10/29/2021 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
October 29, 2021

Happy Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and Día de los Muertos. The history buffs out there will enjoy the historical mish-mashing of faiths and traditions.

Don’t forget to vote for your favorite scarecrows! There are some great decorations out there. My favorite was the interactive rain scarecrow at the Winters Express (check out their Instagram post…) To find all the scarecrows and pick up / drop off ballots, please visit one of your favorite businesses or restaurants that display a Chamber Scarecrow Poster.

COVID-19

• Yolo County is hosting a community town hall on November 1 at 6:30 p.m. regarding COVID-19 vaccines for children five to 11. The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom and Facebook Live. As most are likely aware, the FDA is considering emergency authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children five and older. The Yolo County Health Officer will discuss the vaccine roll-out for children and answer questions regarding the safety of pediatric vaccination. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend and ask questions. Spanish translation will be provided via Zoom, and advance registration is requested. More information is here.

Please Note:

• Holiday special events clarification: The tree lighting will be Friday, December 3^rd, and the Tractor Parade will be Saturday, December 4^th. Watch for more information!
• The next county redistricting commission meeting is November 1 from 5-7 p.m. The meeting's agenda and Zoom information will be posted on the County landing page here.
• The playground equipment at Blue Oak Park is just about ready for playtime! The play structure will open today. The concrete needs to dry for the swings so they will be installed on Monday. Victory at Blue Oak Park! However, the replacement park for Valley Oak Park arrived with the same defect (insert emoji grimace) so that equipment is still off limits until the correct part can be shipped, again…

Don’t Miss Out!

• The senior community (55+) is getting its programming on! From armchair yoga at St. Anthony’s to an Amateur Artist Event on November 9^th, 2 – 5 p.m.at Pizza Factory, 108 Main Street. The event is free! Led by an experienced artist, participants will receive a canvas, paint, and brushes to create an acrylic painting. There is limited capacity so you must pre-register at the Winters Senior Foundation via phone, (707) 761-1259 or by emailing wintersseniorfoundation@gmail.com. Want more programming? Let them know and help contribute.
• Check out some of our newest businesses in town along with some other recent favorites, compiled by Winters Express Guest Columnist Richard Kleeberg. Click here. Help them out and our local economy by shopping local.

 Did You Know?

• The Public Defender’s Office is collecting clothing to help indigent community members. The clothing closet allows individuals struggling with homelessness and poverty to obtain clean, weather appropriate clothing, which will help them during their transition from custody to the community. Items can be dropped off through December in the lobby of the Public Defender’s Office, located at 814 North Street in Woodland. More information regarding drop off times and frequently requested items can be found here.
• The Yolo Habitat Conservancy is seeking landowners interested in establishing a habitat conservation easement on their land to protect species included in the Yolo Habitat / Natural Community Conservation Plan. The priority for acquisition is agricultural lands that are at least 160 acres. More information is available here.
• Conversely, if you like off-roading, the County is considering an Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) park concept in the unincorporated area. The County presentation to the Board is available here and more information from the staff report is here.

 Upcoming Council Meeting – November 2nd

• The packet for the upcoming meeting is available here. Items include continuing with remote meetings for the time being, a resolution recognizing Native American Heritage Month, on-call consulting agreements for mapping services, and award of contract for pathway lighting at Blue Oak Park. The Council will view a video by the Yocha Dehe Tribe regarding Native American Heritage Month and receive a presentation from the Interim Executive Director of Yolo County Housing Authority regarding El Rio Villas and the Authority’s plans to reposition public housing properties. Under discussion will be an item related county, state and federal redistricting maps and the adoption of a Council Code of Conduct.

Woot Woot!

A big shout out to all those fall decorations out there: the pumpkins and scarecrows, ghouls and goblins. The creativity and ambiance are inspiring, comforting, uplifting and placemaking. Have a safe and happy Halloween weekend.