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Community Relations and Communication
The City of St. Charles places great emphasis on maintaining a good relationship with our citizens. These efforts can be classified into four categories: citizen participation, support of community pride, community cooperation, and good communication.
Citizen Participation
Citizens are invited and encouraged to become involved in a variety of ways. Feedback is welcome at public meetings, through our bi-annual Citizen Priorities Survey, and through our online feedback forms. City Hall Housecalls provide citizens a unique opportunity to host a discussion at their home, with friends and neighbors, where the Mayor, City Administrator, and aldermen from that ward come to discuss concerns and issues. Citizens may also be interested in sitting on one of the City's advisory boards or commissions, which examine and provide recommendations and guidance to the City Council on topics that directly impact the quality of life in St. Charles, such as the Tree Commission, Youth Commission, and Plan Commission.
Support of Community Pride
Residents and businesses alike are proud of St. Charles, and what better way to show that pride than in the many festivals and events hosted here. The City of St. Charles supports local events, such as parades and festivals through
funds from the City’s Hotel/Motel tax. City staff are also provided for traffic control,
setup, and cleanup of events. All of the local organizations and government bodies
meet regularly to coordinate events and marketing efforts. City staff and elected
officials are always involved and encouraged to volunteer at the parades,
festivals, and other local events. City employees do their part in supporting the many human service organizations that provide vital assistance to citizens in need. Each year the City sponsors a team for the Relay for Life event. Monthly donations from employees support Lazarus House, United Way, Salvation Army, and other local organizations. The City also hosts Heartland Blood Center blood drives several times each year.
Community Cooperation
Visitors and residents alike will find much community cooperation among
the various government bodies and organizations. Many programs and services
are provided with the cooperation of several organizations. For example:
- The St. Charles Community Web Site is a collaborative effort
among the City, Park District, Library, and School District to provide
a portal
into all St. Charles resources on the web.
- The annual City auction includes equipment and auction items from both
the City and Park District.
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The City’s Economic Development Department and Downtown St. Charles
Partnership work together to staff trade show booths, make site visits,
and conduct other activities that both draw new businesses to St. Charles
and retain current businesses in the community.
Good Communication
The City strives to keep residents and businesses informed on the topics of greatest importance to them. Our bi-monthly resident newsletter has become one of the most reliable sources of information for residents and contains seasonal reminders as well as important updates on local developments. The City's web site contains thousands of pages of information and is in a constant state of development to improve and update the information provided to the 30,000 visitors it receives each month. The City Administrator submits monthly columns to the local newspapers presenting a topic of concern in detail and providing information and background to create a better understanding of many of the dilemmas the City faces. A reliable, open dialogue with residents is at the heart of good local government, and all of our communication efforts are undertaken with this in mind.
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