City Manager’s Update (pdf)
July 16, 2021
Greetings, all. It has been a busy week here!
COVID-19
❖ The Yolo County Health Officer has issued a recommendation that all individuals (regardless of vaccination status) inside public facilities wear masks, expect when eating and drinking, due to the increasing prevalence of the highly infectious Delta variant and rising COVID-19 cases. The Delta variant is more infectious and can cause more serious illness, particularly among the unvaccinated. Although vaccine breakthroughs with the Delta variant in Yolo are rare, preliminary evidence suggests that the affected persons may be able to transmit the virus to others even when they have no symptoms. Visit www.yolocounty.org/coronavirus-vaccine for more information about vaccination and testing opportunities.
Please Note:
❖ The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ukiah Field Office invites public comment on travel management planning for trails and roads within the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument on BLM-managed public lands. BLM will host a virtual public meeting, via Zoom, on Wednesday, July 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., part of a 30-day public scoping period, which ends Aug. 16. More information about the project is available here. The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument brochure, including map, is linked here. When hiking remember to pack water, pack out trash, and pack a buddy. Your local safety
officer recommends hiking backcountry areas with other people.
❖ The expansion of the Rancho Arroyo detention pond has begun. Dirt from the excavation is being transported to the Farmstead project and spread across the 62-acre lot.
Don’t Miss Out!
❖ Wednesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. at the Winters Fire Station, the Golden Bear Fire Safety Committee is meeting to discuss fire prevention, risk mitigation, and other
strategies to prepare for wildfire season. The Golden Bear Estates Landowners Association (GLEBA) is encouraging neighboring residents to join the conversation as we collectively work to mitigate fire risk in the area.
❖ On Tuesday, July 13, the City hosted a community workshop with the developers of the Farmstead project located on the northside of Grant Avenue across from E. Main Street. The video of the two-hour workshop is available on the City’s website as is the developer’s presentation. Please note information regarding major projects, including the Farmstead workshop, are available with two clicks. http://projects.cityofwinters.org/ - direct link.
Did You Know?
❖ The City of Winters has two programs related to special needs individuals. SNAP is a local registry for people with special needs that cannot identify themselves, for example, because of Alzheimer’s, dementia or
is tied to the individual’s name and phone number. The City also participates in Vitals, a national program that allows residents to register themselves or a loved one with special needs or disabilities with the service. Doing so helps provide first responders with important tools to avoid the potential of a confrontation escalating, for example when someone has cognitive issues, mental health issues, or another disability that effects emotional or behavioral responses in stressful situations. More information is available on the Winters PD
autism. The registration is tied to the individual’s name and phone number. The City also participates in Vitals, a national program that allows residents to register themselves or a loved one with special needs or disabilities with the service. Doing so helps provide first responders with important tools to avoid the potential of a confrontation escalating, for example when someone has cognitive issues, mental health issues, or another disability that effects emotional or behavioral responses in stressful situations. More information is available on the Winters PD landing page here.
Upcoming Council Meetings
❖There is a special Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. to hear a presentation from County staff on proposed American Rescue Plan (ARP) for the Yolo County’s $42 million allocation. The City allocation is approximately $1.8 million and will be discussed separately. More information about Yolo County ARP projects can be found here. The agenda is be posted on the City’s website.
If anyone would like to participate in a 2-hour County workshop on the County’s ARP funding program, there are two upcoming workshops:
❖ Monday, July 19, 4:00 – 6:00 PM in Woodland, 137 N. Cottonwood Street. Link
❖ Thursday, July 22, 4:00 – 6:00 PM via Zoom, Link
City of Winters
❖ The regular Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be Zoom for all participants except a few people as we test our hybrid platform in the Council Chambers, so please forgive any technical glitches…. We have a full agenda, including a presentation recognizing Robert Duvall and his dog Kepi for their years of service as trauma support volunteers. Other key items include:
• the adoption of a Climate Action Plan for Winters,
• the proposed creation of two new commissions related to climate change and natural resources,
• award of contract for this summer’s paving project ($428,000),
• an annual budget for the Business Improvement District,
• a $1.2 million wastewater treatment facility influent screen, and
• the assignment and assumption agreement related to the Winters Highland Subdivision for Meritage Homes’ purchase of Phases 3, 4 & 5.
The packet is be posted on the City’s website.
Upcoming Council Goal Setting Workshop
❖ A two morning, in-person City Council goal setting workshop has been scheduled for Friday, July 23, and Saturday, July 24, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Public Safety Facility community room. The Agenda will be posted next week. The format will include presentations from City staff on Friday morning related to major functional areas (Police, Fire, Public Works, Community Development and General Government) and some initial discussion of potential priorities and projects consistent with our Five Focus Areas: Fiscal Stability, Community Engagement & Transparency, Economic Development, Organizational / Operational Excellence, and Community Development / Placemaking. Saturday morning will include additional project discussion and final priority setting.
Woot Woot!
❖ We received the signed construction agreement for the Senior Center! It took over a year from grant approval, to contract preparation and execution. A lot of people worked very hard on this project, and now we have $4.2 million to construct the senior center.
❖ Also, the City received its first allocation of American Rescue Plan funding, $874,952! Funds can be used to support capital projects associated with water, sewer and broadband as well programs and projects to help recover from the pandemic. We will begin discussing potential use of funds at the Council goal setting workshops on Friday and Saturday, July 23 and 24.
2021 Carnitas Festival
support these groups by joining us for breakfast from 7 – 10 a.m. Breakfast is a hearty egg and sausage breakfast with hash browns and fruit. $15 / adults; $10 / kids under 12. Proceeds support the scholarship fund for college-bound youth and the Fire Department’s holiday gift giving for needy families.
Mulch and compost piles self-combust in high heat? . . . A spark from a mower or weed-trimmer with a metal blade can start a fire? . . . Fireworks can start fires if detonated near dry weeds, in palm trees, or anywhere that has flammable material. PLEASE think about the potential for starting a fire as we work, celebrate, and recreate. It’s extraordinarily dry out there.
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