HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 11/16/2021 - RESOLUTION 2021-109 ADOPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF Agenda Item 23
Item # 23 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY November 16, 2021
City Council
STAFF
Teresa Roche, Chief Human Resources Officer
Melanie Clark, Executive Administrative Asst
Jenny Lopez Filkins, Legal
Carrie M. Daggett, Legal
SUBJECT
Resolution 2021-109 Adopting the Recommendation of the Council Regarding the Recruitment Materials for
the Selection of a City Manager.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This item has been amended to include Exhibit A to the Resolution.
The purpose of this item is to review and approve recruitment materials to be used in the selection of a City
Manager.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On October 5, Council adopted Resolution 2021-091 which approving the Ad Hoc City Manager Selection
Process Committee’s recommendations for the action plan and timeline for the recruitment of the City
Manager. On November 11, 2021, at a specially convened work session, Council reviewed all the inputs from
over fifty listening sessions and discussed the position profile and brochure for the City Manager recruitment.
The purpose of this Resolution is for Council to approve the recruitment materials for the City Manager
attached to this Resolution.
-1-
RESOLUTION 2021-109
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING RECRUITMENT MATERIALS FOR THE SELECTION OF A
CITY MANAGER
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2021, City Manager Darin Atteberry notified the City Council
of his intent to resign from his employment as City Manager effective August 20, 2021; and
WHEREAS, on August 4, 2021, the City Council approved Resolution 2021-
079 appointing certain Councilmembers to serve as the ad hoc City Manager Selection Process
Committee (“Committee”) to make recommendations to the City Council regarding the
position announcement, a formal plan, schedule and other related matters for the recruitment
and selection process; and
WHEREAS, after conducting a procurement process, City staff retained the services
of a qualified search firm with experience recruiting a City Manager; and
WHEREAS, on October 5, 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution 2021-091, which
approved the Ad Hoc City Manager Selection Process Committee’s recommended action plan
and timeline for the recruitment of the City Manager;
WHEREAS, City staff and search firm representatives have gathered input from
numerous sources about the preferred qualifications of the next City Manager; and
WHEREAS, based on such input, City staff and search firm representatives have
developed recruitment materials for the City Manager recruitment; and
WHEREAS, City Council reviewed the position profile and recruitment materials
recommended by City staff and search firm representatives at a specially-convened Work Session
on November 11; and
WHEREAS, Council desires to approve the position profile and recruitment materials
for the City Manager recruitment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council hereby approves the recruitment materials for the
City Manager as described on Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference,
and directs that these materials be formatted and prepared for publication and use for the City
Manager recruitment process.
-2-
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
16th day of November, A.D. 2021.
____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
Interim City Clerk
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
The Opportunity Short Description on Brochure Cover:
The City of Fort Collins, Colorado is seeking a new City Manager…
The Community:
The City of Fort Collins sits nestled against the foothills of the Rocky Mountains alongside the Cache La
Poudre River banks. At 5,000 feet in elevation, residents enjoy a moderate, four-season climate, with an
average of 300 days of sunshine per year. With 174,800 residents, Fort Collins is Colorado's fourth-
largest city and spans 57 square miles. With the 20-year growth projection, the City of Fort Collins is
expected to reach 255,000 residents.
The first people who hunted in this region arrived approximately 11,000 years ago, and Northern
Colorado remains an integral part of the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne,
and Ute Nations. European-American trappers and traders arrived by the early 1800s but rarely
established permanent settlements. Gold and silver discoveries in the Colorado mountains in the mid-
1800s and the prospect of land for farming and ranching attracted people from eastern cities and across
the globe to the Colorado Territory, including what would become the town of Fort Collins; an
agricultural colony that emerged from its founding days as a military camp. The expansion brought new
residents whose descendants still live here today.
Since 1879, Fort Collins has been the home of the state's land grant institution, Colorado State
University, which currently enrolls 34,000 students. Along with the University, the city's major high-tech
and manufacturing companies and breweries attract new residents from all over the country and world.
The city is known for its unique innovative, entrepreneurial, and collaborative spirit that brings together
the public and private sectors and the Colorado State University community. Fort Collins is the home of
the Colorado State University Energy Institute, whose mission is to deliver real-world energy and climate
solutions that address society's most pressing global challenges, and Innosphere Ventures, a science and
technology incubator that accelerates the business success of startups and emerging growth companies.
