Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Attorney’s Office

TO:	City Commission
CC:	Thomas M. Markus, City Manager
FROM:	Toni R. Wheeler, City Attorney
DATE:	September 20, 2018
RE:	2015 City Manager Recruitment Process

I was asked to provide a summary of the process the City followed in 2015, for the last city manager recruitment. The Commission desires to discuss filling the position at a Special Meeting on September 25, 2018, in light of Tom Markus’ announcement on September 18, 2018, of his intention to resign his position effective Spring of 2019.

2015 Process

In early spring 2015, then City Manager David Corliss announced his resignation to take the position of Town Manager of Castle Rock, Colorado. Mr. Corliss’ last day with the City was May 28, 2015.

On May 19, 2015, the City Commission had its first discussion of the process it would follow to fill the city manager position (see attached excerpt from CC minutes). The Commission decided it wanted to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the services of an executive search firm to assist the City in conducting a nationwide search to fill the position. The Commission also designated two commissioners to take the lead in working with City staff to evaluate the firms’ proposals and make a recommendation to the full Commission. Commissioners Mike Amyx and Leslie Soden were selected to serve in this role.

City staff issued the RFP on May 26, 2015. Nine firms submitted proposals in response to the RFP. City staff comprised of Human Resources Manager Lori Carnahan, Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay, and I reviewed the proposals and recommended three firms for interviews. Commissioners Amyx and Soden and city staff interviewed recruiters from three firms by video-conference. The City team forwarded a recommendation to the City Commission. On July 7, 2015, the City Commission authorized the Mayor to execute a professional services agreement for executive search services for city manager with Ralph Andersen & Associates in the amount of $26,000.

A survey was posted on Lawrence Listens, an online survey system. This survey was designed to solicit input from Lawrence residents about what qualities they wanted to see in our next City Manager. The recruiter met with City Commissioners, city employees, and local stakeholders to learn what qualities a successful city manager candidate should possess and to develop the recruitment profile/brochure.

In mid-August, Jeremy Farmer resigned from the City Commission. The Commission turned its attention to filling the vacancy on the Commission. After a substantial public process, Commissioner Lisa Larsen was sworn in as Commissioner on October 6, 2015. In the meantime, Ralph Andersen & Associates continued its work to recruit candidates for the position.

The recruiter briefed the commission on the applicant pool. In early November 2015, the City Commission interviewed seven candidates for City Manager in executive session. On November 17, 2015, the Commission announced the three finalists for the position (see attached excerpt from CC minutes). The three finalists were invited in December 2015, to meet with the City’s executive team, tour city facilities, meet with various stakeholders in the community, participate in a community meet-and-greet reception, and sit down for interviews with the Commission, the recruitment firm’s project manager, and the City Attorney in a closed session. The Lawrence Journal World ran articles featuring each of the three finalists.

The Commission called a special meeting on January 14, 2016, to announce the selection of Thomas M. Markus as its City Manager. The Commission approved an Employment Agreement with Mr. Markus at its regular meeting on January 19, 2016. Mr. Markus’ first day of employment with the City was March 21, 2016.

I hope this information is helpful to the Commission. Please let me know if you need additional information.