeting with the recruiter to develop the City Clerk profile and recruitment materials.
• Direct staff to work with the recruiter to delay start of the recruitment until after the new City Council in sworn into office at the beginning of December, 2017.

RECOMMENDATION:

Receive report and provide direction to staff regarding the recruitment process for the City Clerk position.

FULL Council Agenda Packet WITH Staff Reports can be viewed and downloaded from:

https://sanbruno.ca.gov/gov/elected_officials/city_council_minutes_n_agendas.htm

This document should be available late Friday before the Tuesday Council Meeting

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Robert Riechel

E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com

WEB: http://SanBrunoPatch.com

My Posts: http://patch.com/users/robert-riechel

Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives

Source Credit: San Bruno CA City Council

Web Site: https://sanbruno.ca.gov

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