Difference between Mayor & City Manager

Summary

This video compares two forms of local government: the Mayor-Council system and the Council-Manager system. In the Mayor-Council system, the mayor holds executive power but lacks direct accountability, often leading to inefficiency and finger-pointing between the mayor and the council. In contrast, the Council-Manager system assigns a city manager to run daily operations, with clear accountability to the city council. This structure promotes better communication, efficiency, and responsiveness to citizens. The Council-Manager system is seen as more effective, ensuring improved city management and decision-making through shared responsibility and regular feedback from voters.

Takeaways

• 😀 The mayor-council form of government can create performance accountability issues due to the separation of responsibilities between the mayor and council.
• 😀 In the mayor-council system, the mayor takes charge of staff and manages the city, but does not always carry out the policies agreed upon by the council.
• 😀 The lack of clear accountability in the mayor-council system often leads to finger-pointing between the mayor and the council, undermining effective city management.
• 😀 The council-manager form of government promotes better accountability by hiring a city manager to handle day-to-day operations, with the mayor and council overseeing the process.
• 😀 In the council-manager system, the city manager is directly accountable to the council, which helps identify and resolve issues quickly.
• 😀 The council-manager model encourages transparency, as the city manager regularly communicates with the mayor and council about city operations.
• 😀 Unlike the mayor-council model, where blame may be deflected, the council-manager system aligns staff loyalties with the city council, ensuring better management.
• 😀 The council-manager system allows the public to direct their concerns to the council, which can then hold the city manager accountable for changes.
• 😀 The mayor-council system can create delays in addressing city issues due to political finger-pointing, with voters unable to influence decisions until the next election.
• 😀 The council-manager government is often seen as more effective, accountable, and efficient for cities of a certain size, as it streamlines leadership and city management.

Q & A

What is the key difference between the mayor-council and council-manager forms of government?

The key difference lies in who manages the day-to-day operations of the city. In the mayor-council system, the elected mayor runs the city, while in the council-manager system, a professional city manager is hired by the council to handle daily operations, leaving the mayor and council to focus on broader political leadership.

Why is accountability considered a flaw in the mayor-council form of government?

In the mayor-council system, both the mayor and city council are accountable to voters, but they often fail to work together effectively, leading to a cycle of finger-pointing. This lack of coordination creates a situation where no one person or body is fully responsible for the city's operations.

How does the council-manager system improve accountability?

In the council-manager system, the city manager is directly accountable to the city council. The council monitors the manager's performance regularly, ensuring a clear line of responsibility for the city's daily operations, which helps resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

How does the mayor-council form of government affect city services?

In the mayor-council system, services can suffer because of delays in decision-making and miscommunication between the mayor and council. The lack of clear accountability between the two bodies can result in inconsistent policies and poor service delivery.

What motivates the city manager in the council-manager system to perform well?

The city manager is motivated by the need to keep their job, as their performance is directly tied to the approval of the city council. If things are not working, the city manager must identify and fix the problems quickly to retain their position.

How does the council-manager system prevent finger-pointing between the mayor and the council?

In the council-manager system, the city manager is the person who handles day-to-day operations, so there is no blame shifting between the mayor and council. The mayor and council can focus on policy, while the manager is responsible for execution and reporting on progress.

What role does the mayor play in the council-manager system?

In the council-manager system, the mayor is a member of the city council and helps guide the city's political leadership and long-term vision. However, the mayor does not manage the day-to-day operations of the city—that responsibility falls to the city manager.

Why is the council-manager form of government more effective in cities of a certain size?

The council-manager form is considered more effective in medium to larger cities because it allows for professional management of city operations, which is necessary for efficient administration at scale. The structure provides clear accountability and better coordination between elected officials and staff.

What are the responsibilities of the city council in the council-manager system?

In the council-manager system, the city council approves the annual budget, adopts new policies, hires and fires the city manager, and provides political leadership. They also oversee the city manager's work and ensure city operations align with their vision.

How can voters express concerns about the way the city is managed in the council-manager system?

In the council-manager system, voters can direct their feedback to the city council, which has direct authority over the city manager. If there are concerns about city operations, the council can instruct the city manager to address them, providing a clear point of contact for voters.