CORRESPONDENCE - 25D - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lopez, Kenia From: Tim Johnson < Sent: Monday, March 18, 2019 5:59 PM To: eComment Cc: Pulido, Miguel; Iglesias, Cecilia; Solorio, Jose; Penaloza, David; Villegas, Juan; Sarmiento, Vicente Subject: Agenda Item 25D (City Manager) City Council Members, I am writing about agenda item 25D, the proposed appointment of Kristine Ridge as city manager. As you know, city manager is the chief executive for our city- one of the most important, if not the most important, positions in the city although I feel they are all important. With a position of such importance, I personally feel that the hiring of this position needs the utmost due diligence and an open/transparent process. A process to where not only the council members who will vote on the position will have all of the information for an informed decision but also a process that involves the community and allows the potential city manager to publicly indicate their own thoughts on the position and the future of our city. Unfortunately, I do not believe that to be the case with the proposed hiring of Ms. Ridge- at least the public portion of that process. I do not have anything against Ms. Ridge. She appears to be qualified for the position but this is just based upon the limited amount that I have read and not through any formal process or specifics regarding Santa Ana. In fact, I have heard good things about her. However, I likely do not have the information that I would want in hand if I were making a choice. Ms. Ridge may be the exact right person for this position. In fact, I pray that she is indeed the right person as it seems that she is on the path to being appointed by this council as our next city manager. The process should matter though. Obviously, you have had an ad hoc committee and they are recommending Ms. Ridge so at least three of you are already on board with her. Presumably, further discussion has taken place regarding the position/appointment in closed session. However, very little to no discussion has been had in public. No public due diligence has taken place. No apparent statewide/nationwide search has occurred. No public interview questions. No public involvement in the vetting of the position. No public stances on what she sees the vision and strategy of the city should be. Again, the process should matter. Every one of your voices should also matter yet we have not heard those voices speak on this topic. We do not know what is important to you and how Ms. Ridge may be the best for the city. Further, we will not hear those voices if this item remains on the consent agenda. Obviously, it only takes one council member to pull the item from the consent agenda. I urge at least one of you to do that. Then, I would encourage one of those on the ad hoc committee to give background information about Ms. Ridge and what you have learned about what her plans for the city are. I also encourage each of you to speak into Ms. Ridge as to why you believe she is the best (or maybe why she is not if that is how you feel), how she became the ad hoc committee's selection, how many others you considered and ultimately interviewed, and let the residents know the process. Further, I would encourage you to consider continuing this item until such a time that the community may have an opportunity to ask Ms. Ridge some questions and also allow Ms. Ridge to publicly comment on what her vision of the city would be working with our council. Maybe we are too far along in this process to do this, but again, this is one of the most important positions in the city and should be well thought out. If we want to have an open and transparent process, this should happen- if it is not a goal to do that, it is your choice.. Obviously, our city charter does not require this but instead allows the city council to simply appoint. However, with a position this important and our recent history with city managers, I believe that having community buy in with our next city manager should be encouraged and also a desire of each of you.