Voices in Local Government (ICMA)

Guest Information

Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute

 Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute
 

Topics

Part One:

Workforce motivations
Succession Planning
Concerns over emerging technologies
Employee Debt, Stress, and Mental Health
 

Then Listen to Part Two: 

Retirement 
Employee investment programs

Resources

MissionSquare Research Institute

Chapters

Part Two

Leadership and Chain of Command

Collaboration between Law Enforcement and Fire Departments

Protocols and Tabletop Exercises

Challenges and Planning for Response in Rural Areas

The Chain of Survival and Models of Response

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

• Define AI, GenerativeAI and dismiss common myths or misconceptions.
• How can AI can be used as a precise tool for a specific project right now?
• How can local governments vet vendors?
• Application for smaller towns and counties.
• Are GenerativeAI tools going to remain free?
• AI’s ability to help and/or hurt public discourse and local government employees caught in the middle.

Resources

City of Boston Interim Guidelines for Using GenerativeAI

ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences:

Explore the Future of AI in Local Government

One Topic.  Two Locations. ICMA is headed to Boston, MA and Palm Desert, CA for the Local Government Reimagined Conferences. From cutting-edge applications to strategic insights, discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of local government. Register here.

Government AI Coalition

Join over 140 government agencies in creating standards for responsible AI procurement and governance for public agencies. Learn more.

Additional Content

Zencity: Using Generative AI for Community Engagement, from our partner named a 2024 GovTech100 company.

Chapters

Part One

Introduction and Commitment to Local Solutions

Law Enforcement Preparedness Overview

Challenges of Box Checking and the Need for Ongoing Training

Training Expectations for Law Enforcement Officers

Funding Options and the Role of City Managers

Making Proper Response a Priority

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety

Sarah Peck, director of United on Guns answers questions on what city and county managers must do to lead through tragedy.

Key takeaways:

1. Schedule a tabletop exercise annually, inviting the highest elected official, the police chief or sheriff, the local FBI, a Public Information Officer, and other key staff.
2. Security solutions should be analyzed thoroughly and emotion must be removed from purchasing decisions.
3. Don’t do overly realistic drills, especially for young children.
4. Despite demoralizing frustration, there are steps local government leaders can and must take now to plan, respond, and recover.

Get the Mass Shooting Protocol - First 24 Hours | FREE Download

Get the Mass Shooting Playbook | FREE Download

Download the free tabletop exercise pilot template from Orlando, Fl.

Mental health for local government leaders, their staff, and their residents is discussed with Johnny Crowder. ICMA Affinity partner, Cope Notes, is a daily text service that interrupts negative thought patterns with positive stimulus to help improve mental wellness.

Co-hosts Jessi Atcheson and Joe Supervielle collected questions about mental health and the Cope Notes model from ICMA  members, staff, and others for an Ask Me Anything interview, including:

• How does peer support connect with neuroscience?
• How does it fit in or compliment with seeing a professional, certified therapist?
• Stigma to even have a conversation about mental health has made progress, but how do you show people it's okay to seek support?
• How can text messages possibly make a meaningful impact on mental health?
• How do local governments or other organizations with group subscriptions measure success if it's all anonymous?

Resources

Preliminary effectiveness study of the Cope Notes digital mental Health program in the Journal of Mental Health.

Recap from Crowder's session at ICMA Annual Conference Columbus, and his TEDx Talks.

Local government healthcare resources from Cigna. 

City and County government organizations face significant challenges, including budget constraints, changing regulations, and increasing demand for transparency and accountability. Finance transformation can help address these challenges by improving financial processes, increasing efficiency, and enhancing decision-making capabilities. 

Jim McClurkin and Miriam Rayward explain how initial assessment, defining vision and objectives, developing a roadmap, engaging stakeholders, and implementing and monitoring progress, local government organizations can begin their finance transformation journey, including:

• Integration across multiple functions, departments, and projects. HR, payroll, t+e, accounts payable, compliance, etc).
• Talent and change management.
• Analytics for real-time decision making instead of waiting until "budget season".
• Tips on how to optimize processes with new technology

Resources

Free eBook: 4 Ways to Turn AP More Productive for Cities and Counties

ICMA's A Budgeting Guide for Local Government, Fourth Edition

Topics

FEMA Individual Assistance.

FEMA Public Assistance.

Cost and reimbursement and documentation.

Assign someone on staff as the point to understand FEMA reporting requirements and ensure compliance.

Categories of reimbursement and cost share between Federal, state, and local.

Policies for overtime pay.

The importance of not going it alone.

How to take care of yourself and staff.

Resources

ICMA Hurricane Response Resources

Federal Disaster Assistance 

Leadership Before, During, and After a Crisis

Odie Donald joins the show to discuss how local government can improve its accessibility and service delivery through three specific examples of citizen engagement.

