11/22/2023 City Manager’s Update

11/22/2023 City Manager’s Update (pdf)

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Winters Tractor Parade
We are only one week away from our Christmas Tree Lighting and Tractor Parade! Friday and Saturday next week will be filled with all kinds of holiday merriment, and you can find more details at https://winterstractorparade.com/.

Winters Christmas Tree Lighting
A big shout out this week to some of the hardest working folks in Winters, our public works team! Public Works, with Ample Electric and Vintage Paving spent time this week installing new Christmas tree lights for the tree lighting which will occur next weekend. If you think untangling your tree lights is tough, imagine doing it for the 75 strings of lights it takes to light up the majestic tree in Rotary Park.
A big Thank You to Ample Electric and Vintage Paving for volunteering their time and equipment to help make our tree lighting possible.

Don’t Miss Out!
Yolo Transit I-80 Survey:
Yolo Transit has released a survey relating to proposed changes on I-80. Here is their text and link to the survey:
Transform your commute and uplift our community! We want to hear from you! Take our short 7-minute survey and let us know what you think about the proposed changes to the I-80. Learn more and help us drive change together at YoloTD.org/80

Youth Art Contest
The Yolo Climate Action Plan is sponsoring a youth art contest.  Click HERE for more information.

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City Council Meeting
The Winters City Council next regular meeting will be December 5, 2023

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11/17/2023 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf) (see attached for full update)
November 17, 2023
My first update
As I begin my first weekly report, let me first thank all of you that have provided me with such a warm welcome to Winters since I started November 1st. I look forward to meeting many more residents over the coming months and learning more about our great community. Now that we are entering the holiday season, there are many items coming up for your information and consideration.
Community Prepares for the Holiday Season
Police Cadets Bring the Halloween Spirit The Winters Police Cadets do some amazing work in our community while they learn more about potential law enforcement careers. Recently, they won the trunk-or-treat costume contest with their LEGO themed trunk!
Police and Fire Department Assist in Bringing Thanksgiving to the Community
You may have noticed some extra traffic in town today as RISE, Inc, participated in the Yolo Food Bank’s #YoloGivesAndGathers holiday food distribution. The police and fire departments were on hand to assist in traffic control and handing out the meal kits.
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City of Winters
Winters Tractor Parade You may have noticed advertisements for the upcoming Tractor Parade are circulating through town. If you are looking for more information on this family fun filled event head over to https://winterstractorparade.com/
If you are interested in renting a Main Street pergola for the parade for $1,500, please email ellena.branson@cityofwinters.org by noon on November 22nd and include your name and phone number. Names will be drawn, and winners notified that afternoon. Not all pergolas will have furniture so people may need to bring tables and chairs. Proceeds help fund the event.
Winters Fire Department
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Gifts for Kids Applications are officially OPEN! The Christmas Season has started and for many families, the Gifts for Kids program will be more important than ever.
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Applications: Applications will be accepted from November 6th through December 1st. Applicants must bring proof of Winters residency. Applications are available at the Winters Public Safety Facility Lobby from 9 am to 4 pm (NOTE: if the lobby is closed, please press the fire department call button to the left of the door. Firefighters will be happy to assist you with your application).
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Donations: We are appealing to the community for donations of new, unwrapped toys. The program gives toys to boys and girls ages 0 – 12. We especially need items for the older children ages 8-12. Donations can be made at the Winters Fire Station. Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted.
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Distribution: Distribution of the gifts will be at the Winters Fire Station (700 Main St) on December 24th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am
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City of Winters
Don’t Miss Out!
Youth Art Contest The Yolo Climate Action Plan is sponsoring a youth art contest.
Save the Date
The annual Winters Fire Department Shrimp Feed has been set for January 27th, 2024. More ticket information will be available soon.
City Council Meeting
The Winters City Council next regular meeting will be November 21, 2023.
A City Shoutout
Congratulations to Paulo Leal. Paulo was in our Police Cadet program volunteering for special events, school programs, office work and officer ride along. Cadet Leal is now CHP Officer Leal after graduating from the California Highway Patrol Academy and will begin working for the CHP this month. Congratulations Officer Leal! We wish you a long and healthy career!
Yolo Transportation District Seeks Public Input!
The Yolo Transportation District (YoloTD) is pleased to announce the launch of the Yolo Active Transportation Corridors (YATC) project and requests feedback from the community on this important planning effort. Active transportation includes all forms of people-powered transportation, including walking, biking, riding a scooter, and traveling by wheelchair.
As a community-driven document, everyone who travels in Yolo County is encouraged to participate in the development of the Plan either at in-person events or via the project website. A
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City of Winters
series of upcoming events are planned in partnership with the Yolo County Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and additional targeted events in unincorporated communities will be hosted in early 2024. Additional information about the Plan, including an interactive comment map, is available in English and Spanish at the link below. • English: https://arcg.is/0Tqeqz • Español: https://arcg.is/00CmHm0

