Bellflower City Council
November 13, 2023

TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council

FROM: Karl H. Berger, City Attorney

SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to authorize the Mayor to execute a three-year Employment Agreement (Agreement File No. 1020) with Mr. Ryan Smoot, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for City Manager services. Fiscal impacts include, without limitation, a (1) base compensation for a total of $271,000 beginning January 1, 2024; (2) vehicle allowance of $600 per month; (3) deferred compensation at the maximum IRS amount; and (4) medical, disability, and other fringe benefits including, without limitation, CalPERS retirement benefits. The total compensation package is approximately $408,000.

DATE: November 13, 2023

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Upon direction from the City Council, the City Attorney negotiated provisions for a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Ryan Smoot.

A summary of this contract (see Attachment B) includes:

 A base salary of $271,000 beginning January 1, 2024;

 $600 a month car allowance;

 Deferred compensation up to the IRS maximum; and

 Substantially similar benefits (health, leave times, etc.) as other executive management employees.

RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL

It is recommended that the City Council:

1) Authorize the Mayor to execute Agreement File No. 1020 with Mr. Ryan Smoot, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and

2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item. -1-

Staff Report – City Manager Contract – Ryan Smoot
November 13, 2023

BACKGROUND

Ryan Smoot first worked for the City of Bellflower in 2009 as a Management Assistant.

After a two-year hiatus – during which time he worked for the City of Villa Park as the Assistant to the City Manager – he returned to Bellflower in 2013. Between 2013 and 2016, Mr. Smoot served as the Assistant to the City Manager and (at the same time) the Acting Economic Development Manager.

In 2016, Mr. Smoot was selected by the City of Lomita as City Manager. With the impending retirement of City Manager Jeff Stewart in Bellflower, the City Council interviewed Mr. Smoot as a potential successor. After brief negotiations, Mr. Smoot agreed to become the City of Bellflower’s 14th City Manager. A complete list of the City’s administrators and managers since incorporation is attached for reference.

The draft Employment Agreement with Mr. Smoot includes a three-year term and a base salary of $271,000. Additionally, the Employment Agreement pays a vehicle allowance ($600); vacation (160 hours credited on January 1, 2024; 80 hours of vacation may be cashed out); sick leave (160 hours credited on January 1, 2024); deferred compensation at the IRS maximum (approximately $22,500 per year); and substantially similar benefits as the City’s executive managers. In total, the Employment Agreement will compensate Mr. Smoot approximately $408,000 per year.

A comprehensive resume and cover letter from Mr. Smoot are attached for reference.

If the City Council authorizes the Mayor to execute the Employment Agreement, Mr. Smoot would begin January 2, 2024.

ATTACHMENTS

A. Cover letter and resume
B. City Manager Three Year Employment Agreement – 2024-27 C. Historical City Manager List
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Honorable Mayor and
Members of the Bellflower City Council
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
Mr. Mayor and Members of the City Council:

I appreciate the opportunity to discuss your search for the next City Manager for the City of Bellflower. As you are aware, I began my career volunteering in Bellflower, and have had the privilege of serving the City of Bellflower in various capacities in the past. It would be my distinct pleasure to serve the community again as its City Manager. I trust that you will find that the experience I have gained in economic development, project delivery and organizational management makes me the ideal candidate to continue Bellflower’s progress and help you to push the community even further toward its incredible potential.

Bellflower has seen tremendous progress in recent years toward building Downtown Bellflower into the core of the community –developing and supporting its small business, planning and bringing to life new events and programs for the community, expanding and rethinking its park spaces and continually pushing positive and strategic growth that has set the community on a renewed path forward. It has been exciting to watch the efforts begun during my previous service in the City come to life over the course of my time serving in Lomita. I believe that much of the success I have seen in Lomita can be directly attributed to the lessons, skills, and knowledge instilled in me from Bellflower.

In my time serving as the City Manager in Lomita, I am proud that I have been able to help the City invest in their critical infrastructure – especially the City’s water system -and help to ensure the City has a reliable local source of drinking water for decades to come.

And, in my time here, I have been able to reshape and modernize the City organization, bring new and vibrant businesses to the community, and bolster the City’s annual revenues to rebuild a strong financial base. I am also particularly proud that I have helped the City to develop and fine tune their communications efforts through transparency and consistent engagement with residents in some of their most controversial areas. Through these efforts, we have been able to build trust in the community and develop a positive, forward-thinking image for the future of the City. Much of our efforts in Lomita have focused on meeting the challenges placed on us by the State to build more housing, but doing so in a manner that supports and builds the economic base of the community without sacrificing it’s small-town character. We were one of the first cities in the South Bay to receive certification for our Housing Element and it is serving as the basis for a full update to our General Plan that will set a vision for the next 20-30 years of Lomita’s future.

