April 2020 · Produced by Marketing & Communications

COVID-19 NEWS
- Stay-at-home Order in Effect
- Bulky Item Collections Suspended
- City Allocates 1 Million to Help Economic Victims of COVID-19
- City Council to Meet Online
Local Governance Study Commission Recommends 10-Member City Council with Two At-Large Seats
City Seeking Comment on Draft Housing/Community Development Plan

Mayor Joines announcing Stay-at-Home order

Stay-at-home Order in Effect

Mayor Allen Joines has ordered all city residents to stay home to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The order exempts essential businesses and services and lists the circumstances under which residents may venture out of their homes. City employees who provide essential services, as defined in the order, are also exempt. The order will be in effect through April 16 but notes that it will be reviewed regularly and may be amended as circumstances dictate. READ THE ORDER

Bulky Item Collections Suspended

The city has suspended its annual bulky item collection until further notice due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus. Suspending collections will ensure sufficient staffing for garbage collections and prevent crews from being exposed to contaminated household items.

Mayor Joines announcing donation for COVID-19

City Allocates $1 Million to Help Economic Victims of COVID-19

The city will contribute $1 million to match contributions to the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County that will support residents economically impacted by the COVID-19 virus. The fund is being administered by the Winston-Salem Foundation and is accepting donations of any amount from city residents. Residents can contribute by going to COVID19Forsyth.org. READ MORE

City Council to Meet Online

The April 6 meeting of the Winston-Salem City Council will be conducted online in order to comply with the social distancing recommendations for fighting the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The meeting will begin at the regular time, 7 p.m. City residents can watch the meeting live on WSTV digital media (channel 13 on Spectrum or channel 99 on AT&T Uverse) or online through the city website. To watch online, go to CityofWS.org, click on the round “Agendas” button below the image, and then click on the Watch meetings live link in the page text.

Local Governance Study Commission Recommends 10-Member City Council with Two At-Large Seats

The Winston-Salem Local Governance Study Commission has recommended that Winston-Salem change to a 10-member city council, with eight members elected by wards and two elected citywide by all voters in the city. Other than this change, the committee recommended keeping the status quo: that council members be elected to four-year terms; that all terms run concurrently; that elections be partisan and held on even-number years; and that the mayor be elected at large and only vote at council meetings to break a tie.

Mayor Allen Joines and N.C. Reps. Donny Lambeth and Debra Conrad jointly formed the commission and asked it to evaluate the city’s election process with a goal of having recommendations in place before the start of the General Assembly’s 2020 session. The recommendations will also be sent to the City Council, which is allowed under N.C. law to change any aspect of the city’s election process except the timing of council elections. Election timing can only be changed by the General Assembly, which also has the final say over all aspects of the city’s election process. READ MORE

City Seeking Comment on Draft Housing/Community Development Plan

City officials are soliciting public feedback on their draft 2020-2021 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Plan. The plan outlines the amount and types of housing, community services, and economic opportunities needed in Winston-Salem to serve low- and moderate income and homeless residents and those with disabilities, and how various federal housing programs would be used to address those needs.

The draft plan will be available for public review and comment Thursday, April 9, through 5 p.m. Friday, May 8 and will be posted at CityofWS.org/170/Annual-Action-Plans. Citizens without access to a computer can request the draft by mail by calling Mellin Parker at 336-734-1310 or emailing mellinp@cityofws.org. Comments should be submitted by email to Parker at the above email address (type “Con Plan Comments” in the subject line) or mailed to Con Plan Comments, Community Development Department, City of Winston-Salem, P.O. Box 2511, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27102.

For more information about these stories, or to report a problem or request services, call CityLink at 336-727-8000 or 311 within Winston-Salem city limits.

City of Winston-Salem

Mayor: Allen Joines
City Council: Vivian H. Burke, Mayor Pro Tempore, Northeast Ward; Denise D. Adams, North Ward; Dan Besse, Southwest Ward; Robert C. Clark, West Ward; John C. Larson, South Ward; Jeff MacIntosh, Northwest Ward; Annette Scippio, East Ward; James Taylor, Jr., Southeast Ward
City Manager: Lee Garrity

Subscribe to City Edition · View all Newsletters · City of Winston-Salem Home Page