10/12/2023 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
October 12, 2023

Join our Public Safety Team this Weekend!

The Winters Public Safety Team is hosting its annual Public Safety Festival this weekend!

This event is a fun way to meet the agencies and resources Yolo County has to offer. The FREE Festival will be held at 700 Main St at the Winters Fire Department from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday October 14th. This kid friendly event will be filled with games, free goodies, and special demonstrations from our emergency services agencies. We hope to see you all there!

Don’t Miss Out!

• The Historical Society of Winters shared their first quarterly HSW Newsletter. Check out the Winters Museum which is open Thursday through Sunday from 1:00pm-5:00pm. The newsletter also includes ways to help support the Museum through their fundraiser or volunteering as a docent.
• The Yolo-Solano Air District has announced a new commercial lawn and garden voucher program. This new voucher program provides funding to reduce the cost of replacing existing gas- or diesel-powered lawn and garden equipment with battery-operated zero-emission options. Vouchers can also be used to purchase additional batteries and charging cables for the new equipment. A list of participating retailers, eligible equipment, and maximum voucher amounts can be found on the District’s website at ysaqmd.org/incentives/commercial-lawn-and-garden For questions about the Commercial Lawn and Garden Program, contact the District by phone at (530) 757-3650 or email grants@ysaqmd.org .
• Join the Winters Theater Company and Winters Friends of the Library for their first Lit Fest Friday, October 13 from 6 o’clock to 8 o’clock. It will be held at the Margaret Parsons Room at the Winters public library, 08 Railroad Ave. in Winters. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
• The Winters High School Class of 2024 is fundraising for their Grad Nite. Get a head start on your holiday baking by ordering from The Pie Company from October 9th-October 29th.! Your pie order will be frozen and will come with baking instructions when you are ready to bake! Please pick up your pie order on Tuesday, Nov.7th WHS Student Parking Lot @6:30pm.
• Downtown Winters Harvest Fest is right around the corner! This family fun event includes:
  • October 27th — 5pm-10pm Live music, outdoor dining, wine, sweets, trick or treat trail, pumpkin painting & more.
  • October 28th — 10am-3pm 3 block vendor market with over 130 local merchants, food trucks & live music.
  • October 29th — 10am-2pm Chalk art in Paseo Park, Winters Farmers Market & Winters Halloween Fun Run.
• Winters community, Winters Joint Unified School District is excited to invite you to save the date for the first annual Kermés celebration October 13, 2023, 5:30pm at the Winters High School Football Field. Join us for a day of fun, food, and festivities with entertainment, delicious food, and community resources!
• Save the date! Welcome the Salmon home by celebrating their return at this year’s Sixth Annual Winters Salmon Festival on Saturday, November 4^th from 11am-4pm at Winters Rotary Park! Chinook Salmon return to their natal grounds every year to spawn. Migrations begin around late October and go through December, and spawning typically occurs from January through mid-April.

City Council Meeting

The next regular meeting will be November 7, 2023.

Woot Woot!

­­­Shout out to the Winters Fire Department for hosting a multi-company drill with PG&E, Cal Fire, Dixon Fire, and Davis Fire. The drill included simulating a gas leak with fire, rescue, suppression & evacuation operations. This successful training with our cooperators strengthens our commitment to the public we serve.

10/06/2023 City Manager’s Update

City Manager’s Update (pdf)
October 6, 2023

The Next Chapter!

