REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Appointment of the City Manager and Approve the Employment Agreement
Report
BACKGROUND
The City Council started a City Manager recruitment and selection process in March 2024 to replace retiring City Manager, Kent Steffens. The process has now concluded, and the City Council is asked: 1) to take action on the appointment of a specific City Manager candidate, and 2) to approve an employment agreement for services, which outlines the compensation and terms of employment.
EXISTING POLICY
The City of Sunnyvale City Charter Section 800 requires the City Council to appoint a City Manager. Entering into a contract that specifies the City Manager compensation and terms of employment is consistent with City of Sunnyvale Charter Sections 800 and 801.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Appointment of a City Manager is not a "project" with the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
DISCUSSION
The City Council retained Peckham & McKenney to manage the recruitment and selection process for the City Manager position. The application deadline was June 17, 2024, and the most qualified candidates went through a series of interviews with City Council, bargaining unit representatives, Executive Leadership, and members of the community on July 18, 2024, with final interviews conducted on July 19, 2024. From this selection process the City Council moved forward with reference and background checks for a current City employee, Tim Kirby.
Discussions regarding terms and conditions of employment were completed with the final candidate resulting in the attached employment agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
The budget for the City Manager position is in the operating program for the City Manager's Office, which is sufficient to cover the compensation...
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