Apache Junction, AZ--The City of Apache Junction has announced its 2010-2011 Citizen Leadership Institute to begin Monday, November 8, 2010.

A key goal of the Institute is to give interested citizens an orientation for serving as possible future members of a City Board or Commission.

A special feature of this year’s Institute is the reservation of two seats for youth in the community. It is important that young people get involved in the community and contribute their insight and energy into the governing process.

Of the 235 Citizen Leadership Institute graduates to date, many have spent time serving on a City Board or Commission. The percentage of current Board and Commission members having graduated from one of the first twelve Citizen Leadership Institutes is over 70 percent

The International City Manager’s Association (ICMA), recognized the Apache Junction Citizen Leadership Institute in 2004 for Excellence in Government – Citizen Involvement.

The Institute’s Program is comprised of nine sessions. Each session deals with topics of interest to the community related to local government and City services, as well as non-profit, and volunteer opportunities and community issues.

The sessions focus on a different area of government such as planning and zoning, economic development, and popular and demand driven City services. The program is designed to help people understand the role of municipal government, and how it interacts with other organizations.

Some topics covered in previous Institute sessions include:

•   The Structure and Role of Municipal Government
• Creating Community and Working Together
• Superstition Vistas
• Planning and Zoning Case Study/Role Playing
• City Codes and Ordinances
• The City Clerk’s Office and a history of the City
• How Service Departments such as Police and Parks and Recreation operate

There is no charge to attend the Citizen Leadership Institute, but attendees must live within the city limits of the City of Apache Junction unless they are currently serving as members of a City Board or Commission and are required to attend seven of the nine sessions, a City Council meeting and a Planning and Zoning meeting to be eligible to graduate.

City staff and other experts in their field including the School District, Fire District and non-profit organizations will conduct the sessions. Each class session will be held from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the City’s Multi-Generational Recreation Center, 1035 N. Idaho Road, classrooms A and B. Dates for the 2010-2011 Institute are as follows:

• November 8, 2010 – Getting to Know the City of Apache Junction
• November 22, 2010 – Local Government: How We Work Together
• December 2, 2010 – Planning, Zoning and Development: Building A City
• December 9, 2010 – Economic and Community Development: Paying Our Way
• January 6, 2011 – Other City Services: City Attorney’s Office & the City Budget
• January 20, 2011 – The Bottom Line – Delivering Services
• February 3, 2011 – Infrastructure and More Demand Driven Services
• February 17, 2011 – Serving and Growing with the Community: Many Options
• March 3, 2011 – Odds and the End

Interested citizens should call Patrick Brenner at (480) 474-5080 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to register or for additional information.

The City’s website www.ajcity.net/cli also has information on the Citizen Leadership Institute found by visiting www.ajcity.net and clicking on Residents then on Community Relations and then on Citizen Leadership Institute.