Congratulations!! This will be a great fit for our community! I'm glad to see that the city leaders hired from the inside and it can only be a huge benefit to our whole community. Hope your transition is a smooth one. Good Luck!!

A very good choice for someone I had the honor to work with while I served my time on the Human Services Commission. She worked closely with us all and always conducted herself in the most professional manor. Congratulation Kathleen.

I hope this gang was smart enough to have contract rights to hire from within...without that obscene finder's fee. Please don't tell us there's another shoe to drop. I keep searching for both competence and integrity in 'one' person or group. Please demonstrate they do co-exist. ? ? ?

I'm still waiting to hear there are NO bribes, ransom, commissions, or finder's fees, involved in this internal switch. In the days of internet, there is really no reason, ever, to PAY for a name to fill and overpriced position. Maybe we, the taxpaying public, need to look into these hiring and employment practices. We already know how police and fire practice rotating doors upward to spend a few pay periods at highest levels, to set higher lifetime retirements....and get them all in before their birthday. Should be outlawed in last two years, and requiring rare justification.
So little personal integrity or shame these days.

RP: first of all, what in the world are you complaining about -- Twice? There was no fee here!

Also, I'll bet you call yourself a free marketeer -- an enemy of regulation by the nanny state, right? Who do you think sets the prices for search firms -- The MARKET Does! And competitive bidding in some cases. When all you see is "the name" you are blissfully ignorant of all the work that goes into it.

It's true that the web has changed the value proposition from 'just a name' to judgment and due diligence about the candidates-- but that value is real and continuing. So please buzz-off.

Finally, do you have a favorite bird? Is it the grouse? I thought so.

After a day without an answer it was reasonable to inquire again...wanting a simple yes or no. Thank you. After the recent discussion of the Zone 7 fiasco, this is a logical part of any announcement from here on.... and a reminder to all public groups, the spotlights are now turned up brighter than in the past. It is always good to discuss current abuses as well.
I must have hit a bit close to home, for you to be SO testy !

This was not the first time you've made that attack on my profession, and it's a bit like parenting -- you let one misbehavior slide and there is danger it will be repeated.

Was it close to home? Emotionally yes -- it's irritating, just as you might find an unprovoked attack on your work annoying. Accurately no -- it was so wide of the mark that your butt's in danger of a direct hit.

I see you also want us to be a competitive 'MARKET'. Really? Great! I'm with you. NO lifetime pensions. Can just hire hourly rate 'contractors' as is commonplace today. You know work 8 hour days, missing even Christmas Day pay. I know a 'professional' who has lived with that for 6 years. Quite common.
Since we the people are the employers, the 'market' sounds good. As the employer, I do expect a simple answer if a headhunter is used, and if so who, how much, reasonable rate, etc. CA is after all, an at will state...if a market employer doesn't like you, you're gone at end of the day. Those are the rules. EXCEPT for public employees, many don't even appreciate what they have, and even dare to abuse. You bet I will ask the question, and it will be answered.

Let me guess - a salary increase to $350,000? Why do we need a director of water/utilities, we don't even have a treatment plant, and we're still in a drought. Sounds like just more bureaucracy.

You're deflecting -- or trying to. Nobody is questioning the ask -- but the repetitive, haranguing editorial is a different story.

headhunter, repetitive haranguing as you say is for all to get the latest message...oversight! Any group or agency that receives any portion of public funds, directly or indirectly, will be watched closely. No unnecessary or out of line expenditures..or no I'll scratch yours and your scratch mine either, not with public funds.
The Grand Jury revelations this week in the Cook-Kallio thread on this site have reminded all that oversight means caution with and care of public funds. All these groups need energetic, alert watchdogs.

How about staying on topic and congratulating Kathleen Yurchak on her promotion not to mention that the city finally promoted from within!