Why Council/Manager Evaluations Strengthen Trust and Leadership in Local Government: "The Most Important Relationship in City Hall"

A city manager evaluation should be more than a form and a number. One of the most important relationships in local government is the relationship between the governing body and the city manager. When that relationship is built on trust, communication, and clear expectations, the entire organization is better positioned to serve the community. But too often, evaluations become a "check-the-box" exercise. That approach misses opportunities.

A well-designed evaluation can create a structured conversation about trust, communication, accountability, priorities, and the future direction of the community.

I've seen how valuable an independent, facilitated process can be. Confidential one-on-one conversations with the mayor and each council member can surface concerns, identify common themes, and help the governing body and city manager move forward with greater clarity.

Most importantly, the evaluation shouldn't stand alone. It should connect directly to council goal-setting, strategic planning, budgeting, and 3–5 core priorities for the coming year.

If you're an elected official, city manager, or local government professional, I'd be interested in your perspective: What makes a city manager evaluation genuinely useful, and what makes it just another form to complete? 

I explore this approach in my latest blog, here.