How community engagement transformed Kalamazoo’s City Manager recruitment

The benefits of genuine engagement far outweigh the logistical hurdles. When executed effectively, it fosters transparency, builds a deeper understanding of local issues, and ensures that government decisions are both inclusive and sustainable.  

Breaking the “closed-door” tradition

Under the Council-Manager form of government, Commissions and Councils typically make three critical appointments: the Attorney, the Clerk, and the Manager. Traditionally, these high-stakes decisions occur behind closed doors with minimal public oversight.  

The City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, chose a different path. During its recent City Manager recruitment, the City moved beyond the status quo, implementing a comprehensive engagement strategy that put residents at the heart of the process.  

The Kalamazoo model: A four-month roadmap

Over a four-month period, Kalamazoo utilized six strategic methods to ensure the community’s voice was heard from the initial consultant selection to the final interview. 

• Continuous public comment: Residents were invited to provide feedback during City Commission meetings throughout the recruitment cycle, ensuring the process remained dynamic and responsive. 
• Multilingual accessibility: To bridge communication gaps, the City launched electronic and paper surveys in multiple languages, resulting in over 430 responses. 
• Continuous transparency: A dedicated recruitment webpage centralized all information related to the recruitment process and timing. 
• Targeted stakeholder dialogues: The recruitment firm facilitated in-person sessions with 20 key community stakeholders, identifying the specific leadership traits required for the next City Manager. 
• Grassroots neighborhood discussions: In a powerful display of civic ownership, residents independently organized and facilitated their own neighborhood meetings to gather peer input on the ideal candidate. 
• The public finalist meet-and-greet: Perhaps, the most vital step was a public forum held on the eve of final interviews. Designed for maximum accessibility—held in the evening with a childcare-friendly space—this event allowed hundreds of residents to engage one-on-one with the final four candidates.

Kalamazoo’s process revealed five essential truths for successful executive recruitment: 

1. Environment is strategy: The physical space of a meeting dictates the comfort and diversity of the attendees. 
2. Timing is essential: Scheduling events around the lives of working citizens is the only way to ensure quality participation. 
3. Transparency builds literacy: When residents see the “how” of a process, they better understand the “why” of the result. 
4. Inclusivity drives quality: Broad perspectives lead to more resilient and well-rounded hiring decisions. 
5. Agency matters: Residents don’t just want to be informed; they want to be partners in the decision-making process. 

As trust in national institutions wavers, Kalamazoo has provided a blueprint for local resilience. By grounding their City Manager search in listening and partnership, they didn’t just hire a new executive—they rebuilt the community’s trust in the governing process itself. 

Interested in how this could work for your community? Reach out to Pamela Wideman at pwideman@raftelis.com.