Mayor Of Seattle Suburb Appoints Bobkiewicz As City Administrator

EVANSTON, IL — City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz has accepted a job offer to become the city administrator of Issaquah, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, where the City Council Monday voted 6-0 to confirm his appointment. Bobkiewicz will depart Evanston just over a decade after he began on the job.

Issaquah Mayor Mary Lou Pauly announced the appointment Friday, two days after former City Administrator Emily Moon's last day on the job. Pauly said finding the right replacement had been her number one priority since learning of Moon's departure.

"I recognize that this decision will be one of the most significant decisions I will make in my first term," Pauly said. "The City Administrator has such a key role in providing support to our elected Council, managing our operations and assisting the Mayor and the community towards achieving our shared vision for a complete, vibrant and sustainable community. I am excited to be bringing Wally on in this role. I have seen the positive outcomes in his current community and am confident he is a great match for Issaquah"

According to the latest Census population estimates, Issaquah's population last year added 1,631 people to a total population of 39,378. Evanston has nearly twice as many residents. Located about 17 miles east of Seattle, Issaquah's city government has a budget of about $140 million. Evanston's is more than twice as large.

Moon, its departed city administrator, said she resigned to go on family sabbatical. She leaves a municipal government whose work culture was described by employees as "toxically dysfunctional," according to the Issaquah Reporter. State auditors have been unable to complete an audit in any of the past four years, the local newspaper reported.

Announcing Bobkiewicz as her pick, Pauly said 29 candidates were interviewed, six were invited for in-person interviews with city officials and staff before the applicant pool was narrowed down to Bobkiewicz and Marty Wine, city manager of Tigard, Oregon. Pauly said she had spoken with Bobkiewicz about unspecified accusations he and the city faced during his 10 years in Evanston.

"I take allegations very seriously. During this search process, I have worked with our team to do our homework on each candidate, including comprehensive background checks. Allegations are not uncommon for executive level positions, and City settlements are not necessarily an admission of wrongdoing. These types of settlements are often made to save taxpayers from footing a larger legal bill," the mayor said.

Pauly could have been referencing a $500,000 federal racial discrimination settlement involving a former director of Evanston's public works department, the $1.25 million settlement to resolve a former Northwestern University police misconduct and civil rights claims after he was forcefully arrested on suspicion of stealing his own car, a $1.25 million settlement to a choral director who was seriously injured after Evanston police chased a car into Chicago for a minor traffic offense or something else. But the mayor said no particular instance stood out for most concerned residents.

"Most did not tell me which media report it what that raised concern. They just told me that they were doing their own web searches and were concerned and wanted to understand that I knew about media reports, that I did my due diligence, and that I was proceeding with a finalist who would be a good fit for us," Pauly said.

In her Aug. 9 statement, Pauly said she is thrilled to welcome Bobkiewicz to Issaquah and introduce him further to the community.

"I am confident in Wally’s background and decision making as a leader; commitment to leading a diverse and talented team; and passion for serving Issaquah," she added. The previous City Administrator, Emily Moon, resigned to go on a family sabbatical. Mayor Pauly has appointed Deputy City Administrator Andrea Snyder as the Interim City Administrator.

According to a copy Bobkiewicz's new contract included in the Issaquah City Council's Aug. 12 agenda, he will receive a base salary of $202,605.60. In Evanston, he received a base salary of $216,206, plus about $35,000 in additional benefits and an interest-free loan for his Evanston condo, which he sell and pay back if he moves to Washington.

Following its unanimous approval, with one absence, by the Issaquah City Council, Bobkiewicz's first day in Issaquah is scheduled for Sept. 30, according to Pauly.

In Evanston, there was no immediate word on whether Deputy City Manager Erika Storlie or someone else would succeed him on an interim basis. The City Council is expected to begin a search for a permanent successor as city staff craft next year's budget.

Earlier:

• Mayor Of Seattle Suburb Visits Evanston To Research Bobkiewicz
• City Manager Picked Among 2 Finalists For Job In Washington State

Update:

Bobkiewicz sent a letter to city staff Tuesday morning notifying them of his impending resignation and including a list of 13 things the city has accomplished in the past decade .

Today I will submit my resignation as City Manager to Mayor Hagerty and the City Council effective September 27, 2019. I will begin a new role as City Administrator of Issaquah, Washington on September 30, 2019.

