HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Mail Packet - 12/31/2019 - Agenda For Chief Judge Recruitment Ad Hoc Council Committee Meeting - December 31, 2019Human Resources Department
215 N. Mason, 2nd Floor
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
AGENDA
Chief Judge Recruitment Ad Hoc Council Committee
December 31, 8:00am to 9:30am
Commons Conference Room, City Hall, 300 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80521
Committee Members:
Mayor Wade Troxell
Mayor Pro Tem Kristin Stephens
Councilmember Susan Gutowsky, District 1
City Staff Members:
Teresa Roche, Chief Human Resources Officer
Catherine MacGowan, Human Resources Business Partner for Judicial Services
Jenny Lopez Filkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Jeanne Sanford, Paralegal
• Call Meeting to Order
o Review purpose and expectations of this ad hoc committee
• Public Comments (limited to approximately 2 minutes per speaker)
• Discussion Items:
o Align on approach and desired outcomes for ad hoc committee
o Outline an action plan and timeline
o Review and recommend an external search firm
o Review draft position description
• Adjournment
Next Meeting: TBD
There are three or more members of City Council that may attend this meeting. While no formal action
will be taken by the Council at this meeting, the discussion of public business will occur, and the meeting
is open to the public.
1
Chief Judge Recruitment Ad Hoc Committee
December 31, 2019
Agenda
• Welcome and introductions
• Review Committee’s purpose and outcome
• Outline a plan of action and timeline for the
selection process
• Review city’s executive search firms and make
a recommendation
• Review draft position description
• Alignment on next steps
2
Ad Hoc Committee
3
Purpose
Review, discuss and recommend a
formal plan and schedule for Chief
Judge recruitment and selection
process
Outcome
New Chief Judge in role by June 1,
2020 and fully transitioned by July
3, 2020.
4
Phase 1: RFP Conducted December 2019 with Ten Proposals Received, Three Executive Search Firms
Chosen on December 20; Decide on Selection for Chief Judge Recruitment on 12/31
Phase 2: Position Description and Brochure Development by January 30 and Collegial and Community
Engagement by February 15
Phase 3: Advertising, Candidate Recruitment and Outreach by February 15
Phase 4: Candidate Evaluation and Screening by February 28
Phase 5: Presentation of Recommended Candidates by March 13
Phase 6: Interviewing and Selection Process completed by April 30
• City Council
• City Manager and City Attorney
• Internal Stakeholder Panel
• External Stakeholder Panel
• Community Forum
Phase 7: Appointment of Candidate by May 8 and Start Date of June 1, 2020
Phase 8: Onboarding and Transition with Incumbent by July 3, 2020
Draft Recruitment Process and Timeline
Action Items
and Next Steps
5
Closing
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause GovHR The Novak Consulting Group
Company Overview
In business since 1931. Three corporate offices in Central US
employing 3,900 staff and 407 partners. Provides a wide range of
accounting, tax, assurance & consulting services.
Formed as Voorhees Associates in 2009. Changed name to GovHR in
2013. 19 employees and 27 consultants. Focuses solely on service
public sector entities nationwide. One office in Illinois.
Founded 20 years ago as Public Management Partners. Acquired by
Julia Novak in 2009 and became The Novak Consulting Group.
Headquarters in OH with staff throughout the continental US.
Experience
Merged with public sector executive recruiting expert Springstead in
2014 and completed 475 public executive recruitments to date.
Executive recruitement team consists of 10 recruitment consultants
plus project coordination staff. All recruitment consultants have
experience working with municipalities of varying sizes along with other
public sector organizations. Provided multiple, relevant government
references.
Has conducted hundreds of recruitments in 29 different states.
Business has grown 30% each year. 28% of their current clients are
repeat clients.
Focus on serving government entities in the areas of strategic
planning, organizational assessment and executive search services.
Multiple government references in CO.
Process Philosophy &
Overview
Collaborative approach focusing on developing a solid understanding
of the position and the City's expectations prior to commencing
recruiting efforts. Recruitment efforts focus on reaching qualified
candidates who may not be actively searching in addition to those who
are. Process includes additional communication efforts with
prospective candidates so that candidates know what to expect. Final
candidates are thoroughly screened prior to interviews, so there are no
suprises.
Very detailed throughout every step of the process. Collaborative
approach involving extensive due dilligence to understand the position
and the City's expectation. Very hands on with the City throughout the
process - happy to always meet onsite with us. Background and
reference checks are performed on candidates selected for interview
prior to the interviews occuring.
