Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday Factoid - Long Beach, CA

Did you know that the City of Long Beach, was originally known in 1882 as Willmore City, after English developer William Erwin Willmore, who brought immigrants from Kansas City.  When too few buyers appeared, his plans collapsed.  In 1887 the Long Beach Land & Water Co. took over and gave the community its present name, chosen because of the size of the beach.


(Los Angeles Times)

When City Managers blog….


So, how many do you think there are? Personally, I thought a couple, maybe a hundred.  A very unscientific search on Google listed 174,000 results.  While there can’t possibly be 174,000 City Manager blogs (maybe this is the number that contain the word “City Manager”) this is an extraordinary count. So what do City Managers write about? Is it all budget and taxes? Solid waste contracts? Snow removal schedules? Lets take a look…

The City Manager blogs for Lowell, MA (http://lowellma.wordpress.com/), and West Des Moines, IA (http://wdmcitymanager.blogspot.com/) are primarily focused on municipal announcements.  I particularly like the Mt. Juliet, TN City Manager Blog from City Manger Randy Robertson (http://citymanagerreport.blogspot.com/) which is more like a community newspaper column, and starts many of his entries with a synopsis of the local weather.  The blog for Rogers City, MI recently announced the Hentkowski Funeral Home Ribbon Cutting (http://rogerscity.com/blog/).  The City of Eden Prarie, MN has several blogs on their site – The City Manager blogs, the Fire Chief blogs, the Police Department blogs and the City Liquor Store has a blog.  Yes, the City Liquor Store (http://edenprairieweblogs.org/liquor/)

So, you have a blog, what do you do with it? City Manager Tim Zisoff from Indianola, IA (http://indianolacitymanagerblog.blogspot.com/) is a fairly regular contributor to his blog, while City Manager Rick Cole of Ventura, CA is probably the most active and has been blogging since 2006 (http://www.cityofventura.net/cmblog/).  According to several sources the cardinal sin of blogging is setting one up and not using it like Blaine, WA (http://www.blaineman.typepad.com/) or Newberg, OR (http://www.newbergoregon.gov/citymanager/city-manager-blog).

Have a great weekend. 


Eric Middleton

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Meatless Mondays?

Last month, the City of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a nonbinding resolution, declaring that Mondays be "meat-free."  Although this resolution is unenforceable, it urges local businesses to offer meat-free, plant-based entrees in an effort to combat global warming and improve public health.

"I want people to think about not having meat on a certain day,” said  the resolution's author and sponsor, Supervisor Sophie Maxwell.

What do you think about the City's move? Can you go without meat for one day each week? If so, please don't reach for the french fries or the fried zucchini in lieu of chicken breast.

Syldy


Giuseppe Arcimboldo (Italian, ca. 1527-1593). Vertumnus (Portrait of Rudolf II), 1590. Oil on panel.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Monday Briefing


It would appear to be open season on City Managers.  City Manager resignations, terminations and retirements have been averaging 3 per day for the past couple of weeks. Some of the more notable transitions include: Jim Bourey will be leaving the City of Greenville, SC where he has been for the past 6 years; Steven Thompson is out in Marcos Island, FL; and Michael B. Brown will be leaving Savannah, GA to become the County Administrator for Arlington County, VA. 

In other news, the City of Maywood, CA is a step closer to selecting a new full-time City Manager.  The City of Stockton has selected Bob Deis as its new City Manager from a pool of exceptionally strong candidates,  while the City of Vallejo has asked their interim Bob Adams to extend his contract for another year (presumably to assist with the upcoming recruitment for their next City Manger).  The City of Indio is full-speed ahead in its recruitment for a new City Manager with a salary $50,000 to $75,000 lower than the  previous City Manager’s salary.  The position is being recruited at a salary of $250,000 to $275,000.

As we approach the half-year mark of 2010, trends in the City Manager field are starting to develop.  It would appear that we are in for significant change in the next two years. This presents an opportunity for the “next generation” to step in to the management of communities that are in need of energetic and creative managers. For some of the outgoing managers, this may be the time to hang it up, since many are being asked to dismantle the organizations they have spent the last couple of years building up.  

Friday, April 23, 2010

It's Fry-day! Do you dare?

KFC's Double Down "sandwich" has been getting lots of attention lately - mainly negative attention.  Most people are disgusted by it. However, I think it looks pretty good. Perhaps they can add some mashed potatoes and gravy inside it? I might even try it today. Have you tried it yet? It's Fry-day!

Friday Factoid

Did you know that if you want to go from the Human Resources Department in the Contra Costa County office building to the men's restroom - you will walk through 9 doors!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Water and Art, check it out

Everyone is talking about it, water is a scarce resource and it's time to conserve.  About a year ago, I attended a 911 Water rally in Sacramento. It was a low energy and sedate rally.  I'm sure the folks attending the rally were very passionate about the topic as it included many professionals from various water agencies. But I just had the feeling that it was only people involved or directly impacted by water (i.e. water districts or farmers) who really understood the impending scarcity of water. Below is a photo of  the rally. Huell Howser was the MC - which was pretty exciting for me.



However, if you want to see some absolutely stunning images regarding this issue, The Annenberg Space for Photography presents "Water: Our Thirsty World" from March 27-June 13, 2010. Through glorious photographs, this exhibit examines the causes for the world's impending water crisis. It's a depressing topic, but at least you get to review the topic through some stunning images. Perhaps it'll even inspire you to rally for water conservation.  -Syldy (The Wired Generation)

http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/exhibitions/overview.asp

Below are some cool photos found on the website.
Jonas Bendiksen, Magnum Photos Nepal, 2009



                                                      Frans Lanting, Freelance, Brazil and Argentina, 2009

Friday, April 16, 2010

Welcome

Welcome to the Alliance Resource Consulting, your source for all the inside information in public sector recruiting. While there are many blogs out there we hope that you will use Alliance Resource Consulting - The Blog as a source for tips on interviewing, job search, hiring trends in the public sector as well as recommendations from our recruiters.  So whether you are a City Manager, Police Chief, Finance Director or Management Analyst, you will find useful and sometimes amusing information on Alliance Resource Consulting - The Blog. 

We will have regular columns from our team: Eric Middleton, Sherrill Uyeda, Syldy Tom and Linda Kann as well as guest columns periodically.  Look for these exciting bi-weekly features:

Monday - A wrap-up of the previous week's activity in the public sector
Tuesdays with Eric - Eric Middleton gives you his insight into recruiting and hiring
Wednesdays with Sherrill - Learn about trends in transportation, aviation, utilities and special district recruitments from one of the leading public sector recruiters in the country
Thursdays with Syldy - Syldy Tom will bring you information about green and sustainable communities and what  “Generation Wired” should expect when working with executive recruiters.
TGIF - Learn about our road trips, eateries and must-see places.