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Welcome to the City of Largo's Citizens' Academy! Largo Citizens' Academy is your hands-on solution to learning about your government. Led by Largo City Commissioners and Department Directors, the Academy guides citizens first-hand through the myriad of operations that keep Largo running. Academy participants will tour key facilities, learn the challenges facing future development, talk with City leaders about current issues and events affecting Largo, and work side by side with City staff members to learn about the essential functions they serve.
Your Citizens Academy Deans
Diane Bruner, City Clerk
[email protected]
727-587-6710 Ext 7003
Courtney Fogarty, Deputy City Clerk
[email protected]
727-587-6710 Ext 7002
Brandon Graham, Multimedia Supervisor
[email protected]
727-587-6740 Ext 4050
Julianne Perez, Community Engagement Administrator
[email protected]
(727) 587-6740 Ext 7630
Things to Know
In order to graduate from Largo Citizens' Academy, you will need to attend a minimum of 8 sessions. For the courtesy of your classmates, please arrive promptly. Class will begin at 6pm (excluding the Police Department session). If for any reason you are unable to attend a session, please email Diane Bruner at the email address listed above. Extra credit may be available.
A class agenda is available below with the address of each location. Citizens are encouraged to dress comfortably and wear long pants for facility tours including Environmental Services and Public Works. Closed-toe walking shoes are highly encouraged for the duration of this course.
Week 1 - Sept. 11 - Orientation
Welcome to 2023 Citizen’s Academy!
- Opening Remarks by Mayor Brown
- City Manager's Overview of City Services
- Icebreaker Introductions
Break/Dinner Time
Communications & Engagement (and You!)
- Project Spotlights: Horizon West Bay and Hurricane Idalia
- Icebreaker Introductions Part II
- Commission Chambers/Meeting Participation
Closing and Plans for Next Week
Wear comfortable clothes and flat closed toed shoes to all sessions.
We will let you know in advance if dinner will not be served at the beginning of a session.
Surveys will become available immediately after the session.
Surveys are anonymous.
Do not worry if you did not get a question answered or if you think of something to ask after the fact, the surveys have a space for unanswered questions that we will get answers for and send out to the group.
Sessions are standardly 2 hours long but some nights will go over that time, we will let you know in advance for a session that may run long.
Please let us know in advance if you will be absent for a session.
https://forms.office.com/g/GFpyaUxCK6
The Community Development Session on November 6th will be providing information on this. We will let them know about this question so they can answer it through the night.
Why do we have unincorporated and the City of Largo? What services do they receive? Are they taxed differently?
Please see the attached document from our Economic Development Division. It's a fact sheet on annexations and answers the above questions. Annexation Frequently Asked Questions
Citizen and Police relationships? How our taxes are assessed?
You will learn about Citizen/Police relationships at the Police Department Session on September 16th. Taxes are assessed by Pinellas County, please contact the Pinellas County Properties Office for this information. PropertyTaxProcess.pdf (pcpao.org)
Week 2 - Saturday - Sept. 16 - Police Department
The Largo Police Department
welcomes
The Largo Citizen's Academy
Saturday September 16th, 2023
0845 Arrival and Light Breakfast Dottie Mazzucco
0900 Welcome Chief Michael Loux
0930 K9 Demonstration
Officer Hansen and K9 Bruce
Officer Vann and K9 Marsh
1015 Group 1 Start Tour Officer Keith Bowling
1015 Group 2 to VIRTRA Officer May and Officer Knox
Tour to Include:
Communications Debbie Arnold
SIRT (Hallway outside POP) Sgt. M. Williams
CSI (CSI Lab) Officer Justice
TAC Static Display (TAC Room) Sgt. A. Veizi
Vehicle Display Sally Port
Police Motorcycle, Zero, Hybrid, MRAP Officer Keith Bowling and Officer Soto
Holding Cells Officer Keith Bowling
P.O.P. (All Specialties) Sgt. R. Dulski
VIP Program Coordinator Jim Curtis
1100 Switch Groups
1200 Reassemble in read-off room for lunch and debrief with Chief Loux
1300 Dismissal
This tour does contain walking, please wear something comfortable.
https://forms.office.com/g/Ybtv0E9Aug
Call Largo PD and request the ride along. You will need to visit the office and fill out paperwork. The requests then have to go through the Major's Office for final approval.
How do I apply for the Police Citizens Academy?
Revize Online Forms
Week 3 - Sept. 25 - Environmental Services
Citizen’s academy starts at 6.
Plant tour for about 20 minutes (6:00-6:20)
Reclaimed 10 minutes (6:20-6:30)
Collections 20 minutes (6:30-6:50)
Environmental Control less than 10 minutes (6:50-7:00)
Lab about 10 minutes (7:00-7:10)
Dinner (7:10)
Dinner will be served after the tour.
https://forms.office.com/g/FcuC8wXwmK
Realizing that water is disbursed from the county, is Largo a part of ongoing area concerns or testing that might be occurring in nearby communities relating to water quality problems that might arise within those communities? I've recently read about 1,4 dioxane and PFAS potential problems in other areas and wonder if our county and Largo would also have similar concerns about our water quality.
That’s a great question. I am glad they acknowledged that we do not run the drinking water system. I was able to find something on the Pinellas County website that discusses PFAS: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - Pinellas County
The consumer confidence report also shows water quality testing results: Consumer Confidence Reports - Pinellas County
I do not see 1,4-dioxane listed in the consumer confidence report, but this Florida health website says “If your drinking water source is from a public water system you will be notified if they found chemicals in your water above health standards.” On page 3: final-faq-14dx.pdf (floridahealth.gov)
Week 4 - Oct. 2 - Recreation, Parks and Arts
RECREATION, PARKS AND ARTS
What to Expect on your visit with us, October 2, 2023
We‘re going to have you moving all night with a progressive
style dinner and some fun while you learn about how the
Recreation, Parks and Arts Department impacts the community
Arrive at the Largo Community Center by 6pm
you’ll be greeted by our McGough Birds of Prey Display
and served mocktails and snacks
We’ll board our bus to begin the tour
Highland Recreation Complex and Family Aquatic Center
Overview of the Highland Family Aquatic Center
Tour of the Highland Recreation Complex
Served appetizers
Central Park Performing Arts Center
Served dinner
Tour of the performing arts center
Overview of the Parks Division
Southwest Recreation Complex and Pool
Served dessert
tour of Southwest Recreation Complex
Overview of Southwest Pool
Drive by other facilities on the way back to the Community Center
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU
You will be away from where you are parked on a bus tour.
Do not expect to get back to your vehicles until close to 9:00pm.
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
https://forms.office.com/g/1SPZhjVsFd
Only our instructors are allowed to use the kiln. When a participant attends an instructional pottery class, the instructor loads the pieces, fires them, and unloads the pieces onto the art racks inside the art studio closet.
Week 5 - Oct. 9 - Public Works
Dinner will be served after the tour.
https://forms.office.com/g/agJf2qxVYH
Week 6 - Oct. 16 - Fire Department
Expect to stay over the standard 2 hours for this session.
https://forms.office.com/g/7x7E2jpNsH
Week 7 - Oct. 23 - Engineering Services
https://forms.office.com/g/XXxkYpGXJP
Week 8 - Oct. 30 - Largo Public Library
https://forms.office.com/g/pFZzpYCNAF
Week 9 - Nov. 6 - Community Development
https://forms.office.com/g/f4pRKSpwRr
Week 10 - Nov. 13 - Finance and OPB
https://forms.office.com/g/CP6WNDW3si
