City of Dubuque City Council Special Meeting Packet Summary
Meeting Overview
Public Body: City of Dubuque
Meeting Body: City Council
Meeting Type: Special Session
Meeting Date: August 18, 2026
Meeting Time: 5:15 PM CDT
Meeting Location: Historic Federal Building, 350 W. 6th Street, Second-Floor Council Chambers
Purpose of the Meeting
The City Council special session focuses on the next steps in the process to select a firm for City Manager Executive Recruitment Services.
City staff provided the Council with the proposals received in response to the City’s Request for Proposals (RFP) and requested direction on how the proposals should be evaluated and vetted.
The packet indicates that this meeting is intended for review and discussion of the submitted recruitment proposals rather than selection of a final recruitment firm.
Main Agenda Item
City Manager Executive Recruitment RFP Submissions
Background
The City of Dubuque solicited proposals for City Manager Executive Recruitment Services from July 1, 2026, through August 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST.
The vendor question deadline was July 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST. Two questions were received, and Addendum No. 1 was issued and posted on July 15, 2026.
The City received nine proposals from executive recruitment firms.
The proposals were compiled and provided to the City Council for review. The packet notes that the summary comparison chart is provided for convenience, but the full proposals should be reviewed when evaluating firms.
Firms Submitting Proposals
The nine firms listed in the packet are:
- Bob Murray & Associates
- BOLD15 Executive Search & Consulting
- CPS HR Consulting
- Encode, Inc.
- GMP Consultants
- Goodwin Recruiting
- MGT Impact Solutions, LLC
- Strategic Government Resources (SGR)
- WBCP, Inc.
Council Direction Requested
Staff requested Council direction on the preferred approach for evaluating and vetting the recruitment proposals.
The Council may choose between two approaches:
Option 1: Full Council Evaluation
The full City Council would participate in the evaluation and vetting process for the submitted proposals.
Option 2: Council Committee Evaluation
The Council may appoint two Council members to participate with staff in reviewing and evaluating the proposals.
Under this approach, the committee would return to the full Council with a recommendation for a recruitment firm at the September 21, 2026 City Council meeting.
The anticipated staff participants listed in the packet are:
- City Attorney, Crenna Brumwell
- Chief Human Resources Officer, Shelley Stickfort
- Talent Acquisition Manager, Kristen Dietz
- City Clerk, Adrienne Breitfelder
- Assistant City Manager, Cori Burbach
Proposal Comparison Highlights
The packet includes a comparison chart reviewing proposal factors such as:
- Professional fees
- Expenses and expense limits
- Estimated timelines
- Replacement guarantees
- Municipal and Midwest experience
- On-site visits
- Background checks
- Advertising approaches
- Stakeholder engagement methods
Bob Murray & Associates
Highlights listed in the comparison chart:
- National recruitment firm experience
- Experience conducting City Manager searches
- Two on-site days included
- Estimated timeline of approximately 13–16 weeks
- Includes diversity outreach efforts
- Includes stakeholder engagement options such as virtual input, surveys, and town halls
BOLD15 Executive Search & Consulting
Highlights listed in the comparison chart:
- Fixed professional fee listed at $38,000
- Expense cap listed at $4,500
- Total estimated cost listed at $42,500
- Estimated timeline from September 2026 through April 2027
- Municipal search experience with a Council–Manager focus
- Includes public forums, surveys, and focus groups
CPS HR Consulting
Highlights listed in the comparison chart:
- Fixed flat fee listed at $30,000
- Additional travel costs may apply
- Estimated timeline of approximately 14–16 weeks
- Experience with recent City Manager searches
- Includes reference and background checks
- Includes targeted advertising approaches
Encode, Inc.
Highlights listed in the comparison chart:
- Fixed fee listed at $45,000
- Travel expenses capped separately
- Estimated timeline of approximately 12–14 weeks
- Includes advertising through multiple platforms and diversity networks
- Includes stakeholder engagement with Council and staff
The packet also includes additional comparison information for the remaining submitted firms.
Key Discussion Themes
Selecting an Evaluation Process
The primary decision point presented to Council is how the City should organize its review of recruitment firms.
The Council is being asked to determine whether:
- All Council members should participate directly in proposal evaluation, or
- A smaller Council committee should work with staff and return with a recommendation.
Reviewing Recruitment Approaches
The submitted proposals vary in areas including:
- Search timelines
- Candidate outreach strategies
- Community and stakeholder engagement
- Background-check processes
- Recruitment guarantees
- Cost structures
Preparing for the City Manager Search Process
The review of recruitment firms represents an early step in establishing the process for identifying candidates for the City Manager position.
The packet indicates that Council direction will guide the next phase of proposal review and evaluation.
What Happens Next
Based on the packet materials:
- City Council will provide direction on the preferred evaluation and vetting approach.
- If a Council committee is selected, committee members and staff will review proposals and prepare a recommendation.
- A recommendation for a recruitment firm is anticipated to return to the full City Council on September 21, 2026.
The City of Dubuque is beginning the process of selecting an executive recruitment firm to assist with the City Manager search.
At this meeting, the Council’s focus is on deciding how to evaluate the firms that submitted proposals, not selecting a final candidate for City Manager.
The decision will shape how the City reviews recruitment options, gathers input, and moves forward with the executive search process.
