>> Recording in progress. Good
evening. I'd like to call to
order the special special City
Council meeting Tuesday,
DECEMBER 16th 2025 we are here
this evening with city manager
Blair King city clerk
Christine Brown then Debra and
and see click. Would you
please call the Yes. Thank
you, mayor Christine Brown
city clerk, please state for
the record. If you're present
after I call your name mayor
Matthews present deputy mayor
Quinton.
>> PRESIDENT. The council
member Johnson present topless
present councilmember more
waukee PRESIDENT Councilmember
Schneider present. And let's
do the pledge of allegiance.
The flag.
>> The United States of
America and to Republic for
which it stands. One nation
under GOD, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
>> And I'm going to say
commissioner and
acknowledgement every part of
the soil is secret in the
estimation of my people. Every
hillside, every Valley, every
planning group has been
hollowed hallowed by some sad
or happy event in days long
vanished, chief Seattle, 1854
we would like to begin by
acknowledging that the land on
which we gather is within the
ancestral territory of the su
clouds. People of clear salt
water supply. People expert
fishermen builders basket
weavers. The Cyclone live in
harmony with the lands and
waterways along Washington
central Salish sea as they
have for thousands of years
here. Clubs live in protected
lands and waters of their
ancestors for future
generations as promised by the
point. Eliot treaty of 1855.
And approve our agenda.
Councilmember Matthew thank
you.
>> I am moved to approve
denies business agenda meeting
PRESIDENT.
>> a second. Thank you. So
motion made by councilmember
Milwaukee seconded by
councilor Fancher Johnson. All
those in favor aye. Are there
any conflicts of interest this
evening. I can't even look at
>> Only only in a matter of
taste. Seeing We'll move on to
public comment. Is there
anyone online. Then we're on
to regular business item for a
city manager.
>> yes, the item before you is
the selection or the direction
to me to enter into the
contractor behalf with an
executive recruiting firm
profit company is to recommend
it for just background that
will turn over to the members
of the subcommittee. You You
prepare solicitation for
executive recurring service.
We prepare that solicitation.
Provided through a number of
channels of both be provided
directly to firms that we knew
operated. We presided to
national City manager
Association. So station were
shunted cities also and posted
on our website response the
substation we received a total
of 8 responses. And I would
consider that a good response.
The response is all just to
the firm's Bob Murray ends Bob
ref tell us gmp consultants
reffitt Associates Harris
consulting cough and
Associates profit. Ralph
Anderson Associates. These
were turned over to
subcommittee. The subcommittee
consisted of councilmember
Schneider. I topless and more
walk the they probably can
fill you in on their
deliberation in the review of
the proposals. Thanks. City
manager.
>> Councilmember. I couldn't
tell have topless or Milwaukee
went first. Well, I'm hoping
to I'm I'm going to defer to
my colleagues to maybe make
comment specifically more
study MAY be that I even do
about the final choice. But
what's really important to me.
Process was very important to
me in the situation this is my
thing. 3rd big city manager
search and I feel like I had a
good idea for some. The things
that could sign that read like
an would like and I just
wanted to list out the
parameters that I was looking
at that. I feel like we all
discussed so that everyone
understands how broadly we
looked in what they're doing
all sorts of things that the
cup public want to hear about.
So just bear with me and I'm
just going to tick off a list
of of issues that I have noted
that I was looking at in
voting down and then further
interviewing and that was the
extent of experience. Placing
city managers and Council
manager jurisdictions
experience with coastal gma
regulated. So Northwest
communities, equality of plan
for input from Council staff
and the community outreach be
on passive applicant
application. A collection
clear fair and fair cost
structure quality a plan for
interviews testing projects
reference checks, history of
inclusive record recruitment,
diverse slate equitable
screening practices materials
tailored to be eyes
environment, politics and
issues. We didn't get much of
that from anybody. But we
love. Quality of sample
brochure materials realistic,
unclear process and timeline
regular updates experience
with vocal and early to
litigation prone communities
experience managing divided
councils.
>> And and recognition of the
need for both competence and
collaborative leadership and
of course, contract price. I
feel that in.
>> all these actually quite
diverse applicants with all
different sizes. Rest of peers
etc that the firm we selected
hit the most of these targets.
And so that's why for the
decision.
>> It's going break up
councilmember lucky. Thank
you. And Cali. I top Alyssa,
thank you for all that
preparation. She came up with
the guess I call a matrix of
scoring. It was really a
comprehensive list. As you
heard in an era down. But it
was it something that has a
great frame up. Thanks for
your work on that. So for
transparency, we got
applications. We met together
as our subcommittee look them
over and chose to forward 5.
