Dublin residents are invited to get an inside look at the dedicated effort it takes to maintain Dublin’s world-class services, entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding quality of life with Citizen U. Participants age 18 and over will learn about all aspects of the City of Dublin’s operations in this immersive experience, now in its fifth year.
City staff will lead classes focusing on everything from financial practices, to engineering, to law enforcement, leaf collection, economic development, recreation practices, event management, planning and more. Participants will leave the experience with an improved understanding of Dublin’s government operations and the talent it demands of its public servants, as well as a sense of their own civic engagement responsibilities as residents.
There is no fee to participate. Spots are limited and an application is required. Apply online by March 6, 2020. For questions email Christine Nardecchia at cnardecchia@dublin.oh.us.
Class 1: Thursday, March 19, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Overview + City Manager’s Office + Finance + Human Resources
- Dublin Community Recreation Center: 5600 Post Road
This welcome and overview evening will feature discussion on our form of government, organizational chart, Mission, Vision and Core Values. We’ll also discuss how the City of Dublin’s highly respected financial structure is organized and managed, as well as how we find, keep and develop the talent of the city’s workforce.
Class 2: Thursday, March 26, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Development Night (Planning + Economic Development + Building Standards)
- Columbus Metropolitan Library Dublin Branch: 75 North High Street
Dublin’s planning process works in a comprehensive way to make Dublin what it is today and what it will be for generations to come. While in the heart of historic Dublin and on the edge of our Bridge Street District, class members will learn about the phases of development projects and trends shaping our future, while understanding how the planning process comes together with proactive community engagement.
Class 3: Thursday, April 2, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- IT + Performance Analytics + Communications and Public Information
- Metro Data Center: 565 Metro Place South
Dublin ranks as one of America’s top 20 cities of Creative Class Cities, offers a 100-gig fiber optic network while being home to more than 4,000 business. This class offers an informative, behind-the-scenes overview our Information Technology innovation and framework at our Metro Data Center. Class members will also meet teams in Performance Analytics and Communications to learn how the City utilizes data to inform best practices and how these ongoing practices keep Dublin on the cutting edge of innovation and communication.
Class 4: Thursday, April 9, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Courts + Police
- Dublin Justice Center: 6565 Commerce Parkway
Citizen U members will have the opportunity to meet many members of our top-ranked, nationally recognized the Dublin Police and Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Center, and learn about key initiatives and strategies, various work units within the force, and of course, get to see first-hand the many facets of law enforcement.
Class 5: Thursday, April 16, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Engineering
- Dublin Service Center: 6555 Shier Rings Road
Bridges, roundabouts, waterways, roads, bike lanes, traffic signals, shared use paths, and of course – our landmark pedestrian bridge. Engineering oversees the design, construction and inspection of public projects and reviews and inspects all privately developed projects. This technical crew is made up of a team of public servants who will explain much of “the why” behind “the what” of their busy and critical workload.
Class 6: Thursday, April 23, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Streets + Fleet + Sign Shop
- Fleet Maintenance Complex: 6351 Shier Rings Road
We see the semblance of snowplows, leaf collectors, various vehicles and sewer inspection crews throughout every season in every neighborhood and roadway on a daily basis. Now, class members will meet the hard working crew members responsible for maintaining our streets system in Dublin, our street sign system and the technicians who maintain the massive fleet that services the public.
Class 7: Thursday, April 30, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Recreation + Facilities + Community Events
- Dublin Community Recreation Center: 5600 Post Road
Dublin is home to one of the most widely known and respected recreation centers and boasts an internationally renowned repertoire of events known to hundreds of thousands across the globe. These two collaborate work units will share overviews of what it takes to produce creative programing and hugely anticipated events. Finally – our Facilities team and crews that oversee some 300 structures, which are utilized by hundreds of thousands each year, will highlight some inner workings of their operations.
Class 8: Thursday, May 7, 2020 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Parks + Nature Education
- Coffman Park: 5200 Emerald Parkway
Dublin’s parks system is a major community point of pride consistently ranked as a top priority among residents. Our 24.5 square mile city contains 62 parks connecting our vibrant community in healthy and creative ways. Developing and maintaining this system – from its public art to thousands of sport events to passive and natural environmental preserves, requires the care of an extraordinary team. We will also meet and discuss living peaceably with our wildlife inhabitants – from bats to coyote to skunks and deer – class members will have an opportunity for Q&A with our Nature Education expert.
Class 9: Thursday, May 14, 2020
- Geo Tour + Dublin City Council + Outreach and Engagement + Dinner
- Napa Kitchen + Bar: 7148 Muirfield Drive
With fresh eyes and new perspective, class members will be treated to a “Geo Tour” of Dublin, narrated and led by our Geographic Information Systems team. After learning about ways residents can become involved and engaged in Dublin, Dublin City Council and the City of Dublin will host the chance to celebrate and cheer to a new network of knowledge, neighbors and peers.
*Class order subject to change
