City Manager Performance Evaluation Committee

City Manager Performance Evaluation Committee 10 N. Division St., Room 302A Battle Creek, MI 49014 Wednesday, April 1, 2015 10:00 a.m. Committee Members Present: Commissioners Dave Walters, Andy Helmboldt and Dean Newsome Committee Members Absent: Commissioner Susan Baldwin Staff Present: Rebecca Fleury, City Manager: Nancy Mullett, Employee Relations Labor Attorney: and Vicki Houser, City Clerk Call to Order: Comm. Newsome called the meeting to order at 10:24 p.m. Public Comment: None Approval of Minutes: A motion was made by Comm. Walters, supported by Comm. Helmboldt, to approve the meeting minutes of August 16, 2013, as presented. All yes. Motion carried. Election of Chairperson: A motion was made by Comm. Helmboldt, supported by Comm. Walters, to elect Commissioner Newsome as chairperson of the City Manager Evaluation Committee. All yes, none opposed. Motion approved. Discussion Comm. Newsome opened the discussion, complimenting the work of the Commission in establishing a very thorough evaluation process, stating the process would include bi-monthly appraisals. Comm. Newsome asked Ms. Fleury if she had signed the performance plan. Ms. Fleury stated she had not signed the document as there were some blanks that were not completed. Comm. Newsome stated the formal feedback process could begin once the performance plan is signed. Comm. Newsome thanked Ms. Fleury for the updates she regularly sent to the Commission, commending her efforts of transparency, stating the updates would help to make the evaluation process very efficient. Ms. Fleury provided the Committee a draft set of goals for the performance evaluation, stating staff would be building off these goals, prioritized by department, along with the development of the City dashboard, complete with metrics. Ms. Fleury noted Mr. Dams recommended the City start small, making the goals realistic, then adding them to the dashboard, stating staff would then prioritize all of the goals the following year, noting state and federal mandates would give more priority to some things. Comm. Newsome thanked Ms. Fleury for the draft, stating it was a good start. Comm. Helmboldt recommended the report to the full Commission be very general the first year, allowing more specifics in the following years. Comm. Newsome expressed his agreement, stating that even with general items, the specifics could be provided, citing as an example the prioritization of items in the Capital Improvement Plan. 1 Comm. Helmboldt commented on Ms. Fleury’s efforts to attend bi-annual brown bag lunch meetings with all department staff. Ms. Fleury stated this was her goal, but may need to be reduced to once per year depending on scheduling priorities. Ms. Fleury stated she would also like to meet with union presidents to establish relationships outside of the bargaining process. Comm. Walters compared the atmosphere of prior City Manager Evaluation Committee meetings, stating they were almost adversarial, noting there were no goals or guidelines set for the prior City Manager. Comm. Walters expressed his appreciation of the performance process, stating it allowed the Commission and the City Manager to know their expectations and provided a way to work through everything. Comm. Walters stated the full Commission will appreciate the process. Ms. Mullett stated that from her perspective, as both a resident and now a city employee, Ms. Fleury’s expectations of transparency will help to develop trust while building relationships, allowing everyone to view government differently. Comm. Helmboldt agreed trust was most important while building relationships. Comm. Walters stated the new transparency will take away the “Us vs. Them” atmosphere. Comm. Newsome stated Ms. Fleury demonstrates that she is invested in the City with the report she has provided. Comm. Newsome requested Ms. Fleury provide an electronic copy of the document so that he could forward it to the full Commission for review and comment, stating he will work with the City Attorney for a signature line on the performance plan. Ms. Fleury stated she would make a few additions to the goals before sending the document. Comm. Helmboldt inquired as to items 3 & 6, that mention equity and diversity. Ms. Fleury explained this would also include community conversations to get to the neighborhood levels, to discuss issues at the smaller neighborhood level, and to rethink Code and how we fund Code. Next Meeting: The next meeting of the City Manager Evaluation Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m. VLH 2