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Citizens Academy
About the Program
Ever wonder why CPD has a canine unit, how your water is kept clean and safe for drinking, or how Municipal Services keeps the City looking its best? Learn all that and more during the City's Citizens Academy!
The Citizens Academy is a free series of classes designed to teach citizens about how their local government works for them. The academy is held from mid-January through mid-June and takes participants through the various functions of City government. The academy also includes tours of City facilities, including the Water Treatment Plant, Public Safety Building, Henry L. Brown Municipal Building, and more.
The first cohort will have a meeting every month for 6 months (the meeting will take place on a Thursday starting at 6:00 PM; meetings can last up to 2 hours) and tour a different City/CBPU facility.
During the monthly sessions, participants learn about the responsibilities of City departments and the services they provide to the community. Presentations and "behind-the-scenes" facility tours give participants a better understanding of the role local government plays in the quality of life that residents of Coldwater enjoy. Each session is held at a different City facility, giving participants a true sense of what it's like to work in local government.
Program Goal
- Inform residents of the operation of the City and local government.
- Develop future board and commission candidates
- Provide entertaining and informational presentations
| Month / Date | Program Information |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 | Session #1: Local Government, the Basics! Location: City Hall Topics: Council-Manager Form of Government, City Budget, Elections, Legal Presented by: Keith Baker, City Manager
Tom Eldridge, Finance Director
Shauna Chávez, City Clerk
Megan Angell, City Attorney |
| Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 | Session #2: Public Safety Location: Public Safety Building Topics: Emergency Situations and the Role of Police and Fire Presented by: Joe Scheid, Director of Public Safety
Dave Schmaltz, Fire Chief
Steve Trall, Fire Marshal Patrick Beeman, Deputy Chief of Police |
| Thursday, Mar. 23, 2023 | Session #3: Water, Sewer and Electric, Oh My! (CBPU Part 1) Location: Water Treatment Plant & Electric Service Building Topics: Customer Service, Engineering, Energy Optimization Presented by: Paul Jakubczak, CBPU Director Andrew Cameron, Engineering Manager Bob Granger, Energy Efficiency Manager John Springhall, Electric Superintendent |
| Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023 | Session #4: Water, Sewer and Electric, Oh My! (CBPU Part 2) Location: Water Resource Recovery Facility Topics: Water Treatment and Water Services Presented by: Paul Jakubczak, CBPU Director
Brian Musselman, Water/ Wastewater/Telecom Superintendent
Jon Foley, Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Bob Worley, ISP Operations Manager |
| Thursday, May 18, 2023 | Session #5: For The People! Location: Recreation Center Topics: Economic Development, Recreation, & Community Engagement Departments Presented by: Lisa Miller, BCEGA Executive Director
Audrey Tappenden, DDA/LDFA/Main Street Julie Santure, Recreation Department Abbey Hoffman, Community Engagement Coordinator (City/CBPU) |
| Thursday, Jun. 15, 2023 | Session #6: On the Move! Location: Municipal Services Building & City Compost Site (45 Industrial Ave) Topics: Neighborhood Services & Municipal Services Presented by: Jake VanBoxel, Neighborhood Services/Planning/Zoning Bob Granger, DMS Superintendent |
| GRADUATION CEREMONY (TBD) | Graduation Day! Location: Englewood Senior Housing Facility Presenters: Cathy Gordon, Coldwater Housing Director
Keith Baker, City Manager
Paul Jakubczak, CBPU Director
Abbey Hoffman, Community Engagement Coordinator |
Interested in Applying?
The 2023 Application period has closed. Pending the success of this cohort, it will re-open in Fall 2023 for the 2024 Cohort. The 2024 Cohort of the Citizens Academy will accept between 12-20 people. Applications will be reviewed and selected at a later point in time.