1. The advantages and challenges of open budgeting, and how ARPA funding fits in.
2. How outdated 311 systems can transform into improved services through better technology.
3. How a “Mayors Walk” can also be an opportunity for non-elected professionals to meet people who are not as engaged in their local government and win them over with real-time fixes.

Then Kenneth Williams gives the pulse of ICMA's Mountain Plains ahead of in-person regional events.

Resources:

ICMA Community Engagement

Brion Oaks, Chief Equity Officer of Austin Texas, explains how he helped Austin build and develop its equity program, and how other local governments, no matter the size or region, can do the same.

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Resource Exploration.

Resources:

Austin’s DEI Home page

Austin’s Community Dashboard | Where city staff and residents connect

Austin’s equity consultation or workshop requests | Where other local governments can seek help getting started

Government Alliance on Race and Equity tools and resources

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About ICMA

ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org

Follow us on Social Media!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos

ICMA Southeast Regional Director, Randy Reid joins the share nearly 50 years of wisdom on:

1. Advocating for the profession of local government administration.
2. Responding to public criticism and handling an unwanted spotlight as a city/county manager.
3. Separating local government service delivery from the partisan pitfalls of national or local politics.
4. Specific strategies to identify and support the next generation of managers.

Resources

ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conferences, Louisville, May 10-12 and Long Beach, June 7-9.

Free E-Book: The 2023 State of Local Government Report

Specific topics include:

• How to standardize customer data and experiences across unique departments and situations.
• What resources are needed to implement this kind of program. And why it's important to find small and big wins to show the value of the work.
• Forming "CX Core Teams" to keep the framework and process sustainable even without constant support from an analyst.
• Working with IT to figure out software solutions.
• Reconciling how a disproportionate percentage of feedback is extreme positive or negative compared to the silent middle.
• Equity in CX and data analytics.

Customer Experience Measurement Guidebook for a replicatable step by step process about how to implement a measurement framework to get customer feedback.
 

Resources:

Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities  and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting

Tallahassee (FL) City Manager Reese Goad, Chief Transit Officer Angela Baldwin, Director of Growth Management Karen Jumonville, and Director of Fleet Management Jeff Shepard discuss how shifting from siloed departments to a one team identity helped the entire city's workforce and ultimately delivers better service for residents.

Resources:

City of Tallahassee Government Website

About ICMA

ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org

Follow us on Social Media!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos

Guest Information

Mark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University

Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida
 

Takeaways

• Effective communication requires understanding the past, present, and future of interactions.
• Empathy is crucial in communication, especially in local government settings.
• Nonverbal communication can account for a significant portion of the message conveyed.
• Follow-up communication is essential to show that you value the conversation.
• Personalized responses can significantly improve public trust in government.
• Active listening involves not just hearing but understanding the speaker's message.
• Tailoring communication styles to the audience can enhance understanding and cooperation.
• Silence can be detrimental; addressing issues directly is important.
• Building trust takes time and requires consistent, genuine interactions.
• Stories can be powerful tools to connect with skeptical audiences.
   

Chapters

Introduction to Effective Communication

Philosophical Foundations of Communication

Understanding Roles in Communication

Empathy and Active Listening

Nonverbal Communication Techniques

The Power of Follow-Up Communication

Personalized Responses in Local Government

Tailoring Communication Styles

Resources from ICMA Learning Lab

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

Free Resources

GovermentAI Coalition

Free Membership Application

Free to Use Deliverable Guide, including:

1. AI Policy
2. AI Policy Manual
3. AI Incident Response Plan
4. AI Fact Sheet
5. Vendor Agreement
6. Use Case Template
7. Vendor Registry

ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conference: Explore the Future of AI in Local Government - June 5-7 in Palm Desert, California

Lawrence E. Henderson, Jr., President & Chief Learning Officer, Business Operational Support Services (BOSS), LLC, shares insights on how to move from leadership clichés to behavior and habits that:

• Build and maintain high performing teams
• Effectively delegate
• Inspire and support

Resources

Message Lawrence Henderson on LinkedIn and mention ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a free 1-1 consultation.

Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks by urgency and importance (or a lack of) to decide what to do, delegate, or hold.

Free, self-guided website solutions demo from CivicPlus.

Troy Brown, ICMA-CM, city manager of Moorpark, CA, and ICMA President, discusses:

1. Changes in dues structure that makes membership more accessible.
2. Priorities, challenges and opportunities city managers and their staff are taking on in 2022.
3. How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is different than Social Justice and why it matters. Plus ICMA’s current position on addressing each and how leadership is open to feedback directly from members.

