Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

Gerald Plock Associates, Inc.
101 E. Park Blvd, Suite 600, PMB 634
Plano, Texas 75074

Phone: 1-866-748-7704

GeraldPlock@GeraldPlockAssoc.com

City of Laramie, Wyoming

is Currently Seeking

a City Manager

The Community

Laramie (population 27,204) is located on a high plain in southeastern Wyoming, approximately 30 air minutes north of Denver and approximately 50 miles west of the state capitol in Cheyenne. Laramie has an elevation of 7,165 feet and it is encircled by the Laramie Mountain Range to the east and north and by the Snowy Range to the south and west.

Laramie is diverse and offers a wide range of cultural, educational and outdoor activities. The University of Wyoming, the only four-year university in the state, is located in the city with an enrollment of 10,000 students. The University offers over 180 different academic programs in 7 colleges. Laramie is also home to the Wyoming Technical Institute, a highly regarded vocational school, and to a branch of Laramie County Community College.

The Snowy and Sierra Madre Mountains of southern Wyoming offer spectacular year-round recreation. The combination of mountains, rivers, lakes and streams create great opportunities for backpacking, fishing, mountain biking, camping, hunting, skiing, snowmobiling and much more.

Laramie is the population center of Albany County, with City residents comprising 85% of the County population. With the University of Wyoming located within the city boundaries, Laramie’s economy greatly depends upon the education and government sectors. Federal, state and local government and the related agencies account for 31.3% of the estimated workforce of 19,000.

Historic downtown is vibrant and serves as the community’s central business district. The downtown area is conducive to a relaxed, sauntering form of shopping with art galleries, specialty food stores, unique shops and boutiques and several restaurants and coffee shops.

The Old West lives on in modern-day Laramie, as well. The broad plain on which the city lies supports big cattle ranches, and with them, the singular blend of reliance on community and proud individualism which typifies the land.

The Organization

The mission of the City of Laramie is to provide the best possible service delivered by trained, professional employees using open communication and teamwork as the basis for leadership and stability.

Laramie operates under the Council-Manager form of government. Laramie adopted the Council-Manager form of government in 1942 and the manager’s position has been historically stable. The City Council establishes the policy for the city, approves the budget, levies its taxes and appoints the City Attorney, Municipal Judge and City Manager. The City Council is comprised of nine-members, elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is a member of the City Council and is selected by Council Members for a two-year rotating term. The City Council is transitioning from an all at-large system to a system of seven wards/two at-large seats. The current Mayor is Fred Homer who was selected by his peers in January 2003. Council Members are Bob Bell, Amy Moon, Anni Nordin, Jeanette Reisenburg, Jodi Guerin, Klaus Hanson, Wendy Perkins, and Bryan Shuster.

The City’s FY2002-2003 general fund budget is $17.3 million. The City has a bond rating of A- from Standard and Poor’s.

The Position

The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the City. The City Manager appoints the department heads and authorizes the hiring of all City employees. Among other duties, the City Manager prepares the annual budget for Council consideration, translates Council goals into actions and assists the Council in formulating new goals. Reporting to the City Manager are the Assistant City Manager, the Director of Administrative Services, the City Clerk, the Community Services Director, the Public Works Director, the Executive Assistant, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief. The City has a full time staff of 240 FTE’s.

Issues, Challenges and Opportunities

The new City Manager will lead a team of professional staff in addressing the following (and other) issues with the City Council:

q The Rocky Mountain region has been experiencing a severe drought for two years. The City is in the process of meeting this challenge through a combination of strategies to increase storage and supplies and to reduce demand.

q There is a high priority to start work on a five-year business analysis/plan. The plan would provide forecasts of revenue, obligations and expenditures, and include a review of Council initiatives, staffing, programs and fleet. A comprehensive system of internal and budget controls will also be developed.

q The State of Wyoming recently capped distribution of severance tax revenues to municipalities. The City is presently identifying a number of budget reductions in order to meet this shortfall.

q A number of major capital projects are upcoming, including the construction of a new recreation center, City Hall remodeling, street reconstruction, downtown streetscape and greenbelt development.

q The City is undertaking a major update to its comprehensive plan.

Candidate Profile

The City Council is seeking an individual with significant experience in the field of municipal management, preferably as a City Manager in a community of comparable size and complexity to Laramie. Experience should include budgeting and finance and the operation of a municipal utility. Candidates should be flexible and receptive to change and be of the highest integrity. The City Manager should be a creative problem solver, have an open style, and be skilled at creating community/government partnerships.

The City Manager must have sufficient experience to analyze city operations and programs to determine ways to increase productivity, decrease costs or improve service levels. Candidates should have experience in performance evaluations and be skilled at team building. The City Manager should be a strong representative for the City of Laramie in the State Legislature.

Candidates should be comfortable interacting with elected officials and skilled at reconciling divergent points of view and be willing to accept differences with the City Council gracefully. The candidate must also be skilled at translating Council-approved policy decisions to staff for implementation.

The City Manager must be an effective leader both internally to the city organization and to the community at large. The City Manager must inspire confidence in staff and be able to make and implement recommendations which may be difficult or unpopular. The candidate should be diplomatic, forthright and give clear guidance and opinions.

The City Manager must have highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively with a range of people and personalities. The City Manager must also be a strong public speaker.

A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Finance, Planning or related field is required. A Master’s degree in Public Administration or related field is desirable.

Compensation

The current salary for this position is $87,500 including an excellent benefit package. The new salary will be negotiable, depending upon qualifications and experience.

Selection Process

Preliminary screening interviews will be conducted by Mr. Plock in late June/early July 2003. References will be contacted once mutual interest has been established. Recommended finalists will interview with the City Council July 15-18, 2003.

To Apply

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume and work related references to: Gerald Plock, Gerald Plock Associates, Inc, 7501 Stallion Circle, Flower Mound, TX 75022 Fax: 817/464-4061 Email: geraldplock@geraldplockassoc.com. Please call Gerry Plock is you have any questions about the position or recruitment process.

The City of Laramie is an Equal Opportunity/ADA employer.