01/06/2023 City Manager’s Update
City Manager’s Update (pdf)
January 6, 2023
Greetings, all, and welcome to 2023! From all of us at the City of Winters, we wish you a healthy, happy and joyous New Year. And it’s starting off to a be a wet one.
So far the town has handled the weather relatively well aside from the usual Road 89 ditch overflowing, ponding in low spots, and plugged drains due to leaves and debris. The soil is so saturated, please help monitor trees closely for signs of uplift, unusual leaning, etc. We did have one tree topple during the New Year’s storm and the news is certainly showing plenty of flooding, downed trees and lines, and other sorts of damage. Three more atmospheric bomb storms are headed are way so during the break, unplug drains and gutters before the next wave hits beginning tomorrow…Forecast is here. Thank you, PG&E, for hardening our utility service!
To report safety concerns on public property or in the right of way:
• For non-emergency items (no immediate threat), please call City Hall at 530-795-4910.
• For critical items that need to be addressed in a timely fashion, during business hours, please call City Hall. After 5 p.m. please call dispatch at 530-795-4561.
• For emergencies (immediate threat to life or property), call 911.
As a reminder, City Hall is open Monday – Thursday and every other Friday. We are closed today as a point of reference. The 2023 schedule will be posted shortly on the City’s website.
Sand bags are available outside the Public Works Corp yard at the north end of East Street, next to the Yolo Federal Credit Union.
Don’t Miss Out!
◊ The Winters Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the Toast of Winters! Annual awards include Citizen of the Year, Chamber Business of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and a recipient for the Theodore Winters Award. For more information or to nominate someone, please contact the Chamber directly by emailing director@winterschamberofcommerce.com or calling 530-795-2329. The deadline is this weekend so don’t hesitate to contact the Chamber.
◊ The City issued a community survey last month to gather input on downtown visioning related to trash management, outdoor dining and gathering spaces, the community center, and parking. We’ve received over 130 responses. The survey closes Sunday night so please complete a survey if you haven’t already. More information is here. The survey is available in English and Spanish.
◊ The Yolo Fire Safe Council has launched its own website at www.yolofiresafe.org. The draft Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) has been posted here. The Council welcomes public comments on the draft by Monday, January 9.
◊ The Winters History Museum has a new exhibit, “The Wide World of Winters Sports,” showcasing local phenom athletes. The Museum is a treasure, and is open Thursday – Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at 13 Russell Street. It’s well worth a visit.
◊ CalFire has recently updated its Fire Hazard Severity Maps and has scheduled 57 public hearings throughout the state. The current revision to the maps is only for unincorporated, rural areas, which are referred to State Responsibility Areas or SRAs. More information is at Fire Hazard Severity Zones (ca.gov). CalFire is accepting public comment on the proposed revisions through February 3rd. The public hearing in Solano County is January 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Solano County Event Center, 601 Texas Street in Fairfield. Local Contact Person: Marshall Turbeville (707) 877-1770 marshall.turbeville@fire.ca.gov. Updates to the hazard maps for incorporated areas will be released later this year.
Please Note:
◊ Monday’s Climate Action Commission has been cancelled due to a lack of quorum. Two seats are vacant on this commission so if you have an interest in climate change, please contact cityclerk@cityofwinters.org for more information and an application.
◊ Monday’s special meeting of the Natural Resources Commission meeting has also been cancelled and rescheduled to January 23rd.
◊ The City also has vacancies on the Planning Commission and Senior Commission on Aging. If you have an interest, please let us know and watch for more information. Recruitments will be posted soon.
◊ Yolo County has appointed a new County Librarian. Diana Lopez hails from the City of Richmond where she is currently the Deputy Director of Community Services for the Library. She has 20 years’ experience serving diverse populations and is a highly skilled librarian. She begins on January 30. Welcome, Diana, to Yolo County!
◊ Three Oaks Park has finally entered its 90-day maintenance period, beginning mid-December. If all goes well, we anticipate opening the park to the public mid-March. The developer has also provided a $10,000 deposit to fund the replacement of any newly planted trees through June 30. During the maintenance period, the developer’s contractor is responsible for maintaining the park in a satisfactory condition. Provided it meets standards, it will be turned over to the City in March.
Upcoming Council Meeting – January 10, In Person Only
The next regular Council meeting is January 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This meeting is in-person only while we address software interface issues with our hybrid platform. The packet has been posted here. The consent calendar includes appointing Mark Rowan to the Senior Commission on Aging; Rich Marovich, Melanie Ellison, and Eric Jepsen to the Natural Resources Commission; and a proclamation recognizing our sister city Almogía, Spain. Discussion items include a rate increase by Waste Management to pass through an 8.44% increase in County tipping fees at the central landfill, and councilmember appointments to various local and regional committees, commissions, and boards.