Special City Commission Meeting on City Manager Finalist List and Next Steps - April 11, 2025

This special meeting of the Sarasota City Commission was convened at 1:03 PM on April 11, 2025, to discuss the City Manager finalist list and determine the next steps in the recruitment process. The meeting focused on transparency concerns, the status of applicants, and how to proceed with winnowing the pool of candidates. Mayor Liz Alpert presided, with Commissioners Vice Mayor Debbie Trice, Jen Ahearn-Koch, Kyle Scott Battie (arrived at 1:04 PM), and Kathy Kelley Ohlrich present.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Martin Hyatt spoke during Citizens' Input and during the agenda item. He criticized the resume-based screening process and suggested that each applicant submit a five-minute video answering why they want to be City Manager and what they bring, arguing it would allow commissioners to make quick, instinctive judgments. He also referenced an earlier workshop and urged the commission to accept that they are unlikely to change each other's opinions.
• Christine Robinson, Executive Director of The Argus Foundation, spoke during the agenda item. She expressed concern that the process had been flawed and lacked transparency, noting that resumes and reports were not attached to the agenda, cutting the public out. She recommended starting the search over, highlighted the importance of transparency from beginning to end, and described her own challenges in obtaining applicant materials through public records requests. She later offered suggestions for improving transparency going forward.

Discussion Items

• City Attorney Polzak recommended that the commission start fresh with the full list of 51 applicants to avoid any transparency or Sunshine Law issues.
• Human Resources Director Stacie Mason reported that candidate Kelly Kirschner had withdrawn shortly before the meeting. She confirmed that of the original 51, four had previously withdrawn (before the list was compiled), so 47 applicants remained active.
• Colin Baenziger, Senior Partner of Colin Baenziger & Associates (CBA), provided information on the recommended candidates: 12 originally recommended, with eight having full background information and five additional candidates added at the commission's request (though some commissioners disputed that they had requested the extra five).
• Commissioner Ahearn-Koch voiced strong dissatisfaction with the process, stating she felt the commission was floundering and that the process had not been directed by the commission. She proposed pausing the process, retaining the current applicant list, and having the commission meet to discuss what they want in a candidate and how the process should work, starting from step one with the HR Director.
• Commissioner Ohlrich initially argued for moving forward with the 13 candidates recommended by CBA, but later shifted to support a pause to ensure transparency.
• Commissioner Battie expressed concerns about transparency and the process, noting that the commission appeared to be figuring out the process in real time, which did not inspire public confidence.
• Vice Mayor Trice opposed restarting from scratch, arguing it would delay the search by at least six months and harm the city's reputation.
• Mayor Alpert also opposed restarting, preferring to correct the process going forward with the existing applicant pool.
• City Attorney Polzak suggested a reboot of the process using the current candidate pool, with the commission deciding at this meeting what they want from the process and backup materials.
• After the first motion failed, the commission discussed how to proceed transparently. They agreed to place the full 47-candidate list on a future agenda with all available backup material, and at that meeting conduct winnowing in public by each commissioner verbally listing their preferred candidates.

Key Outcomes

• First motion: Commissioner Ohlrich moved, seconded by Commissioner Battie, to accept the Sarasota City Manager Candidate List dated February 10, 2025, minus the four candidates who had withdrawn. The motion carried 5-0, confirming 47 active candidates.
• Second motion: Commissioner Ahearn-Koch moved to pause the current process, retain the applicant list, and have the commission meet to discuss the search process and desired candidate qualifications, starting from step one with the HR Director. The motion failed 1-4 (Mayor Alpert, Vice Mayor Trice, Commissioners Battie and Ohlrich voting no; Ahearn-Koch voting yes).
• Third motion: Vice Mayor Trice moved, seconded by Commissioner Ohlrich, to direct staff to place on a future Commission-related meeting agenda the full Sarasota City Manager Candidate List with backup material, at which meeting the commission will conduct winnowing. The motion carried 5-0.
• Fourth motion: Vice Mayor Trice moved, seconded by Commissioner Ohlrich, to direct staff to schedule the next Commission-related meeting regarding the City Manager search so that the commission can create a provisional semifinalist list by each commissioner listing their desired candidates individually and audibly. The motion carried 5-0.
• Next meeting timeframe: Mayor Alpert requested that the next meeting be held before May 22, 2025, before the commission's June break. Staff agreed to work toward that date.
• Process for winnowing: At the next meeting, each commissioner will announce their preferred candidates one by one (going around the table) to create a provisional semifinalist list. The number of candidates will not be capped, but previous individual lists ranged from 8 to 10. After the meeting, CBA will gather additional background information on the selected candidates, which may take up to three weeks depending on the number.