Daly City is seeking applicants for the inaugural class of the Daly City Citizens Academy. The seven-week course kicks off Thursday, October 16 at City Hall with an introduction to the workings of local government. The class will meet from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. each Thursday evening through December 4 (except for Thanksgiving). Different City representatives, including the City Manager, will serve as faculty for the Academy.

The curriculum for the Citizens Academy offers participants a unique opportunity to learn more about the operations and processes of each City department. The sessions will provide insight into the City’s revenue sources, State and Federal regulatory restrictions and the budgetary limitations involved with delivering City-provided services.

Citizens Academy participants won’t be restricted to classroom presentations and discussions. Most sessions will involve a hands-on tour of one or more of the City facilities covered during the course. Students will explore the sewage treatment plant, tour the police department, examine firefighting equipment, and visit the City’s corporation yard.

Have you ever wondered how water reaches your home? Do you know how police dogs are trained and deployed? Are you prepared to survive a major earthquake? Who are John Marchbank, John Daly, John Madden, John Robinson, and what do they have in common? The answers to these and many more questions will be provided during the Citizens Academy. If you are looking for a way to become civically engaged, or you are just curious how things in your city work, the Citizens Academy may be for you.

The tentative class schedule for the Citizens Academy is:

Session 1 ~ October 16 ~ Introduction to Local Government

Session 2 ~ October 23 ~ Police Department

Session 3 ~ October 30 ~ Economic and Community Development

Session 4 ~ November 6 ~ Public Works and Water/Wastewater Resources

Session 5 ~ November 13 ~ Parks and Recreation and Libraries

Session 6 ~ November 20 ~ North County Fire Authority/Emergency Preparedness

Session 7 ~ December 4 ~ Finance, Human Resources, Commissions/Boards

Session 8 ~ December 18 ~ Graduation!

Applications for the Citizens Academy are available at the City Clerk’s Office and online. To request an application by mail, please call (650) 991-8127. Completed applications are due Friday, September 19, 2008.