02/24/2023 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf) 
February 24, 2023

Greetings, all. Winters fared relatively well in last night’s storm. Lots of wind and rain, but no power outages. And check out those snow-capped hills!

Please note:

March 2, 6 p.m. Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission at the Community Room/ EOC of the Public Safety Facility. This will be a community workshop for downtown visioning. An interactive presentation will be presented (agenda and presentation will be published today on the City’s website.) Staff is requesting feedback on potential recommendations and program options for the downtown, specifically related to outdoor dining and gathering, street closures, parking, use of the alleys, and trash collection.

On March 22, Wednesday, the City Council and staff will discuss goal setting and priority projects. The meeting will take place in the large conference of City Hall, Abbey Street entrance, from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Don’t Miss Out!

• The Roadmap to the Future for Yolo County Children & Youth is actively engaging community input across the County. This initiative intends to positively alter the trajectory for youth by establishing a long-term plan to help effectively coordinate services and opportunities for families. Please join the County Office of Education on Monday, February 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Winters Community Center. Free dinner and childcare will be provided. To register, click here.
• Winters Friends of the Library is holding its annual fruit and nut bare-root tree sale on Saturday, March 4 in the parking lot of Railroad Avenue between Baker and Edwards Streets. The sale begins at 9:00 a.m. (8:30 for members). The trees are donated by Sierra Gold Nursery in Yuba City and are being sold for $20.  Proceeds from the sale will be used to enhance programs and collections at the library.  For a complete list of available trees, visit wfol.org.
• The Winters Theater Company is pleased to announce its upcoming production, “Art” at the Winters Community Center, Friday – Sunday, March 17-26, directed by Andrew Fridae. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for 65+; they are available here.
• The Toast of Winters is March 31, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the new Fairfield Inn. This iconic Winters event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to recognize outstanding contributions to the community. Please visit winterschamber.com for more information. Tickets are $90.
• Looking for a fun weekend destination for children? Check out Explorit in Davis, a science and a nature-based activity center for school aged children. explorit.org. Open 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., the current exhibit is Rocks!
• Winters Friends of the Library coordinates a 5-week summer program, Winters Shakespeare Workshop, for teens and preteens, from June 18 – July 20. This acting program culminates with a performance of “Twelfth Night” on July 21 & 22 in City Park. For more information, click here.
• Youth Day is on! Friday, April 28 is the Duck Derby ~ about 800 ducks swim down Putah Creek. Details to buy a duck will be released soon. The Duck Derby is a major fundraiser supporting the Saturday, Youth Day festivities and youth scholarships. Saturday, April 29 is the parade! For more information and to register to participate in either the kiddie or main parade, click here.
• Travel remotely via the Fridaes’ adventures overseas! Latest installment is at https://fridae.blog

Please Note:

• Meritage has been granted authorization to pour new home foundations on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. to take advantage of a forecasted break in the weather, if soil conditions allow…
• The pool heater will be replaced next week!
• Please click here for a handy 2023 City Hall / City Council calendar.
• Yolo County is looking for a Planning Commissioner to fill an “at-large” seat. Anyone who resides in the County can apply. Candidates should have an interest in land use and zoning policy. To apply, click here.

COVID-19

The public health emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will officially be over in California on February 28. The Federal emergency declaration is scheduled to expire in May. However, Covid is here to stay among us, mutating and spreading. For many, at most, it’s a bad cold; but for others, it can be dangerous. Public health officials recommend vaxing, boosting and masking (especially in certain settings and based on individual health risks). Vaccines and boosters help reduce the potential severity of the virus. Please respect individual choices. Free test kits are still available next to City Hall, and are still good despite expiration dates on boxes, per the County Health Officer. Onwards and upwards into our new normal!

Upcoming Council Meeting

The next Council meeting is March 7. Please note, effective March 1, ALL public meetings will be held in person in accordance with the Brown Act since the COVID public health emergency will cease on February 28. Zoom will be offered as a public convenience only for Council and Planning Commission meetings. Evening meeting access is through the Abbey Street lobby entrance.

Woot Woot!

Winters Fire participated in a field save last week, responding to a mutual aid / 911 call for someone who went into cardiac arrest during a Zoom meeting. Zoom participants called office co-workers, who performed CPR for 10 minutes before emergency responders arrived. The individual survived! CPR protocols have changed. Research shows that just rapid chest compressions are effective if delivered properly. Click here for more information and for a video here. Huge kudos to those office workers and responders who saved this individual’s life.

Winters Police also participated in a regional “save” this week. Sgt Hermosillo was on duty the other night and helped other law enforcement agencies to perform a stop on I-505, apprehending individuals who were part of a retail theft ring. They had stolen thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise from Woodland in recent weeks. It takes a team! Well done, Sgt Hermosillo and Yolo SO.

And both the Winters High School boys and girls soccer teams have made it to the final championship round. Both play here this Saturday. The girls team plays against Hamilton at 12 noon and the boys team at 2 p.m. against Williams.  Go, Warriors!