Austin to Offer New Class: City Government 101

A City of Austin sponsored class that promises an insider’s view of local government along with hands-on experience will be offered beginning in September. It is a quick overview of Austin's 31 departments. The cost: a couple of hours of class time for 10 weeks. The instructors: Executive team members like the assistant managers, City staff, and Department Directors. The class is not only a reverse show-and-tell, but also an opportunity to find people who might be interested in serving later as volunteers. For example, here is one of the application questions: In what ways would you like to be a community leader in Austin in the next five years? And, for the skeptics out there, this should only cost the city around $2,500 in printing costs.

“It’s a top priority for me, the entire City Council, and our City staff team to make City Hall more inclusive, more transparent and more accountable,” Mayor Leffingwell said. Further comments from Leffingwell can be found here. Doug Matthew, Austin's new Director of Communications, tried something similar in Clearwater, Florida.

The details:

Applications are due by August 19.
Class starts September 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each Tuesday.

Applications are available online; at Austin City Hall, 301 W. Second St. (third floor reception area); or by calling (512) 974-2969. Space is limited to 30 participants, who will be chosen based on age, ethnicity, their past community involvement.