I am quite proud of the progress we have made in Lomita, and the team I have built, but I am ready to take on a new challenge. The opportunity to return to Bellflower and continue and drive forward the progress of a community so close to my heart is exciting to me, and I look forward to helping Bellflower find and build its next chapters. -4-

On a personal note, during my time away from Bellflower, my wife and I have added to our family –we now have two daughters (10 and 4 years old) and being closer to home and maintaining the opportunity to support them in their growth and education is important to me. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to discuss the future of Bellflower with you.

Of course, if I can answer any questions or provide any additional context, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you again for your consideration,
Ryan Smoot
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Ryan C. Smoot

EDUCATION
California State University Long Beach
ƒ Master of Public Administration, 2015

California State University Long Beach
ƒ Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 2007

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Feb. 2016 – Present The City of Lomita
(Pop. 20,000)
California
City Manager

Effectively Manage the day-to-day operations of the City organization in accordance with City Council policy direction. I maintain an open-door policy and interact directly and frequently with the Mayor and each member of the City Council, as well as with residents, community leaders and other members of the City team. I take a proactive and personal approach toward implementing the City Council’s vision for the community. I am required to be a true generalist and strategic problem solver capable of taking difficult and decisive action to benefit the residents and taxpayers on a daily basis.

Management and Supervisory Responsibility:
ƒ Maintain an open, fair and decisive management style to build trust and boost morale within the organization and build a culture of support and cooperation around “Team Lomita.”
ƒ Manage a full and part-time staff of approximately 95 employees and an annual General Fund budget of Approx. $15 million ($37 million across all funds). ƒ Build strong working relationships with the City’s bargaining units, and successfully negotiate and manage multiple labor agreements including implementation of the City’s first complete Classification and Compensation program review. ƒ During 7-year+ tenure, recruited and supported 5 new Department Directors (all of the City’s Director level positions) – Administrative Services, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Community and Economic Development, as well as multiple Captain selections with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and built a strong and supportive team of dedicated professionals.
ƒ Successfully and seamlessly reorganized the City’s departmental structure to better focus on Council priorities and produce operational savings. ƒ Expanded the City’s economic development and business outreach programs, and water and streets infrastructure investment.
ƒ Established regular City Council goal setting sessions to review progress, establish clear paths to accomplish goals, and ensure the organization maintains its forward- thinking focus.
ƒ Implemented and managed proactive, multi-faceted public outreach and communications programs to improve residents’ perceptions and understanding of the Lomita Water System.
ƒ Managed Lomita’s participation in a coordinated multi-agency response to the “Skypark Commercial Properties” groundwater contamination plume migrating into Lomita from neighboring Torrance industrial areas.
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Professional Resume of Ryan C. Smoot

ƒ Maintained strong and effective working relationships with the City’s contract service providers to ensure seamless service delivery.

Budgeting and Financial Management:
ƒ Increased annual citywide revenues from approximately $16 million to more than $30 million over the last 7 years.
ƒ Successfully managed a voter approved local revenue measure (3/4 cent local sales and use tax) more than doubling the City’s sales tax revenues. ƒ Refinanced the City’s outstanding water system bond obligations (in 2016) to a private placement freeing up more than $500,000 in dedicated funding and saving an additional $35,000 annually.
ƒ Refinanced the outstanding debt obligations a second time (in 2018) for an additional savings of more than $370,000 beyond the original refunding. ƒ Spearheaded a plan to pay off the City’s Side Fund obligations with CalPERS saving the City more than $500,000.
ƒ Negotiated with employee groups to share in unfunded pension obligations over time.
ƒ Successfully managed application for and receipt of FEMA Emergency Management grants for water line replacements ($1.7 Million) and Emergency Operations program updates
ƒ Negotiated and managed a $2 Million Grant through Water Replenishment District to upgrade the City’s Water Production Facility and funded the entire $5.3 million project without the use of City funds.
ƒ Managed multiple State and federal grant applications across the City’s project areas totaling more than $12 Million in external funding for City Council priority projects. ƒ Automated several city processes to ensure effective cost recovery and improve resident and developer interactions with the City.
ƒ Replaced the City’s outdated Enterprise Resource Planning and Financial Management systems with easily navigable cloud-based services.

Community and Economic Development and Infrastructure:
ƒ Established annual slurry seal and street improvement programs significantly improving the City’s overall Pavement Condition Index.
ƒ Completed multiple annual pipeline replacements and water infrastructure upgrades projects throughout the City.
ƒ Completed the City’s first Downtown Vision and Revitalization Strategy to focus economic development efforts into the City’s downtown core, and attracted and supported multiple new small business and residential developments in the downtown area.
ƒ Developed and implemented coordinated public outreach and communications strategy to reshape perceptions of Lomita and its Downtown both to our residents and to potential business interests.
ƒ Developed and managed Business recovery programs including Job Creation and Business Incentive Programs, Façade Improvement programs, and Business Marketing and Outreach programs.
ƒ Oversaw the negotiations and approvals of development agreements, specific plans, and other tools to facilitate the redevelopment of multiple land uses to mixed use development and market rate housing projects.
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Professional Resume of Ryan C. Smoot

