1 Starting a New Season Jeff Kooistra & McKinlee Gibson, City of Waukee Elizabeth Hansen, City of Nevada Handouts and presentation are available online at

2 Starting a New Season: Council Orientation Presented by: Elizabeth Hansen, City Administrator September 22, 2011 City of Nevada

3 Purpose of conducting a New Member Orientation Helps newly elected officials to be prepared and informed Helps newly elected officials to be prepared and informed Provides an organizational overview Provides an organizational overview Provides an overview of council meeting processes and procedures Provides an overview of council meeting processes and procedures Provides important city documents Provides important city documents Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

4 Provides an opportunity to meet many of the city employees and tour the city facilities Provides an opportunity to meet many of the city employees and tour the city facilities Provides an all inclusive binder to keep important documents as a reference Provides an all inclusive binder to keep important documents as a reference More reasons to conduct a New Member Orientation Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

5 Process and Timeline…to get Started September – From scratch, prepare a list of items that the binder should include and put two draft binders together November - Ask two current elected officials to do a trial run by taking the tours and examining the information. Add, correct and produce the binders needed December - Schedule times to orientate and provide tours for the new members Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

6 Follow-up with Quarterly and Annual Updates As contents get updated and approved by council As contents get updated and approved by council Throughout the year, take notes of requested documents to add to the binder Throughout the year, take notes of requested documents to add to the binder Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

7 Contents: Make sure to include Mayor’s cover letter Mayor’s cover letter Table of Contents Table of Contents - Tour of city facilities - Municipal Leadership Academy information and other on-going training opportunities (i.e. facilitated by the Iowa League of Cities, your regional Council of Governments, County Extension Offices, etc.) - Iowa Municipal Policy Leader’s Handbook Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

8 More Content - Budget and Financial Status - Plans - Policies and Contracts - Personnel Documents Governing Body Rules of Procedure Governing Body Rules of Procedure Updates Updates Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder

9 Take-always: Samples Sample Mayor’s cover letter Sample Mayor’s cover letter Sample Table of Contents Sample Table of Contents Copy of Nevada’s Governing Body Rules of Procedure Copy of Nevada’s Governing Body Rules of Procedure Sample Update Sample Update Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder Final Remarks Start right away Start right away Treat all new members alike Treat all new members alike Include key staff Include key staff Do something Do something

10 Comments/Questions? Contact Information: City Administrator Elizabeth Hansen (515) Thank you! Starting a New Season: Orientation Binder