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March 9, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Kilgore, Tex.’s May ballot will include amendments to the charter, many suggested by City Manager Scott Sellers as a way to bring the charter up to date with the city's current standard operating procedures. ( Kilgore News Herald ) Flora, Ill. City Council and City Administrator Randy Bukas passed a resolution to update the control panel
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March 2, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Assistant City Manager of Mesquite, Tex. Jerome Dittman is hoping the launch of the city’s new shuttle service will help pave the way for a future light rail system. ( CBS-DFW ) Loudoun County, Va. Administrator Tim Hemstreet has begun discussion with the county on the two potential budgets he presented the board. One plan
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February 24, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Interim County Administrator Frank Rogers announced that the Bedford County, Va. proposed 2013 budget will keep taxes and spending even. ( The News and Advance ) Bristol, Tenn. City Manager Jeffrey Broughton and the City Council are considering a five-year capital improvement plan to accomplish all the long put off projects throughout the city. ( TriCities.com
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February 17, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Sedgwick, Kans. County Manager William Buchanan is working with other local leaders to reduce the deficit to zero by next year. ( Kansas.com ) City Manager Chris Brady is working with local businesses to help start light rail construction in Mesa, Ariz. by spring. ( The East Valley Tribune ) Marin County's treasury has $14.8
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February 16, 2012
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Compressed natural gas (CNG) is becoming a popular fuel alternative for many local government vehicles. As the price of gasoline continues to increase, local leader are looking towards the future of fuels as a way to save money now. Some tricks can help conserve gasoline in conventional vehicles, but these are not creating the long-term savings many districts need. Fueling fleet vehicles puts a particularly big strain on already tightening local budgets. Just as necessity is the mother of invention, when it comes to fleets, necessity is the mother of going green . Last year Dane County, Wis. used
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February 10, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Bruce Zimmerman , City Administrator of Hagerstown, Md., took part in a meeting where the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2012-13 was introduced. Officials are hopeful that they can balance the budget without a tax increase. ( Hagerstown (MD) Herald-Mail ) Bettendorf City, Iowa proposed a budget for the next fiscal year that includes a 10-cent decrease in the
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February 9, 2012
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Frustrated by emissions and traffic congestion, many cities have begun to re-evaluate their dependence on cars. One solution that is returning to American cities after a decades-long absence is light rail, also known as streetcars or trolleys. Encouraged by the success of new light rail systems in cities like Portland, Ore. , cities also hope that these transit investments will spur new development and support economic activity. Detroit has faced many difficulties while considering the installation of a light rail system that would increase access to Woodward Avenue, the gateway to the suffering
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February 3, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Kyle Jung will serve as the first City Administrator of Manvel, Tex. ( Chron.com ) The City of Laurinburg, N.C. is working with the National League of Cities to offer prescription drug discount cards for residents without health insurance, announced City Manager Edward Burchins . ( The Laurinburg Exchange )
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January 27, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. In the City of Oakland, CA City Administrator Deanna Santana , along with the Oakland Mayor, are proposing 105 layoffs in order to comply with a recent California Supreme Court ruling that upheld Gov. Jerry Brown's decision to eliminate redevelopment agencies. (Bay Citizen) . Concord, CA Assistant City Manager Valerie Barone stated that the city will lose
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January 26, 2012
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Local government websites have become one of the most important tools for leaders to connect with both the community and the world. City websites can promote the benefits of living and working in a community to outsiders while also providing a helpful resource for residents to find official information about local services, events, important contacts. More and more jurisdictions have been using their websites in new ways to address specific community issues such as transparency, citizen engagement, and sustainability. In light of the current economic crisis, for example, transparency of government funds and taxpayer dollars has become an increasingly
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January 20, 2012
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The following ICMA Member made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman of the City of Fort Smith, Ark. , will help save the city $1.1 million by refinancing bonded debt. ( Fort Smith Times Record ) In other local government news this week: Virginia Beach, Va . has supported a state initiative that would close loops for big Internet stores like Amazon to avoid charging
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January 13, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. City Administrator, Eric Ziegler has created a plan to save money by dissolving the City of Maricopa, Calif. ’s police department. The responsibility of law enforcement coverage will be moved to the Sheriff’s office. ( KERO23 ) Dean Brookshier has accepted a new position as the County Administrator for Clay County, Mo. ( The Kearney Courier )
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January 13, 2012
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With another winter, upon us, cities’ snow removal plans are being put to the test. While the Northeast has had an unusually mild winter so far, a winter storm blanketed much of the Great Plains in several feet of snow last month. Now, parts of Alaska are experiencing some of the most intense snow the region has ever seen. Over 15 feet of snow has fallen in the City of Cordova , Alaska, causing a serious shortage of, of all things, shovels . The National Guard has been assisting the city in its snow removal efforts. Even
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January 12, 2012
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Local government branding is an increasingly popular approach for cities and counties to highlight their unique attributes. Branding and marketing elements in an organized campaign, such as a city logo or the consistent use of colors and graphics in communications, can be a successful way to achieve several goals, like attracting new business and increasing tourism, or improving citizens’ perceptions of their local government Together with a marketing plan, branding can also help determine how a community is viewed by the rest of the world. The Knowledge Network has received a number of questions from local government leaders looking
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January 6, 2012
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. City Administrator Craig Malin and the Davenport, Iowa City Council held a special session to start off the new year as a way to discuss new goals and track ongoing projects. ( Quad-City Times ) Protesters at the Occupy Oakland, Calif. camp stormed city hall in an effort to meet Mayor Jean Quan and City Administrator Deanna
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December 21, 2011
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The holidays are a busy time for everyone, and that crunch is especially felt at animal shelters. Many facilities are at or near max capacity, and the holidays offer a great opportunity for shelters to bring animals a new family. The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter in Alabama, for example, has launched a Home for the Holidays campaign to help bring awareness to the many animals they house. The Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter has implemented a very successful holiday adoption program in which animals are placed temporarily in homes. Having a
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December 20, 2011
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Local governments frequently rely on the services of external consultants. Their services often deliver expertise and cost efficiencies on new, unfamiliar projects or routine programs. Requests for information regarding consultants and their work are a common topic on the Knowledge Network. Recently asked questions include inquiries on consultants who evaluate fire departments and libraries, among others: Fire Department consultant RFPs for Strategic Planning Consultant Interview Questions for Planning Consultants Library Consultants Experienced in Evaluating Library Cooperatives The Knowledge Network also offers many sample RFPs for
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December 16, 2011
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. The Occupy Murfreesboro, Tenn. group and City Manager Rob Lyons have been negotiating the terms under which the group can remain encamped on the Civic Plaza. ( The Murfreesboro Post ) City Officials and City Manager Mark Rees have set a deadline for the Occupy Portland, Maine protesters. ( The Portland Press Herald ) A
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December 9, 2011
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last week. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. Milton Dohoney Jr. , City Manager of Cincinnati has proposed a $4.4 million, two-year project to renovate the courtyard at City Hall and make it an enclosed reception hall. ( Cincinnati.com ) The Charlottesville, Va. Council and City Manager Maurice Jones are preparing a proposal that would create a diversity commission dedicated to investigating incidents of discrimination
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December 2, 2011
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The following ICMA Members made news over the last two weeks. Click on a member’s name to see his or her Knowledge Network profile or follow the news link to read the full article. City Manager, John Patterson and the Casper, Wyo. City Council are considering options that would change their licensing guidelines for temporary beer permits. ( Trib.com ) Grand Island, Nebr . City Administrator, Mary Lou Brown wants to reorganize the Community Development Division by placing it under the Finance Department, which would require a change to city
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