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2020 Munchkin Summer Camp

  • 27
    Mar 20
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2020 Munchkin Summer Camp

MUNCHKIN SUMMER CAMP
Mission Statement: We strive to provide a fun, safe and successful program for students to learn and grow during the summer. We will provide each student with the opportunity to improve academically, socially and physically while minimizing summer learning loss.

2020 summer registration begins: March 1, 2020.

Packets will be available at City Hall, Waggoner Elementary School front office, Shirley Rominger Intermediate School front office and ALL Winters After School Program classrooms.

Download Packets (pdf):

more info...

  • 27
    Mar 20
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Friday Update on March 27 2020

All,

A couple items:

  • The City has received two proposals from consulting firms for the Housing Element Update. We will begin an internal review and schedule interviews.
  • Spring means the beginning of weed season. Look for lots of preliminary spraying and soil prep. This has been such an odd “winter” we expect the year to just be a wreck as far as overall abatement and maintenance.
  • The uncertainty of the economic climate has resulted in cancellations of meetings for a couple investors who were probing Winters. Really disappointing with opportunity loss and literally over a year of effort from the Staff standpoint. Kind of a gut punch during these difficult times.

For updates on City efforts related to the Covid 19 pandemic, go to: http://www.cityofwinters.org/business-resources-for-shelter-in-place/

Finally……..

This week has been pretty quiet at City Hall but also subtly sad as we are winding down the City careers of two of the finest people I have had the pleasure to work with in my career. Both Dan Maguire, the City’s Housing and Economic Development Manager and Carol Scianna our Environmental Services Manager are moving toward retirement. This week will be their last “official” work week and they will go on extended vacation leave through June, when their actual retirement dates will take effect.

Dan and Carol are really models for the City’s efforts to be an integral part of the Winters Community. They are part of a group which I classify as “all in” for Winters with their City position being a small part of their larger participation in their lives as important citizens who make Winters the place that it is. Maybe a share on their community contributions.

Carol is a past “Citizen of the Year” whose involvement in Winters stretches from the Winters Friends of the Library (past president probably 10 times), Winters Putah Creek Committee, Putah Creek Council, a volunteer with Winters Schools and within the business community. I truly think that WFoL is one of our best community organizations and it is because of leadership like Carol’s.  During the quest for a new Winters Community Library, I cannot think of anyone who worked harder and was more influential and committed to seeing that project come to fruition. Carol gives her all, literally pulling weeds in the middle of the roundabout a couple weeks ago with the Master Gardners. Without question, her 16.5 years working for the City has been an extension of her labor of love for Winters which is 24/7/365. As she moves into retirement, we can count on her just expanding her community efforts with a reality that she is not really going anywhere!

Dan is also a past “Citizen of the Year” whose involvement with the City began as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. Dan is a past President of the WJUSD Board of Trustees, a two time President of the Rotary Club of Winters and a Board Member for the Winters Education Foundation providing support for teachers and students. In his position with the City, he works to advance County-wide initiatives to address homelessness and is a key member of the Workforce Investment Board (WIB), working to create employment training and opportunities for folks.  I first met Dan at 2:00 am following the Earthquake Festival and we worked together taking down the portable light towers. He was worn and  tired, but was working tirelessly to make sure that everything was addressed before he went home. That is just the way Dan is!

I have given Dan and Carol a hard time about their well earned and justified retirements, mostly because we simply love working with people of their integrity, perseverance and commitment to our town. Both Dan and Carol have played major roles in the “Winters Renaissance” because they were the core of a group who really made it happen. There are people who you will meet in your life who leave major impressions, who accomplish amazing feats which impact many lives and leave an indelible mark on the community they selflessly serve. Dan and Carol are those people in Winters.

This pandemic will delay our party for them but the reality is that neither of them really cares about recognition, they just care about Winters and our community.

A sincere thanks to both for all the have done, do and will do in the future.

Thanks and have a nice weekend.