ƒ Partnered with the Lomita Chamber of Commerce to deliver the City’s first and subsequently annual Lomita Lemonade Day Program to build and encourage entrepreneurialism in local youth and won national recognition ƒ Partnered with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation for regional economic development and received nomination for Lomita as a finalist for 2022 “Most Business-Friendly City in Los Angeles County.” ƒ Managed the development and secured State approval for the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element.
ƒ Began the (on-going) multi-year process of updating the City’s complete General Plan (last updated in 1998)
ƒ Managed the initial (on-going) phases of the conversion of the Lomita Housing Authority properties to Rental Assistance Demonstration including private financing and redevelopment using federal tax credits.

Aug. 2013 - Feb. 2016 The City of Bellflower
(Pop. 77,000)
California

April 2015 - Feb. 2016 - Acting Economic Development Manager (Serving two roles)

ƒ In the absence of a Director and permanent Manager, planned and oversaw the daily functions, operations, and activities of the City’s Economic Development Department to promote business development, retention, expansion, and job creation. ƒ Coordinated multiple projects to support the implementation of Bellflower’s Downtown revitalization plans.
ƒ Assisted in the negotiation of multi-party purchase, sales, and lease agreements between developers and business interests, the City and Redevelopment (Successor) Agency, and other governmental agencies.
ƒ Coordinated Successor Agency and Oversight Board activities and the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency.
ƒ Managed outreach to businesses potentially interested in locating or relocating to the community; supported recruitment efforts to attract businesses that meet the City’s goals; assisted businesses by expediting local permit approvals. ƒ Managed the activities of the City’s Temporary Utility User Tax Oversight Board ƒ Developed, planned, coordinated, and implemented a variety of economic development programs and activities tailored to serve the needs of local businesses and residents.

Aug. 2013 – Feb. 2016 – Assistant to the City Manager

ƒ Managed legislative affairs including monitoring, and advocating for City positions, tracking progress of legislation, and coordination with federal, State and local representatives.
ƒ Managed media contact and outreach, and acted as the City’s Public Information Officer. ƒ Managed the development of the City’s web and social media content, coordinated the creation and deployment of the City’s mobile app.
ƒ Prepared and managed contracts and agreements for contracted services, public affairs, legislative advocacy, and many others.
ƒ Acted as the City Manager’s representative to the Municipal Water System advisory board. -8-

Professional Resume of Ryan C. Smoot

ƒ Assisted in the negotiation of labor agreements with the City’s various bargaining units. ƒ Drafted policies, procedures, ordinances and resolutions as necessary for consideration by the City Council or other boards and commissions.
ƒ Assisted in Human Resources processes including recruitments, benefits surveys, grievance procedures, and negotiations.
ƒ Provided technical and confidential support to the City Manager and City Council as needed for new and ongoing programs and projects.

June 2011 – Aug. 2013 The City of Villa Park
(Pop. 6,000)
California
Assistant to the City Manager

ƒ Managed the City's Community Preservation and Code Enforcement programs. ƒ Managed the City's Emergency Operations and CERT programs. ƒ Managed the City's cable access television channel programming and operations, and managed the City's website and digital communications.
ƒ Prepared and managed grant applications and programs for City infrastructure and planning projects.
ƒ Prepared and present capital and operational programs and services to the City Council and various boards.
ƒ Managed contracts and agreements for City services with outside vendors. ƒ Oversaw the City's Investment Advisory Committee, City Schools Committee, Community Development Committee, 50th Anniversary Committee, Towne Centre Committee and others.
ƒ Assisted in the development and presentation of the City's Annual Budget and CAFR ƒ Assisted residents, business owners and contractors with zoning and permitting approval processes.

Dec. 2009 – June 2011 The City of Bellflower
(Pop. 79,000)
California
Management Assistant

ƒ Monitored State and federal legislation for potential effects to the City and provide regular reporting to the City Manager and City Council. Recommended actions and managed correspondence to legislators, the League of California Cities, California Contract Cities Association and other advocacy groups.
ƒ Assisted in the response to Bellflower’s Fiscal Emergency and the preparation of a local revenue measure to support City Services. Managed responses to public inquiries and coordinated educational and informational meetings between the City Officials and citizen groups.
ƒ Prepared and managed grant applications and project management activities. ƒ Prepared and evaluated environmental reports and draft documents related to CEQA and NEPA for proposed development and public works projects.

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Professional Resume of Ryan C. Smoot

PROFESSIONAL Affiliations and memberships

ƒ International City and County Management Association (ICMA) ƒ California City Management Foundation
ƒ Treasurer (2017-2020), South Bay Cites Council of Governments City Manager’s Association
ƒ Chair, City Managers’ Committee (2021-22), California Contract Cities Association ƒ CCCA L.A. County Sheriff Master Law Enforcement Services City Managers’ Working Group

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