Sausalito narrows city manager list of candidates to 11

Sausalito has narrowed its search for a city manager to 11 candidates and is preparing to reduce the pool further.

Councilman Ian Sobieski, addressing the recruitment process during the City Council meeting last week, said the city received more than 50 applications for the job. The search started in January after the retirement of Adam Politzer.

“A lot of people want to work here,” said Sobieski, a member of the group that is screening prospects. “It was a great crop of potential candidates.”

The city hired the consulting firm Avery and Associates for $22,900 for the candidate search. The first round of interviews was conducted this month, and a second round for the top candidates is set for mid-April, according to a city staff report.

Deborah Muchmore, a personnel consultant for the city, said two to four of the candidates will participate in a final selection process.

Some residents called into the City Council meeting to criticize the search process.

“I don’t see any option for input from peers of the city manager,” said Vicki Nichols, a former planning commissioner. “Usually there’s been an opportunity for other people in same position throughout the county to come and advise.”

Pat Zuch, a Sausalito resident, said there should be more transparency and broader public representation in the process. Zuch said residents should be able to hear the questions and answers in the candidate screenings.

“I know there are confidentiality issues in hiring,” Zuch said. “It is somewhat dismaying as a member of the public.”

Muchmore said unless candidates provide consent, the city cannot add members of the public to the interview process.

“There are many candidates who work in other places and have prominent positions,” she said. “They may or may not have told their council, board or commission they sit on that they are applying for this position, and they won’t until they know for sure they are the top one or two finalists.”

“In the past we’ve had wonderful candidates withdraw because their name was leaked or had a fear their name was going to be leaked,” she said. “We don’t want that to happen to this process.”

Mayor Jill Hoffman said, “I think at this point we’re going to stay the course and follow the recommendation that was made by the working group with regard to public input.”

The working group recommended that chairs and vice chairs from each of the eight standing boards, committees and commissions participate in an interview session with each finalist.

The consultants will then summarize the recorded comments and feedback from those sessions for the City Council.