John

  • 24
    Mar 20
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03/24/2020 Live City Council Special Meeting

  • 23
    Mar 20
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03/24/2020 City Council Special Meeting Remote Participation Instructions and Staff Report

  • 20
    Mar 20
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03/24/2020 City Council Special Meeting

03/24/2020 City Council Special Meeting (PDF): Agenda

  • 20
    Mar 20
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Friday Update on March 20 2020

Click to open pdf

Winters Restaurants Open for Curb Side Pick-Up/To-Go Orders 03/20/2020 (pdf)

All,

Things are just crazy in these unprecedented times. Just some links to more information as we “shelter in place”.

A Special City Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 6:30. The Council will review a single items for Business and Resident Relief- Covid 19. Staff is working the details now so stay tuned.

A couple notes:

Just a final note on the resilience of our small businesses and their commitment to our community and their employees. I am seeing the real heart from many of our businesses, their concern for their employees and attempts to maintain themselves in the most uncharted waters of our time. So many are standing amongst their staffs trying to navigate the many edicts coming down (literally many times a day) and showing the grit, strength and character which defines the renaissance which is Winters.

There are so many unknowns with all of this. The uncertainty is just maddening with peoples livelihoods on the line and real people and families affected. We have dealt with difficult times before and persevered and this is but another massive challenge. I know we will come through this because we are an amazing town and rally with each other during the toughest of times. We will never give up on each other and simply need to support the fact that we have never been just given anything, we earn it all because we are just that type of community. Winters is the best town in the region because of who we are. We are small and mighty with “grit”.

Show your business community that you stand with them by getting a take out meal from the attached list.

Buy a pizza, get Chinese and wash your hands!

John

  • 20
    Mar 20
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Street Rehab SB1 19-20 Project Notice

Street Rehab SB1 19-20 Project NOTICE
CITY OF WINTERS PROJECT
BID OPENING: Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS (pdf)

 

The City of Winters Construction Specifications (2016) may be obtained on the City of
Winters website at http://www.cityofwinters.org/pdf/_Winters-Std-Specs.pdf

  • 18
    Mar 20
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City Hall Closure and Response to Health Officer Order

City Hall Closure and Response to Yolo Health Officer Order

City Hall Closure and Response to Yolo Health Officer Order

Beginning 5:00 pm on March 18, 2020, Winters City Hall will be closing City run facilities in compliance with the Yolo Health Officers Order related to sheltering in place. These will include City Hall, Community Center, Public Safety Facility Reception Area and the Bobbi Greenwood Swim Center. Our closure will be in place until further notice.

Please note the following:

  • Utility Bill Payments may be dropped off in the deposit box located in front of City Hall. We will NOT have a bill payment counter.
  • The Building Permit Counter will be open 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, Monday thru Thursday. Payments by check and credit card only.
  • The Community Center will be open for the County meal distribution program only.

The City encourages folks to read the directives from the Yolo Health Officer. For detailed information about COVID-19 and further guidance regarding this order, visit the Yolo County webpage at: www.yolocounty.org/coronavirus. To see the Health Officer Order, visit: https://www.yolocounty.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=62364. The County will also be releasing a shelter in place 101 document that will be available on the webpage. Residents can also call Yolo 2-1-1 for resource information. For additional updates follow Yolo County on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/YoloCounty/ or Twitter at: https://twitter.com/YoloCountyCA.

The City will be encouraging folks to follow the order and encouraging appropriate social distancing. The Police Department will NOT be stopping people on the streets, patronizing our restaurants or those exercising in the parks who are getting fresh air and time outdoors. Please take a common sense approach to all of this.

  • If you are sick, stay home.
  • Practice social distancing.
  • Limit crowds.
  • If you are part of a vulnerable population or have underlying health conditions, stay home.
  • Practice appropriate hygiene to protect yourself and others.

Thanks,

John

  • 18
    Mar 20
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Employee/Employer Resources for Shelter in Place

Business/Employer Resources (external links)

Questions regarding SBA Loans?
Erica Johnson, HHSA Program Coordinator9871,
Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency
Erica.Johnson@yolocounty.org
Office: 916.375.6273 / Cell: 530.631.2289 

  • 18
    Mar 20
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Yolo County Issues Shelter in Place Order to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jenny Tan, Public Information Officer
March 18, 2020
W: (530) 666-8042 ▪ C: (530) 908-0186

Yolo County Issues Shelter in Place Order (pdf)
Final Order to Shelter in Place (pdf)

Yolo County Issues Shelter in Place Order to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

 (Woodland, CA) – On March 18, the Yolo County Public Health Officer issued a countywide health order for residents to shelter in place from March 19 to April 7, unless extended by the Public Health Officer. This order limits activity, travel and business functions to only the most essential needs and is intended to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), protect those most vulnerable to the disease, and preserve local healthcare capacity.

