Voices in Local Government tells stories, inspires ideas, celebrates progress, and acknowledges challenges faced by local government managers and staff in serving the public.
Featured Guest: Ben R. Spoer, PhD, MPH, Program Director, City Health Dashboard and Congressional District Health Dashboard, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, Department of Population Health
Episode Host: Emily Sparks, Program Director, Thriving Communities, Innovation & Research, ICMA
In this Interview:
Learn how local leaders are turning city health data into action.
Discover the local government decisions that influence community health every day.
Explore real-world examples of data-driven problem-solving and grant success.
See how neighborhood-level insights can help target resources where they're needed most.
Resources Mentioned:
In This Interview:
Featured Guests:
Tomeka Lee, program manager, National League of Cities (NLC)
Laura Searfoss, AICP Programs, associate director, Enterprise Community Partners
Vonnette Harris, president & CEO, Kairos Development, LLC, ERC fellow
For city managers, economic development professionals, housing leaders, and local government staff, this conversation offers practical insights on how to align housing, transportation, and economic strategies to create more resilient and equitable communities.
Resources:
Economic Recovery Corps: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/
Enterprise Community Partners: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org
Purple Line Corridor Coalition: https://purplelinecorridor.org
National League of Cities Housing Supply Accelerator: https://www.nlc.org/initiative/housing-supply-accelerator/
Guest Information
Zhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute
Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute
Topics
Financial wellness: Generic benefit, or strategy?
Guaranteed income options altering
Artificial intelligence impact on staffing.
Retirement decisions: Human advice vs Technology.
Employers recognizing and tracking mental and emotional labor.
Resources
MissionSquare Research Institute
Local Government Reimagined Conference - The AI Edge: Orlando, FL | April 8-10, 2026
Key Takeaways:
Featured Guests:
Sydney Davis
Entrepreneur & Funding Navigation Specialist
ERC Fellow with National Coalition for Community Capital
Resources
Economic Recovery Corps (ERC)
Community Investment Fund Handbook & Toolkit: The National Coalition for Community Capital is a great resource. NC3 offers practical education, case studies, and tools that help communities understand what’s possible beyond traditional grants and incentives—and how to approach these models responsibly.
In this episode of Voices in Local Government, Phil Kiraly and Julia D. Novak, ICMA-CM answer the critical question at the heart of our profession: why council-manager government matters now more than ever. They discuss how ICMA's Future of Professional Management Fund supports advocacy and how to educate residents when defending and adopting council-manager government comes up on the ballot.
Key Takeaways:
Featured Guests:
Phil Kiraly - ICMA-CM - village manager of Glencoe, Illinois
Julia D. Novak - ICMA-CM – CEO and executive director of ICMA
Voices in Local Government Podcast Hosts:
Joe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
Resources:
ICMA's Future of Professional Management Fund
PM Magazine: Making Big Strides in Advocating for Council-Manager Government
ICMA Annual Conference, October 25-29 in Tampa.
Key Takeaways for local government AI:
Featured Guest:
Parth Shah – CEO and Co-Founder, Polimorphic
Voices in Local Government Podcast Hosts:
Joe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
Resources:
ICMA Annual Conference, October 25-29 in Tampa.
Multiple AI trainings on the ICMA Learning Lab.
AI policy, templates, and more tools from the GovAI Coalition
Voices in Local Gov Episode: GovAI Coalition - Your Voice in Shaping the Future of AI
Key Takeaways for local government's emergency management and response:
Featured Guest:
John Antapasis, Emergency Management Director, Fire Rescue, City of Tampa
Voices in Local Government Podcast Hosts:
Joe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
Resources:
ICMA Recovery Resources
ICMA Annual Conference, October 25-29 in Tampa
Key Takeaways for local government's data and software:
Featured Guest:
Raman Shah – Owner, Raman Shah Data Science
Connect with Raman on LinkedIn
Voices in Local Government Podcast Hosts
Joe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
Resources
Learn more from Raman in his three-part blog series, Software Trouble.
ICMA Annual Conference, October 25-29 in Tampa.
Key Takeaways for Retention and Workplace Wellness:
Featured Guest:
Adrienne Wise – CEO of Wise Choice Counseling and Consulting Services; trauma-informed care consultant, emotional wellness expert, and global public speaker
Voices in Local Government Podcast Hosts:
Joe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
Resources:
Mental health services from ICMA affinity partner, Cope Notes.
ICMA Annual Conference, October 25-29 in Tampa. With sessions on mental health in the workplace and more. Registration opens June 25.
