City Services Academy
What is the City Services Academy?
The City of San Mateo’s City Services Academy is a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that gives participants the opportunity to interact with City staff and learn about the challenges facing municipal government today. Interactive activities will give Academy participants a better understanding of the evolving principles of the City of San Mateo’s Council/City Manager form of government.
*** The 2020 City Services Academy has been cancelled due to the coronavirus.
Interested in participating?
To be placed on the 2021 mailing list, or for more information, please contact Laurie Strange, City Manager's Office, at (650) 522-7019 or by Email.
What is the Purpose of the Academy?
The City Services Academy is designed to provide those who work or live in the City with an opportunity to learn firsthand how the City of San Mateo is managed and operated.
Taught by City staff, the Academy will provide an interactive learning experience in which the instructors and students can learn from each other through case studies, site tours, class discussions, and hands-on experience. Participants will learn about challenges the City is facing and investigate how creative management and budgetary solutions have been used to address these challenges.
Academy participants will interact with department heads (such as the City Manager, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Public Works Director, City Librarian, Parks and Recreation Director, etc.) and City Council members to learn how new programs or ideas are implemented. City staff will discuss project challenges, budget and resource limitations, and how City Council policy decisions are implemented. Day-to-day operations will also be explored.
Who Can Participate?
The City Services Academy is open to anyone, 18 or older, who works or resides in the City of San Mateo and has an interest in City government. Participants must be willing to devote 1 night (Wednesday) per week for 12 weeks.
The City Services Academy is designed to provide those who work or live in the City with an opportunity to learn firsthand how the City of San Mateo is managed and operated.
Taught by City staff, the Academy will provide an interactive learning experience in which the instructors and students can learn from each other through case studies, site tours, class discussions, and hands-on experience. Participants will learn about challenges the City is facing and investigate how creative management and budgetary solutions have been used to address these challenges.
Academy participants will interact with department heads (such as the City Manager, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Public Works Director, City Librarian, Parks and Recreation Director, etc.) and City Council members to learn how new programs or ideas are implemented. City staff will discuss project challenges, budget and resource limitations, and how City Council policy decisions are implemented. Day-to-day operations will also be explored.
Who Can Participate?
The City Services Academy is open to anyone, 18 or older, who works or resides in the City of San Mateo and has an interest in City government. Participants must be willing to devote 1 night (Wednesday) per week for 12 weeks.