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BAINBRIDGE ISLAND Form of Government » Mayor – Council »Council – Manager Presenter: Carl Neu March 31, 2009

Bainbridge Island Government

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Page 1: Bainbridge Island Government

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND

Form of Government» Mayor – Council»Council – Manager

Presenter: Carl Neu

March 31, 2009

Page 2: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 3: Bainbridge Island Government

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)

Page 4: Bainbridge Island Government

THE CHOICE:Form of Government

can be decided only by the electorate (the citizens choose the form of government)

Page 5: Bainbridge Island Government

Basic Forms of Municipal Government

• Really “Strong” Mayor-Council

• Mayor-Council

• Council-Manager

• Commission

• Town Meeting

Page 6: Bainbridge Island Government

MAYOR-COUNCIL

COUNCIL-MANAGER

Separation of powers Divided political power

Concentrated power Unitary model

Purely Legislative body

Governing body

(Legislative & policy making)

POWER

COUNCIL

Page 7: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 8: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 9: Bainbridge Island Government

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”

Page 10: Bainbridge Island Government

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.

Page 11: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 12: Bainbridge Island Government

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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

Page 13: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 14: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 15: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 16: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 17: Bainbridge Island Government

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”.

Page 18: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 19: Bainbridge Island Government

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

Page 20: Bainbridge Island Government

● 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!

Page 21: Bainbridge Island Government
Page 22: Bainbridge Island Government
Page 23: Bainbridge Island Government

MAYOR-COUNCIL

COUNCIL-MANAGER

Is not an

“either or” proposition

Page 24: Bainbridge Island Government

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.

Page 25: Bainbridge Island Government

MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM

COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM

Bainbridge Island

May 19

The citizens who vote will make the choice.

Page 26: Bainbridge Island Government

DISCUSSION

• Panel

• Q&A