Voices in Local Government: Mental Health Ask Me Anything with Johnny Crowder
Key Takeaways for Financial Resilience and Success:
Proven strategies to improve financial resilience in your municipality
How city managers and finance directors can best collaborate and work together
Tools for long-range planning and adapting to new fiscal challenges
Real examples of budget solutions that reflect community priorities
Featured Speakers:
Justin Marlowe – co-host of Public Money Pod, research professor at the University of Chicago, director of the Center for Municipal Finance
Liz Farmer – co-host of Public Money Pod, award-winning journalist, and fiscal policy writer
Dave Schmiedicke – finance director, City of Madison, WI; Former Wisconsin state budget director
Will Jones – city administrator, Mequon, WI; president, Wisconsin City/County Management Association
Whether you’re a city manager, budget officer, or just care about sound fiscal strategy, this episode offers practical tips to help you lead with financial resilience.
Resources
Public Money Pod by the Center for Municipal Finance
ICMA: A Budgeting Guide for Local Government 3-Part Series
Guest InformationJulia D. Novak, ICMA-CM, CEO and executive director of ICMA
HostsJoe Supervielle and Angelica Wedell
TopicsWelcome Voices in Local Government's New co-host, Angelica Wedell
Introduction and Understanding Change in Local Government
Strategies for Effective Change Management
Fostering Innovation
The Role of Supervisors
Advice for Local Government Leaders
Resources
ICMA Effective Supervisory Practices Training Series
Getting to Know Our New CEO/Executive Director, Julia D. Novak, ICMA-CM
Guest Information
Laura Savage, Senior Program Manager, ICMA
Topics
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer (ACAO) Development Series Overview
Career Progression and Development Opportunities
SheLeadsGov Virtual Forum Insights
Resources
The Essential ACAO Development Series: Building Your Path to Leadership Excellence
SheLeadsGov Virtual Forum | Innovate, Inspire, Impact
EP47 Local Gov Life Advice: Career Moves, Coworkers, and Council
Guest InformationAmanda Hesse, chief revenue officer, LCPtracker
Stephanie Ramos, customer success manager, LCPtracker
TopicsThe Importance of Workforce Development and the impact on the local economy.
Real-World Examples of local government Workforce Initiatives.
Steps for Local Government Engagement.
Measuring Success.
Future Trends.
Resources
Workforce development program tracker
Case Study on the ROI of hiring local
Guest InformationZhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute
Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute
TopicsRetirement
Employee investment programs
Resources
MissionSquare Research Institute
Guest InformationZhikun Liu, Ph.D., CFP®, vice president, head of MissionSquare Research Institute
Gerald Young, senior researcher, MissionSquare Research Institute
TopicsPart One:
Workforce motivations
Succession Planning
Concerns over emerging technologies
Employee Debt, Stress, and Mental Health
Then Listen to Part Two:
Retirement
Employee investment programs
Resources
MissionSquare Research Institute
Guest InformationMichael Paulhus, town manager, Plainville, CT. LinkedIn
TopicsCrushing the Stigma of Local Government
Building a Brand for Local Government
Empowering a Creative Social Media Team
Engaging the Community Through Content
Measuring Success and Overcoming Negativity
Tools and Strategies for Effective Communication
The Role of Government Structure in Community Engagement
Resources
Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media
Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications
See Plainville's social accounts in action:
LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
TopicsFEMA Individual Assistance.
FEMA Public Assistance.
Cost and reimbursement and documentation.
Assign someone on staff as the point to understand FEMA reporting requirements and ensure compliance.
Categories of reimbursement and cost share between Federal, state, and local.
Policies for overtime pay.
The importance of not going it alone.
How to take care of yourself and staff.
Resources
ICMA Hurricane Response Resources
Federal Disaster Assistance
Leadership Before, During, and After a Crisis
Guest InformationMark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University
Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida
Resources from ICMA Learning Lab
Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media
Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications
Guest InformationMark Zeigler, Senior Lecturer and Director of First-Year Experience Programs, Florida State University
Desiree Casanova, Assistant to the County Administrator, Sarasota Florida
Takeaways* Effective communication requires understanding the past, present, and future of interactions. * Empathy is crucial in communication, especially in local government settings. * Nonverbal communication can account for a significant portion of the message conveyed. * Follow-up communication is essential to show that you value the conversation. * Personalized responses can significantly improve public trust in government. * Active listening involves not just hearing but understanding the speaker's message. * Tailoring communication styles to the audience can enhance understanding and cooperation. * Silence can be detrimental; addressing issues directly is important. * Building trust takes time and requires consistent, genuine interactions. * Stories can be powerful tools to connect with skeptical audiences.