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Smarsh Inc. – a leader in Enterprise Information Archiving

View Smarsh's Government Solutions

Resources:

Read Smarsh's Professional Archive for Government Datasheet

ICMA 2022 Regionals: Build Your Resilience

Three Question Local Gov Life Advice

1:17: Question 1: “When do I know it’s time to leave my organization for other opportunities? Or am I better off sticking around and seeing what opens up?”

13:49 Question 2: "I've been the ACAO in a medium-sized town for six years. Recently they created a new second ACAO position. The new hire has a few more years experience. The exact split of responsibilities is unclear. And while this will eventually help ease my workload, I'm tasked with training this person who will likely end up competing when the CAO position eventually becomes open. How do I balance being a team player with my personal goals?

22:20 Question 3: "What’s the best way for an ACAO to gain experience working with council without overstepping the CAO"

Guests

Katherine Caffrey, principal & founder, NAVIS Consulting, former ACAO

Jeff Jenkins, deputy city manager, Taylor, Texas

LTC Dean Huard, ICMA Fellow, Georgetown, Texas, and Lynn Phillips, ICMA senior program manager, explain the process, benefits, and challenges of ICMA's Veterans in Local Government Management Program for transitioning service members and local governments.

• The program is zero cost for the organization, with no obligation to make a permanent hire.
• What fellows typically do day-to-day to gain critical experience and fill needs for the host organization.
• Creating a work plan to maximize impact and measure success.
• Transparent and calibrated expectations by the host locations and fellows, including what locations and position-level to target.

Cohort dates cycle throughout the year, but can be adjusted for specific situations:

January - April

May - August (Applications open in January)

September - December

Contact Lynn Phillips at lphillips@icma.org for next steps on becoming a host.

Resources:

Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities  and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting

Guest Information

Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute

 Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute
 

Topics

Retirement 
Employee investment programs

Resources

MissionSquare Research Institute

(Timestamps are an approximation)

00:52 Defining Mediation
02:34 Mediation in Local Government
05:08 Mediation in Noise Complaints
09:05 Benefits of Mediation for Local Government
11:41 Mediation in Policy and Ordinance Development
13:11 Cost Benefit of Mediation
15:15 Mediation and Community Engagement
20:22 Challenges in Mediation
25:56 Implementing Mediation in Local Government
28:26 Finding and Hiring Mediators
29:13 Conclusion
 

Resources

Sage Mediation

ICMA Learning Lab on-demand webinar: Managing a Divided Council.

Leaders from Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust explain:

• How Tiny Home sites are selected and set up.
• Scalability to show how this program can help your town address the homeless crisis and reduce service calls. This is not just an L.A. problem or L.A. solution.
• Complementary programs, including: workforce development, food recovery, landlord outreach, recreation, crisis intervention, prevention, and diversion.
• Funding and the financial case for the program.
• How to engage with city council and the public.

San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust with RFP templates, case studies, and more to help take a first step.

Contact Brielle Acevedo with questions about Tiny Homes or Regional Housing Trusts at bacevedo@sgvrht.org.

ICMA Annual Conference Presentation Slide Show

Sponsor Resources

Exclusive free two-week trial: Enhance government workflows with premium aerial intelligence from Nearmap. 

• Show before, during, and after shots of projects to communicate progress with the public, council, and commissioners.
• Capture multiple high-resolution images per location per year.
• Integrate at an enterprise level with cross-department functionality.

Resources

Exclusive free two-week trial: Enhance government workflows with premium aerial intelligence from Nearmap. 

ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual

Sue Lessard, town manager, Bucksport, Maine, tells a familiar tale of a small town struggling after a major industry closed its doors. With renewed focus on economic development but still searching for a way to reshape the town's identity, local government determined how to get out of the way when it comes to community engagement - Community Heart and Soul.

Jane Lafleur explains that it is a resident-driven process that relies on in-person interviews along with other digital methods to engage the entire population of a town. This identifies what is most loved about the community, the future the residents want for it, and how to achieve it. Local government can secure grant funding and provide the infrastructure.

The result is participation based on positives, not complaints, and real data to inform council decisions. 

Resources

Apply for a $10,000 seed grant for communities under 30,000 population

Obtain Community Heart and Soul's free intro book or email them at info@communityheartandsoul.org

ICMA's Local Government Reimagined initiative and conferences

ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual

Part one begins with Desiree and Chris providing insight for CAOs and department/team leaders to understand what aspects or benefits is most important to their job satisfaction. With many of the nine categories scoring a four or five, there's a follow up blog post with a ranked order.

The hiring process is discussed, with common frustrations and ideas on new approaches that can help local government win the passionate and talented early career professionals that are in such high demand.

Part one concludes with thoughts on how early career professionals can best contribute and add value to their local governments right away, while each side can be intentional for further development.

Then, listen to part two.

Resources

ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.