It's not a reflection on all
of the applicants and all of
these firms are very
accomplished, very competent
great track records which is a
which is wonderful thing to
have that. We have a lot of
company firms that wanted to
be helping us out by next city
manager and interim manager.
So and the group that we
selected. It was. I think we
we spent quite a time deciding
on which group to do like for
me it it fit to scoop by it.
Location was great. I mean,
one of the most California.
And I think don't want stay
too. But that was not the
concern. We wanted the best
group. This is happens to in
our area person will be port
Townsend resident and so it's
very local very close and want
to that person. Cliff. More.
Lots lots of used to be a city
manager and the outcome on
ecmo County and Thurston
County. So he has personal
professional experience and
he's done a lot of work. This
firm I counted at least 20
cities in Washington state
that they have sent found city
managers as well as probably
another 50 were chief
executives and other other
positions. So they've been
very successful. The thing
that stuck out to me was he
has a background growing. Many
starting his early career as a
Peace Corps volunteer in Togo
West Africa. It was and
refugees resettlement officer
for care in Khartoum, Sudan,
pretty amazing back on
multicultural education.
That's his degree. And the
thing that stuck out to me was
when he was at the Washington
State University in 2021 it
was a co author of an 8 week.
Diversity equity inclusion
seminar for all staff and
faculty untitled fighting
racism and that's a lens that
we were using on a lot of our
applicants the key person was
actually kind wrote the book
for was too. So clearly
checked off that box very
well. Thank you so much.
Killed accounts over shater.
Thank you, mayor.
>> So again, while also I want
to just give, you know, my
grateful thanks to cancel
ride. Topless for doing a lot
of the advance work and coming
up with the questions for us.
You know, she was very
collaborative about it in made
sure that, you know, we felt
that the questions were, you
know what we would want to
ask. So prof just happened to
be in of of that from just
happened to be our very first
interview and I was blown
away. I think we kind of
looked at each other and said,
well, if we had to stop here
we'd And of course we you
know, and there were things to
talk about, right because
there were some other
outstanding qualities that
showed later in the other
interviews.
>> I I would second what city
manager said, which is that,
you know, I mean, we didn't I
don't know that 8 was the
right number. But the 5 that
we interviewed, we certainly
got percent. And I just want
to comment on. What sort of
won me over with Cliff Just an
amazing sense of down
directors authenticity. Just
like a belief that this was
the guy we could collaborate
with that there would be, you
know, no structural barriers
that that we would come up
against and then you know, he
in there to help the city of
Tacoma select their city
manager and not only that but
their human resources director
and their public works
director. Then the also has 2
city administrators in the
city of Pullman in the city of
Liberty Lake and I could go
down the list, but I won't
anyway. I'm I'm very excited
about the coming process and
sad as I for the reason for
it. But anyway, just wanted to
share a little bit about, you
know, my personal response to
this candidate company the one
who would be representing in
this search. Can somebody tell
I just want to make wonderful
question or comment. And I
think this is really important
for you to hear as much as
possible from us as well as
the community hearing. So you
understand the community's
sounds like what? How we got
here, especially at all.
Surprising or could anyone's
concerned. We didn't consider
anything.
>> That would be important.
And I think I would not have I
guess what I want to share. If
I were on the outside looking
in, I would have been
surprised that I would have
landed on this local firm. I
wanted to fixe and I am
assuming the committee would
say we want you to look look
far and wide for us to find
the perfect fit for us. So i
would never have thought we
would get some of the
responses and feedback that we
got from from prof about and
from Cliff about what they
will and can do nationally and
to have that because I would
never want to assure the
community that there's no way
that we're thinking we're so
focused on Washington. We're
not looking nationally. We're
looking actually, but to have
the proximity for in-person
touches and above all the
authenticity is so important.
So we interviewed some people
who are who are really good at
what they do. And would they
be a good fit for our
community and our Council in
our meetings and interacting
in with a b, you know, how
much would they flex their
process, et cetera. And so I
feel like we've got somebody
who is a bubble authentic
experience will do. The
National search. Want to
assure that people that and
will give us the ability to
say we want to add a different
in another layer of interviews
here or we want to do that.
And there's no ego involved.
We're going to be able to work
with this person. So I think
that's really critical. And I
will just also say that we
really did work hard,
especially when we got down to
the last 3 and really wrestled
with just know that we we took
it very seriously. That's
we're lucky. And just
>> Double down on what comes
right on cnn again in
compliment and you're really
Preparation work again, all
the firms and even the ones
that we said we would move
forward or they were wrong.
