My mantra to the Tripepi Smith team is likely getting boring, but it remains true: adapt! This is not the time to wait and see nor to throw in the towel. Rather, it is time to step up to the plate and see our communities through this unprecedented time–and that’s what many public servants are doing despite new hurdles.
Public agencies have been quick to adapt to the volatility and change. Public meetings are now hosted through Zoom or Microsoft Team. Employees have figured out how to create home offices to get work done. Building inspectors are using Facetime to monitor and approve progress from afar. It has been fascinating to observe the forced evolution and innovative spirit that has been unleashed at all levels of government staff.
I have been equally impressed with the speed of inter-agency collaboration. I keep hearing from city managers who spend most of the day going from one conference call to the next, digesting information and learning from peers. Tripepi Smith helps host a weekly call with about 30 city managers, and the “ah-ha” moments and willingness to call on peers for advice or share experiences is remarkable. These discussions reflect the power of local government collaboration and the best of the city manager community.
Coronavirus has put our prior challenges into perspective. As we combat and move past this threat in the coming months (years?), we will use it as a benchmark for speedy change or an example of how relatively small the other problems we tackle have become. On the flip side, I know that the cascade of other challenges as a result of coronavirus (declining tax revenues, accelerating pension costs, new potential liabilities) will demand a lot of our public servants. Local government collaboration will continue to be important, especially as we meet the demand for even greater adaptability in a post-COVID-19 world. And I am confident in the spirit of local governments to call on one another for support, best practices and to share lessons learned. Doing so will ensure local governments succeed for the benefit of their communities.
I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy. I hope your leadership teams and communities are showing patience and fortitude. And I look forward to witnessing how adaptability results in new and innovative ways to meet the needs of those we serve.
Onward,
