Will council use same firm for Iowa City manager search?

IOWA CITY - The City Council will meet Feb. 1 for an initial discussion on the search for a new city manager.

Several council members said one of their first decisions would be whether to retain the PAR Group, the search firm hired to conduct the last search in 2007-08.

The person hired in that time, Michael Lombardo, was fired after less than a year. The city's contract entitles the city to use PAR again and only pay expenses because Lombardo didn't last a year. The search cost about $41,500, with $15,000 of it PAR's base fee.

Given the economy, several council members said they expect to again use the Lake Bluff, Ill.-based company.

That last search certainly wasn't lacking some drama. 

The City Council, which ran the search, brought in one group of candidates for interviews and public forums. They couldn't agree on whom to hire, so they brought in another slate of finalists who also were publicly identified. From that group, the council chose Lombardo.

Mayor Regenia Bailey said it was possible the way that last search unfolded and Lombardo's quick dismissal could keep some top candidates from applying. Council member Matt Hayek said he wasn't worried because Iowa City is an attractive community to live in and the job is a good one.

Jeff Schott, a former Marion city manager who is now program director at the University of Iowa's Institute of Public Affairs, agreed with Hayek on that last point.

"It's certainly going to be a question that will be raised by candidates, but you would think the search firm should be able to explain that,” he said