Citizens
Information Academy (CIA)
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The Town of Estes Park is growing,
and so is the need for its community members to learn about local government and
how they can take part in shaping their Town’s future. Seven years ago the
Town of Estes Park Board of Trustees and staff developed a Citizens Information
Academy (CIA) program for this purpose. The Academy
is an
educational opportunity to help the public become familiar with how local
government works, and to encourage participation in local government.
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The 2010 Citizens Information
Academy |
2010 CIA
Underway
2010
sessions take place from 1:00 until 4:30 p.m. on February 3,
10, 17, 24 and March 3 and 17. Participants will also tour Town
facilities on March 10 from 8:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Transportation
and lunch will be provided. CIA graduation will take place on March
23 at the Town Board Meeting.
For more
information, please call Betty Kilsdonk, Community Services Department Director,
at 970-577-3760.
During CIA, participants will meet with Town trustees and staff,
expand their knowledge of overall Town operations and learn about
other government taxing entities such as the School, Recreation,
Hospital, Library and the new Local Marketing and Fire Districts.
Course topics will include overviews of all major departments such
as Public Works, Community Development, Finance, Administration,
Police, and the new Community Services Department. Participants
will read excerpts from Reinventing Government by David
Osborne and Ted Gaebler and tour Town facilities.
CIA
graduates have given the course high praise. Comments from past
participants include “All aspects of local government we have
studied demonstrate the high regard everyone has for this place and
its population,” and the CIA is “a great resource for the citizens
of Estes Park.”
Recap of the 2009 Citizens Information Academy
| Summaries (PDF) |
Topics |
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Session 1 |
CIA
orientation and presentations from Town Administration and
the Town Clerk. |
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Session 2 |
Finance,
Municipal Court and the Police Department. |
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Session 3 |
Convention & Visitors Bureau, Community
Development and Fire Department. |
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Session 4 |
Utilities,
Public Works, Town Trusteeship and water rights. |
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Session 5 |
Senior
Center, Museum and the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority. |
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Session 6 |
Tours of Town facilities including the
shop facilities, Convention & Visitors Bureau, rental
facilities and Stanley Park Fairgrounds. |
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Session 7 |
Representatives from
other government taxing entities including Estes
Park Medical Center, Estes Valley Recreation and Park
District, Estes Park Public Library, Park School District,
the Local Marketing District and the Fire District Task
Force. |
| Session 8 |
Graduation ceremony for CIA participants
at the Town Board meeting.
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