By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM — 14 Sequim-area residents recently completed a new 10-week civics class called the Sequim 101 Citizen’s Academy.
Communications Director Barb Hanna explains.
“It’s a Citizens Academy, to learn more about the way that city government works here in Sequim, and give our participants a better understanding of how the different departments function, how the city staff works with City Council, and how we’re formed as a government.”
Each week department heads, councilmembers or other city officials would describe how their department was organized, what their duties were, and how they all work together to keep the City going.
Hanna says it’s an idea city officials had been kicking around for years, but finally came together last year when a summer intern and Administrative Assistant Travis Simmons put in the necessary work to get it off the ground.
We asked Hanna if the purpose of the Academy was, at least in part, to create an informed group that might get more involved in local politics or committees.
“We’re hoping that that might be one of the side effects, you know, that it generates interest in more community members to get involved with the City to, as you said, either serve on boards or commissions or to run for City Council. But it really was set up as an informational, and hopefully, in some cases, inspirational event for the community.”
Hanna says despite having to present the entire program virtually because of the pandemic, it was so successful that they’re already planning the next one for later on this year.
“There was a lot of interest in this and we had to limit the size, because it was virtual and we wanted to make sure that everybody had a chance to participate. But we will be announcing another class later in the year. I don’t know the exact dates yet.”
Program graduates are Janine Bocciardi, John Bridge, Dave Eberle, Ben Fisher, Katina Hester, Karen Hogan, Cathy Kurtz, Tim Kurtz, Catherine McKinney, Kevin Roth, Jon Sneed, Autumn Wolfgang, Charla Wright, and Nicole Wright.
The City of Sequim will be announcing another session of Sequim 101 later in 2021. Contact the City at 360-683-4908 with questions.
(Photo by Jay Cline)