What is the Citizens Academy? 

The City of Snoqualmie is offering a free seven-week course for citizens to get a first-hand look at how Snoqualmie's government works. The sessions will be led by Snoqualmie city officials and department heads. Sessions will be informal, interactive, and a lot of fun. 

Watch this video of Citizens Academy graduates talking about the course. This video was the featured RISE (Recognize, Inspire, Share, Engage) presentation at the Sound Cities Association networking dinner in March 2013.



Citizens Academy Curriculum

Sessions take place in the City Hall Council Chambers unless otherwise noted. Some will include tours of city facilities.

Week One

• Welcome and Introductions
• Dave Battey, Local Historian: A look back at our history and a look forward to our future.
• Mayor Matt Larson: A political perspective.
• Jodi Warren, City Clerk: Learn about our local government and how decisions are made 

Week Two

• Dan Marcinko, Director of Public Works
  Infrastructure: How Snoqualmie Works -- streets, water, wastewater, wastewater treatment
  Participants will tour city facilities.

Week Three

• Dan Thomason, Building Official
  Building/Code Enforcement - "The Silent Defenders"
  This is in line with the various aspects of fire protection/prevention/suppression in the built environment that the Building Dept. / Fire Marshal's Office perform in inspections to protect life and property that most people never see.
   
• Nancy Tucker, Director of Planning 
  The Planning Universe: Learn about the City's long-range planning, land use management, zoning code development, development review processes, and how citizens can be involved. We will discuss the link between the Growth Management Act and the City's Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations; State Shoreline Management and the City's Shoreline Master Program; the State Environmental Policy Act; Floodplain management;  the City's Sustainability Strategy; and historic preservation.

Week Four

• Dan Marcinko, Interim Director of Parks & Recreation
  Parking Lots to Paradise
  Learn more about the parks in your city and the people who maintain them. This session includes a tour of some of the city facilities and a game to test your knowledge.

Week Five (at the Police Department)

• Police Chief Steve McCulley
  Protecting Our Community

Week Six

• Pat Anderson, City Attorney
  Legal Authority
   
• Rob Orton, Finance Officer
  Finance 101 - Budget Basics
  Where city revenue comes from and where your property taxes go. Learn how tax dollars support city services and programs and how voter initiatives impact the city’s budget. Take the budget challenge and see how difficult budget decisions are made. 

Week Seven

• Fire Chief Bob Rowe 
  Fire and Emergency Management
  Protecting life, property and managing disasters

Conclusion

• Graduation and Certificates!