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Home My WebLink About2012-08-27 Council Packet - Special MeetingAGENDA KENAI CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012 5:30 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 210 FIDALGO AVENUE, KENAI, ALASKA, 99611 CALL TO ORDER 1. Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call 3. Agenda Approval PUBLIC COMMENTS (Public comment limited to three speaker; thirty (30) minutes aggregated) (3) minutes per Opening BIurb: The purpose of this meeting is to conduct interviews with three applicants for the City Attorney Position. The interviews are open to the public. We will interview candidates in the following order: Bob Owens, then Theresa Hillhouse, and then Mr. Scott Bloom. NEW BUSINESS 1. Interviews of City Attorney Candidates (Scott Bloom, Theresa Hillhouse, Robert Owens) 2. Review and Discussion of City Attorney Candidates [Clerk's Note: An executive session may be held regarding subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person to discuss the City Attorney candidate interviews (AS44.62.310(c)(2).] MOTION: I move to enter into executive session regarding subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person to discuss the City Attorney candidate interviews. 3. Discussion /Action -- Direction Regarding City Attorney Recruitment Motion Opt 1 move to offer the position of City Attorney to and to appoint a committee to review salary and negotiate a contract, City of Kenai Meeting Agenda Page 1 of 2 August 27, 2012 with the City Attorney working closely with the committee and applicant to do so. I move to offer the position of City Attorney to and direct the City Attorney to negotiate a contract, 4. Discussion /Action -- City Attorney Transition ADJOURNMENT* *Council may move to adjourn until August 29, 2012, at 5:30 p.m., to continue unfinished business of the August 27, 2012, Special Meeting. MOTION: I move we adjourn to meet on Wednesday, August 27, at 5,30 p.m. to continue the business of this evening's meeting. All meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged. Agendas and supporting documents are posted on the City's website at www.ci.kenai.ak.us . For additional information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 907- 283 -7535 ext 231. City of Kenai Meeting Agenda Page 2 of 2 August 27, 2012 APPLICANT: 1. Each of the applicants the City is interviewing has municipal law experience and has worked in municipal government for some time. Can you generally describe your experience and history in practicing municipal law? Follow up questions: What different types of individuals or agencies have you typically advised (boards of adjustment, department heads, governing bodies, "independent" agencies)? Who have you tended to work most closely with in government? 2. What is your biggest strength practicing municipal law? 3. One of the core proficiencies of a municipal lawyer is to have a good working knowledge of some of the unique rules and laws that apply to doing business in government such as due process, open meetings, and public records issues. Can you tell us about your experience with these types of rules and laws in your work? 4. Please tell us about a time when you have given advice to a governing body or another client and you have known that the advice you were going to give was going to be unpopular. Elicit information: How have you proceeded? What did they do? 5. Can you give us an example of when you have given advice to a department head or perhaps a manager or clerk and they wouldn't take your advice? How did you handle it and how did it work out. 6. What is one of the most complex municipal legal issues that you have had to deal with? 7. Can you give an example of time when you received contradictory direction from your client groups, such as if you felt you were getting conflicting direction from the Council and Administration? blow did you handle it and how did it work out? 8. Tell us about your experience in overseeing the work of outside counsel or consultants (or equivalent type of work)? 9. Ijow about your experience in supervising non - attorneys. Can you tell us a little about your experience there? What do you find most rewarding /frustrating about supervising employees? 10. Personnel and employment issues tend to be the most sensitive issues many employers, including public employers, have to deal with. Would you tell us about the types of personnel issues you have dealt with and any limitations you would have in this area as the City Attorney? 11. What about other litigation and administrative law experience? Can you please tell us about your litigation experience? What types of matters you have handled? Interview Questions Kenai City Attorney Position Page 2 Follow up questions: How frequently do you appear in court (now or in prior experiences)? Is this something you consider one of your strengths? 12. Tell us about your experience advising administrative bodies, like boards of adjustment, in your work, past or present? Follow up questions: What do you view as your role when working as an attorney to the Board? Do you have experience on the other side of the dais, making presentation to Boards or agencies? 