Lawrence city commissioners want city government to become more "user-friendly" and they're giving City Manager Mike Wildgen six months to show progress.
Commissioners gave Wildgen his annual performance evaluation Thursday. They gave him a 3 percent salary raise, but commissioners said they want to evaluate him again in six months instead of the usual year.
"There are ongoing problems and questions all of us had," Mayor Mike Rundle said after the meeting. "We don't necessarily have a consensus on those problems."
Pressed for specifics, Rundle hedged.
"I think Mike is recognized as a tough and effective manager," Rundle said. "I think some of the issues revolve around being a user-friendly management team ... don't always seem to flow from that image."
That doesn't mean Wildgen's job is in trouble, however.
"I'd say unequivocally no," Rundle said.
Commissioner Jim Henry put a more optimistic face on the situation.
"We've made measurable progress on our concerns" since last year's evaluation, Henry said.
Wildgen deferred questions about the commission's goals for him.
"I think I've got a good working relationship with this commission," he said. "I look forward to continuing."
Wildgen said he took the commission critique as "instructive."
"Most typically, an evaluation like this is an evaluation of the entire organization," he said. "We got a lot of things done last year, and there's some things we need to work on next year."
Wildgen's base salary and deferred compensation were increased from $116,000 to a little more than $119,000. With other perks, including a car allowance, Wildgen's total compensation was increased from just over $124,000 to about $127,000.
Rundle said the commission wants city residents surveyed to see how they perceive the workings of local government. City employees also will be surveyed for their thoughts, he said.
Rundle said the 1999-2000 commission under then-Mayor Erv Hodges commissioned a report on the city government's user-friendliness.
"We want staff to dust that off and see how we're doing."
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