09/02/2022 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
September 2, 2022

Where does the time go?? With this heat, fall does not feel around the corner….

Heat Illness is dangerous. Know the symptoms and call 911 if heat stroke is suspected. More information is here.

Flex Alerts for Rolling Brown Outs are expected through Tuesday evening. Sign up for alerts at www.flexalert.org. If ordered by the ISO, they will occur between 4 – 9 p.m. for one-hour blocks of time. Tips to prepare for an outage are here.

Conserve Energy by unplugging unused appliances, turn of lights, cover windows, turn the thermometer to 78+, use major appliances in the morning, charge important devices before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. and unplug those electric cars before 4 p.m. or when done charging.

Don’t Miss Out

• Warm up those vocal cords! Open Mic Night downtown is September 17 beginning at 6 p.m. Sign Ups start at 5 p.m. wintersopenmic.com
• The Carnitas Festival is back! September 24 downtown Winters will be popping, dancing, cooking, and eating, all in celebration of the community’s Hispanic heritage. Any last minute carnitas chefs shouldreach out to organizers, info here.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree Corner

Carla and Mel Wroten’s daughters have taken a liking to the Friday Update, (thank you, Carmella and Gianna). Attached is their community column, called I Love IT! which may appear randomly. As budding journalists, they might one day contribute to the Winters Express as they no doubt will contribute to the greater community good, much like their parents of Steady Eddy fame.

Please Note:

• We need you! Families need you! The City is looking for more instructional aides to support our after school enrichment program at Waggoner Elementary School. New this year at the School District’s request is a new T-K classroom. More information about WASP is linked. To apply, click here.
• The federal government will stop supplying free COVID test kits in the mail effective this Friday. The dispensing machine next to City Hall still has kits, which the County restocks weekly.
• City Hall is closed Friday (regularly scheduled) and Monday for Labor Day. For a public safety emergency, please call 911. To reach non-emergency dispatch for Police, Fire or Public Works,please call (530) 795-4561.
• Avian Influenza has been detected in a wild bird in Yolo County. HPAI can infect domestic poultry, other birds, animals, and humans, although the risk to the general public is very low. People should avoid direct contact with wild birds. More information is here.
• Tragically, there is now an International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31) created to raise awareness of overdose prevention and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. Accidental overdoses continue to skyrocket with the proliferation of fentanyl, which is lethal in small doses and undetectable to users. The County has partnered with others to encourage residents to carry Narcan and act quickly if an overdose is suspected. Our officers and firefighters do, and we can, too.
• To apply for a job at the Fairfield Inn, please click here. Most businesses in town are looking for help so reach out to your favorite ones and walk to work! Save on gas, help benefit the environment.

Did You Know?

Community members report that yesterday’s helicopter buzzing overhead was PG&E doing line inspections…This lovely image was posted online using flightradar24.

 Upcoming Council Meeting – September 6, hybrid

There are a number of consent calendar items: purchase of a Fire command vehicle, annual Animal Control Contract with Yolo County, appointment of Karen Croley to the Senior Commission on Aging, MOU with the Firefighters, Main Street Closure for Carnitas Festival, and the updated work plan for the Natural Resources Commission. There are two presentations: a proclamation recognizing Fire Chief Brad Lopez for his 30 years of service and from SACOG regarding Blueprint 2024. The only discussion item relates to the Community Center emergency generator bid and alternative options for the OES grants. The Main Street closure for the High School Pep Rally was rescheduled to September 20 by the School District.

Woot Woot!

A group of dedicated Winters community members have been working hard on the campaign to fundraise for the new senior center. And while this project seems so close and yet so far, we continue to work toward obtaining the rights to the plans, which has been far more complicated than we anticipated given grant funding requirements, HCD back logs, the architectural firm that closed, and the separation of the senior center from Blue Mountain Terrace project in 2016.

In the meantime, for those hard at work helping to make sure the new center is outfitted with furniture, dishes, supplies, and the like and to those who have contributed already, and are thinking of donating, we thank you. This center will provide a space for seniors to come together for social, mental, physical, and nutritional well-being. It will nurture the bonds that keep this village together.

To donate, please visit https://www.wintersseniorcenter.com/ or reach out to Marlene Bell, Karen May, Sandy Vickery, or Taylor Buley for more information. Naming rights are still available for significant contributions, which they will be happy to share. Many thanks to this lead team for their efforts!

SEE ATTACHED PDF FOR THE I LOVE IT! COMMUNITY EDITION...