Citizens Academy
From city streets to park trails, staff at the City of Victoria lay the foundations for the community to connect and grow. In this year’s Citizens Academy program, residents will discover how the City plans for future growth while preserving its natural amenities.
Over the 5-week program, City of Victoria staff and partners will discuss the impact and background of a number of topics.
Citizens Academy 2022 Sessions
Citizens Academy Session #1 Information
Date and Time: April 6, 2021, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria, MN 55386
- Welcome
Debra McMillan, Mayor, City of Victoria - Meet Victoria Today: An Overview of the City of Victoria
Dana Hardie, City Manager, City of Victoria - A Look at Victoria Before: A History of Victoria
Jayna Hulleman, Curator of Education & Exhibits, Carver County Historical Society
Citizens Academy Session #2 Information
Date and Time: April 13, 2021, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Public Works Building, 8001 Bavaria Road, Victoria, MN 55386
- Keeping Victoria Together: The Many Jobs of Public Works
Dave Shoger, Public Works Director, City of Victoria - A Map of Victoria: Laying the Groundwork to Grow
Cara Geheren, City Engineer, City of Victoria
Citizens Academy Session #3 Information
Date and Time: April 20, 2021, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Victoria Fire Station, 1500 80th Street, Victoria, MN 55386
- Keeping Victoria Safe: A Look at Public Safety in Victoria
Mark Randall, Sheriff’s Deputy, Carver County Sheriff’s Office - Protecting Victoria: Inside the Victoria Fire Department
Andrew Heger, Fire Chief, Victoria Fire Department, City of Victoria
Citizens Academy Session #4 Information
Date and Time: April 27, 2021, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 1670 Stieger Lake Lane, Victoria, MN 55386
- A Growing Victoria: Planning What’s Next for Victoria
Marty Doll, Community & Economic Development Director, City of Victoria - Victoria’s Voice: The Election Process in Victoria
Cindy Patnode, City Clerk, City of Victoria
Citizens Academy Session #5 Information
Date and Time: May 4, 2021, 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: Picnic Shelter, Wassermann Lake Preserve, 9175 Church Lake Blvd, Victoria, MN 55386
- Victoria, City of Lakes & Parks: A Place to Connect and Enjoy the Outdoors
Ann Mahnke, Parks & Recreation Director, City of Victoria - A Responsible Victoria: Balancing the Needs of Victoria
Trisha Pollock, Finance & Human Resources Director, City of Victoria
The Victoria Citizens Academy draws on learning from successful citizen academies across the nation. These academies are often modeled after citizens police academies, which began in the mid-1980’s as a tool to foster stronger citizen commitment to police department and community, in an effort to reduce crime. Citizen police academies are now popular in communities large and small throughout the country.
Program Details
Dates: Wednesdays, April 6 to May 4, 2022
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.
Location: City Hall and City Buildings Around Victoria
Capacity: Limited
Contact Us
Kendra Grahl
Communications & Public Engagement Manager
Email Kendra Grahl
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Kendra Grahl
Communications & Public Engagement Manager
The first citizens academy was held in winter 2020. Here’s what participants had to say about the experience.
- "I learned a great deal about the complexity of planning and building streets that I had no idea about."
- "With all the new development around town, it was good to hear what goes into the design."
- One participant particularly enjoyed the public works department presentation, where “we got to see the kind of invisible city of planning and infrastructure…”
- “I came away with a greater appreciation for what the city does.”
- “I highly recommend that you consider enrolling when the program is offered next year.”