One of Three Interim City Manager Candidates to be Interviewed Withdraws

One of the three interim city manager candidates the Yakima City Council intended to interview on October 1st has accepted another position and, therefore, has withdrawn from consideration for the Yakima job. 

Larry Patterson contacted the City earlier today (Monday, September 30th) to provide notification that he is no longer available for employment.

The City Council is still scheduled to interview two candidates who have applied to serve as interim city manager on Tuesday, October 1st beginning at 4:00 pm in the Council Chambers at Yakima City Hall.  The interviews will be conducted via Skype.  The interviews, which will be open to the public, will be telecast live on Y-PAC (Spectrum Cable channel 194) and live streamed on the City’s website.

Following former City Manager Cliff Moore’s resignation in August, the Council advertised the interim city manager position to Managers in Transition – a pool of retired municipal managers and managers who are between positions.  Interim city managers generally serve on a medium-term basis – typically for several months or longer.

Since Moore’s departure, Senior City Attorney Cynthia Martinez has been serving as interim Yakima city manager.  The appointment of Martinez to the interim city manager position was intended by the Council to be temporary while the Council conducted a process to hire an interim manager on a longer-term basis.

The two candidates scheduled to be interviewed on October 1st, which were selected from a pool of 17 applicants, are:

Alex Meyerhoff – Meyerhoff has nearly 30 years of experience in local government, including having served as city manager/executive director in Holtville, California (2011-2014), Hemet, California (2016-2017), and San Fernando, California (2017-2019).  Meyerhoff earned a bachelor of arts in history degree from the University of California (1991) and a master of arts in urban planning, transportation, and environmental analysis, also from the University of California (1993).  Meyerhoff’s interview will be conducted via Skype.

James Patrick – Patrick has more than 20 years of experience in local government, including having service as city manager in Lebanon, Ohio (1999-2001), Vermillion, South Dakota (2002-2004), Kalispell, Montana (2004-2008), and Storm Lake, Iowa (2010-2017).  Patrick earned a bachelor of science in biology degree from Wheaton College (1973) and a master of science in management degree from the University of California (1988).  Patrick’s interview will be conducted via Skype.

The City Council has not yet announced what steps will take place following Tuesday’s scheduled interview session.

In the Council-Manager form of government Yakima operates under, the City Council is responsible for hiring one staff member – the city manager.  The city manager, who serves as the CEO of the municipal corporation and head of the executive branch of government, is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City.