The City of Sequim will partner with Colin Baenziger & Associates out of Richland to help recruit Sequim’s next City Manager following Steve Burkett’s decision to retire later this year.

City Councilors unanimously approved a contract worth $23,200 with Baenziger at their meeting on Monday, Feb. 23.

City staff and councilors met with Colin Baenziger & Associates and The Prothman Company out of Issaquah on Feb. 12 via Skype after narrowing their decision from seven firms to two on Feb. 9.

Susanne Connelly, Sequim human resources director, said after looking into the companies they didn’t hear any negative feedback and that their costs are comparable.

Prothman Company wanted an $18,500 base fee plus expenses totaling about $4,500-$5,000.

Baenziger’s contract does not include travel expenses for potential city manager candidates.

Councilor Ted Miller said the critical decision-maker for him was that Baenziger offered each councilor the chance to meet with a candidate one-on-one for 40 minutes.

Burkett and Connelly spoke with both firms’ references and were told Baenziger was thorough in its background investigation and has gained more contacts in the Pacific Northwest in recent years.

Through the recruitment process, both Baenziger and Prothman narrow the candidates list to 10 semi-finalists. Baenziger performs background checks on all of the candidates and narrows the list to five or six candidates whereas Prothman performs the check after narrowing the list to five or six candidates.

Before voting on Feb. 23, Councilor Erik Erichsen said he wanted as comprehensive amount of information as possible on the candidates.

Burkett said the next steps in the process are for Baenziger to sign a contract and search a firm to come and build a profile of who City Councilors want to hire.

Tentatively, Baenziger will meet with the city council and stakeholders about the city manager position challenges by or before March 11 before submitting a draft of the full recruitment profile on March 17 before posting the position by March 27.

Connelly said they tentatively plan to interview candidates in mid-June.

Burkett was hired in October 2009 and said after the city hall/police station was finished it would be a good time to retire. He was hired after city councilors withdrew an offer to Vernon Stoner of Olympia, after sexual harassment allegations arose against him.