SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT THROUGH

GOOD GOVERNANCE
TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING OF MUNICIPAL COUNCILORS

A GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT INITIATIVE

Knowledge Partner

Urbanisation of India is inevitable. Its rapid. It

has put immense pressure on all of us. Its
bursting at its seams. Cities will groan, they
will shuffle and wriggle and struggle. They
dont need to. These are the pangs of growing
up. The angst of evolution. They will learn.
They need not cry.
- Anshita Asnani
Managing Partner

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

INTRODUCTION
It is widely recognized that good governance is essential to sustainable development. When local
government practices good governance, its communities are more connected and engaged, better services are
provided, community confidence in council is improved, resources are better used and better outcomes achieved.
However this is difficult to emulate in practice, as most of the councillors may not possess adequate hands on
working knowledge of urban management. The decentralization of the decision making process to elected wing of
the ULB by virtue of the 74th CAA furthers underscores the need for informed decision making and an
understanding of the regulation and good urban governance practices.
The 74th CAA, inter alia, also makes it imperative to achieve a harmonious interface between the
administrative wing and the elected representatives-a precondition for successful implementation of city
development projects.
COUNCILLOR'S INDUCTION PROGRAM (CIP)
Municipal Councillors come from all walks of life and bring along diverse and valuable skills and
experiences. Despite this, very few new councillors are familiar with the challenges of urbanization, system of local
government, how a council works and the full range of their roles and responsibilities. When they commence their
term in office it is important that councillors quickly attain a clear understanding of the same.
SIGNIFICANCE OF CIP
A Councillors Induction Programme (CIP) is a necessary start-up mechanism to provide them with essential
information, orienting them to challenges and their new role as ruling class for a local government. It enables
councillors to familiarize themselves as to how the council works, the meeting procedures, rules of debate, the
legal framework under which a council operates and the complexities of their multiple roles.
An induction program also provides an opportunity to set a positive tone, build positive working
relationships with the executive and acquaint them with the practices of good governance. It lays the foundation
for a successful term in office. However, sustaining their credibility would certainly require further educational
interventions.
CIP CONTENT OUTLINE
UMCs Induction Program familiarizes the councillors with:

Issues of urbanization

Linkages between good governance and Development

Prudent financial management

Land use planning

The legal framework under which corporations operate

Their roles and responsibilities

What the corporation does, how it operates, its rules and procedures

Corporations management structure and key staff

Key policies and programmes

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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

GOVERNMENT OF GUJARAT INITIATIVE

Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi enthralled the councillors

in his inaugural address setting the tone for three day training programme.

THE AHMEDABAD EXPERIENCE

The Councillors' Induction Program (CIP), organized by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation with Urban
Management Consultants (UMC) as its knowledge partner, was inaugurated by the Honourable CM of Gujarat,
Shri Narendra Modi.
Shri Modi in his captivating inaugural address broadened the vision of the councillors while
emphasizing on the need to have clarity about their roles and responsibilities to function effectively. He
urged them to rise above petty issues and have a vision for the development of the city as a whole and work
towards establishing a national and international identity for the city. He laid stress on:

Turning the city slum-free, Providing basic amenities to the poor.

Clean city through proper solid waste management.

Adopting best technologies.

A breakthrough is important to get out of the routine and establish a different level of performance, he
said. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning and sharing of best practices.

The concluding session was chaired by Shri Nitinbhai Patel, H'ble Minister for Urban Development and for
Water Resource Departments of GoG.

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

PROGRAMME OUTCOME
The induction program effectively conveyed that the local government can manage their complex responsibilities
effectively, and in the best interest of the community if the city affairs are managed in ways that are transparent,
accountable, just and equitable.
The councillors benefited in the following ways.

Were sensitized to the significance and practices of good governance

Learned concepts of financial management and planned development

Acquired knowledge on key legislations and legislative roles and responsibilities

Enabled them to visualize the big picture on urbanization in prevailing context, including key issues
and tasks before them

Got updated on key information, policies and procedures

Learned to be more pro-active & effective in conducting corporation business

Facilitated transition and built confidence in undertaking their role/s

Had an opportunity to meet, build rapport, share knowledge and experiences and form positive
working relationships with other councillors and key officials as also the expert subject speakers

Based on the success of the CIP at Ahmedabad, the Government of Gujarat entrusted UMC to organize
similar programs in Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar cities during April-May 2011

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

FACULTY PROFILE
The program was conducted by countrys leading practitioners in the field of urban planning, urban governance,
poverty alleviation, municipal finance and PPPs. The faculty was drawn from apex national level institutions and
multilateral agencies.
The councillors were made conversant with regulatory framework governing municipal corporations ,the
challenges and opportunities in urbanization, good governance, alternate methods of service delivery and current
best national and international practices in the urban sector through use of conventional methods as well as use of
audio visual/ multimedia techniques. Specially compiled book to capture the essence the BPMC Act 1949 in
Gujarati was also distributed.

