bainbridge island government
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BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
Form of Government» Mayor – Council»Council – Manager
Presenter: Carl Neu
March 31, 2009
Starting Point
• Assume everyone has honorable intentions
• “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble.
It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”.
Mark Twain
• The purpose of argument should not be victory, but progress. (Fortune cookie quote)
• May 19 Election
Some Simple Truths
• It is impossible to get politics out of any form of government.
• The success of any form of government depends upon the character, integrity, and competencies of people. (Electors, Electeds, and Appointees)
THE CHOICE:Form of Government
can be decided only by the electorate (the citizens choose the form of government)
Basic Forms of Municipal Government
• Really “Strong” Mayor-Council
• Mayor-Council
• Council-Manager
• Commission
• Town Meeting
MAYOR-COUNCIL
COUNCIL-MANAGER
Separation of powers Divided political power
Concentrated power Unitary model
Purely Legislative body
Governing body
(Legislative & policy making)
POWER
COUNCIL
MAYOR-COUNCIL
CEO Mayor (elected political
position)
City Manager (appointed
professional position)
Department Directors
Work for Mayor
Work for City Manager
Focus Competition Separation of Authority
relationship
Partnership Allocation of
Authority Relationship
COUNCIL-MANAGER
MAYOR-COUNCIL COUNCIL-MANAGER
Policy Advice To Council
Substantial control over policy information given to Council
Staff works for Mayor
Council is the policy-setting body
Manager works for the Governing Body
MAYOR-COUNCIL COUNCIL-MANAGER
ELECTORS ELECTORS
MAYOR COUNCIL ?
Dept. Heads
?
City Council “The governing body”
City Manager
Dept. Heads
“a separation of powers model”
“a corporate model”
COUNCIL-MANAGERFORM OF GOVERNMENT
• Intended as a “reform” model in 1908Staunton, Virginia
• Response to public’s frustration over:
– power, ethics, and corruption issues
– conflict over “who runs the city”?
– too much emphasis on politics, power and control
– too little emphasis on providing good public services in a professional and well-managed manner.
Mayor is elected
Competency & experience
not qualifying prerequisites
City Manager is appointed
Competency, experience & evaluation of
performance are prerequisites.
COUNCIL-MANAGER
CEO
MAYOR-COUNCIL
CEO
21
ELECTORS ELECTORS
MAYOR COUNCIL
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
City Dept.
directors and employees
City Administrator
selected by/works for Mayor
MAYOR COUNCIL
CITY ADMINISTRATION
City Dept.
directors and employees
City Administrator
selected by and works for Council
“Council-Administrator Model
1 in 4 cities with population> 10,000
(Higher in smaller cities)
?
MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM
2 Variations
COUNCIL-MANAGER MODEL
Providing complex local government operations with a strong collaborative combination of:– political leadership and representation– good policy development and execution– highly professional management of
municipal operations and service delivery– transparency and accountability to the
electorate/public– sound fiscal stewardship
COUNCIL – MANAGER MODEL
Political power: Governance, policy
setting and representation
Role of Elected Council (Mayor and other members of Council
Execution of policy and oversight of day-to-day operations
Role of professionally-trained and skilled Manager who is responsible to “The Council” and can be terminated for poor performance.
A partnership for total city performance
The City Manager
1. Appointed “hired” by City Council
2. Highly professional – well trained:• may have degrees in public administration,
business administration, political science
● nearly 67% have masters or higher degree
3. Provides policy recommendations and information to Council
4. Bound by the Council’s direction and policies.
5. Is the CEO:• prepares budgets for council approval• oversees all municipal operations• recruits, hires, fires staff• provides monitoring and assessment of long-term
consequences of council policies and decisions• promotes inclusion and building consensus among
diverse interests
6. Promotes ethical and transparent government.
7. Is a member of ICMA, abides by its Code of Ethics that requires “a deep sense of social responsibility as a trusted public servant”.
ROLE OF MAYOR
MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM
Ceremonial Head of City Ceremonial Head of City
Chief Executive Presiding Officer of Council
May/May Not Preside at Council
Member of Council
Policy Initiator Facilitator
May have veto authority Usually no veto authority
Elected by votes Elected by voters or by Council
The City ManagerForm of Government
• The most popular model in the U.S.
• Continues to expand in cities of all sizes
• Compared to the mayor-council model produces:– greater performance efficiencies– sounder finances– stronger management of operations– better focus on and pursuit of long-term goals through
strategic planning
● Good track record:
*Over 50% of cities with triple-A bond rating (2003) *60% recognized with All American City Award (2004)
*83% of Top-10 cities in four population categories recognized for
“best use of technology” to improve operations and services
Use the Council-Manager Model
☻ Does not automatically produce good government that comes from the commitment needed from elected and administrative officials and the electorate to make
whatever form of government the voters choose
work structurally, professionally, politically, ethically
& responsibly!
MAYOR-COUNCIL
COUNCIL-MANAGER
Is not an
“either or” proposition
Every Successful Community Needs:
• Strong/good political leadership
• Sound policy development
• Professionally sound execution of policy and operational performance
• Commitment to ethical & transparent municipal government
• Confidence in its elected and appointed public officials
• An ability to translate vision and strategy into results
• Active citizen engagement.
MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM
COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM
Bainbridge Island
May 19
The citizens who vote will make the choice.
DISCUSSION
• Panel
• Q&A