Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 01/09/2025

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role, the city manager may serve as a representative of the community on a local arts board, or on a local art project planning committee. Politician role: In the role of politician, the city manager must recognize and evaluate the political dynamic of various individuals and interest groups. A proposal or project that might be thought of as simple is often complicated by the power and influence dynamics of individuals, departments, or groups and their respective motivations. The city manager is often called to calm the waters when external or internal conflicts develop. Elected officials may disagree about what value a public art project brings to the community. The city manager must answer critical questions, identify resources, and attempt to find common ground among various interest groups. For example, a city manager may be tasked with securing an outside grant to commission an art project, developing legal contracts for long-term maintenance, or mediating concerns between stakeholder groups if an art project insults cultural sensitivities. Information manager role: The city manager also serves the broad role of managing information in the organization. In this role, the city manager serves as the information hub for the organization. A key function of the information role is to serve as an information monitor. As a monitor, the manager seeks to access information from many sources, keeping an ear to the ground to determine the direction of critical discussions. By collecting this information, the manager can identify and address issues in a timely manner, allowing a project to remain on track. For example, if concerns about the expense, design, or placement of a public art project happen during the process, the manager can make sure that these items are addressed as part of the formal agenda, or work behind the scenes to resolve conflicts. Disseminator role: In the disseminator role, collected information is distributed to internal and external parties, based upon their need for it. The city manager may compose or 66