A Century of City Management: The Story of Long Beach

What does it take to build a lasting foundation for professional local government? At the 2026 ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, California, ICMA Past President Tanya Ange, County Administrator of Washington County, Oregon, welcomes attendees and introduces a special video exploring Long Beach's more than 100-year history with the council-manager form of government. From its early challenges with political interference and city manager turnover to the evolution of a stronger, more stable management system, Long Beach's story illustrates the importance of professional leadership, effective governance, and a commitment to serving the public. Featuring the city's history and the leaders who helped shape its approach to local government, this presentation highlights the enduring value of the council-manager form of government. ____________________ About ICMA ICMA’s vision is to be the leading association of local government professionals dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities throughout the world. We do this by working with our more than 13,000 members to identify and speed the adoption of leading local government practices to improve the lives of residents. ICMA offers membership, professional development programs, research, publications, data and information, technical assistance, and training to thousands of city, town, and county chief administrative officers, their staffs, and other organizations throughout the world. Find out more about ICMA, and the profession, at our website: https://www.icma.org Sign up for ICMA e-Newsletters: https://icma.org/e-newsletters Follow us! Twitter:   / icma   Facebook:   / icmaorg   LinkedIn:   / icma   Instagram:   / icmaorg