The Mayor of Monmouth: August 2007

August 31, 2007

BIA OK with "Walkerville"

Board members of the BIA agree that Walkerville Business Area stays the same. Stakeholders agree that they need to keep working on a strategic plan for the promotion of the area on a grander scale. The City has removed the tag: "Distillery District" from their web page. See here:

http://www.citywindsor.ca/002234.asp

More information coming next week.

See you out there.

August 29, 2007

BIA Cooking up New Name for Old Walkerville Business District

Distillery District

Back in July of this year, the Mayor rolled out his $900,000.00 "Branding Plan"; a collection of ideas which he wanted implimented before the end of this year. So City Council held a "strategic planning session" and determined to "Brand" districts across the city. Ideas floated were a "Chinatown" in the west end and re-naming Old Walkerville business area as the "Distillery District". Well...Now the hen has come home to roost. Tomorrow Night at the Refine Fitness Studio (formerly Icon Design) the Walkerville BIA and no doubt minions of municipal government are holding a vote to change the area's name to "the Distillery District". To support their little project the City of 'Windsor Web page is already referring to it as "The Distillery District" see here:

http://www.citywindsor.ca/002234.asp.

Some voting process. Their logic as stated back during the "Strategic Planning Session" is "Providing these kinds of labels bolsters neighbourhood pride and investment". (ahhh...we already have that.) Local residents and some business owners are worried and furious that the City and this BIA are going to seriously damage this business community and surrounding neighbourhood's already strong and unique identity. Some have rightfully pointed out that next year is Old Walkerville's 150th anniversary so why not better invest time and effort in promoting that? 150 years! That's quite an accomplishment for any brand. One writer commented that the new moniker is cold and industrial sounding. Another said: "If the Distillery District name passes, does that mean the new clock on Wyandotte/Kildare has to be replaced to say the Distillery District on it now since it is in the business district? I'm sure Kelly funeral Home would not enjoy advertising that it is located in the Distillery District, especially if family of a loved one who passes, died from an alcohol related death". There is some common sense out there but it does not seem to be coming from the right places. These things have to be better thought through.

Some Words About Branding

Branding is one of the most misused concepts by laypeople and small business owners. Consider its conceptual roots: "Branding is advertising re-branded". Simply translated this means that the advertising industry invented the concept to sell more.....Here it comes....advertising! Yeah! Let's play the game anyway. If you read any advertising book or manual it will say that "the name is the most important element of the brand". That's because it's use in language provides a universal reference point. These sources will also point out that "the name is the one element of the brand that should never change." Here are a couple of classic examples: The shell logo has evolved significantly over time but the name is still Shell. Coke and Pepsi have the same stories. As one advertising agent put it: "The brand name should be like Caesar: As constant as the Northern Star" So what made Shell, Coke and Pepsi dominant world players? The answer is TIME. They have not fallen prey to the temptation of change. Now they are burned (branded) into the tip of our foreconscience. Sounds a lot like Old Walkerville doesn't it. The key for real success in this business community has to be committment and superior communications. Not "branding". Old Walkerville already is a great brand. We have to keep in mind that when local citizens are excited by a proposition they will help to sustain it and communicate it to customers and friends through their enthusiasm and commitment. If they are turned off then the whole process fails. Honouring your stakeholders becomes key. The Old Walkerville BIA has to do just that.

One final note: These BIAs should have at least one neighbourhood representative. The input and feedback would be most helpful. What do you think?

Some links:

http://www.achannel.ca/windsor/news_46052.aspx

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=3d2a2439-f4fa-4541-8b1c-fc62c4706b98

Tomorrow is "D Day"

There is not much time (the meeting is tomorrow - Thursday August 30 at 6:30 PM) so if you don't want the area's name changed to "The Distillery District" you have to make some calls, send some e-mails and show up for the meeting. Make your message clear. "Old Walkerville Business District" is the brand! Here are the places to contact:

walkervillebia@cogeco.ca

Attention: Ms. Joan Charrette.