Mr. Anil Baijal

Mr. Baijal joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1969. He retired from the service in October,
2006 as Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development, and Government of India. While in that
Ministry, he anchored the designing and roll-out of the flagship programme of Jawahar Lal Nehru
National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) with federal grant equivalent of about Rs. 50,000
crore, for improvement of infrastructure and provision of basic services in urban areas of India.
In his long service career spanning over 37 years, Mr. Baijal held various important assignments like that of the
Union Home Secretary, Chairman & Managing Director , Indian Airlines, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharti
Corporation( Broadcasting Corporation of India), Vice-Chairman, Delhi Development Authority, Development
Commissioner, Goa and Counselor in-charge of Indian Aid Programme in Nepal.
After his retirement from Government service, Mr. Baijal at present is working on part time basis as Sr. Advisor in the
Infrastructure Development & Finance Company Ltd. (IDFC) and Chairman of IDFC Foundation. In addition, he is
the Secretary General of Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), the industry association of Indian air carriers.
Mr. Baijal is also on the Boards of ITC Limited, DLF Pramerica Life Insurance Company Limited, Minerals & Metals
Trading Corporation of India Limited (MMTC) and International Travel House Limited.

Mr. K. Kailashnathan
Mr. K. Kailashnathan is a senior member of Indian Administrative Service (IAS 1979 Batch), at
present working as Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Gujarat. In addition to this
assignment, he is holding charge of Managing Director, Gujarat State Financial Services Ltd.
Mr. Kailashnathan is a Post Graduate in M.Sc. (Chem.) and M.A. [Economics (U.K.)]. In his
earlier assignments he was closely associated with Industrial development and privatization of
Ports in Gujarat. He has also wide experience in Urban Sector, in his capacity as Municipal Commissioner in
Ahmedabad and Principal Secretary, Urban Development. His other experience in Infrastructure Sector relates to
Drinking-Water Supply in establishing a Drinking Water Pipline 'Grid' in Gujarat State.
Mr. Kailashnathan is also a Member of Board of Directors of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (GSPCL)
and Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd. (SSNNL).
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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Mr. P U Asnani
A law graduate by education, Mr. Asnani is one of the countrys renowned experts on urban
governance and an International Expert on Solid Waste Management. Working in the urban
sector for over 30 years, Mr. Asnanis experience and expertise is widely sought by various
governments and civic authorities both nationally and internationally. He is a member of the
Property Tax Reform Committee constituted by the Government of India, he has been a member
of the Supreme Court appointed Expert Committee on Solid Waste Management; a member of Technology
Advisory Group & Chairman of the Core Group on appropriate Technology & Research & Development in Solid
Waste Management . He was a member on the Expert panel to draft the National Manual on Solid Waste
Management constituted by the Ministry of Urban Development, Govt. of India. He has prepared several DPRs and
provided technical assistance on Solid Waste Management to 18 State of India. He was an Urban Environment
Infrastructure Advisor for India to USAID for 9 years and a Team Leader for Solid Waste Management Learning
Programme in India supported by the World Bank Institute for 3 years. He was an international consultant on an
ADB project for advising legal and Instituational framework on SWM in Bangladesh. He is the international expertSWM on the World bank mission for National Ganges River Basin Authority Project. Besides he has rendered his
expert services in several countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mangolia among others. He is
the founder member of Sabarmati River front development corporation ltd. He is also the Vice president of the City
Managers Association, Gujarat since May 1997.

Mr. Dinesh Mehta

Mr. Dinesh Mehta brings in 30 years of rich experience in the field of urban development policy,
urban governance and management, regional development, urban planning and management,
municipal and housing finance, infrastructure development policies and finance and urban
health, with national and international agencies by way of work related to academics, policy
formulation, applied research, consultancy and administration in Africa and Asia. At present,
Dinesh Mehta is Professor Emeritus at the School of Planning at CEPT University, Ahmedabad.
Dinesh Mehta is a Doctorate in Regional Science and Urban Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He
holds a double Masters in Regional Science and City & Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and
Harvard University respectively. He is a qualified civil engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai.
He has worked on projects for donors such as World Bank, WHO, UN- Habitat, UNDP, USAID, City Alliance and
Asian Development Bank. Dinesh Mehta has to his credit over 100 publications.

