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To: Honorable Members of
the City Commission
From: Arthur D. Little, Inc. - Norman Itob?rts
Subject: City Manager Search
In order to assist the City of Miami with the recrultrner.t and rcreentng
of candidates for the position of City Manager. I interviewed the Mayor
and three members of the City Commission. I will interview Commtbsioner
Plummer by telephone s},urtly. As a result of these discussions. I feel
confident that we can properly evaluate the appropriateness of the education,
experience and personality traits of in+r rested candidates. Our job, then
is to seek out and recommend from five to seven pt. rsons hu Ii, ,t .tirfy
the Mayor and Commission's criteria and who p•ovide a suitable match
with: 1) the nature and needs of the City, 2) V- roquired and desired role
for the City Manager, and 3) the Comrrniasion itself.
On the following pages, I have presented my findings regarding the Cilia
City Commission, Job of the City Manager, and the Preferred Candidate
Profile. These findings will serve to guide us in the determination of those
candidates who can most successfully perform the duties of City Manager
In Miami.
1. AfOtiT Tll> CITY
• Government
-- Charter City
- Mayor and 4-member Commission elected at large
for four• year overlapping terrns (except the Mayor
is elected every two years).
••- Commission appoints the City Clerk, City Attorney
and the Civil Service Hoard and Executive Secretary.
-- Civil Service System for most employees. Exempt
positions include City Manager and his staff. depart -
sent directors and their assistants, as well as
Commission appointed positions.
--Substantive use of Federal funds for municipal services
City Characteristics
-- Significant and crowing community involvement in
city government.
...Heterogeneous population --comprised mostly of
traditional minority corntnunitie s (approximately
5470 Latins and 25(:Mack).
r
tihvrt.toc y
•-MVlixetl housing tonditi(,:, (.<,r:;� rr Etic
e.g. for elderly).
-► Excellent recreation,r1 c nvi ru:.:; a►t.
--Good school system fir r1 l.+r,e urban
--Sprawling urb:nizatic,:i with l,rw.i,:•ct for continued
growth.
• issues and problem:
--Short-term needs:
(1) Compliance with content decree for implementation
of the City's Affirmative Action 1311n.
(2) Maintain current service level with constricting
revenue through improved productivity.
(3) Work with the private sector to expand the tax base
through commercial development.
(4) Strengthen systems for delivery of social services
and citir,an input.
(5) improve fiscal planning and control systems.
(6) Employee relations.
(?) Clarification of relationships with the Metropolitan
government.
-- Long-term and ongoing needs
(I) Improve transportation system.
(2) Strengthen core city and reduce the fl.ight to suburbs.
(3) Maintenance of independent municipality.
(4) Reduce crime.
li, AFt{tL''1, '1'f1k: CITY COMMISSION
• 11/41.-to%( r: of Cit. ,n .are issue oriented.
The COnirniLr:irrn ed n to -it it.. ethnic ::rr,; social
composition reflect tlu community being served.
• The Corntnibbiun is riot structured into cornrnitteen or assigned
responsibility tor functional areas.
• Members of the Commission want and readily accept public input.
• Commission Iviembert are energetic and devote considerable
time to their duties.
Commission Members are able to wort: together well and are
to a large extent. arc on the basic iubues arid problem
confronting the C:ity of Miami.
1lI. Ali tL1tl i i 11 [s 3011
Salary lian;e:
Vacation:
Retirement Plan:
lioepitalizationt
-- The City Manager should (in addition to Charter
requirements):
• facilitate eitipen participation
• keep Commission informed (no surprises) and
involve them in early stages of decision-t
process
• ( •.t .lull .,:. t i tet it!
�it1
be N,i:.ihie in the t.et:,:ot;;.:ty, Clough it is not necessary
to "join" civic ort•,..+ttiz.ttion
understand how to work with the federal bureaucracy
• be a generalist, and at the sa t nr time hay c a good
working knowledge of all departmental operations
• regularly review City programs for their efficiency
and .tppropri.tteflvss
treat C:omrnission members equally, while recognising
their individuality
• be able to establish and maintain good relationships
with other jurisdictions
• keep a low profile in the news media
• obtain and cxp'tud .tchlitiun-tl revenues to promote
desired program,,,, e.g. through grants
• make tou;;h personnel and fundittit decisions
• identify and develop loud !.toff
• sctr►•e it:; leader and innc:•.: •aor nut tcnc rciy "caretaker"
IV. Al10t1T A'Ci0,
Education
-- Moat Commission members feel a ILA degree is required
and a Master degree would be desirable.
-- i�ublic administration or a related field was mentioned as
a desirable area of training.
--Most Commissioners prefer candidates show evidence of
continued education beyond college and development, e.g.
through participation in formal training and/or professional
a s so(_ i.t gun 5.
Experience
-- Commissioners generally agree that extensive experience
in large general purpose local government is required as
either a chief executive or ;senior department head.
—Stable employment record with progressive growth.
--Some Commissioners feel a knowledge of Florida, and
specifically Miami, would be helpful, though this is not
to preclude a national search.
-- Dcmonetrated ability to administer human services programs.
--Proven ability to work with other government agencies.
--Served in metropolitan community with large minority
population.
-- Labor-management relations.
--Fiscal planning; and coal rot, e.g. holding the line on tax rate.
Personal Qualities
-- Honest and truthful
-- Patient
--Open and candid
-• Forceful and direct
•-Reasonable and fair
-- Accept responsibility
....Sensitive to people awl different cultural 1►.4el:ground's
--Maturity (probably fottnd in a person betwe vn 35-50)
—Warm, friendly, r►ut:oink
--Decisive
--Able to delegate work
--Identifiers and de clop-: good staff
--Soft 'Talton. personality
-Willing to evt. in . olvvd and be a part of the community
--Active in professional :rsociafioni:
--Stable felt a family might be an indicator)
-- Conrnittc•d to an itidt•i.vndent municipality
•
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-- Ability to speak Spanish would be helpful
-- Able to ri late well with the media
--} tcilitate teamwork among City departrntntg (orchestrates
departmental operations)
-- Will not get overly committed to the existing by:+tcnl
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