Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City highlights O.K. Railroad Trail ribbon-cutting and launches 'Community Conversations' outreach
Summary
City Administrator Cynthia Wagner reported a recent ribbon-cutting for the O.K. Railroad Trail and announced a new 'Community Conversations' outreach program to replace the multi-week Citizens Academy with standalone, topic-based sessions and facility tours to broaden resident participation.
City Administrator Cynthia Wagner told the Board that a ribbon-cutting was held for the O.K. Railroad Trail and that the event drew a strong community turnout. Wagner said staff is developing a new public outreach initiative, 'Community Conversations: Your City Up Close,' to provide standalone sessions allowing residents to tour facilities, meet staff and elected officials, and learn about topics such as the municipal budget, water and wastewater treatment, economic development, and parks operations.
Wagner said the new format is intended to broaden participation beyond the current Citizens Academy (which typically admits 10 to 12 residents per year) by offering flexible, single-topic sessions. The program will be introduced to the Smithville Chamber of Commerce and promoted through the City website and social media once schedules and details are finalized. During public comment Shauna Houghton, representing the Smithville Lake Festival, thanked multiple city departments for support of this year's festival.