Chapters
Introduction to Effective Communication
Philosophical Foundations of Communication
Understanding Roles in Communication
Empathy and Active Listening
Nonverbal Communication Techniques
The Power of Follow-Up Communication
Personalized Responses in Local Government
Tailoring Communication Styles
Resources from ICMA Learning Lab
Self-Paced Online Course: Communicating with Elected Officials, Staff, and the Media
Free On-demand Webinar: Improving Trust and Transparency with Better Public Communications
Guest InformationDave O’Reilly, CivicPlus Chief Operating Officer
Mike Paciello, AudioEye Chief Accessibility Officer
TakeawaysThe Department of Justice has issued a final ruling on website accessibility, requiring compliance with specific timeframes based on population size and tax income.
Local governments need to establish a clear compliance plan, conduct an audit of their digital presence, and prioritize fixing frequently accessed pages.
Residents with disabilities should be involved in the feedback process to ensure their needs are met.
Building core competency within the organization and vetting vendors with deep domain expertise is crucial for successful implementation.
Chapters00:00 Introduction
02:44 Compliance Deadlines
08:20 The Role of Feedback and Resident Engagement
18:49 The Urgency of Compliance
22:16 Challenges and Vendor Selection
27:43 Ensuring Compliance and Building Competency
31:03 Conclusion
Resources
7 Steps to Meeting the DOJ's New Web Accessibility Ruling
ChaptersPart Three
The successful response at the Texas Allen Outlet Mall shooting
Building Trust and Coordination
The Role of City and County Managers
Ensuring Training and Resources
ResourcesALERRT.org
UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours
Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety
ChaptersPart Two
Leadership and Chain of Command
Collaboration between Law Enforcement and Fire Departments
Protocols and Tabletop Exercises
Challenges and Planning for Response in Rural Areas
The Chain of Survival and Models of Response
ResourcesALERRT.org
UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours
Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety
ChaptersPart One
Introduction and Commitment to Local Solutions
Law Enforcement Preparedness Overview
Challenges of Box Checking and the Need for Ongoing Training
Training Expectations for Law Enforcement Officers
Funding Options and the Role of City Managers
Making Proper Response a Priority
ResourcesALERRT.org
UnitedOnGuns.org for free downloads on the Mass Shooting Playbook plus first 24 hours
Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety
Warren Hutmacher joins ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a recurring Q/A theme on local gov careers, hiring, and recruiting. Today's topic is what can lose... or keep a great employee doing great work.
Warren Hutmacher joins ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a recurring Q/A theme on local gov careers, hiring, and recruiting. Today's topic is mandatory residency requirements for city/county managers. Pros, cons, questions, and concerns. Then listen for part two, How to Lose Great Employees.
Iris Lee, Public Works Director of Seal Beach, California
Shane Silsby, CEO and Founder of Silsby Strategic Advisors
(2:10) Question 1: "What’s your advice to encourage, nudge, (borderline force) employees to use and make the most of their available training programs and professional development funding?"
And how can local government leaders effectively implement workforce development programs to enhance the skills, knowledge, and overall professional growth of their employees in today's landscape of generational transitions?
(17:27) Question 2: Complaints about permitting are always one of the biggest issues for our support and communications teams. This remains a huge rift between residents and local governments. What can local government do better?
(26:23) Question 3:I serve in a public works department for a fairly large county. Our team constantly sees high profile projects get the budget and media attention while less visible but arguably more critical infrastructure needs are delayed or ignored. Even after increased Federal funding over the last few years. As leaders of a public works department, how do you set priorities? And how do you advocate during the budget/decision making process?
Resources
email podcast@icma.org to send questions or ideas for the next Local Gov Life Advice.
Managing for Meteors: Preparing Local Government Leaders Before the Impact
Public Works Podcast
Three Question Local Gov Life Advice1:17: Question 1: “When do I know it’s time to leave my organization for other opportunities? Or am I better off sticking around and seeing what opens up?”
13:49 Question 2: "I've been the ACAO in a medium-sized town for six years. Recently they created a new second ACAO position. The new hire has a few more years experience. The exact split of responsibilities is unclear. And while this will eventually help ease my workload, I'm tasked with training this person who will likely end up competing when the CAO position eventually becomes open. How do I balance being a team player with my personal goals?
22:20 Question 3: "What’s the best way for an ACAO to gain experience working with council without overstepping the CAO"
GuestsKatherine Caffrey, principal & founder, NAVIS Consulting, former ACAO
Jeff Jenkins, deputy city manager, Taylor, Texas
Part two focuses on severance agreement negotiations.
Takeaways
Severance agreements are of utmost importance for city managers, providing protection and security in case of termination.
Negotiating severance agreements should consider the duration of payment and the inclusion of benefits.
