City Mission

The Mission of the City of St. Catharines is to provide efficient and effective municipal service delivery in a manner which promotes safety and security, environmental sustainability, local agriculture, cultural diversity, new business and employment opportunities for all of its citizens.

Structure of City Council

The city is governed by a Mayor and twelve Councillors, elected every four years. This governing body establishes policy through two committees, General and Strategic and Corporate Planning Committee, each having it´s own particular role to play.

General Committee

Composed of all members of Council, whose duties are to consider all matters coming before it. General Committee may refer any such matters to the Strategic and Corporate Planning  Committee or any Board or any special Committee appointed from time to time by Council.

Strategic and Corporate Planning Committee

Comprised of all members of Council, whose duties are to consider reports pertaining to strategic and corporate planning issues related to the Corporation and those matters referred to it by the General Committee or by the Council.

Planning Summit Report (April 1 - 2, 2005)

The Mayor, Council Members and Senior Staff met over a day and a half to formulate three to five goals that can be accomplished before the end of term in 2006.  Below are the following goals and actions for their development. 

Safer / Cleaner City

Statement:  To Ensure and enhance a safer / cleaner community for the citizens of St. Catharines.

Action:

1. Develop a Community Policing Task Force with various stakeholders such as NRP, school boards, churches and various local neighbourhood groups to identify concerns and formulate  
   an action plan to be presented to Council by January 2006.
   
2. Enhance By-law enforcement by improving the current policy, review the processes and make recommendations to improve by-law enforcement.  This may require but not be limited to increase staffing and exploring mediation as a solution to neighbourhood disputes.  This process should be completed by October 2005.
   
3. Revisit the Character City Initiative by investigating the feasibility of implementing the initiative in order to enhance the mission statement.  This is to be conducted by Economic Development and Tourism Department and a report will come to Council on or before September 2005.
   
4. Improve communications with the school boards, MP and MPP on issues of safer, cleaner cities. The Mayors office will undertake to achieve this goal, which will be ongoing.

Economic Development

Statement:  Create an environment that supports and facilitates opportunities for sustainable business and employment growth.

Action:

1. Establish an entrepreneur action plan to develop a Youth Retention Plan (Strategy) in order to provide opportunities for the youth in Niagara. To enhance this program, it is important to work with other municipalities to develop a regional Youth Retention plan.  A study is to be completed by the Economic Development and Tourism Department within the next two months, along with a cost and plan analysis.
   
2. John Rodey and Paul Mustard are to provide report a on the availability of services to all industrial areas of West End, St. Catharines.  This shall be completed by October 2005.
   
3. A customer service and employee relationship program shall be provided for all City Employees to be completed by the middle of 2006.
   
4. Advocate the establishment of an Incubator Center in the City.  This is to be taken on by the Economic Development and Tourism Department and will be an ongoing project.
   
5. Formalize co-ordination with NetCorp and Economic Development Office in order to 
   maximize effectiveness.
   

Culture / Recreation

Statement:  To create a City with a more diverse Arts, Cultural, Historical and recreational life style and quality of life.

Action:

1. Develop and implement the Park Policies and Recreation Master Plan with a focus on the following: Aquatics (indoor pools), Trail systems, Playing fields, and Catherine Street Park.
   
2. Request an updated feasibility study on the development of a Performing Arts Centre from Culture Committee, assisted by RCS. This is to be completed within three months.
   
3. Develop a plan to improve partnerships, promotion and marketing of heritage facilities of the City of St. Catharines, with input from BME church, Heritage Committee., Friends of the Lighthouse, Friends of the Morningstar Mill etc. by Sept. 2005.
   
4. Move forward with 2nd Phase of Website.
   

Downtown

Statement: To encourage and support residential intensification development in the downtown.

Action:

1. Reaffirm the CIP as an important element to downtown revitalization.
   
2. Proceed with public meetings on parking exemption for residential development