City Departments & Services

  
Departments & Services Descriptions

Budget and Evaluation
Directs resources to meet the needs of city departments and city residents.

Central Warehouse
Provides departments with supplies, tools, operating equipment, and surplus disposal service in a cost efficient and effective manner through consolidated purchasing and centralized storage.

City Attorney
Responsible for legal counsel to the mayor and city council, city boards and agencies, the city manager, and other administrators.

City Council
Elected by citizens in each of eight wards in the city. Adopts and provides for all ordinances, rules, and regulations as necessary for the general welfare of the city.

City Link
City Link centralizes access to city information and services through one, easy-to-remember phone number. Dial 727-8000 to speak with a professional customer service representative who will answer your questions, provide information, or dispatch a service request for work to be completed.

City Manager
The City Manager is hired by the city council to put policies determined by city council into action and to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city.

City Secretary
Prepares and maintains complete and accurate records of the proceedings of the city council members, to provide clerical support to the council members, and to furnish information and assistance to citizens.

Coliseum, LJVM Entertainment Complex
Bowman Gray Stadium, Coliseum Annex, Dixie Classic Fair, Ernie Shore Field, Joel Coliseum, Joel Coliseum Theater, and Meeting rooms.

Development Office
Monitors and promotes economic development opportunities throughout the City of Winston-Salem.

Emergency Management
Aids the community before, during and after unusual events and major disasters through credible educational services, open communications and cooperative efforts.

Engineering
Designs and constructs water and sewer projects, streets and sidewalks, buildings, and other capital improvements. Reviews and inspects privately constructed street and utility projects to ensure compliance with city standards and provide information and guidance to private developers.

Fire
Services include fire suppression, fire prevention, and public education.

Fleet Services
Responsible for management of approximately 1,600 vehicles and motorized equipment in the City's fleet; The department also provides loaner vehicles for down units, courtesy vehicles for use by City Departments, fueling services, and maintenance for all City vehicles and equipment.

Housing/Neighborhood Development (HND)
The Housing/Neighborhood Development (H/ND) department is responsible for oversight and coordination of local and federally-funded housing and community development programs that are administered by City departments, the County Office of Housing, and other public and non-profit agencies.

Human Relations
Investigates and mediates complaints of discrimination and develops programs to promote positive community relations.

Human Resources (HR)
Hires employees, administers benefits, and provides training opportunities for city employees.

Information Systems (I.S.)
Provides technology infrastructure, planning, guidance, and resource management to assist the city in achieving its business objectives.

Inspections 
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division is responsible for permitting and inspecting all new building, electrical, plumbing and heating construction within the city of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County excluding the town of Kernersville.

Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful (KWSB)
Enhances the appearance of the city through clean-up events, beautification projects and educational activities.

Marketing and Communications
Maintains the city’s web site, produces CityPage, a full-page advertisement published periodically in the Winston-Salem Journal and The Chronicle; produces CityLine, a newsletter about city services inserted quarterly in water bills; and issues press releases to keep local reporters informed about events affecting city residents.

Mayor
The mayor presides at all meetings of the council, votes in case of a tie, provides leadership on policy issues, recommends appointments to city boards and commissions, carries out special responsibilities during emergencies and represents the city at official functions.

Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise Program (M/WBE)
This program identifies and certifies qualified minority and women-owned business enterprises to provide goods and services to the city.

Neighborhood Services
Conserves and improves the city's existing housing stock, promotes the stabilization and revitalization of deteriorating and disadvantaged neighborhoods, and provides assistance in the planning and implementation of improvements a neighborhood may wish to undertake.

Planning
City-County agency responsible for planning for the physical development of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Police
The Police Department ensures that all ordinances and laws of the city are enforced.

Property Maintenance
Provides prevention and maintenance for City owned buildings and facilities, including carpentry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and custodial services.

Public Works 
Provides clean water; maintains roadways; provides transit service; inspects new buildings; collects trash, leaves, and yard waste; and ensures that stormwater is effectively controlled and stormwater pollution is reduced; maintains City cemeteries; and maintains public landscaping.

Real Estate
Assists city departments by acquiring property for road systems, public utilities, public facilities, and community development. Sells and conveys property in redevelopment areas; leases or sells property for city needs; and provides information to the public in response to queries regarding real estate and other city functions.

Recreation and Parks
Recreation and Parks provides activies through recreation centers, parks, pools, golf courses and other facilities. Summer camp programs are available for the children.

Recycle Today
Provides weekly recycling collection to small businesses, single family households, and   multifamily households. Curbside collection is performed by Waste Management, a private contractor.

Sanitation
Provides collection of trash, yard carts, brush, bulky items, commercial (dumpster) collection, and dead animals.

Streets
Maintains the infrastructure of city streets, sidewalks, and drainage systems and provides emergency services to ensure safe and reliable roadways.

Stormwater
Restores, protects, and preserves the surface waters within the City of Winston-Salem and maintains, repairs, maps, and evaluates drainage systems within the street right-of-way.

Transportation
Provides safe and efficient transportation for people and goods in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Maintains and improves roadway conditions, and develops transportation plans.

Utilities
The Utilities Division's primary responsibility is to collect, treat, and distribute water, waste water and solid waste.

Vegetation Management
Responsible for mowing and beautification of rights of way, cul-de-sacs and road and street slopes throughout the city.

WSTA 
The Winston-Salem Transit Authority provides City bus services, as well as county-wide transportation services for the physically handicapped.