City website encourages community engagement
A new online engagement site has been created allowing residents to provide their ideas and feedback on city matters.
Staff said they will take public opinions into account and report back on how community input has contributed to decisions.
The website (letstalk.niagarafalls.ca) launched earlier this month.
There are various tabs allowing residents to submit comments and share suggestions on a variety of issues, while a Love My Neighbourhood program has been set up for neighbourhoods to organize community gatherings.
Mayor Jim Diodati said the idea came about as he was discussing ways on how to better engage people with staff.
“I’ve been trying these different things. I would walk the dog and go down the trail and people could meet me there. I know some people do town hall meetings — coffee with the mayor,” he said.
“I thought if there’s a way to do any other engagement and with social media it’s such a great way to engage with people.”
Diodati said staff were the “creative ones” that came up with the engagement site.
“It’s a way that you can connect with your smartphone, your laptop, your computer.”
He said the first choice now of reaching out for people is through social media.
“If they don’t feel the street was plowed properly, if they’re unhappy with garbage at a park, it seems it’s become their first choice because it’s 24 hours, it’s public, it’s accessible. You don’t have to wait for city hall hours.”
Diodati said the city wants residents to feel engaged and empowered.
“We want them to feel that sense of place where they feel connected. They ’re dialed into the information. It’s an exchange. It goes both ways. Everyone wants to be informed. I get questions all the time: What’s going on on this street? When is my sewer getting done? It’s a platform that they can get engaged, get questions answered, give us feedback. It’s empowering to the public.”