09/17/2021 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
September 17, 2021
Greetings, all. I’ve noted lots of tidbits below. It looks like a glorious weekend out there. Enjoy it wherever the weekend adventures take you. I’ll take 86 over 106 any day. And yay for rain along the NorCal coast!

COVID-19
The County has continued its call-to-order vaccine for home and businesses. Phone numbers to schedule an appointment in English, Spanish or Russian are in the box. The service is free and available to all Yolo County residents 12 and older. Public health experts indicate that vaccines and indoor masking are the most effective way to minimize the spread of COVID.

Please Note:
❖ The restrooms at Rotary Park are closed for a few days; the water main into the restrooms is leaking and needs to be repaired so the water has been shut off. A sign was posted. Apologies for the inconvenience.
❖ Waste Management has been experiencing staffing challenges and has returned to dividing the City in two sections for brush collection (Grant Ave is the dividing line). Drivers will alternate routes on regularly scheduled days. There is no change to curbside trash, recycling and green waste service. To contact Waste Management, please click here.
❖ The Winters Fire Department August newsletter is available  here.
❖ September is National Literacy Month! The Yolo County Library system is looking for tutors and participants for its Yolo Reads Program. The program helps adults improve reading and writing skills with individual tutoring. More information is here.
❖ The City’s street rehabilitation project is switching gears. The slurry portion of the project is complete (looks great!). Grind and pave along Railroad (Russell to Grant), Russell (Railroad to 2nd), Morgan (Grant to E. Main) and East Street (E. Main to the sewer pump station) is scheduled to begin on October 14. Striping of the newly slurried and paved roads will occur after all pavement work is completed. Please note: the grinding is necessary to lay down new pavement and will be loud…We appreciate everyone’s patience during this important work.
❖ New playground at Valley Oak Park is in process. A defective platform needs to be replaced so the new equipment will be closed until the new part arrives….At least it doesn’t have a microchip…Installation of new equipment at Blue Oak Park continues next week.
❖ Staff is establishing an account with Blink for the new EV chargers at the Community Center. Users will need to pay for using the chargers and extended charging will result in an occupancy fee to encourage drivers to move their vehicles so other cars can be charged. Once the system has been programmed, the chargers will be turned on.

Don’t Miss Out!
❖ Yolo County is going through the redistricting process for its Board of Supervisors. On Monday, September 27, Redistricting Commissioner Mia Durham will host a community forum at the Public Safety Facility, 702 W. Main Street, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be in-person, masks required. To RSVP, please email mia_arc@yochadehe-nsn.gov. More information regarding the redistricting process is available here.

Did You Know?
❖ The first human case of West Nile was recently diagnosed inYolo County. The best way to prevent West Nile virus infection and other mosquito-borne illnesses is to prevent the bite of an infected mosquito. Following the 7 D’s decreases the risk of
mosquito bites. For more information, please visit www.fightthebite.net.
➢ DRAIN any standing water that may produce mosquitoes.
➢ DAWN and DUSK are times to avoid being outside. These are the times when mosquitoes are most active.
➢ DRESS appropriately by wearing long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
➢ DEFEND yourself against mosquitoes by using an effective insect repellent, such as DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
➢ DOOR and window screens should be in good working condition. This will prevent mosquitoes from entering your home.
➢ DISTRICT personnel are available to address any mosquito problem you may be experiencing by calling 1-800-429-1022.

Upcoming Council Meeting – Tuesday, September 21 via Zoom
Please click on the link (Open link from this document here)for the 9/21 agenda. Items include: updating the Public Works standard specifications, accepting the Final Map for Three Oaks Park, appointing Ethan Walsh as the City Attorney and amending the retainer amount for BBK, purchasing a vehicle for Public Works, awarding a contract for the new influent screen at the Wastewater Treatment Facility, an update on SB 9 and SB 10, setting the public hearing date for the adoption of the Building and Fire Code for October 19, and a letter of support for First 5’s Welcome Baby program.
On a related note, I would like to thank Iris Yang for her service as City Attorney this last year. We wish her many happy adventures as she heads into a much deserved retirement. As noted above, subject to Council approval, Ethan Walsh has agreed to return to Winters as lead City Attorney. Assistant City Attorney Joanna Gin will continue to be our daily legal resource – thank you, Ethan and Joanna. And congratulations, Iris! Enjoy your time!

Woot Woot!
Last weekend was the 20th anniversary of 9/11, which seemed to make it more impactful than prior years, at least for me. What a terrifying day that was for the thousands of people directly affected by the terrorist attacks, and the millions of people glued to their televisions in dumb-struck horror. We honor those who died that day, who ran into flaming buildings to save thousands, who stormed a cockpit to avert more deaths while facing their own. To the rescuers and everyday heroes who responded, volunteered, fed and cared for others, who pulled together to offer comfort, and to those who answered the call of duty and joined the armed forces. We honor you all, and each other, for representing the best of American ideals and values. For coming together, united.