Billings, Montana City Code (BMCC), Section 4.01. City Administrator; Employment, Compensation, Qualifications, requires the City Council to employ a City Administrator on the basis of merit for an indefinite term. The Administrator shall not be the Mayor or a Councilmember at the time of employment and need not be a resident of the City or state at the time of employment.

The current City Administrator's contract expires September 30, 2017, and the Administrator has indicated the intent to retire, rather than renew the contract. At the January 23, 2017, Business Session, the Council created an initiative to create an ad-hoc Council advisory committee under BMCC Sec. 2-224, Ad hoc Council advisory committee.

City Council may:

• Appoint a committee to begin the selection process of hiring a new City Administrator; or
• Postpone the process slightly.

The cost of hiring a search firm would occur primarily in Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) and would require a budget amendment. The recruitment and relocation of a City Administrator could be budgeted in the FY18 budget.

Staff recommends approving the resolution creating an ad-hoc Council advisory committee for the City Administrator selection process and select its committee members.