How Things Get Done in Municipalities

1
How Things Get Done in Municipalities
2
Doing Things in Alberta Municipalities (A
Discussion of Form and Function)

• From the activity discussion, municipalities
  provide 
• Local services - Administrative
• A Venue for Democracy - Political
• Local leadership - Political
• Provincially mandated services - Administrative

3
The Political and Administrative Dichotomy

• Municipal functions and responsibilities have
  political and administrative components. There
  is a constant tension identified in terms of
• Efficiency and effectiveness
• Efficiency and accountability
• Resolving these tensions influences how
  municipalities meet their obligations.

4
Theories of Elected and Administrative Behaviours

• Public Choice Political Economy
•  
• Assumptions 
•          Man is rational and motivated by self
  interest
•          People seek to optimize results,
  political (re-election, power, influence) and
  administrative (salary, perks, patronage,
  power)
•          Theory is a response to real life
  situations
•          Voters seek politicians who best meet
  their needs and expectations
•          Private sector frequently more
  efficient due to market place and competition

5
Urban Reform

• Occurred at turn of century and resulted in a
  number of municipal political and administrative
  reforms in the United States and Canada
•  
• Assumptions and Issues
•           Councils and civic administration had
  become captives of the political process.
  Corruption and nepotism were rampant
•          Municipal bankruptcies, failures, and
  inefficiency were common
•          Civic interest fell prey to ward
  politics

6
Urban Reform (continued)

• Proposed Remedies
•           Separation of political process from
  administration through the formation of the
  Council-Manager form of government
•          Electing of councillors through at
  large elections. Non- partisan in nature
•          Professionalization of administration
  through education and accreditation
•          Move from decentralized to central
  administration
•          More opportunities for citizens to
  participate in democratic processes I.e.
  referendums, plebiscites, petitions
•          Municipality run like a business
•          End party politics in municipal
  elections

7
Strategic Concerns

•          Dynamic tension between efficiency and
  accountability. Can never be fully
  resolved
•          Administration not always objective
•          Administration may pursue its own
  agenda and shape policy to its own purposes
•          Professional administration not
  necessarily more efficient or provide better
  services
•          Administration may screen elected
  officials from public concerns
•          Politicians and ratepayers may become
  frustrated with inflexibility of bureaucracy

8
Internal Structures in Municipalities

• Municipal structures generally a response to the
  complexity of services provided and the power
  arrangement between elected officials and
  administration. There are two broad responses
•  
•  
•           
• Changes to municipal structure generally occur
  when there is a need for either Council or
  Administration to have more power and control
  over policy development and service delivery.

9
Activity Two (Open Group)

• Identify what you feel is the broad form of local
  government structure which is being used in your
  municipality or another municipality. Is the
  structure appropriate? What indicators are there
  that there is an appropriate or inappropriate
  structure in place? 
• Be prepared to discuss this with the group.