Friday Update on September 27 2018
A couple items this week:
First, the Festival de la Communidad/Carnitas Festival is this Saturday at Rotary Park and the Community Center from 4:00 to 11:00. The highlight is the “Carnitas” competition and dinner. This is one of our communities top events with food and entertainment for the entire family.
October 2, 2018 City Council Agenda
- Salmon Festival Funding and Street Closure
- Repairs for pumps at East Street Pump Station
- Installation of Flashing Crosswalk Beacons on Railroad Avenue
- Final Acceptance of Callahan Subdivision Public Improvements
- Harvest Festival Street Closure on October 26
- Strategic Planning Process and Schedule
Other happenings:
- The Economic Development Advisory Committee is a really good group, brining perspective and vision on moving Winters forward in a measured and sustainable manner. At the September 27 Meeting we reviewed the SWOT analysis from previous meetings and started what we call the “idea building” process which involves folks from the committee offering ideas and concepts which will eventually form the recommendations from the group. Key issues discussed thus far including the flood zone and fees, the lack of key industrial and office locations, the vast ratio disparity of economic land zoning versus residential/public land and the need for a focused concerted public/private economic development team to recruit business. The group is exceptional and will be working on finalizing recommendations over the next month.
- The “strategic planning process” on the City Council Agenda will be a very important program for moving things forward for the City over an almost 20 year period. The following is the main parts from the agenda report:
In 2007, the City Council, Staff and key community stakeholders held a two day workshop at the Abbey Street Fire Station 26 to set goals and priorities. In that workshop, many important priorities were established which included:
- Downtown Renovation
- Water and Sewer Projects
- Utilities extended to I505
- Construction of the Public Safety Facility
- Putah Creek Improvements
The process included presentations on key needs, outlines of priorities from stakeholders and a number of exercises to gain input and consensus on the direction the City should be taking to achieve many of the goals. Without question, the process was an enormous success and the results can be seen all around town.
2018:
Staff is proposing that the City Council host a series of workshop on five (5) topical areas with key stakeholders to begin establishing goals and priorities for each area, which can then be funneled into a comprehensive “Strategic Plan” which would cover the next 15-20 year period.
Topical areas might include:
- Planning and Economic Development
- Community Facilities and Services (parks, facilities and services)
- Infrastructure (Water, Wastewater, Streets, etc)
- Public Safety
- City Organization and Structure (succession planning)
Each topic will have an individual workshop to include City Council, Staff and Stakeholders in attendance. Projects and Priorities will be discussed, listed and ranked for each area. All meetings are open to the public and will be held in an open format.
From the topical workshops, theses priorities would then be brought before the City Council in a two day strategic planning workshop coordinated by professional facilitators. Each of the stakeholders from the previous meetings will be invited to attend the workshop and participate in a more global look at all topics and asked to help participate in a consensus process. Day 2 of the workshop will afford the City Council the opportunity to provide direction on the final priorities and give directions to the City Staff.
Stay tuned for the schedule as we move forward.
Happy Homecoming to the Winters High School Warriors as poor Live Oak faces a very impressive Warrior Varsity.
John