HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved interim appointment of David Kiff to the position o PPROVL:D —
4 _ City of Huntington Beach
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File #: 19-577 MEETING DATE: 5/20/2019
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, Interim City Manager
PREPARED BY: Michele Warren, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
Approve the interim appointment of David Kiff to the position of City Manager until the
ongoing national recruitment process is completed
Statement of Issue:
The City is in the process of conducting a nationwide recruitment to fill the City Manager vacancy
created by former long-term City Manager Fred A. Wilson's retirement effective May 10, 2019.
Interim City Manager Lori Ann Farrell-Harrison will depart to become the City Manager of Costa Mesa
effective June 7, 2019. The City intends to temporarily appoint David Kiff as the Interim City Manager
until the City Council concludes the recruitment process.
Financial Impact:
No additional appropriation is requested.
Recommended Action:
Approve and authorize the appointment of David Kiff to the position of Interim City Manager.
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the Interim City Manager appointment and direct Staff to present an alternative
solution
Analysis:
City Manager Fred A. Wilson retired from City service on May 10, 2019. The City is in the process of
conducting a nationwide recruitment to fill the position. Lori Ann Farrell-Harrison will serve as the
Interim City Manager through June 7, 2019, when she will depart to become the City Manager of the
City of Costa Mesa. It is recommended that David Kiff be appointed to serve as the Interim City
Manager until the City Council concludes the ongoing national recruitment to fill the vacancy.
The City Manager has authorized the Office of Human Resources to launch a national recruitment for
the vacant position. It is anticipated that the position will be filled by late August or early September
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 2 Printed on 5/15/2019
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File #: 19-577 MEETING DATE: 5/20/2019
2019.
It is recommended that David Kiff fill the interim assignment until the recruitment is concluded. Mr.
Kiff recently served as Interim Executive Director of the Association of Cities and Counties-Orange
County (ACC-OC). Mr. Kiff served as the City Manager of the City of Newport Beach for nine (9)
years. Prior to his service to Newport Beach, Mr. Kiff has held a variety of Executive-Level
assignments including, Assistant to the City Manager in the City of Orange, Executive Assistant to the
Orange County Board of Supervisors, staff consultant to the California State Senate, service as a
California State Senate Fellow as well as service for the California Governor's Office of Community
Relations.
Mr. Kiff holds a Master of Government Administration from the University of Pennsylvania and a
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University - Sacramento. Mr.
Kiff has served on a variety of affiliated professional boards and commissions including, Orange
County City Managers Association, Orange County Commission to End Homelessness, OC Housing
Finance Trust, League of Cities' City Manager's Task Force on Pension Reform, League of Cities'
Committee on Human Resources and Labor Relations.
The hourly compensation is $128.29 with no City-provided benefits. The interim appointment of Mr.
Kiff is compliant with California Government Code Sections 7522.56 and 21221(h).
Environmental Status:
N/A
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and maintain high quality City services
Attachment(s):
1. David A. Kiff Resume
City of Huntington Beach Page 2 of 2 Printed on 5/15/2019
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DAVID A. KIFF
EXPERIENCE:
SEPTEMBER 2018 TO MAY 2019(est)
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF CA CITIES— ORANGE COUNTY
Filled a gap between executive directors for this small non-profit that consists of member cities who
collectively work on legislative advocacy, municipal training and education, and networking. Served a
board of 15 elected local officials. Key focus was helping start up the Orange County Housing Finance
Trust (County of Orange plus all of OC cities eligible)to help fund homelessness solutions and new
supportive housing units. I am now assisting in hiring my replacement.
AUGUST 2009 TO AUGUST 2018
CITY MANAGER, CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH,CA
I started work at the City of Newport Beach in January 1998, and served as City Manager from 2009 to
2018. We weathered the Great Recession via restructuring and always had a balanced budget. The
City's budget is about$300M/year with about 725 full-time staff, including police,fire/EMS, IT, building
and planning, lifeguards, public works, library, parks and recreation, senior services, human resources,
finance and admin,water and wastewater utility, harbor, and even oil wells.
Before Newport Beach, I was Assistant to the City Manager in Orange,CA (1996-1998), an Executive
Assistant to the Orange County Board of Supervisors(1994-1996), a staff consultant to the California
State Senate Committee on Local Government(1989-1993), a California State Senate Fellow(1988-
89), and worked for the CA Governor's Office of Community Relations(1988).
EDUCATION:
MAY 1994
MASTER OF GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION, FELS SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT,UNIVERSITY OF
PENNSYLVANIA, Philadelphia PA,Fels Scholarship
MAY 1988
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, CSU SACRAMENTO
Public management specialty
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
• Orange County City Managers Association— • League of CA Cities' CMs Task Force on
President 2017-18, Vice-President 2016-17 Pension Reform (2017)
• Orange County Commission to End • League of CA Cities Committee on HR and
Homelessness (representing OC's city managers Labor Relations (2014-15)
—2015-2018) • Administrative Hearing Officer(2018-
• OC Housing Finance Trust establishment current)
working group (Nov 2018—current)
• OC Point in Time Count Volunteer—2015, 2017
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MORE ABOUT ME:
At the end of August 2018, I officially retired from permanent city manager life,but municipal
governments' issues are still interesting and challenging to me.
I think I bring these skills to the table:
• An ability to understand the politics and political needs of elected officials as well as the role of staff,
but also an ability to understand what needs to be done to make or keep an organization successful.
• The analytical and research skills to recommend achievable and understandable solutions, even to
very challenging issues.
• Specific and direct knowledge (from a city manager's perspective) of financial issues, budget
reduction strategies, pension strategies, housing and homelessness solutions, airport issues,water
quality, annexations, Coastal Commission issues, beach city issues and more.
• Good writing skills, strong editing skills, and solid presentation skills.
• An ability to stay friendly, optimistic, calm and empathetic in nearly all situations.
• An ability to be candid and direct as to problems and solutions but in a nice way.
• A respect and admiration for(and understanding of)the Council—Manager form of government.
• Honesty, integrity, and transparency.
• An ability to work either as a Team Member or a Team Leader,sometimes within the same team
when needed.
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