Here at PM, articles focus on what managers can learn—and hopefully use on the job—to influence and direct decisions that need to be made for their communities. Articles sometimes feature what they might control in their personal lives too.
In the September issue, readers will find ways to put appropriate public participation procedures in place to help with chaotic and unruly council meetings in the Council Relations department article “Plan for the Bumps.” Note that a big part of this guidance is setting up rules of procedure.
Another control point might be a clearly written RFP. Six elements in the Top 5 or More department article “The Outcome-Focused RFP” can help managers prepare an RFP that both collects and detects important information about a development team.
I first heard the term citizen journalist used on a television news report in July during coverage of the shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With the PM article “The New Business of News,” the magazine sets out to help local government professionals learn how to manage in the age of live video and social media with six steps to sort fact from fiction.
ICMA members Alan Vanderberg, Linda Cochrane, and Stephen Childers took control of their time and answered the On Point question: “What’s the Best Public Safety Management Advice You’ve Been Given?” They all agree with what one member summarized: hard facts are needed to justify a department’s financial need.
There are issues you can control at home too. One is clutter. Don’t laugh at this. Clutter can cause a person to feel overwhelmed, stressed, frustrated, anxious, and tired. It can even cause health issues. The good news is that clutter is something a person can control. Find out how in “Is Your Clutter Affecting Your Health?”
PM+ online articles at ICMA.org/pm tell you how to control your presentations and what three specific words might cost you.
And finally, if you want more about influencing outcomes, this issue contains articles on how local governments around the world are providing public health services; how two Kansas cities expanded fire services by merging; how a mentoring program can be established; and how you can get more engaged with a nationwide, wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety.
New, Reduced Membership Dues
A new, reduced dues rate is available for CAOs/ACAOs, along with additional discounts for those in smaller communities, has been implemented. Learn more and be sure to join or renew today!
