City of Globe

Citizens Academy is being offered by the City of Globe again this spring! Hosted by city council and city department heads, the 7-week program introduces the people, purpose and process of city government.

“It’s going to be bigger and better this year,“ Shelly Salazar proclaims.

There’s a lot of development going on in the city including new amenities at our parks, and now, the pool, art on the stairs and renovation downtown. It’s a good time to get involved.

In addition to City Management, Police, Fire, Public Works, Economic Development & Finance, the Library, Active Senior Center and Besh-Ba-Gowah will be on the list of city departments giving presentations.

The spring Citizens Academy course begins March 23rd and runs weekly (Wednesday 6-8 pm) through May 4, 2022. Dinner is served. Last fall participants were treated to local eats ranging from sandwiches and hamburgers, to burritos and bbq.

The course is open to 20 Globe residents and 3 ambassadors (people who live outside the city limits). Applications can be picked up at the City Clerk’s office in the Municipal Building at 150 N. Pine St. or online at www.globeaz.gov.

“The biggest thing that came out of the first ever Globe Citizens Academy was the opening of communication between citizens and city government,” says Shelly Salazar.

As Globe City Clerk, Shelly facilitates the sessions by coordinating with city departments, producing course binders, and communicating with all participants. Here’s a partial preview of what they’re signing up for:

COURTESY PHOTO OF THE FIRST CITIZENS ACADEMY HELD LAST FALL.

Citizens Academy members are invited inside the 100 year-old fire station to learn how our local fire crews and EMTs work together. The Fire Department dazzles with demonstrations. Be part of a simulated search and rescue. Tube a pig trachea. Put on full fireman gear and scramble through a tangled tunnel. Experience the excitement of incoming calls with the crew right there ready to respond.

The Police Department also shares a hands on presentation. Citizens are introduced to the newly renovated police station, police officers and supporting staff, their mission, and all the equipment and the processes used for arrests. Participants are invited to schedule ridealongs in newly acquired and upgraded police vehicles.

Learn the complexity of spending public money. The work of a city begins with an annual budget. The 3-person Finance Department drives the processes used to keep city operations financed and appropriately audited –accounting, payroll, taxes, financial planning, monitoring and reporting, analysis and forecasting for all 15 departments in the city.

Hosted by Mayor Gameros, the first session provides an overview of Globe’s city government – the Mayor, Council, City Manager, and City Clerk. What are their roles and what rules must they play by? What services are they responsible for bringing to the people of Globe and those that come through it?

Session two provides an overview of economic development efforts underway. Linda Oddonetto leads the 5-person team involved with everything from retail and workforce development to zoning, building codes, and marketing communications. Ask for a tour of the Michelson Building, and share its bold vision of becoming a co-workspace, business incubator and welcome center.

Added to the Citizens Academy by popular demand, these small departments will present their mission, their programs and the essential services they provide to the community..

The Citizens Academy is something the Globe City Council and City Manager Paul Jepson have wanted to do for a while. The intent, according to Shelly Salazar, was to bring out some leadership in our community and look for future council members. Membership has dwindled on critical boards and some members have been serving for many years.

“The City of Globe is looking for leaders,” says Shelly.

A few were found. Globe Citizens Academy 2021 was very successful. Three graduates of the program are now members of the Planning and Zoning Board. The biggest thing that came out of the Citizen’s Academy was a sense of camaraderie, of being on the same team. “We wanted it to be a relationship-building session and it truly was,” Shelly Salazar remarks.

While initially perceived as a new chore by some, by the end of each presentation, city workers enjoyed meeting city staff and learning about what they did.

“We’ve gained a lot of friends in our community and… support that we were desperately wanting from our community,” says Shelly. “It made staff want to provide a deeper customer service.”