The Big Stall

Local politics can be a chess game.  You need to think two moves ahead all the time.

Eden Prairie is about to begin a search for a new city manager. I say "about" because this process should have started three weeks ago--it didn't because the The Big Stall.

The process by which a new city manager is selected is important and I don't mean to imply to the contrary. But, we've been hung up for the last three weeks on which search firm to use for the process.

There are only a limited number of search firms which do city manager searches. Any of them would do a fine job, and the city and the council already has personal experience with three of the top firms.

Nonetheless, it was decided that the selection of the search firm be methodical. First, an RFP. Second, an interview.  Who knows what step three will be, but the result of the first two steps is DELAY. 

We won't know any more about any of the search firms as a result of this process than we do now. And the fact is that the city frequently hires professional services firms with no RFP and no interview.

So, why all the process?  Simple--the election.  A faction on the council is hoping for a change in direction as a result of the November election so they want the final decision on the city manager to be made in 2011.  And you know what-i'm starting to think that's a good idea.