SlideShare une entreprise Scribd logo
1  sur  9
Télécharger pour lire hors ligne
New Role for City Council
      President

 IN A WEAK MAYOR COUNCIL-MANAGER
   FORM OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Elimination of Council Voting Districts
                                              2

 City Councilors, without districts are now similar to
  the Mayor’s position by having the same role of
  representing all citizens of the City
 Citizen voices have gotten lost as an unintended
  consequence in the process of eliminating of voting
  districts
 Community awareness and neighborhood influence
  has also felt diminished representation and voice
 Special interest are clearly the winners in this
  structure because they can amass financial and
  organizational resources for their purpose

Council President Closes Citizen Engagement        1/11/2012
Gap!
New Role for Council President
                                              3

 The Council President’s current role as backup to the Mayor
  could be expanded by Charter Amendment to fill this
  new communication and citizen engagement gap.
 This city wide elected official is the best person to fill this role
  because its already acts as a supportive bridge between the
  Mayor’s Office and City Council, driving interaction and
  communication. This position is best prepared to involve
  and keep current neighborhood citizens in matters of
  potential upcoming legislative actions impacting their
  community, neighborhood, and neighbors.
 The Council President could coordinate and lead in the
  reestablishment of “neighborhood councils” to empower
  and reactivate meaningful citizen engagement and
  involvement in local problem solving, decision making and
  actual governance at this grass roots level.

Council President Closes Citizen Engagement                     1/11/2012
Gap!
Mayors New Role
                                              4

 The current mayor serves part time. some estimating
  three (3) days a week in a primarily ceremonial role.
 Under a new charter empowered executive role the mayor
  would be too busy attending to active participation in
  programs of economic development and in recruiting
  investment capital and job creation to have time for this
  heighten role of citizen engagement.
 The Council President’s important role serves as
  facilitor between the Mayor’s Office and the Legislative and
  Policy Making City Council insures effective communication
  and cooperation for achievement of city’s goals and
  work plan. This positions unique and innovative
  interaction and influence with citizens would be of
  great benefit to the city and serve as a model for charter
  reform to other cities suffering from the same dilemma.

Council President Closes Citizen Engagement             1/11/2012
Gap!
Charter Reform Efforts
                                              5

 The media, based on engaged citizens input, have recently become
  critical of City Council and Mayor leadership in the current Charter
  Review Process as it relates to citizen involvement.
 This has had the consequence of opening the “Pandora Box” leading to
  a broader evaluation of what has happen to citizen voice over the
  pass years as those representatives of special interests weaken citizen
  authority and participation in local governance, and what adds insult to
  injury is that they utilized the City Charter to accomplish their aim.
 Some political scientists opinion that “special interests” have too
  often been successful at convincing elected officials that their
  expertise and voice is of greater worth than that of the local
  citizenry.
 It only took the straight forward inquiry of seeking examples of their
  process for gathering meaningful input and recommendations from the
  citizen community to verify that this was self-serving propaganda.




Council President Closes Citizen Engagement                          1/11/2012
Gap!
Citizen Input Auditor
                                              6

 The Council President as dedicated citizen listening
  post, engaging and soliciting relevant input and
  feedback at street, neighborhood and community levels
  with the aid of the Internet and social media as
  backup would develop new knowledge and expertise
  unknown and therefore not utilized in most cities.
 It would be the Council President’s responsibility to
  throw the red flag and cry foul anytime he/she
  recognized critical and significant citizen
  information as absent from City Council or the Office
  of Mayor deliberations.

Council President Closes Citizen Engagement           1/11/2012
Gap!
Recruiting Potential Candidates for City Council
                                              7

 The Council President could play a key role in community leadership
  development and recruit outstanding citizens to run for elected office.
 It is sad indeed to see in a city of 100,000+ city few if any competing
  candidates for Council and Mayor Offices. This not because all is well in
  paradise! Most citizens see the current form of government as not engaging
  or involving in anything meaningful at their community level and have a
  perception that their cannot make a differences.
 City Staff are not skilled in citizen problem solving and engagement at the
  neighborhood and community level because historically council-
  manager organizations did not value such involvement and saw it
  as potential political interference lacking the necessary subject
  matter expertise.
 The elite skepticism that drove out elected executive authority and created
  the council-manager weak mayor form of government refuses even here
  to give citizens a foothold even in their own neighborhoods




