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Home My WebLink About03. Central San Academy• 25KIL Central Contra Costa Sanitary District October 5, 2015 TO: ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE VIA: ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER EMILY BARNETT, COMMUNICATION SERVICES & INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS MANAGER FROM: CHRISTINA GEE, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICIAN SUBJECT: CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT'S CITIZENS ACADEMY "Bringing the public and wastewater together" The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's Citizens Academy (Central San Academy) is a proposed educational opportunity for interested stakeholders to learn about the business of providing wastewater services to the community and the functions of a local government agency. This course would be open to constituents in the District's service area and a limited number of employees. The goals include the following: • Educate members of the public on the role of the wastewater industry and how it impacts their lives and community • Showcase the District's mission to protect the public health and the environment • Promote public dialog and participation for critical core services • Encourage civil interaction and greater connection with the District's Board • Build stronger community connection and interaction • Create greater interaction between the District's employees and the public Central San Academy is a unique opportunity to bridge the community's understanding and involvement in essential services. The program also has the potential to develop future leaders with knowledge of the services the District provides and how the District is funded through sound financial decisions and responsible rates. The inaugural session would start as a 10 -week course, held once a week in the evening, highlighting key functions and departments of the District. Classes would be two hours in length with various presenters every week. The overarching theme would Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's Citizens Academy Page 2 of 3 be how wastewater service is provided through governance, administration, and compliance. At a class size of 30, students must be customers at least 18 years of age, with a maximum of five employees able to participate. Enrollment would be determined by an application process that would select students based on the following criteria: • Current and former community involvement • Motivation to participate • The ability to commit to attending classes. Students must express a willingness to learn and share their knowledge with others. For participants who are unable to physically attend every meeting, lessons would be posted on the District's website after the conclusion of each class. The program would be under the direction of the Communication Services & Intergovernmental Relations Manager, Director of Administration, and General Manager. The District would benefit from instituting Central San University. Primarily, the program would share what the District does with a diverse audience from different customer classes and produce new community ambassadors each semester. In an effort to continue growing this investment, staff would develop an alumni association. Through the alumni association, participants would help strengthen communication between the District and the community. In addition, the drivers behind the program align with the core Mission, Values, and Strategic Plan for the District. One of the missions of the District is to promote environmental stewardship. By showing the public what the District does to protect the environment, they can spread the word and follow suit to help further support the mission. Also, two of the values of the District are community relationships and transparency. To further these values, the program will create networking opportunities and connect decision makers with the people that are directly affected. Through the prepared lessons, the classes will demystify issues and serve as a forum for customers to ask questions about the inner workings of the District. Finally, one of the goals set forth in the current Strategic Plan is to provide exceptional customer service by making a concerted effort to understand customer expectations and their satisfaction with District services. Through this program, the District would better understand the expectations of customers, gain support from participants, and encourage advocacy in the community. Overall, customers would feel more valued by having this program, and the District would benefit from making this investment in the community. Implementing a new program like this will keep the District at the forefront of leadership in the wastewater industry. Internally, the District would further develop its human resources by allowing employees who enter the program as a student the opportunity to N: \GM \Christina \Central San University \Central San Academy 10 -5 -15 Memo to Admin Comte. docx Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Central Contra Costa Sanitary District's Citizens Academy Page 3 of 3 better understand the District. For those employees who participate as a presenter, the program would serve as a way for staff to improve their public speaking skills, interact with the public, and gain broader perspectives from the customers they serve. Attached is sample curriculum for Central San Academy. After every session, staff will administer a written survey to students to ensure quality and that substantive information is being presented. The survey will also solicit future presentation topics and suggestions from the students, creating a comprehensive feedback loop. By welcoming ideas from the students on how the District can better operate, the District will capture key messages and allow the audience to be an active part of the sharing information process. On the final night of the classes, diplomas would be presented at a graduation ceremony, to which the Board would be invited. Students would be asked at that time to reflect on their experience, share what they have learned, and be encouraged to take on further leadership and volunteer roles in the community. The cost of Central San Academy would be minimal. Possible expenses would include staff time to facilitate and speak at sessions, as well as any refreshment costs approved by the General Manager. One option to fund the program is to obtain a scholarship from a private agency. For example, in 2003, its first year, Glendale University (GU), instituted by the City of Glendale, Arizona, was given $10,000 by a private company for a two -year period. At the time, GU was offered twice a year, which equated to $2,500 per class to offset the cost of providing basic materials and the special graduation ceremony. That sponsorship has continued to 2015 and is currently committed on an annual basis. Staff will contact entities that may have an interest in collaborating with the District, including educational institutions and local businesses. Overall, this program would allow the District to give back to its community, open a new dialogue with its customers, and build a network of engaged and informed citizens to help support the District's business practices. Staff requests the Committee's input and recommendation that the full Board approve the program in concept. Attachments N: \GM \Christina \Central San University \Central San Academy 10 -5 -15 Memo to Admin Comte.docx Central San Academy — Proposed Curriculum Week One: Kick -Off Class / Governance of a Public Organization Introductions and Central San Bingo (icebreaker activity) Program Overview Role of the Elected Official, Our Board of Directors How the Secretary of the District Represents the Public's Interests How the District Counsel Protects the District and its Constituents Being the General Manager, Armed with a Strategic Plan Week Two: Internal Administrative Business Services Information Technology Human Resources, Responsible Staffing and Succession Planning Managing Risk How We Communicate to Our Customers Week Three: Planning and Development Permits, Inspections, and Plan Check for Customers Planning for the Future with a Comprehensive Wastewater Management Plan Pilot Testing and Applied Research Managing and Tracking Assets Week Four: Building Your Infrastructure Building and Maintaining Equipment in the Treatment Plant Building and Maintaining Pipelines in the Collection System In -House Fleet Services and Special Vehicles Needed in the Field Other Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Improvements Week Five: Following the Flow Treatment Plant Operations, Maintenance, and Safety Repairing Sewer Leaks in the Community Video Recording, or CCTV'ing, of Pipelines Keeping Tabs on Our Influent with Source Control Testing the Waters in Our Laboratory Week Six: Facilities Tour Tour of the Treatment Plant, Filter Plant, Laboratory, and Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility ( HHWCF) Week Seven: Funding Your Service Purchasing Materials and Services Regulatory Obligations Driving Infrastructure Improvements Cost of Service Study to Ensure Fair Rates to Everyone The District's Revenue Sources How the District Budgets and Spends Its Money The Rate Setting Process Decrypting Public Pensions Week Eight: Building a Community The Services of the HHWCF and Re -Use Room Converting Houses from Septic to Sewer K -12 Educational Programs Water and Wastewater Operator Training Free Speakers Series Available for Organizations District Participation in Community Events Week Nine: Recycled Water, Drought Recovery, and the Future Operating Our Recycled Water Fill Station Expanding Recycled Water Use Indirect Potable Reuse: Toilet to Tap How the Drought Makes Us Re -Think Water Usage The Future of Wastewater Treatment and New Technologies Topics Suggested by the Class Week Ten: Graduation Dinner with District Management and Board of Directors Board Member Q &A Diploma Distribution / Graduation Ceremony Central San Academy "Bringing the public and wastewater together" Presentation by Christina Gee, Senior Administrative Technician October 5, 2015 Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Purpose • To offer an educational opportunity for interested customers to learn about the business of providing wastewater and how it impacts their lives and community. • To highlight the functions of the District as a local government agency. 9/28/2015 1 Goals • Educate members of the public on the role of the wastewater industry and how it impacts their lives and community • Showcase the District's mission to protect the public health and the environment • Promote public dialog and participation for critical core services • Encourage civil interaction and greater connection with the District's Board Classes • Build stronger community connection and interaction • Create greater interaction between the District's employees and the public a • 10 -week course • Two -hour classes held one night a week • 30 community students at least 18 years of age, including up to 5 employees • Enrollment determined by the following: — motivation to participate — community involvement — ability to commit to attending classes 9/28/2015 2 Benefits to the District • Shares what the District does with a diverse audiences • Produces community ambassadors • Promotes environmental stewardship • Fosters community relationships • Demonstrates open governance and transparency • Creates networking opportunities • Opens a dialogue with the public • Conducts civic education • Assists in providing better customer service, by ascertaining expectations and degrees of satisfaction • Increases customer input • Develops human resources with employee participation as speakers or students • Keeps the District at the forefront of the wastewater industry Similar Programs at Other Agencies • City of Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Academy) • San Diego County Water Authority �J (Citizens Water Academy) • City of Carlsbad, CA (Citizens Academy) • City of Napa, CA (Citizens Academy) �C- A D-EM Y l) San Diego Counry wa +e. nurnowy MF Coo 9/28/2015 3 Sample Class Syllabus • Kick -Off Class / Governance of a Public Organization • Internal Administrative Business Services • Planning and Development • Building Your Infrastructure • Following the Flow • Facilities Tour • Funding Your Service • Building a Community • Recycled Water, Drought Recovery, and the Future • Graduation R3Q� Funding and Possible k c Sponsorships • Minimal costs and be taught by District staff • Corporate sponsorship possible (Glendale Academy given $10,000 /year by a private company) • Potential partnerships for the District: — Educational institutions — Local businesses • Alternatively, the program could be District funded. 9/28/2015 0 Conclusion • Central San Academy would allow the District to do the following: — give back to its community — open a new dialogue with its customers — build a network of engaged and informed citizens to help support and improve the District's business practices D Committee Action Staff requests the Committee's input and recommendation that the full Board approve the program in concept. 9/28/2015 5 QUESTIONS' ��CD_ 9/28/2015