Got a unique episode this week. Former Sacramento Councilman Jeff Harris comes on the show to defend his former city manager, Howard Chan. Harris served on the council from 2014-2022 and was on the council when Chan was selected to lead their community. He knows the ins-and-outs of Sacramento politics and the truth behind the motives and machinations of the key players. Most importantly, he knows Chan's record and his accomplishments.

Over the last two years or so, Howard has been savagely attacked and denigrated by members of his governing body and columnists at the Sacramento Bee. Though I have made some impassioned statements Howard's defense, most notable in Episode 106, I am admittedly biased.

Jeff sat down with me to clear up the record when it comes to all the smears and dishonest attacks leveled against Howard. Do not miss this one!

SHOW NOTES

Jeff Harris' LinkedIn Profile

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

AAME Membership Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We continue our conversation with the always entertaining Tim Rundel in this second installment.

Tim has not just seen a thing or two, he has personally endured some incredibly challenging and professionally traumatic situations. In this powerful episode, he talks about how we as city managers carry the trauma of abuse and betrayal to our next position and that it is quite easy to become "gun shy" or lose your self-confidence.

He opens the interview by recounting a conversation with a peer who has recently experienced a couple of brutal and extremely short tenures. And toward the end of the conversation Tim talks about how we as executives need to value ourselves and appreciate our worth. He says "we're the cookie" and we should not be giving it away.

If you did not get a chance to catch my first interview with Tim way back in Episode 8 of the podcast, it is a must listen. It is one of the funniest interviews I have ever done and in it we talk about his efforts to get a sitcom about a small town city manager made a la The Office Space. You can check that out here: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/e/city-of-weed-sitcom-about-city-manager-life-tim-rundel-ep-08/

SHOW NOTES

Tim Rundel's LinkedIn Profile

Links to Tim's Documentaries:

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

One new council member can turn everything on its head and send you heading for the exits when you are a city manager. Tim Rundel, the former city manager for the City of Weed, recounts his experience with this elected official who also happened to be married to one of his employees.

We talk about the importance of building relationships with your governing body, how elected officials need to police themselves and call out bad behavior in the name of defending their city manager, and how city attorneys are not your friend.

This is part one of a two part series.

If you did not get a chance to catch my first interview with Tim way back in Episode 8 of the podcast, it is a must listen. It is one of the funniest interviews I have ever done and in it we talk about his efforts to get a sitcom about a small town city manager made a la The Office Space. You can check that out here: https://www.citymanagerunfiltered.com/e/city-of-weed-sitcom-about-city-manager-life-tim-rundel-ep-08/

SHOW NOTES

Tim Rundel's LinkedIn Profile

Links to Tim's Documentaries:

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Brian Daily was the first person I ever hired as a city manager and it was one of the most impactful decisions I have ever made in my professional career. He is an amazing, inquisitive public servant who continually seeks to provide value to taxpayers. He is insanely curious and truly embodies the ethos of a "working executive" who is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and do the heavy lifting required of a small town executive.

In this episode, we talk about three major areas of accomplishment as the city administrator for the Kansas community of Medicine Lodge.

• Analysis of Property Insurance
• Innovative approach to solving a daycare crisis in his community
• How asking questions like a three year old about his airport saved taxpayers over a million dollars

Daily is a rising star and you are going to enjoy this episode.

SHOW NOTES

Brian Daily's LinkedIn Profile

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Picture this scenario. Staff have worked for a year to bring a project or initiative to the finish line. There have been public meetings and notices, multiple discussions at council meetings, and even some news articles published in the local paper.

Out of the blue, a handful of vocal social media commenters start lighting up the city's social media page and local news groups are atwitter as these critics misrepresent the facts of the project and attack the council for not being transparent and seeking feedback from residents. This results in a dozen or more residents attending the next council meeting with four of them attacking the council and staff under the guise of simply seeking transparency.

Then the council, caught off guard and reeling from the "onslaught" of public comment decide to table or postpone the issue. Then they direct the city manager and staff to re-engage the public and seek feedback.

