Friday Update on December 20 2019
All,
A couple items to wrap the 2019 calendar year.
- The final closing documents have been signed and the escrow is expected to close today toward the construction of the Blue Mountain Terrace Senior Affordable Apartments. Construction authorization is expected to be issued Monday and look for activity to begin as the new year begins. This is a tremendous milestone and represents a very important project for seniors in our community. This has not been an easy project to get to this point and there are many who are due credit including many City Councilmembers and key staff including Dan Maguire, Shelly Gunby and a key team member, Lisa Baker the Executive Director of Yolo Housing.
- The Third Street Storm Drain Project is completed and water is flowing. Kudo’s to the Public Works Staff for a tremendous project!
- Public Works found a massive water leak on Third Street which we estimate was losing close to 24 million gallons of water a year. Leaks are really tough to find and this is a big deal for our public works group.
As we end 2019, some amazing projects and people have impacted the City of Winters which will make a difference for years to come. Some of the highlights include:
- On December 19, 2019, the Winters Healthcare Foundation opened their new medical campus on Grant Ave. It cannot be understated what an important and impressive facility this is for our community. Without question, this is one of the most important facilities to ever open in Winters. It represents one of the most positive long term signs on the health of our community. Congratulations to the entire WHF team, their contractors and those who brought the vision on making this happen.
- The Hotel Winters has been completed and represents an important catalyst project toward the long term vision for Downtown Winters. They say that patience will bring good things and the Hotel Winters is they type of lodging Winters deserves. Kudos to the entire team who made this a reality.
- Winters has local contractors who truly represent the future of our town. They are entrepreneurs who are hiring apprentices and journey workers, paying good wages and doing the type of business to business which brings prosperity to our community. The locals include Flatline Construction, MB Construction, Neu for You, Peter Foster, Winters Concrete, Terry Smaystrala, Sira Contractors, Tim’s Custom Building Ample Electric, Wades Construction, Aleco Electric, Pearce Heating and Air, Winters Plumbing and T&K Roofing. These are our neighbors and friends who are getting things done and hiring the next generation to work locally and contribute to our community.
- The City’s Hispanic Advisory Committee has become one of the very important groups within the City organization. Their advancement of programs and representation of the Hispanic community makes them a critical leadership forum. They were recently recognized by the Mexican Concilio for their efforts in advancing education within our community. They put on the Festival de La Communidad which is one of the top family events in Winters. I cannot say enough about this group, truly amazing people!
- The Winters Senior Foundation is making the difference in the lives of many and will continue to do so! Their collaboration with the Winters Seniors in working toward services for residents and representing on various City and County committees is impressive. The are exceptionally well organized and there is an incredible energy and synergy with what the do. Look for really good things from these folks in the coming year.
- The Volunteers who make the things happen in Winters from our youth organizations, schools, foundations and events all deserve medals for making Winters the community it is! For those involved, you can appreciate that pulling off the volunteer driven events is not easy!
Projects for 2020 which should be on everyone’s list:
- Fairfield Inn- 73 hotel rooms located on Matsumoto Lane.
- Blue Mountain Terrace Senior Affordable Apartments
- Three Oaks Park Phase I which will become the City’s largest park!
- Putah Creek Trail Extension
- Hopefully the start of construction for the Senior Center on Baker Street.
Have a very merry Christmas!
John