Differentiating between cause and no cause in severance agreements is crucial to avoid ambiguity and potential legal disputes.
The inclusion of a clause related to the conviction of a felony in severance agreements provides clarity and protection for both parties.
The risk profile of severance agreements may vary depending on the stage of a career, with more leverage and negotiation power as experience and reputation increase.
Educating city councils on the importance of severance agreements can help ensure fair and reasonable negotiations.
Preparing for the worst and prioritizing personal and family protection in severance agreements is essential for city managers.
Resources
email podcast@icma.org to send Warren a question about hiring, recruiting, or anything career-related.
Sumter Local Government Consulting
Part one focuses on internal and external pay paradox. Should an IT director or civil engineer make significantly more than a fire or police chief? With tight budgets, how can city/county managers and HR leaders attract top candidates and keep current employees morale up?
Resources
email podcast@icma.org to send Warren a question about hiring, recruiting, or anything career-related.
Sumter Local Government Consulting
Free Resources
GovermentAI Coalition
Free Membership Application
Free to Use Deliverable Guide, including:
ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conference: Explore the Future of AI in Local Government - June 5-7 in Palm Desert, California
Chapters
Resources
Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship
Voices in Local Government Podcast EP27 Veterans in Local Government Management Program
ICMA Job Center
Human Resources Recruitment Handbook: Hiring Veterans for Local Government Positions
(Timestamps are an approximation)
00:52 Defining Mediation
02:34 Mediation in Local Government
05:08 Mediation in Noise Complaints
09:05 Benefits of Mediation for Local Government
11:41 Mediation in Policy and Ordinance Development
13:11 Cost Benefit of Mediation
15:15 Mediation and Community Engagement
20:22 Challenges in Mediation
25:56 Implementing Mediation in Local Government
28:26 Finding and Hiring Mediators
29:13 Conclusion
Resources
Sage Mediation
ICMA Learning Lab on-demand webinar: Managing a Divided Council.
In part two, Santy and Hemant continue covering these topics:
Resources
City of Boston Interim Guidelines for Using GenerativeAI
ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences:
Explore the Future of AI in Local Government
One Topic. Two Locations. ICMA is headed to Boston, MA and Palm Desert, CA for the Local Government Reimagined Conferences. From cutting-edge applications to strategic insights, discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of local government. Register here.
Government AI Coalition
Join over 140 government agencies in creating standards for responsible AI procurement and governance for public agencies. Learn more.
Additional Content
Zencity: Using Generative AI for Community Engagement, from our partner named a 2024 GovTech100 company.
Resources
City of Boston Interim Guidelines for Using GenerativeAI
ICMA's Local Government Reimagined Conferences:
Explore the Future of AI in Local Government
One Topic. Two Locations. ICMA is headed to Boston, MA and Palm Desert, CA for the Local Government Reimagined Conferences. From cutting-edge applications to strategic insights, discover how AI is reshaping the landscape of local government. Register here.
Government AI Coalition
Join over 140 government agencies in creating standards for responsible AI procurement and governance for public agencies. Learn more.
Additional Content
Zencity: Using Generative AI for Community Engagement, from our partner named a 2024 GovTech100 company.
Resources:
ICMA Economic Mobility and Opportunity Tools and Resources
ICMA Annual Conference, Austin, Texas
Free Breakfast Workshop with Danielle Arigoni: Affordable, Climate-Friendly Housing as a Pathway for Economic Mobility
October 2, 2023
7:45am to 9:45am CT
Austin Convention Center
Room: Meeting Room 4
Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation, by Danielle Arigoni. Use promo code "webinar" for a 30% discount.
More from ICMA strategic partner, Cigna:
Local government healthcare resources
ICMA experts on brownfields, Clark Henry and Chris Harrell, explain why brownfields are a problem and how to transform them into sustainable spaces with positive economic, social, and environmental impact. Often at no cost to the local government. Then they preview the Brownfields Conference, August 8-11 in Detroit.
Resources
Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities: Free technical assistance and workshops (in-person or digital) via ICMA in region four, or find your representative organization on the resources page.
Brownfields Conference, August 8-11 in Detroit
Brownfields University, a foundational pre-conference training program, free with registration for Brownfields 2023 conference.
ICMA Brownfields topic page, for the basics all the way through advanced studies and resources.
Free copy of the ResourceX Annual Impact Report
City and County government organizations face significant challenges, including budget constraints, changing regulations, and increasing demand for transparency and accountability. Finance transformation can help address these challenges by improving financial processes, increasing efficiency, and enhancing decision-making capabilities.
