HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 25D25D
City Council Meeting Correspondence
3/19/2019
APPROVE AGREEMENT TO APPOINT KRISTINE RIDGE AS CITY MANAGER EFFECTIVE MAY 1,
2019 - Human Resources Department
Date of Name Representative of In Favor In Opposition Comment
Correspondence of RA'. of RA.'
3/18/2019 Tim Johnson Santa Ana Resident Yes
TOTAL:
*RA - Recommended Action
Tuesday, March 19, 2019 Page 1 of 1
Lopez, Kenia
From:
Tim Johnson <
Sent:
Monday, March 18, 2019 5:59 PM
To:
eComment
Cc:
Pulido, Miguel; Iglesias, Cecilia; Solorio, Jose; Penaloza, David; Villegas, Juan; Sarmiento,
Vicente
Subject:
Agenda Item 25D (City Manager)
City Council Members, I am writing about agenda item 25D, the proposed appointment of Kristine Ridge as city
manager. As you know, city manager is the chief executive for our city- one of the most important, if not the most
important, positions in the city although I feel they are all important. With a position of such importance, I personally
feel that the hiring of this position needs the utmost due diligence and an open/transparent process. A process to
where not only the council members who will vote on the position will have all of the information for an informed
decision but also a process that involves the community and allows the potential city manager to publicly indicate their
own thoughts on the position and the future of our city. Unfortunately, I do not believe that to be the case with the
proposed hiring of Ms. Ridge- at least the public portion of that process.
I do not have anything against Ms. Ridge. She appears to be qualified for the position but this is just based upon the
limited amount that I have read and not through any formal process or specifics regarding Santa Ana. In fact, I have
heard good things about her. However, I likely do not have the information that I would want in hand if I were making a
choice. Ms. Ridge may be the exact right person for this position. In fact, I pray that she is indeed the right person as it
seems that she is on the path to being appointed by this council as our next city manager.
The process should matter though. Obviously, you have had an ad hoc committee and they are recommending Ms.
Ridge so at least three of you are already on board with her. Presumably, further discussion has taken place regarding
the position/appointment in closed session. However, very little to no discussion has been had in public. No public due
diligence has taken place. No apparent statewide/nationwide search has occurred. No public interview questions. No
public involvement in the vetting of the position. No public stances on what she sees the vision and strategy of the city
should be. Again, the process should matter.
Every one of your voices should also matter yet we have not heard those voices speak on this topic. We do not know
what is important to you and how Ms. Ridge may be the best for the city. Further, we will not hear those voices if this
item remains on the consent agenda. Obviously, it only takes one council member to pull the item from the consent
agenda. I urge at least one of you to do that. Then, I would encourage one of those on the ad hoc committee to give
background information about Ms. Ridge and what you have learned about what her plans for the city are. I also
encourage each of you to speak into Ms. Ridge as to why you believe she is the best (or maybe why she is not if that is
how you feel), how she became the ad hoc committee's selection, how many others you considered and ultimately
interviewed, and let the residents know the process.
Further, I would encourage you to consider continuing this item until such a time that the community may have an
opportunity to ask Ms. Ridge some questions and also allow Ms. Ridge to publicly comment on what her vision of the
city would be working with our council. Maybe we are too far along in this process to do this, but again, this is one of
the most important positions in the city and should be well thought out. If we want to have an open and transparent
process, this should happen- if it is not a goal to do that, it is your choice.. Obviously, our city charter does not require
this but instead allows the city council to simply appoint. However, with a position this important and our recent history
with city managers, I believe that having community buy in with our next city manager should be encouraged and also a
desire of each of you.
I pray that each of you have the guidance you need to make quality decisions for our city as a whole, today and well into
the future.
Tim Johnson
Resident of Santa Ana