People can work with Jim Diodati. He cares about issues affecting Niagara Falls residents and has strong vision, leadership and dedication to make Niagara Falls better.
Customer Service
Current Situation:
There is a perceived disconnect between City Hall and the people they serve. City Hall is viewed, by some, as an unapproachable and intimidating environment. City Hall appears to have an adversarial relationship with citizens (us against them). We have great people at City Hall but a poor environment.
Solutions:
Communication:
- Create a response policy for voice mail and e-mail
- Communicate vacation notification
- Update and promote city website (inviting, engaging, polling feature, community calendar)
- Use Social Media to communicate with people (twitter, facebook)
Efficiency
- Stream-line approval application processes
- Shared Solutions between departments (inter-departmental meetings)
- Reward Employees for cost saving ideas
Welcoming:
- Provide customer relationship training – empower staff
- Provide a friendly and welcoming environment
- Establish a customer service front desk
- Introduce the “Three Foot Rule”
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Economic Development
Current Situation:
The City has been losing good paying jobs. As a result, youth are leaving the city for better opportunities. We are reactive instead of proactive in seeking out innovative and diverse ways of expanding and retaining business in Niagara Falls. If growth doesn’t outpace losses then we will be in a deficit situation.
Solutions:
New Growth
- Increase The Economic Development Budget
- Pursue the implementation of The Niagara Gateway Economic Zone
- Strengthen Provincial ties to participate in Business Lead Generating program
- Bring investors together with emerging entrepreneurs
Innovation
- Attract and commercialize opportunities such as NANO Technology, Photonics and Green Energy (such as Biomass, LED, Solar, Wind and Geothermal) and connect into local educational institutes
Expansion and Diversity
- Connect City staff with local businesses to facilitate their growth and retention
- Pilot the creation of a Business Centre for start-up businesses to share resources
- Support Niagara Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) becoming accountable directly to the Region
- Work to create a Business Advisory Committee comprised of business leaders and visionaries from across the City
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Quality of Life
Current Situation:
People expect and deserve a certain quality of life. A higher quality of life in Niagara Falls will attract and retain people to live in our community. Presently, the GNGH Emergency Room is understaffed, our Labour and Delivery ward is being starved out, infrastructure is aging, we have recreational trails that are disjointed, recovery of our business districts is fragile and we have not yet fully embraced a progressive ECO-friendly consciousness.
Solutions:
Infrastructure
- Share innovative and money saving ideas and strategies with Mayors of other municipalities for proactive solutions to problems and improvements to current practices
- Utilize ideas from Best Practices from Ontario Municipal Knowledge Network (OMKN)
- Implement Preventative Maintenance Model which is less expensive than replacement and reconstruction
Green Issues
- Establish procedures for LED replacement bulbs
- Establish a more paperless working environment at City Hall by reducing copiers and maintaining more electronic files
- Embrace procedures and practices for aggressive tree planting, continued green spaces, replanting policies and adopt a green roof campaigns
Health Care
- Support increased staffing at our Emergency Room department
- Utilization of Urgent Care sites within the City through public awareness
- Work to maintain current Labour and Delivery Ward within the GNGH
Arts and Culture
- Establish Niagara Falls as one of the host cities of Canada’s 2017 150th Anniversary Celebration
- Continue nurturing of our business districts to be sustainable and vibrant for generations to come
- Follow-up on the 2005 strategic plan for Arts and Culture
Recreation and Transportation
- Continue development of recreational trails which connect Niagara Falls to other municipalities and provide interconnection between trails
- Support the completion of the Millennium Trail
- Year-round Go Transit Service by the year 2015 for the 17th Pan Am Games
- Construction of Railway overpasses financed with mutually shared funding contributions negotiated with other levels of government
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Seniors
Current Situation:
A large portion of our Niagara Falls citizens are Seniors. We need to pay more attention to our Seniors, the fastest growing demographic in our city. They need continued support and protection.
Solutions:
- Exploring and facilitating creative financial strategies to keep Seniors in their homes longer
- Coordinate volunteer program to help shovel the walkways and driveways of seniors – “Snow Angels”
- Pursue and coordinate methods for encouraging businesses to give Senior discounts
- Continue to expand opportunities for seniors to volunteer to share their skills and wisdom
- Increase the Police Service Program to educate Seniors about fraud (telephone and other types of fraud)
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Taxes
Current Situation:
Taxes are a reality. There continues to be many wasteful practices which we unconsciously participate in at City Hall. They are not recognized and reviewed thoroughly enough. We need to more aggressively control our spending.
Solution:
- Target to keep taxes low through controlled spending and sound management
- Consider an independent audit of best practices
- Explore areas where leasing vs. buying is more economical
- Focus on preventative maintenance and rehabilitation programs vs. replacement and reconstruction
- Develop practices for reducing mileage generated on city vehicles
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