A History of the City Management Profession. Dan Johnson, City Manager City of Richardson, Texas Originally delivered by Terrell Blodgett

Transcription

1 How Did We Get Here? A History of the City Management Profession Dan Johnson, City Manager City of Richardson, Texas Originally delivered by Terrell Blodgett 1

2 Acknowledgement Sincere Appreciation to Terrell Blodgett Book: City Government that Works by Terrell Blodgett MPA from Syracuse University City Manager: Waco & Garland Texas Governors service KPMG/Peat Marwick Principle M. Hogg Prof. in Urban Mgt. at LBJ School, UT Austin State and National Awards/Recognition Terrell Blodgett 2

3 Origin of Public We are generally social creatures We thrive in groups Group-living gives rise to shared features (public) for the group s benefit 3

4 % 90% 50% 50% 60% 40% Globally: 1.4 million new people are moving into cities every week. People are drawn to cities as centres of economic activity, social connection, opportunity, and innovation % 30%

5 FORMS OF CITY GOVERNMENT 5

6 Mayor - Council Oldest form Corruption rampant in late 1800s Mayor is political and administrative head Sometimes employs administrator Largest cities in U.S. New York City Los Angeles Chicago Philadelphia In Texas Only Houston, Pasadena, Texas City, Conroe About 20 smaller cities 6

7 Commission Galveston Flood 1900 Small elected body (3-5 members) performs both legislative and administrative functions Together - the commission is the legislative arm Separately each commissioner heads a department Commissioner of Fire and Police, etc. Following Galveston, adopted by many cities in Texas and the Nation Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin Popularity rose and fell like a meteor Today Portland, Oregon is the only major city In Texas: no cities 7

8 Council-Manager NOT: City Manager Government NOT: Weak Mayor Government Urban growth in early 1900s Cities needed an Executive Not a Mayor who tried to fill two roles Nor a Commission who split duties Council-Manager plan emphasizes: Unity of authority Policy in Council Administration in Manager Skills and Training Body of Knowledge Most early City Managers were Engineers 8

9 OUR PROFESSION S HERITAGE 9

10 Council-Manager Adoption Beginnings Ukiah, California 1904 Staunton, Virginia 1908 Sumter, South Carolina Advocacy Groups National Municipal League (Now National Civic League) Publishes model city charter - Now in 8 th edition Texas First Amarillo From 2000 to 2012, several cities celebrating 90 years of Council Manager Government, including: Denton, Taylor, Sherman, Yoakum, Tyler, San Angelo, Brownsville, Beaumont, Bryan, Lubbock, Lufkin, Stamford, Tulia 10

11 Large Cities in Texas with Council-Manager Fort Worth 1924 Wichita Falls 1928 Austin 1926 Dallas 1931 Corpus Christi 1945 San Antonio 1951 Laredo 1981 El Paso 2004 Latest Medium Size City: League City

12 Other / Non-Texas Large Cities with Council-Manager Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Des Moines, Iowa Sacramento, California Kansas City, Missouri Charlotte, North Carolina Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia 12

13 Advantages of Council-Manager Plan How to help elected officials translate policy and vision into results Unity of authority Not divided gridlock Professionalism Manager Department Heads Continuity Objectivity Separates (for the most part) Policy and Administration 13

14 The City Management Profession International City / Council Management Association Originator Amarillo City Manager M.H. Hardin Texas Municipal League 1913 Elected Officials Managers started meeting in 1916 Texas City Management Association 1925 Importance of Association Membership Duties and Benefits of ICMA/TCMA Membership Obligations to the Code of Ethics 14

15 What is a Profession? Common Body of Knowledge / Skills / Competencies Licensing or Accreditation Code of Conduct/Ethics Enforcement of that Code 15

16 A Professional Entrusted with portions of our most physical essence Profession Doctors Attorneys Accountants Engineers City Managers Essence Health & Life Our Freedom and Wealth Our Wealth & Economy Our Health & Safety Our Community Commonwealth 16

17 Remember Our Duty: Responsible for the Things that Make Communities Thrive Life, Well Run Make Tomorrow Happen Turning it into Reality Thinking About Life s Details Crafting Plans Turning Policy Into Great Achievements A Place we are proud to call Home 17

18 The City Management Profession - Skills Managers backgrounds have broadened Today: generalists, finance, and planning backgrounds as well as engineering Graduate education for managers Syracuse University Texas A&M University of Kansas LBJ School at UT Texas Tech WTSU University of North Texas Certified Public Management Program Texas State University The wave of the future for many smaller communities Consider ICMA s Credentialed City Manager Program 18

19 ICMA s 18 Core Competencies: Your Ongoing Checklist! Staff Effectiveness Policy Facilitation Function/Operation Expertise & Planning Citizen Services Performance Measures/Quality Assurance Initiative, Risk Tacking, Creativity, Renewal Technological Literacy Democratic Advocacy and Engagement Inclusion Budgeting Financial Analysis Human Resource Management Strategic Planning Advocacy and Interpersonal Communication Presentation Skills Media Relations Integrity Personal Development 19

20 TCMA Today Affiliate of Texas Municipal League 974 TCMA Members 20% of the membership are female 18% of the membership are minorities 56% of the membership work in cities with 10,000 or more population 76% of city managers in cities with 10,000 or more population are TCMA members (177 managers) 70% of the membership is 40 years of age and older 32% of the membership are ICMA members 20

21 The Future Council-Manager: most popular form of local government In United States 50% plus In Texas 350+ home rule cities 330+ Council Manager Challenges There is turnover in managers Big City Dynamics Medium and smaller cities Reasons for popularity of plan Effectiveness Managers Professionalism Your Professionalism 21

22 Shakespeare's The Tempest quote that links past to present/future Heritage is powerful context What City Manager s did in 1927 still matters today! We owe so much to our predecessors Science/Skill of our Craft The Power of Associating and Pillars of a Profession/Ethics We/You are the guardians of that trust today You will help us deliver it to tomorrow 22

23 The Athenian Oath We will never bring disgrace to this our city by any act of dishonesty or cowardice, nor ever desert our suffering comrades in the ranks; 23

24 We will fight for the ideals and the sacred things of the city, both alone and with many; 24

25 We will revere and obey the city s laws and do our best to incite to a like respect and reverence those who are prone to annul or set them at naught; 25

26 We will strive unceasingly to quicken the public sense of public duty; 26

27 That thus, in all these ways, we will transmit this city not only not less, but greater, better, and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us. 27

28 Commitment of Time Trust in this Opportunity Fully participating for self and each other For your future reference and testimony For your personal growth For the quality of our profession For the communities we serve 28