Fellows | Host Organizations

Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites

This episode begins with a short excerpt from Cyber Mayday and the Day After on a real ransomware negotiation with cyber-criminals. Then Nancy Rainosek, chief information security officer of Texas, and Dan Lohrmann, field CISO of Presidio speak on how local government can better plan, respond, and recover from ransomware attacks, as well as how to best coordinate with state or regional-level resources. Then we answer audience questions, including:

1. If it happens, should we pay or not?
2. What do the stats say on release rates?
3. Our city manager is non-technical and IT is limited, who should be in charge of cybersecurity?
4. What are best practices for involving law enforcement? And does it even help?
5. When a serious attack is reported, should we power off all devices? (Spoiler: No. But disconnect from the internet, WiFi, and Bluetooth.)

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, OpenGov.

Resources:

Download free e-books from OpenGov: The Strategic Planning Guide for Local Government and 10 Tips for Success with ARPA Reporting.

Sarah Peck, director of UnitedOnGuns, and Emily Nink, policy associate at the Public Health Advocacy Institute, join us in an episode that bypasses partisan gun control arguments to focus on the near-impossible responsibility local government officials face after a mass-casualty event. Researched by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and informed by local government leaders who have held their communities together through tragedy, the Mass Shooting Playbook is a vital resource on the work needed to prepare, immediately respond, and continued healing long after the cameras and national news spotlight are gone.

The Protocol is a four-page overview of a leader’s role during the first 24 hours after a mass shooting. It highlights the key decisions and includes a checklist highlighting immediate action steps.

The Playbook is a 200-page resource guide informed by the recommendations and experience of mayors and local government leaders who have responded to a mass shooting, including case studies from Orlando, Dayton, El Paso, Pittsburgh, Parkland, and San Bernardino.

It is organized into ten topic areas: communications, emergency management, victims and families, law enforcement, donations, school shootings, community partnerships, legal considerations, commemorations, and mental health. Each chapter includes key takeaways on the actions and training in advance of a mass shooting; actions during the response phase; and guidance for providing services to victims, family members, and the broader community as they recover.

Resources:

Get the Mass Shooting Protocol - First 24 Hours | FREE Download

Get the Mass Shooting Playbook | FREE Download

Read Sarah Peck and Emily Nink's post 'Is Your City Prepared to Respond to a Mass Shooting' on the ICMA Blog

Learn more about the Public Health Advocacy Institute

Michael Cannon, Chief Technology Officer, Stafford County, Virginia, and David Ihrie, Chief Technology Officer, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (formerly Center for Innovative Technology), discuss technology testing and deployment that leads to real-world community benefits in public safety, quality of life, economically and more.

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Resource Exploration.

Resources:

Stafford Welcomes the new Virginia Smart Community Testbed

Virginia Smart Community Testbed–home to developing smart technology for the Commonwealth

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About ICMA

ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org

Follow us on Social Media!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos

Resources:

ICMA Economic Mobility and Opportunity Tools and Resources
 

ICMA Annual Conference, Austin, Texas

Free Breakfast Workshop with Danielle Arigoni: Affordable, Climate-Friendly Housing as a Pathway for Economic Mobility

October 2, 2023
7:45am to 9:45am CT

Austin Convention Center
Room: Meeting Room 4

Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation, by Danielle Arigoni. Use promo code "webinar" for a 30% discount.

More from ICMA strategic partner, Cigna:

Local government healthcare resources

Guest Information

Mark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University

Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida

Resources from ICMA Learning Lab

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

Guest Information

Amanda Hesse, chief revenue officer, LCPtracker

Stephanie Ramos, customer success manager, LCPtracker
 

Topics

The Importance of Workforce Development and the impact on the local economy.

Real-World Examples of local government Workforce Initiatives.

Steps for Local Government Engagement.

Measuring Success.

Future Trends.

Resources

Workforce development program tracker

Case Study on the ROI of hiring local

Guest Information

Michael Paulhus, town manager, Plainville, CT. LinkedIn
 

Topics

Crushing the Stigma of Local Government

Building a Brand for Local Government

Empowering a Creative Social Media Team

Engaging the Community Through Content

Measuring Success and Overcoming Negativity

Tools and Strategies for Effective Communication

The Role of Government Structure in Community Engagement

Resources

Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media

Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications

See Plainville's social accounts in action:

LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

If you missed part one, listen here to learn how to recognize the value retirees and other older adults have and the positive impact they can have on our communities, including municipal boards and commissions and special projects that fill service gaps.

Greg and Cora return for part two to dive into the details of what it takes to launch the Give 5 Civic Matchmaking Program, including: 

1. An overview on how to identify the community challenges that Give 5ers could help address.
2. How Give 5 can get started in your own communities: general operational needs and requirements and an estimated launch plan and budget.
3. Instructions on what it takes financially and operationally to launch a program in the Give 5 network.
4. Answering questions about community engagement, volunteerism and increasing levels of social capital to build unity and trust in local government.