Telephone: (519) 519-919-8733

Fulvio Valentinis: Phone: (519) 977-5067

Email: fvalentinis@city.windsor.on.ca

Alan Halberstadt: Phone: (519) 973-8323

Email: ahalberstadt@city.windsor.on.ca

August 23, 2007

Self Appointed WUC Audit Smells Fishy

The whole WUC mess is still spiraling out of control as Eddie Francis’ self initiated audit takes form. Bloggers predicted that this would happen right from the beginning and they cautioned that the Mayor would move quickly to steer the whole process in his favor. It came into clear view when, during the council meeting of August 13, the Mayor rode roughshod over Ward 3 Councillor Halberstadt’s motion to bring in the Ontario Auditor General. Instead, Mr. Francis introduced his own motion to bring in the Minister of Municipal Affairs John Gerretson. Alan Halberstadt put it best in his blog:

"It is becoming clear that the key to the provincial municipal audit of the Windsor Utilities Commission will be how the terms of reference are framed, narrowly or broadly.
One gentleman who called me is referring to the exercise as "Audit Lite." He is urging Council to insist on participating in the drafting of the terms of reference for a full operational audit, and wants to make sure that the review is not limited to WUC, but also includes sister company Enwin Utilities.
Who knew what when? This is the question that is emerging surrounding the dramatic 83-percent water rate increase on August 1st. The present WUC regime, which has been at the helm for almost four years, has blamed the old regime.
Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter told me (if he did the audit) that he would request a list of issues or concerns from the municipality. Once he went in he would have free rein to look under all stones. My motion to bring in the AG at last Monday's Council meeting was trumped by a motion from Mayor Francis to ask the Minister of Municipal Affairs to appoint auditors to carry out a probe.
I will reserve judgment on those unnamed folks. I do sense that McCarter is a guy who takes no prisoners”.

This choice is questionable for a number of reasons but most importantly, this body (Ministry of Municipal Affairs) is one which interacts with Municipalities on an almost daily basis. The players are far too familiar with one another.

A new question also comes into play: The Mayor deliberately withheld news from both the media and the public that Minister Gerretson accepted his offer to conduct the audit last Friday. Mr. Francis refused to say yesterday why he sat on the information for so long. That’s a whole lot of time to get ones ducks in order and it smacks of the same kind of tactics which he has been employing all along. The Windsor Star has questioned this and so have other news sources.

Terms of Reference

Mr. Halberstadt is right. This will have a significant impact on the audit’s terms of reference. Already the Minister of Municipal affairs is saying that the next step is to meet with city leaders to determine the terms of reference and the scope of the audit.
No mention was made about other stakeholders such as WUC customers and taxpayers.
This also means that every City Councillor who has been or is currently associated with the WUC will be a part of the process. That’s like having the fox preside over the chicken coup to determine who raided the coup. This is wrong! The Audit’s terms of reference must be drafted sans any input from current or past commissioners or anyone having conducted any WUC business. This list would include current WUC Chair Ken Lewenza Jr., Councillors David Brister, Ron Jones and Bill Marra, and past Chair and current ring leader Mayor Eddie Francis. Clearly, what is at risk here is PUBLIC TRUST. To regain that, this audit has to be conducted in a fair and extensive manner. It cannot be the “audit lite” which councillor Halberstadt referred to. The public is incensed with the continuous misinformation, spinning and ducking of the WUC and the Mayor. They are particularly enflamed about being perceived as stupid. By now, the Mayor and WUC Chairs should be able to see very clearly that they owe their electorate a great deal more respect.