Our adaptability, openness to failure, risk-taking, the overarching character of collaboration and strong
ties between leaders from the university, city government, and local businesses, and a sense of
community led to Fort Collins being chosen by Smithsonian Institute curators as one of the country's
most innovative places for the exhibit, "Places of Invention." People can make a difference here and
have contributed to the city's reputation for breakthrough inventions in clean energy and socially
responsible innovation.
We have exceptional medical systems, strong public and private K-12 schools, and many recreational
offerings for families. We like to think every age can live, work, and play in our community, and with 300
hundred of annual sunshine, mild temperatures, and record snowfalls, it is always a good time to come
to Colorado.
The community's overall social diversity continues to grow, and there are abundant outdoor recreation
opportunities available to the many residents who enjoy healthy lifestyles. The nearby Horsetooth
Reservoir is a key attraction, as is the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway. Thanks to voter
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
support of sales tax ballot measures, the City conserves valued lands and provides recreation and
educational access to our community treasures. There are 50 natural areas and over 100 miles of trail
encompassing more than 36,000 acres. Fort Collins has a strong appreciation for arts, culture, and
entertainment and is known as the cultural hub of northern Colorado. There are many great
performance theatres, museums, and art galleries to visit. The Downtown district provides many venues
for live music, shopping, dining, and nightlife. Fort Collins is widely considered the Craft Beer Capital of
Colorado. Various national organizations and magazines recognize Fort Collins as one of the best places
to live in the nation. People come and want to build their lives here.
The Organization:
The City of Fort Collins is a home rule city with a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council
is comprised of six District Councilmembers who are elected for four-year terms and a Mayor who is
elected at-large for a two-year term. All elected officials are nonpartisan. The City Council appoints the
City Manager, City Attorney, and the Chief Judge. The City Manager has overall responsibility for all
other City employees. The City of Fort Collins directly provides a full slate of municipal services, including
operating its own electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities. The City of Fort Collins, at the
direction of the City Council and voters, is moving forward with building and implementing high-speed
next-generation broadband to the entire community with expected completion in 2022. Fire protection
is provided by the Poudre Fire Authority (PFA). The City of Fort Collins operates with a biennial budget
and provides funding for municipal operations, including approximately 2,500 employees.
The City of Fort Collins aspires to provide outstanding services to the community while cultivating a
strong organizational culture for its employees. To achieve the vision, both internal and external services
are data-informed and implemented according to organizational values.
The City develops resiliency and sustainability through organization-wide systems and processes that
ensure consistent employee work practices and alignment across service areas. The City places a high
value on public input and strives to include community members as fellow problem solvers
whenever possible. Residents can expect to receive exceptional service, engage with decision-makers,
provide input regarding the allocation of City resources, and access government information in a timely
and transparent manner.
The City of Fort Collins recognizes and honors the legacy inherited from the decisions, relationships, and
thoughtful planning of those who cared deeply about our community. We also realize that we are a
more robust, better community when we welcome everyone to participate in shaping our future. The
2019 City Plan, which serves as our long-range vision and development framework, shapes decision-
making and funding priorities to implement the future the community desires. Whether it is building a
more inclusive and equitable community, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, addressing and
mitigating the impacts of climate change, or creating additional transportation and housing options, we
are committed to partnering to make Fort Collins an even better place for future generations. We know
this means keeping our current infrastructure updated and maintained while thinking ahead.
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
The City is a dynamic and continually evolving organization. However, the vision for the City, its mission,
and core values remain a constant that helps all employees focus on the primary goal: service to our
community members. This commitment is one that the nearly 2,500 City employees take seriously. From
snowplow drivers and emergency dispatchers, utility crews and recreation officials, IT specialists, and
vehicle mechanics, the City workforce provides high-quality municipal services around the clock across a
wide variety of talents.
Fort Collins is a community with a strong sense of place. It has gained accolades as one of the best
places for job seekers in Colorado, one of the best towns in America, and among the healthiest, most
livable, and bicycle-friendly. Among the awards Fort Collins has won over the past two years are:
• 2021 Municipal Equality Index TBD
• 2021 What Works Certified City: Bloomberg Philanthropies
• No. 6, Safest Cities for Cyclists: Your Local Security - May 2021
• No. 8, Colorado City Ranked Among 'Most Relaxed' in Country: Out There Colorado - April 2021
• No. 4, 25 Best Cities in the US to Own an Electric Car: 24/7 Wall St - April 2021
• No. 5, 2021 Top 10 Remote-Ready Cities in the US: Livability - January 2021
• Clean Air Champion: RAQC - December 2020
• No. 8, Most Fitness Friendly Places for 2021: Smart Asset - December 2020
• No. 1, The Best Places to Live in America in 2020: Market Watch - October 2020
• No. 1, 2020 Top 100 Places to Live: Livability.com - October 2020
• No. 21, Top 30 Creative Small Cities: CVSuite - May 2020
• No. 18, 20 Safest Cities in Colorado: SafeWise - April 2020
We believe these awards are possible due to our employees, volunteers, community members,
partnerships in the city and region, and the strong leadership from City Council.
