HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Mail Packet - 12/24/2019 - City Council Governance Retreat Agenda - December 21, 2019Memorandum
Date: December 18, 2019
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
From: Julia D. Novak, The Novak Consulting Group
Re: December Workshop
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking forward to our continued work together. On Saturday, December 21, we will focus on Highly
Effective Governance, which includes a workshop with Dr. John Nalbandian. During the workshop, the
Executive Leadership Team (ELT) will join the Council. The workshop provides a common language and
understanding of the roles and perspectives of the governing body and staff. By participating in the
workshop together, mutual respect is deepened.
Joh
Dr. John Nalbandian, Professor
Emeritus from The University of
Kansas will lead the session on
Saturday morning. Dr. Nalbandian has
a unique perspective on the Council-
Staff partnership. It comes not only
from teaching hundreds of individuals
pursuing careers in local government
in his forty-year career at The
University of Kansas but also from
serving as a City Commissioner and
two-term Mayor for the City of
Lawrence, Kansas. John has shared his
insights through workshops with The
National League of Cities and
International City-County
Management Association as well as
numerous state associations,
executive leadership programs, and
individual sessions with elected
bodies. I have included a brief bio of
Dr. Nalbandian for your information.
Dr. Nalbandian and I have co-authored
articles and shared facilitation at
numerous City Council numerous.
Dr. John Nalbandian
John Nalbandian, Professor Emeritus, joined the faculty in the
public administration program at the University of Kansas in the
1970s. U.S. News and World Report ranks the School of Public
Affairs and Administration’s local government emphasis as the
best in the country. John was chair on two occasions. In addition
to his administrative experience, John served on the Lawrence,
Kansas, city council for eight years, including two terms as the
council’s mayor. John has also served as president of the
Lawrence library board and the Willow Domestic Violence
Center board. He has received numerous awards for his teaching,
research, and service, including recognition in Kansas as both
academic administrator of the year and elected official of the
year.
In addition to his continuing affiliation with KU, John has served
as a visiting professor of practice at both Arizona State University
and presently at Virginia Tech where he supports their local
government certificate program. John regularly presents his
“Political Astuteness” workshop in local government
professional development programs at the Universities of Texas,
North Carolina, and Virginia. He also provides workshops to local
government and elected official professional associations
City of Fort Collins, Colorado Page 2
2019 Governance Retreat
The Novak Consulting Group
Strengthening organizations from the inside out.
Agenda
Introductions
• Welcome and Introductions
• Agenda Review
• Norms and Expectations for the retreat
Agenda Item Outcome: Create a safe environment for honest exchange of ideas.
High Performance Governance: Governing Body and Staff in Partnership
• Dr. John Nalbandian will lead this workshop-style portion of the agenda. John asserts that the
essential prerequisite to effective governance is connecting what is “politically acceptable” with
what is “administratively sustainable.” Bridging this gap requires an understanding of unavoidable
obstacles – conflicting political values and differences in perspective that the governing body and
staff bring to their work. High performing governance is enhanced by this awareness.
Agenda Item Outcome: Develop an understanding of both the challenges and importance of the
Governing Body/Staff Partnership.
ELT Will Depart
Debrief the Workshop
• We will revisit key teachings from the workshop and discuss how this new learning shapes
expectations and understandings of roles.
Agenda Item Outcome: Strengthen communication and shared understanding between the City Council
and their appointed staff.
2:00 – Adjourn/Next Steps
throughout the country and facilitates council retreats.