The City of Redmond‘s 2012 Citizen Academy will begin on Jan. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th St.

The six-session series will be on Monday evenings and run through March. The academy will also include three optional tours of city facilities: Traffic Operations, the Redmond Teen Center and the Redmond Senior Center.

This is an opportunity for Redmond community members to learn about the day-to-day functions of municipal government. Additionally, participation can help foster civic leadership and volunteerism such as involvement with the upcoming Budgeting by Priorities process.

For each of the six sessions, staff will provide information regarding topics such as public safety, the infrastructure necessary to delivery drinking water and the process through which improvements to streets and sidewalks are considered and constructed.

The Citizen Academy is also helpful to community members considering future civic leadership. Students may find the academy useful in the context of governmental processes and public administration and regarding community service.

Additional information is available at www.redmond.gov/residents/citizenacademy or contact Kimberly Dietz at (425) 556-2415 or kdietz@redmond.gov with questions.

Reservations are not required but city staff asks that those who plan to attend let Dietz know by e-mail or phone to help staff plan each session. Participants may attend the entire series, a portion, or just one topic.