Visit give5program.org or Email Greg and Cora directly at: give5@uwozarks.org

Sponsored by Smarsh

• Why local governments are the best stewards of federal funding opportunities.
• How investment decisions can help address issues of inequity and expand upward mobility and opportunities for all residents.
• How specific cities like Tacoma, Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; and Union City, Georgia are using their federal funds, included in NLC's ARPA Investment Tracker.
• How small and mid-sized communities in particular can get access to technical assistance for grant writing to apply for federal funds.
• Why it’s so important for communities to gather community input on the front end of city projects and then communicating intentions and results across various channels to a diverse public.

Resources

Zencity 360: essential tools to help government agencies improve services, build community trust, and increase overall satisfaction, from our partner recently named a 2023 GovTech100 company.

ICMA's Local Government Reimagined initiative and conferences

ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual

Guest Information

Dave O’Reilly, CivicPlus Chief Operating Officer

Mike Paciello, AudioEye Chief Accessibility Officer

Takeaways

The Department of Justice has issued a final ruling on website accessibility, requiring compliance with specific timeframes based on population size and tax income.

Local governments need to establish a clear compliance plan, conduct an audit of their digital presence, and prioritize fixing frequently accessed pages.

Residents with disabilities should be involved in the feedback process to ensure their needs are met.

Building core competency within the organization and vetting vendors with deep domain expertise is crucial for successful implementation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:44 Compliance Deadlines

08:20 The Role of Feedback and Resident Engagement

18:49 The Urgency of Compliance

22:16 Challenges and Vendor Selection

27:43 Ensuring Compliance and Building Competency

31:03 Conclusion

Resources

7 Steps to Meeting the DOJ's New Web Accessibility Ruling

In this episode of CitiesSpeak, NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony sits down with Emily Larson, Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota to talk about how the city of Duluth is addressing big issues from revitalizing its downtown core coming out of the pandemic to addressing the impacts of climate change and building a more sustainable community.

Mara Mintzer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Growing Up Boulder, and Sarah Huntley, Director of Communication and Engagement, City of Boulder Colorado discuss how ideas from kids can help local government design better cities and develop engaged citizens.

• Why the effort is worth it.
• How the work is done.
• Examples of sample projects that were approved and completed, including transportation planning and an organized response to a mass-shooting.

Resources:

Through June 30, 2022, use code ICMA25 for 25% of Placemaking with Children and Youth

Mara Mintzer's TedTalk

Growing Up Boulder

Sponsored by Smarsh

Part two picks up with Desiree and Chris answering questions ICMA CAOs and department/team leaders want to know (but can't always directly ask) of early career professionals. Then concludes with questions the guests have for local government leaders.
 

Resources

ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.

Fellows | Host Organizations

Sponsored by CivicOptimize. Workflows and automations from CivicPlus

Claudia Arriaga of OpenGov guest hosts this episode of Voices in Local Government to interview Boulder, CO. city manager, Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde on why and how to use data to manage change in local government.

1. How data helped allocate budget and justify adjusting charges to create a focused approach to solve specific, repeated challenges and community complaints.
2. What tools and systems can be implemented to collect, organize, and understand quantitative and qualitative data to make informed decisions.
3. How to make government spending more transparent, including internally for better staff communication.
4. How Boulder went back to the basics with strategic initiatives around:
   • Retention and recruitment
   • Data on diversity, equity, and inclusion
   • Housing affordability and homelessness
   • Climate change
   • Change management

Resources:

Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities  and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting

Janice Allen Jackson, city manager of Stonecrest, Georgia, discusses the expected and unexpected challenges when undertaking the immense task of starting a new city.

We dive into the reasoning and context on why and when a location may want to break off an existing city or county jurisdiction to create their own city, how to overcome the many challenges–like logistics to gaining and keeping community support–and how the form of government makes a huge difference.

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor ABM.

Download ABM's Stimulus Solutions Guide

Resources:

Visit the Stonecrest, GA Government website

Charlie Nichols, director of planning & development, Linn County, Iowa joins the show to explain the planning and process needed to turn a decommissioned nuclear plant into a solar farm.

1. Why the county was interested in solar, and how the project started.
2. The time and resources needed during the application process, and how that was accounted and paid for.
3. How to best communicate to the public and remain a-political on a controversial topic.
4. Lessons learned that other locations can benefit from on their own current or future large-scale energy projects.

Resources

ICMA's Solar@Scale Guidebook

Linn County's solar project webpage. An example on collecting and communicating all the relevant information to the public.

Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites

Part one focuses on internal and external pay paradox. Should an IT director or civil engineer make significantly more than a fire or police chief? With tight budgets, how can city/county managers and HR leaders attract top candidates and keep current employees morale up?

Resources

email podcast@icma.org to send Warren a question about hiring, recruiting, or anything career-related.

Sumter Local Government Consulting

Jeannetta Maxena, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Mary Esther, Florida, explains the frustrations experienced and resiliency needed during her job search. Then she shares five tips for job seekers:

1. Explore the ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) or similar program on a state level. These don't always mean internship or low pay.
2. Stay visible. Get published, go to events, and more.
3. Use a variety of digital platforms to search.
4. Improve (and sometimes customize) your resume/cover letter.
5. Establish good working relationships.

Jeannetta then recalls her experience working on ICMA's soon to be released Job Hunting Handbook, and closes the show with final advice to job seekers and decision makers looking to hire them.

Resources

ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.

Fellows | Host Organizations

ICMA's Job Hunting Handbook update coming soon!
 

Career Resource Guides
 

Sponsored by Smarsh

Massive wildfires and other challenges large and small over a few years created a difficult working environment in Butte County, CA. Their director of public works, Joshua Pack joins the show to explain how an employee survey based on a genuine desire to listen and improve went a long way to gather honest feedback and respond with employee-driven changes. 

Melissa Agnes, Founder and CEO of the Crisis Ready Institute, explains how local government can transform from being dependent on static emergency management or disaster recovery plans to become crises ready.

Visit crisisreadyinstitute.com for more information and join a  two-part digital course on November 15 and 17, 2021.

Resources:

Crisis Ready Institute Digital Programs

Developing your Crisis Communication Program

Check out Melissa's book Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World

Get more expert insight from Melissa on Twitter, follow @melissa_agnes!

Find the Crisis Ready Institute on Facebook and Instagram.

--

About ICMA

ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org

Follow us on Social Media!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos

Episode one in a two-part series uncovers the power of tapping into baby boomers for communities interested in improving community engagement and helping government and nonprofits address the growing workforce crunch. The Give 5 Civic Matchmaking program was started in Springfield, Missouri to address social isolation among retirees, while plugging the highly skilled boomers into the community for meaningful projects. It has grown into an initiative filling service gaps and improving trust in local government.

In Part One, Listeners Will:

1. Learn how to recognize the value retirees and other older adults have and the positive impact they can have on our communities, including municipal boards and commissions and special projects that fill service gaps.
2. Understand the detrimental impact that the growing (and "silent") challenge of social isolation is having on our communities and identify at least one strategy to combat it.
3. Hear how the Give 5 program provides "fuel" to volunteer efforts that can address their community's most critical issue(s).
4. Learn how to leverage the support of volunteers to improve civic engagement across the entire community during a time when all communities need enhanced dialogue.

Part 2 will provide specific details about how communities can partner with them to launch the program in their home cities. 

In part two, Santy and Hemant continue covering these topics:

• How should IT or HR departments answer when employees ask: "How will AI make my job easier instead of replacing me?"
• How residents can use AI to help themselves and create better interaction with local government.
• What is the next step for local governments and individual staff after experimenting?
• AI architecture.
• Creating internal guidelines.
• Fear and optimism from our favorite fictional AI.

Resources

City of Boston Interim Guidelines for Using GenerativeAI

ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences:

Explore the Future of AI in Local Government

One Topic.  Two Locations. ICMA is headed to Boston, MA and Palm Desert, CA for the Local Government Reimagined Conferences. From cutting-edge applications to strategic insights, discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of local government. Register here.

Government AI Coalition

Join over 140 government agencies in creating standards for responsible AI procurement and governance for public agencies. Learn more.

Additional Content

Zencity: Using Generative AI for Community Engagement, from our partner named a 2024 GovTech100 company.

Cedar Park, Texas deputy city manager, Katherine Caffrey created the TEXChange program in Texas to benefit assistant city/county managers in their daily work . In this episode, Caffrey outlines the goals of the exchange for participant and host, lessons learned in the inaugural group of 14, what's planned for 2023, and how to set up a similar informal program in your own region or state.

Resources

ICMA Blog: How We Created a Successful Exchange Student Program for Assistant and Deputy Managers

katherine.caffrey@cedarparktexas.gov

Free, self-guided website solutions demo from CivicPlus.

Chuck Flacks dispels common myths of “homelessness”, explains the problems with encampments, shares ideas and proven methods for alternatives, and discusses the complex financial and political realities local governments must navigate to help every member of their communities.

Resources:

Learn more about Flacks Seed Consulting

Contact Chuck Flacks

Read Chuck's post 'Ending Homelessness Together' on the ICMA Blog

Learn more about Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week resources

About ICMA

ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org

Follow us on Social Media!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos

Part two focuses on severance agreement negotiations. 

