Council moves to strengthen downtown safety, trim water rates
 

At its November 16 meeting, Greensboro City Council approved three ordinance changes designed to maintain a safe and welcoming nighttime environment in downtown Greensboro. Among the changes, the City will enact a curfew that will require individuals 17 and under to be accompanied by a parent or guardian (18 or older) while in the downtown vicinity between 11 pm and 6 am. In addition, Council strengthened its crowd control and public health ordinances and penalties by strengthening laws to prevent anyone from blocking or obstructing free passage into or out of City parking decks and businesses, and by banning loitering within 50 feet of businesses that serve alcohol. 

 

Council also voted to lower water rate fees by 3 percent, reducing the 6 percent increase that was implemented in July. The new rates, for city residents only, go into effect January 1, 2011.

 

In other action, Council removed from the agenda proposals to change the public comment period of future council meetings. The topic will be discussed further during the annual Council retreat, scheduled for early January. 

To view the entire meeting or past meetings, visit City Council's video archive page.

Through December 7, the Greensboro Youth Council (GYC) is conducting its annual Santa's Workshop Toy Drive. Residents are encouraged to clean out their closets and toy chests and donate gently-used toys for children, newborns to 13-years-old. The program also accepts new toys.

 

All used toys must be in good condition, while games and puzzles should be complete, boxed and taped. Toys should be placed in plastic bags or boxes. Violent toys (guns, spears, knives, etc.), food or clothing will not be accepted. Additional "Toy Giving Guidelines," along with information about drop-off sites and volunteer opportunities, can be found on the GYC Santa's Workshop Web page.

 

In addition, monetary donations will be accepted at the City of Greensboro Collections Office window, located at the 300 W. Washington St. entrance of the Melvin Municipal Office Building.

 

To learn more, contact the Greensboro Youth Council at 336-373-2734.

The 2010 Festival of Lights Celebration is set for Friday, December 3, from 6-9 pm in downtown Greensboro. Festivities include a musical stroll along Elm Street, Winter Wonderland at Hamburger Square Park at McGee and S. Elm Streets, and a community sing-along and tree lighting at Center City Park on N. Elm Street and Friendly Avenue.

 

Parking is free at all downtown parking decks and City surface lots.

For more information, visit the official Festival of Lights website.

 

The Greensboro Police Department has added two community forums for the month of December. The forums are set for Thursday, December 9, at Pearce Elementary School, 2006 Pleasant Ridge Rd., and for Thursday, December 16, at Warnersville Recreation Center, 601 Doak St. Both meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm.

Chief Ken Miller, senior command staff, and patrol commanders will provide crime statistics and discuss the functions of patrol work groups, call prioritization and other facts unique to each division. Chief Miller will also review changes in the police department's mission and core values revisions, the restructuring process, core strategies and discipline process revisions.

There will be a time set aside at each meeting for questions from the audience, or residents can leave their comments via this online form. For more information, contact Police Community Relations Director Anne Gregory at 336-373-2636 or visit the police department website.