Memo - Citizen Academy
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES:
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Meeting Date:
Subject:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the CifJ!;:ouncil
Rick Getschow, Hopkins City Manager .
September 13, 2005
2005 Citizen's Academy
Background:
I will be providing an update on the Citizen's Academy that is scheduled to begin
on Thursday evening, September 22.
Enclosed in this packet is some background material with the schedule and
preliminary agendas.
Citizen Academy
This fall, the City is offering a free, five-week interactive course to business
members and residents of the community. Participants will get an opportunity to
learn about the operations, facilities, and services of the City. You will see a
SWAT team make a dynamic entry to a building and learn how a police officer
determines when to use force. Residents will have the opportunity to take the
position of the firefighter on the engine and learn what a firefighter would be
doing as they prepare to fight the fire. Find out how the City's budget is put
together and where the money goes. Discover how economic development
projects are put together. Participants will also have an opportunity to tour the
City's new Fire and Police stations.
Registration for the academy will begin in August. Classes are scheduled to
begin September 22. Classes will be held every Thursday with a completion
celebration scheduled for November 1. Each class will be held at a different
location within the City. Each evening begins at 6:15 pm with a social gathering.
After the social, each City department team will have the next 2% hours to bring
attendees behind the scenes and into the operations. The sessions are designed
to be interactive as well as a fun and informative. This program was very popular
when it was last offered. Classes are sure to fill quickly.
.
Schedule
General Government - Thursday, September 22, 2005
Fire Department - Thursday, September 29, 2005
Public Works - Thursday, October 6, 2005
Police Department - Thursday, October 13, 2005
Planning & Economic Development - Thursday, October 27,2005
Graduation Ceremony - Tuesday, November 1, 2005, 7:00 pm
General Government
September 22, 2005
. Welcome and Introduction - Mayor Gene Maxwell
. City Council/Manager Form of Government-How Does my City Government
Operate? - City Manager Rick Getschow
. Advisory Boards-Getting Involved - City Councilmember
. Finance-Balancing the City Budget - Finance Director Christine Harkess
. Recreational Services-A Joint Venture with the City of Minnetonka - Recreation
Director Dave Johnson
Fire Department
September 29, 2005
What does a firefighter do at a fire if he/she arrives on a fire engine or a ladder truck?
Residents will have the opportunity to take the position of the firefighter on the engine or
truck and learn what a firefighter would be doing as they prepare to fight the fire.
How smart is the Hopkins Chemical Assessment Team when it comes to identifying
hazardous materials? Residents can bring in a non-hazardous material from their home
and see if they can stump a Chemical Assessment Team chemist who will be using state
of the art detection equipment.
. HFD Overview - Fire Chief
. Fire Prevention Programs - Fire Marshal
. Facilities Tour - Captains
. Break/Questions - Visual review of the Bed Shop Fire
. Engine Company Functions - Engine Squads
. Ladder Company Functions - Ladder Squads
. CAT Challenge - CAT Team Members
Public Works
October 6, 2005
. Department Overview - Steve Stadler, Public Works Director
. Snow Emergency Response - Ray Vogtman, Streets & Parks Superintendent
. Solid Waste Services - Penny Cleve, Solid Waste Coordinator
. Water and Sanitary Sewer Services - Mike Lauseng, Water & Sewer
Superintendent
. Walk-through Vehicle Storage Building to bus - Norb Kerber, Building &
Equipment Superintendent
. Trip to Elmo Water Treatment Plant - Mike Lauseng
. Facilities & Programs - Jay Strachota, Facilities Superintendent
. Infrastructure Management - John Bradford, Assistant City Engineer
Police Department
October 13, 2005
. Department overview Chief Craig Reid
. Use of Force Sergeant Tony Hanlin
. Tazer Policy Officer Craig Kreiling
. Squad Car Demo and Jail Tour Captain Jim Liddy
. H.E.A.T. Demo Sergeant Hanlin
Planning & Economic Development
October 27,2005
. Hopkins Experience-A Picture History of Downtown Hopkins Redevelopment -
Jim Kerrigan, Planning & Economic Development Director
. Zoning & Planning-What's it All About? Exercise-Planning the City - Nancy
Anderson, Planner
. What Makes Hopkins Unique-A Look Into the Future, Projects on the Horizon -
Kersten Elverum, Housing & Development Coordinator
. Affordable Housing Options in Hopkins Tour of Public Housing Unit - Stacy
Unowsky, Housing Manager
Graduation
November 1, 2005