Contemporary Trends in Local Government

1. Contemporary Trends in Local Government John and Carol Nalbandian

2. 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. Compared to five years ago, what are two new or different ways that you engage citizens?

3. Contemporary Trends Modernizing the organization Citizen engagement Trends come from international research. These trends have a life of their own. They are pursued simultaneously yet often separately. Ask for examples of each trendTrends come from international research. These trends have a life of their own. They are pursued simultaneously yet often separately. Ask for examples of each trend

4. Modernizing the Organization Connecting administrative processes to strategic goals Integrating personnel and financial systems Organizing around problems, not departments and hierarchy Decentralized decision making for timely response Market orientation including privatization GIS/GPS activities and Internet-based innovations Results-based & quality-based performance measurement and bench marking Goal-based performance appraisal Performance budgeting Resident as customer PERFORMANCE DRIVEN AND OUTSIDE THE VIEW OF THE CC ICEBERG (optional) TWO OBSERVATIONS HARD DATA DRIVES OUT SOFT DATA WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS; rational not emotional; not seat of the pants; conventional wisdom devalued e. g. how has science replaced experience in farming? Pavement management (would you go back? Could you?) Park and Rec scheduling and payment Trash truck routing Life cycle costing of vehicles These all are areas where decisions used to be made by people not software AS YOU MODERNIZE, YOU STANDARDIZE; YOU DRIVE OUT VARIETY—promises reliability and predictability, effectiveness Left turn lanes: how many variations are there? Strip centers: have you ever mistaken one for something else? Airports: baggage claim and ground transportation are always together? Bathrooms: if there is a mens’ room, do you think the womens’ room will be nearby? Always? Windows XP: GIS specialist in Fairfax, VA has more in common with GIS specialist in Berlin than with P&R person in Fairfax. Where did you used to take your car to get it worked on? What happened to the mechanic? What is an auto technician? What is the difference between a technician and a mechanic? Do you think we can go back to the old way? Driven by the professions and professional associations, commerce, communications, technology Modernizing produces efficiency and reliability, and in the process it drives out “tradition,” “uniqueness,” and “spontaneity,” and you can expect a counter-force that embraces these qualities because they are indispensably human.PERFORMANCE DRIVEN AND OUTSIDE THE VIEW OF THE CC ICEBERG (optional) TWO OBSERVATIONS HARD DATA DRIVES OUT SOFT DATA WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS; rational not emotional; not seat of the pants; conventional wisdom devalued e. g. how has science replaced experience in farming? Pavement management (would you go back? Could you?) Park and Rec scheduling and payment Trash truck routing Life cycle costing of vehicles These all are areas where decisions used to be made by people not software AS YOU MODERNIZE, YOU STANDARDIZE; YOU DRIVE OUT VARIETY—promises reliability and predictability, effectiveness Left turn lanes: how many variations are there? Strip centers: have you ever mistaken one for something else? Airports: baggage claim and ground transportation are always together? Bathrooms: if there is a mens’ room, do you think the womens’ room will be nearby? Always? Windows XP: GIS specialist in Fairfax, VA has more in common with GIS specialist in Berlin than with P&R person in Fairfax. Where did you used to take your car to get it worked on? What happened to the mechanic? What is an auto technician? What is the difference between a technician and a mechanic? Do you think we can go back to the old way? Driven by the professions and professional associations, commerce, communications, technology Modernizing produces efficiency and reliability, and in the process it drives out “tradition,” “uniqueness,” and “spontaneity,” and you can expect a counter-force that embraces these qualities because they are indispensably human.

5. Citizen engagement Engaging citizens in administrative processes More emphasis on expressions of direct democracy More emphasis on neighborhoods as the base unit of the community (de facto governments) More accountability and transparency with citizens More communication and education Devolution of tasks and partnerships with other non-governmental sectors – private sector, non-profit sector, faith-based organizations Key is neighborhoods: when did this happen Juxtapose to modernizing Seeking identity Seeking control Values tradition and spontaneity A story that is yet to unfold—like a soap opera It is the poetry aligned against the prose of modernization. Centrex University—groups of men who gather as a testament to importance of human connectionKey is neighborhoods: when did this happen Juxtapose to modernizing Seeking identity Seeking control Values tradition and spontaneity A story that is yet to unfold—like a soap opera It is the poetry aligned against the prose of modernization. Centrex University—groups of men who gather as a testament to importance of human connection

6. The Challenge Between Trends How do we use the techniques of modernization to build unique communities? The challenge is captured in the modernizing trend of “best practice.” Not “good” or “better” but best. One best way is assessed and determined by hard data analysis that is impersonal. Best practices are transferred from one jurisdiction to another with modest change to account for context. Modernizing drives out “tradition” and “spontaneity,” and you can expect a counter force. This is the desire for community. The paradox is that modernizing techniques make things similar, yet our goal is to use them to make something different, something that has identity Farming business: how to build/maintain the values of the family farm through modern techniques of farming and finance.The challenge is captured in the modernizing trend of “best practice.” Not “good” or “better” but best. One best way is assessed and determined by hard data analysis that is impersonal. Best practices are transferred from one jurisdiction to another with modest change to account for context. Modernizing drives out “tradition” and “spontaneity,” and you can expect a counter force. This is the desire for community. The paradox is that modernizing techniques make things similar, yet our goal is to use them to make something different, something that has identity Farming business: how to build/maintain the values of the family farm through modern techniques of farming and finance.