Council President Closes Citizen Engagement                           1/11/2012
Gap!
Delivering Adequate Representation
                                              8

 It is the Charter Review Committee responsibility to see to it that
  there are provisions in the Charter that provide for adequate
  representation of citizens in their governing bodies and process. This
  proposal for an expanded role of Council President will be a first step and
  go along way toward accomplishing this end.
 Council elections- at-large and elimination of voting districts has more or
  less reduced citizen engagement to a whimper. A few years ago the
  City Charter established a requirement that the mayor report once a year
  on citizen engagement accomplishment. This was not intended to be a
  “Campaign” public relations event where in the “State of the City Report”
  list the many Mayor’s accomplishment, which unfortunately it has now
  become. What was the intent of that Charter Review Committee?
 Would City Council and Special Interests Groups block the
  reestablishment of voting districts placement on the special
  election ballot, now that they have established a supermajority
  requirement for adoption.




Council President Closes Citizen Engagement                           1/11/2012
Gap!
Who does this Council Care About?
                                              9

 The more diverse a community, the more important are issues of
    representation and citizen voice. Does the average citizen feel
    invested in the public good?
    In many ways representing reflects caring!
   Who does this current Charter and Council care about?
    Have lost the value of difference by focusing on the entire city?
    Have we lost the participative value of citizen interaction and
    influence?
    Who do we think fills this communication gap and political vacuum
    and for what purpose?
    Is this the democratic process that we as a nation have so long
    espoused?
    We think not.
    Does our Charter Review Committee have the courage to start the
    journey back to the future?

Council President Closes Citizen Engagement                     1/11/2012
Gap!

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Reaching the hearts of herefordshire
Reaching the hearts of herefordshireReaching the hearts of herefordshire
Reaching the hearts of herefordshireRachel Jones
 
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting Workshop
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting WorkshopSafety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting Workshop
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting WorkshopEveryday Democracy
 
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simple
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simpleRoad Map to Citizen Engagement simple
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simpleRebecca Olson
 
Citizen Voice for City Council Accountability
Citizen Voice for City Council AccountabilityCitizen Voice for City Council Accountability
Citizen Voice for City Council AccountabilityRich Strathern
 
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)Rich Strathern
 
NYC Politics Presentation
NYC Politics PresentationNYC Politics Presentation
NYC Politics Presentationsssantana
 
Avantika Foundation Brief
Avantika Foundation BriefAvantika Foundation Brief
Avantika Foundation BriefSharanya Menon
 
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdf
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdfCS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdf
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdfAndrew Chatterjee
 
Community involvement
Community involvementCommunity involvement
Community involvementTim Curtis
 
comm_conversations
comm_conversationscomm_conversations
comm_conversationsjbmalcho9306
 
What is governance and what's it for?
What is governance and what's it for?What is governance and what's it for?
What is governance and what's it for?Roberto Rocco
 
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...ACTion Alexandria
 
Chief executives session
Chief executives sessionChief executives session
Chief executives sessionlgconf11
 
Rural women in the regions
Rural women in the regionsRural women in the regions
Rural women in the regionsgordana comic
 
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism Bll
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism BllNeighbourhood planning and the Localism Bll
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism Bllwestcottva
 
Community participation
Community participationCommunity participation
Community participationmonaaboserea
 
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)sanjog macwan
 

Tendances (20)

Reaching the hearts of herefordshire
Reaching the hearts of herefordshireReaching the hearts of herefordshire
Reaching the hearts of herefordshire
 
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting Workshop
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting WorkshopSafety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting Workshop
Safety and Justice Challenge May Networking Meeting Workshop
 
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simple
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simpleRoad Map to Citizen Engagement simple
Road Map to Citizen Engagement simple
 
Citizen Voice for City Council Accountability
Citizen Voice for City Council AccountabilityCitizen Voice for City Council Accountability
Citizen Voice for City Council Accountability
 
Philsocords community buildin hope and caution 2nd
Philsocords community buildin hope and caution 2ndPhilsocords community buildin hope and caution 2nd
Philsocords community buildin hope and caution 2nd
 
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
 
NYC Politics Presentation
NYC Politics PresentationNYC Politics Presentation
NYC Politics Presentation
 
Avantika Foundation Brief
Avantika Foundation BriefAvantika Foundation Brief
Avantika Foundation Brief
 
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdf
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdfCS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdf
CS.82.08 - Community Support Review Public.pdf
 
Community involvement
Community involvementCommunity involvement
Community involvement
 
comm_conversations
comm_conversationscomm_conversations
comm_conversations
 
What is governance and what's it for?
What is governance and what's it for?What is governance and what's it for?
What is governance and what's it for?
 
