What abilities should a city manager have? Modesto officials will decide.

Modesto's elected officials will discuss Friday the qualities and abilities they want in their next city manager

City Council members will meet one-on-one for 30 minutes each in the morning with the recruiting firm they hired and then as a group in closed session in the afternoon as they work to develop a profile of the qualities they want in Modesto's next top administrator.

The council hired Sacramento-based CPS HR Consulting in December to help it find a city manager at a cost not to exceed $35,000, which includes reimbursing the firm for its costs and finalists for their travel costs.

Modesto has not had a city manager since March 31 after the council ousted Jim Holgersson. Deputy City Manager Joe Lopez has been filling in since, first as acting and then interim city manager.

The next city manager will face challenges, including rising pension costs, growing concerns in the community about homelessness, and council members who don't always get along. Council meetings can stretch into several hours because council members bicker, cannot agree or make a decision.

CPS HR Consulting's proposal with the city states it should take 16 weeks from its initial meeting with the council Friday until the council appoints a city manager. The council meets in closed session at 3 p.m. Friday in room 2005 on the second floor of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.

This story was originally published January 31, 2018 at 4:39 PM with the headline "What abilities should a city manager have? Modesto officials will decide.."