The Following "Guide" is Meant to Be Used as an Initial Structure and Foundation in the Formation of a City or Community "Steering Committee".

While the "Essence" of The More Abstract Elements of The Steering Committee's Organization and Purposeful Intent Should Remain Basically Intact... the Specifics Will Vary from Place to Place... depending on Administrative Functions and Associations with The Various Entities Involved.

The Steering Committee May Be a Small "Advisory" Group of a Few People... to a Participatory Branch of City Government with Administrative Power and Funding Components... Composed of 20 or More Individuals and Associated Professional and Technical Advisors and Council. Structure and Type of City Government also Plays a Part in Organizational Breadth of The City Steering Committee.
 

Successful Communities Know that it takes more than just a "Good Plan" to Succeed  in Building a Progressive and Thriving City. It takes an Empowered Government "and" Community... Focused on Realistic Goals, Driven with Impassioned Leadership. It takes Vision. It takes Consensus. It takes a Sense of Purpose! It Takes an Holistic Steering Committee!

The Foundation for a Successful Community Starts with a Profound Philosophy and Missions Statement... Followed Up with an Organizational Structure that Is Supportive and Conducive to The Realization of The Organization's Essential Philosophy and Mission.

Philosophy:  Create a Philosophy with "Vision" and Idealistic Integrity. It is Vital that Your City has a "STAR" to Look To. Without an Overall "Guiding Light" to Keep It Focused... Your City Will Splinter and The More Basic Aspects of Human Nature will Dominate.

Example:

Mission Statement:

The "Mission Statement" Should "Be In Harmony" with The "Philosophy". It Should Address The Specific "Objectives" and Goals of The Steering Committee and The Direction and Purpose of The City Government It Represents... in a Very Succinct and Concise Fashion. It Should Say in a Few Words... What The Overall "Mission" of The City Is.

Examples:

Name of Committee: 

Consider giving The Steering Committee a "Name"... other than "Your Town" Steering Committee. Don't "Rename" Your Steering Committee though Unless there is Good Reason.

Members: 

Steering Committee Members Should Come from The Citizenry of The Town or Community. City Officials and City Workers Should Not Be on The Steering Committee.

Every Member Should Be a Valuable Asset to The Purpose and Intent of The Steering Committee... both Generally and Specifically. They Should Have "Something to Offer".

Most Importantly... Members Should Be in Full Agreement with The Steering Committee's  Philosophy and Mission... and Supportive of Its Organizational Structure.

Membership with The Steering Committee is either VOLUNTARY or SALARIED. Initially, It Should Be on a VOLUNTARY and PROBATIONARY Basis.

No Member shall Unreasonably PROFIT from Membership or Participation in The Steering Committee. Any and All "Salaries" Will Be Minimal. All "Grant Writing" Commissions will go into a City Fund for Public Infrastructure Improvements or Other Public Interest.

"Qualifications" for Membership to The Steering Committee Should Be Determined at Its Inception... with The Capacity to Adjust According to Future Needs and Demands. Changes Should Be Made by a Unanimous or Majority Agreement of Current Members.

For Example, To Be Eligible for Appointment to The Steering Committee... a Person Must Be:  1) A Full Time Resident of The City; and 2) Not Be an Employee of The City; and 3) Have the Capacity to Contribute to The Mission and Application of The Steering Committee's "Area of Concerns".

Meetings: 

All Meetings Should Be Open to The General Public... with Dates and Times Posted in a Timely Manner.

Members of Government may Attend Meetings... and Offer Input and Dialogue. Members from Each "Department" of City Government Should be Encouraged to Attend Meetings.

Administration:

Clearly Defined Administrative Powers Should Be Created on Inception of The Steering Committee. Primarily, It Should Be Determined whether The Steering Committee Will "Make Decisions" for City Government... or Only Act in an Advisory Capacity... Making "Recommendations" without Legal Power.

Independence:

The "Relationship" between The Steering Committee and City Government Should Be Clearly Stated... and Be a Foundation of The Organization. A Committee without "any" Power or Influence... whether It Be Legal or Functional ... is Impotent and Subject to Subversion by a Corrupt City Government. Individuals without The Power to "Affect Change"... will Soon Lose Interest and Motivation... and Will Drift Away or Not Join and/or Participate.

Organizational Structure:

Depending on The Mission and Purpose of The Steering Committee... The Structure of The Organization May Vary. Typically, there Will Be Specialty Groups or "Sub-Committees" along with Clerical and Technical Positions.

Sub-Committees:

Specialty "Sub-Committees" Should Be Formed to Address More Specific Issues and Concerns.

Salaries:

Generally, Membership Should Be on a "Volunteer"  Basis. In the Event that A Monetary Stipend Is Offered... It Should Be "Nominal" and Consistent with "Work Done" in Terms of Time and Effort.

All Salaries Should Be Determined and Offered with Unanimous (or Majority) Agreement of Steering Committee Members and The City Council.

Funding:

Access and Control of Funds Should Be Determined both Initially during Steering Committee Formation... and Introduced and/or Adjusted as Need and Circumstance Dictate. Regardless, City Government Should Never Have Complete Control Over Procurement or Disbursement of Funds Ear-Marked for The Steering Committee.

Advisory Board:

A Community "Advisory Board" Should Be Optional for The City and/or Community Concerned. It May Take the Form of an Organized and Unified Group... or Be an Association of Individuals for The Sole Purpose of Information and Policy Advisement and Direction.

Areas of Concern:

Sometimes "Areas of Concern" May Be both General and Specific... and Cross Over between Sub-Committees. They Are Stated as General Concerns of The Steering Committee... but Are Applied Specifically in Various Sub-Committees.

An Example Could Be "Youth Advocacy" (General) and Applied in the Sub-Committees of "Sports" and "Creative Expressions" (Specific).
 

Example:

Duties:

There Will Inevitably Be Consequential and Specific "Duties" The Steering Committee Will Accrue with The Execution of The More Generally Defined "Areas of Concern". Duties May Be established by both The Sub-Committees and The Steering Committee as a Whole.  For Instance, a Monthly Report to The City Council would Become an Ongoing Duty.

Examples: 

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