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