Bellevue to hold public city manager interview process

Published July 30 2024

Community members invited to submit interview questions and take part in public forums

The City of Bellevue is inviting the community to suggest interview questions for upcoming public interviews to select the city's permanent city manager. In a council-manager form of government, one of the roles of the City Council is to select a city manager to lead the operations of the organization. It has been more than a decade since the council last undertook this process.

Bellevue community members can now offer interview questions they would like asked of the city manager candidate at City Manager Hiring Process. Members of the public can suggest up to two interview questions that city staff will compile and narrow to the final number of questions to be asked at two public interview forums. The form will be open until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 27.

The council voted March 4 to develop a candidate profile with feedback from the public. The profile revealed the skills, experience and leadership qualities the community wants in their next city manager, which was incorporated in a job brochure for the role. The council then voted on May 28 to adopt the city manager profile and proceed with a transparent and community-involved interview process for current Acting City Manager Diane Carlson, who the council felt met the criteria of the candidate profile.

Members of the public can view a livestream of two public forums where Carlson will be interviewed in the council chamber and on the Bellevue Television YouTube channel Thursday, Sept. 12, 3-4 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 14, noon-1 p.m. A Bellevue community member will moderate the forums, and attendees will have the chance to meet the city manager candidate and fill out a feedback form after the forum.

For alternate formats, interpreters, or reasonable accommodation requests please phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-6838 (voice) or email [email protected]. For complaints regarding accommodations, contact the city's ADA/Title VI administrator at 425-452-6168 (voice). If you are deaf or hard of hearing, dial 711.