Discussion Regarding the Economic Development Manager Position

The purpose of this case is to summarize the Economic Development Manager recruitment efforts thus far and to identify a future course of action regarding this position. 

As the City Council is aware, staff recently went through two recruitment and interview processes in an effort to seek an exceptional economic development professional, the details of which are summarized below:

• Initially, the application period ran from  February 20, 2013 through March 13, 2013
• The City received fourteen applications
• Six interviews were scheduled, one applicant withdrew, five interviews were held, followed by three finalist interviews
   
• Subsequently, the application period was extended beginning May 17, 2013 through June 19, 2013
• The City received eight applications (three of which were new applications and five were duplicate applications received during the first application period)
• Two applicants were interviewed which did not result in a finalist

Advertising efforts were conducted via the following sources:

• League of Minnesota Cities
• Star and Tribune Online - Business/Management/Marketing/Government, as well as outreach to diversity organizations
• MinnesotaWorks.Net
• E.D.A.M. - Economic Development Association of Minnesota
• N.A.H.R.O. - National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials
• City of Ramsey website (Employment and In the News)
• City of Ramsey employment email notifications (approximately 2500 subscribers)
• Community Sign on Highway 10
• QCTV Cable Television
• “TUG” list serve (To HR professionals in Metro to pass along)
• In house email sent to employees to pass along to potential applicants
• Emails sent to the City's Firefighters and Reserve Officers

Wages/Position Description:

The Economic Development Manager position was advertised with full pay scale ($67,753 to $84,690 D.O.Q.)  which is the top pay for this type of position (without supervisory responsibilities) in comparably sized cities.   The salary range is equal to that of the previous "Economic Development and Marketing Manager" position.  However, the current position description was modified to include regular support from other  key staff, less emphasis on marketing, albeit more emphasis on real estate transactions.

Going forward, (option #1 below) the City Council may choose to direct staff to utilize the professional services of Springsted Incorporated, a professional search firm.  Springsted Incorporated comes highly recommended and was the firm selected to conduct the recent QCTV Executive Director search. If so directed, Springsted would develop a profile and job announcement for the position, develop a recruitment strategy and provide outreach to prospective candidates.  They would emphasize the great sense of opportunity this position offers, to market the City's "A New Day -- A New Beginning" as a economic development platform which could provide an economic development professional a chance to really shine in the economic development arena; especially with regard to the COR; as well as to reach out-of-state talent.

Option 1: Continue recruitment efforts by utilizing the professional services of Springsted Incorporated, clarifying the role of this position, developing a profile and job announcement for the position, developing a recruitment strategy and providing outreach to prospective candidates. As part of this effort, staff would recommend some slight revisions to the Position Description that focus on the management of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority's (HRA) real estate assets in the position's role as HRA Executive Director, while clarifying the many of the housing-related functions that apply citywide (non-real estate transaction related) are currently managed by the Community Development Department.

Option 2: Continue recruitment efforts as described in option #1, to the best of the City's internal abilities and resources, without the assistance of Springsted. This could include a revision to the Position Description related to housing activities as noted in Option #1.

Option 3: Discontinue all recruitment efforts until February or March of 2014; which may allow time for the market to refresh, producing a more viable applicant pool.

Option 4: Direct staff to draft a proposal to fill the role of the economic development manager internally; which would include utilizing brokers to market properties and hiring an employee(s) to back fill. This could include a revision to the Position Description related to housing activities as noted in Option #1.

The City Council could also choose to consider elements and combinations of the four (4) options above.

Staff recommends Option 1 above.

Option #1:  The funding required to utilize the search firm is estimated to be $3800 to $6800 (see page 3 of attachment) and would be funded through the salary savings of the unfilled Economic Development Manager position. 

Options #2-4:  The funding required for options 2-4 is yet to be determined, based on discussion.

Approve Option 1, based upon discussion, to continue recruitment efforts by utilizing the professional services of Springsted Incorporated, clarifying the role of this position, developing a profile and job announcement for the position, developing a recruitment strategy and providing outreach to prospective candidates.