Oklahoma City’s city manager opening attracts attention

About 30 applications already have been submitted by candidates seeking to succeed Jim Couch as Oklahoma City’s city manager.

The city council on Tuesday formally adopted plans for finding a successor.

Couch is retiring Jan. 2 after 18 years as the city’s top administrator. He is the longest-serving city manager in the city’s history.

Personnel Director Dianna Berry said her department would screen applicants and produce a log for council members that “shows which applicants we think are qualified.”

“It’s looking at what you’re looking for in a candidate and we’ll identify those that seem to meet your minimum requirements,” she said.

The council settled on key dates in the search:

• Applications are due by 5 p.m. Nov. 1, a Thursday.

• Applications will be forwarded to the mayor and council members by noon on Nov. 2.

• The council will convene in executive session Nov. 6 to review applications, in conjunction with its regular meeting.

• The council will convene in a special meeting Nov. 19 to conduct interviews and, if necessary, set a date for further review.

The special meeting will be a rare occurrence for the council, which with few exceptions confines formal business to its regular meetings, every other Tuesday morning.

Berry said the position was being advertised with outlets including the International City Managers Association (ICMA) and Oklahoma Municipal League.

City Clerk Frances Kersey said the council would be required to appoint a temporary city manager if a new city manager hasn’t been hired by 5 p.m. Jan. 2, when Couch’s retirement takes effect.