Title
Council Support Position Briefing and Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a Committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing and discuss the feedback provided by Councilmembers about their respective needs for the new City Council Support Position.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing and discuss the feedback provided by Councilmembers about their respective needs for the new City Council Support Position.
Staff Contact:
Manny Bosser, Director, Human Resources, 360-753-8309
Presenter(s):
Manny Bosser, Director of Human Resources
Background and Analysis:
In December of 2024, the Olympia City Council adopted the City’s 2025 annual budget. Within the 2025 budget a 1.0 full-time equivalent Council support position was approved to provide dedicated support for Council Members in the course of their work.
A workgroup of three members of City Council was formed to work with the Director of Human Resources to develop and finalize a job description for the Council support position.
In February of 2025, the Director of Human Resources began meeting with individual Council Members to solicit feedback regarding key support needs and the special skills and abilities required of the position. What follows is a summary of the feedback provided.
Identified Key Support Needs
Key support needs included managing calendars, email distribution and management of inbox, invites and coverage for event requests, scheduling meetings, administrative support for proclamations, supporting articles, policy support in the form of research, general process improvement, efficiency tools, assisting the Council with the distribution of work, support with the referral process, stakeholder relationships, tracking of projects and ideas, ensuring the Council guidebook is up to date, and support in PDC requirements.
Special Skills and Abilities
Multitasking, experience working for elected officials as an executive assistant or in a similar role, experience with process improvements as a change agent, knowledge of the City of Olympia, conflict management, experience in policy support, experience in local or city government, willing to be accessible and work flexible schedules as needed, ability to anticipate needs, adaptable, comfortable with layers of regulations, embraces City values, detail oriented, and the ability to follow through.
Climate Analysis:
The discussion of feedback on key support needs and special skills and abilities has no expected impact on climate.
Equity Analysis:
The City of Olympia is committed to considering and mitigating impacts to currently and historically marginalized groups of people during the development of job descriptions in order to provide an equitable opportunity for all interested candidates. The equity lens used during the feedback process included, determining desirable outcomes, conversations with key stakeholders, analyzing classification data, evaluating feedback information, and reporting back to stakeholders. Evaluation of outcomes will be determined following hiring.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is a broad community interest in how the City engages in decision making regarding the development of a Council support position.
Financial Impact:
Financial impact is expected to be minimal and related to staff time required to develop a final job description. Salary for the position determined once the final position description is developed.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing and discuss the feedback provided by Councilmembers about their respective needs for the new City Council Support Position.
2. Do not receive a briefing and discuss the feedback provided by Councilmembers about their respective needs for the new City Council Support Position.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
None