More on Community Based Government
As a follow up to Sunday's article, Dennis Wyatt wrote a column yesterday describing a future in which Community Based Government has taken hold in Manteca (click here).
While I encourage you to read the entire article, I especially hope you'll read his concluding statements:
Does this mean the residents are doing the city’s work? Yes and no. Even in good times Manteca lacks the manpower to make sure all storm drains are clear. By working together flooding issues that include people walking and driving through standing water could be addressed before they happen.
Community-based government has a lot of potential. It could make it possible to open a youth/community center in Southside Park to address the influence of gangs. The city would provide the structure plus equipment and the community the manpower through volunteers.
Given the fact 80 percent of government’s cost is manpower and the fact such solutions serve neighborhoods that those involved have a large stake in, about the only way Manteca can improve the services it provides is by engaging the people that the neighborhoods belong to in the first place.
Community-based government is a step in the right direction.
The core group of staff members who are putting together our plan of action are making great progress--I expect to have a detailed plan of action by February--and a significant change in the way the City does business will become apparent shortly thereafter.
Stay tuned!
By the way, this article from Lincoln, California is a perfect example of the power of proactive city workers (click here).
While I encourage you to read the entire article, I especially hope you'll read his concluding statements:
Does this mean the residents are doing the city’s work? Yes and no. Even in good times Manteca lacks the manpower to make sure all storm drains are clear. By working together flooding issues that include people walking and driving through standing water could be addressed before they happen.
Community-based government has a lot of potential. It could make it possible to open a youth/community center in Southside Park to address the influence of gangs. The city would provide the structure plus equipment and the community the manpower through volunteers.
Given the fact 80 percent of government’s cost is manpower and the fact such solutions serve neighborhoods that those involved have a large stake in, about the only way Manteca can improve the services it provides is by engaging the people that the neighborhoods belong to in the first place.
Community-based government is a step in the right direction.
The core group of staff members who are putting together our plan of action are making great progress--I expect to have a detailed plan of action by February--and a significant change in the way the City does business will become apparent shortly thereafter.
Stay tuned!
By the way, this article from Lincoln, California is a perfect example of the power of proactive city workers (click here).
Labels: Community Based Government
posted by City Manager @ 1:39 AM
1 Comments:
At January 8, 2010 5:58 AM ,
The Manteca Response said...
Yes, this was brought up by candidate Samuel Anderson in his 2006 campaign and partially in 2008. He was way ahead of you guys, but its still the same as taking the best ideas from those who run against the current incumbents who like to take the thunder rather than give credit.
I would be interested in seeing you plan and compare it to his and see where this goes. There are many pitfalls to this type of form of government. It's a good buzzword, but it has almost too many areas of concerns to where the city must live with the fact that we have to pay for services no matter what. As Samuel Anderson said, find the right outsource and get the job done. They report to you.
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