HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-18 Public Comment - G. Thompson - City Manager SelectionFrom: George Thompson [mailto:gthompson.bozmt@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 9:55 AM
To: Carson Taylor <CTaylor@BOZEMAN.NET>; Cyndy Andrus <CAndrus@BOZEMAN.NET>; Chris Mehl
<CMehl@BOZEMAN.NET>; I-Ho Pomeroy <IPomeroy@BOZEMAN.NET>; Jeff Krauss
<Jkrauss@BOZEMAN.NET>
Cc: Alicia Kennedy <AKennedy@BOZEMAN.NET>
Subject: City manager candidates- observations
Septeber 27, 2017
RE: City Manager SelectionThe meet and greet last Monday was informative way to introduce the candidates to the public.
In asking the candidates to suggest the three major considerations in writing a growth policy, I received a range of responses. Brief outline follows.
Dave Buckingham stood out as top candidate. Do not under estimate his experience as Base Manager for military camp. Having worked with a former base commander on a 1,200 acre
city-owned development parcel, the management of competing interests, diversity of community, limited resources is a role in which the military approach is methodical and
effective. Dave represents a younger generation who are the current/future employees of the city, as well as the interests of the general public.
Dan Chandler is second choice. His experience in county government will be critical in guiding Bozeman’s growth objectives in synch with reaching out to local community growth
in Belgrade/Four Corners. The importance of tri-city agreements on a shared growth strategy is critical to maintaining our quality of life. However, Dan represents an older demographic
which may be an obstacle in reducing the turnover of city staff.
Dave Buckingham: 1) Where do you want to grow and how do you set infrastructure and incentives. Not tax incentives but city/private partnerships to support growth. 2) Work with
local groups and partnerships to guide sustainable growth, ie GVLT etc. 3) Quality of life. What constitutes ‘quality’ how to maintain it. Felt that Dave embraced the ‘vibe’ of current
Bozeman residents, active in outdoors and personally supportive in maintaining that quality of life which engages us in the Bozeman community.
Dan Chandler: 1) Hard choices are req’d to determine urban form. 2) Affordability. 3)
financing. Dan came across as straight forward, cut to main issues and seek resolution. This may be interpreted as a cold, but effective approach in certain situations.
Shawn Kessel: 1) Infrastructure-importance to prioritize needs. 2) Annexation, move from
core outward. 3) Talk to the public in how you want to grow and maintain quality of life. Not sure how well he can take disparate growth strategies and implement into best plan for
Bozeman. Felt he moved into, or confronted a situation rather than integrally guiding the community through its choices in growth.
Andrea Surratt: 1) Historic considerations. 2) Wellness ( ie . growth with no food deserts,
quality of life). 3) Economic development. Like the wellness concept to define growth, but did not sense the strength and ability to work in leading competing interests to tangible results.
Rachael Fuller: 1) Growth-must be non-negotiable on some issues. Grow gracefully through
organization and delivery systems. 2) Determine where city can best accommodate growth. 3) Community engagement strategy. Every issue is negotiable, what are trade-offs, benefits to
who (individuals or city, surrounding community). Did not address infrastructure as important component to growth. Not sure if she has the fortitude to guide diverse city staff, and
competing public interests.
J.J Murphy: 1) Keep Bozeman friendly through customer driven service mentality. 2)
Leadership through community survey (of needs and goals??). 3) Employee engagement. Doesn’t really fit the Bozeman personae. May find it difficult to have meaningful engagement
with community members.
Good Luck,George Thompson, 12 Hill Street, Bozeman