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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
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- 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
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.
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
Dinner will be served after the tour.
Week 3 - Oct. 3 - Recreation, Parks and Arts
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
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/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
Dinner will be served after the tour.
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
https://forms.office.com/g/GRQktB6sXp

Week 6 - Oct. 24 - Fire Department
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
Expect to stay over the standard 2 hours for this session.
https://forms.office.com/g/s12bdy0S0H
Week 7 - Nov. 7 - Engineering Services
Citizens Academy
- Department Overview
- Department Functions
- Department Services
- Sustainability/Resiliency
- Major Initiatives
- City Infrastructure Projects Map
- Service Requests
- Traffic Calming Policy
- Q&A
https://forms.office.com/g/x1Ln07xqhu
I would be interested in hearing more about the street sweeper study and results from the research.
This is a three-phase project. The first phase is a broad overview of Largo’s street sweeping program and provided a justification to dedicate funds to the second and third phases of the project. The goal of the study is to analyze Largo’s developed areas and the trees that exist in those areas to determine where the most pollution enters our streets and then into our stormwater pipes and ditches. The end product of phase three will be recommended changes in how we operate the sweeping routes and any other improvements Geosyntec can recommend.
The deliverables attached are from phase one and phase two.
2019 Street Sweeping Evaluation
2022 Street Sweeping Final Memo
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
https://forms.office.com/g/rz9y5AW1nA
Week 9 - Nov. 28 - Largo Public Library
Citizens Academy
6:00 - Dinner - Library Director Casey will discuss library services
https://forms.office.com/g/UJ3qJS4uHW
Week 10 - Dec. 5 - Finance and OPB
Citizens' Academy
6:00pm Dinner
Budget/Finance Overview
https://forms.office.com/g/eC6jtPfvSs