What We Do
The City Manager’s Office (CMO) provides professional leadership for the City of Lawrence organization and works to ensure our community’s priorities are translated into effective, responsive and accountable local government.
Lawrence operates under the Commission-Manager form of government, which brings together the democratic leadership of elected officials and the professional management of an appointed City Manager. The City Commission represents the community, establishes policy and sets the direction for the City. The City Manager and City organization are responsible for providing professional advice, implementing the Commission’s decisions and managing the day-to-day delivery of City services. This model reflects a core principle of professional local government management: elected officials set policy and community direction, while professional staff provide expertise and carry that direction into action.
Leading the organization. Supporting the Commission. Serving Lawrence.
The CMO works across the entire City organization to connect strategy with service. We support the City Commission with timely information, professional analysis and policy recommendations; provide leadership and direction to City departments; coordinate work that crosses departmental lines; steward public resources; and help Team Lawrence turn our strategic priorities into measurable results.
Our work is grounded in the professional practices of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), including integrity, community engagement, equity and inclusion, staff effectiveness, strategic leadership, policy implementation, service delivery and continuous improvement. These practices recognize that professional management is ultimately about more than running an organization, it is about maintaining public trust and improving the community we serve.
Our commitment to Lawrence
At the center of our work is the community.
We have a responsibility to listen, communicate clearly, seek out different perspectives and make it easier for people to understand and participate in their local government. We are committed to providing the City Commission with the information it needs to make informed decisions and then carrying out those decisions professionally, fairly and effectively. ICMA’s Code of Ethics specifically calls on professional managers to serve the interests of all community members, keep residents informed and encourage meaningful engagement with local government.
We also have a responsibility to the people who deliver City services every day. The CMO works to create an organization where employees understand our shared direction, departments collaborate, leaders develop people, performance is measured and Team Lawrence has the support necessary to serve our community well.
Our role is to connect people, policy and performance — supporting the City Commission, empowering Team Lawrence and keeping the needs and aspirations of our community at the center of the work.
Key Responsibilities
- Review and oversee departmental operations and all personnel functions.
- Promote and encourage community and economic development.
- Recommend the annual budget.
- Administer the adopted budget and capital improvement programs.
- Act as liaison with citizens, businesses, community organizations and government agencies.
- Coordinate intergovernmental relations including assisting with public agendas.
- Monitor state and federal legislation.
- Prepare City Commission meeting agenda, including supporting materials.
- Coordinate compliance with national and state laws.
- Conduct and coordinate policy research.
- Respond to requests for information and assist citizens with requests for service.
- Communicate with key constituents: community members, employees and the media.