AGENDA
ITEM
20 AGENDA
CALEXICO California ITEM
WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
20 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 5, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Juan Contreras, Acting City Manager Go
REVIEWED BY: Karta Chaparo, Finance Director Le
PREPARED BY: Juan Contreras, Acting City Manager Ae
SUBJECT: Approve the Proposal in the Amount of $27,500 from Bob Hall & Associates for City Manager Recruitment Services.
===========================
Recommendation:
Approve the Proposal in the amount of $27,500 from Bob Hall & Associates for the City Manager Recruitment services.
Background:
The City of Calexico seeks to identify and recruit a qualified candidate for the City Manager position.
This critical recruitment requires a specialized approach to ensure the selection of a candidate with the skills, leadership qualities, and vision necessary to meet the City's needs.
Bob Hall & Associates has submitted a proposal outlining their process and qualifications to assist the city in achieving this goal. The firm has extensive experience in executive recruitment, particularly in municipal government. Over the past 48 months, Bob Hall & Associates has conducted more than 90 recruitments throughout California.
Discussion and Analysis:
Recruiting:
Bob Hall & Associates proposes a comprehensive recruitment process, which includes the following phases:
1. Position Profile Creation:
• Meeting with City officials to develop search strategy, communication preferences, and project timeline.
• Collaborating with the City to define the ideal candidate profile based on organizational needs.
• Maintaining consistent communication throughout the recruitment process.
2. Outreach and Recruiting:
• Developing job announcement and marketing materials, with advertisements on platforms such as Public CEO, ICMA, GovernmentJobs.com, Western City Magazine, LinkedIn, and others.
• Actively identifying and engaging qualified candidates through personal outreach and networking.
3. Candidate Assessment:
• Conducting detailed evaluations of applications, focusing on professional experience, organizational size, and other criteria.
• Performing background research and preliminary interviews with top candidates via phone, video, or in-person meetings.
4. Selection and Presentation of Top Candidates:
• Presenting the most qualified candidates to the city, along with comprehensive work histories and other relevant information.
• Assisting the City in selecting and scheduling interviews with finalists.
5. Negotiations:
Supporting the City in negotiating the selected candidate's compensation package.
6. Close Out:
Finalizing the process, notifying unsuccessful candidates, and assisting with a seamless transition.
Conclusion:
Bob Hall & Associates offers a tailored and professional approach to the recruitment of the City Manager position. Their extensive experience, personalized service, and comprehensive process make them an ideal partner for this critical hiring effort.
Fiscal Impact:
The fee for the comprehensive recruitment process is $27,500, with expenses capped at $30,500. This fee includes advertising, printing, four in-person visits to the city, and unlimited virtual meetings.
Additional trips are billed at $900 per trip. The fee also covers DMV, civil, criminal background, and credit checks for top candidates.
Payment Schedule:
• Upon execution of the agreement: $10,000
• Following the presentation of candidates: $9,500
• Upon acceptance of an offer: $8,000
2 Optional Services:
Bob Hall & Associates offers a "Roles and Goals Workshop" for $2,500 to assist with the new City Manager's transition and ensure alignment with Council expectations.
Timeline and City Support Requirements:
The proposed timeline will be customized based on the City's preferences. Bob Hall & Associates requests the following from the city:
• A draft job description and legal guidelines.
• High-resolution photography and City branding materials. • Timely feedback on marketing materials.
• Coordination with City staff for logistics.
The total cost of the recruitment process will not exceed $30,500. Funds are available in the City's budget for executive recruitment services.
Coordinated With:
Acting City Manager
Attachments:
1.. Proposal from Bob Hall & Associates
3 ATTACHMENT NO. 1
BH
Bob Hall & Associates
January 27, 2025
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council:
Bob Hall & Associates is pleased to submit this proposal to conduct the recruitment for the position of City Manager for the City of Calexico.
If selected, Kristine Ridge will be the point of contact and lead project director for this search. Kristine, the former City Manager of the City of Santa Ana and Laguna Niguel will provide substantial knowledge and experience that will help the City of Calexico find a candidate that fits the ideal criteria for the position. Having both served as a City Manager makes Kristine uniquely qualified to understand the issues and challenges facing Calexico.