It's demoralizing and time consuming. It sucks the life out of employees.

Sam Toles of CiviSocial joins me on the program to talk about a future initiative aimed at educating and training elected officials about social media, how to interpret criticism, and how to raise these concerns with staff in a healthy and constructive manner. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out this brief survey so we can get your feedback: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdBe7LOFFXi2C_ezW4haJJqU-iPk7_n61sgKelfnLQDDgMK1w/viewform

SHOW NOTES

Claim your FREE copy of "The Social Media Playbook for City & County Managers" at this link: https://civisocial.com/the-social-media-playbook

Sam Toles' LinkedIn profile

Link to CiviSocial website

Sam previously appeared on the following episodes:

Episode 67: Your City is Doing Social Media Wrong

Episode 68: Keyboard Warriors & Social Media Terrorists

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What is the purpose of social media and why does your organization have a social media presence?

In this episode, Sam Toles of CiviSocial and I discuss this issue at length and make a powerful case for why every city and county manager should make sure their organization is doing social media correctly. Not only are there personal and professional benefits, but it can help improve employee morale and job satisfaction, retention, and keep your elected officials happy.

Sam is on a mission to help city managers and other public sector executives level up their organization's social media presence. He recently released his new book and podcast listeners can claim their FREE copy by clicking on the link below.

SHOW NOTES

Claim your FREE copy of "The Social Media Playbook for City & County Managers" at this link: https://civisocial.com/the-social-media-playbook

Sam Toles' LinkedIn profile

Link to CiviSocial website

Sam previously appeared on the following episodes:

Episode 67: Your City is Doing Social Media Wrong

Episode 68: Keyboard Warriors & Social Media Terrorists

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Recent comments attributed to executive recruiters handling the Sacramento, California and Palm Coast, Florida recruitments must be addressed.

A Sacramento Bee article alleged that CPS HR recruiter Pamela Derby has "suggested modifying certain incentives in a potential contract, including supplemental leave and severance, to ensure the new hire does not make as much."

In Florida, Strategic Government Resources (SGR) recruiter Doug Thomas advised the governing body against including a salary range in their job posting and brochure.

Recruiters and recruitment firms that actively seek to undermine the pay, benefits, and contractual protections in the name of advising their clients must be put on notice that there will be consequences. And it is imperative that public sector executives across the country take individual action to communicate these concerns, as well.

SHOW NOTES

Sacramento Bee Article #1: https://archive.ph/ZF1Rg

Sacramento Bee Article #2: https://archive.ph/JIwjd

Flagler Live Article: https://flaglerlive.com/sgr-tale-of-two-bruchures/

AAME Waitlist Sign Up Link: https://app.youform.com/forms/f9ulo0uh

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

This is the third and final installment of my three part interview series with Fire/EMS consultant Tim Nowak. The primary purpose of this series is to create an introductory primer and give local elected officials and taxpayers a 30,000 foot level overview of the major issues that must be considered when evaluating fire/EMS service in your communities.

My hope is that city and county managers, fire chiefs, and other public sector executives will find our attempt to break this complex issue down into manageable chunks for your various stakeholders useful in your efforts to facilitate discussions on this topic.

SHOW NOTES

Tim Nowak's LinkedIn page

You can find my previous interview with Tim in Episode 40 here.

AAME JOB BOARD:

The American Association of Municipal Executives has a free job board exclusively focused on executive and senior level local government recruitments. To post a job, go to: https://jobs.aame.org/

SUPPORT THE PODCAST:

1. Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter hosted on LinkedIn. It is called the "City Manager News & Job Board" newsletter and can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/city-manager-rtrs-job-board-7164683251112992768/
2. If you would like to support the podcast by making a donation, please use the "Buy Me A Coffee" link.
3. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or your preferred platform if you enjoy the show. It helps tremendously. But more importantly, refer your friends and peers to podcast through personal conversations and posts on your social media platforms.

Joe Turner's LinkedIn Page

City Manager Unfiltered YouTube Page - Subscribe Today!

Note: Page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.