Jim McClurkin and Miriam Rayward explain how initial assessment, defining vision and objectives, developing a roadmap, engaging stakeholders, and implementing and monitoring progress, local government organizations can begin their finance transformation journey, including:
Resources
Free eBook: 4 Ways to Turn AP More Productive for Cities and Counties
ICMA's A Budgeting Guide for Local Government, Fourth Edition
Local government spends 2 trillion dollars annually on procurement. Co-founder and CEO of Pavilion, Mariel Reed, shares her unique perspective working in both local government and technology to create solutions that improve the often tedious, slow, and painful procurement processes, including:
Resources
Pavilion's free platform for local governments.
Connect with Mariel on LinkedIn to continue the conversation or ask questions about procurement. Include ICMA podcast in your message!
Emergency preparation and response resources from Hagerty Consulting.
ICMA Southeast Regional Director, Randy Reid joins the share nearly 50 years of wisdom on:
Resources
ICMA Local Government Reimagined Conferences, Louisville, May 10-12 and Long Beach, June 7-9.
Free E-Book: The 2023 State of Local Government Report
Mental health for local government leaders, their staff, and their residents is discussed with Johnny Crowder. ICMA Affinity partner, Cope Notes, is a daily text service that interrupts negative thought patterns with positive stimulus to help improve mental wellness.
Co-hosts Jessi Atcheson and Joe Supervielle collected questions about mental health and the Cope Notes model from ICMA members, staff, and others for an Ask Me Anything interview, including:
Resources
Preliminary effectiveness study of the Cope Notes digital mental Health program in the Journal of Mental Health.
Recap from Crowder's session at ICMA Annual Conference Columbus, and his TEDx Talks.
Local government healthcare resources from Cigna.
Lawrence E. Henderson, Jr., President & Chief Learning Officer, Business Operational Support Services (BOSS), LLC, shares insights on how to move from leadership clichés to behavior and habits that:
Resources
Message Lawrence Henderson on LinkedIn and mention ICMA's Voices in Local Government podcast for a free 1-1 consultation.
Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks by urgency and importance (or a lack of) to decide what to do, delegate, or hold.
Free, self-guided website solutions demo from CivicPlus.
Cedar Park, Texas deputy city manager, Katherine Caffrey created the TEXChange program in Texas to benefit assistant city/county managers in their daily work . In this episode, Caffrey outlines the goals of the exchange for participant and host, lessons learned in the inaugural group of 14, what's planned for 2023, and how to set up a similar informal program in your own region or state.
Resources
ICMA Blog: How We Created a Successful Exchange Student Program for Assistant and Deputy Managers
katherine.caffrey@cedarparktexas.gov
Free, self-guided website solutions demo from CivicPlus.
Sue Lessard, town manager, Bucksport, Maine, tells a familiar tale of a small town struggling after a major industry closed its doors. With renewed focus on economic development but still searching for a way to reshape the town's identity, local government determined how to get out of the way when it comes to community engagement - Community Heart and Soul.
Jane Lafleur explains that it is a resident-driven process that relies on in-person interviews along with other digital methods to engage the entire population of a town. This identifies what is most loved about the community, the future the residents want for it, and how to achieve it. Local government can secure grant funding and provide the infrastructure.
The result is participation based on positives, not complaints, and real data to inform council decisions.
Resources
Apply for a $10,000 seed grant for communities under 30,000 population
Obtain Community Heart and Soul's free intro book or email them at info@communityheartandsoul.org
ICMA's Local Government Reimagined initiative and conferences
ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual
Resources
Zencity 360: essential tools to help government agencies improve services, build community trust, and increase overall satisfaction, from our partner recently named a 2023 GovTech100 company.
ICMA's Local Government Reimagined initiative and conferences
ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual
In this episode of CitiesSpeak, NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony sits down with Emily Larson, Mayor of Duluth, Minnesota to talk about how the city of Duluth is addressing big issues from revitalizing its downtown core coming out of the pandemic to addressing the impacts of climate change and building a more sustainable community.
Resources
Exclusive free two-week trial: Enhance government workflows with premium aerial intelligence from Nearmap.
ICMA's Strategic Planning in Small Communities: A Manager's Manual
Leaders from Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust explain:
San Gabriel Valley Regional Housing Trust with RFP templates, case studies, and more to help take a first step.
Contact Brielle Acevedo with questions about Tiny Homes or Regional Housing Trusts at bacevedo@sgvrht.org.
ICMA Annual Conference Presentation Slide Show
Sponsor Resources
Exclusive free two-week trial: Enhance government workflows with premium aerial intelligence from Nearmap.
