How to identify and grow great leaders | Wis. cities report problems with 911 hang-ups from smart devices | Study: Minn. city needs changes to 911 dispatching, more police
January 17, 2020
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The value of leadership is simple, Jacob Morgan argues: Great leaders inspire people and attract talent, and bad leaders drive employees away and demoralize those who stay. "It's impossible to only hire superstar leaders; organizations also need to learn how to develop people internally to create great leaders," he writes.
Two communities in Wisconsin -- Eau Claire and Appleton -- have reported an increase in accidental 911 calls from Apple Watches, smart home systems and other devices. Police advise residents to consider turning off or modifying the emergency settings on their devices and to stay on the line if they accidentally dial 911 so they can tell a dispatcher there's no emergency.
The number of police officers in St. Paul, Minn., has not kept up with the increase in 911 calls since 2013, so the city should hire an additional 100 or so officers to meet demand, according to a new study. The study also recommends making changes to 911 dispatching and adding three officers every shift for faster response times.
The historically black West Las Vegas neighborhood of Las Vegas will be the home of a $3.5 million, 2-acre park that will "honor the leaders who have left a legacy in the community," says Las Vegas Ward 5 Councilman Cedric Crear, who grew up in the area. The park will break ground this December and be built before 2022.
Officials in Berlin, Germany, are working in partnership with Siemens to create a mostly car-free, carbon-neutral zone that will support new transportation infrastructure and a combination of research and living space. Architecture firm O&O Baukunst will conceptualize a master plan for Siemens' industrial park and surrounding neighborhoods and the city will restore a section of commuter rail that has been unused since 1980.
The Sacramento, Calif., City Council has voted to require all of the city's 80 hotels to equip workers with panic buttons for protection against harassment and sexual assault. The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors recently mandated the devices for all hotels in the county but excluded those in city limits.
The Fort Bend County Drainage District in Texas is beginning the second phase of a three-phase effort to repair erosion damage to the Cane Island Branch and the Willow Fork of Buffalo Bayou. Crews are driving metal sheet piling along the toe of the channel and refurbishing the slope with natural ground, said project coordinator Adam Wright.
The Lancaster, Ohio, Parks and Recreation Department has added exercise space at the Olivedale Park Health and Fitness Center and lowered the age minimum from 55 to 35. "That's what the parks department is all about, being able to provide the spaces that will encourage folks to get up and move and be active," says Parks and Recreation Superintendent Mike Tharp.
Aspiring and current local government managers are encouraged to attend the ICMA University Emerging Leaders Development Program to build knowledge, skills, and abilities in the management and technical topics that are needed to be successful. Through a unique format of monthly teleseminars with senior credentialed managers and public administration professors, the Emerging Leaders Development Program minimizes your time away from work and maximizes your local government expertise. Graduates of the program will receive a certificate of completion from ICMA University. Application deadline is September 13: Apply now!
eCivis and The Ferguson Group, ICMA Strategic Partners, are funding scholarships for two ICMA members to attend the Harvard Kennedy Senior Executives in Local Government Program. The 3-week program allows senior-level city/county managers and assistants to challenge conventional thinking, thought processes, and the values that drive leadership decisions. The scholarship covers the $16,800 tuition fee; recipients must cover travel expenses. Participants can attend the June 1-19 or July 6-24 session. Complete ICMA's application and the Harvard Senior Executive application and submit by January 31, 2020. Learn more and apply today.