“These are extremely difficult times. The COVID-19 virus continues to spread around the world and in our local communities,” said Yolo County Public Health Officer Dr. Ron Chapman. “We need to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable people from the harmful impacts of the virus.”

The shelter-at-home order follows increasing transmission of COVID-19 in California counties, including four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Yolo County to date that acquired the disease through travel and community transmission. In response, communities in Yolo County have implemented mitigation efforts to slow the spread of the disease, such as encouraging social distancing and cancelling non-essential gatherings. A similar health officer order was released among the bay area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties as well as the City of Berkeley on March 16 and is in line with best practices seen from health officials around the world.

“The County has issued a health officer order which strengthens our social distancing efforts,” continued Dr. Chapman. “Together we can rise to the occasion to keep the people of Yolo County healthy and safe.”

The order defines essential activities as necessary for health and safety for individuals and their families. Essential Governmental Functions, Healthcare, and Infrastructure are allowed to operate, including law and safety and Essential Businesses, such as those that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life such as: fresh and non-perishable food retailers (including convenience stores); pharmacies; child care facilities; gas stations; banks; laundry businesses; restaurants and other facilities that prepare food and serve food, but only for delivery or carry out; businesses that supply other essential businesses with support or supplies necessary to operate or ship/deliver groceries, food, goods or services directly to residents; and any form of agricultural production and processing, including the cultivation of products for personal consumption or use through farming, ranching, livestock, and fishing, including, but not limited to, transportation, manufacturing, chemicals, equipment and services; and the services necessary for maintaining the safety, sanitation and essential operation of a residence. For the full list see section 10 of the order.

“We each must do our part to slow the spread of the virus. It is our individual responsibility to care for one another and our community,” said Yolo County Board Chair Gary Sandy. “We do that by staying home, by maintaining a safe social distance from one another, by washing our hands, and by disinfecting surfaces. Our goal is to safeguard our vital healthcare system from being overwhelmed.”

The order follows the increasing emergence of COVID-19 across the world and nation. The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency on January 30, followed the next day with the declaration of a federal public health emergency by the United States. On March 6, Yolo County confirmed its first case of community transmission of COVID-19. Most recently, on March 12 Governor Gavin Newsom ordered older adults, age 65 and older, to stay home.

For detailed information about COVID-19 and further guidance regarding this order, visit the Yolo County webpage at: www.yolocounty.org/coronavirus. To see the Health Officer Order, visit: https://www.yolocounty.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=62364. The County will also be releasing a shelter in place 101 document that will be available on the webpage. Residents can also call Yolo 2-1-1 for resource information. For additional updates follow Yolo County on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/YoloCounty/ or Twitter at: https://twitter.com/YoloCountyCA.

###

 

  • 16
    Mar 20
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03/16/2020 Winters Putah Creek Committee Meeting Agenda – CANCELLED

03/16/2020 Winters Putah Creek Committee Meeting Agenda

MEETING CANCELLED – Given the recent guidance from State and others we are canceling tonight’s WPCC meeting.

  • 16
    Mar 20
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03/16/2020 Winters Putah Creek Committee Meeting Agenda – CANCELLED

03/16/2020 Winters Putah Creek Committee Meeting Agenda

MEETING CANCELLED – Given the recent guidance from State and others we are canceling tonight’s WPCC meeting.

  • 13
    Mar 20
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Friday Update on Friday March 13th 2020

Friday Update on Friday March 13th 2020

All,

Happy Triskaidekaphobia!

During one of the most extraordinary public health weeks of many of our lives, a couple items.