Qualifying and nobody really
kind of came down to what's
going to be the best fit for
our community in that will
double our community come
forward. The. For lack of a
better word to 5 of this
individual. And some of these
were really professional. But.
They might fit better in an
urban I you like a Seattle or
because the kind polished
professional, which is great.
But this is going to be this
going to be probably one of
the biggest things over decide
on my term and it's going to
be tough shoes to fill what
size issues do you have
blurred is make sure and he
will be missed and you've sent
us good model when we're
looking for the possible
candidates. They will find and
prominent did say it's going
to be a national search. And I
also in the interviews today.
I think her son of amended
wanted to it. They want to be
flexible. They want to make
sure they fit our community in
process. Plan is to be about 4
months or so. So and the thank
you see So that I just and I
think Leslie, too, for. I
think we I think we're good.
>> Bouncing off team in each
with any of you like to make
the motion. Think.
>> just seasons it to
>> won't make the motion, but
I just wanted to declare my
intense interest in this the
way on the periphery of going
forward. But I'm very
interested in the search and
I'm grateful too. The
committee for the thought they
put in to what we're looking
for and how we're going about
it. The and just the darley
with you.
>> Councilmember Johnson just
want to say that I appreciate
the work that went into the
process because I know that
was a big deal last time that
time. It was kind of amazing
everybody that we didn't have
more. The one we had was
imminent. And so this brings
the public France, the rest of
the council people I'm sure
you guys gave it your ended
very due diligence. And I
appreciate that. Thank you.
>> I echo everything. I am so
grateful that it was you 3. I
think it was the perfect group
for this sort of decision and
the sort of work in the home
work that went into it. Super
confident that this is the
right I'm really excited to
meet him and work with him. I
find it even more special it's
2 council members who went
through the West selling
program and are using language
like collaborative in some of
those things that you learned.
I'm sure went into this
decision and so I think the
community should be able to be
confident that this is the
right choice that building
brought along the way and that
we'll be masking the right
questions to fill the shoes
that we didn't want to feel
so. Councilmember chater.
>> I can make the motion. I
also just had one more small
comment, which is that a
number of the firm's that you
see on the list have men's
names and had women ceos so I
just one wanted. That's right.
Yeah. Well, so that was a nice
surprise and they weren't shy
about saying yeah, this state
that has a man's name but a
woman is okay. Alright, I
moved to authorize the city
manager to execute an
agreement with profit company
as the executive search firm
to assist with the
identification of the city's
next city manager and interim
city manager.
>> They see 18,500 plus
expenses.
>> Great motion made by
councilmember Schneider
seconded by councilmember more
waukee. All those in favor. I
seeing opposition comes
forward to thank you have a
question for the city manager
for advice on whether we
should do anything to bridge
between now and when will be
really interfacing with Cliff.
In other words, would be
helpful for the 3 of us at all
to help bridge.
>> Before we can all sit down
together is that meant has
been the work happening. We're
going to lose a good. For
weeks. It feels like or
something in this. And what
would your recommendation for
how we get from here where
we're all deciding how we move
forward.
>> Tomorrow. We will be
sending out the contract to
profit company. Expect the
contract return. There's a
couple of tasks will have to
occur peril. One of the
important ones is that we're
actually right into the scope
they're going to provide a
minimum for qualified
candidates for city manager to
the council. Also, I would
imagine profit spawn to us
with a tentative schedule for
initial introductions in their
scope. Their first piece is
too develop a profile.
Qualities of city manager
candidate that the council in
the community would like
typically there's a
three-legged stool here and
that is the council, the
community staff and typically
again, this is a well
experienced a recruitment They
will make inroads in and
discuss with you the way to
reach out to touch those bases
and then they'll be doing that
simultaneously with developing
go fund at pool for an
interim. I expect that they
will be doing that through the
month of DECEMBER in 2 mid
JANUARY. And the person
interaction. I'm sure
beginning of the year.
>> That's precisely why I want
to be sure that we at a
minimum request early agenda
item for the council, discuss
any feedback that we want to
give since we can't
individually in our one on
ones. Be directing anything at
all. And it was an important
part of our selection of this
from an if it would have been
any from that we just met with
that we would have the ability
as a council to weigh in on
that critical first step what
is gathered in the process for
and in that won't surprise
Cliff. I don't think to ensure
we get the best background for
the profile. So I just want to
put out a strong, you know,
saving right now. The sooner
we can get gender that the
whole Council can talk about
something like that. Because
we're going to go again. We're
going go into debt area where
we're just 7 people
disconnected. And if too many
balls, good going too far. We
might lost an opportunity.
>> through through the chair.