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Ms. S. Aparna
Ms. S. Aparna is currently working as Commissioner, Surat Municipal Corporation. She is an
officer of the Indian Administrative Service with experience of over two decades in various
sectors of public administration.
As District Collector from 1995 to 1999, Aparna focused on decentralized planning for rural
infrastructure, convergence of Government Schemes in tribal areas, as well as management and mitigation of river
floods. She was selected as Best District Collector by the Government of Gujarat. She has also been involved in
programme formulation, and monitoring in the State Government in various sectors. During her tenure in the
Government of India, Aparna was intensively involved in addressing a range of issues facing urban planning and
governance in India today. She was also associated with policy formulation relating to land use, Regional Planning,
provision of affordable housing, conservation of urban heritage, challenges to urban environment, and urban
infrastructure.
In her current position as Municipal Commissioner in Surat, one of the fastest growing urban areas in Asia, she has
chosen to focus on sustainable and inclusive development in the city. With projects worth over Rs 2200 crores in
hand, Surat Corporation has made a quantum leap in implementation of infrastructure projects relating to water
supply, drainage, urban transport and housing for urban poor with threefold increase in investment in three years.
Surat is also participating in the Rockefeller Foundation project for building climate change resilience network
among 10 Asian cities.

Mr. Chetan Vaidya

Mr. Chetan Vaidya has over 30 years of urban development planning and management
experience working for multilateral and bilateral donors, the Government of India (GOI), the
Planning Commission, State Governments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and financial
institutions. He has a Bachelors degree in Architecture from Baroda (1974) and Master of
Planning from IIT Kharagpur (1977).
He joined as Director of the National Urban Institute of Affairs (NIUA) in February 2008. Prior to joining NIUA, he has
worked on the Financial Institutions Reform and Expansion (FIRE) project of USAID from 1995 2008, where he
played a key and wide-ranging role in providing technical and training activities. He worked with cities to develop
medium-term fiscal frameworks and used them as the basis for resource enhancement and investment decisions.
As Deputy Project Leader, he was alsoactively involved with the Ministry of Urban Development, GOI in designing
the Model Municipal Law and reform agenda under Jawaharlal Nehru National Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
Apart from this he has also provided advisory support for development of tax-free municipal bond guidelines,
market-based financing of urban infrastructure projects, improved access of poor to urban services.

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Ms. Anshita Asnani

A Chartered Accountant from India and a CPA from US, Ms Asnani is an expert in modern
methods of financial management and financial discipline. She has given her expert services to
several Urban Local Bodies in various States of India. She has been actively associated in
introducing financial reforms, in many ULBs of the country.
Poverty Alleviation and infrastructure development for the urban poor are her areas of special interest. She has
helped to develop institutional and legal framework for industrial townships of Gujarat State. She has contributed
substantially in the preparation of DPRs (Detailed Project Reports) for JNNURM cities and has also focused on
augmenting the financial capabilities of Municipal Authorities through her training modules for the Civic custodians
of our society.

Prof. S. Chary
Prof V. Srinivas Chary is the Dean of Research and Management Studies at Administrative Staff
College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, India, specialises in governance, institutional reforms and
capacity building for improvements in urban service delivery. He has over 20 years of
professional experience in the areas of urban infrastructure and service delivery and extensively
worked on 24-7 Water Supply, urban sanitation, PPP, pro poor strategies. An engineer, urban
planner and management professional by training, Prof. Chary, prior to joining ASCI, was a Senior Faculty at the
Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI), Hyderabad and at Tata Energy Research Institute
(TERI), New Delhi. Prof Chary has lead over 130 advisory, consulting and research assignments both in India and
South Asia. He has conceptualised and implemented structured capacity building programmes for elected
representatives, officers of Administrative Service and urban sector professionals in India and outside. Prof Chary
was also instrumental in establishing the Urban Resource Link (url@asci.org.in) - a unique model of knowledge
support for cities and water utilities, the Change Management Forum, which facilitates peer learning amongst a
network of municipal officers and elected representatives. He facilitates the National Urban Water Awards
(www.waterawards.in) to recognize excellence in urban water management for water utilities and municipalities in
India. As a member of the urban sanitation taskforce of the MoUD, he played a catalytic role in the formulation of the
National Urban Sanitation Policy of the Government of India. Prof Chary assists the Ministry of Urban
Development, Government of India by undertaking independent appraisal of city development plans and reforms
implementation under the Urban Renewal Mission. He was professionally affiliated to the University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, University of Bradford, UK, University of Manchester, UK, and Water Engineering
Development Centre, UK. He is a Chevening fellow. Prof Chary published over 30 papers in national and
international professional journals. He was conferred an Ashoka Fellowship for promoting continuous (24-7) water
supply. He is passionately committed to capacity building with the objective of ensuring continuous water supply
and open defecation free urban systems in India.