Takeaways

Severance agreements are of utmost importance for city managers, providing protection and security in case of termination.

Negotiating severance agreements should consider the duration of payment and the inclusion of benefits.

Differentiating between cause and no cause in severance agreements is crucial to avoid ambiguity and potential legal disputes.

The inclusion of a clause related to the conviction of a felony in severance agreements provides clarity and protection for both parties.

The risk profile of severance agreements may vary depending on the stage of a career, with more leverage and negotiation power as experience and reputation increase.

Educating city councils on the importance of severance agreements can help ensure fair and reasonable negotiations.

Preparing for the worst and prioritizing personal and family protection in severance agreements is essential for city managers.

Resources

email podcast@icma.org to send Warren a question about hiring, recruiting, or anything career-related.

Sumter Local Government Consulting

Guest Information

Laura Savage, Senior Program Manager, ICMA
 

Topics

Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) Development Series Overview

Career Progression and Development Opportunities

SheLeadsGov Virtual Forum Insights

Resources

The Essential ACAO Development Series: Building Your Path to Leadership Excellence

SheLeadsGov Virtual Forum | Innovate, Inspire, Impact

EP47 Local Gov Life Advice: Career Moves, Coworkers, and Council

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:25 Job Search Process
• 07:15 Networking and Job Search Resources
• 09:11 Negotiating Job Offers
• 16:05 Adjusting to the CAO Role
• 28:29 Building Relationships with Staff
• 29:57 Hiring Veterans and Tapping into the Talent Pool

Resources

Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship

Voices in Local Government Podcast EP27 Veterans in Local Government Management Program

ICMA Job Center

Human Resources Recruitment Handbook: Hiring Veterans for Local Government Positions

David Street, chief of staff of Loudoun County, Virginia, joins us for a follow up episode to talk about professional development and optimizing your time and energy to maximize ROI.

Discussed in this episode:

• How to blend professional, educational, and personal development into an overall growth mindset.
• When is saying yes to almost everything good approach?
• What criteria is used to better prioritize time and energy?
• How to measure impact and progress to short or long-term goals.

Resources:

EP08 Two-way Relationship for Mentors and Mentees

Learn more about the National Mentoring Month campaign

Learn more about the free ICMA Coaching Program for local government professionals

Get more information about ICMA's 12-month Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) | Host a fellow or Become a fellow

Read David Street's professional development series on the ICMA Blog:

• Professional Development Plan Year-end Review
• Professional Development Goals in DEI
• Professional Development Plan Mid-Year Check-in
• What Is Your Professional Development Plan for 2021?

Iris Lee, Public Works Director of Seal Beach, California

Shane Silsby, CEO and Founder of Silsby Strategic Advisors

(2:10) Question 1: "What’s your advice to encourage, nudge, (borderline force) employees to use and make the most of their available training programs and professional development funding?"

And how can local government leaders effectively implement workforce development programs to enhance the skills, knowledge, and overall professional growth of their employees in today's landscape of generational transitions?

(17:27) Question 2: Complaints about permitting are always one of the biggest issues for our support and communications teams. This remains a huge rift between residents and local governments. What can local government do better? 

(26:23) Question 3:I serve in a public works department for a fairly large county. Our team constantly sees high profile projects get the budget and media attention while less visible but arguably more critical infrastructure needs are delayed or ignored. Even after increased Federal funding over the last few years. As leaders of a public works department, how do you set priorities? And how do you advocate during the budget/decision making process?

Resources

email podcast@icma.org to send questions or ideas for the next Local Gov Life Advice.

Managing for Meteors: Preparing Local Government Leaders Before the Impact

Public Works Podcast

Dan Dowell of ABM shares long-term investment ideas local governments can make for their economies and quality of life. Plus bonus content: Victor Cardenas, ICMA-CM, assistant city manager, Novi, Michigan and Midwest VP, shares on the pulse of the region.

Dan Dowell discusses how recent local government funding can go beyond immediate fixes to focus on sustainable long-term investments, including: 

1. Economic development
2. Infrastructure
3. K-12 support (other than teacher pay and curriculum debates)
4. Savings and sustainability through electric fleets and buildings

 Then, Victor Cardenas gives the pulse of ICMA's Midwest region ahead of in-person regional events. (22:03).

This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, ABM.

Resources:

Download ABM's Stimulus Solutions Guide

ICMA Economic Development

ICMA experts on brownfields, Clark Henry and Chris Harrell, explain why brownfields are a problem and how to transform them into sustainable spaces with positive economic, social, and environmental impact. Often at no cost to the local government. Then they preview the Brownfields Conference, August 8-11 in Detroit.

Resources

Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities: Free technical assistance and workshops (in-person or digital) via ICMA in region four, or find your representative organization on the resources page.