7. Critical Gaps These five dimensions show how local government professionals and elected officials experience the gaps—the tension between the trends Gap 1 Show John Arnold graphic and identify role of cm as working more with council to bridge the gap Gap 2 As CAO works with council more politics filters to administrative staff Talk about the importance of connecting political acceptance and administrative feasibility This can take the role of public/private/non-profit partnerships if that is what it will take politically or administratively to get the job done New role for department heads as the funnel diameter increases—they become assistant cm’s. Intersections are not new; cm used to be the connector. The connections now are experienced directly by the department heads rather than being coordinated from above. Intersection of depts—Fairfax County initiatives=environment, security, neighborhoods as themes that can connect political with department interests The concept of the task force becomes the modern way of organizing Gap 3 governing Institutions Time perspective Procedure because governing is about legislating, executing and adjudicating Gap 4 Specialized staff Ken Collier example Gap 5 What is a regional citizen? Policy is region wide perspective Place is municipality perspective Example is affordable housing where density is desired regionally but rejected locallyThese five dimensions show how local government professionals and elected officials experience the gaps—the tension between the trends Gap 1 Show John Arnold graphic and identify role of cm as working more with council to bridge the gap Gap 2 As CAO works with council more politics filters to administrative staff Talk about the importance of connecting political acceptance and administrative feasibility This can take the role of public/private/non-profit partnerships if that is what it will take politically or administratively to get the job done New role for department heads as the funnel diameter increases—they become assistant cm’s. Intersections are not new; cm used to be the connector. The connections now are experienced directly by the department heads rather than being coordinated from above. Intersection of depts—Fairfax County initiatives=environment, security, neighborhoods as themes that can connect political with department interests The concept of the task force becomes the modern way of organizing Gap 3 governing Institutions Time perspective Procedure because governing is about legislating, executing and adjudicating Gap 4 Specialized staff Ken Collier example Gap 5 What is a regional citizen? Policy is region wide perspective Place is municipality perspective Example is affordable housing where density is desired regionally but rejected locally

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

9. These skills add value 5-10 yrs (NLC 2004) Facilitate civility, engagement, preservation and creation of community Engage in facilitative decision-making Channel divergent interests into community good Desire to utilize citizen advisory groups Learn and comprehend issues and choices Doing what is right Facilitate regional problem solving Which words are repeated most often? Facilitate and engage. Now, let’s go to a crucial relationship that requires facilitation/engagement. Go to psych contract exercise if appropriate.Which words are repeated most often? Facilitate and engage. Now, let’s go to a crucial relationship that requires facilitation/engagement. Go to psych contract exercise if appropriate.

10. Value of the Bridges New infra-structure connects political acceptance and administrative feasibility—carrying capacity to make collective decisions Forums for deliberation Bring public values into the mix I have repeatedly used the term “bridges” to convey a connection to infra-structure The less that government is seen as a dominant player, the less demonstration there will be of traditional public values. Private sector is profit driven; non-profit is mission driven; public sector is value driven A healthy democracy depends not only on the provision of essential public services, but also on respect for PUBLIC values, for the public good. A crucial question is “what do local government professionals or elected officials bring to these partnerships, these bridges?” In the language of modernization, “What value do they add to new forms of governance?” The answer is that they bring respect for the rule of law that grows out of an understanding of public values. I have repeatedly used the term “bridges” to convey a connection to infra-structure The less that government is seen as a dominant player, the less demonstration there will be of traditional public values. Private sector is profit driven; non-profit is mission driven; public sector is value driven A healthy democracy depends not only on the provision of essential public services, but also on respect for PUBLIC values, for the public good. A crucial question is “what do local government professionals or elected officials bring to these partnerships, these bridges?” In the language of modernization, “What value do they add to new forms of governance?” The answer is that they bring respect for the rule of law that grows out of an understanding of public values.

11. Facilitate partnerships bringing Haskell, KU, and the city together for periodic discussions; you are laying groundwork The library may bring to you a proposal for a new library whose elements will touch the Eldridge Hotel, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and increased city parking for the library, aquatics center, and an expanded hotel with meeting space. Who will do the necessary facilitation since this will not be entirely a city project? Building Bridges The sign ordinance was an attempt to build a bridge to the business community when we made a decision that they would disagree with—I appointed Schulte as a member of the group that came up with the recommendation With the new system development fees and anti-smoking ordinance significant attention needs to be spent on cementing bridges to the business and home builders to minimize the anti-business impression Create Intersections Lawrence aquatics center and Arts Centers are community intersections; you have to build the best because you do not get many opportunities. Conversations that matter bridge business, education, human services, and government sectors and create a new public square where leadership that is community oriented can emerge. Facilitate partnerships bringing Haskell, KU, and the city together for periodic discussions; you are laying groundwork The library may bring to you a proposal for a new library whose elements will touch the Eldridge Hotel, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and increased city parking for the library, aquatics center, and an expanded hotel with meeting space. Who will do the necessary facilitation since this will not be entirely a city project? Building Bridges The sign ordinance was an attempt to build a bridge to the business community when we made a decision that they would disagree with—I appointed Schulte as a member of the group that came up with the recommendation With the new system development fees and anti-smoking ordinance significant attention needs to be spent on cementing bridges to the business and home builders to minimize the anti-business impression Create Intersections Lawrence aquatics center and Arts Centers are community intersections; you have to build the best because you do not get many opportunities. Conversations that matter bridge business, education, human services, and government sectors and create a new public square where leadership that is community oriented can emerge.

12. Summary Two trends—modernizing and community building Gaps created between administrative feasibility and political acceptability 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.