13. Part of the work of the City Attorney involves prosecuting minor traffic offenses and Code violations. Can you describe your experience in these areas? Consider following up questions: Has this experience been using mainly civil process or using criminal or quasi - criminal process, or both? And, if the applicant does not have experience in criminal prosecutions, you could ask what other experience that they have that would enable them you to handle these types of matters. 14. Describe your experience drafting or reviewing contracts relevant to municipal work (professional services, construction, property sale, purchase or leasing, easement documents, etc.). Do you have experience in handling real estate matters such as drafting easements and advising on lease administration and drafting? Consider follow up questions: What percentage of your work involves this kind of work now, or in the past? Can you give us an example of the types of contracts you regularly review or draft in your municipal work? Interview Questions Kenai City Attorney Position Page 3 15. Do you consider yourself good at legislative drafting? What challenges do find unique to this kind of drafting work Follow up questions: Is this work a regular part of your work? Perhaps have applicant give examples of the types of ordinances and resolutions they tend to work on. 16. What are your biggest challenges explaining legal issues to non attorneys? What techniques or approaches do you use to be effective? 17. What are your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to public speaking? Consider follow up questions: Do you consider yourself good on your feet, able to address unexpected questions on the spot, for instance, whether from a court or council? Do you have experience speaking before groups, such as doing in -house trainings or continuing education? 18. What techniques do you use to stay organized, meet deadlines, and manage individual projects and a varied work load? 19. Do you have any questions for us about the position or the work? Interview Questions Kenai City Attorney Position Page 4 NOTES FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS: Other impressions of applicant that are not reflected above and that are relevant to the Essential Duties and Responsibilities and Qualifications for this position of the City Attorney? ULeglDept \Atty\tec uit2012\ JobSearchInfo Ainterview.questions.082512 Interview Questions Kenai City Attorney Position Page 5 Name Scale is 1 -10 Scott Bloom Notes: Municipal Law Experience Breadth Civil Experience City Attorney Evaluation Matrix Core Comp. 'Core Comp. 'Core Comp. Contract Law Employ. Law ILeg. Drafting Core Comp. 'Core Comp. 'Core Comp. Admin. Law Litigation Code Enf. /Viol. Govern. Body 'Interview Experience 1.5 1.5 Other 'Total 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Theresa Hillhouse 1 Notes: Robert Owens Notes: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Scale is rated on 1 through 10. You may use half numbers such as "6.5 ". Weighted categories reflect the importance of the category and include a multiplier for your rating (multiply rating of 6 by 1.5 for a total of 9, for example). The category "Other" is to provide an opportunity to weight on other experience of the applicant that you find relevant /desirable (based upon job description) but not specifically measured on the matrix. "Core Comp." means "Core Competency." It is a vehicle to evaluate specific areas of substantive law that the City Attorney regularly works in. ITBLISHER'S AFFIDAVIT UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATE OF ALASKA s Denise Reece being first duly sworn, on oath deposes and says: That 1 am and was at all times here in this affidavit mentions, Supervisor of Legais of the Peninsula Clarion, a news- paper of general circulation and published at Kenai, Alaska, that the Council Special Meeting PO 1199490 a printed copy of which is hereto annexed was published in said paper one each and every day for one successive and consecutive day in the issues on the following dates: August 24, 2012 SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to me before this 24th day of August 2012 NOTARY PUBLIC in favor for the State of Alaska. My Commission expires 26- Aug -12 AGENDA KENAI CITY COUNCIL - SPECIA't. MEETING AUGUST 27, 2012 5 :30 P.M. KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 210 FIDALGO AVENUE, KENAI, ALASKA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMENTS (Public comment limited to three (3) minutes per speaker; thirty (30) minutes aggregated) NEW BUSINESS 1. Interviews of City Attorney Candidates (Scott Bloom, Theresa Hillhouse, Robert Owens) 2. Review and Discussion of City Attorney Candidates /Clerk's Note: An executing „session may be held regarding subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person to discuss the City Attorney candidate interviews [A 544.52,310(c)(21J 3. Discussion /Action -- Direction Regarding City Attorney Recruitment 4. Discussion /Action — City Attorney Transition ADJOURNMENT” `Council may move to adjourn until August 29, 2012, at 5:30 p.m.. to continue unfinished business of the August 27, 2012, Special The public is invited to attend and participate. Additional informatio available through the City Clerk's office at 210 Ftdalgo Avenue, or by visiting our website at httpJfwwv/J,c1 en4),_p, k.ua Sandra, CMC, City Clerk P4 RUssk, S NOTARY (� �w PUBLIC k OFt\N} 0376/211