Effective Local Government
Control disorder in your chambers
Local governments face a tough climate these days. Customs of courtesy have faded and people are often both passionate and rude about their issues. If you are a mayor or presiding officer of a public body, it is critical that you control disorder in your chambers. Council meetings are meetings of the council The basic…
Read MoreMy favorite politicians
Today is our primary election in Washington State. Seattle Times writer Kate Riley has published an insightful column about “my favorite politicians.”
Read MoreEffective meeting management can be yours!
Everyone wants effective meeting management, but how do we get there?
Read MoreThe Outlier Syndrome in Governing Bodies
Guest post by Tami A. Tanoue, CIRSA Executive Director Those who have been working with municipalities for an extended period have observed a phenomenon that occurs at the governing body level. Let’s call this phenomenon the Outlier Syndrome.
Read MoreDanger Will Robinson! Public comment ahead!
This post offers our readers a brilliant paper by municipal attorney Brett Vinson on the dangers of public comment.
Read MoreRoundtable Community Workshops
Guest post by Bob Jean, ICMA/WMCA Senior Advisor Got a really hot issue and a divided community? Too often, if you hold a traditional public hearing to deal with it, you run the risk that each side will simply line up and use their three minutes to tell the Council how terrible they are no…
Read MoreGrab this brilliant free “quick-guide” poster today!
The City of Olympia has given us permission to share this quick-guide poster, which you may adapt for your own meetings.
Read MoreGetting your board to buy in to Robert’s Rules
A reader writes, “The city council has never used much parliamentary procedure in our meetings. People speak when they want and sidebar discussions are common.
Read MoreThey threw him out of Parliament. You can sanction too.
High drama in the House of Commons as Member of Parliament expelled for the day.
Read MorePut away your cell phone on the dais
Jurassic Parliament strongly recommends that local governments establish a policy requiring elected officials to put away their cell phones while on the dais.
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