Recent recruitments by Bob Hall & Associates team includes the Cities of Imperial, Shafter, • Tracy, Winters, Vallejo, San Luis Obispo, Calistoga, Suisun City, San Clemente, Lakeport, and Vallejo.
Bob Hall & Associates' network encompasses a strong talent pool and will add the personal, individualized attention that each search requires. Attached is a summary of the search process and the services that the Bob Hall & Associates team is willing and able to offer the City of Calexico.
For more information or clarification, do not hesitate to contact Rachel Hall at (714) 625- 5896 or by email at [email protected]. We appreciate the opportunity to be considered to aid in the search for the City Manager vacancy. Should you select our team, we are prepared to proceed immediately.
Sincerely,
Pachettall
Rachel Hall
www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Executive Summary
We are excited to submit our proposal to the City of Calexico for the opportunity to assist with the identification and recruitment for the City Manager position. The Bob Hall & Associates team is well connected with a keen knowledge of talent and is prepared to offer a strong pool of top candidates. At Bob Hall & Associates, we pride ourselves in adding a personal, individualized touch to each recruiting search. In the last 48 months, the Bob Hall & Associates team has conducted more than 90 recruitments across the state of California.
We provide an alternative to the large recruitment firms while providing excellent customer service focused specifically on our clients' needs to ensure we meet or exceed their expectations on every recruitment. Our individualized service helps target candidates who are equipped to specific needs within the region. We do not stray from a challenge and thrive in filling the tough to find positions at all levels throughout the organization. Our work ethic and desire to help our clients succeed is second to none. Given the structure of our firm, we have the ability to adjust our processes to fit the specific needs of our customers, whether it is recruitment timeline, outreach strategies, or even interview structures.
The Bob Hall & Associates team brings hundreds of years of experience in municipal government and leadership. The late founder, Bob Hall, served as City Manager for Fountain Valley, Laguna Niguel, and Stanton. His prior City Manager experience gave him a unique perspective on the recruiting process. His first-hand knowledge of the talent it takes to build a high-performance operation is what he inspired in each of his recruitments and is still the core principle of Bob Hall & Associates team today. The Bob Hall & Associates team has a wide variety of experience throughout municipal organizations and provides a strong understanding of the diverse needs throughout the City. www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
The Team and Recent Placements
Our City Manager Recruitment Team
Kristine Ridge
Executive Recruiter
Kristine has a 34-year distinguished public service career with the last 24 years in multiple high level positions with the Cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim and Laguna Niguel. Over her vast career she demonstrated a talent for creating solutions for complex municipal challenges. Kristine has worn different hats within her career with appointments including City Auditor, Finance Director, Human Resources Director, Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager and City Manager. She most recently retired from her position of City Manager for the City of Santa Ana. Prior to that she held the position of City Manager in Laguna Niguel and Assistant City Manager in the City of Anaheim. She received her Undergraduate Degree in Accounting and began her career in auditing as a CPA for the State of Arizona Auditor General's Office. Later she relocated to California and began what would become a very rewarding career in municipal government while receiving a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University. Over the years she developed a passion for mentoring others to better serve the public. She was also active in many professional associations and served on a number of boards.
Joe Gorton
Executive Recruiter
Joe Gorton is the former City Manager of the City of San Ramon, California, for over six years. Joe managed an operating budget of approximately eighty million dollars and a thirty-million-dollar capital budget in the city of 85,000 residents. Joe has over 35 years of experience in local government.
Joe started his career in law enforcement at the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and later transferred to the San Ramon Police Department when the City Council voted to form their own police department after years of contracting police service with the Sheriff's Office. Joe ultimately ascended the ranks to the Chief of Police for the San Ramon Police Department. Joe has over twenty-eight years of experience in law enforcement. One of the highlights of Joes career was being selected as the second in command of the newly formed San Ramon Police Department and put in charge of its creation from the ground up. Joe was tasked with leading the transition team and was instrumental in the formation of the department. The transition team's primary task was hiring fifty-six sworn police officers and several civilian staff members.
