The City of Eureka, California is seeking an

open, collaborative, confident leader to be their

next City Manager. City Manager Greg Sparks is

retiring after more than five years with the City.

About Eureka Founded during the gold rush and forged in in the

harvest of timber and fishing, Eureka became a

northern California economic powerhouse. The

rough and tumble culture of get rich quick was

replaced by a desire for a unique and lasting

quality of life. The echoes of the past are reflected

throughout Eureka, where the entire city is a state

historic landmark and national treasure. The City

is covered with hundreds of significant Victorian

homes, including the nationally recognized

Carson Mansion (front cover), and the city has

retained its original 19th-century commercial core

as a nationally recognized Old Town Historic

District.

Discovering Eureka’s personality is a multi-

layered adventure. Each layer represents a small

share of the complexity and amazing qualities of

the community. One finds a bustling, culture-rich,

art centric city boasting murals, live theater and

symphony music framed in stunning, one-of-a

kind architecture. Surrounding the City are ocean

beaches, salmon running rivers, and giant, awe-

inspiring redwood forests that dwarf onlookers

and hikers. People seeking the solitude of nature,

in just a heartbeat, can easily find themselves

feeling a million miles away from anyone.

Returning to the City, walkers, hikers, bikers and

strollers find the waterfront trail provides a new

opportunity to connect with nature; while nearby,

the oldest zoo in California offers exotic animals.

Eureka, population 27,000, is located 270 miles north of San Francisco and 100 miles south of the Oregon border and serves as the County Seat of Humboldt County. The County is named after the deep-water bay that is home to hundreds of fishing boats and pleasure watercraft.

Eureka is not a "big city" it is "the big city" in the region.

Nearly every house and business is on a City block with

sidewalks, making the City remarkably "walkable."

It’s also a small enough community that people feel like

their voice matters, so they use it. There is a wealth of

local media and an educated populace, so local

government is constantly challenged to be the best

possible. One finds people rich in creativity, diversity,

and compassion with a cooperative spirit to step in and

contribute time, expertise, and resources.

Economy Eureka contains the majority of shopping and

entertainment opportunities in a very broad region

beyond the typical influence of a city of this size.

While lumber, fishing, and shipping started Eureka’s

employment base, a fully-developed regional economy is

now established and continues to expand and diversify.

Weather, arts, proximity to natural wonders and the

community serving as a living museum all contribute to

making tourism the second largest employment sector.

City largest employment sectors:

• Health care: 20%

• Building/construction: 16%

• Tourism: 15%

• Forest products: 14%

Mayor and Council The Office of the Mayor and five City Councilmembers comprise the City Council. The Mayor presides over

the City Council meeting held twice a month in open public session in the Council Chamber. The City

Council is a five-member governmental body that is elected from the geographic boundaries of each of their

wards. The City has several members of the Council and Mayor serving their first terms. The Mayor and

Council are truly passionate about the roles of government in improving the lives of all residents. They

thoughtfully engage with the community while seeking a balance between the economic and social health of

the City and the constraints of budgets. The Mayor and Council deliberate respectfully, considering

themselves close team players with the staff. While valuing the City’s progress and direction, the council

welcomes new ideas and looks forward to fresh perspectives.

City Hall Culture: There is an overall sense of comradery and focus within the departments and they

display a sincere loyalty to the City and commitment to the Mission/Vision. They are a high-functioning,

professional,, experienced and capable staff who believe strongly in helping the public. They want to

continue to build stronger relationships between departments and look forward to more interdepartmental

interactions.

MISSION: To be financially responsible and to provide effective municipal services in a personal,

responsive manner and in partnership with community

Vision: Eureka is a beautiful, dynamic, Seaport City

Eureka residents enjoy a livable, sustainable community and abundant choices for leisure time

Eureka has an alive waterfront, old town and downtown, and thriving regional economy Eureka is financially stable, effectively run city with an engaged public

Eureka has strong, collaborative relationships with partner organizations and community Eureka has unique and abundant attractions/tourism choices for the community and visitors to enjoy

Eureka is a community that attracts and retains diverse, skilled workers thru business investment Eureka has adequate supply of market rate and affordable housing

Eureka is a vibrant, safe and flourishing community where people want to live and visit Eureka is aesthetically captivating and artistic community with beautiful neighborhoods

Eureka at a glance • Founded in 1850 • Incorporated as a Town: 1856 • Re-incorporated as a City: 1874 • Total Area: 14.45 square Miles • Main Highway: U.S. Route 101 • Population: ~27,225 • Population of ‘Greater’ Eureka:

~45,000 • 2019/20 Total Budget: $64.9M

General Fund $30.8M • Employees: 224 FT • Miles of Water Main: 125 • Miles of Streets: 120 • Parks

• 6 community park facilities which include Halvorson Park, Cooper Gulch Park, Hartman/Kennedy ball fields, Sequoia Park, Sequoia Park Garden and the Sequoia Park Zoo

• 7 neighborhood park facilities

• Fire Service: Eureka's Fire Department joined the fire district to create the Humboldt Bay Fire JPA

• Police: Police Chief, 62 Sworn Officers and support team

• Regional Transportation • Eureka Transit Service

(ETS) is a fixed route bus system which operates Monday through Saturday, serving the City of Eureka and surrounding unincorporated areas

• Greyhound • Humboldt Transit Authority • City of Eureka also

contributes funding, through a joint powers agreement, for operations of the regional Redwood Transit System, which services a 65 mile corridor on Highway 101

• Arcata/Eureka Airport • Harbor Operations: Public

Marina is home to 150 fishing, commercial, and recreational craft. Harbor personnel are responsible for the Eureka Marsh and other City-owned wetland areas

The Position:

The City Manager is the chief administrative

officer of the City. The role of City Manager is

to develop and implement overall operating

policies, procedures and protocols consistent

with directives of the City Council that will meet

the strategic, operational and capital needs of

Eureka and help ensure ongoing financial

stability and operational efficiency for all City

operations and services.

