The document summarizes the International City/County Management Association's (ICMA) current efforts to increase inclusion and diversity within its membership and leadership. It discusses how ICMA conducted focus groups and surveys of over 2,000 members to gather feedback on potential changes. Based on the feedback, which largely supported greater diversity, the ICMA board approved three proposals to be voted on by members in January. The proposals aim to extend voting rights and eligibility for executive board and regional committee positions to affiliate members with five years of experience in local government. The overall goal is to facilitate more diversity while still requiring a threshold of professional experience.

1. The Path to a More Inclusive
ICMA and Profession
Karen Pinkos, ICMA President, 2018–2019 | October 22, 2019

2. Path to a More Inclusive
ICMA and Profession
• The association has started working on
inclusion issues in the ‘70s.
• September’s PM Magazine showed a brief
timeline of some of the major milestones
• Most recent work has been over the past
year to engage members in a discussion

3. ICMA’S PATHWAY TO INCLUSION

4. Current Member
Engagement Initiative
Based on strategic plan mandate
to expand and diversify
membership, ICMA board:
Established a
membership
subcommittee
on diversity
Developed a
plan to
generate input
from members
on how best to
move forward
Worked with
consultants
with expertise
on member and
board diversity
Implemented
a Member
Engagement
Process

5. Current Member
Engagement Initiative
Methodology
Moderated
Ideation
Sessions
Groups with
ICMA members
National Online
Focus Group:
224
participants
Developed a
workbook to
capture
feedback
meetings
Sessions at
Regional
Conferences
and State Assn
Mtgs

6. Current Member
Engagement Initiative
The Workbooks
699 survey
respondents
23 State Assn mtgs
5 regional
conferences
Clarified Voting
Rights
Workbook with
facilitated discussion
captured sentiments

7. What is the demographic breakdown of
full members and affiliate members?
Members Asked…
VOTING MEMBERS
n=7,200
Male 79%
Female 21%
Hispanic 2%
African American 2%
Asian <1%
Average age 56 years
AFFILIATE MEMBERS IN SERVICE
n=2,300
Male 49%
Female 51%
Hispanic 6%
African American 7%
Asian 2%
Average age 43 years

8. Qualifications Matter
The national, state, and
regional meetings consistently
shared the message that
voting members need to have
sufficient qualifications.

9. Experience Threshold
• Minimum qualifications to vote: 2–5 years of
experience in the profession with 1–3 years of
experience in ICMA membership.
• Opens the door to more diversity because there
is more diversity in the membership pipeline.
• Leadership thresholds: 5+ years of professional
experience and ICMA committee/taskforce
participation.

10. Summary
• Large qualitative sample provides quantitative trends. More
than 2,000 comments received.
• Engagement on diversity and voting rights is appreciated.
• Changes need to be communicated in the context of overall
efforts to increase diversity and make participation more
accessible while retaining professionalism.
• Changes in service of diversity are supported by majorities
of voting and non-voting members—the desire for change
outweighs no change at all.
• Qualifications matter: Diverse experience is great, no
experience is unacceptable

11. The desire to make changes to facilitate greater
diversity in voting rights and leadership
is much stronger than a desire for no change.

12. The Board approved the following proposals
which will be on the ballot in January:
PROPOSAL 1:
Voting Rights:
Extend voting eligibility to Affiliate
Members in service who have been a
member of ICMA and serving in a local
government for five years. Affiliate
members retain voting rights only if
they are in service to a local
government.
PROPOSAL 2:
Executive Board:
Extend eligibility to serve on the
Board in the non-CAO position to
Affiliate Members in service (entry-
level, mid-management and
department directors) who have been
a member of ICMA and serving in a
local government for five years.
PROPOSAL 3:
Regional Nominating Committees:
Allow any ICMA member serving in a
local government and in good standing
to serve as the appointed
representative to the Regional
Nominating Committee
DECISION TIME

13. FOR A MORE
INCLUSIVE
ICMA