That's one the reasons why we
want to have this meeting. Was
to go ahead and get to this
engagement commenced and
executed. So we get was any
time. Obviously it's really
tough. Chris summit first of
the year. I expect that
probably will communicate will
provide that to the council
are tentative schedule for
other activities at this point
is JANUARY 13th will be the
first Council council will be
swearing in for councilmember
son. That meeting will try to
make more ceremonial eating.
We do have a study session
scheduled for JANUARY. The
20th. The topics we thought we
had probably change some of
those topics. And then a
regular business meeting on
the 27th. We also can't call
through. After the 13th. We
will have. A new mayor and
then through of the American
call special meetings as
needed for the council. To
engage in various steps along
the way. So yes, the work a
little bit of flexibility on
the council's part. But I
expect that we can do that and
hopefully can have quick
check-in meetings like this
one was intended to be in
terms of allowing Go ahead
slick for and then we can get
the paperwork going and
they'll be on and certain with
the engagement problem too.
>> Council We're I was just
waiting for good. The No other
discussion topic on
>> Kirsten, sorry to be the
doors. But when I hear that
timeline and I think what
they're going to have in mind.
And the possibility that if we
don't put in a request now to
start floating in for problems
in for special meeting of the
council to have introduction
to this person to Cliff and to
find out what the plan is for
the development of a profile
and see where the flexibility
we're going to get into the
end of DECEMBER and that that
timeline. I'm guessing that
his preference is going to be
that he's getting close to
developing a profile. So
again, I certainly Biden for
many attractions you guys. But
I'm just warning us that. You
know, we're having for a
certain period time is going
expect a timeline. And I
actually for months is among
the shortest of timelines. We
were provided. And I think 6
easily have been fine. So
little rain and it's getting
too late. JANUARY without.
This is the place that we have
the ability to speak and
between now and the next
meeting were just individuals.
So. Anybody else feels like it
would be good to start looking
for. A second week of JANUARY.
Something special meeting.
Councilmember
>> just be a different.
Available before a meeting. A
lot of We need steps in place.
It's noted the city manager
Okay. This week. Another
draft. Thank you. Thank you,
mayor.
>> Their draft schedule mean
this is what the proposed that
weeks of JANUARY, 1512, gather
information for position
profile travel limit for
stakeholder member interviews.
Profile for review at its get.
Profile approval and then
JANUARY 19 post profiling
problem in that. They're kind
of in your Lane. It sounds
like at least sensitive that
they want to get this moving
as quickly as possible. And so
there. Don't think we're going
to be I don't think we're
gonna be that out of sync with
what the dress schedule is
here. Thank This isn't about
talk right.
>> If you feel come to, you I
will I will make a motion that
the council direct the city
manager to determine what
options we might have for a
special City Council meeting.
Lots of flexibility by the
second week of JANUARY so that
we can actively participate a
profile process. Secondly, I
seconded ok. So motion made by
Council. I don't is seconded
by councilmember more lucky.
All those in favor Okay.
>> still have the on the floor
and to authorize the city
manager, we voted we did Okay.
With Council of the Yeah. Good
of the order to explain why my
Tyra so out of order.
>> Back in JUNE. I attended
the that the Macau Museum of
Art fashion. People remember
this, but to catch people
speeding their tune in and go
what is councilmember
Milwaukee doing at that event
there wasn't impromptu live
auction event that. I would
wear this to future City
Council meeting bidding war
went on the. The winner was a
John quick ones brother. Then
a question who that? It's a
treasure at the anyway. He bid
$1000 that was given to the
Bay Buchanan Museum Art
because of tonight. And so I
just followed through on the
auction and I'm so glad this
worked out because it's a sure
this meeting of the
>> But it's it's really it's a
joyous thing that they wanted
to be involved in in our
process. Even if it's
something like this, but did
help to this wonderful
facility. This wonderful tool
we have on this Island. They
Museum of Art and I should
have brought my high school
picture because I hear look
like this when I was 18 as
much as you don't believe me,
I
>> Thanks. Council are working
I'll do a quick this weekend.
I had the opportunity to go to
the menorah lighting Winslow
green in light of the events
on Bondi Bondi Beach. It was
even more impactful. There
were several 100 people there.
Our police chief fire chief,
several officers and lots of
community. Great music. So
just wishing everyone
wonderful holiday I know
holidays are different for
everyone and some can some
holidays can be hard and bring
up our things so however your
holiday is sending love and I
wanted to thank my colleagues
for entrusting me with this
gavel for the year. This is
last meeting chairing, thanks
you for your confidence in me
for teaching me so much into
the community for being there
every step of the way. And
obviously city manager working
for Listen. So everyone see
you next year. Thank you so
much for a giant.