It is hard to put into words what it has meant to serve Evanston as its City Manager. We are fortunate to work in a community that is blessed with so many natural and material resources. People want to be in Evanston to live, work, play, shop and go to school. The work that we do here every day enhances these experiences, regardless of our role. Community members have high expectations of what is means to be an Evanstonian and I have welcomed the challenge to meet these expectations.

During my ten years as City Manager, I am most proud of the team I have assembled to serve the community. The men and women who lead the City are a talented, diverse group of people who are at the top of their respective municipal professions. The good work accomplished by the City is done thanks to the leadership of these outstanding individuals.

Working together, the City has accomplished a great deal in the last ten years.

· Public safety improved. Since 2009, Part One crimes have decreased over 30 percent and violent crime has decreased over 60 percent. The Evanston Fire Department was designated as a “Class 1” department, one of only 305 fire departments in the United States with this classification.

· Customer service and government transparency were enhanced. Evanston 311 was launched in 2011, handling more than 1 million phone calls in its first eight years and providing residents with a one-stop shop for City services. The City now communicates and engages with residents daily through more than 30 electronic newsletters, regular ward and town hall meetings, dozens of social media channels, community outreach initiatives on the budget and major City projects, an open data portal, and an award-winning City website.

· A focus was placed on human and social services. The City assumed the role of Evanston Township, established a Federally Qualified Health Center, and created the City’s Youth and Young Adult Division.

· Evanston’s economy grew stronger. Evanston enjoys a robust 94.2 percent office occupancy rate. Two new Tax Increment Finance districts at Dempster/Dodge and Main/Chicago were created. Howard Street was revitalized. The Main-Dempster Mile SSA and four new neighborhood business associations were established. Two closed Dominick’s grocery stores were filled. The Autobarn car dealerships were expanded and retained. A new Hyatt hotel, Trader Joe’s, downtown Target and countless other small businesses and restaurants opened, continuing to make Evanston a vibrant shopping and dining destination.

· Housing options increased. Since the Great Recession, more than 2,000 new market-rate housing units have been added or are under construction, and the City has added or supported affordability of over 500 units of housing. The City recommitted itself to affordable housing issues through the $18.5 million NSP2 initiative and a revised inclusionary housing ordinance.

· Evanston strengthened its partnership with Northwestern University. The first “Good Neighbor Agreement” was established, bringing $5 million to the City over five years to support a variety of projects and services.

· Water sales expanded. The City increased wholesale water sales to Niles, Morton Grove, and Des Plaines, and in 2020, Lincolnwood. These new partnerships bring Evanston drinking water to over 400,000 customers in the region and a steady stream of new revenue to the City.

· The Evanston Public Library evolved. The Evanston Public Library was revitalized with the creation of a dedicated property tax levy and control of services transferred to the Library Board in conformance with Illinois law. Library services now extend beyond borrowing books to include tax assistance, social services, job counseling and much more.

· The City invested in its infrastructure. The City placed a new focus on street and alley revitalization, water and sewer improvements, and protected bike lanes. The Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center was created, Fountain Square was renovated, and later this year, a new Robert Crown Community Center will open.

· Evanston became a national leader in sustainability. The City adopted a Green Building Ordinance, raised awareness for environmental sustainability and livability through two climate action plans, implemented an electricity aggregation program, earned two Four Star STAR Community designations, and was selected as the 2015 US Earth Hour Capital.

· Equity was prioritized. The first Chief Equity Officer and LGBTQ Liaison positions were created. In conjunction with City’s Equity and Empowerment Commission, the City began work on equity training for all staff and a review of City programs through an equity lens.

· Transportation options and planning were enhanced. The first Transportation and Mobility Coordinator position was created to focus efforts citywide on transportation issues. The City brought Divvy Bikes to Evanston, providing residents with a new public transportation option, and the City invested $500,000 with the Chicago Transit Authority to begin Purple Line modernization north of Howard Street.

· Evanston’s arts community thrived. A new focus on arts planning and coordination was established with the “EvanstARTS” initiative, a revitalized Evanston Arts Council, public art program, and planning for a new downtown performing arts center.

Evanston will always be a special place for me, not just because of the accomplishments above, but because it is also the place where I started my family. My wife, Patrice, and I were married only a few weeks when we moved to Evanston. Our son, Wally IV, was born here in 2016 and was able to start his young life in this wonderful, diverse community.

Thank you for the privilege of working with all of you. It is has been the honor of my professional career.