Some primary position responsibilities

include:

• Develops recommendations for enhancing

the City’s operations and services in

collaboration with the City Council, City

officials, Department Directors, and other

management level City personnel

• Recommends and oversees implementation

of City policies, rules, and regulations

• Advises City department and division

directors regarding the full range of

organizational, management,

administrative, budget, and financial

policies and related issues

• Confers with City elected officials,

department and division directors, and other

supervisory personnel to discuss, identify,

and assess their organizational,

management, administrative, budget and

financial problems and needs

• Develops, presents, and administers a

balanced City budget, including overseeing

preparation and approving draft budget for

presentation to the Council

• Confers with others to effect cooperation in

matters of joint concern

• Negotiates contracts for services, real

estate purchases and sale agreements and

others

• Directs and participates in matters

pertaining to collective bargaining,

personnel disciplinary issues, salary and

benefit analysis

• Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of

City operations and programs

• Advises City officials regarding cooperative

efforts with government units, public-private

sector partnerships, privatization efforts,

consolidation of services, and related

issues

Challenges and Opportunities Upon arriving, the new City Manager is expected to take time to listen and learn about the organization, projects, community, and partners. Some specific first steps include:

• Preparing for 2020 sales tax ballot initiative to address public safety, street improvements and long-term fiscal sustainability

• Recruitment and retention of employees throughout all levels of the organization

• Begin the creation and implementation of a Diversity Plan

• Focus on key elements of the Strategic Economic Development Plan • C Street to F Street Boardwalk Site (city-owned) • Canopy walk • New city marketing strategy • Newly adopted General Plan and Zoning Code

• Improvement of public perception; bridge building • Support local and regional marketing efforts; brand

development • Familiarization with social issues including

homelessness, housing, opioid addiction, mental health issues and their impact on Eureka

• Begin periodic evaluation of existing operating systems and eliminate or reduce unnecessary or redundant processes

• Develop relationships with a variety of community groups to enhance a broad understanding of Eureka

• Further the development of a relationship with the County

• Continue to support a smooth transition of cannabis business into the community

• Become familiar with the disaster preparedness plan

Background and

Experience Required: A combination of education and

experience equal to a

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s

degree is desired) in public

administration, or similar field

and at least seven years of

broad and extensive experience

in municipal government with

five years of experience in the

capacity of City Manager,

Assistant/Deputy City Manager,

Department Director or senior

executive for a similar public

sector organization.

The Manager shall have the

knowledge of: the principles

and practices of public

administration including council/

manager municipal government

structure; government

budgeting and financial

administration; laws, rules,

regulations, court rulings and

legislated mandates affecting

municipal government;

personnel administration and

labor relations; and current

social, political and economic

trends and operating issues of

municipal government.

Experience working in a diverse

city experiencing a significant

period of change would be

ideal.

Strong Emphasis/ Knowledge/Experience • Budget preparation and

presentation

• Budget policy and structure

tied to strategic planning

• Formal reporting and liaison

with elected officials

• Economic, downtown, and

housing development and

redevelopment

• Performance evaluation,

staff development, team

building

• Strategic Planning

Ideal Candidate The City is seeking an open, collaborative, confident

leader to be their next City Manager. The person

hired will be a visionary combined with a pragmatic

ability to also move themselves and others in that

direction. They will be an excellent communicator

who displays empathy, listening skills, and can relate

with all types of personalities. The next Manager will

be comfortable taking risks to enhance the

organization and community.

Specific Leadership/Management Attributes

Sought:

• Friendly, supportive, objective but trusting when considering facts and making decisions

• Balance competing demands from subordinates and maintain a universal view of impacts

• Democratic but unafraid to make difficult calls • Genuine care for the workforce

• Allows people to play to their strengths • Calm and resolute

• Engaging and easy to get along with • Empathetic but analytical

• Community oriented and personable • Willingness to evaluate existing systems and to

eliminate or reduce unnecessary or redundant processes with the good of the community in

mind

• Emphasizes team building and working together to solve problems.

• Makes tough decisions while addressing issues immediately

• Sees the big picture and knows how to motivate people to move in that direction.

• Values transparency -- Open relationship with the media and citizens

• Appropriately and successfully balance the priorities of an ever-changing City Council while

also prioritizing the needs and welfare of the City's employees

• Good sense of humor

Process Details Salary Range: $155K - $175K

To apply, e-mail resume, a compelling letter of interest

and five references to EurekaCM@hue.life by 8/31/19.

Following the filing deadline, resumes will be screened

according to the qualifications outlined. The most

qualified candidates will be invited to a screening

interviews with HueLife. Finalist interviews will be held

with Council and at the City of Eureka. Semi-finalist

applications will be presented to the City on September

24. References will be contacted only following

candidate permission and selection as a finalist. Final

interviews Oct 11&12. Please direct

questions to Richard Fursman at

Richard.fursman@hue.life

or (651) 338-2533. For additional information about

Eureka please visit: www.ci.eureka.ca.gov

Out of Town Candidates: The City will reimburse usual and

customary travel related expenses for out of town candidates

coming to Eureka for interviews. Candidates will also be

provided lodging if needed/desired.