IP4

IOWA CITY IOWA

000
65

CITY MANAGER

The of Iowa City progressive stable full

service independent city and home to the University
City a

of Iowa seeks an experienced manager and leader who will thrive in an interactive community
year overlapping terms
Reports to and appointed by the Mayor and City Council elected to four
Mayor is selected the by Council from
City its members
among
Tradition tenured city
of long
Successful and executive
managers 150 million budget and 630 FTE employees responsible
s
Bachelor
management experience required municipal experience preferred degree required
s degree preferred Experience in a university community strongly preferred but not
Master
team management
required Strong administrative leadership open and positive communication
financial and budget management economic development success and labor relations experience

required Must be committed to and enjoy being part of and working with an engaged community
Highly competitive starting salary and excellent benefits negotiable depending upon qualifications
and experience Residency required subsequent to appointment Additional information regarding
s website www
the position can be found at the consultant com
slavinweb

2010 with cover letter and resume to

Apply by July 23

Robert E Slavin or Paul Wenbert

SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

3040 Holcomb Bridge Road A

1
Norcross GA 30071

TEL 4656
449
770

FAX 770
0848
416
Email net
slavin@bellsouth

Note Applicants desiring confidentiality subject to Iowa open meetings and records laws
should request the same in writing at the time of submitting their application

The City of Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer

 Slavin Management Consultants
June 2010

City of Iowa City Iowa

CITY OF IOWA CITY CITY MANAGER

Iowa In the
City top five of the Best in National Rankings for Public Schools
Metro Area Livability Small Metro Area and Metro Area for Expanding a Busi
ness

Community Background
Offering big
city amenities along with small
town hospitality Iowa City is

recognized by many national surveys and publications as one of the best

places to live work and raise a family Iowa City is known to its residents

The Mayor as a community with extraordinary opportunities in an unexpected place

City Council owned teaching hospitals in the nation and

Nestled in the heart of the Midwest Iowa
was named one of America
s Best Hospi
has served as a focus for culture
City long
Of OWa Clty and fun It was carved
tals by U S News and World Report
education variety
magazine The University has been a pio
out of native in 1839 and when
prairie
neer in such diverse fields as speech
invite your statehood was achieved in 1846 Iowa pa

thology space exploration and educa

City was the first state capital The capital
tional development
interest in was moved to Des Moines in 1857 The

Old is national historic

Capitol now a Iowa City is also served by the Kirkwood

landmark Community College campus which has a

the position
local enrollment of 300
3 students Be
Iowa is a of
City community approximately
sides afull Arts and Sciences curriculum
residents which is diverse in all
of city 000
63
Kirkwood offers customized training pro
perspectives including social economic
grams for area businesses The National
business educational and One
housing
Manager Alliance of Business named Kirkwood the
of the factors the
major contributing to
Community College of the Year in 2000 for
is the of
sdiversity
community University
its work in developing training programs
Iowa which was founded in 1847 It is
with area businesses
recognized of the nation
s
as one top pub
lic universities offering than 100 ar Iowa is known for its educa
more emphasis on

eas of study for its 500 students Since

30 tion and routinely has some of the highest
1936 the University has been home to the performing school districts in the country
renowned Iowa Writers Workshop which The Iowa area is no The
City exception
has fostered the creative talents of writers Iowa School
City Community District
such Ray Bradbury Kurt Vonnegut which includes the communities of
as nearby
and Flannery Connor UI
O Hospitals and and
Coralville Hills University Heights
Clinics is one of the largest university North has a enrollment of
SLAVIN AGEMENT Liberty growing
NTS
I
L
CONSI
800 K
11 12 students The District has 17
 of Iowa Iowa 2
City City

schools three town retail is when it comes to

elementary junior high unequalled
schools two senior al
high schools one offering specialty goods including clothing
ternative school for seventh through jewelry gifts toys books and espresso
twelfth and and The center of downtown is the Pedestrian
graders daycare pre
From live music school facilities Iowa is also home to Ped which out
City Plaza or Mall provides
Catholic in door space for music chil
Regina High School a private performances a

and art festivals Willowwind s

dren interactive foun
stitution School an independ play structure an

ent school with 8 and

K Montessori pre tain and numerous sidewalk cafes and

to Broadway school and the Preucil School of Music food vendors

specializing in the Suzuki method of in

In 2008 Iowa City was named an interna
struction
performances tional City of Literature by UNESCO Only
Iowa s
City economy is diverse and pros the third city in the world to receive this
Iowa City has an perous Iowa City is home to facilities of designation following Edinburgh Scotland

