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The town of Harbor Springs repealed Zoning Ordinance #439. This gave our town the
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WELCOME TO WE LOVE HARBOR SPRINGS
A COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH, STEWARDSHIP, AND STRONG PUBLIC PROCESS
Harbor Springs is shaped by many decisions—large and small—that affect how we live, work, gather, and care for this place over time. Zoning is one part of that picture, but so are parks, trees, open space, public infrastructure, historic resources, and the way our local boards, commissions, and City Council engage with the community. At We Love Harbor Springs, our commitment is to strong research, clearly explained ideas, thoughtful review, and public processes that invite participation and build trust.
You can follow our ongoing work under the NEWS tab, we share research, updates, letters, corrections, press coverage, and analysis related to community decisions and governance.
Community input—through surveys, town halls, public meetings, and individual engagement—has been invaluable. These perspectives help ensure that decisions reflect lived experience and shared values, not just technical compliance.
In February 2025, the City Council chose to step away from the Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) certification and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) program. This decision marked an opportunity to reaffirm local priorities and reaffirm the importance of community-driven decision-making.
There are more decisions like that to still be made to Preserve and Protect.
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We Love Harbor Springs is committed to fairness, transparency, and careful research. The information shared on this site is offered in good faith to support informed public discussion. Facts, interpretations, and conclusions presented here are always open to challenge, correction, or clarification. We welcome additional information, differing viewpoints, and evidence-based feedback at any time, recognizing that strong communities are built through accuracy, openness, and respectful dialogue. Contact us at weloveharborsprings@gmail.com with details.
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Harbor Springs is hiring its next City Manager.
What questions should residents be asking?
As Harbor Springs City Council considers candidates for this position — or if they choose to wait for additional candidates — the discussion should focus on the skills and experience most important for managing the City’s unique responsibilities.
As Council prepares to review 5 candidates this Saturday, one of the most important steps is making sure the right questions are being asked about experience, leadership, and priorities.
When communities look for qualities such as strong communication skills or sound judgment, a good hiring process asks candidates to describe demonstrated experience — how they have handled similar situations in the past.
Here is one area the residents may want to consider asking the candidates. This subject is so important.
MANAGING A SEASONONAL COMMUNITY
Harbor Springs operates within the unique dynamics of a seasonal community. Second-home ownership significantly increases the population during parts of the year, placing additional demands on infrastructure, public services, housing, and city operations. Tourism that is growing adds another layer to these pressures.
Balancing these demands while preserving Harbor Springs’ historic character and small-town identity requires thoughtful planning and steady communication. Successful leadership in a community like ours often depends on maintaining strong relationships among year-round residents, seasonal property owners, local businesses, and city staff. Also the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Understanding these dynamics can help guide decisions that support both the vitality of the community and the long-term well-being of the people who live and work here.
QUESTIONS
• What strategies would you use to manage the challenges that come with leading a seasonal resort community like Harbor Springs?
• In order to understand the community’s needs, it is often important to spend time listening and learning before making major decisions. During your first six months, how would you plan to familiarize yourself with Harbor Springs’ character, priorities, and long-standing community values?
• Harbor Springs faces ongoing infrastructure needs, including roads, sidewalks, and electrical system upgrades. How do you approach long-term capital planning so the city can address these needs for our residents first and tourists without creating unsustainable financial pressure?
• How would you ensure that community members feel heard and respected throughout the decision-making process, particularly when there are differing viewpoints within the community?
• Seasonal communities often experience large swings in service demand throughout the year. How would you plan staffing, budgeting, and municipal services to meet peak seasonal needs while remaining responsible to year-round taxpayers?
What questions would you ask someone applying to be Harbor Springs’ next City Manager?
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12 Questions We Would Ask the Candidates
What Questions for City Managers applying for the Harbor Springs job do you have ? Our 106th WLHS Newsletter talks about that ask! wlhs.substack.com/p/12-questions-we-would-ask-the-candidates This is the direct link for anyone who wants to share it from here. No Substack wrapper.
If you go directly to Substack there is a LISTEN button - that allows narration enabled.
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It's always difficult finding a City Manager - The International City/County Manager Association (ICMA) give these guidelines. Though a few years old, research confirms the ICMA guidelines are to date.
Read the guidelines here:
weloveharborsprings.org/city-government/how-to-pick-a-great-city-manager-for-harbor-springs-guide...
Further, here below are a few stories found that may allow better understanding, discussion and talking points for all involved in this process.
Finding a new city manager is one of the most consequential decisions a city council makes. It is also one of the most delicate, because the position sits at the intersection of policy, administration, and public trust. Many communities discover that the hiring process is not simply about credentials—it is about chemistry, judgment, and the ability to work through tension when the town’s interests are at stake.
A few well-known anecdotes from municipal governance in Michigan illustrate this challenge.
One story frequently shared among municipal recruiters involves a small Midwestern town that conducted an extensive national search. The leading candidate had an impressive résumé—experience in several larger cities, a strong record in budgeting, and glowing references. Yet during the final interview dinner, a council member asked how the candidate handled disagreements with elected officials. The candidate replied that once the council set policy, staff should “simply execute.” After the meeting, several council members realized the answer revealed a fundamental mismatch. Their town expected a manager who could respectfully challenge ideas, offer alternatives, and help council members see unintended consequences.
The search was extended another four months, but the council ultimately selected someone whose philosophy better matched the community’s culture.
Another anecdote often cited in Michigan municipal circles concerns a lakeshore community that hired a technically strong manager who struggled with council dynamics. The council had assumed that a candidate with a background in engineering and infrastructure management would naturally fit their priorities. What they had not anticipated was the importance of communication style. The manager preferred formal reports and avoided informal conversations.
Several council members felt they were learning about issues only at public meetings rather than through ongoing dialogue. Within two years, the relationship deteriorated to the point that the council and manager mutually agreed to part ways.
The lesson often repeated afterward was that the hiring process must evaluate how someone works with elected officials, not just what they know.
Recruitment professionals also recount a case in which a council divided over what it wanted in a manager. Half the council prioritized fiscal discipline and operational efficiency; the other half wanted someone who could champion new development projects.
The search firm eventually asked council members to participate in a facilitated discussion before continuing interviews. Only after the council clarified its shared expectations did the search move forward.
When the manager was eventually hired, the process had already helped establish the working relationship between the council and its administrator.
These examples highlight a consistent reality: hiring a city manager is as much about the council understanding itself as it is about evaluating candidates. Councils must consider how they communicate with staff, how much guidance they expect a manager to provide, and how disagreements will be handled.
The most successful appointments tend to occur when the council sees the relationship as a partnership built on trust, candor, and shared responsibility for the community’s future.
Sources: International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Council-Manager Form of Government: What It Is and How It Works; National Civic League, Model City Charter; and ICMA professional guidance on the council–manager relationship.
City Council is holding a meeting to interview City Manager Candidates on Saturday, March 14th @ 8:30 AM at City Hall. Please see the agenda on the City's website or Facebook Page for more information (Please note: meeting will not be live streamed on zoom or YouTube).
How to Pick a Great City Manager for Harbor Springs? Guidelines by ICMA | We Love Harbor Springs
weloveharborsprings.org
This article was first published January 24, 2026. The Open to the Public Interviews take place on Saturday March 14,th starting at 8:30 or 9 am - Please check with City Hall for further details. The ...2 CommentsComment on Facebook