Friday Update on March 27 2020

All,

A couple items:

• The City has received two proposals from consulting firms for the Housing Element Update. We will begin an internal review and schedule interviews.
• Spring means the beginning of weed season. Look for lots of preliminary spraying and soil prep. This has been such an odd “winter” we expect the year to just be a wreck as far as overall abatement and maintenance.
• The uncertainty of the economic climate has resulted in cancellations of meetings for a couple investors who were probing Winters. Really disappointing with opportunity loss and literally over a year of effort from the Staff standpoint. Kind of a gut punch during these difficult times.

For updates on City efforts related to the Covid 19 pandemic, go to: https://www.cityofwinters.org/business-resources-for-shelter-in-place/

Finally……..

This week has been pretty quiet at City Hall but also subtly sad as we are winding down the City careers of two of the finest people I have had the pleasure to work with in my career. Both Dan Maguire, the City’s Housing and Economic Development Manager and Carol Scianna our Environmental Services Manager are moving toward retirement. This week will be their last “official” work week and they will go on extended vacation leave through June, when their actual retirement dates will take effect.

Dan and Carol are really models for the City’s efforts to be an integral part of the Winters Community. They are part of a group which I classify as “all in” for Winters with their City position being a small part of their larger participation in their lives as important citizens who make Winters the place that it is. Maybe a share on their community contributions.

Carol is a past “Citizen of the Year” whose involvement in Winters stretches from the Winters Friends of the Library (past president probably 10 times), Winters Putah Creek Committee, Putah Creek Council, a volunteer with Winters Schools and within the business community. I truly think that WFoL is one of our best community organizations and it is because of leadership like Carol’s.  During the quest for a new Winters Community Library, I cannot think of anyone who worked harder and was more influential and committed to seeing that project come to fruition. Carol gives her all, literally pulling weeds in the middle of the roundabout a couple weeks ago with the Master Gardners. Without question, her 16.5 years working for the City has been an extension of her labor of love for Winters which is 24/7/365. As she moves into retirement, we can count on her just expanding her community efforts with a reality that she is not really going anywhere!

Dan is also a past “Citizen of the Year” whose involvement with the City began as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. Dan is a past President of the WJUSD Board of Trustees, a two time President of the Rotary Club of Winters and a Board Member for the Winters Education Foundation providing support for teachers and students. In his position with the City, he works to advance County-wide initiatives to address homelessness and is a key member of the Workforce Investment Board (WIB), working to create employment training and opportunities for folks.  I first met Dan at 2:00 am following the Earthquake Festival and we worked together taking down the portable light towers. He was worn and  tired, but was working tirelessly to make sure that everything was addressed before he went home. That is just the way Dan is!

I have given Dan and Carol a hard time about their well earned and justified retirements, mostly because we simply love working with people of their integrity, perseverance and commitment to our town. Both Dan and Carol have played major roles in the “Winters Renaissance” because they were the core of a group who really made it happen. There are people who you will meet in your life who leave major impressions, who accomplish amazing feats which impact many lives and leave an indelible mark on the community they selflessly serve. Dan and Carol are those people in Winters.

This pandemic will delay our party for them but the reality is that neither of them really cares about recognition, they just care about Winters and our community.

A sincere thanks to both for all the have done, do and will do in the future.

Thanks and have a nice weekend.

John