This endeavor entailed creating comprehensive background checks, training, and orientation of new employees.
www.bobhallandassociates.com / (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Dr. Marcella Marlowe
Executive Recruiter
Marcella Marlowe has over 25 years of public sector municipal experience, having most recently served as City Manager for the City of San Marino from October 2017 to November 2022. Prior to San Marino, she was the Assistant City Manager for the City of San Gabriel for six-and-a-half years and, before that, Dr. Marlowe served as the Human Resources Manager for the City of Duarte, the only person to ever hold that position there. She started her career with the City of Calabasas as a human resources generalist, and spent two years with the City of Phoenix, AZ, specializing in classification & compensation and benefits administration. (
Dr. Marlowe is a devoted Trojan, having received all of her degrees from the University of Southern California: B.A. in Classical Greek Civilization, M.A. in Political Science, and Ph.D. in Political Science. In addition, she holds a senior adjunct professor appointment with the University of La Verne's College of Law and Public Service, having also taught at Cal State Fullerton's Department of Political Science and USC's Sol Price School of Public Policy as an Adjunct Associate Professor. She is the author of Jurisprudential Regimes: The Supreme Court, Civil Rights, and the Life Cycle of Judicial Doctrine, published in 2011.
Rachel Hall
Owner
Rachel Hall is the co-founder and owner of Bob Hall & Associates, established in 2019 alongside her father, Bob Hall. With a passion for connecting talented individuals with their ideal career opportunities, she has helped build a firm that prioritizes exceptional customer service and personalized recruitment solutions. Rachel's innovative approach and dedication to understanding the unique needs of each organization have been pivotal in the firm's growth and success.
Paying homage to her late father's passion to serve, Rachel is dedicated to empowering organizations to build high- performing teams. Under her leadership, Bob Hall & Associates continues to thrive as a trusted partner for local government agencies seeking top talent.
Rachel has a Master's in Business Administration and Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the University of Arizona. Prior to Bob Hall & Associates, Rachel worked in several capacities in municipal government. Proficient in tools such as Adobe Suite, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and NeoGov, Rachel ensures a streamlined and efficient process that meets the unique needs of our clients. www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Recent Recruitments
City Manager - Suisun City Chief of Police - Vallejo
City Manager - Vallejo Chief of Police - Signal Hill
City Manager - Stanton Chief of Police - Imperial
City Manager - Laguna Niguel Fire Chief - Morro Bay
City Manager - Manteca Fire Chief - Placentia
City Manager - San Bernardino City Attorney - Manteca
City Manager - Fountain Valley Assistant to City Manager - San Luis Obispo City Manager - Tracy IT Director - San Bernardino
City Manager - Laguna Hills Director of Parks & Recreation - American Canyon City Manager - San Clemente Director of Human Resources - Marina Assistant City Manager - Costa Mesa Director of Public Services - Imperial Assistant City Manager - Rosemead Director of Finance - Salinas Chief of Police - Lakeport Director of Administrative Services - Imperial Recruiting Process
Below, you will find our proposed recruiting process, schedule, and cost breakdown for your consideration. During the recruitment process, we will require the following specific assistance from the City: a draft job description (we will work with the City to craft language), any other legal descriptions or City language and guidelines; City logo, high resolution photography, review of the brochure and other marketing materials and timely feedback; and logistics coordination with any City staff and our team.
Selection
Position Profile Outreach and Candidate
› Assessment and Negotiations Close Out
Recruiting
Presentation
www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Create Position Profile
The Bob Hall & Associates team will meet with the City to discuss the strategy for the search as well as communication preferences and project timeline. It is at this time that the team will collaborate with the City to determine characteristics of the ideal candidate. Communication and customer service is a priority, as the Bob Hall & Associates team will stay in touch with the City throughout the recruitment keeping them up to date. In the meeting, the search criteria will be determined to help aid the Bob Hall & Associates team in narrowing the search to appropriate candidates based on the specific goals and qualities of the organization.
Outreach and Recruiting
Outreach
Outreach begins with the creation of a job announcement and brochure that will be advertised for the public to see on platforms such as Public CEO, ICMA, GovernmentJobs.com and in Western City Magazine. We will also utilize social media engagement on Linkedin, networking with top industry leaders throughout the nation, and personal outreach.