Collaborative approach focusing on devleoping a solid understanding
of the position and the City's expectations. Extensive nationwide,
targeted advertising in appropriate professional organizations along
with targeted outreach to organizations serving minorities and women.
Also utilize their database to identify potential candidates. Actively
communicate with candidates during the process so they are not left
hanging. Initial screening process focuses on candidate personal and
professional attributes to ensure alignment with the position.
Background and reference checks are performed after the interviews
and only on the top candidate from the process.
Availability & Search
Timeframe Process typically takes 90 days Process typically takes 90 days Process typically takes 14 weeks (98 Days)
Fixed Fee $24,500 $23,500 $23,800
Guarantee Will perform a new search for no additonal cost if hired candidate
leaves in the first 24 months of employment
Will perform a new search fo no additional cost if candidate leave in
the first 12 months of employement. None specified.
Notable Features Offered
One-way video interviews with prospective final candidates that we
DRAFT
The City of Fort Collins, Colorado
Invites Qualified Candidates to Apply for Chief Judge
The Opportunity
The Chief Judge is appointed by the City Council and is accountable to lead The Fort Collins
Municipal Court. This position is responsible for administering the operations of the judicial
branch of City government according to the ordinances adopted by City Council. Cases
adjudicated in Municipal Court include traffic violations, misdemeanors, and civil infractions.
Generally, cases are brought to Municipal Court by the Fort Collins Police Services, Colorado State
University Police Department, Animal Control, other City departments, and private residents.
Liquor Licensing or Marijuana Licensing Authority duties are included.
The Chief Judge works collaboratively with key stakeholders in the Municipal Court system to
ensure effective, fair and respective municipal processes take place as well as with key leaders on
policy issues related to the Court in order to provide joint policy recommendations to City
Council.
The ideal candidate must have a genuine desire to serve the community of Fort Collins by
providing the highest possible level of service. It is fundamental to administer equitable, fair,
and impartial justice in a timely and respectful; protect fundamental rights; promote public
safety; and facilitate community reparation.
2
The Community
Incorporated in 1873, Fort Collins is nestled against the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains alongside the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. At 5,000
feet in elevation, residents enjoy a moderate, four season climate, with
an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. With 167,500 residents, Fort Collins
is Colorado’s fourth largest city and spans 57 square miles. At full build-out, the
City of Fort Collins is expected to reach 255,000 residents.
From its early days, as the military fort of Camp Collins, Fort Collins has
transformed into a vibrant, healthy, university city with ample attractions and
amenities. 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 Scenic Byway Poudre Canyon. Within the
city, the Downtown district provides many venues for live music, shopping,
dining, and nightlife. Fort Collins is renowned for its craft beer culture and is
widely considered the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado.
Fort Collins is home to Colorado State University. With a student enrollment of
32,000, the University significantly affects the composition and culture of Fort
Collins. More than half of Fort Collins’ residents are college graduates and the
city has a strong appreciation for arts, culture, and entertainment. Residents are
educated and engaged in their local government. Various national organizations
and magazines recognize Fort Collins as one of the best places to live in the
nation.
Milken Institute, January 2019
Top 10 Best Performing Cities
Platinum Bicycle
Friendly Community
League of American Bicyclists
2017
3
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 non-partisan. 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. Fire protection is provided by the
Poudre Fire Authority (PFA). The City of Fort Collins operates with a biennial
budget; the operating budget for 2019 is $655.6 million and provides funding
for municipal operations, including approximately 2,500 employees.
The City of Fort Collins aspires to provide world-class services to the
community while cultivating an outstanding organizational culture for its
employees. In order to achieve its vision, both internal and external services
are data-driven 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 them as fellow problem solvers whenever possible. Residents can
expect to receive exceptional service, have the opportunity to engage with
decision-makers, provide input regarding the allocation of City resources, and
have access to government information in a timely and transparent manner.
Malcolm Baldrige
National Quality
Award Recipient
2017
4
Various national organizations and magazines recognize
Fort Collins as one of the best places to live in the nation.