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...
What's Next, Alexandria? A Community Conversation about Civic Engagement & Pl...
 
Reputation and leadership norfolk summer conference 13.07.10
Reputation and leadership   norfolk summer conference 13.07.10Reputation and leadership   norfolk summer conference 13.07.10
Reputation and leadership norfolk summer conference 13.07.10
 
Community participation
Community participationCommunity participation
Community participation
 
Chief executives session
Chief executives sessionChief executives session
Chief executives session
 
Rural women in the regions
Rural women in the regionsRural women in the regions
Rural women in the regions
 
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism Bll
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism BllNeighbourhood planning and the Localism Bll
Neighbourhood planning and the Localism Bll
 
Community participation
Community participationCommunity participation
Community participation
 
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)
Community participation(Prepared by sanjog Macwan)
 

Similaire à New Role for City Council President

Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerRich Strathern
 
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerRich Strathern
 
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerRich Strathern
 
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem SolvingBeyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem SolvingEveryday Democracy
 
Voice and accountability
Voice and accountabilityVoice and accountability
Voice and accountabilityRich Strathern
 
21st CC Trust in Democracy
21st CC Trust in Democracy21st CC Trust in Democracy
21st CC Trust in DemocracyBridget Harris
 
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - Final
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - FinalNew Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - Final
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - FinalHamish Coghill
 
21st Century Councillor - South East workshop
21st Century Councillor - South East workshop21st Century Councillor - South East workshop
21st Century Councillor - South East workshopBridget Harris
 
Participation in Urban Development and Governance
Participation in Urban Development and GovernanceParticipation in Urban Development and Governance
Participation in Urban Development and Governanceinventionjournals
 
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background Paper
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background PaperLondons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background Paper
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background PaperNetworked Neighbourhoods
 
MoynihanThesisFinal16
MoynihanThesisFinal16MoynihanThesisFinal16
MoynihanThesisFinal16Owen Moynihan
 
Role of the councillor in 2010
Role of the councillor in 2010Role of the councillor in 2010
Role of the councillor in 2010Bridget Harris
 
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)Rich Strathern
 
Championing elected councillors in 21st Century
Championing elected councillors in 21st CenturyChampioning elected councillors in 21st Century
Championing elected councillors in 21st CenturyBridget Harris
 
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE-2
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL  GOVERNANCE-2BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL  GOVERNANCE-2
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE-2Afayak Limatu
 
The wheel overview pptx
The wheel overview pptxThe wheel overview pptx
The wheel overview pptxTHE WHEEL
 
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)Di Goldsmith
 

Similaire à New Role for City Council President (20)

Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
 
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
 
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-ManagerWeak Mayor Council-Manager
Weak Mayor Council-Manager
 
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem SolvingBeyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving
Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving
 
Voice and accountability
Voice and accountabilityVoice and accountability
Voice and accountability
 
21st CC Trust in Democracy
21st CC Trust in Democracy21st CC Trust in Democracy
21st CC Trust in Democracy
 
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - Final
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - FinalNew Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - Final
New Zealand's New Mayoral Role and Powers - Final
 
21stCC Hackney
21stCC Hackney21stCC Hackney
21stCC Hackney
 
21st Century Councillor - South East workshop
21st Century Councillor - South East workshop21st Century Councillor - South East workshop
21st Century Councillor - South East workshop
 
Participation in Urban Development and Governance
Participation in Urban Development and GovernanceParticipation in Urban Development and Governance
Participation in Urban Development and Governance
 
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background Paper
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background PaperLondons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background Paper
Londons Digital Neighbourhoods Workshop - Background Paper
 
MoynihanThesisFinal16
MoynihanThesisFinal16MoynihanThesisFinal16
MoynihanThesisFinal16
 
Ppt public participation
Ppt public participationPpt public participation
Ppt public participation
 
Role of the councillor in 2010
Role of the councillor in 2010Role of the councillor in 2010
Role of the councillor in 2010
 
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
The geopolitics of_2012_gresham_oregon (1)
 
