I hope you read my column last month (“

Council is nearing the completion of our search for an executive search firm to help us in this process. After considering 14 firms, councilors approved the selection of a national search firm, Slavin Management Consultants. We hope to have a contract in place soon and will get to work on establishing a time line and developing search criteria.

Council will provide opportunities for citizens to participate in this process. We will clearly communicate dates and times for community involvement.

As we all consider the qualities and traits of a city manager that will most benefit the Durango community, I thought it might be helpful to discuss Durango’s distinctive, council-manager form of home rule municipal government and take a deeper look at the role of the city manager in relation to city council.

The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee local control to municipal governments. Until well into the second half of the 19th century, municipalities were generally governed according to state statutes rather than local priorities.

When some municipalities began demanding more autonomy, Iowa Judge John Forrest Dillon wrote, in an 1868 court ruling, that local governments are “mere tenants at will of their [state] legislature.”

A number of municipalities immediately challenged this ruling, demanding the option to choose between home rule and “Dillon Rule.” Legal battles persisted for decades.

In 1912, Durango became the fourth city in Colorado to adopt home rule. Per Article XX in our state constitution, Colorado municipalities were granted the right to choose how they want to govern themselves.

Today, 31 states apply Dillon’s Rule, 10 states govern by home rule, 8 states allow choice, and one state applies home rule to everything except taxation.

One of the key benefits of home rule is it empowers local citizens. It grants municipalities the right to make decisions based on local needs, without intervention from the state. Our community’s passionate and involved citizens have the right to participate regularly in a truly local, representative form of government.

Durango’s version of home rule was established via a local charter, first drafted, adopted and amended by Durango voters more than 100 years ago, and again, most recently, in 2012.

Durango’s charter specifies a council-manager form of government. Citizens elect five city council members to serve four-year terms in a staggered rotation of elections. Councilors develop goals, set policies and appoint a city manager to see that they’re carried out.

Sitting council members select a fellow councilor who will serve as mayor for a one-year term. The councilor serving as mayor runs meetings and is recognized as the head of the city government but does not have any additional legislative power.

Accountability to local citizens is required under home rule. Local government officials, whether elected (council) or appointed (city manager, city attorney, municipal judge), are therefore obligated to explain decisions and actions directly to the citizens they serve.

Transparency is also required. Open meetings and citizen engagement encourage healthy democracy on the local level.

City Council has worked hard the past six months to increase both accountability and transparency. We’ve developed new and more rigorous evaluation processes and accountability systems for our three city appointees. We’ve challenged budget practices and policies.

We’re striving to consistently provide greater transparency by providing more opportunities for citizen input and by communicating frequently and freely with the citizens we represent and serve.

Practical application of home rule means our city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city. City Council goals, objectives and policies drive desired community outcomes from the top down. With appropriate evaluation systems in place, this process works well to ensure vision and values are aligned throughout the organization, i.e., that city departments achieve council’s and citizens’ desired objectives.

Under home rule, every resident can and should play an important part in shaping the future character of our community. We’re currently uniquely positioned to select a city manager who will work closely with council and the community to achieve our shared vision. And as the time comes, I hope you will join us in that process!

Melissa Youssef is mayor of Durango, a position rotating among members of City Council. Reach her at Melissa.Youssef@DurangoGov.org.