During its first meeting of 2011, Greensboro City Council accepted the City's sustainability action plan. The plan, which calls for a stabilization of greenhouse gases, was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and completed by the City's Community Sustainability Council (CSC). It details a comprehensive vision of how the City and the community can become more energy efficient, healthy and economically viable by the year 2020. If implemented, the CSC reports the City could effectively reduce harmful emissions by 17 percent over the next 10 years.

Council also approved an additional water rate reduction of 3 percent. This action comes after the City received a $2 million refund from the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority for the reduced cost of construction of the Randleman Regional Reservoir. The reduction follows an initial 3 percent drop in water rates that went into effect on January 1.  

The next City Council meeting is set for Tuesday, January 18, at 5:30 pm in the Council Chamber of the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St.

The City's Human Relations Commission will sponsor its annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial breakfast at 7:30 am, Monday, January 17, at Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center.

This year's keynote speaker is Imam Yahya Abdullah of the Islamic Association of Desoto, Texas. Over the last 25 years, Abdullah has participated in multiple interfaith dialogues and has been honored by former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush for his dedication to community service.

For more information, contact the Human Relations Department at 336-373-2038.