Candidate Identification
Following the creation of the job announcement and advertisement of the position, the Bob Hall & Associates team will actively seek out qualified candidates by tapping into the network of talented prospects both local to California and across the country.
Unlike other firms, Bob Hall & Associates focuses on adding a personal touch to the identification process by tailoring the recruiting process to the needs and desires of the organization. Our active recruiting style has proved to increase the number of applications and resumes from potential candidates leading to a deeper evaluation of each individual.
Candidate Assessment
Screening
Every application is promptly acknowledged and carefully examined. Those that most closely fit the criteria indicated by the organization will be subject to a more thorough www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
evaluation. Such evaluation will focus on aspects such as professional experience, size and complexity of current organization as compared to the advertised position.
Initial Research and Interviews
Research will be conducted on top candidates in the form of Internet searches and other public profiles to ensure prospects' values, experiences, and history match the criteria established by the organization. Following research, preliminary interviews will be conducted via phone, video-conferencing, or face-to-face, depending on candidates' location.
Selection and Presentation of Top Candidates
Bob Hall & Associates will manage the selected finalist candidates. Top candidates will be presented to the City for consideration to determine which candidates will be interviewed. City will be provided with detailed description of work history and other important information about each candidate prior to selection and scheduling of interviews.
Negotiations
The Bob Hall & Associates team is willing and able to support the City in the negotiation process of the selected candidate's compensation package.
Close Out
After the organization has successfully chosen a candidate, the search will be closed out. This includes informing finalist candidates of the status of the search via telephone.
www.bobhallandassociates.com / (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Project Costs
The recruitment for the City Manager position will be a complete and comprehensive search in an effort to present the City of Calexico with the most capable, talented candidates available. The fee to perform the search will be $27,500 plus expenses, not to exceed $30,500. These expenses will include advertising, printing, four in-person visits to the City and unlimited virtual meetings with City Council and City staff. Additional trips to the City will be billed at $900 per trip. Top candidates will be subject to DMV, civil and criminal background, and credit checks, which is also built into the fee. This proposal is good for at least 180 days from January 27, 2025.
Fees will be collected in three installments as follows:
1. Upon Execution of the Agreement: $10,000
2. Following Presentation of Candidates: $9,500
3. Upon Acceptance of Offer: $8,000
Optional Services: •
• Roles and Goals Workshop: In addition to the standard recruitment, we will conduct a goals and roles workshop for the new manager and the council (within the first month of starting) to ensure the manager has set expectations and is off to a successful start. The flat fee to perform this workshop is $2,500. www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
Project Timeline
A typical search will be conducted in a 90 to 120-day period from start to finish. Following the final selection, negotiations can take up to two weeks. The proposed schedule includes four to five weeks of active recruitment, which reflects our suggested minimum timeline. However, this can be adjusted if the City would prefer a longer or accelerated process. An exact schedule will be provided once a firm start date has been provided by the City. If an expedited process is preferred, we can reduce the process to about 60 days, however, we will need to ensure review dates and interviews are scheduled early in the process.
Month 1
• Week 1 & 2: Active Recruiting and Screening Continued • Week 3 & 4: Consultant Interviews, Preliminary Reference Checks, Finalists Selected and Submitted to Month 2
• Week 1: Candidate-City Interviews
• Week 2: Candidate Selected and Negotiations
Month 3 • Week 3: Selection Made
Bob Hall & Associates' Guarantee
The Bob Hall & Associates team guarantees industry-standard services. If within one year following appointment, selected candidate resigns or is terminated for cause, our team will conduct another search free of professional services charges. However, the organization will be expected to pay for incurred costs.
www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected] BH
Bob Hall & Associates
References
Jarad Hildenbrand, City Manager of Laguna Hills
[email protected]
(949) 707-2610
Patrick Harper, Mayor of Fountain Valley
[email protected]
(714) 593-4403
Dennis Morita, City Manager of Imperial
[email protected]
(760) 355-4373
Stephanie Sifuentes, Human Resources Director of Vallejo [email protected]
(949) 707-2610
Carlo Tomaino, City Manager of Signal Hill
[email protected]
(562) 989-7302
www.bobhallandassociates.com | (714) 625-5896 | [email protected]