04/22/2022 City Manager’s Update
City Manager’s Update (pdf)
April 22, 2022
Greetings, all. We will have a fireworks show on July 3rd! Thank you to the School District for once again hosting the event at the football field. Costs have gone up significantly so we will begin the fundraising to
help support the event. Donation envelopes will be included in an upcoming utility billing. Any and all contributions are welcome. The fireworks fund currently has about $4,500 in the account and we are anticipating costs of approximately $20,000 for the show, security guards and portapotties.
The show at the football field will once again be family family. If you would like to participate with a food truck, be a vendor, or have an informational booth, please contact Diana Tafolla at diana.tafolla@cityofwinters.org. If you would like to volunteer to assist day of, please contact Taylor Buley at buley@outlook.com. Stay tuned for more information.
Please Note:
- Drilling for Well #8 at Winters Highland will begin on Monday. The drilling operations requires 24/7 work to ensure the casing remains clean and the well meets the City’s standards for optimal efficiency. Sound walls have been erected to minimize noise. Overnight lights will be directed to the work zone and back up beepers will be turned off. We understand this work may create disturbances and appreciate your understanding. For any concerns, please contact the project overseer – Scott Lewis – at slewis@lsce.com or by cell phone (916) 240-0230. He will be on duty 24/7 during this phase of the drilling operation.
- Please do not enter or use Three Oaks Park while it is fenced and closed to the public, including the dog park. Homes By Town and its contractor are working to bring the landscaping into satisfactory condition before the landscape maintenance period can begin, as well as addressing punch list items. Unfortunately, the park opening will be delayed by several months as a result. Our goal is to ensure the park landscaping and amenities meet specifications prior to taking over maintenance. Homes By Town was conditioned to build the park under the approved Development Agreement and is responsible for its construction.
- The City is partnering with Little League, who will manage one joint fireworks booth with proceeds split between Little League and the City’s youth swim programs, including a new scholarship program to
those families who might need a little extra assistance. Please consider volunteering at the fireworks booth and reach out to Kathy Cowan if you would like to help. Swim families – please help maintain this partnership. Sign ups will be available on the deck during orientation. Thank you, Kathy and John Rodriguez, for your support! - A word about illegal fireworks – Please don’t use them, anywhere. Illegal fireworks cause fires and injuries, terrify animals, and disturb others. Please be considerate of your neighbors, the community and our public safety staff and don’t use illegal fireworks. Violators will be cited and fined $1,000.
- Pool Update! We are still waiting for a part that is on order but have the heater working again. We will open the pool for lap swim beginning May 2nd using day passes or the 10-
pass punch card; no monthly passes at this time so we don’t have to process refunds if the heater goes down again. We are hoping the new part will arrive in time for the opening. The City’s website will be updated next week to reserve lap swim time slots. Passes may be purchased at City Hall or at the pool during lap swim.
Don’t Miss Out!
- Children’s Day at the Winters Community library is Saturday, April 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This free, multi-cultural program for the whole family will feature storytelling and a special performance.
Participate in fun activities and receive a FREE book! - The Big Day of Giving is May 5! Donations are now open.
Click here for more information on how to support our community-based organizations that give so much and make Winters the magical place it is.
Did You Know?
- Yolo County has announced the selection of a new County Administrator, subject to Board approval on April 26. Gerardo Pinedo comes to us from Los Angeles County with over twenty years of experience in county administration. He is scheduled to begin June 20. The press release is here. A hearty welcome to our new County Administrator!
- Cache Creek is hiring! A job fair is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Meet with managers, interview, and get hired on the spot! Translators will be available. Please bring your ID and resume. Transportation to and from is available from Lorenzo’s Marketplace at 121 E. Grant. The shuttle departs at 11:30 a.m.
- The Yolo County Archives newsletter is out for Spring 2022, available here. The history available in these newsletters and through the archives is a treasure trove.
Upcoming Council Meeting – May 3rd
The meeting will be via Zoom, although we hope to test our hybrid platform with staff and the mayor.
Woot Woot!
Happy, Earth Day, everyone. Today is the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day. Begun in 1970, Earth Day is the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As I was researching Earth Day, I came across this website www.earthday.org/history/ and noticed the reference below:
THE IDEA FOR THE FIRST EARTH DAY
Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the United States. Then in January 1969, he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, Senator Nelson wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a teach-in on college campuses to the national media, and persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair. They recruited Denis Hayes, a young activist, to organize the campus teach-ins and they choose April 22, a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams, to maximize the greatest student participation.
Pete McCloskey and his wife Helen reside here in Winters, having moved into town from the Capay Valley about a year ago. Along with many others, their contributions to environmental awareness and sustainability helped launch a better understanding of how we collectively impact our place on this planet.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” —Jane Goodall
In honor of Earth Day, I’m pleased to announce that five members of the community have come forward to serve on the newly formed Climate Action Commission and were appointed to the City Council on Tuesday evening: Ken Britten, Gar House, Patrick Wall, Woody Fridae, and David Springer. Stay tuned for more on their efforts as they are seated and establish a work plan overseeing the implementation of the City’s Climate Action Plan, which is available online here.