How well do you know your city?

With a quick look through the City of Charleston website, one can find many helpful resources, interesting facts and ways to get involved. Although the website is readily available for any who want to visit, many find the wealth of information overwhelming or difficult to navigate.

In order to aid with this, the City of Charleston Department of Planning, Preservation & Sustainability decided to host a civic engagement workshop recently entitled “I’m a resident - now what?” and being a new resident to the Charleston area, my editor and I thought it would be interesting for me to attend.

While the workshop was basically a breakdown of the website in depth, it did open my eyes to the many facets that the city operates under and the many ways for Holy City dwellers to get involved.

To share some of what I learned, I decided to create a fun game of “true or false” using some of the most interesting tidbits I gleaned from the workshop and my own research in exploring the city’s website.

So how well do you know your city? Test your knowledge below:

True or false - The City of Charleston has a special department that investigates nuisance complaints between neighbors.

Answer: True – The “Liveability” Department, in addition to nuisance issues, looks into unregistered or inoperable vehicles on private property and responds to graffiti complaints, illegal dumping violations and more.

True or false - The City of Charleston is hoping to plant 5,000 new trees.

Answer: False -- It’s actually 10,000 trees! In fact, with close to 8,000 trees planted since 2012 the city is well on their way. If you have planted a new tree on your property, you can add it to their list.

True or false - The body camera model utilized within the State of South Carolina by police started within the Charleston Police Department.

Answer: True -- It’s actually ahead of the policy in the country. Officers are required to initiate the body camera before responding to the call, rather than once they arrive. A supervisor reviews all videos.

True or false - The City of Charleston Fire Department has 12 stations in all.

Answer: False – There are 15 total stations spread throughout the city’s main four areas/battalions, ensuring that all residents are covered (the Peninsula, Daniel Island, West Ashley and James/John Island).

True or false - You have to have specific experience to be a part of City of Charleston boards, commissions and committees.

Answer: False -- Any resident can join! On the City of Charleston website (www.charleston-sc.gov/boards), anyone can apply to join a board, commission or committee if there is an opening. You are provided an opportunity to include a “brief resume of education and experience” as well as letters of recommendation.

True or false - Parking meters within the city will soon implement a credit card program.

Answer: True -- According to Deputy Director of Traffic and Transportation Robert Somerville, the parking meters throughout the city will allow options to pay with coin/smart card and credit card. These meters will also be real-time, constantly sending information back to the transportation department.

True or false - The City of Charleston has a sister city in Italy.

Answer: True -- Through the Spoleto-Charleston Initiative, the city is aiming to promote and facilitate exchanges between Charleston and Spoleto, Italy in hopes of providing opportunities for citizens to develop a mutual understanding and appreciation of the culture of each city, while also strengthening the connections between cities, their regions and their countries.

True or false - The City of Charleston has a program dedicated to making Charleston “the healthiest city in South Carolina.”

Answer: False – The program is actually aiming to make Charleston the healthiest city in the entire Southeast! The “Lighten Up Charleston” Steering Committee, made up of members of the City of Charleston, local hospitals, schools and colleges, businesses, health agencies, physicians and community leaders, created the Lighten Up Charleston website (www.lightenupcharleston.com) with the mission of “bringing together local resources to help the residents of the Charleston area become healthier.”

These helpful resources and facts about “Chucktown” and more are all easily accessible by visiting the City of Charleston website at www.charleston-sc.gov.

If interested in learning more about the next “I’m a resident, now what?” workshop, email City of Charleston Program Coordinator Meg Thompson at thompsonm@charleston-sc.gov.