Procter and Gamble Moore North Amer and Melbourne Australia Iowa City hosts

event for any Oral B Laborato network of and

ica NCS
Pearson Lear a university grassroots
ries the corporate headquarters for ACT civic institutions that teach celebrate nur

s taste
one and scores of smaller industries and busi ture and study great writing Throughout
nesses The University of Iowa is the the year major poets writers and others

s largest employer
community with 600
23 read from their works at University events

employees The academic and research or local bookstores

mission of the University along with the

From live music and art festivals to Broad
health care services provided by its hospi
way performances Iowa City has an event
tals and clinics have a tremendous eco
to suit s
anyone taste During the summer
nomic impact on the area
months live music becomes a part of the

The Cedar Iowa City Technology

Rapids s
downtown ambiance with the weekly Fri

Corridor located at the crossroads of in day Night Concert series Each July the

terstates 80 and 380 is a model of re community hosts a jazz festival that at

gional development The Corridor en tracts enthusiasts from throughout the re

compassing twelve communities plus gion The annual Iowa Arts Festival fea

Johnson and Linn Counties represents a tures the state

s best visual art music and

strong partnership between Priority One food

and the Iowa City Area Development Iowa City has several theatres including
ICAD Group the University of Iowa Kirk
Riverside s outdoor
Theatre Shakespear
wood Community College Alliant Energy
ean stage in City Park the restored historic
MidAmerican Energy and the Cedar Rap
Englert Theatre which hosts nationally
ids Area and Iowa Area Chambers of
City known and local
performers performance
Commerce
in the center of downtown and the Univer

Iowa boasts a vibrant 24

7 downtown Hancher Auditorium which show
City s
sity
It is home to the Iowa Public cases of international renown
City Library performers
s busiest
Iowa in terms of visits cir
library Iowa is a of lush and
City place rolling hills
culation and Down
meeting room usage

City Manager
 scattered woodlands and tall grasses In as shown in the accompanying organiza
the Iowa City area alone there are 41 public tional chart The City has 630 full
time

parks several of which overlook the scenic equivalent employees The City is on a

Iowa River Many of these parks are June

July fiscal year and has a total

equipped with networks of walking and bik budget of 150 million The City con

ing trails as well as picnic sites and prairie ducts collective bargaining with Police
reserves In 2009 Iowa City was desig Fire and AFSCME units All of the bar

nated units
aBicycle Friendly Community Bronze gaining negotiated multi
year agree

the American of ments last fiscal year except for the Po

Level by League Bicyclists
lice unit which has a year agree
one
Additional information about Iowa is
City
ment
available at www
orq
icgov
University of Iowa

Issues and Opportunities

City Government Background

The is a summary of the issues

The of Iowa has under the following
City City operated
and to be Iowa
form of since opportunities managed by
manager
council government
1951 The Council consists of City next
s City Manager
City seven

Council Members elected four Financial is prop

large
at to theCity
Management
Three Council Mem with
year staggered terms erty tax dependent property taxes

bers are nominated district A 68 percent of

by primary comprising approximately
Big Ten Football
election is held in the district if there are General Fund revenues
only Historically as

three or more candidates for a district Coun sessed valuations have grown four
by
cil seat One of the Council Members is se percent annually However in this cur

lected of the rent economic climate increase is ex

as Mayor by a majority vote no

Council and year

two term in assessed valuations the
serves a as pected during
The is member of next two years The has not
Mayor Mayor a voting City recently
the Council and has veto power The of
no experienced layoffs City employees
City Hall Mayor is the official representative of the and has a strong financial position as evi

City presiding officer of the Council and its denced by the fact that the City has en

policy spokesperson joyed an Aaa bond rating from s

Moody
for the last 34 years
The Council appoints a City Manager City
Attorney and City Clerk The Council also
The next City Manager needs to pursue
approves the City Manager
s appointment of
various strategies for maintaining the
the Police Chief and Fire Chief The Library
s strong
City financial condition including
Board appoints a Library Director and the
obtaining federal and state grants pro
Airport Commission appoints an Airport
ductivity improvements examination of
Mayor and City Council Manager All other personnel decisions are
revenue alternatives and increasing the
made by the City Manager or those to whom
property tax base through economic de
r the Manager delegates the responsibility
1
velopment
1
1 Iowa City is afull
service municipal govern

ment providing a wide array of city services Economic has

the City
Development

CITY OF IOWA CITY

City Manager
 4

been involved in several redevelopment pro

jects through the use of tax increment financing

TIF In addition the City has actively pursued
industrial economic development opportunities
The City Manager needs to be proactive in ag

gressively pursuing new economic develop

ment projects

Flood the
Control Iowa River runs through
Iowa City and the community experienced ma

