Address yourself to the needs of others - not necessarily what they say their needs are. Have a thick skin, yet be sensitive to the needs of people. Learn to listen. The City Manager controls the dollars, not the pennies. Delegate, communicate, and check up.
All managers are equal, except the ones that do what is necessary by performing the difficult task.
Don't ask your employees to do anything that you would not do yourself. You set the example for your employees. If you want an organized, efficient organization, it starts with you. Have a vision and share it. What is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right.