The City Council will hold its regular meeting on March 17th. The agenda has been set up to condense time, so no presentations and we will focus on the voting items. To watch the meeting, go here to watch the meeting. http://www.cityofwinters.org/live-city-council-meetings/

This weeks agenda includes the following:

  • Walnut Lane 10 Affordable Housing Plan
  • Water and Sewer Rate Study- Award of contract for the study.
  • Presentation on the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
  • Historic Preservation Policy- Planning Commission Assignment
  • Annual Housing Element Progress Report
  • Appointment of Climate Action Plan Advisory Board
  • Liaison to Senior Commission on Aging
  • Car Show Permit- Holden Philbrick Memorial Car and Motorcycle Show

To view the entire City Council Agenda Packet, go to: http://www.cityofwinters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020_0317CityCouncilPacket.pdf

The past week has had a lot on public health stuff:

  • Covid 19 seems to have taken over the world. For information, please go to https://www.yolocounty.org/health-human-services/adults/communicable-disease-investigation-and-control/novel-coronavirus-2019
  • The City is doing our best to monitor guidance and instructions from Yolo County and the State. Things are pretty dynamic at this point so be patient.
  • Staff has been working diligently on the Hexavalent Chromium (CR6) issue. Lots of meetings and calls with the State Water Resources Control Board, their staff and organizations to influence a process which could be a devastating financial hit to the City and our water customers.  Frankly, this is one of the largest mandates to hit Winters and it has required a very active and persistent focus on messaging and long range financial planning. Research into emerging technologies in water purification and filtering, monitoring financial markets and a constant calculation of costs of doing business are front and center. The financing of a CR6 solution will hit across all of our City operations and finances. The bond and lending markets evaluate credit across all operations and not just a single enterprise (water). They evaluate the entire community (including WJUSD debt). I would liken it to looking at every credit card in your family when someone is considering lending you money. In our case, I simply cannot fathom a private lending institution lending an enterprise our size in the range of $40 million which builds no capacity and no recoverable costs, while employing a system which will add close to 40+% to operational costs which can only be supported by challengeable rate increases.

Finally a shout out to Friday the 13th. A special day in Winters because Newt Wallace made it special.

Triskaidekaphobia is a phobia to the number “13”. For decades, Newt and the Wallace Family have made it a day to party and come together at the Winters Express Office. Over the years, it has been a chance to go to the regular, yet unannounced and no invitation needed gathering.

I always appreciated Newt sitting at the front of the office with his beer mug with the bike bell on it, greeting folks and asking for a sign-in at the registry book. Newt was a man of few words but I know he liked “Olympia Beer” and loved our little town. Traditions, fellowship and congeniality were the theme which set the tone and culture for our entire community. We live in a much different time now.

People really seem to like Winters. I am convinced that much of what is wonderful about our community came from how the Wallace Family and their Winters Express made you want to love our town. Newt, Ida, Charley and John made small town charm a reality. They made us internationally famous, recorded our history and told our story each week in a manner which became the glue which bound us as a big, dysfunctional family. I include Debra DeAngelo in all of this, because I am convinced that over the past three decades, she and Charley managed the Express in an exceptional manner of telling the story, recording the history and allowing Winters to become a must read for everyone in and out of town. In my time as City Manager, I have come to the conclusion that the Winters of today exists only because of Charley Wallace being crazy enough to save it and the Wallace Family keeping it together.

With this Covid 19 thing hitting, I am not sure if they will have the gathering, but I do suggest that you get an Olympia Beer (or any other cheap stale beer) and raise at toast to Friday the 13th and incredible people like Newt Wallace who welcome you like family, share a beer and a little fellowship and make you feel like you live in a place you love to call home.

Happy Friday the 13th.

John

  • 12
    Mar 20
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03/17/2020 City Council Meeting

03/17/2020 City Council Meeting (PDF): Agenda / Packet / 2019 Housing Element APR (Excel-download)

  • 10
    Mar 20
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03/13/2020 Special Meeting of the Winters City Council

03/13/2020 Special Meeting of the Winters City Council Agenda (pdf)

  • 06
    Mar 20
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03/12/2020 Lower Putah Creek Coordinating Committee Meeting

03/12/2020 Meeting Agenda

  • 06
    Mar 20
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03/11/2020 Winters Senior Commission on Aging

03/11/2020 Agenda / Packet

  • 04
    Mar 20
  • -

RFP – for Banking Services

Request for Proposals (pdf)
For
Banking Services
Issue Date March 4, 2020
Proposal Due April 15, 2020

