Happy Birthday to Us!

City's Bicentennial celebration is off & running.

An exciting array of events is planned in celebration of Greensboro’s 200th birthday, thanks to the Greensboro Bicentennial Commission and many community groups. The official celebration lasts from March 25 through May 17, 2008.
 
The celebration begins with a Torch Relay, encompassing Greensboro neighborhoods, from March 25-28, ending with an Opening Ceremony on March 28 at NewBridge Bank Park. Relays will be held each day from 4-7 pm. View the routes.

As the torch is carried into the park, it will lead in 200 members of the Greensboro community who collectively represent our 200 years. The ceremony will feature a variety of children's games, historical representations, music by local artists, and fireworks. Gates open at 6 pm, and the event is free and open to the public.

 Water Restrictions Relaxed to Stage IIA

Residents may now water lawns on their trash collection day and wash cars at home.

The City’s Water Resources Department has relaxed water restrictions from Mandatory Stage IIB to Mandatory Stage IIA. This allows residents to water their lawn on their trash collection day and to wash their cars at home. Commercial businesses with more than one trash collection day and those water customers who live outside the city limits may use sprinklers on Wednesdays.

Recent rains have filled the city's reservoirs to 95 percent of capacity. But the drought isn't over, and there's still a need to conserve.

“I’m optimistic about the state of Greensboro’s water supply," said Water Resources Director Allan Williams. "However because of long-term lack of rainfall, stream flows are extraordinarily low and for that reason everyone needs to continue to conserve.”

Drier-than-normal weather is predicted during the next few months, but Williams said changes to restrictions are unlikely in the near future.

> Get more information about the mandatory restrictions.

Plan addresses departmental issues and communications.

On March 14, City Manager Mitch Johnson presented his Action Plan to City Council members. The plan incorporates issues that Council asked him to address, including a reorganization of the City Manager’s Office, dealing with issues in the Fire Department and Parks & Recreation Department, and improving communications with Council members. The plan outlines steps the City Manager has implemented to meet these goals, including:

Reorganization of City Manager's Office:

• Assistant City Manager Bob Morgan has been promoted to Deputy City Manager
• GDOT Director Jim Westmoreland has been selected to be Acting Assistant City Manager of Economic Development Services

Fire Department issues:

• Fire command personnel have been interviewed to determine the extent of issues in the department
• A Request for Proposals has been developed to hire a consultant to evaluate the department and its leadership and to make recommendations to address any issues

Parks & Recreation Department Issues:

• A confidential mediation was held to discuss eight EEOC claims filed by P&R employees; however, the parties were not able to resolve the matter. The EEOC will continue its investigation.
• In the meantime, to prevent similar issues, the City has expanded its job advertisement requirements; revised its grievance process to include internal mediation; and is providing several developmental opportunities to personnel, such as customer service, conflict resolution, and diversity training.

Communications:

The City Manager provided a report to Council at its February 19 meeting. He plans to continue preparing regular Council memos and calling Council members as necessary. He is open to additional ideas from Council on improving communications. 

> Read the full Action Plan.

Questions or comments about this newsletter should be addressed to: Elaine Tricoli, Interim Communications Manager, 373-2421 or email.