06-11-2019 Work Session AgendaS P E C IAL C IT Y C O U N C IL W O R K S E S S IO N
R IC H F IE L D MU N IC IPAL C EN TER, B AR T H O L O ME W R O O M
JU N E 11, 2019
6:00 P M
C all to order
Open forum (15 mi nutes maximum)
E ach speaker is to keep their comment period to three minutes to allow sufficient time for others. C omments
are to be an opportunity to address the C ouncil on items on the agenda. I ndividuals w ho wish to address the
C ouncil must have registered prior to the meeting.
1.Richfield U niversity
A djournment
Auxiliary aids for individuals with disabilities are available upon request. R equests must be made at least 96
hours in advance to the C ity Clerk at 612-861-9738.
AGENDA SECTION:Work Session Items
AGENDA ITEM #1.
STAFF RE P ORT NO. 2
WORK SESSION
6/11/2019
RE P O RT P RE PA RE D B Y: Neil Ruhland, C ommunications and E ngagement Manager
D E PA RTM E NT D IRE C TOR
RE V IE W:
P am D mytrenko, A dministrative S ervices D irector/A ssistant C ity
Manager
6/4/2019
O TH E R D E PA RTM E NT RE V IE W: N/A
C ITY M A NA G E R RE V IE W: K atie Rodriguez, C ity Manager
6/5/2019
I T E M F O R WO RK S E S S I O N:
Richfield University
E X E C UT IV E S UM M ARY:
I n an effort to build a stronger relationship with the Richfield c ommunity and to provide them with a better
understanding of city servic es, the C ommunic ation Division is proposing the creation of Richfield University,
a six-week c itizen’s academy. Richfield University will provide residents a chance to interact, learn and build
a stronger relationship with city staff. I t is believed that graduates of the “university” will rely on their
knowledge to better assist their families, friends and neighbors in acc essing city servic es. Over time,
graduates will also be leveraged to serve in volunteer and other c apac ities with the c ity.
D IRE C T I O N NE E D E D :
Staff is requesting feedback regarding the pr oposed R ichfield University project and whether it lines
up with the council’s directive of providing residents with more engagement opportunities.
B AC K G RO UND INF O RM AT IO N:
A.H IS TOR IC AL C ON TEXT
Sinc e at least 2017, the c ity counc il and city administration has made it a priority to implement
new and expanded engagement opportunities for residents, students and individuals who work in
Richfield.
All c ity departments have worked diligently to offer new and dynamic programming to meet this
request. The newest engagement proposal is the creation of a citizen’s ac ademy, tentatively titled
Richfield University.
Cities, counties, police and sheriff’s departments throughout the c ountry have utilized c itizen’s
academies to provide their residents with a deeper understanding of the servic es they offer.
Over the c ourse of several weeks, the Communication Division identified 53 c itizen academy
examples from around the c ountry, inc luding several in Minnesota, and performed a content
analysis to determine best practices for the number of sessions offered and the duration of each
session.
Based on the content analysis and past experiences by members of the C ommunic ations
Division, it is being proposed that the pilot version of Ric hfield University inc lude six sessions that
each last 90 minutes.
The pilot version of Ric hfield University will allow 20-25 residents to enroll.
Feedback will be elic ited throughout the program from participants in an effort to determine what
changes need to be made to future iterations of the program.
All c ity department directors have been presented the outline of what Richfield University will entail
and are supportive of the proposal. They have also committed to investing time and resources into
the projec t.
Departments will create their own presentations based on the servic es they offer and the regular
inquiries they receive from residents.
Over time, it is hoped that “graduates” of Richfield University can be encouraged to participate
and volunteer for other c ity events and initiatives, suc h as commissions, Red, W hite and Blue
Days and Penn Fest.
The presentations given during the session will also be utilized as the “standard” outreac h
presentation for department outreach efforts going forward.
