Take the Pledge to Conserve

April is Earth month, the perfect time to teach elementary school-age children about conservation, environmental issues and energy efficiency as it applies to their everyday world. Tools that empower and challenge young people, such as the Conservation Pledge and the Planet Earth Word Search, help them understand how activities and choices impact our limited resources.

Stormwater Program Recognized for Excellence

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources recognized the City of Raleigh Stormwater Management Division’s Sedimentation and Erosion control program as its Large Program Award winner for a second time. A key feature is the innovative organization of inspection duties. The City is divided into two sections, each with a team of 3-4 inspectors, and staff rotation ensures a site will not have the same inspector throughout the life of the project. This results in consistency and fairness and a higher level of customer service since multiple inspectors can answer questions about onsite issues. Staff with expertise to identify and address impacts is especially important as an area subject to state riparian buffer rules, and ultimately results in a more well-rounded program. 

State of Downtown: Raleigh

Learn more about Raleigh's central business district’s economic future at the State of Downtown event April 30. A dynamic place to live with an unmatched variety of amenities, downtown is a valuable asset stemming from a tax valuation in the billions that provide surplus revenues for Raleigh and Wake County. Imprint Awards will also be given to new construction and rehabilitation projects completed in 2014 significantly contributing to the identity of downtown Raleigh.

Digital Inclusion Survey

Raleigh is embarking on a months-long effort to collect information about residents’ access to technology and how they use it. Finding out what people need from a municipal IT department is part of a larger four-year effort to become more community-focused and fill in digital gaps. The survey will collect demographic information as well as information about digital habits, and will help the City create targeted programs to respond to residents' needs.