Championing elected councillors in 21st Century
Championing elected councillors in 21st CenturyChampioning elected councillors in 21st Century
Championing elected councillors in 21st Century
 
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE-2
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL  GOVERNANCE-2BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL  GOVERNANCE-2
BAWKU PRESENTATIOM-THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE-2
 
The wheel overview pptx
The wheel overview pptxThe wheel overview pptx
The wheel overview pptx
 
OpenСityCRM 2012
OpenСityCRM 2012OpenСityCRM 2012
OpenСityCRM 2012
 
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)
RSA_CitizenPower_Final-report_20130709 (1)
 

Plus de Rich Strathern

Income distribution and revenue generation
Income distribution and revenue generationIncome distribution and revenue generation
Income distribution and revenue generationRich Strathern
 
Geographic representation 38
Geographic representation 38Geographic representation 38
Geographic representation 38Rich Strathern
 
Finalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraFinalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraRich Strathern
 
Finalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraFinalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraRich Strathern
 
Restoring district representation 5.21.12
Restoring district representation 5.21.12Restoring district representation 5.21.12
Restoring district representation 5.21.12Rich Strathern
 
Great Debate in Gresham 1986
Great Debate in Gresham 1986Great Debate in Gresham 1986
Great Debate in Gresham 1986Rich Strathern
 
Nfbw neighborhood voice
Nfbw neighborhood voiceNfbw neighborhood voice
Nfbw neighborhood voiceRich Strathern
 
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation Issues
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation IssuesAbsence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation Issues
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation IssuesRich Strathern
 
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyGresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyRich Strathern
 
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyGresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyRich Strathern
 
City charter review commission
City charter review commissionCity charter review commission
City charter review commissionRich Strathern
 
City Charter Review Commission
City Charter Review CommissionCity Charter Review Commission
City Charter Review CommissionRich Strathern
 
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090Rich Strathern
 
Gresham charter review
Gresham charter reviewGresham charter review
Gresham charter reviewRich Strathern
 
District elections for_city_council
District elections for_city_councilDistrict elections for_city_council
District elections for_city_councilRich Strathern
 

Plus de Rich Strathern (20)

Center update (2)
Center update (2)Center update (2)
Center update (2)
 
Center
CenterCenter
Center
 
2010file[122]
2010file[122]2010file[122]
2010file[122]
 
Income distribution and revenue generation
Income distribution and revenue generationIncome distribution and revenue generation
Income distribution and revenue generation
 
Geographic representation 38
Geographic representation 38Geographic representation 38
Geographic representation 38
 
Finalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraFinalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation maura
 
Finalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation mauraFinalpresentation maura
Finalpresentation maura
 
Restoring district representation 5.21.12
Restoring district representation 5.21.12Restoring district representation 5.21.12
Restoring district representation 5.21.12
 
Great Debate in Gresham 1986
Great Debate in Gresham 1986Great Debate in Gresham 1986
Great Debate in Gresham 1986
 
Nfbw neighborhood voice
Nfbw neighborhood voiceNfbw neighborhood voice
Nfbw neighborhood voice
 
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation Issues
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation IssuesAbsence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation Issues
Absence of Voting Districts Creates Serious Representation Issues
 
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyGresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
 
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and TransparencyGresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
Gresham Citizen Champions for Accountability and Transparency
 
Charter questions
Charter questionsCharter questions
Charter questions
 
City charter review commission
City charter review commissionCity charter review commission
City charter review commission
 
City Charter Review Commission
City Charter Review CommissionCity Charter Review Commission
City Charter Review Commission
 
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090
Citizen champions campaign pp 0530090
 
Gresham charter review
Gresham charter reviewGresham charter review
Gresham charter review
 
Separating the mess
Separating the messSeparating the mess
Separating the mess
 
District elections for_city_council
District elections for_city_councilDistrict elections for_city_council
District elections for_city_council
 

