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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. 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. 19 - Orientation
2022 Citizens’ Academy of Largo
Orientation, Community Building, Communications & Engagement
Agenda (open QA throughout):
-
- Welcome to Citizen’s Academy!
- Dinner Served
- Overview of City Services
- Upcoming Election and Horizon West Bay
- Communications & Engagement (and You!)
- Overview of Largo's Communications & Engagement Division
- Commission Chamber Walk-through
- Project Spotlight: Sustainability & Resilience Action Plan
- Closing and Plans for Next Week
All sessions start at 6:00 p.m., please try and arrive on time as some sessions have tours that require daylight.
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 the Tuesday after a 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.
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 the Tuesday after a 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.
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Orientation Session, link below.
https://forms.office.com/g/cTbdU5gyis
https://forms.office.com/g/cTbdU5gyis
Week 2 - Sept. 26 - Environmental Services - Canceled
GROUP 1
- Welcome
- Bus tour
- Biosolids
- Reclaim
- Lab
- Environmental Control
- Ops
- Collections
- Dinner
GROUP 2
- Welcome
- Collections
- Lab
- Environmental Control
- Ops
- Bus tour
- Biosolids
- Reclaim
- Dinner
This tour does contain walking, please wear something comfortable.
Dinner will be served after the tour.
Dinner will be served after the tour.
Week 3 - Oct. 3 - Recreation, Parks and Arts
All Participants are asked to meet at the Largo Golf Course at 6p for a snack and beverage before loading the bus.
Stop 1: Parking Lot Presentation at the Southwest Recreation Complex & Pool
Stop 2: Central Park Performing Arts Center
Stop 3: Highland Recreation Center & Aquatic Center
Stop 4: Largo Community Center
Stop 1: Parking Lot Presentation at the Southwest Recreation Complex & Pool
Stop 2: Central Park Performing Arts Center
Stop 3: Highland Recreation Center & Aquatic Center
Stop 4: Largo Community Center
This evening will have extensive travel and is crucial you arrive on time.
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.
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.
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Orientation Session, link below.
https://forms.office.com/g/jYNYLKQCif
https://forms.office.com/g/jYNYLKQCif
Week 4 - Oct. 10 - Public Works
Citizens Academy
Public Works
October 10, 2022
5:45 Citizen’s Academy Participants begin to arrive
6:00 Citizen’s Academy Participants ride out to the Backyard of Public Works – Intro by Matt York
Trucks and Equipment will be on display
6:45 Back on the Bus – Stop off at Fleet
6:50 Dinner
7:15 Public Works Team Presentation
7:35 Open Questions
8:00 Event Conclusion
This tour does contain walking, please wear something comfortable.
Dinner will be served after the tour.
Dinner will be served after the tour.
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Public Works Session, link below.
https://forms.office.com/g/A4S7HiNJNs
https://forms.office.com/g/A4S7HiNJNs
Week 5 - Saturday - Oct. 15 - Police Department
The Largo Police Department welcomes the Largo Citizen's Academy
Saturday October 15th, 2022
0845 Arrival and Light Breakfast
0900 Welcome / Chief Jeff Undestad
0930 Group 1 Start Tour / Officer Keith Bowling
0930 Group 2 to FATS/VR / Officer Nardozzi and Officer Katz
Tour Includes:
Communications / Supervisor Megan Ramsey
SIRT (Hallway outside POP) / Officer Joel Quattlebaum
CSI (CSI Lab) / Officer Bryan Baldie
TAC Static Display (TAC Room) / Officer Steven Malandro
Vehicle Display Sally Port
Police Motorcycle, Zero, Hybrid, MRAP / Officer Keith Bowling
Holding Cells Officer Keith Bowling
P.O.P. (All Specialties) / Officer Albin Soto
VIP Program Coordinator Jim Curtis
1030 Switch Groups
1130 Reassemble in read-off room for lunch
1215 K9 Demonstration / Officer Newbill and K9 SwayZ
Officer Vann and K9 Marsh
1300 Dismissal
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Police Department Session, link below.
https://forms.office.com/g/GRQktB6sXp
https://forms.office.com/g/GRQktB6sXp
Question received:
Diversity stats for the department- women and minorities?
Diversity stats for the department- women and minorities?
Week 6 - Oct. 24 - Fire Department
Agenda
CITY OF LARGO CITIZENS ACADEMY
OCTOBER 24, 2022
Introduction 6:00-6:10
Overview of Largo Fire Rescue
Staff Introductions
Dinner 6:10-6:40
Uniform Demonstration 6:20-6:40
Group Rotations 6:40-7:40
Apparatus Demonstration
Station Tour
Medical Code/Cardiac Arrest Demonstration
Station 41, Hazmat and Tech Rescue Crew Members
Q and A 7:45-8:00
CITY OF LARGO CITIZENS ACADEMY
OCTOBER 24, 2022
Introduction 6:00-6:10
Overview of Largo Fire Rescue
Staff Introductions
Dinner 6:10-6:40
Uniform Demonstration 6:20-6:40
Group Rotations 6:40-7:40
Apparatus Demonstration
Station Tour
Medical Code/Cardiac Arrest Demonstration
Station 41, Hazmat and Tech Rescue Crew Members
Q and A 7:45-8:00
This tour does contain walking, please wear something comfortable.
Expect to stay over the standard 2 hours for this session.
Expect to stay over the standard 2 hours for this session.
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Fire Department Session, link below.
https://forms.office.com/g/s12bdy0S0H
https://forms.office.com/g/s12bdy0S0H
Week 7 - Nov. 7 - Engineering Services
Engineering Department
Citizens Academy
Citizens Academy
- Department Overview
- Department Functions
- Department Services
- Sustainability/Resiliency
- Major Initiatives
- City Infrastructure Projects Map
- Service Requests
- Traffic Calming Policy
- Q&A
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Engineering Session, link below. This survey will open at 9:30pm on November 7th.
https://forms.office.com/g/x1Ln07xqhu
https://forms.office.com/g/x1Ln07xqhu
Week 8 - Nov. 14 - Community Development
Community Development
Citizens' Academy
6:00-6:15 Welcome and meal
6:15-6:45 Department overview
6:45-7:00 Annexation overview
7:05-7:20 Permitting process
7:25-7:40 Affordable Housing
7:45-8:00 Questions
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Community Development Session, link below. This survey will open at 9:30pm on November 14th.
https://forms.office.com/g/rz9y5AW1nA
https://forms.office.com/g/rz9y5AW1nA
Week 9 - Nov. 28 - Largo Public Library
Largo Library
Citizens Academy
6:00 - Dinner - Library Director Casey will discuss library services
Citizens Academy
6:00 - Dinner - Library Director Casey will discuss library services
6:30 - Trivia via cell phone
7:15 - Library tour
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Largo Public Library session, link below. This survey will open at 9:30pm on November 21st.
https://forms.office.com/g/UJ3qJS4uHW
https://forms.office.com/g/UJ3qJS4uHW
Week 10 - Dec. 5 - Finance and OPB
Finance and OPB
Citizens' Academy
6:00pm Dinner
Budget/Finance Overview
Citizens' Academy
6:00pm Dinner
Budget/Finance Overview
7:00pm Hands on Balancing Exercise
We please ask you to take a moment of your time to complete a brief survey regarding your Finance and OPB Session, link below. This survey will open at 9:30pm on December 5th.
https://forms.office.com/g/eC6jtPfvSs
https://forms.office.com/g/eC6jtPfvSs