B.P OL IC IE S (resolutions, ordinances, regulations, statutes, etc):
N/A
C.C R IT IC AL T IMIN G ISSU E S:
The C ommunic ation Division is hoping to launc h Richfield University in the fall of 2019. Staff
requests the council’s approval to move forward to make sure enough time is available for
interested attendees to be recruited, city spac es can be reserved, the curriculum can be finalized
and collateral materials c an be purc hased.
D.F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
Funds for Richfield University are inc luded in the 2019 budget.
All of the Ric hfield University sessions will be held at city -owned venues, suc h as the Municipal
Center and the W ood Lake Nature C enter. The majority of the presenters will be department
directors or other salaried positions that will not incur any overtime. The only expec ted
expenditures will c ome from the purchase of light refreshments, printed materials and attendee t-
shirts.
E.L E GAL C ON S ID E R AT ION :
N/A
ALT E R N AT IV E (S ):
N/A
P R IN C IPAL PAR TIE S EXP E C T E D AT ME E T IN G:
City Manager Katie Rodriquez; Administrative S ervices D irec tor/Assistant City Manager Pam Dmytrenko;
and Communications and Engagement Manager Neil Ruhland
AT TAC H ME N TS :
D escripti on Type
P resentati on B ackup Materi al
Richfield University
Goals
•Provide residents with a deeper
understanding of city services
•Make resident ambassadors who can help
disseminating messages
•Promote the city’s unique programs and
successes
•Allow staff and residents to build relationships
•Recruit residents for volunteer and other
opportunities
Research
•Reviewed 53 city, county, police and sheriff’s
citizen academies from around the country
•Formats varied wildly
–Number of sessions (4-15 weeks)
–Session length (1.5-9 hours)
•Held at various times of the year
•Own experience
•Closest comparables
–Hennepin County
–City of Hopkins
–Richfield Police Department
Format
•Can vary based on department’s goals
and needs
•First Part (45-60 minutes)
–Presentation
–Question and answer
•Break (10 minutes)
•Second Part (25-35 minutes)
–Tour
–Interactive component
Sessions
•Session #1: Welcome/Intro to Academy/Fire
•Session #2: Public Works
•Session #3: Community Development
•Session #4: Recreation Services/Liquor
•Session #5: Police
•Session #6: Administrative
Services/Finance/Get Involved/City
Government 101/Graduation
Session #1: Welcome/Intro to
Academy/Fire
•Location: Richfield Fire Department
•Presentations
–Welcome by city manager (5 minutes)
–Citizens Academy overview (5 minutes)
–Fire Department (30 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Interactive hands-only CPR experience
(10 minutes)
•Tour (25 minutes)
Session #2: Public Works
•Location: Richfield Public Works
•Presentation (45 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Short tour (10-15 minutes)
•Interactive equipment experience (10-25
minutes)
Session #3: Community
Development
•Location: Heredia Room
•Presentation (55 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Interactive project/program experience in
Bartholomew Room (25 minutes)
Session #4:Recreation
Services/Liquor
•Location: Wood Lake Nature Center
•Presentations
–Recreation Services (20 minutes)
–Wood Lake Nature Center (20 minutes)
–Liquor Operations (15 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Moonlight nature hike (25 minutes)
Session #5: Police
•Location: Richfield Police Department
•Presentation (45 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Tour of the department (35 minutes)
Session #6: City 101/Graduation
•Location: City Hall Council Chambers
•Presentations
–City Government 101 (15 minutes)
–Administrative Services (15 minutes)
–Budget (20 minutes)
–Get Involved (15 minutes)
•Break (10 minutes)
•Graduation (15 minutes)
Graduation
•Ceremony hosted by mayor or
councilmember
•Picture with mayor
•Certificates
•Full packet
•T-shirt
•Call to action
Dates
•Session #1: September 19
•Session #2: September 26
•Session #3: October 3
•Session #4: October 10
•Session #5: October 17
•Session #6: October 24