ICMA - Committee appt - Mgr.CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
MEMORANDUM
July 31, 2001
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Committee Appointment
I've accepted the invitation from the President of the International City/County
Management Association for a three-year appointment to the Governmental Affairs and
Policy Committee (GAPC) of the ICMA. The GAPC plays a significant role in focusing
policy issues on behalf of the ICMA Executive Board. The Committee reviews and
monitors the policies of the National League of Cities, the National Association of
Counties and their affiliates.
The Committee typically meets twice each year, once at the ICMA annual conference
and once at the National League of Cities Congress of Cities in early March in
Washington, D.C. I do not typically attend the National League of City meetings so this
would be an additional travel obligation for me. My plans would be to also register for
and attend this annual NLC conference.
I think this committee service fits well with my participation on the iowa League of Cities
Legislative Policy Committee and as the Co-Chairperson of the iowa City Management
Association Diversity Committee.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Internat]oRal
Ci~/County
Management
Association
July 12, 2001
Mr. Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
City of Dubuque
City Hall, 50 West 13th
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mr. Van Milligen:
I am delighted to ask that you accept an appointment to ICMA's Governmental Affairs and Policy
Committee for a three-year term beginning at the 2001 Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah
and continuing until the 2004 Annual Conference.
Let me provide some background on the GAPC:
The Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee (GAPC) plays a significant role in
focusing policy issues on behalf of the ICMA Executive Board. The Committee reviews
and monitors the policies of the National League of Cities, the National Association of
Counties, and their affiliates. The Committee may recommend policy positions and
initiatives to the Board. The Committee serves as a vehicle for the membership to let
ICMA know what specific policy areas are of critical concern to them. It also may
identify the areas in which Association involvement is needed -- in the policy
development process as well as in the area of technical assistance programming or
information. [See the attached document for additional background on the role of the
GAPC within ICMA.]
In recent years, the principal focus of the GAPC has been in opposing mandates and
preemptions. Most recently the GAPC has been very active in opposing the de facto
mandate of NFPA 1710. Another area of work has been to oppose federal preemption of
local and state tax authority as it relates to the sales of goods and services via the Internet
(i.e., the "Internet tax").
· The committee typically meets twice each year--at the ICMA conference and on the
Saturday of the NLC Congressional-City Conference in early March in Washington, DC.
The first meeting of your term will be held in Salt Lake City on Sunday, September 23 fzom 2-5
p.m. The Committee's chair, Kevin O'Rourke, city manager, Fairfield, California and staff liaison,
Michael Lawson (mlawsonOicma.org; 202/962-3634) will be contacting you with additional
details prior to the meeting.
777 North CapitoIStreet, NE Suite 500 Washington, DC20002-4201 202-289-4262 Fax202-962-3500 http://www.icma.org
Attached is a description of the roles and responsibilities of committee members. Your acceptance of
this appointment should be based on a strong willingness to participate in an active fashion, beginning
with attendance at the committee's meeting in Salt Lake City. Unfortunately, as with all committees,
ICMA does not cover expenses associated with attendance at committee meetings.
Please confirm your interest and ability to serve on the Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee by
completing the form beloW and returning it by July 20 to Michael Lawson at ICMA
I hope you will be able to accept this appointment and attend the first committee meeting in Salt
Lake City. I look forward to working with you and your fellow committee members this next year.
Sincerely,
Dave Mora
ICMA President-Elect
and~tum~s~rm
Roles, expectations and responsibilities for
ICMA TASK FORCE & COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Participate actively in the committee by attending at least one committee meeting per
year and letting the chair know if you are not able to attend any meetings. Members must
participate in order to remain on the committee.
Respect the opinions of other committee members and the role of the committee chair to
build consensus on the specified task.
Follow throug~t on assigned tasks by meeting deadlines, returning phone calls,
responding to requests for input, etc.
Represent the committee to assistants' and managers~ associations in your area by
attending state or national association meetings, making brief presentations, or writing
articles about the committee's work for state or national association newsletters.
Board approval July 1993
Updated September 2000
Policy D. evelopment at ICMA
As an organization of appointed professional local government managers, the International
City/County Management Association (ICMA) has unique insight into the effects of national
policy on local governments. For more than 25 years, ICMA has applied that insight to the
analysis of national policy issues and to the development of policy alternatives and solutions to
problems that affect local governments. Because of its practical perspective, ICMA plays a
critical role in promoting the understanding of national issues and problems among its members
and in providing technical assistance and infortlaation to enhance local government operations.
While ICMA is not a lobbying organization, ][CMA members and their local governments are
involved in policy discussions in a variety of ways. ICMA works with and through the National
League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and state
municipal and county organizations. ICMA's emphasis is on the management dimension of
policy matters. In ICMA's 1974 ICMA booklet, National Municipal Management Policy, the
tension between the roles of the local government manager as policy advisor and implementer is
described this way:
Ambiguity has been -- and probably always will be -- the manager's constant
companion in the arena of policy...[but it] is sometimes the product of our own
folklore. It is the product of the division between policy and administration,
between WHAT and HOW. We often act as if WHAT cities and counties do can
be neatly separated from HOW they do it. But it can't. Councils may make
policy decisions, but managers must implement them, and in the course of
implementation make some very fundamental choices.
The Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee (GAPC) plays a significant role in focusing
policy issues on behatf of the ICMA Executive Board. The Committee reviews and monitors the
policies of the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and their
affiliates. The Committee may recommend policy positions and initiatives to the Board. The
Committee serves as a vehicle for the membership to let ICMA know what specific policy areas
are of critical concern to them. It also may identify the areas in which Association involvement
is needed -- in the policy development process as ~vell as in the area of technical assistance
programming or information.
Committee Roles
Provide opinions about legal issues that affect municipalities. By reviewing various cases being
considered by the Academy for State & Local Government Legal Center, ICMA can provide
membership oversight of cases selected by the center.
Disseminate information related to local government issues. Specialized expertise exists within
the membership and staff of ICMA that can be offered as a resource to ICMA members, federal
regulatory agencies, and various public interest groups working on ICMA policy priorities.
Work with NLC and NACo to review issues and provide technical expertise and professional
viewpoints from the ICMA membership and staff.
Negotiate solutions to critical issues that affect local governments. Because ICMA's stance has
traditionally been neutral, there is an opportunity for ICMA to play a special role in the public
policy arena by providing knowledge unique to local government practitioners and brokering
feasible solutions for various issues.
Develop new ICMA programs and products. Members of ICMA voice their concerns through
the ICMA public policy process. The Governmental Affairs and Policy Committee is a sounding
board that helps the ICMA Executive Board and staff develop new programs and products to
better serve ICMA's membership.
Process
Outreach to members at the annual conference, state meetings, and conferences of the National
League of Cities and National Association of Counties to encourage local government
practitioners to share ideas on national issues facing local governments and to suggest possible
solutions.
Review the policy statements of the National League of Cities and National Association of
Counties to ensure that the management perspective is represented.
Provide feedback to the ICMA Executive Board on priority issues, and to suggest changes in
priorities as the legislative agenda changes.
Establish ICMA policy on federal issues within certain defined limitations. In September 1999
(and revised September 2000), the ICMA Board delegated additional authorit~ to the GAPC in
order to permit quicker responses by ICMA to fast-moving federal issues. Positions and policy
statements of the GAPC represent official ICMA policy, subject to the following Board-approved
guidelines and limitations:
1. GAPC positions will not violate the ICMA Code of Ethics;
2. GAPC positions will be consistent with positions of NLC and NACo, unless
positions are approved by the ICMA Board of Directors;
3. GAPC positions are to be consistent with ICMA's strategic plan; and
4. GAPC will not take on positions on state or specific regional issues.
-Approved as amended by the ICMA Board, September 2000
Page 1 of 1
Juanita Hilkin
From:
To:
Cc:
Sent:
Subject:
"Mike Lawson" <mlawson@icma.org>
<Mikevanm@aol.com>
"Mosi Kitwana" <mkitwana@icma.org>; "Joseph Schilling" <jschilling@icma.org>
Thursday, July 12, 2001 8:57 PM
RE: ICMA Governmental Affairs & Policy Committee
I look forward to working with you on the GAPC as well. If you happen to be
in DC between now and the March meeting, please stop by ICMA so we can get
acquainted.
P.S. ICMA plays a very significant role in the Brownfields conference.
Unfommately, EPA continues to schedule it around (or, this instance,
during) the ICMA conference. Quite a few ICMA staffers will be attending
the Brownfields conference. I've cc'd this to two of my ICMA colleagues who
will be at the B'fields conference; although I recognize its a big
conference, maybe you'll run in to each other.
- Mike
Michael Lawson
Director, ICMA Center for Performance Measurement
International City/County Management Association
777 North Capitol St., N.E., Suite 500
Washington, DC 200024201
phone: 202/962-3634; email: mlawson~icma.org; fax: 202/962-3603
To learn more about the ICMA Center for Performance Measurement, visit
icma. org/performance
..... Original Message .....
From: Mikevaum~aol.com [mailto:Mikevanm~aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 8:38 PM
To: mlawson~icma.org
Subject: Re: ICMA Governmental Affairs & Policy Committee
Mike
I consider it an honor to be appointed to the GAPC. I have served on the
Legislative Policy Committee for the Iowa League of Cities for 4 years and I
also serve as the co-Cairperson of the Diversity Committee of the Iowa City
Manager's Association. When I was in Illinois I seved as the President of
the Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants. I hope to make
a
meaningful contribution to GAPC.
I may have some difficulty in attending the Salt Lake City conference. We
are
dealing with some significant Brownfields issues in our $188 million
riverfront redevelopment project and I will probably attend the Brownfields
Conference in Chicago. I will attend the GAPC meeting in Washington DC.
Thankyou very much for this opportunity to serve.
Mike Van Milligen
07/16/2001