Brownfields Conference, August 8-11 in Detroit

Brownfields University, a foundational pre-conference training program, free with registration for Brownfields 2023 conference. 

ICMA Brownfields topic page, for the basics all the way through advanced studies and resources.

Free copy of the ResourceX Annual Impact Report

Planning committee co-chairs, Emily Muzzarelli and Alex McIntyre preview this year's ICMA 2022 Annual Conference: Achieving Excellence Together, September 17-22 in Columbus, Ohio.

1. What they've learned at a previous event that was put into practice at their local government.
2. Speakers or sessions they're most excited for.
3. Benefits and tips for attendees other than city/count managers, covering assistant CAOs, department heads, and early to mid-career professionals.
4. Networking.
5. Suggestions for Columbus.

Then, Ohio local, ICMA marketing coordinator and host of ICMA Member Spotlights, Jessi Atcheson joins to give more info on the Columbus airport, walking/ride-share situation, best restaurants and bars, and THE Ohio State University Saturday game day experience.
 

Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites
 

Resources

Registration

Agenda and Full Schedule

Conference App

Digital Event

Experience Columbus deals and discounts

Send questions to membership@icma.org or conferenceteam@icma.org

Sessions Referenced During the Episode to Bookmark:

Self-Compassion: A Key to Resilience-Featuring Betty Hart-Sponsored

Governing in a Disruptive Environment: Charting a Course in a Stormy Sea

The Balancing Act of Being a Parent and a Chief Executive
 

Jessi's recommendations:

OSU Pregame: Little Bar, Midway

Restaurants: Condados, Bakersfield, Standard, Foodhall, Lincoln Social, Hubbard, Local Cantina, Marcella’s, TownHall, The Eagle, Brassica

Breweries: Hoof Hearted, Seventh Son, North High Brewing, Columbus Brewing Company, Ohio Brewing Company, Whistle and Keg, BrewDog, Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

Other Attractions: COSI, Columbus Zoo, North Market, German Village, Franklin Park Conservatory, Easton Town Center

Every January 1st, marks the beginning of National Mentoring Month, the month-long celebration of mentoring that focuses national attention on the need for mentors. Mary Furtado, deputy county manager of Catawba County, North Carolina, David Street, chief of staff of Loudoun County, Virginia, and Rob Carty, director of career services at ICMA, know first-hand the positive impact effective mentoring can have on your career and organization. They all agree that the best mentors listen more than lecture, and the best mentees learn to solve problems rather than expect answers. They join Joe Supervielle, host of the Voices in Local Government podcast and content marketing manager at ICMA, to share and explore what elements are essential to finding the right balance for professional and personal success in a mentoring relationship–for mentors and mentees.

Discussed in this episode:

• Favorite fictional mentor-mentee pairs
• Avoiding unrealistic expectations
• Best methods to find, form, and develop mentor relationships
• Desired mentoring outcomes

Resources:

Learn more about the National Mentoring Month campaign

Learn more about the free ICMA Coaching Program for local government professionals

Get more information about ICMA's 12-month Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) | Host a fellow or Become a fellow

Read David Street's professional development series on the ICMA Blog:

• Professional Development Plan Year-end Review
• Professional Development Goals in DEI
• Professional Development Plan Mid-Year Check-in
• What Is Your Professional Development Plan for 2021?

Local government spends 2 trillion dollars annually on procurement. Co-founder and CEO of Pavilion, Mariel Reed, shares her unique perspective working in both local government and technology to create solutions that improve the often tedious, slow, and painful procurement processes, including:

• Drastically reduce buying cycles.
• Maintain compliance.
• How city/county managers and department heads can empower purchasing managers to transform the dreaded procurement headache into a strategic advantage.

Resources

Pavilion's free platform for local governments.

Connect with Mariel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation or ask questions about procurement. Include ICMA podcast in your message!

Emergency preparation and response resources from Hagerty Consulting.

Parham Eftekhari, Executive Director at the Cybersecurity Collaborative, and Hemant Desai, Chief Information Officer at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), discuss the universal threat of cyber-attacks and the unique challenges local governments face as high-profile targets, including:

• What are best practices?
• What do we prioritize?
• How can we train a reluctant staff?
• How to translate between a city manager and the CTO role?
• How can we demonstrate urgency to gain more resources?
• What are realistic and measurable goals beyond did we suffer a major attack or not?

Resources:

ICMA Cybersecurity Leadership Academy

Cybersecurity Collaborative

Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency

Cybersecurity Considerations to Implement IoT
 

Chapters

Part Three

The successful response at the Texas Allen Outlet Mall shooting

Building Trust and Coordination

The Role of City and County Managers

Ensuring Training and Resources

Resources

ALERRT.org

UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours

Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety