August 14, 2006

MOTION RE:  DESIRED QUALITIES FOR NEW DONE GENERAL MANAGER

A Motion was passed unanimously approving NWSPNC’s proposed response to the desired qualities for a new DONE General Manager.  (See NWSPNC’s response below)

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the qualities we would like to see in the next General Manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment. 

The qualities of the General Manager of DONE are very important to our Neighborhood Council.  The next General Manager should be someone with a strong community organizing background who has a passion for grassroots democracy.  How the GM views his/her role is of utmost importance.  The General Manager sets the tone for the relationship and facilitates the process of Councils fulfilling their Charter mandated roles. Many of us were attracted to the Neighborhood Councils because of the flexibility with which they were set up.  Neighborhood Councils were encouraged to devise bylaws that fit the uniqueness of the community served.  This philosophy has changed and it seems DONE management is intent upon bringing every community into conformity with one centralized idea.   We hope the new GM will have the qualities below:

• Possesses a strong vision of the role of neighborhood councils in community building,
• Understands and supports a bottom up philosophy of DONE management in their interaction with the neighborhood councils
• Will be assertive on behalf of Neighborhood Councils in dealing with other City Departments.
• Has a strong understanding of both the Neighborhood Council system and how the City of Los Angeles functions including prior NC Council experience. 
• Is a creative thinker who understands that each neighborhood council is unique; therefore one size does not fit all. 
• Has consensus building abilities
• Understands how to provide the ongoing education needed by Neighborhood Councils as new stakeholders become involved.
• Innovative in implementation of public policy and management of a public department.