LTC Dean Huard, ICMA Fellow, Georgetown, Texas, and Lynn Phillips, ICMA senior program manager, explain the process, benefits, and challenges of ICMA's Veterans in Local Government Management Program for transitioning service members and local governments.
Cohort dates cycle throughout the year, but can be adjusted for specific situations:
January - April
May - August (Applications open in January)
September - December
Contact Lynn Phillips at lphillips@icma.org for next steps on becoming a host.
Resources:
Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting
Specific topics include:
Customer Experience Measurement Guidebook for a replicatable step by step process about how to implement a measurement framework to get customer feedback.
Resources:
Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting
Charlie Nichols, director of planning & development, Linn County, Iowa joins the show to explain the planning and process needed to turn a decommissioned nuclear plant into a solar farm.
Resources
ICMA's Solar@Scale Guidebook
Linn County's solar project webpage. An example on collecting and communicating all the relevant information to the public.
Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites
Planning committee co-chairs, Emily Muzzarelli and Alex McIntyre preview this year's ICMA 2022 Annual Conference: Achieving Excellence Together, September 17-22 in Columbus, Ohio.
Then, Ohio local, ICMA marketing coordinator and host of ICMA Member Spotlights, Jessi Atcheson joins to give more info on the Columbus airport, walking/ride-share situation, best restaurants and bars, and THE Ohio State University Saturday game day experience.
Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites
Resources
Registration
Agenda and Full Schedule
Conference App
Digital Event
Experience Columbus deals and discounts
Send questions to membership@icma.org or conferenceteam@icma.org
Sessions Referenced During the Episode to Bookmark:
Self-Compassion: A Key to Resilience-Featuring Betty Hart-Sponsored
Governing in a Disruptive Environment: Charting a Course in a Stormy Sea
The Balancing Act of Being a Parent and a Chief Executive
Jessi's recommendations:
OSU Pregame: Little Bar, Midway
Restaurants: Condados, Bakersfield, Standard, Foodhall, Lincoln Social, Hubbard, Local Cantina, Marcella’s, TownHall, The Eagle, Brassica
Breweries: Hoof Hearted, Seventh Son, North High Brewing, Columbus Brewing Company, Ohio Brewing Company, Whistle and Keg, BrewDog, Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus
Other Attractions: COSI, Columbus Zoo, North Market, German Village, Franklin Park Conservatory, Easton Town Center
Jeannetta Maxena, Assistant to the City Manager, City of Mary Esther, Florida, explains the frustrations experienced and resiliency needed during her job search. Then she shares five tips for job seekers:
Jeannetta then recalls her experience working on ICMA's soon to be released Job Hunting Handbook, and closes the show with final advice to job seekers and decision makers looking to hire them.
Resources
ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.
Fellows | Host Organizations
ICMA's Job Hunting Handbook update coming soon!
Career Resource Guides
Sponsored by Smarsh
Part one begins with Desiree and Chris providing insight for CAOs and department/team leaders to understand what aspects or benefits is most important to their job satisfaction. With many of the nine categories scoring a four or five, there's a follow up blog post with a ranked order.
The hiring process is discussed, with common frustrations and ideas on new approaches that can help local government win the passionate and talented early career professionals that are in such high demand.
Part one concludes with thoughts on how early career professionals can best contribute and add value to their local governments right away, while each side can be intentional for further development.
Then, listen to part two.
Resources
ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.
Fellows | Host Organizations
Sponsored by CivicPlus Municipal Websites
Part two picks up with Desiree and Chris answering questions ICMA CAOs and department/team leaders want to know (but can't always directly ask) of early career professionals. Then concludes with questions the guests have for local government leaders.
Resources
ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship. Applications open September, 2022.
Fellows | Host Organizations
Sponsored by CivicOptimize. Workflows and automations from CivicPlus
Claudia Arriaga of OpenGov guest hosts this episode of Voices in Local Government to interview Boulder, CO. city manager, Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde on why and how to use data to manage change in local government.
Resources:
Download the Free EBook: Measure What Matters: Tips for Aligned Strategic Priorities and watch the video on How Minneapolis Prepares for the Future with Strategic Budgeting
If you missed part one, listen here to learn how to recognize the value retirees and other older adults have and the positive impact they can have on our communities, including municipal boards and commissions and special projects that fill service gaps.
Greg and Cora return for part two to dive into the details of what it takes to launch the Give 5 Civic Matchmaking Program, including:
Visit give5program.org or Email Greg and Cora directly at: give5@uwozarks.org
Sponsored by Smarsh
Sarah Peck, director of United on Guns answers questions on what city and county managers must do to lead through tragedy.
