Your City, Answered

Community Engagement Analyst Lance Shinholser joins us to preview the Engage Raleigh Expo, featuring 90 exhibitors, the Raleigh Neighborhood Exchange, and three workshops exploring “Community in a Digital Age."

Raleigh’s yard waste collection is getting a refresh—and we’re breaking it all down. In this episode, Solid Waste Services Director Shikha Gupta and Sr. Communications Analyst Ellen Mathis join us to explain the City’s new weekly pickup program launching September 8. They walk us through the shift from loose, curbside leaf piles to a system where leaves must be bagged or placed in bins, and why this change matters for safety, accessibility, and stormwater health.

In this episode, we dive into what’s next for the Chavis–Dix Strollway and why community perspectives are at the heart of the project. City of Raleigh team members Ken Bowers and Dhanya Sandeep share how the cultural trail is being shaped by the stories, memories, and lived experiences of residents. They discuss the big‑picture vision behind the concept plan—and why this moment is critical for gathering input that will guide the trail’s elements for generations to come.

In this episode, we sit down with Raleigh Stormwater's Heather Montgomery and Justin Harcum to discuss the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). We learned that GSI captures rainwater where it falls—helping clean the water, replenish the local water supply, and reduce nuisance flooding.We also explored Raleigh Rainwater Rewards, the City’s cost‑share program that helps property owners install GSI features such as rain gardens, cisterns, green roofs, and permeable pavement. Tune in to learn how the program works, who’s eligible, and how you can get started.

This episode provides some insight into how the Raleigh Police Department and the Office of Special Events and Hospitality are working together to enforce the updated noise ordinance for amplified entertainment establishments downtown.With the January 1 revision came the introduction of civilian compliance officers dedicated to helping residents and business owners navigate the rules. Hear how these officers have built strong relationships, encouraged voluntary compliance, and helped create a more balanced, cooperative approach to managing noise in a growing city.