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Mr. Bimal Patel

Mr. Bimal has built on traditional approach to design and practice, and is responsible for
shaping the combined vision of all four companies at Paritosh. He is committed to making
Paritosh an innovative laboratory of design, planning and development management ideas and
practice.
Dr. Bimal H. Patel has over 20 years of professional consultation, research and teaching experience in urban
planning and architecture. He is a Director in HCP Design and Project Management Pvt. Ltd., a 46 years old firm
which has full fledged divisions for architecture, interior design, and furniture design and project management. Dr.
Bimal Patel is the Hon. Managing Director of Environmental Planning Collaborative, a not-for-profit professional
planning and development Management Company. EPC has been doing pioneering work in developing planning
methodologies appropriate to the present Indian context. EPC works with various municipal corporations and
urban development authorities in Gujarat. He is also the Hon. Managing Director of EPC Development Planning
and Management Pvt. Ltd. It is a consultancy whose objective is to demonstrate what a professional private-sector
planning complies in India can be.

Prof. Shivanand Swamy

Professor H. M. Shivanand Swamy, Associate Director, CEPT University, is a postgraduate in
Economics and urban and regional planning, and has completed advanced courses in
transport and planning from the IIM, Bangalore and the University of Birmingham. He has 27
years of teaching, research and professional consultancy experience, and has been the guide
to over 100 Master's thesis. He has been leading multidisciplinary projects in the areas of urban
transport planning, urban and regional planning, urban environment, land and housing. His strength is his
strategic and programmatic skills which are in the design and implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit Systems
Cities in Gujarat. He was also instrumental in the design of an urban development program for eight north-eastern
states of India and the urban development policy for Gujarat. He is one of the principal resource persons on urban
and regional development issues for the State of Gujarat and has led multi-disciplinary teams for projects
supported by donors such as the World Bank, ADB, UNDP and State and Local Governments in India. As an
administrator of CEPT, Prof. Swamy was instrumental in upgrading CEPT an autonomous institute to that of a
University.

Mr. D B Makwana
One of the pioneers to introduce double entry book keeping in Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation for the first time in India, Mr. Makwana is also the first to get a credit rating for an
Urban Local Body and raising almost a billion INR from the public as tax free bond, another first
for the entire south east Asian countries. Additionally, he has also been the recipient of
international habitat award for slum networking project meant for improving the infrastructural /
environmental and socio-economic conditions of slum dwellers and urban poor.
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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Prof. Utpal Sharma

Prof. Utpal Sharma is an architect-planner whose specialization includes urban planning and
housing design. He has been a member of faculty at CEPT since 1991 and has been
instrumental in getting the university status for the institute. Along with academics, in the past 24
years he has worked with a variety of research and consultancy projects for various state and
central governments in India, NGOs and international funding bodies. He has been a member of
a number of national committee such as the Task Force on Affordable Housing for all, constituted by Government
of India.
He has lectured and taught at various universities around the world on the subjects of land use and transportation
planning, urban form determinants, housing design and planning law and legislation.

Ms. Veena Garella

Ms. Garella, a Regional Urban Planning Expert, has more than 30 years of experience in
preparing master plans, city development plans, urban planning training programs and urban
renewal schemes. She is a retired Professor from School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi
and is currently involved as a training expert in Orientation training programme for preparation
of City Development Plans for 152 municipalities of Tamil Nadu.
She was intimately involved with the Delhi Master Plan 2001 providing inputs to various sectors such as industry,
commerce and services, and with a major thrust on the informal sector, an area which she continued working on
and introduced the subject when she joined the School of Planning & Architecture in Delhi.
Prof. Garella has interests in heritage conservation and introduced it for the first time in the postgraduate
programme as an important component of the course from a planner's perspective. Several papers were
presented on this topic at Singapore and Newcastle based on research done in Delhi. She is now involved with the
City Development Plans for 19 towns in three different states in India.

Mr. Bupinder Singh Bedi

Mr. Bedi over 20 years experience with the top management level in Project Appraisal &
Corporate Finance with Industrial Development Bank Of India( IDBI ) ; the largest Development
Bank in the sub continent. In addition, He also worked with leading corporate firms in techno
commercial functions in India and abroad. He served as a Director on the Board of Directors of
some large companies in India. He is currently working with ADB as a PPP Expert; His area of
expertise is Infrastructure Financing.

