Advance Waterloo
With Professional City Government
Hi, welcome to Advance Waterloo! We are a dedicated group focused on providing information about the council/manager system of city governance. Our goal is to empower the citizens of Waterloo to make an informed decision about adopting this system for our city.
Welcome!
Advance Waterloo believes that after reviewing the information, you will be convinced of the advantages that informed decisions and professional management bring to Waterloo.
Thank you for visiting. Let the learning begin.
Don Miller
Mission & Vision
What is our goal?
Advance Waterloo’s mission is to inform and encourage the citizens of Waterloo to move the city to a Council/Manager system of government.
Advance Waterloo’s vision is to benefit all Waterloo citizens through a professional management-style government.
About
What is the Council/Manager System?
In a council/manager governing system, the council hires a qualified college/university-educated and experienced professional manager who then carries out the day-to-day administration of the city functions and implements policy set by the city council.
Origin
Origin of the System
The Council/Manager system, a pioneering concept, was first used in 1908 in Staunton, Virginia. In 1914, Dayton, Ohio, became the first large city to adopt it, marking a significant shift in city governance. Dubuque, Iowa followed suit in 1920. The system was designed to eliminate political pressure and corruption in running a city, a revolutionary idea at the time. Today, over 60% of cities and towns in the U.S. realize the value of using the system. Phoenix, Arizona, with a population of 1.4 million, is the largest city using the system.
