The ICMA Executive Board met in Austin, Texas, February 18-21, 2016, and took the following actions:

• Maintained registration fees for the 2016 ICMA Annual Conference in the Greater Kansas City region. This is in line with board policy limiting a registration fee increase to no more than the rate of inflation over the preceding year (.5%). The registration fee for members registering online will be $655, which includes a base registration of $615 and the Sunday evening reception ticket of $40. Those registering by paper will pay $680. The registration fee for partners will stay the same at $100 (also including the Sunday ticket). The board also maintained the nonmember registration fee at $1,115, continuing the practice of a significant spread between member and nonmember fees in order to reinforce the value of belonging to ICMA. 
  
  The board retained the complimentary student member base registration fee and continued the special $300 discount for Affiliate members who are entry-level to mid-management local government staff. The board also continued the $200 registration discount for first-time attendees in the conference region (Midwest). Members in Kansas will also receive this discount in recognition of their involvement in the Conference Host Committee.
  
  The online conference housing bureau will open simultaneously with online conference registration on June 2. Reservations can be made online or by fax or mail using downloadable forms.
  
  
• Approved changes to the ICMA Practices for Effective Local Government Management initially adopted in 1994. The Credentialing Advisory Board was asked to review suggestions for changes from the 2013-2014 Task Force on Leadership, the 2014-2015 Task Force on Inclusiveness, and the 2014-2016 Sustainable Communities Advisory Committee. The board approved changing the title to ICMA Practices for Effective Local Government Leadership and a series of wording changes to incorporate professional leadership language, inclusion as a core leadership and professional competency, and the importance of creating and maintaining resilient and livable communities through the responsible stewardship of public resources. To view the changes, click here.
  
  
• Approved a recommendation from the Committee on Professional Conduct (CPC) to engage the membership and the ICMA Executive Board in a formal review of Tenet 3 of the ICMA Code of Ethics. In 2012, the board approved conducting an ongoing review of the Code focused on one or more tenets and associated guidelines each year. Since then, both Tenet 7 and Tenet 12 have been reviewed. The committee selected Tenet 3 for the next review because its focus on integrity raises issues that members face on a regular basis. And since integrity is such a fundamental principle, the tenet is frequently referenced in ethics complaints that come to ICMA.
  
  As was the process in the past, the Committee on Professional Conduct will engage members at state and affiliate meetings and the 2016 Regional Summits; via a webinar; and through ICMA publications. Any proposed language changes will be vetted with the members through an electronic survey with final recommendations submitted to the full board at its fall board meeting.
  
  
• Reviewed six-month financials through December 31, 2015. The FY 2016 budget assumed a break-even budget of $29,344,000 in revenues and expenses with a one-time use from reserves of $75K to fund expenses related to the ICMA Executive Director search. Progress through the second quarter of the fiscal year is ahead of budget pace, with revenues and net contribution from grants and contracts anticipated to be higher than budgeted due to new awards, particularly a major contract for work in the Philippines. At this time, net contribution for the year is anticipated to be between $400,000 and $500,000.
  
  
• Reviewed key strategic priorities for the FY 2017 budget. The FY 2016 budget included an extensive list of key strategic priorities for the current fiscal year and beyond with a broad impact on the association and its future. As most priorities on that list are ongoing and span more than one year, ICMA will continue implementation through FY 2017. The budget document, which will be presented to the board at its June meeting, will include more detailed priorities and metrics that comprise the operations plan for ICMA.
  
  
• Adopted an ICMA Code of Conduct. As a prime recipient of a federal contract, ICMA is required to have a written code of conduct which “promotes an organizational culture that encourages ethical conduct and a commitment to compliance with the law” and that applies to all employees and those charged with governance. Having such a code of conduct is also considered a best practice.
  
  
• Reviewed preparations for the six Regional Nominating Committees to select nominees for the 2016 ballot for regional vice presidents. Those in the United States are meeting in conjunction with the 2016 regional summits and the International Nominating Committee will convene by conference call. The board also reaffirmed its commitment to having a diverse board and discussed the current status. The 20 candidates for this year include eight women and two Hispanic candidates. There are two candidates from a county and representation from all population ranges. The board does an assessment of diversity in the make-up of the upcoming board at every June board meeting. The results of this review will be shared with state and affiliate organizations, as well as with the membership. 
  
  
• Reviewed progress on membership recruitment and retention. As of December 31, ICMA is poised to meet or exceed all of its membership targets. Revenues are projected to exceed the budget by $50,000. Since July 2015, 286 Full Members and 253 entry to mid-management affiliates have joined. Since ICMA launched the new flat rate ($200) dues for department head affiliate members with the July 2015 dues cycle, 147 department heads have joined. Staff are continuing to develop and implement state-by-state and country recruitment strategies to tailor recruitment efforts.
  
  
• Conducted its annual review of member task forces and committees. The board approved a set of criteria outlining a process for the board to review any new task force or committee and approved the creation of one new task force to update guidance on serving as an acting manager. The Acting Manager’s Handbook was published in 2005. Watch for this year’s call for volunteers for task forces and committees in a mid-March issue of Leadership Matters.
  
  
• Conducted an annual review of financial policies and approved four updates.
  
  
• Selected Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the site to visit to further evaluate their bid to host the 2024 ICMA Annual Conference in the Northeast.
  
  
• Participated in a tour of local government projects in Austin conducted by city staff.