A1
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
September 5, 1996
File: ICMA
TO: Vancouver City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Support for ICMA Conference - 1997
RECOMMENDATION
THAT Council approve funding of $5,000 towards the local cost of
the 1997 International City and County Management Association
(ICMA) to be held in Vancouver in the Fall of 1997.
COUNCIL POLICY
On December 16, 1993, Council approved the following guidelines
governing financial support to local conferences:
- the topic of the conference must be particularly relevant to the
business of the City;
- senior staff, serving in their professional capacity, must be
directly and actively involved in hosting and organizing the
conference;
- the City contribution is limited to a maximum of $4.50 per paid
delegate, with a maximum contribution of $5,000 (1994);
- conference organizers must demonstrate that the conference budget
includes a significant level of financial support from other
government or private sector sources; and
- the City s contribution must be appropriately recognized in the
conference program.
PURPOSE
This report requests financial support in accordance with Council policy
for the International City and County Management Association Conference
to be held in the Fall of 1997.
BACKGROUND
The International City and County Management Association is one of the
major professional groups concerned with the management of local
government operations. It has a large membership in the United States
and Canada, and considerable representation from other nations. The
1997 conference will be held in Vancouver from September 14th to 17th.
Some 4-5,000 municipal staff and spouses are expected to attend.
DISCUSSION
The ICMA conference is a major event for Vancouver. The attendance is
large, ICMA arranges for high profile speakers, and the program is
extensive and relevant to many areas of Vancouver's operations.
As required by Council policy, Vancouver staff are involved in the
preparation for the convention, and special arrangements have been made
to allow local municipalities to purchase at a reasonable cost the
opportunity for staff to attend sessions of interest to them on a day by
day basis.
A "Local Committee" of municipal managers has been set up to make
arrangements for the social program for delegates. This will include
pre and post convention tours, walks and runs, attendance at local
events, and professional tours. The purpose of these events is to show
off Vancouver and British Columbia, provide an entertaining visit, and
offer professional development. In addition, the Local Committee is
seeking a strong voice in the programming for the conference to ensure
that it is particularly relevant for Canadian and Pacific Coast
interests. I chair the Local Committee and the Deputy City Manager is a
significant participant. Ms. Rogers will be attending the 1996
Conference in Washington, DC to publicize the 1997 conference, and will
attend ICMA planning sessions for the 1997 conference.
Fund raising to cover the costs of local participation will be carried
out. A grant has been requested from the Province and usual private
sector sponsorship is anticipated. However, some initial funding will
be required in 1996, and for this reason Council's normal support is
being requested now.
The conference meets the requirement for Council support, and approval
is recommended.
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