CR 05-009 Appoint City Manager - Getschow
January 4, 2005
Council Report 2005-009
APPOINT CITY MANAGER
Proposed Action
Move that the Hopkins City Council appoint Richard B. Getschow as Hopkins City Manager.
Approval ofthis motion will officially appoint Mr. Getschow as City Manager.
Overview
Steve Mielke left in June of 2004. Since that time the City Council has undertaken an extensive
process to replace him. It began with gathering information from the Council, city employees,
former Council members and others on what qualities and experience a candidate for Hopkins City
Manager should possess.
Advertising and recruitment took place in September and October eventually attracting candidates
from as far away as Vermont. The City Council, in November, narrowed the field to five.
There were two days of interviews with the candidates in early December. They met with city
employees, former council members, and board and commission members. The Council spent an
entire day interviewing the five candidates. On December 21 the City Council held another
interview with three of the candidates.
The City Council decided to offer the position of City Manager to Richard Getschow. The Council
authorized the City's consultant, Jim Brimeyer, to negotiate a contract with Mr. Getschow. The
contract has been completed and accepted. Mr. Getschow is scheduled to begin on January 31.
Backeround
Mr. Getschow is currently the City Administrator of Lauderdale, Minnesota. He has been there since
1998. Prior to that, he was City Administrator of Hector, Minnesota for two years.
Mr. Getschow has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin,
Milwaukee.
December 29, 2004
Richard B Getschow
5524 15th Avenue So
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Dear Rick:
Congratulations on your appointment as City Manager for the City of Hopkins Your selection by the
Council was enthusiastic and they are looking forward to your becoming part of the management team,
The following will serve to confirm our conversations over the past few days and will outline the terms
and conditions of your employment.
Start Date:
You will begin employment on January 31,2005,
Compensation, Performance
Evaluation: Your beginning annual salary will be $93,000, You will receive a performance
evaluation after six months of employment and following a satisfactory
evaluation, your salary will be adjusted to Step C within Range 13. You will
receive a performance evaluation at twelve months of employment and
annually thereafter. Salary adjustments will be granted at the same time as for
other management employees and are subject to Council approval and a
satisfactory performance evaluation.
Retirement:
You are currently a member of the Public Employees Retirement Association
(PERA) and will continue in PERA.
Insurance:
You will be provided insurance coverages at the same rate as for other city
employees. It is suggested that you call Jim Genellie for enrollment
information. He will be able to explain the city's flex benefit plan, the options
to obtain disability insurance, and the options for medical, dental and life
msurance coverages.
Holidays:
You will be granted the same number of holidays as other city employees,
Flex Leave
Upon employment you will be given five days of flex leave and credit for five
years of service on the city's flex leave and will accumulate leave per the city's
policy.
Automobile Expenses:
You will be give a $450 per month car allowance for the use of your personal
car while on city business
You will be reimbursed for business expenses and related expenses incurred
while conducting city business utilizing the budget allocation and per the city
policy.
Page 2
Dues, Conferences,
Subscriptions:
The city will pay for dues and related membership costs to professional
organizations, conferences, seminars and other training and development
opportunities, subject to budget consideration and Council approval.
Appropriate organizations include, but are not limited to: the International
City/County Management Association, League of Minnesota Cities, and the
Minnesota City/County Management Association.
Relocation:
Should you decide to relocate to the city of Hopkins, you are asked to obtain
three quotes for services to relocate your household goods from your current
residence to the city of Hopkins, The city will pay the selected vendor directly,
Should you voluntarily leave the city employment, this relocation expense will
be repaid per the following schedule: if within the fIrst after payment has been
made - 100%; if within the second year after payment has been made - 50%; if
within the third year after payment has been made - 25%; thereafter - 0%.
Terms and Conditions: You will serve at the will of the Council and may be terminated with or without
cause at any time, Any of the following will constitute termination with cause
and would result in no severance:
1. Willful neglect of duty.
2. Gross inefflciency or incompetence in offIce that you have failed to correct
after a reasonable written notice,
3, Malfeasance in office,
Should the Council terminate your employment without cause, you will receive
six months severance compensation.
Once again, congratulations. I am sure you will do an excellent job for the City of Hopkins,
Very truly yours,
James L. Brimeyer
Accepted by: Richard B Getschow
Date