One of Kurt Kimball's strengths has been his ability to work well with the local business leadership. He has done this in a very non-partisan manner. This is a unique strength - and one that is essential for the future of the City. He frequently put his own ego on hold to massage the egos of business so that they invest in and move forward with activities that were/are beneficial to the community. The next City Manager needs to possess this service before self trait to continue adding to the dynamics of our current economy.
To the Mayor's question - the City Manager needs be in touch with and respected by the business community - especially in this economy. Our neighborhoods will decline if there are no jobs for citizens. In a thriving economy it is much easier to place a focus on neighborhoods - but at this time it is all about the economy.
While I understand there needs to be some balance between business and neighborhoods - zoning, air quality, traffic -those are common sense. If business does not respect the professional management of the City, they will locate elsewhere.
The City Manager also needs to excercise strict leadership in both employee performance and management direction. The City Manager exercising this type of leadership should flow down into the lower layers of management, if not then removal of those management layers is needed. It has been strikingly demonstrated that current City leadership is not able to stand up to the employees and demand the performance to survive. It is also known that City leadership is not able to demonstrate any "backbone", due to the time that it took the former IT director to get removed from his place. Current City leadership needs to hold everyone accountable. Not just accept whatever the status QUO is.
I believe we are entering a new period of pragmatism in the city, state, and country. I would ask candidates for City Manager to state their personal definition of quality. Ask how he or she will measure the quality of services provided by the City? It is not good enough to fire employees and managers for performance when business processes are weak and quality is not managed. The new city manager will need to increase the quality level of service while reducing cost. The City Manager should institute an ethic of quality not simply play political games. The days of the bureaucrat are numbered and if the City is to meet the challenges of today it will need technocrats. Getting things done in government use to be considered successful, we are now faced with getting things done right. All current process and services should be tested for efficiency regularly and if poor quality is found then, they should be changed, reengineered, or removed. The City should be the standard – a model for continuous government improvement. The information age is driven by data; pick a City Manager who knows data and people. The new manager will need to move beyond mere accountability politics and empower the ideas of city leaders, citizens, and workers. He or she should inspire city employees to at the very least have pride in their work and seek an apex of service to community, not just a union paycheck.
GRAND RAPIDS ALWAYS BEEN SET UP AND RUN BY A "WEAK MAJOR W/PROFESSIONAL CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT". THIS HAS SERVED THE CITY VERY WELL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUEDS AND RE-ENFORCED. THEREFORE, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR THE MAJOR'S INPUT INTO DIRECT MANAGEMENT TO PULL BACK INTO THIS MOLD. THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE MANAGEMENT IDEAS OF THE MAJOR OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMISSION, AND YET SHOULD ALWAYS BE STRIVING TO MEET THE GOALS AND OUTCOMES DESIRED BY THE MAJOR, COMMISSION, AND THE CITIZENS. THE MAJOR,ET AL, NEED TO STICK TO MAKING AND PERFECTING OF THE THE POLICIES OF THE CITY, NOT IT'S MODIS OPERANDIS.
One of Kurt Kimball's strengths has been his ability to work well with the local business leadership. He has done this in a very non-partisan manner. This is a unique strength - and one that is essential for the future of the City.
ReplyDeleteHe frequently put his own ego on hold to massage the egos of business so that they invest in and move forward with activities that were/are beneficial to the community. The next City Manager needs to possess this service before self trait to continue adding to the dynamics of our current economy.
Question: What balance does a city manager need between business and neighborhood interests?
ReplyDeleteTo the Mayor's question - the City Manager needs be in touch with and respected by the business community - especially in this economy. Our neighborhoods will decline if there are no jobs for citizens. In a thriving economy it is much easier to place a focus on neighborhoods - but at this time it is all about the economy.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand there needs to be some balance between business and neighborhoods - zoning, air quality, traffic -those are common sense. If business does not respect the professional management of the City, they will locate elsewhere.
The City Manager also needs to excercise strict leadership in both employee performance and management direction. The City Manager exercising this type of leadership should flow down into the lower layers of management, if not then removal of those management layers is needed. It has been strikingly demonstrated that current City leadership is not able to stand up to the employees and demand the performance to survive. It is also known that City leadership is not able to demonstrate any "backbone", due to the time that it took the former IT director to get removed from his place. Current City leadership needs to hold everyone accountable. Not just accept whatever the status QUO is.
ReplyDeleteI believe we are entering a new period of pragmatism in the city, state, and country. I would ask candidates for City Manager to state their personal definition of quality. Ask how he or she will measure the quality of services provided by the City? It is not good enough to fire employees and managers for performance when business processes are weak and quality is not managed. The new city manager will need to increase the quality level of service while reducing cost. The City Manager should institute an ethic of quality not simply play political games. The days of the bureaucrat are numbered and if the City is to meet the challenges of today it will need technocrats. Getting things done in government use to be considered successful, we are now faced with getting things done right. All current process and services should be tested for efficiency regularly and if poor quality is found then, they should be changed, reengineered, or removed. The City should be the standard – a model for continuous government improvement. The information age is driven by data; pick a City Manager who knows data and people. The new manager will need to move beyond mere accountability politics and empower the ideas of city leaders, citizens, and workers. He or she should inspire city employees to at the very least have pride in their work and seek an apex of service to community, not just a union paycheck.
ReplyDeleteGRAND RAPIDS ALWAYS BEEN SET UP AND RUN BY A "WEAK MAJOR W/PROFESSIONAL CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT". THIS HAS SERVED THE CITY VERY WELL, AND IT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUEDS AND RE-ENFORCED. THEREFORE, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR THE MAJOR'S INPUT INTO DIRECT MANAGEMENT TO PULL BACK INTO THIS MOLD. THE CITY MANAGER SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE MANAGEMENT IDEAS OF THE MAJOR OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE COMMISSION, AND YET SHOULD ALWAYS BE STRIVING TO MEET THE GOALS AND OUTCOMES DESIRED BY THE MAJOR, COMMISSION, AND THE CITIZENS. THE MAJOR,ET AL, NEED TO STICK TO MAKING AND PERFECTING OF THE THE POLICIES OF THE CITY, NOT IT'S MODIS OPERANDIS.
ReplyDelete