• No. 4 Best U.S. Cities to Raise a Family:
MarketWatch – Apr 2019
• No. 9 Best Performing Cities:
Milken Institute – Jan 2019
• No. 3 U.S. Cities with Highest Economic Confidence:
Yahoo – Nov 2018
• No. 2 Brain Concentration Index:
Bloomberg – Nov 2018
• 14th Best Place to Live:
Livability.com – Mar 2018
• 18th Best City for Career Opportunities:
SmartAsset – Sep 2017
• 3rd Best College Town to Live in Forever:
College Ranker – Jul 2017
• 25 Best Towns Ever: Where to Live Now:
Outside Magazine – Jun 2017
• No. 1 Stable and Growing Housing Market:
Realtor.com – Jun 2017
• 11th Happiest City in America:
Yahoo! Finance – Mar 2017
• Top 100 Best Cities to Start a Family:
lendedu – Feb 2017
• No. 9 Top 150 Cities for Millennials Report:
Millennnial Personal Finance – Feb 2017
• No. 2 Best Cities for Small Business Owners:
ValuePenguin – Feb 2017
• No. 17 Best Places to Buy a Forever Home:
Good Call – Jan 2017
• Runner Friendly Community:
Road Runners Club of America – Oct 2016
• No. 4 Community in Overall Well-Being, 2014–2015:
Gallup Healthways – Feb 2016
5
The Opportunity
Chief Judge
Unclassified Management
Annual Salary Range:
The City of Fort Collins is offering a competitive salary
commensurate with experience and a comprehensive
benefits package. Relocation assistance will also be available
for the successful out of area candidate.
The Position:
The Chief Judge is appointed by the City Council on a
contractual basis with the terms of employment outlined in
the contract and City Charter. The Fort Collins Municipal
Court is responsible for administering the operations of the
judicial branch of City government according to the
ordinances adopted by City Council. Cases adjudicated in
Municipal Court include traffic violations, misdemeanors, and
civil infractions. Generally, cases are brought to Municipal
Court by the Fort Collins Police Services, Colorado State
University Police Department, Animal Control, other City
departments, and private residents. Liquor Licensing or
Marijuana Licensing Authority duties are included.
The Judge is responsible for the administration of the Court,
manages the Court Administrator who supervises a staff of
twelve and is also responsible to manage any assistant judges
to ensure consistent hearing of cases. The Chief Judge will
incorporate elements of a problem-solving court focused on
modifying illegal behaviors to improve the community’s
overall quality of life.
The Chief Judge works collaboratively with key stakeholders
in the Municipal Court system to ensure effective, fair and
respective municipal processes take place as well as with key
leaders on policy issues related to the Court in order to
provide joint policy recommendations to City Council.
The ideal candidate must have a genuine desire to serve the
community of Fort Collins.
Summary of Accountabilities:
The following are illustrative of the primary functions of this
position and are not intended to be all inclusive:
Municipal Court – Judicial Duties
• Conducts arraignments, hearings and trials in an efficient
and appropriate manner. Advises defendants of their
rights, administers oaths and affirmations, rules on
admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting
testimony, examines evidence and interprets applicable
law, and enforces orders, rules, and judgments in
compliance with all applicable law.
• Reviews files for Municipal Court defendants who have
recently been placed in custody at the Larimer County
Jail or other facility. Sets bond types and amounts and/or
holds video advisements in an efficient and appropriate
manner.
• Manages system for summoning jurors in an efficient
and appropriate way. Instructs juries on applicable law
and directs juries to deduce facts from evidence
presented.
• Imposes fines and sentences upon finding of guilt or
responsibility according to City Code, and state and
federal law. Designs and implements appropriate and
creative penalties. Enforces penalties consistently,
6
• Encourages innovation, identifies the need for change,
• Develops Court budget for submittal to City Council
through the City Manager’s Office, following established
guidelines and reflecting City goals where appropriate.
Reviews expenditures periodically with the Court
Administrator, identifying any variances from budgeted
amounts and setting up action plans to correct the same
when possible.
• Oversees plans and negotiations relating to long-term
office and courtroom space needs of the Municipal
Court, coordinating efforts with the City’s Operations
Services; oversees departmental structure changes and
assists in determining staffing needs; oversees
development of court computer applications.
• Prepares regular case flow and financial reports, as well
as special studies and statistical analysis when
appropriate, and uses information to make logical
changes in court systems where appropriate.
• Sets trial dockets and coordinates use of Courtroom by
other users when necessary.
• Manages the Court’s Bond (Trust) Account in accordance
with City financial and accounting standards, including
reconciling and preparing regular deposits and monthly
balancing of the account.
Liquor Licensing Authority Duties
• Acts as the local Liquor Licensing Authority for the City.
Conducts regular meetings to determine if new liquor
licenses should be granted; existing licenses should be
renewed, transferred, or granted a change of location;
manager registrations should be approved, etc.
• Reviews Motions to Suspend or Revoke licenses.
Determines, at hearing, if a violation of a liquor license
has occurred. If a violation is proven, decides what
sanction(s) shall be imposed. Reviews, at a hearing,
stipulated admissions of violations and recommended
sanctions.
