Local Governance Summer Institute at Stanford

Founded in 2015, LGSI@Stanford offers city managers, county executives and senior local government managers ways to improve local government and anticipate societal change. Building upon a long­standing collaboration between Professors Bruce Cain, Director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West and formerly at UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, and Blas L. Pérez Henríquez, the Founding Faculty Director of this executive summer institute with local public officials and management professional organizations in the region, the Local Governance Summer Institute (LGSI @ Stanford) offers city managers, county executives, regional directors, and other senior local government officials from throughout the West the opportunity to exchange and acquire tools for improving local government performance and enhancing prospective analytical capacity to innovate and anticipate societal change. Instructors challenge participants to consider long view policy considerations and issues, such as technological advances and the transition to a low carbon economy in local government decision­making, while at the same time addressing current challenges facing our communities. Sample themes covered range from strategic thinking in problem solving, to smart financial management practices, community engagement, ethical practice and negotiations skills, to regional energy transition and water management policy challenges, as well as smart transport and urban infrastructure upgrading to enhance economic competitiveness at the local and regional level. Stanford University's faculty and highly experienced leaders in the local government management profession introduce participants to new ideas and perspectives in problem solving and strategic thinking while exposing participants to the new realities of fast technological advance and environmental change. Participants discover innovative approaches to problem solving in the stimulating environment of Stanford University, Silicon Valley and San Francisco, California. LGSI@Stanford incorporates the International City/County Management Association’s (ICMA) Practices for Effective Local Government Management in four specific areas: strategic planning, policy facilitation, technological literacy, and integrity. Arrangements will be made to assist participants who wish to start the process to obtain their ICMA credentials by completing their self­-assessment during the duration of the program.