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Hon'ble Minister Shri Nitinbhai Patel going through the training material as the city Mayor Asit Vora looks on

SHRI Mangubhai Patel, Honble Minister, Forest & Environment, addressing the councillors at Surat

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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

AHMEDABAD

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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Baroda

Surat

Ahmedabad

Bhavnagar

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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

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URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK
The CIPs conducted by UMC in 5 cities of Gujarat were very well received by the administration, mayors as
well as the councillors. The all round perception was that the CIPs had achieved the objective of sensitizing the
participants to various facets of urban management. A large number of councillors as well as all the mayors were of
the strong view that regular follow up programs should also be conducted
The written feedback from Mayors of 5 cities is very significant. The Ahmedabad Mayor, while giving high
marks to the induction programme, has expressed the need for additional knowledge inputs to understand
departmental working and inter-departmental coordination. He has also recommended at least one training
programme in a year, particularly for newly elected Corporators.
The Surat Mayor has stressed on strengthening the interface between the administrative and the
elected wing. The Rajkot Mayor has proposed joint training programmes with administrative staff as an
attempt to bring about a rapport between the two important stakeholder groups.
The Vadodara

Mayor has suggested communication as a subject while the Bhavnagar Mayor

emphasized the need for detailed guidance on working of various committees. The feedback form of all the 5
Mayors are annexed. UMC in the process of initiating action on a follow-up program of the CIP.

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Ahmedabad

Bhavnagar

Surat

Vadodara

Rajkot

URBAN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

GOING BEYOND 'INDUCTION' PROGRAMMES

COUNCILLORS COUNTINOUS LEARNING PROGRAMME (CCLP)
An induction programme for the newly elected councilors is an essential first step that gives them
a birds eye view of & sensitizes them to good urban governance practices. However, there is a felt need
to go beyond sensitization and to equip them with the requisite knowledge & skill sets for effective
decision making.
The feedback received from the CIPs in the state further reiterates the need for CCLP.
Accordingly, it is proposed to go beyond the CIPs and develop councillors continuous learning
programs (CCLP) which would, inter alia, include the following:

FOCUS GROUPS
The councilors expressed a desire to be trained in specific area of interest to them like waste
water management, solid waste management, Public Private Partnerships, Town Planning, Municipal
Finance etc. This would also help them add more value to their roles in sub-committees already
constituted. Accordingly it is proposed to form groups of councilors drawn from different cities and
provide focused intensive training on the chosen subject.

EXPOSURE VISITS
With a view to widen the horizon & acquaint the councilors with practices at the ground level, it is
proposed to take the councilors on exposure visits both within the country as well as overseas. Cities
with which twining can be done, as also cities that showcase best practices in urban management
would be identified & exposure visits organized. Care would be taken to ensure that the financial impact
of this visits on the state is minimal.

WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH

It is observed that the councilors come from diverse educational, social & cultural backgrounds.
A segment of the councilors felt the need to be imparted with working knowledge of English. In their
perception, this would facilitate a better interaction with suppliers, bankers, multi-lateral agencies etc.
and also facilitate better understanding of complex legal & financial documents/proposals. It is
accordingly proposed to have comprehensive training programmes for imparting a working knowledge
of English to the councilors to meet their felt need.

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ABOUT UMC
Urban Management Consultants is a multi-disciplinary partnership firm specializing in consulting on urban
issues. It provides consulting services to the international donor agencies, governments and corporates across
various development sectors. It provides services on a range of urban development and management issues like
urban governance, municipal financial reforms and poverty alleviation. It engages in capacity building and training
with a specific focus to develop efficient, accountable and professional local self governments which can provide
innovative solutions to meet the global challenges of development and make cities a better place to live and work.
Urban Management Consultants was established in 2004 with an object to plan, conceptualize and execute
projects related to urban governance, financial management and urban infrastructure.
We have developed niche expertise in areas of:

Urban Management

Public Policy Reforms

Financial Reforms

Financial Management

Capacity Building

Administrative Decentralization

Urban Planning

Master Plans

Strategic Plans

City Development Plans

Urban & Regional Planning

Urban Renewal

Urban Poverty Alleviation

Slum Improvement Strategies

Basic Services to Urban Poor

Innovative Partnerships

Transaction Advisory

Public Private Partnerships

Urban Services

Solid Waste Management

Sanitation Plans

Uninterrupted Water Supply

Cost Effective & Strategic

improvement plans

Capacity Building / Knowledge transfer

403, IV Floor, Gala Argos, Near Harikrupa Towers, Gujarat College Road, Ahmedabad - 380 006
Tel.: 91-79-26423487 / 88 Fax: 91-79-26466652
info@urbanmanagementconsultants.com www.urbanmanagementconsultants.com