August 11, 2026
Human Resources
DATE: August 11, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager, Internal Services
Sharrone Taylor, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
Contract Amendment No. 2 with Bob Murray and
Associates for Recruitment Services
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $100,000 expenditure is incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 baseline Human Resources –
Recruitment Services budget, with a portion of the
expense mitigated by anticipated salary savings (Account String: 01181016-400206).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
December 2, 2025
July 1, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
There is an ongoing need to have contracts in place to
assist with the search for specialized positions. City staff are seeking to amend the existing contract with Bob
Murray & Associates to assist in this effort.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a second amendment to the contract with Bob
Murray & Associates to conduct recruitments for
specialized positions, increase the payment limit by
$100,000 for a total payment limit of $168,000, and
extend the contract term through June 30, 2027 - Human
Resources (Nickie Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-
6602).
DISCUSSION
The benefits of utilizing external recruitment services for executive and hard-to-fill positions are widely acknowledged. Professional recruitment consultants demonstrate exceptional skill in identifying and attracting top-tier candidates, leveraging their AGENDA
REPORT
August 11, 2026
comprehensive understanding of the job market and their expansive nationwide networks. These firms consistently offer the resources, capacity, and specialized expertise required to successfully fulfill complex and highly specialized roles.
Furthermore, they provide valuable input on job descriptions and compensation strategies, delivering tailored recommendations to maximize recruitment success when positions are advertised.
Recognizing the significance and complexity of the City Attorney position, the City Council determined that engaging an independent contractor was necessary to ensure a thorough and effective recruitment process. Accordingly, a request for proposals was issued, resulting in the submission of 13 proposals from qualified recruitment firms.
Following a comprehensive review, the Subcommittee identified the four most qualified firms for interviews: Bob Hall and Associates, Peckham and McKinney, Bob Murray and Associates, and The Byers Group. Prior to the interviews, Bob Hall and Associates withdrew due to existing workload commitments. The Subcommittee proceeded to interview the remaining firms and consulted with professional colleagues to further evaluate each firm's approach and capabilities. Based on these deliberations, the Subcommittee recommends that the City Council authorize Bob Murray and Associates to lead the City Attorney recruitment.
The City currently maintains a contract with Bob Murray & Associates for the recruitment of specialized positions and has been highly satisfied with the firm’s responsiveness, quality of service, and professionalism. Bob Murray & Associates is widely recognized for their strong reputation and proven success in executive and specialized recruitment, including extensive experience managing high-profile searches involving multiple stakeholders and complex requirements. In light of these strengths, the City proposes to amend the existing contract to authorize additional funding and extend the agreement to June 30, 2027. This amendment will support the City Attorney recruitment and provide additional executive-level recruitment on an as-needed basis, with anticipated costs, per recruitment, ranging from $28,000 to $38,000.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the need to continue recruiting qualified candidates for specialized positions, City staff recommend that the City Council approve a second amendment to the contract with Bob Murray & Associates, increasing the payment limit by $100,000, for a total payment limit of $168,000, and extending the contract term through June 30, 2027.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Contract Bob Murray and Associates Attachment 2 – Contract Amendment No. 1 Bob Murray and Associates Attachment 3 – Draft Contract Amendment No. 2 Bob Murray and Associates