Local Government 2030

Local Government 2030

Local Government 2030 – “Lessons for the Future: A Convening of Practitioners” will bring together 50 delegates under the age of 40 – all representing cities, counties, and regional councils around the United States – to help shape the future of local governance. The event will take place Nov. 4-6, 2022 at the University of Nebraska Omaha campus.

This is a once-in-a-career opportunity for delegates, who will develop ideas on how local government delivers services to ensure we meet the current and future needs of our communities.

Delegates will be the best and brightest practitioners who represent all services provided by local government. Their charge: Break silos and create the groundwork for change.

Grand Challenges

In 2019, the National Academy of Public Administration issued a call to all government professionals to address the “Grand Challenges” facing our nation. In response, an ad hoc group of local government professionals around the country started meeting in 2020 to develop actionable projects to meet these Grand Challenges.

One consistent message emerged from these discussions: We need individuals from all local government professions to come together to provide leadership in implementing solutions. No one group can do it alone.

Now, a coalition of local government professionals – joined by more than 25 professional associations – are ready to take the next step.

The convening is modeled after the Minnowbrook conferences, which started in 1968 and continued in 1988 and 2018 to reimagine the field of public administration.

Delegates

Fifty-one delegates have been selected for the Convening. The delegates are divided into seven groups by local government disciplines:

• General Administration (Managers, Attorneys, and Clerks)
• Finance or Budgeting
• Public Works or Utilities (including Water, Wastewater, and Transportation)
• Administrative Services (including Human Resources, Information Technology, Communications, Equity, and Sustainability)
• Community Services (including Parks, Recreation, Library, and Arts)
• Public Safety and Human Services (including Police, Fire, Public Health, and Social Services)
• Planning and Economic Development (including Community Development and Housing)

Participants will:

• Meet new colleagues from around the country with a similar passion for service.
• Receive a $500 stipend to assist with travel and accommodation costs for the convening in Omaha.
• While there is no cost to attend the Convening, delegates are responsible for travel and lodging costs to attend. Some meals will be provided.

Timeline

The November 2022 convening will kick off a year-long process. Delegates will work with their professional peers throughout 2023 to further refine their initiatives. In the Fall of 2023, a larger group of local government association leaders will convene with the delegates to provide feedback on the delegates’ proposed new initiatives and formalize next steps.

July 2022

• Delegates selected

August 2022

• Delegates placed into subgroups for pre-work before convening

September 2022

• Delegates will work in subgroups to develop short papers on their vision for the future of local government
• First 90-minute video pre-convening workshop

October 2022

• Complete vision papers and circulate to all delegates
• Second 90-minute video pre-convening workshop

November 2022

• Delegates meet at National Convening Nov. 4-6 at the University of Nebraska, Omaha

First and Second Quarter 2023

• Delegates work on initiatives identified at the National Convening and develop an agenda for second convening with stakeholder groups

Third Quarter 2023

• Finalize agenda for second convening

Fourth Quarter 2023

• Second convening with stakeholder groups to begin implementation of identified initiatives

Sponsorships

• American Planning Association
• American Public Works Association
• American Water Works Association
• Center for Public Safety Excellence
• City-County Communications and Marketing Association
• CivicPRIDE
• Engaging Local Government Leaders
• Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants
• International Association of Fire Chiefs
• International Economic Development Council
• International Institute of Municipal Clerks
• International Municipal Lawyers Association
• International Network of Asian Public Administrators
• Local Government Hispanic Network
• Municipal Management Assistants of Northern California
• Municipal Management Assistants of Southern California
• National Academy of Public Administration
• National Association of Counties
• National Association of County Administrators
• National Association of Regional Councils
• National Forum for Black Public Administrators
• National League of Cities
• National Recreation and Parks Association
• Urban Management Assistants of Central Texas
• Urban Management Assistants of North Texas
• Urban Management Assistants of Southeast Texas
• Urban Libraries Council

The convening is being organized by the Local Government Big Thinkers, a grassroots group of local government professionals and academics founded in 2020 to identify and implement initiatives addressing the NAPA Grand Challenges.

Contact

Wally Bobkiewicz, City Administrator

City of Issaquah, Washington

Email: wallyb@issaquahwa.gov

Phone: 425.837.3020