Case Studies for City Government

City of Durham • 1st January 2025

Participatory Budgeting Paper Ballot Research

In 2023, the City of Durham conducted Cycle III of the Participatory Budgeting (PB) program. The I-Team conducted an in-depth review and redesign of the program's paper ballots, and tested them during the voting period.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

2019 Municipal Composting Study

In 2019, the City’s I-Team partnered with the Solid Waste Management Department and the Center for Advanced Hindsight at Duke University to conduct several resident-based evaluations for designing and implementing a city curbside composting program.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

Durham Expunction & Reinstatement Program (DEAR)

In 2017, the I-Team's research into the barriers facing justice-involved Durham residents and their efforts to find solutions in overcoming these barriers led to the creation of the Durham Expunction & Reinstatement Program (DEAR).

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

Equal Business Opportunity "Re-Form" Project

The City of Durham maintains goals for MWBE contracting, but has struggled to reach these goals in recent years. In the spring of 2022, the I-Team was asked contribute to a project addressing equitable contracting.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

2021 Global Mayors Challenge Proposal

In the wake of COVID-19, the I-Team worked alongside various partners to address the pandemic through a proposed project entered into the Bloomberg Global Mayor's Challenge. The City of Durham’s proposal was selected as one of 50 finalists.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

Ordinance Equity Review Project

In the summer of 2022, the Innovation Team was tasked with designing and piloting a proactive review process for the Code of Ordinances as a part of the City's Continuous Improvement Plan.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

Welcome Home

Hundreds of residents return to Durham each year from prison. Many struggle to find work, homes, and basic necessities needed to re-establish themselves in society. In 2017, the I-Team helped develop and launch a prototype for the Welcome Home Program.

City of Durham • 8th January 2024

Equitable Collections: Water Hardship Fund Process Improvement

As a part of the CAFFE initiative for FY 2019-20, city leadership identified improving the Water Hardship Fund (WHF) process as one of the priorities for municipal collections reform. The I-Team was tasked with overseeing this process improvement.

City of Durham • 1st January 2024

Accessible Durham Project

In 2023, the Innovation Team collaborated with a Duke Occupational Therapy doctoral student to design an accessibility assessment tool for parks and libraries in the City of Durham.

City of Durham • 1st January 2024

Real Estate Acquisition Process Mapping | Durham, NC

The I-Team partnered with The City's Real Estate Division of General Services to create a streamlined in-house acquisition process for the future team in a transition period for the division.

City of Durham • 1st January 2024

Contract Approval Thresholds Review

The City of Durham's contract approval process has remained largely unchanged since 2009. In Spring 2024, the I-Team completed a comprehensive analysis of the financial thresholds that require City Council review.

City of Durham • 1st January 2024

Enhancing Usability of EngageDurham Site

ENGAGEDurham is a public-facing platform for community engagement. Despite its potential as a unified portal for engagement across the City, the platform has been underutilized. The I-Team collaborated with Planning to reimagine it for broader use.

City of Durham • 8th January 2023

Adopt-A-Street Cost/Benefit Analysis

The City of Durham’s Adopt-a-Street program leverages volunteer personnel to remove litter from the City’s roadways. As a part of the City’s 2022-23 Continuous Improvement work plan, the Innovation Team conducted a cost-benefit analysis of the program.

City of Durham • 1st January 2024

Fire Overtime Payroll Process Improvement

The Innovation Team, in partnership with the Durham Fire Department, undertook an initiative to streamline and improve the DFD’s overtime payroll process as part of the 2024 Continuous Improvement Program.