City manager talks one-on-one with residents as part of first ‘listening post’

photo by: Rochelle Valverde

As part of his first listening

At City Manager Tom Markus’ first “listening post,” Lawrence residents were invited one by one to tell Markus what they thought was going right and wrong with the city.

Markus said that format would get people comfortable with the idea that they could come and talk to him.

“What I gain from it is kind of a gauge of whether they feel like what we as the staff are doing is good,” Markus said. “I’m going to hear things about the city’s policies, the city’s actions and determinations on things too. From that standpoint, I can help inform the commission.”

Markus, who came to Lawrence after serving as the city manager of Iowa City, said he plans to hold listening posts at several times and locations in order to speak with a cross-section of people. The focus of the conversations is meant to be the City Commission’s strategic planning process, the community’s vision, and challenges and opportunities facing Lawrence.

In all, 16 people attended the first listening post session, which was held Friday morning at the Lawrence Visitors Center. The event included breakfast, and attendees gathered at a table with City Commissioner Lisa Larsen as they waited for Markus to call the next person in line.

Markus said common topics from Friday’s conversations included how the city’s new strategic planning process would work, as well as themes such as affordable housing, social justice issues and the city budget.

While Markus noted that residents can speak during the public comment portion of City Commission meetings, he said the listening posts allow for a face-to-face conversation to take place.

“I’m trying to create the most comfortable way for people to tell me what’s on their mind and their thoughts, and they were very candid about what they did and didn’t like and how they want the community to proceed,” Markus said.

The commission is set to begin work on its first strategic plan to prioritize needs for the city, and the listening posts will be one way community input on that process is received.

The process will include specific steps on how to implement the strategic plan, which will be part of the city’s budgeting and business plans. The commission will create the strategic plan over a period of six meetings, with the goal of completing it by mid-March 2017 so it can inform the next budget process. The intent is that the commission then revisit the plan in November 2017 and every two years thereafter.

Markus said he plans to hold about four listening posts per year, and the time and location of the next one will be announced soon.