About Civic Academy 

The Commerce City Civic Academy is a eight-week program that gives residents a chance to deepen their knowledge of the city and its operations. Attendees learn more about the role of municipal government, city operations, special districts, and emerging issues. The program aims to develop and cultivate leaders in the community by informing residents, increasing engagement, improving trust, and encouraging residents to participate in the community.

Upcoming Session

Session: Fall 2024 | Dates TBD
Classes: Weekdays | 6 – 8 pm
Graduation Ceremony: TBD

Application

Sign up for the Civic Academy waitlist.

2023 Cohort

Program Topics

About Commerce City
Participants learn the basics of local government and major stakeholders in Commerce City governance.
Travis Huntington, Community Relations Manager, thuntington@c3gov.com

Planning and Land-Use
Participants learn about city planning and zoning and practice planning a city of their own.
Jennifer Jones, Acting Planning Manager, jjones@c3gov.com
Stacy Wasinger, Planner III, swasinger@c3gov.com

Council-Manager Form of Government
Participants join the City Manager and Members of City Council to discuss policymaking and administration in city government.
Jason Rogers, City Manager, jrogers@c3gov.com
Cathy Blakeman, Deputy City Manager, cblakeman@c3gov.com
Mayor Pro-Tem Jennifer Allen-Thomas, jallen-thomas@c3gov.com
Councilmember Susan Noble, snoble@c3gov.com
Councilmember Craig Kim, ckim@c3gov.com

Parks, Recreation, and Golf
Participants explored all that Parks, Recreation, and Golf have to offer while also touring Eagle Pointe Recreation Center.
Carolyn Keith, Director of Parks, Rec, and Golf, ckeith@c3gov.com
Chad Redin, Deputy Director of Parks, Rec, and Golf, credin@c3gov.com
Tim Duda, Recreation Manager, tdusa@c3gov.com
Paul Hebinck, Golf Course Manager, phebinck@c3gov.com

Public Works 
Participants got a hands-on look at how the city builds and maintains its infrastructure in a walking tour at the city’s Municipal Service Center.
Shawn Poe, Interim Director of Public Works, spoe@c3gov.com
Willis Waterhouse, Parks and Streets Operations Manager, wwaterhouse@c3gov.com
Michael Renk, Transportation Engineer, mrenk@c3gov.com
Nick Neurauter, Parks Operations and Maintenance Supervisor, nneurauter@c3gov.com

Economic Development
Participants explored the world of economic development and discussed how the city attracts new businesses to Commerce City.
Michelle Claymore, Director of Economic Development, mclaymore@c3gov.com
Nancy Flock, Economic Development Specialist, nflock@c3gov.com

URA and Finance 
Participants practiced negotiating in Urban Renewal while exploring the role of redevelopment in the city. Participants then learned more about how the city manages its finances and pays for the services provided to the community.
Bill Aiken, Director of Urban Renewal, baiken@c3gov.com
Theresa Wilson, Interim Finance Director, twilson@c3gov.com
Ken Keeley, Audit Supervisor, kkeeley@c3gov.com
Pam Young, Budget and Performance Analyst, pyoung@c3gov.com

Public Safety 
Participants got up-close and personal with public safety as the Police Department walked them through the steps of managing a crime scene while also showing off the technology used by the CCPD.
Darrel Guadnola, Chief of Police, dguadnola@c3gov.com
Gregory Sadar, Deputy Chief of Police, gsadar@c3gov.com

Civic Engagement 
Canceled due to weather
Dylan Gibson, City Clerk, dgibson@c3gov.com
Jordan Roberts, Deputy City Clerk, jroberts@c3gov.com

Application Requirements 

• Class size is limited to 25 participants, who must be residents of Commerce City or employed at a business with a physical presence in Commerce City
• The Academy is free and open to those 18 or older
• Participants may not miss more than one session to graduate
• Participants may not run for local political office during the program

Questions?

Contact Trenten Robinson at trobinson@c3gov.com.