jor flood events in 1993 and 2008 As a result

the voters approved a local option sales tax in

2009 that is expected to generate more than

32 million over its year

four life The City
Manager will be responsible for overseeing im

plementation of various flood control projects to

be funded by the local option sales tax as well

as State and Federal funding

Strategic Planning
the City has a Comprehen
sive Plan and several departments have strate

gic plans but the City has not had a broad stra

tegic plan for several years The City Council

is interested in developing a strategic plan in

the near future

Succession with most

Planning as employers
the will be
City losing many boomer
baby em

ployees to retirement over the next several

years The City has a track record of support

ing internal promotions when feasible How

ever the City does not have a formal leader

ship development or succession plan Such

plans are desired to ensure the City organiza

tion is able to maintain its high level of profes
sionalism and skills

has
the City
Partnerships key partnerships
with several entities including the of
University
Iowa Iowa School District
City Community r
Johnson the Iowa Con
County Coralville
City
vention and Visitors Bureau ICAD and the

Iowa Area Chamber of Commerce The

City
ai
a
City Manager must be an active player in con

tinuing to build these partnerships in a mutually CITY OF IOWA CITY

beneficial manner

City Manager
 5

Job Requirements and

Experience developing implementing
a strategic planning process that results in
The minimum job requirements are 1 Bache
annual and and
range plans
long priorities
s
lor degree from an accredited college or uni
for the and the
community organization
versity with graduate degree in public admini

stration or related field preferred and 2 at least

Intergovernmental relations experience
seven years of progressively responsible execu
with local and
working regional jurisdic
level
tive management experience preferably in tions and state and federal in a
agencies
a service
full municipality of similar size and
constructive and cooperative manner
complexity experience in a community with a

major university is strongly preferred but not cultural

sensitivity regarding
Appreciation
required diversity
Desired Professional and Personal Attributes
Ability to develop productive working rela
The the desired and
following are professional tionships with labor unions
attributes for Iowa next
personal s
City City
Manager Committed to a customer service orienta

tion with and

Strong financial management skills with ability to exemplify promote
such an orientation
demonstrated track record of developing among City employ
ees
revenue and expenditure options that en

hance financial condition

Experience with downtown redevelopment
and use of tax increment
Visionary who partners with the Mayor financing a plus

Council and City staff on policy initiatives

Experience with succession planning pro

and
Creative innovative thinker grams aplus

Participation in professional development

Demonstrated track record of leadership
association activities and support of same
role in successful economic development
for staff
activities

Active in the visible Compensation

community as a City
official personally taking part in civic and The compensation for the City Manager job is

community activities and excellent

events highly competitive including an fringe
benefit package The starting salary is de

to work with co
Ability qualified
ahighly pendent on the selected individual
s qualifica
hesive and term management
long staff tions and match with the desired attributes

in an effective manner without micro the The will pay

being sought by City City
managing them reasonable and customary moving expenses

for the next City Manager who is required to

with and
Approachable good listening live within the city limits

communication skills

City Manager
 6

City of Iowa City

Organizational Chart r
III
l
y
CITIZENS OF IOWA
A
CITY

CITY OF IOWA CITY

MAYOR
CITY COUNCIL

Boards
Airport City Clerk City Attorney Library Board of
Commissions
Commission Trustees

Airport Manager CITY MANAGER Libmry Director

City Parks and Public Works Senior Center

Assistangt sin9
Ho PlanninY
Finance Director Parkin Transit Police Chief Fire Chief
Mana er Ins ection Recreation Communit Dev Director Coordinator
Director
Services Dir Director Director

Broadband Admin Admin Admin Admin Senior Center

Telecomm Admin Parking Admin Admin Support

Human Accounting Animal Services Emergency Energy

Rights Building Tmnsit CBD Maint Community Operations Conservation

Inspection Operations Development

Human Purchasing Community Fire Engineering
Resources Housing Tmnsit
Para Cemetery Economic Services Prevention

Authority Development
Document Criminal Training Equipment
Services Housing Forestry JCCOG Maintenence
Investigations Equipment
Inspection Programs
IT Services Emergency Weather Alert Landfll
Government Neighborhood Communications Siren System
Bulidings Services
Revenue Patrol Emergency Solid Waste

Parks Urban Planning Management Collection

Risk Records Stormwater

Mananement tinatinn
Inve Mananement
Recreation

Traffic Engineering

Wastewater

Management

Water

To Apply
In order to be considered for this position please send your resume and cover letter with current salary by
July 23 2010 to

Mr Robert Slavin

SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

3040 Holcomb Bridge Road Suite A

1

Norcross Georgia 30071

4656 phone
449
770

0848 fax
416
770

bellsouth net
a
slavin

com
slavinweb
www
SLAVIN I
IV
IViF
AGF
CONSULTANTS

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RECRUITER

EMPLOYER

City Manager