Friday Update on September 21 2018
All,
Some items to end the week:
October 2, 2018 City Council Agenda
- Senior Services Presentation
- Resolution regarding Proposition 6
- East Street Pump Station Repairs
- Flashing Beacon Crossing Signals for Railroad Avenue
- Salmon Festival – Request for Funds, Street Closure & Amplified Sound Permit
- Waste Management Contract Amendment for Overage & Contamination
- Winters Healthcare Public Improvement and Maintenance Agreement
- Callahan Phase 1 Public Improvements Notice of Completion
Some notes on items occurring:
- First, Congratulations to City Councilember Jesse Loren and local super involved resident Kate Laddish for being recognized by Congressman John Garamendi as Women of the Year for 2018. Jesse was recognized for her leadership roles within the City with the Hispanic Advisory Committee, League of California Cities and with the many regional agencies she represents the City on. Kate was recognized for her advocacy on affordable housing and work within the Winters Community. Congrats to both VERY deserving Women of the Year!
- Lots of work occurring with the Heartland and Stones Throw Subdivisions. The interior roadways along with a section of Moody Slough Rd are well under construction and should be completed some time over the next few weeks. The projects are taking shape and will be nice additions to the community.
- The City’s Building Department will have a “launch” of the same day permitting program on Wednesday, October 3 beginning at 3:30 at City Hall. Contractors and their representatives are welcome to attend to learn about the program as it gets ready to begin on October 9, 2018.
- On Thursday, the City Council and I attended the one year anniversary on the opening of the PG&E Gas Operations Technical Training Academy. Key project personnel from PG&E were in attendance, including Gas Operations President Nick Stravopolous. It was nice to see this world class facility in operation and the overall commitment the utility is making to training their personnel and advancing gas safety at a very high level. During our conversations, we learned that the facility is considered a benchmark for other utilities throughout the country and by utilities world wide. Having such a world class facility in Winters is simply amazing. The facility trains over 150 personnel daily from all over the greater PG&E service areas in California. Kudos to PG&E and their entire team!
- This Sunday is the inaugural “Porchfest” a series of mini-concerts and performances to be held on front yards and porches on Main Street between Second and Fourth Streets. Food trucks and performances will also be held at City Park. The event will be between Noon and 5 and is free to all attendees.
Finally, the City Council has approved the Downtown Parking Master Plan. The three (3) year effort was driven by community members and businesses concerned about the future of congestion and parking availability within our Downtown. Some of the key recommendations and implementation programs which will be taking place include:
- The establishment of the Winters Business Association, a compilation of business and property owners to guide management and policy implementation for parking within the Downtown. The partnership between the City and the private sector will be a key in the overall success in implementing the overall plan.
- Construction of the new 38 space parking across for City Hall which will happen in conjunction with the opening of the Hotel Winters.
- Re-striping of parking spaces throughout Downtown Winters. This will include a re-measurement and painting of all parallel spaces and re-painting of current diagonal spaces.
- Establishment of parking time limits for the Downtown, re-signage and then enforcement. For most of the area, limits will be 2 hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with 30 minute zones in some key retail spaces and near the bank.
- Alternatives for special event parking including remote parking lots and shuttles.
- Working with businesses to have employees park in parking lots versus key visitor and customer.
- Parking enhancements for bikes, accessible parking and electric vehicles.
- Opportunities for the Winters Business Association to do assessments for future parking needs, structures, services and other alternatives including valet parking and enhanced security and lighting.
To see the entire Parking Plan and Report, go to https://www.cityofwinters.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ParkingMasterPlan-FinalDraft073118.pdf.
Have a nice weekend.
John