  • 28
    Feb 20
  • -

5th Annual Winters Senior Foundation Spring Luncheon

5th Annual Spring Luncheon
Wednesday, March 18th 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Winters Community Center - 201 Railroad Ave

Seniors 55 & up

Soups, chili and salads
Door prizes and live music

RSVP/Questions
Call Tina Lowden at 530-794-6067
Email: wintersseniorfoundation@gmail.com

  • 28
    Feb 20
  • -

Friday Update on February 28 2020

All,

A pretty short City Council Agenda this week:

  • Presentation to the City Council on Risk Management by the City’s Insurance Authority
  • Street Closure for the Upcoming Car Shows
  • Reclassification of Account Clerk position at City Hall
  • Authorization to hire a part time position
  • Authorization for a Request for Proposals for Municipal Banking Services

A couple other items:

  • City Staff and WJUSD Officials were on a conference call regarding the “Coronavirus” with Yolo County Health and Emergency Services. This virus is serious and precaution need to be taken by all of us. The County has a website which is what we will be referring folks to for information and updates. Here it is:  https://www.yolocounty.org/health-human-services/adults/communicable-disease-investigation-and-control/coronavirus
  • Staff held a pretty heavy meeting on Tuesday regarding the many upcoming planning projects. Its actually a pretty heavy workload with the Housing Element, Climate Action Plan, Accessory Dwelling Unit Design, a Specific Plan, programmatic Environmental Impact Report, some fiscal analysis and a comprehensive land use review. All of this will have very robust community outreach and public engagement components. We are developing the overall work plan and a schedule.
  • Without question, last Saturday was one of the most exciting business days in decades for Downtown and our business community. The businesses were absolutely packed and visitors had an opportunity to enjoy what is really the best of our community on a gorgeous day and evening.  Kudos to our businesses which put on their best welcome and showed what the future of Winters will be!

Finally, this will be the last update where I will mention anything related to the upcoming ballot initiative advocating growth controls.

On Tuesday, City Attorney Ethan Walsh and I sat down and discussed how the City should inform or comment on the upcoming initiative which is being advanced by a growth control group. Our conclusion is that we need to stay completely out of it so as to protect the interests of the City from any assertions that we are trying to influence any possible political process and an upcoming election.

As City Manager, it is my role to advise the City Council (and the community) on the impacts of policy decisions. That is just what I do! Through many forms, I provide information, perspective and comments based on my knowledge of what I feel the consequences of certain decisions will bring. For those who know me, I speak in “unfiltered” terms and try to bring a pretty direct and honest approach to addressing issues. Through many media, including this “Friday Update” I have sought to bring transparency, accessibility and basic information to many folks about what is happening at City Hall. In total, I hit in excess of 7-8,000 people each week with what is happening with the City.

A key part of my job (and that of the City Council) is taking a very broad and comprehensive review of what happens when the City does things. Our decision making is not just about growth, housing, jobs, economics, parks, schools, public safety, quality of life, traffic, senior services, climate, sports parks, senior centers, commercial business, affordable housing, agriculture, water, sewer, habitat, transportation or sustainability, it is about ALL OF THESE THINGS.

I have promised transparency, and suggested posting emails about all of this on the City website, but even that can or could be construed as influencing the process. I have been in contact with a number of folks from the growth control group (and the land owners) and my emails speak in very frank and direct terms. Those emails are available for the asking but we will not post them on the City website because that could be considered trying to influence the process. If anyone wants them, they can simply ask for them and I have no qualms with sharing them.

My first duty, above all else, is to protect the interests of the City. The ethics and integrity of our City organization is my paramount concern and one I take very personally. Certain principles transcend even the worst of consequences and keeping the faith of our residents that we can be trusted in our information and decision making and how we approach things is number one. I’ve spent the almost the last almost 19 years as Winters City Manager working to make City Hall a trusted and accessible place; to have a “culture” of constant access and honesty along with an open door which reflects the “small town” vibe so many want to cherish and have available to them.

Winters High Soccer Teams are moving through the playoffs with games being played at Dr. Sellers Field. Go Warriors!

Have a nice weekend.

John

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