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Council asks staff to gauge interest in a civic engagement/leadership series for residents
Summary
Staff proposed a modular civic engagement program for residents and high‑school students covering planning, governance, and public safety; council asked staff to survey residents first to gauge interest and to develop a low‑burden pilot if demand exists.
City staff proposed a three‑part civic engagement program aimed at increasing resident understanding of local government and attracting volunteer participation in commissions and emergency preparedness roles. The proposed courses cover planning and development, transparency and governance, and public safety/emergency preparedness; staff said the program would be held as flexible, sign‑up workshops rather than a formal multi‑week academy.
Staff noted templates exist from neighboring cities and that the association (RHCA) and other partners could participate to explain the difference between city and association roles. The council expressed support but asked staff to conduct a short survey of residents to gauge likely attendance and topic interest before investing significant staff time. Members suggested limiting class size (staff said typical sessions in similar programs draw 15–30 people) and exploring summer or fall timeframes to increase participation. Staff also said the program could be limited to residents.
Why it matters: The program is intended to improve civic literacy, lower friction for applicants to advisory commissions and increase emergency‑preparedness participation among residents.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a brief resident interest survey and return with a recommended pilot plan that minimizes ongoing staff burden if interest is confirmed.
