What issue do you want Long Beach’s new city manager to focus on as their first priority? And what qualifications and qualities do you want them to have? These are a few of the questions officials are asking residents to answer as they search for a new city manager.

The city council ultimately appoints the city manager, who then serves as the chief executive of the city.

“Selecting a city manager is an incredibly important decision and we want to ensure that our community has a voice in the process,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement.

After former city manager Pat West retired last month, the city council hired The Hawkins Company to conduct a national executive search for the person to fill West’s position. The company is asking for community input through a six question survey until Oct. 31. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Khmer.

Anyone who lives, works or uses city services can participate in the survey, according to the city, and all responses will be anonymous. There will also be community meetings on the topic to give the public more information about what the city manager does and to get more feedback. Meetings take place:

• Thursday, Oct. 17, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library (5870 Atlantic Ave.)
• Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Whaley Park (5620 E. Atherton St.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway; use the Pacific Avenue entrance)