TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Cathy Hanson, Director of Human Resources
Robert Espinosa, Fire Chief
Mark Leyman, Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:Title
Contract with Messina & Associates in the Amount Not to Exceed $55,000 for Succession Planning Development, Team Building, Coaching and Career Counseling for multiple City Departments (Human Resources Director Hanson).
APPROVE
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement between the City and Messina and Associates for succession planning development, team building, coaching and career counseling, for an amount not to exceed $55,000.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Sufficient funds are budgeted in the FY 2014-2015 Human Resources and Fire Department Budgets.
BACKGROUND:
Messina and Associates was contracted to work with the City to develop a basic Succession Development Plan (SDP) for the City as part of the City Council's Work Plan. Through this work, Mr. Messina also provided team building sessions for multiple City departments, training on small group problem solving and coaching, as well as career counseling for promotional opportunities in the Fire Department.
DISCUSSION:
In 2012, Mr. Messina began working with the Executive Management Team to evaluate and develop a plan for replacing employees that would likely be retiring in the near future, since approximately 38% of the City's first line supervisors and above are within 5 years of retirement, or can retire now. As he continued to work with the Executive Management Team to build an SDP, it became apparent that individual departments could benefit by working with Mr. Messina given their individual challenges and needs. For example, Mr. Messina conducted team building sessions with the Fire Department Command Staff and performed three group career counseling sessions for Fire Captains to help them prepare for promotional opportunities since two Battalion Chief retirements are expected in the next 18 months. Mr. Messina was an interview panelist for the last Battalion Chiefs promotion examination and provided input for the selection of our newest Chief Officer.
Mr. Messina also worked with managers in the Parks and Recreation Department to help them work together more effectively and efficiently upon the arrival of new management members, including a new department director.
The departments that have worked with Mr. Messina have found his training to be worthwhile and his counseling/coaching to be invaluable. As such, he has developed a rapport and earned the trust of many employees citywide.
Utilizing an outside consultant is desirable at times as they supplement in-house resources, offer related outside experiences, bring new ideas, are not personally impacted by the decisions made so they can facilitate difficult discussions, and bring a sense of credibility and validation to the process.
Mr. Messina has a postgraduate degree in business, education and experience in progressive leadership techniques, a background in public safety, experience consulting in the public sector, and a good understanding of the culture at the City of Manhattan Beach.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement between the City and Messina and Associates for succession planning development, team building, coaching and career counseling, for an amount not to exceed $55,000.
Attachment:
1. Messina and Associates Contract