Key takeaways:
Get the Mass Shooting Protocol - First 24 Hours | FREE Download
Get the Mass Shooting Playbook | FREE Download
Download the free tabletop exercise pilot template from Orlando, Fl.
Mara Mintzer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Growing Up Boulder, and Sarah Huntley, Director of Communication and Engagement, City of Boulder Colorado discuss how ideas from kids can help local government design better cities and develop engaged citizens.
Resources:
Through June 30, 2022, use code ICMA25 for 25% of Placemaking with Children and Youth
Mara Mintzer's TedTalk
Growing Up Boulder
Sponsored by Smarsh
Massive wildfires and other challenges large and small over a few years created a difficult working environment in Butte County, CA. Their director of public works, Joshua Pack joins the show to explain how an employee survey based on a genuine desire to listen and improve went a long way to gather honest feedback and respond with employee-driven changes.
Episode one in a two-part series uncovers the power of tapping into baby boomers for communities interested in improving community engagement and helping government and nonprofits address the growing workforce crunch. The Give 5 Civic Matchmaking program was started in Springfield, Missouri to address social isolation among retirees, while plugging the highly skilled boomers into the community for meaningful projects. It has grown into an initiative filling service gaps and improving trust in local government.
In Part One, Listeners Will:
Part 2 will provide specific details about how communities can partner with them to launch the program in their home cities.
This episode begins with a short excerpt from Cyber Mayday and the Day After on a real ransomware negotiation with cyber-criminals. Then Nancy Rainosek, chief information security officer of Texas, and Dan Lohrmann, field CISO of Presidio speak on how local government can better plan, respond, and recover from ransomware attacks, as well as how to best coordinate with state or regional-level resources. Then we answer audience questions, including:
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, OpenGov.
Resources:
Download free e-books from OpenGov: The Strategic Planning Guide for Local Government and 10 Tips for Success with ARPA Reporting.
Dan Dowell of ABM shares long-term investment ideas local governments can make for their economies and quality of life. Plus bonus content: Victor Cardenas, ICMA-CM, assistant city manager, Novi, Michigan and Midwest VP, shares on the pulse of the region.
Dan Dowell discusses how recent local government funding can go beyond immediate fixes to focus on sustainable long-term investments, including:
Then, Victor Cardenas gives the pulse of ICMA's Midwest region ahead of in-person regional events. (22:03).
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor, ABM.
Resources:
Download ABM's Stimulus Solutions Guide
ICMA Economic Development
Troy Brown, ICMA-CM, city manager of Moorpark, CA, and ICMA President, discusses:
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Smarsh Inc. – a leader in Enterprise Information Archiving
View Smarsh's Government Solutions
Resources:
Read Smarsh's Professional Archive for Government Datasheet
ICMA 2022 Regionals: Build Your Resilience
Odie Donald joins the show to discuss how local government can improve its accessibility and service delivery through three specific examples of citizen engagement.
Then Kenneth Williams gives the pulse of ICMA's Mountain Plains ahead of in-person regional events.
Resources:
ICMA Community Engagement
Janice Allen Jackson, city manager of Stonecrest, Georgia, discusses the expected and unexpected challenges when undertaking the immense task of starting a new city.
We dive into the reasoning and context on why and when a location may want to break off an existing city or county jurisdiction to create their own city, how to overcome the many challenges–like logistics to gaining and keeping community support–and how the form of government makes a huge difference.
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor ABM.
Download ABM's Stimulus Solutions Guide
Resources:
Visit the Stonecrest, GA Government website
David Street, chief of staff of Loudoun County, Virginia, joins us for a follow up episode to talk about professional development and optimizing your time and energy to maximize ROI.
Discussed in this episode:
Resources:
EP08 Two-way Relationship for Mentors and Mentees
Learn more about the National Mentoring Month campaign
Learn more about the free ICMA Coaching Program for local government professionals
Get more information about ICMA's 12-month Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) | Host a fellow or Become a fellow
Read David Street's professional development series on the ICMA Blog:
Every January 1st, marks the beginning of National Mentoring Month, the month-long celebration of mentoring that focuses national attention on the need for mentors. Mary Furtado, deputy county manager of Catawba County, North Carolina, David Street, chief of staff of Loudoun County, Virginia, and Rob Carty, director of career services at ICMA, know first-hand the positive impact effective mentoring can have on your career and organization. They all agree that the best mentors listen more than lecture, and the best mentees learn to solve problems rather than expect answers. They join Joe Supervielle, host of the Voices in Local Government podcast and content marketing manager at ICMA, to share and explore what elements are essential to finding the right balance for professional and personal success in a mentoring relationship–for mentors and mentees.
