Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Administrative Services

TO:	Mike Wildgen, City Manager
FROM:	Frank S. Reeb, Administrative Services Director/City Clerk
CC:	Craig Weinaug, County Administrator Dave Corliss, Assistant City Manager/Director of Legal Services Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager
Date:	January 19, 2005
RE:	Authorize agreement with Slavin Management Consultants for Planning Director Search

In early December City staff issued a Request for Proposals for professional services to perform executive search services for the position of Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Director.  During that same time period staff worked with the County Administrator to review and update the Planning Director job description and to seek input in the RFP process.  Staff has completed that request for proposal process and, as more fully described below, staff recommends contracting with Slavin Management Consultants (“SMC”), of Norcross, Georgia for such executive search services. 

Staff received five responses to the request for proposals.  Those responses were reviewed based on several criteria, including: the firm’s capability to perform all aspects of the search process; familiarity with best practices in the executive search process; experience in executive search services for municipal organizations; and the proposed cost of services.  Following a review of all criteria by the City Manager, the County Administrator, and myself, and following phone interviews with Robert Slavin and representatives of Waters-Oldani, the other finalist, SMC was the overall first choice.     

While there were several factors that separated SMC from the others, among the most important was the fact that Robert Slavin himself would be the Project Manager and would work directly with the City and County on this project.  Mr. Slavin has significant public sector executive search experience and specifically in the search for Planning Director positions, including: City of Austin, Tx., Escambia County, Fl., City of Santa Monica, Ca., Monterey County, Ca., and Topeka, Kansas (Community Development Director).  Most recently, Mr. Slavin and SMC assisted the City of Topeka with the recruitment and selection of its first City Manager.  In addition, based on the written proposal and the subsequent telephone interview, Mr. Slavin clearly understood the uniqueness of this position with its joint City/County responsibilities. 

As for the cost of services, $13,640 plus expenses, while we received proposals with lesser fees (and higher fees), when considering the experience, and thoroughness of the overall project plan, SMC’s cost proposal is very competitive. A copy of the breakdown of project costs is listed on page 8 of the attached proposal from SMC.  The County Administrator concurs with this recommendation.  The County Administrator will recommend to the County Commission that the County will pay 50% of the costs of this search.  The County Commission will consider this recommendation on January 25^th. 

Recommendation:  Based on the information provided above, staff recommends that the City Commission authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Slavin Management Consultants for executive search services in an amount not to exceed $13,640 plus expenses.