City manager’s salary starts at $225K annually
One of the most important jobs in Santa Monica is up for grabs, and elected officials say the best candidate will win.
But who the best candidate is has yet to be determined. The Santa Monica City Council will soon be screening applicants, whose resumes are due today.
While the City Council has initiated a process to fill City Manager Susan McCarthy’s shoes, much of it so far has been behind closed doors, they admit. That process will open up for public discussion on Tuesday, when the City Council is expected to get a briefing from city staff on the recruitment process so far.
The City Council agreed in September to authorize the service of a headhunter, Lisa Mills, to help fill the vacancy.
Mills has a background in recruiting for public service positions. She came highly recommended from city staff. Mayor Pam O’Connor said what she liked about Mills is her hands-on approach.
“Tasks do not get delegated in her organization,” O’Connor said. “She oversees them herself.”
City Councilman Bob Holbrook said the decision to go with Mills, which the City Council decided in closed session, also was a reasonable one from an economic standpoint. Mills is charging City Hall a flat fee of $17,000. Other fees, such as advertising costs, also are expected to be passed on to City Hall, but Mills intends to keep those close to $4,000, Holbrook said.
Mills said as of last week she has received interest from 30 individuals for the position. She has prepared a brochure, which includes the salary and benefits, and mailed it to 150 people in California, primarily to managers of cities with populations of more than 65,000.
Mills also has sent an e-mail to the city managers with the brochure attached as a PDF file, to be certain they are aware the position is available.
The brochure advertises a salary range of $225,000 to $250,000 per year, with perks that range from free health care to 12 holidays and one vacation day accrued per month.
Mills also has advertised the position on the Web site and a monthly publication issued by the International City Managers Association, a group that is well-regarded in the area of public service, she said.
“I’ve also been targeting city managers that would meet the city’s criteria, making phone calls to people who may fit the profile to see if they’re interested,” Mills said. “Sometimes people aren’t looking for a job and are happy where they are at, so we want to make sure we catch them on that basis, so they are at least aware of the opportunity.”
“I’ve also been targeting city managers that would meet the city’s criteria, making phone calls to people who may fit the profile to see if they’re interested. Sometimes people aren’t looking for a job and are happy where they are at, so we want to make sure we catch them on that basis, so they are at least aware of the opportunity.” — O’Connor said. LISA MILLS Headhunter
Members of the public also will have an opportunity at the meeting — and in coming weeks — to say what qualities they would like in a new city manager.
They’re also invited to offer suggestions and drop some names.
“There are many formal and informal ways to advise the council,” said O’Connor, who has helped organize the recruitment effort along with Holbrook. “A good way is to send us or the consultant an e-mail or letter, since she’s compiling the information.
“But if you see one of us strolling down the street, your welcome to talk to us about it, too.”
O’Connor said interested candidates will have a leg up on the competition if they tune themselves into a City Council meeting.
“They will likely be watching us, as we begin to notice them,” O’Connor said.
“They will likely be watching us, as we begin to notice them,”
McCarthy, who has held her position since 1999, informed the City Council in July that she will retire in November. She has worked for City Hall for 24 years. Responsible for the “belt-tightening” that enabled City Hall to ride out the post-9-11 economic downturn, she intends to spend more time with her husband and aging parents in the coming years.
Through McCarthy’s efforts, Santa Monica has maintained its triple A bond rating while supporting big-ticket capital improvements that have been in the works since the 1990s. Some of those projects are expected to open this year, including the $55 million Main Library, the $13 million Virginia Avenue Park expansion and the new $722,000 skatepark at 14th Street and Olympic Boulevard. She garnered support for the recently increased hotel room tax in order to strengthen Santa Monica’s present and future financial base.
McCarthy will be leaving her successor to complete a two-year overhaul to the city’s planning and traffic plan, which will set policy for development and transportation in Santa Monica for the next 20 years. The $120 million Civic Center complex, a $90 million downtown parking plan and the redevelopment of Santa Monica Place Mall are further undertakings she has helped manage, which will be carried on by other leaders.
Holbrook said Assistant City Manager Gordon Anderson has expressed interest in the position.
The City Council hopes to interview the candidates in coming weeks and have a new city manager signed on by December, when Holbrook is expected to become mayor.
The City Council anticipates a possible one-month lag during which it may appoint an interim city manager.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 10, 2005. Read the original PDF.