Discussed in this episode:
Resources:
Learn more about the National Mentoring Month campaign
Learn more about the free ICMA Coaching Program for local government professionals
Get more information about ICMA's 12-month Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) | Host a fellow or Become a fellow
Read David Street's professional development series on the ICMA Blog:
Parham Eftekhari, Executive Director at the Cybersecurity Collaborative, and Hemant Desai, Chief Information Officer at the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), discuss the universal threat of cyber-attacks and the unique challenges local governments face as high-profile targets, including:
Resources:
ICMA Cybersecurity Leadership Academy
Cybersecurity Collaborative
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Cybersecurity Considerations to Implement IoT
Sarah Peck, director of UnitedOnGuns, and Emily Nink, policy associate at the Public Health Advocacy Institute, join us in an episode that bypasses partisan gun control arguments to focus on the near-impossible responsibility local government officials face after a mass-casualty event. Researched by the Public Health Advocacy Institute and informed by local government leaders who have held their communities together through tragedy, the Mass Shooting Playbook is a vital resource on the work needed to prepare, immediately respond, and continued healing long after the cameras and national news spotlight are gone.
The Protocol is a four-page overview of a leader’s role during the first 24 hours after a mass shooting. It highlights the key decisions and includes a checklist highlighting immediate action steps.
The Playbook is a 200-page resource guide informed by the recommendations and experience of mayors and local government leaders who have responded to a mass shooting, including case studies from Orlando, Dayton, El Paso, Pittsburgh, Parkland, and San Bernardino.
It is organized into ten topic areas: communications, emergency management, victims and families, law enforcement, donations, school shootings, community partnerships, legal considerations, commemorations, and mental health. Each chapter includes key takeaways on the actions and training in advance of a mass shooting; actions during the response phase; and guidance for providing services to victims, family members, and the broader community as they recover.
Resources:
Get the Mass Shooting Protocol - First 24 Hours | FREE Download
Get the Mass Shooting Playbook | FREE Download
Read Sarah Peck and Emily Nink's post 'Is Your City Prepared to Respond to a Mass Shooting' on the ICMA Blog
Learn more about the Public Health Advocacy Institute
Tallahassee (FL) City Manager Reese Goad, Chief Transit Officer Angela Baldwin, Director of Growth Management Karen Jumonville, and Director of Fleet Management Jeff Shepard discuss how shifting from siloed departments to a one team identity helped the entire city's workforce and ultimately delivers better service for residents.
Resources:
City of Tallahassee Government Website
About ICMA
ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org
Follow us on Social Media!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos
Chuck Flacks dispels common myths of “homelessness”, explains the problems with encampments, shares ideas and proven methods for alternatives, and discusses the complex financial and political realities local governments must navigate to help every member of their communities.
Resources:
Learn more about Flacks Seed Consulting
Contact Chuck Flacks
Read Chuck's post 'Ending Homelessness Together' on the ICMA Blog
Learn more about Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week resources
About ICMA
ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org
Follow us on Social Media!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos
Melissa Agnes, Founder and CEO of the Crisis Ready Institute, explains how local government can transform from being dependent on static emergency management or disaster recovery plans to become crises ready.
Visit crisisreadyinstitute.com for more information and join a two-part digital course on November 15 and 17, 2021.
Resources:
Crisis Ready Institute Digital Programs
Developing your Crisis Communication Program
Check out Melissa's book Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World
Get more expert insight from Melissa on Twitter, follow @melissa_agnes!
Find the Crisis Ready Institute on Facebook and Instagram.
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About ICMA
ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org
Follow us on Social Media!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos
Brion Oaks, Chief Equity Officer of Austin Texas, explains how he helped Austin build and develop its equity program, and how other local governments, no matter the size or region, can do the same.
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Resource Exploration.
Resources:
Austin’s DEI Home page
Austin’s Community Dashboard | Where city staff and residents connect
Austin’s equity consultation or workshop requests | Where other local governments can seek help getting started
Government Alliance on Race and Equity tools and resources
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About ICMA
ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org
Follow us on Social Media!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos
Michael Cannon, Chief Technology Officer, Stafford County, Virginia, and David Ihrie, Chief Technology Officer, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (formerly Center for Innovative Technology), discuss technology testing and deployment that leads to real-world community benefits in public safety, quality of life, economically and more.
This episode is brought to you by our sponsor Resource Exploration.
Resources:
Stafford Welcomes the new Virginia Smart Community Testbed
Virginia Smart Community Testbed–home to developing smart technology for the Commonwealth
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About ICMA
ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 12, 000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: http://www.icma.org
Follow us on Social Media!
Twitter: http://twitter.com/icma
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICMAORG/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/icma
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icmaorg/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ICMAvideos