Title Details

This issue is the first step in the National Civic League'stwo-year project to review and revise the Model City Charter, atool developed in 1897 by scholars and civic reforms seeking tocreate effective models for local government. Last published in1989, revisions to the Model City Charter will encompass importantchanges to local government within the last twelve years, includingits increasing role in promoting economic development anddelivering social services. Contributors demonstrate that the newModel City Charter must also recognize the emergence of communitybased coalitions that mayors, council members, and commissions areturning to accomplish their goals and bring people to the table ofcommunity decision making. The specific needs of larger cities tomove from council-manager models to revised charters that augmentthe powers of the mayor, as well as the emerging prominence of thechief administrative officer, are discussed. Providing an overviewof the issues facing the broad group of citizens, academics, andpublic officials convened to evaluate the framework in which localgovernments, the National Civic League has begun the task ofbringing the Model City Charter forward into its second century.

Articles Include:

How Anerican City Governments Have Changed: The Evolution of theModel City Charter
H. George Frederickson, Curtis Wood, Brett Logan

Do We Still Need Model Charters? The Meaning and Relevance ofReform in the Twenty-First Century
James H. Svara

An Interview with Terell Blodgett
Michael McGrath

Council-Manager Government: Alive and Leading Today'sBest-Managed Communities
William H. Hansell, Jr.

Whither Local Government Reform? The Case of Wisconsin
James Simmons

The Manager as Political Leader
John Nalbandian

Making Regions Viable by Making Them Imageable
Allan D. Wallis

Hispanics, Social Capital, and Civic Engagement
Gary M. Segura, Harry Pachon, Nathan D. Woods

The Dynamics of Social Capital: Creating Trust-BasedRelationships and Trustworty Environments
Larry Lemmel

Community Development and Systems Thinking: Theory andPractice
Nina Spruill, Con Kenney, Laura Kaplan