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January 24, 2013

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Leadership and Management

Admit it: It's weird to be in charge
Bosses who find themselves leading a team of former peers should start by discussing the weirdness of the situation, Mike Figliuolo writes. Only by recognizing the elephant in the room will people be able to beat it into submission, Figliuolo writes. "Acknowledging discomfort is the only way to truly focus on it and make it go away," he adds. ThoughtLeaders blog (1/21)

Calif. city council schedules goal-setting session
The Chico, Calif., City Council will outline goals for the year for the first time in five years, City Manager Brian Nakamura said. He says the council will come up with four or five broad goals pertaining to finance, public safety and economic development, as well as specific objectives that apply to those goals. Chico Enterprise-Record (Calif.) (1/23)

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Budgeting and Finance

N.C. city transit system aims for $200,000 by selling ads
The Charlotte, N.C., City Council unanimously authorized the Charlotte Area Transit System to sell ads at Lynx Blue Line light-rail stations. The transit system says it will install posts for displaying ads, which are expected to bring in $200,000. Beer, liquor and wine ads are not allowed. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.) (1/23)

Mich. city council considers furlough plan
The Detroit City Council will vote on a furlough plan for nonunion employees of the executive and legislative branches that is expected to save about $250,000 per month. The plan equals a 10% pay cut, and the mayor eventually will try to work out a similar deal with other employees. Detroit Free Press (1/23)

Emergency Management and Public Safety

U.K. fire service criticizes council's sprinkler-less buildings
Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service in Staffordshire County, U.K., has criticized the developer of two Stoke-on-Trent City Council buildings that will not include a sprinkler system. The buildings are being constructed to regulation, but the fire department has been lobbying for sprinklers to be required in all new buildings and homes, saying they can prevent costly fire damage. This Is Staffordshire (U.K.) (1/21)

Calif. city council axes plan to outsource police services
The San Bernardino, Calif., City Council voted unanimously to shelve a plan to outsource police services to the county Sheriff's Department. The vote followed a report showing that the proposal, which faced opposition, would not save the city a significant amount of money. "It obviously doesn't work for us, and frankly, that's fine with me," Councilman Fred Shorett said. "I think we're better off with our own Police Department." San Bernardino County Sun (Calif.) (1/22)

Economic Development, Restoration and Sustainability

Wis. city council OKs harbor-development plan
The Two Rivers, Wis., City Council unanimously approved the Harbor Master Plan, which includes connecting Two Rivers Harbor and downtown, redeveloping the former sites of Eggers Industries and Thermo Fisher Scientific, creating a marina with boat slips and connecting Mariners and Rawley Point trails. The plan is part of the 20-year Comprehensive Plan that the council approved in 2010. Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) (tiered subscription model) (1/22)

Legislation, Policy and Grants

N.Y. city council fights shelter policy in court
The New York City Council has taken the mayor's administration to court over a policy that the council says will cause more homeless residents to sleep on the streets. The policy tightens rules on who can stay at a homeless shelter, requiring that single adults prove they have nowhere else to go. Daily News (New York) (1/22)

Public Works and Infrastructure

N.M. city council seeks solution for busy intersection
Members of the Farmington, N.M., City Council agree that something must be done to control traffic at one of the city's major intersections, but they don't agree on how. Some members have expressed support for the installation of a traffic signal, but a recent study showed that the intersection doesn't qualify for signal installation. Other members say the city should look into solutions including a roundabout and flashing warning lights. The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) (free registration) (1/22)

ICMA Web Conference: Service Delivery in Today's Economy — 2/7 @ 1pm ET
Times are tough. Costs are rising rapidly, yet citizens expect the same — if not better — level of service. Join us to discuss how to evaluate your operations to get the best value for the services you provide. Register here.

Recognitions and Transitions

Texas city manager announces retirement after one month
Justin, Texas, City Manager Mike Evans is set to retire Friday after being appointed to the position in December. Evans has worked for the city for 15 years and was chosen as the first manager after voters converted the city to a council-manager government. The mayor says he hopes to hire Evans' replacement within 60 days. Denton Record-Chronicle (Texas) (1/22)

ICMA News

ICMA Annual Awards Program is under way; deadline for nominations is March 8
Each year, ICMA recognizes outstanding contribution to the profession of local-government management through the Annual Awards Program. Recipients will be recognized in two umbrella categories -- for individual achievement through the Professional Awards and for jurisdictional achievement through the Program Excellence Awards -- during ICMA's 99th Annual Conference, scheduled Sept. 22 to 25 in Boston, and will be highlighted in a fall issue of ICMA's PM (Public Management) magazine. Visit the awards page of ICMA's website at ICMA.org/awards for complete information on the Annual Awards Program and the nomination process. Then celebrate the value of professional local-government management by nominating your colleague, your community or yourself for a 2013 ICMA annual award. Nominations are accepted through March 8.

Don't miss Web conference Jan. 31 on public-safety concept
The public-safety concept, through which individuals are trained as police officers and firefighters, has been successfully implemented in the U.S. for more than 100 years. However, the concept remains one of the most politically controversial ideas a local-government manager can champion. At 1 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 31, ICMA will host a fascinating Web conference titled "Police-Fire Mergers: Understanding the Public Safety Concept," featuring Leonard Matarese, director of research and project development at the ICMA Center for Public Safety Management, and Jane Bais-DiSessa, city manager of Berkley, Mich. During this event, the speakers will discuss the theory behind the public-safety concept and provide insight into how one community has successfully implemented it. Visit the ICMA website for more information and to register.

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