Contemporary Trends in Local Government John and Carol Nalbandian

Getting Started List two new ways you conduct your business today compared to five years ago in areas like finance, budgeting, HRM, performance management, service delivery, application of technology. List two new ways you conduct your business today compared to five years ago in areas like finance, budgeting, HRM, performance management, service delivery, application of technology. Compared to five years ago, what are two new or different ways that you engage citizens? Compared to five years ago, what are two new or different ways that you engage citizens?

Contemporary Trends Modernizing the organization Modernizing the organization Citizen engagement Citizen engagement

Modernizing the Organization Connecting administrative processes to strategic goals Connecting administrative processes to strategic goals Integrating personnel and financial systems Integrating personnel and financial systems Organizing around problems, not departments and hierarchy Organizing around problems, not departments and hierarchy Decentralized decision making for timely response Decentralized decision making for timely response Market orientation including privatization Market orientation including privatization GIS/GPS activities and Internet-based innovations GIS/GPS activities and Internet-based innovations Results-based & quality-based performance measurement and bench marking Results-based & quality-based performance measurement and bench marking Goal-based performance appraisal Goal-based performance appraisal Performance budgeting Performance budgeting Resident as customer Resident as customer

Citizen engagement Engaging citizens in administrative processes Engaging citizens in administrative processes More emphasis on expressions of direct democracy More emphasis on expressions of direct democracy More emphasis on neighborhoods as the base unit of the community (de facto governments) More emphasis on neighborhoods as the base unit of the community (de facto governments) More accountability and transparency with citizens More accountability and transparency with citizens More communication and education More communication and education Devolution of tasks and partnerships with other non-governmental sectors – private sector, non- profit sector, faith-based organizations Devolution of tasks and partnerships with other non-governmental sectors – private sector, non- profit sector, faith-based organizations

The Challenge Between Trends How do we use the techniques of modernization to build unique communities? How do we use the techniques of modernization to build unique communities?

Critical Gaps Modernizing the organization Citizen Engagement Professional staff Elected officials Departmental focus CAO perspective Governing institutions Community based politics (issue, energy) Specialized staff PolicyCitizensPlace

Bridging the Gaps Citizen driven performance measures Citizen driven performance measures America Speaks America Speaks Lewisham Citizen Panels Lewisham Citizen Panels Citizen survey used to develop policy initiatives Citizen survey used to develop policy initiatives Web initiatives that facilitate public meetings Web initiatives that facilitate public meetings

These skills add value 5-10 yrs (NLC 2004) Facilitate civility, engagement, preservation and creation of community Facilitate civility, engagement, preservation and creation of community Engage in facilitative decision-making Engage in facilitative decision-making Channel divergent interests into community good Channel divergent interests into community good Desire to utilize citizen advisory groups Desire to utilize citizen advisory groups Learn and comprehend issues and choices Learn and comprehend issues and choices Doing what is right Doing what is right Facilitate regional problem solving Facilitate regional problem solving

Value of the Bridges New infra-structure connects political acceptance and administrative feasibility—carrying capacity to make collective decisions New infra-structure connects political acceptance and administrative feasibility—carrying capacity to make collective decisions Forums for deliberation Forums for deliberation Bring public values into the mixBring public values into the mix

Responsibilities, Roles, and Values ResponsibilitiesRolesPublic Service Values Modernizing the organization Community building Closing the gaps Facilitate partnerships Build bridges Create intersections Convene conversations that matter Representation Efficiency Social equity Individual rights

Summary Two trends—modernizing and community building Two trends—modernizing and community building Gaps created between administrative feasibility and political acceptability Gaps created between administrative feasibility and political acceptability Roles that add value are facilitative Roles that add value are facilitative Public values are crucial and must be conveyed in the work of public officials or they will be absent. Public values are crucial and must be conveyed in the work of public officials or they will be absent.