In this environment, local governance models that prioritize stability, professional management and long-term thinking are critical to a city’s success. One such model, the council-manager system, helps cities stay focused and effective even in times of uncertainty. Elected leaders set priorities and represent their communities, while a manager keeps the city running day to day. With a steady administrative hand at the wheel, cities can plan beyond election cycles, respond quickly to challenges and remain grounded in service. It’s no coincidence that this model is the most widely used across the U.S. today.
When I became city manager of New Rochelle, N.Y., in 2024, I stepped into a system designed for resilience. While many municipalities grapple with partisan divides, funding cuts and eroding public trust, our collaborative governing system transcends those roadblocks. By balancing democratic accountability with operational expertise, it allows us to move forward regardless of the circumstances surrounding us.
Here’s how it plays out: When the City Council sets a policy direction — say, to increase the availability of parking downtown — it’s up to my office to develop a viable plan, secure funding and execute efficiently. The council provides guidance and oversight; my team ensures day-to-day mechanics run smoothly. In other systems, where each elected official might control their own silo of operations, you often see delays, redundancies or conflicting agendas. Our structure keeps the focus on delivery.
We’re also building trust and transparency through small but meaningful changes, like public calls for board and committee appointments, to increase civic engagement and give more residents a voice in shaping our future. Under a traditional mayor-council system, where most administrative authority is invested in an elected chief executive, this level of progress would have taken much longer — slowed by competing departmental agendas, political turnover and a lack of centralized coordination. With a unified administrative team carrying out the direction of both the full council and mayor, we’re able to move from idea to implementation with clarity, speed and sustained focus.
Our system of governance has enabled us to navigate complex challenges — revitalizing our downtown, addressing housing demand and investing in infrastructure — without losing focus. Since adopting our Downtown Overlay Zone in 2015, we've seen an unprecedented wave of growth: more than 11,000 housing units approved, more than 3,800 already built and leasing, and a steady influx of new residents drawn to a more inclusive, connected city.
We’ve paired that momentum with long-term investments in resilience, including a stormwater mitigation plan to address climate-related flooding. The plan includes enhanced maintenance, homeowner support, localized flood-control projects and a 10-year capital investment strategy with at least $10 million annually through 2033.
But development is just one part of our story. Through public-private partnerships, flexible zoning and a community benefits bonus program for property owners and developers, we’ve ensured that growth delivers value — not just square footage. Every step ties back to quality-of-life improvements: sustainable buildings, upgraded transit and streetscapes, health and wellness initiatives, and new public spaces that make the city more livable for everyone.
And we're not alone. Last year, voters in San Antonio, Texas, approved charter amendments strengthening the city manager’s position by removing limits on salary and tenure. In Charlotte, N.C., which has operated under a council-manager system since 1929, the city manager is guiding the city’s efforts toward ambitious transformation. They’ve shown, as we have, that this structure doesn’t just keep the lights on — it creates space for meaningful, forward-looking progress. This form of government is more than a success story; it’s a replicable model that more and more cities across the country are adopting.
Cities today require innovative mechanisms that can carry a leader’s and community’s vision through political turbulence, budget cycles and unpredictable change. For New Rochelle and so many other cities, the council-manager system has provided just that: a durable framework for action driven by collaboration, grounded in public service and built for long-term impact.
Wilfredo Melendez has been the city manager of New Rochelle, N.Y., since Dec. 1, 2024, after serving as acting city manager. He joined the city as commissioner of public works in February 2023. Previously he served for 16 years as deputy director for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
Governing’s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Governing’s editors or management.
