Council approves idea of a Menifee Citizens Academy

Note: Story has been updated to correct the budget amount.

By Kelvin Portillo, Correspondent

The latest proposal approved by Menifee City Council is an academic program available for adult Menifee residents and businesses designed to gain education on the inner workings of local city government.

Menifee Citizens Academy will allow members of the community to interact with city officials while being informed about daily workings of local government.

A free eight-week session to be held twice a year, once in Fall and another in Spring, is set to commence Fall 2022 with a comprehensive overview for each session, with topics ranging from the police department to economic development. MCA would have 20 spots and easy access for any individual to sign up online though a portal in the city’s own website.

After the eight weeks, a graduation ceremony is to be held at City Hall with each participant or business receiving a signed “Certificate of Completion” and a swag bag.

The proposed budget for this program is $2,600 annually and would be included as a part of the city’s 2022/2023 fiscal year budget.

“This would be such a benefit to our city… I would like to see juniors and seniors in high school to encourage them a pathway into local government,” said Council member Lesa Sobek, encouraging the council to include minors in the program.

“I think an educated public is good for the city all around. There’s no closer government to the resident than the local one,” said Mayor Pro Tem Dean Deines.

A few council members suggested the idea of MCA to be uploaded to Youtube for anyone to watch, including various high school districts, and see the dealings of city council and government. Overall, unanimous support was expressed between all council members for MCA to be established right away.

With the support of the community and of the council, the first proposed session will begin mid-August 2022 on Tuesdays from 5-6:30 p.m.