08/20/2021 City Managers Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
August 20, 2021

Greetings, all. A brief update this week. Have a good weekend.

COVID-19

• The virus is still going strong. Please mask up inside and get tested if exposed or experiencing symptoms (even if vaccinated). Public health professionals strongly urge that people get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. Several events have been cancelled as a result. The County’s COVID dashboard is available here.

Please Note:

• Grading work will begin at the LDS subdivision site on Anderson, with dirt getting trucked to the Walnut 10 location All permits are in place. Route below.

• Staff kicked off the environmental review process with the EIR consultant, Raney Planning & Management, for the proposed Farmstead project. That’s the large field above across from E. Main that the trucks will cross to access Walnut 10. The consultant expects to issue a Notice of Preparation in October for a 30-day public comment period. Staff will provide updated information on the landing page for the project as it moves through the environmental review stage. The draft EIR is expected to be released in early 2022. Generally, the public will have formal opportunities to provide comments during the NOP review period (October / November), the Draft EIR review period (winter 2022, 45 days), and at the public hearings (Planning Commission and City Council, spring – summer 2022).
• To monitor PG&E Power Safety Shut Offs, please save this link. When an event has been announced, please refer back to the PG&E landing page often as information frequently changes due to weather conditions.
• New car chargers will be installed at the Community Center with the older ones moved to City Hall. Work will begin next week.

Don’t Miss Out!

• The Carnitas Festival is September 25, 5:00 – 10:30 p.m. in Rotary Park. The Hispanic Advisory Committee is looking for carnitas chefs to compete in being judged as the best in town. The event is intended to be smaller this year, and primarily for locals, to maintain some level of social distancing. More information is available here.

Upcoming Council Meeting

The next Council meeting is September 7, which will include a public hearing on the proposed, updated Housing Element. The draft document is being considered by the Planning Commission on Tuesday, August 24. Link here to the Planning Commission agenda.

Woot Woot!

Another piece of history rolled over to the Winters Museum from the Public Works Corps Yard. The old Bank of Winters safe had been stored in the yard for many years and finally found a good home.…Kudos to saving another piece of history. Swing by the Museum to take a peek at all the treasures that have been collected. The Museum is open Thursday – Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m. at 13 Russell Street. https://www.historicalsocietyofwinters.org/ The Exhibit on the Lost Japanese Community of Winters is really worth a visit.

• The Winters Police Department will deploy officers to assist with the Caldor Fire; a heartfelt thank you to them as they assist families displaced by the fire. The Caldor Fire is still 0% contained. The Fire Department has a crew out on the Dixie Fire, which is 35%. The Dixie Fire now has the dubious honor of being the first fire in recorded history to start on one side of the Sierra Mountains and cross over to the other side. May all of our public safety teams come home safe. Thank you!