So what’s next? This has to be the hot topic during this coming Monday’s council meeting. E-mail your councillors and persuade them to second Alan Halberstadt’s motion to bring in the Auditor General (Jim McCarter) to run the audit as opposed to the Mayor’s Minister of Municipal Affairs. We want a full, operational audit! The audit should also include the practices of Enwin. You can find them here:

http://www.citywindsor.ca/002244.asp

If you want to address council personally you can contact City Council Services so that you can speak to Council this coming Monday. (you have to register tomorrow – Friday):

Council Services, 350 City Hall Square West, Room 203, Windsor, Ontario N9A 6S1 Canada
Council Agenda Desk, call (519) 255-6432

clerks@city.windsor.on.ca

Bloggers should get as much info as possible, and right away to both the Auditor General (Jim McCarter) and to the Minister of Municipal Affairs (John Gerretson). They need all background information and the timeline because they probably won’t get this side of the story from city leaders. Finally; Alan Halberstadt has already exploded out of the blocks so he should lead the charge. He has to convince his council peers to do what is right and accountable. Get them to second the motion to bring in the AG. Councillors have to come around on this whether they are in the middle of it or just sitting on the fence. Give us confidence now because the stench of rotten fish can linger for a long time.

For full background please refer to Nooozbitz in the left column:

August 8, 2007

WAS THAT A RUSH OR WHAT?

In a perfect world stuff like the FLUSH campaign happens. A tidal wave of citizen anger and concern rushed staight for the Windsor Utilities Commission via their own communication network. Pipeline if you will. While some citizens worried that such an event might wreak havoc within our geriatric infrastructure most people were quite at ease knowing that it physically wouldn't amount to much more than a dry run.

Did the message get through? You bet it did. Loud and clear. Area politicians and the WUC are stinging from a quick lesson learned: Never, ever assume that your constituents or your customers are stupid. Any advertising executive knows that's a sure fire way to lose business. There won't be any surprise if this WUC fiasco resonates well out towards the next municipal election. Our current City Council might want to button up their slickers for that water storm.

So now what? By all accounts it looks like the Mayor and Council have ceded to opening up a third party forensic audit. They're all pounding their pecks yelling "Bring it on!" The audit will be a good thing. It will set this thing straight and pave the way for a more responsible and accountable utility. Petitions for bringing in the Auditor General are available from this blog under NOOzbits to the left and at other locations listed below. Please download it and get a few neighbours to sign on. The sooner the better.

A Ton of Thanks:

First and foremost we have to thank the following area bloggers for their dedicated and relentless coverage of this event:

Ed Arditti - Windsor City Blog

Continuous and relevant insight into the politics of City council and the WUC http://windsorcityon.blogspot.com/2007/08/watermain-gate-judicial-inquiry-needed.html

Chris schnurr - Sound Off with Chriss Schnurr

Insightful forensic reporting

http://chrisschnurr.wordpress.com/2007/08/07/lakeshore-to-replace-56km-of-water-main-for-112-million/

Paul Synnott - Windsor Municipal Shadow

Reporter, Number Cruncher and Campaign Driver http://windsormunicipal.blogspot.com/2007/08/flush-to-vote-results.html

Alan Halberstadt - Alan Halberstadt.com

City Councillor - Guts enough to call for audit. http://www.alanhalberstadt.com/

We Speak - Kept the banner front and center

http://www.windsoressexspeak.com/

Special thanks to AChannel for helping us to put wings on this thing and very special thanks to Al Pervin from CKLW radio who's show was well done, balanced, polite and a class act.

Thanks to everyone who voiced opininions and kept the dialogue up on all of the blogs and thanks to everyone who voiced commentary in the Windsor Star's Letters to the Editor. Here are some of those:

Rate Hikes are more reason city worth leaving

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=1f68afe6-c601-4d0b-9b94-a12c3d327330

Employees, not customers at fault in Enwin Bill fiasco

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=d19fd6ae-9fb2-416a-98b9-d7ddc1f7a879

Customers "hostage" to WUC incompetence

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=17581462-0843-477f-b3b5-72204e35b7b4

Rate hikes will victimize those on fixed incomes

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=a2cb43b6-0c2a-459d-8e25-89e60a70ae1b

Windsorites on hook for city leader's failures

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/letters/story.html?id=3f172a79-f7ad-471c-ac66-ab1a733aa5bb

Favourites: