|
Dear Residents of Mayfield Heights,
Thank you for the privilege of serving as your mayor. These first three months have been busy, exciting, and deeply meaningful. Every conversation, every meeting, and every decision has been guided by one simple question: what is best for our community as a whole?
With my new leadership role, I have been spending time researching, asking questions, and carefully working through decisions to ensure that what we do today will strengthen Mayfield Heights for tomorrow. I would like to share what I have been working on over the past 3.5 months.
Meetings & Collaboration
Building relationships is not just part of the job; it is how we advance our city. Over the past few months, I have met with mayors from nearby communities. These conversations are important. When cities collaborate, we can address issues more effectively, exchange ideas, and advocate for resources that benefit all our residents and businesses. For instance, I have met with Pepper Pike’s Mayor Bain to collaborate on the much-needed Cedar Road project. We both applied for the Cuyahoga County 50/50 program, which is a cost-sharing grant in hopes of working together to get the Cedar Road project underway in 2027.
I recently met with Dr. Brian Harte, President of Hillcrest and Mentor Hospitals. With Hillcrest Hospital as one of our largest employers in Mayfield Heights, building a strong relationship helps improve communication and supports jobs, strengthening our city’s economy. I look forward to more conversations with Dr. Harte.
I have been working closely with Economic Development Director Jeremy Rowan. I recently wrote a letter to introduce myself, which was included in the quarterly economic development newsletter. The goal of the letter is to meet with and build relationships with Corporate Park CEOs. In the coming months, I will be hosting business leaders at City Hall for a meet-and-greet.
At the state level, I met with State Senator Jerry Cirino and State Representative Phil Robinson. Both meetings focused on the Ohio Capital Budget application and ways to secure funding for community projects. These include parks and recreation, cultural, and sports facilities.
This week, I will have the honor of Senator Cirino visiting City Hall to discuss the Mayfield Road project. Later this month I will meet with ODOT. I hope these meetings will help us secure the proper funding and support for our deteriorating Mayfield Road.
Closer to home, I am working side by side with city engineer Nick Fini on the Marnell project. I walked the site to learn more about the project. I wanted to learn what the project entails and understand the different pipes and infrastructure materials. Walking the site allowed me to see first-hand what is being placed underground in our city streets. I will do the same when the Washington Road project begins later this year.
Training & Education
Good leadership requires continued learning. I attended a New Mayor and City Manager workshop in Columbus. I gained valuable insight and practical tools that I am already applying here in Mayfield Heights. My goal is always to bring back knowledge that helps us serve you better.
What is to Come?
The pillars of my focus.
Over the next four years, I will focus on the following: communication and community connection, safety in our city, infrastructure, and expanding community events and celebrations.
Communication and Community Connection
You deserve to know what is happening in our city so you can feel connected. For this reason, we have expanded our communications department to bring you better and more information. This newsletter is one step in that effort. In the coming weeks, look for The Friday Five on our social media. We will recap five key points from that week to keep you up to date. In May, you will receive the spring/summer newsletter. The fall/winter edition will be mailed out in September. It will contain relevant information from each department. In June, you will receive the second edition of Destination Mayfield Heights. Finally, we are updating and redesigning the City Service Guide to keep you informed of your city services.
As it is important to communicate with our community, it is equally important to stay connected within City Hall. Here at city hall, we are holding monthly staff meetings, director's weekly wrap-ups, an open-door policy with all employees, and expanding our communications department. This will hopefully keep our departments working together, so they are also connected to our community and to each other.
Community Safety
A strong community is one that cares for one another. It has been my privilege to attend the first Mayfield Heights Police Foundation fundraiser last month. It was inspiring to see such strong support for the fundraiser, which will allow the foundation to use funds to benefit the community through scholarship programs, donations, and future activities.
I’m excited to share with you that the police department is now part of Ohio’s Blue Envelope Program. This statewide initiative serves as a communication tool to assist drivers with developmental disabilities or communication barriers during traffic stops or interactions with first responders. The program includes a blue envelope to hold essential documents such as a driver’s license, registration, and insurance, along with a window decal to alert officers. The envelope also allows individuals to note medical conditions, communication needs, and emergency contacts to help first responders provide appropriate assistance. Blue Envelopes are available free of charge at the lobby window of the Mayfield Heights Police Department.
As you drive past City Hall, you will see 100 blue pinwheels in support of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and loved. These pinwheels symbolize hope and positivity. They represent the possibility that every child can experience joy and safety as a spin in the sunlight and move with the wind; they remind us that even small actions can bring light and change into a child’s life.
Infrastructure & Investment
Caring for our city also means investing in it. Infrastructure is one of my top priorities because it affects everyone’s daily life. From roads to public spaces, these are the foundations of a strong and thriving community. As I mentioned earlier, we are actively working with ODOT and state leaders on the Mayfield Road project, collaborating regionally on Cedar Road, advancing the Marnell project, and pursuing funding to improve our parks.
Additionally, we have started preparations to revise the city’s master plan. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.
Community Events & Celebrations
One of the best parts of this role is being with you. I had the pleasure of attending the sold-out Taste of Italy dinner, my first one as mayor. It was an amazing night of music, delicious food, and a start to a year of special events. The Annual Pancake Breakfast was a huge success. While our city council and I served pancakes, our residents had an opportunity to stroll down memory lane, viewing tables of collectibles from each City Hall department, all part of Mayfield Heights’ history on display to kick off The America 250/Mayfield Heights 76 celebration. We have planned celebrations throughout this year to honor where we have been, recognize who we are today, and look ahead to the future and its new beginnings.
Additional events include:
• June 14: Flag Day featuring our annual parade.
• July 2: Red, White, and Blue Day - a birthday celebration for our country and Mayfield Heights becoming a chartered city, featuring a concert with Disco Inferno and fireworks.
• August 6: Salute to Service A First Responders Night featuring free hot dogs and inflatables for the kids.
• August 20: Back to the Fifty’s Sock Hop & Car Show
• September 26: Brats, Brews & Pierogis, a laid-back fall night with good food, cold beer, live music, and plenty of laughs.
• December 4: Holiday Fest featuring horse-drawn wagon rides and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus
• Reel Escapes: Ohio Goes to the Movies is a statewide celebration of movies showcasing Ohioans: actors, directors, writers, composers, locations, and topics.
Some are long-time traditions. Others are new. All are designed to bring us together.
You can find full event details here:
These first three months have reinforced why I chose to serve the community. I am committed to serving you with integrity, with thoughtfulness, and with a deep sense of responsibility. Thank you again for the opportunity. We are just getting started, and I look forward to what we will accomplish together.
With gratitude,
Diane M. Snider, Mayor
City of Mayfield Heights
| 
