DATE:
February 7, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
April Richardson, City Clerk
SUBJECT:
City Council Vacancy – Discussion Of Applicant Interview Format and Direction to Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the vacancy applicant interview format and provide direction to staff.
Background
At the December 20, 2022, City Council meeting, Council Member Ally Medina resigned her position effective January 15, 2023. On January 17, 2023, the City Council reviewed their options to fill the vacancy. The options were to call a special election on November 7, 2023, or to use an application process to fill the vacancy. Council unanimously directed staff to pursue the application process, and approved the recommended application period, use of a modified Advisory Body Committee application, and proposed timeline.
Based on the need for expediency to meet the 60-day (March 16, 2023) appointment deadline, the 15-day application period opened on January 27, 2023. Staff modified the existing Advisory Body application and posted it on the City’s website on January 27, 2023. Also, the vacancy was advertised and the application was distributed through the City’s NewsFlash and posted on social media channels. The deadline to apply is February 10, 2023.
Timeline
This timeline is based on the adopted City Council meeting schedule. Regular meeting dates are in bold:
February 7, 2023 – Council discusses and decides on interview format, time limits for applicants, other procedures, etc.
February 10, 2023 – Application period closes (opened January 27, 2023).
February 13 - 16, 2023 – Staff redacts personal information from applications and republishes 2/21 agenda with application materials.
February 21, 2023 – Council interviews the applicants.
March 7, 2023 – Continued interviews and/or appointment for Council Member vacancy.
March 8-15, 2023 – Special meeting to discuss appointment if necessary. discussion
Once the application period closes on February 10, 2023, staff will compile, redact personal information, publish, and forward all the applications to the City Council. This report is intended to facilitate the Council’s discussion of procedures and guidelines for the applicant interview process, scheduled to begin on February 21, 2023.
Applicant Pool
To qualify to serve as a Council Member, the applicant must be a resident and registered voter in the City of Emeryville. Registered voters in Emeryville must be U.S. citizens, residents of Emeryville, 18 years of age or older, and not currently in prison or on parole for a felony conviction. The application included a question about voter registration status.
The City Council will receive all the applications submitted by the deadline. All applicants will be contacted and invited to attend the meeting on February 21, 2023, and staff will provide details about the interview process. Council can review the applications in any manner they choose, some possible options are:
Conduct a preliminary review at the Council meeting and select applicants to interview.
Interview all qualified applicants.
Interview format
The interview format will be directed by Council, but to provide parity among applicants, staff recommends that it include the following:
A time limit for each applicant’s interview (for this example 15 minutes assuming four interview questions - one from each Council member):
Applicant self-introduction (4 minutes)
Council interview questions (2 minutes per answer)
Wrap-up questions and comments (3 minutes)
Predetermined applicant interview questions. Some possible questions include:
Why are you interested in serving on the Emeryville City Council? What are your ideas to encourage citizen engagement in the City? What unique experiences or strengths do you possess that can benefit you as a member of the City Council?
The proposed timeline provides at least two meetings for applicant interviews - February 21 and March 7, 2023. If the City Council does not make an appointment on March 7, 2023, a special meeting will be necessary to meet the March 16, 2023, deadline. fiscal impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Conflict of Interest
There is no conflict of interest related to this item.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council determine the process for selecting applicants to interview, the amount of time allotted to each interview, and the interview questions.
PREPARED BY: April Richardson, City Clerk
Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
City Council Vacancy – Discussion of Applicant Interview Process and Direction to Staff City Council Meeting | February 7, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM