2010 Fall Seminar Presentation - Dave Mora, ICMA

1. Real World Ethics in Local Government
Management
“Bell”
Dave Mora
ICMA West Coast Regional Director
California Contract Cities
Association
October 30, 2010

2. City of Bell
July 15, 2010 – Los Angeles Times
-- Bell City Administrator is paid
$787,637 per year.
-- Bell Police Chief is paid
$457,000 per year.
-- Bell Assistant City Manager is
paid $376,288 per year.

3. City of Bell
July / August / September / October
Los Angeles Times:
-- Council members salary
revelations
-- Total Compensation -- $1.5
million for the City Administrator
-- Police Chief disability retirement
-- Supplemental Retirement
Program

4. City of Bell
Reactions – Bell the exception:
– LCC CM Department Leadership / LCC
/ Cal-ICMA – series of conference calls
to discuss the breaking Bell stories
– Local area managers group response
posted on the LA Times website
– Cal-ICMA Letter to the Editor – LA
Times
– ICMA National News Release

5. City of Bell
LCC CM Executive Committee Dept
Meeting – regular meeting
previously scheduled -- July 29 – 30
Bell revelations the focus of the
agenda – media presence:
-- development of overall strategy
-- immediate and longer term

6. City of Bell
Short Term Responses:
– Coordinate LCC CM Department, Cal-
ICMA, CCMF, and LCC responses
– Express support / cooperation to state
and local agencies in their efforts
o Letters to Attorney General, Los Angeles
County District Attorney, State Controller
o Review / Comment on State Legislative
Proposals

7. City of Bell
Short Term Responses:
– Establish Compensation Task Force
– Media
o LA Times Letter to the Editor
o ICMA National News Release
o CCMF News Releases
– Salary Survey
– Develop Compensation Guidelines
– Consider “Red Team” response

8. City of Bell
Longer Term Responses:
– Cooperative Efforts among LCC CM
Department, Cal-ICMA, and CCMF
– Continue LCC sponsored
Compensation Task Force efforts
– Develop / Present Compensation
Guidelines / Policies for Consideration
by local government professional
managers

9. City of Bell
Longer Term Responses:
– Value of Professional Management –
CCMF and ICMA efforts for general
distribution / information
– Aid in the development of State
legislation

10. City of Bell
Longer Term Responses:
– Ethics and Values – ICMA, Cal-ICMA,
CCMF initiatives
– Manager support – ICMA, Cal-ICMA,
CCMF initiatives
– Future of the profession – focus on
values / ethics with the next generation
of local government managers – work
with MMASC / MMANC

11. Contact Information:
Dave Mora
ICMA West Coast Regional Director
dmora@icma.org
831-737-8133
http://icma.org