Councilmembers and City leaders are engaged nationally and internationally on issues facing our
community. The City of Fort Collins is involved in Bloomberg Philanthropies and has received funding
and consulting for several key projects. This philanthropic organization focuses its resources on five
areas: the environment, public health, the arts, government innovation, and education. Mayor Jeni
Arndt is one of the thirty-eight mayors from North America, Latin America, Europe, and Africa selected
for the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative 2021-2022 program. The intention is to equip
mayors with the leadership and management tools to tackle complex challenges in their cities and
improve the quality of life of their residents.
Fort Collins was also selected as one of 30 U.S. cities participating in the What Works Cities City
Budgeting for Equity and Recovery program. This new effort will help cities confront budget crises while
strengthening their commitment to equity in the wake of COVID-19. The program will help cities develop
and implement plans to drive financial recovery and ensure that their budget crises do not
disproportionately harm low-income residents and communities of color. From the City's 2021
application, we acknowledged, "The City of Fort Collins has a strong desire to invest in long-term,
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
meaningful equity advancement, and yet in the absence of the requisite models, knowledge, and
abilities, this is unchartered territory for our organization."
The German Marshall Fund of the United States is a nonpartisan American public policy think tank and
grantmaking institution dedicated to promoting cooperation and understanding between North America
and Europe. Fort Collins was chosen as one of twelve cities to participate in "Cities Fortifying
Democracy," a first-of-its-kind cohort of American and European cities that will come together in teams
to collaborate on what cities are and can be doing to strengthen their resilience and the foundation of
democracy from the ground up. Over the next 12 months, the cohort — comprised of twelve five-
person city teams —will zero in on the democratic vulnerabilities and innovations in four key areas
where local stakeholders can make a difference: governing, voting and elections, public safety and
justice, and local journalism.
The Opportunity Long:
Fort Collins faces a pivotal moment in our community as we transform from a big town to a small city.
We are looking for a leader who can build on our strengths and lean into our challenges with a
commitment to listen to all voices as we work on mutual goals to strengthen the region and our city.
We have much to be proud of while also recognizing our vulnerabilities and opportunities. We know
this means having healthy dialogues to understand first before being understood and to find common
ground. We think of ourselves as problem solvers and not just advocating for a point of view or an
agenda. We believe we only rise together, which requires a regional orientation and a willingness to
partner and collaborate for shared success.
Reporting to the City Council, the City Manager provides strategic and forward-looking leadership to the
seven outcome areas to ensure appropriate and effective resource allocation supporting the
community's priorities in Culture and Recreation, Economic Health, Environmental Health, High
Performing Government, Neighborhood Livability, and Social Health, Safe Community, and
Transportation and Mobility.
The City uses the triple bottom line to bring the global concept of sustainability to action at the local
level. We evaluate programs on their social, economic, and environmental impacts resulting in an
optimal mix of resource efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and employee and community well-being in daily
City operations.
The City Manager leads and supports a large and varied staff of passionate and talented employees with
a unified vision, collaborative style, and demonstrated commitment to others. It will be vital that they
understand and take care of the organization with the right resources and invest in the current
infrastructure to respond well to the community.
First Year Overview:
The successful candidate will use the first year to listen deeply and authentically and connect with the
community and develop critical partnerships for regional collaboration and across sectors so that as the
city evolves, there is a solid foundation to co-create the future. Additionally, they will continue leading
the work to address some of our longer-term challenges:
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
• Build positive relationships with the City Council, Executive Leadership Team, and broader City
staff. Collectively work to understand our current organization, operations, and culture to
ensure finances, talent, technology, and resources are aligned to prioritize our time, energy, and
investments that lead to equitable outcomes and support the greatest impact on the
community.
• Focus on the talent of the City by providing clarity and discernment of priorities, attracting top
talent to leadership positions and other openings in the City. Understand and respond to
organizational fatigue from the continual challenges of the pandemic, 2020 wildfires, and
resignations by investing in employees.