New Role for City Council President

  • 1. New Role for City Council President IN A WEAK MAYOR COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
  • 2. Elimination of Council Voting Districts 2  City Councilors, without districts are now similar to the Mayor’s position by having the same role of representing all citizens of the City  Citizen voices have gotten lost as an unintended consequence in the process of eliminating of voting districts  Community awareness and neighborhood influence has also felt diminished representation and voice  Special interest are clearly the winners in this structure because they can amass financial and organizational resources for their purpose Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 3. New Role for Council President 3  The Council President’s current role as backup to the Mayor could be expanded by Charter Amendment to fill this new communication and citizen engagement gap.  This city wide elected official is the best person to fill this role because its already acts as a supportive bridge between the Mayor’s Office and City Council, driving interaction and communication. This position is best prepared to involve and keep current neighborhood citizens in matters of potential upcoming legislative actions impacting their community, neighborhood, and neighbors.  The Council President could coordinate and lead in the reestablishment of “neighborhood councils” to empower and reactivate meaningful citizen engagement and involvement in local problem solving, decision making and actual governance at this grass roots level. Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 4. Mayors New Role 4  The current mayor serves part time. some estimating three (3) days a week in a primarily ceremonial role.  Under a new charter empowered executive role the mayor would be too busy attending to active participation in programs of economic development and in recruiting investment capital and job creation to have time for this heighten role of citizen engagement.  The Council President’s important role serves as facilitor between the Mayor’s Office and the Legislative and Policy Making City Council insures effective communication and cooperation for achievement of city’s goals and work plan. This positions unique and innovative interaction and influence with citizens would be of great benefit to the city and serve as a model for charter reform to other cities suffering from the same dilemma. Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 5. Charter Reform Efforts 5  The media, based on engaged citizens input, have recently become critical of City Council and Mayor leadership in the current Charter Review Process as it relates to citizen involvement.  This has had the consequence of opening the “Pandora Box” leading to a broader evaluation of what has happen to citizen voice over the pass years as those representatives of special interests weaken citizen authority and participation in local governance, and what adds insult to injury is that they utilized the City Charter to accomplish their aim.  Some political scientists opinion that “special interests” have too often been successful at convincing elected officials that their expertise and voice is of greater worth than that of the local citizenry.  It only took the straight forward inquiry of seeking examples of their process for gathering meaningful input and recommendations from the citizen community to verify that this was self-serving propaganda. Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 6. Citizen Input Auditor 6  The Council President as dedicated citizen listening post, engaging and soliciting relevant input and feedback at street, neighborhood and community levels with the aid of the Internet and social media as backup would develop new knowledge and expertise unknown and therefore not utilized in most cities.  It would be the Council President’s responsibility to throw the red flag and cry foul anytime he/she recognized critical and significant citizen information as absent from City Council or the Office of Mayor deliberations. Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 7. Recruiting Potential Candidates for City Council 7  The Council President could play a key role in community leadership development and recruit outstanding citizens to run for elected office.  It is sad indeed to see in a city of 100,000+ city few if any competing candidates for Council and Mayor Offices. This not because all is well in paradise! Most citizens see the current form of government as not engaging or involving in anything meaningful at their community level and have a perception that their cannot make a differences.  City Staff are not skilled in citizen problem solving and engagement at the neighborhood and community level because historically council- manager organizations did not value such involvement and saw it as potential political interference lacking the necessary subject matter expertise.  The elite skepticism that drove out elected executive authority and created the council-manager weak mayor form of government refuses even here to give citizens a foothold even in their own neighborhoods Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 8. Delivering Adequate Representation 8  It is the Charter Review Committee responsibility to see to it that there are provisions in the Charter that provide for adequate representation of citizens in their governing bodies and process. This proposal for an expanded role of Council President will be a first step and go along way toward accomplishing this end.  Council elections- at-large and elimination of voting districts has more or less reduced citizen engagement to a whimper. A few years ago the City Charter established a requirement that the mayor report once a year on citizen engagement accomplishment. This was not intended to be a “Campaign” public relations event where in the “State of the City Report” list the many Mayor’s accomplishment, which unfortunately it has now become. What was the intent of that Charter Review Committee?  Would City Council and Special Interests Groups block the reestablishment of voting districts placement on the special election ballot, now that they have established a supermajority requirement for adoption. Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!
  • 9. Who does this Council Care About? 9  The more diverse a community, the more important are issues of representation and citizen voice. Does the average citizen feel invested in the public good?  In many ways representing reflects caring!  Who does this current Charter and Council care about?  Have lost the value of difference by focusing on the entire city?  Have we lost the participative value of citizen interaction and influence?  Who do we think fills this communication gap and political vacuum and for what purpose?  Is this the democratic process that we as a nation have so long espoused?  We think not.  Does our Charter Review Committee have the courage to start the journey back to the future? Council President Closes Citizen Engagement 1/11/2012 Gap!