• Conducts all hearings in a fair and impartial manner
consistent with the laws of the City and state. Rules on
admissibility of evidence and procedures to be followed
and makes rulings consistent with the evidence
presented.
• Works with the City Clerk’s Office to create clear and
concise formats for statistical reporting of the
Authority’s activities for use by City Council and the
public.
7
Auxiliary aids and services are available for persons with disabilities. V/TDD: 711
19-21201
Capabilities:
• Excellent communications skills – written, verbal and
interpersonal; able to exhibit presence in various settings,
tailor communication style to diverse audiences, and present
complex information in a clear, diplomatic and
understandable manner.
• Possesses ability to relate and work with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated confidence in rendering decisive, well-
founded factual findings, legal opinions and sentencing
without regard to popularity of decision.
• Demonstrated capability to work collaboratively and
effectively with employees in all city departments involved in
the liquor licensing and enforcement areas, such as the City
Clerk’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, Police Department, and
other departments as needed.
• Possesses judicial temperament with respect to
attentiveness, patience, impartiality, promptness and
courtesy.
• Confidence in making sound judgments and exhibiting
patience when dealing with stressful situations.
• Unquestionable personal integrity, character and conviction.
• Proven leadership and operational management skills.
• Experience building teams, implementing processes and
practices in an emerging leading-edge community is strongly
desired.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is
creative in ways of learning for self and others.
• Demonstrated capability in anticipating, adapting
and innovating Municipal Court practices and solutions
effectively and right-sizing them to the needs of the
organization.
Education and Experience:
• Graduation from a nationally accredited school of
law.
• Licensed member of the Colorado State Bar
Association in good standing.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative
of those that must be met by an employee to successfully
perform the essential functions of this position.
While performing the duties of this position, the
employee is regularly required to sit, climb or balance,
and talk or hear. Work location is in court room and
office environments which may involve long periods of
sitting. The employee is occasionally required to stand,
walk, and/or use hands to finger, handle or feel. The
employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to ten
pounds.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should forward cover letter and
resume to:
The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied
without regard to race, religion, gender, age (40 years or older),
national origin, color, creed, ancestry, marital status, sexual
orientation, or other characteristics protected by law.
Background Check and Drug Test Required.
Note: Some information in your application may be public
information under the Colorado Open Records Act.
• Five years legal experience. Experience in municipal
court administration and experience with criminal
law is desirable.
• Knowledge of Colorado Law, Colorado Uniform
Traffic Code, the Colorado Rules of Municipal
Procedure, and the Colorado Rules of Criminal
Procedure.
• Extensive experience as a practicing attorney.
• Spanish/English bilingual skills are desirable.
Any equivalent combination of education, training,
and experience, which would provide the required
knowledge and skills, may be considered.
according to City Code and Charter as well as state law.
• Protects and preserves the record to ensure that the City
and defendants have a record on which to appeal, if
necessary.
• Establishes, oversees, and participates in procedures to
respond quickly and appropriately to failures to appear,
pay, and/or comply with sentencing conditions.
• Periodically revises the Fine Schedule, also used for
bonding purposes, to ensure appropriate typical fine
levels for first offenses.
• Considers, and recommends to City Council for adoption
as appropriate, new or revised costs and fees to charge
in applicable cases, taking into consideration existing
costs and fees charged by this as well as other Colorado
Courts.
• Reports to and receives feedback from City Council as
requested, necessary, and appropriate to keep Council
informed of the Court’s activities while respecting proper
separation of powers.
• Recruits, selects, engages. develops and manages the
performance of the Court Administrator and staff,
Assistant Municipal Judge(s) and Municipal Court
Referee(s).
Municipal Court – Administrative Duties
• Acts as Department Head for Municipal Court
Department of the City, cooperating with the City
Manager and reporting directly to City Council.
• Ensures efficient, appropriate, and effective operation of
the Court in terms of case flow management including
on-going evaluation of pending case loads and
development and implementation of systems (both
automated and procedural) that support effective
calendar management and prompt disposition of cases.
can review. Also an online application management system giving us
access to the Master Applicant list throughout the process.
Utilizes technology, such as video interviews and social media, to
connect with potential candidates. Partnership with Polco, which allows
municipalities to collect citizen views, as an additional option for the
recruitment process.
Uses the objectives gathered from the City to create an action plan for
the selected candidate's first year of employment. Then follows up
with candidate throughout the first year of employment to ensure
continued progress, productivity and satisfaction on the part of the
candidate and the City.
Executive Summary for CoFC Executive Search Partners