• Ensure our COVID-19 response and economic recovery strategy centers on the needs of those
most affected by the pandemic. Identify long-term funding that provides essential and
sustainable services and enables the community resiliency to adapt and thrive.
• Engage in meaningful dialogues regarding urban growth and development in our community.
• Facilitate continued conversations regarding housing affordability and our unhoused population.
Collaborate to identify creative solutions, remain equitable in our planning, and work towards
the vision that everyone has healthy, stable housing they can afford.
• Work to meet the city's climate action plan and take bold, innovative, and collaborative actions
to create systemic change that fully addresses our climate change initiatives and ensures our
quality of life.
• Recognize and respond to those in our community who have been historically marginalized and
utilize an equitable process to respond to the needs of our entire community.
• Invest in the Citywide business digital transformation of our business models, processes,
organization, and technologies resulting in fundamental changes to how the City operates and
delivers value to residents, businesses, and employees.
The Successful Candidate:
The successful candidate is deeply committed to public service and understands the local government's
unique role in creating and sustaining a healthy, vibrant, and resilient community where all members
feel a sense of belonging. They can keep the whole system in perspective and possess system
leadership, both a mindset and a set of skills that includes seeing the system by engaging diverse
stakeholders and perspectives that may challenge their views. They understand today's leadership is
about learning and observing, balancing tensions and paradoxes, and creating conditions and adaptive
spaces that enable others to develop, lead, and collectively work towards shared goals that benefit the
entire system sustainably.
The candidate recognizes the importance of relationships and partnerships at all levels and navigates
political and multi-sector relationships. They encourage broad engagement, collaborate, and empower
others to significantly impact initiatives and ensure inclusive and equitable experiences. The successful
candidate values diversity of thought, fosters mutual respect at all levels, and effortlessly balances
internal needs with external initiatives. The candidate is considered an excellent listener and
communicator and is well known for sharing complex information and being open, honest, and
transparent in all interactions.
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
The world continues to experience the effect of the pandemic, and the systemic issues of climate
change, housing, food insecurity, social unrest, and the economic and digital divide are felt in our
community. So much is changing exponentially, and simultaneously, the candidate possesses the strong
leadership skills necessary for managing a large, complex environment. They are considered bold,
courageous, and innovative, and willing to stay in the messy middle.
The candidate is known for co-creating and sustaining an organizational culture built on trust and
mutual respect. They effectively leverage the organization's talents to meet the complexity, pace, and
intensity of providing exceptional services to our community. They can lead by demonstrating
continuity and transformation simultaneously and navigating change with empathy, understanding it is
both an art and a science.
The candidate is self-aware, possesses a high degree of emotional intelligence, and balances humility
with confidence. They are curious, lifelong learners, and willing to acknowledge what they do not know.
They bring a blend of compassion and wisdom and the ability to drive for results while attending to
others in the process. They are a horizontal player and collaborate well with others where power is
shared, and everyone's contribution matters toward collective success.
Total Compensation: Salary (include both the full range and the hiring range—market analysis with our
high performing peer cities is still being worked on):
The City of Fort Collins offers a competitive comprehensive benefits package, including a competitive
market salary commensurate with education and experience. Other benefits include medical, dental,
vision, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance. Additionally, the City of Fort Collins offers
additional benefits, including 401(a) and a 457 deferred compensation plan with an employer
contribution, optional Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, and relocation assistance for
the successful out-of-area finalist. An employment contract for the successful candidate will be
negotiated with the City Council.
Residency
Before the appointment, the City Manager need not be a resident of the city, but during their tenure in
office, the City Manager shall reside within the city.
Education and Experience:
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe
they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for
the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an
equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications.
EXHIBIT A
Exhibit A DRAFT City Manager Recruitment Brochure
Strong leadership experience and the ability to work closely with the City Council and lead the
organization well are essential. A Bachelor's degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of
education and experience that enables success as the City Manager is critical, and an advanced degree is
preferred.
A minimum of seven years of recent, senior-level executive management experience and responsibilities
in a large, complex organization. Knowledge and experience related to municipal government
management and/or leading in a similar-sized agency are desired.
How to Apply:
Applications will be accepted….Please apply no later than XX 2021.
Questions: Mark McDaniel, Executive Recruiter, Strategic Government Resources
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement at the end of Brochure
The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its
workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal
history/credit/driver's license check prior to the interview. Under the Colorado Open Records Act,
information from your application or resume may be subject to public disclosure.
EXHIBIT A