| Building livable communities that improve people's lives |  |
| Leadership and Management
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- Calif. city manager schedules meetings with residents
Santa Monica, Calif., City Manager Rod Gould plans to meet with residents this month to address issues concerning the city. Residents can talk to Gould and city staff about capital-improvement projects, community spaces and programs, housing, human services, parking, planning, public safety, technology, transportation and sustainability. "The meetings are designed to improve communication and relationships between the city and residents, provide essential information about safety and quality-of-life issues," officials said. The Lookout News (Santa Monica, Calif.)
(10/31)
| Budgeting and Finance
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- Wastewater project in Cape Cod, Mass., could exceed $6B
Cape Cod, Mass., would need $4.6 billion to $6.4 billion to fix wastewater infrastructure, said Bob Ciolek, a consultant for the Cape Cod Commission. Officials are considering options for financing the project, which would also involve an annual operating cost of $37.9 million to $54.6 million, as well as connection fees and an upgrade to the septic system. Wicked Local/Truro, Mass.
(10/26)
| Emergency Management and Public Safety
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- N.C. city pays county for policing help
Cherryville, N.C., is paying $25,000 per week for help from the Gaston County Police Department after six men, including three city police officers and a county sheriff's officer, were charged and accused of involvement in a bribery and extortion racket. The Cherryville police chief resigned Tuesday. County officials urged the Cherryville Police Department to get back on its feet. "The purpose behind mutual-aid agreements is to provide temporary aid in times of emergencies," the county manager said. "The question really becomes how much time is 'temporary'?" The Gaston Gazette (N.C.)
(10/30)
| Economic Development, Restoration and Sustainability
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- Va. county authority forms plan for economic development
After surveying businesses and starting to create a plan for strategic growth in Amherst County, Va., the Economic Development Authority presented its work to county supervisors. The survey found that business owners want the county to keep its rural feel, the authority said. Also, the county needs to attract more small businesses and jobs and needs better Internet and cell service, the authority said. The authority's plan includes promoting entrepreneurship and economic development through tax incentives, infrastructure development and other tactics. Amherst New Era Progress (Va.)
(10/31)
- Economic-development authority aims to move forward
The Norman, Okla., Economic Development Authority, formed in the spring, is looking to appoint people who have experience in banking, business, development, economics and real estate to the Economic Development Advisory Board, which will make recommendations to the authority. However, some question the necessity of the authority, the board and the plan they seek to create. The authority hopes to develop a plan that includes job creation and incentives that would make the city more competitive economically. The Norman Transcript (Okla.)
(10/31)
| Ethics
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- ICMA official gives ethics training to local governments
More than 200 people from local governments attended an ethics-training session given by David Limardi, Midwest director of ICMA and a former city manager, and sponsored by the Shared Ethics Advisory Commission. Limardi said local governments must always have the people's interests at heart and must develop trust with them to operate ethically and efficiently. "Trust is the one thing that must exist between those who lead and represent and those who are represented," he said. "Even if you are only on a commission or board, you are leaders in government. You must work to build public trust." The Times (Munster-Hammond-Merrillville-Valparaiso, Ind.)
(10/29)
| Legislation, Policy and Grants
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| Public Works and Infrastructure
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- Bond issuance could pay for N.Y. county projects
Genesee County, N.Y., Manager Jay Gsell proposed a budget for 2013 that would float $13.5 million in bonds to help cover infrastructure projects. The $145 million budget would allot $60,000 to issue a $10 million bond, payable over 10 to 15 years, which would fund improvements to roads and bridges. A $3.5 million bond would fund for an airport terminal and would be payable over 30 years. The Daily News (Batavia, N.Y.)
(10/31)
| Recognitions and Transitions
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| ICMA News
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Nov. 8 Web conference will focus on attracting and retaining retailers
As the economy rebounds, communities have a dual role: Attract new businesses, while keeping existing businesses healthy and strong. During the ICMA Web conference "Economic Development: Attracting Retailers and Keeping Them," scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Nov. 8, you will discuss how to target retailers, partner with developers and commercial brokers, and use incentives to stimulate development. The event will feature Lisa Hill, vice president of Buxton's public-sector division; Steven Lantsberger, economic-development director for Hesperia, Calif.; and Jeff Fleming, assistant city manager for Kingsport, Tenn. Register.
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ICMA University: Invest in training, not travel
A critical part of building your organization is training your staff, but finding the time to do so can be tricky. ICMA University is here to help! In one afternoon, your staff can receive specialized training across a broad range of topics that enables them to increase professional knowledge and skills. Topics include Ethics, High-Performing Organizations, Performance Measurement, Management, Citizen Engagement, Staff Development, Personal Development, Leadership and Innovation, and Planning, Budgeting and Finance. These workshops are a low-cost, high-payoff professional-development opportunity that can be brought to your office, conference or meeting. Whatever your experience level -- whether you're fresh out of graduate school or you're a seasoned manager -- ICMA University has something for you. Visit the ICMA University website to review the full selection of training opportunities.
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Cities will need to better apply computer, sensor and networking technology to help deliver a sustainable future, writes Michael Dixon of IBM. A 1,000-mile wastewater system in San Francisco, for instance, has been retrofitted with sensors as a cost-effective solution to ensure that leaks are found and fixed so that it operates in good condition. "To make cities work well, they have to be made more intelligent," Dixon notes. 
