01-20-2004 - Selection of Executive Search Firm for Fire Chief Recruitment• City of West Covina
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. B-6i
DATE: January 20, 2004
TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager and
City Council
FROM: Artie Fields, Assistant City Manager/Interim
Human Resources Director
SUBJECT: SELECTION OF EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM FOR FIRE CHIEF
RECRUITMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Approve an agreement with Wilcox Miller & Nelson to conduct a Nationwide search for
a new Fire Chief at a cost not to exceed $14,000; and .
2. Appropriate $14,000 from the General Fund Balance to account 110-320-2560-6117 for
the contract with Wilcox Miller & Nelson; and
3. Appropriate $4,500 from the General Fund balance to account 110-320-2560-6170' for
advertisements.
DISCUSSION:
Fire Chief, Richard Greene, retired from the City in December 2003. As a result, it is imperative
that the City begin the process of selecting a new Fire Chief in order to ensure that a permanent
Fire Chief is.hired in a timely manner. Currently, Chief Jim Ballard, is serving as Interim Fire
Chief.
The City requested quotes from three well-known California executive search firms to conduct
the recruitment of the new Fire Chief. During the December 2, 2003 meeting, concerns were
expressed regarding the cost and the need to conduct a national search. For these reasons, the
City Council carried this item over to the December 9, 2003 Special City Council Meeting. At
the Special City Council meeting of December 9, 2003, the City Manager requested that this item
be held over to a future meeting.
At the December 2, 2003 City Council meeting, the Mayor specifically requested that staff: 1)
Find out if the scope could be reduced in order to lower the costs, 2) Present the revised quotes
from all three executive search firms, and 3) Present the cost for both a state and national search.
In order to save travel costs, the revised scope of services does not include costs to do on -site
interviews of out-of-state candidates. Alternatively, all search firms submitted proposals that
included interviewing any out-of-state candidate by telephone. As a result of this change, each
firm determined that there would be no cost difference in a state vs. national search. The tables
below reflect the reduced quotes from all three executive search firms:
Nation or Statewide Recruitment:
$14,000
Wilcox Miller & Nelson
Bob Murray& Associates
$19,500
Maximus
$20,000
*City will coordinate and pay for advertisements. Estimated cost for Ads is $4,500.
As a result of a comprehensive review of the background and experience of each recruitment
firm, staff believes that all three are more than capable of providing the services needed to
conduct the recruitment of the Fire Chief.
Im
Fire Chief Recruitment
January 20,2004
It should be noted that telephone interviews will be conducted for preliminary interviews with
out-of-state candidates to reduce costs.
Cities commonly utilize the services of an outside recruitment firm for numerous reasons. Such
as, their expertise that comes with conducting numerous searches, and the familiarity with the
personal characteristics, experience, and knowledge that a successful candidate possesses. In
addition, executive search firms often have contacts with qualified candidates and are able to
utilize their relationships to encourage those who best meet the needs of the City to apply for the
position in question.
Although City staff has the expertise to conduct an executive search, the timing of this
recruitment is such that it conflicts with a number of other major projects that the Human
Resources Department is working on, which primarily include negotiations with the Police and
Fire employee associations, review and consideration of selecting an alternative health provider
for the City, and implementation of FLSA audit results.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Hire the lowest bidder (Wilcox Miller and Nelson) at $14,500; or
2. Hire one of the two other firms; or
3. Direct staff to send out another RFP for recruitment services; or
4. Reduce the scope of services being provided; or
5. Direct staff to conduct the entire recruitment in-house.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has received a quote from Wilcox Miller & Nelson to conduct a national recruitment for
the Fire Chief position at a cost of $14,000. Funds for this recruitment were not included in the
Human Resources Budget and will require an appropriation from the General Fund Balance to
account 110-320-2560-6117. Staff is also requesting that the City Council approve, an
appropriation of $4,500 to account 110-320-2560-6170 to pay for advertisements.
Prepared by:
Artie A. Fps
Assistant City Manager
Personnel.fire chief recruitment staff report 1-20-04