We wish the best for City Manager, Kathleen Trepa, who has retired and is moving on to the next chapter of her life.  Kathleen played a pivotal role in Winters progress for past three years.  She will be missed.  Joe Gorton, a retired city manager, has temporarily taken the reins until our new City Manager joins us in November.

Please join us in welcoming our new City Manager, Jeremy Craig!

After a national recruitment conducted by Bob Murray & Associates, the City of Winters City Council has selected Jeremy Craig to serve as their next City Manager. Out of 24 applicants from over six states, five candidates were invited to participate in interviews with the City’s leadership team, a panel of community members, and the City Council. The City Council approved an employment agreement and announced the appointment of Mr. Craig during their October 3, 2023 City Council meeting.

Mr. Craig comes to the City of Winters with thirty years of public accounting, municipal government, and private industry experience, having recently served as the City Manager for the City of Vacaville. He previously served as the Assistant City Manager and Finance Director in the City of Vacaville and held positions in the cities of Dixon and Napa, California. Jeremy is a Certified Public Accountant and received his Master of Business Administration from Webster University and his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Southeast Missouri State University.

Mayor Bill Biasi shared the excitement of the City Council in welcoming Jeremy to the City of Winters. “We interviewed several very qualified candidates and the Council agreed that Jeremy would be a great leader for the City of Winters who can work well with staff, businesses and community members. He brings a wealth of experience.”

Outside of work, Jeremy enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering in the community, and officiating youth sports. He is an avid reader, golfer, cook, and wine enthusiast. Jeremy expressed his appreciation of the City Council’s selection: “Growing up in a small town myself, I really appreciate the community spirit I have witnessed in Winters that makes it such a great City and I look forward to working with the City Council, community, and great team of employees at the City to protect and grow that sense of community in the coming years.” Jeremy’s first day as Winters City Manager will be November 1^st, 2023.

Don’t Miss Out!

• The Yolo County Library will be hosting bilingual events every Thursday and Saturday in October. For this week Thursday Oct. 5 Health Resource Fair @ 6pm Visit with various community organizations to learn about the resources available to you and your family. Children’s activities and food (while supplies last) will be provided. Saturday Oct.7 Folklórico Juvenil Danzantes Unidos de Vacaville @ 5pm Enjoy a performance by Folklórico Juvenil Danzantes Unidos de Vacaville, followed by a dance demonstration and the history of Ballet Folklórico. Culture sharing activities and dessert will be provided after the performance.
• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month! The Winters City Council recognized Thriving Pink with a proclamation at the October 3^rd City Council meeting. Thriving Pink is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping those in Yolo County impacted by breast cancer to thrive by providing a compassionate network of support and resources in partnership with the community. We are volunteer-driven and the leading nonprofit in Yolo County which focuses on serving and supporting the local breast cancer community. More information on how to get involved and upcoming events is available on their website at https://www.thrivingpink.org/
• On October 20^th two Winters Highschool students will be hosting a Pink Out Game at the football game. For more information on their event visit their Instagram page @whspinkout24. By connecting with them, one will be able to fill out a Google form, order their attire and pick it up at the Pink Out varsity football game taking place on Oct. 20 at Dr. Seller’s field.
• The Winters Police Cadets will be raffling off two Winters themed baskets to raise funds for the program. Basket # 1, the “Winters Basket”, includes gift cards, local snacks/foods, and fall Winters essentials. Basket # 2 is the “Winters PD Officer Survival Basket”. This basket is made up of some of the things that keep our police officers running, including coffee, candy, gift cards to our favorite spots, as well as Winters PD patches and T-shirts. Tickets are 1 for $5 and 5 for $20. You can purchase tickets and check out the baskets October 14th at our Public Safety Festival, or at the Winters Police Department office at 702 Main St, Winters CA 95694. All purchases at community events must be made in cash. For questions or more information about this fundraiser email tips.winters@winterspolice.org or call 530-794-6725.
• Save the date for the 2023 Winters Public Safety Festival! This event is a fun way to meet the agencies and resources Yolo County has to offer. The FREE Festival will be held at 700 Main St at the Winters Fire Department from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday October 14th. This kid friendly event will be filled with games, free goodies, and special demonstrations from our emergency services agencies.
• The Youth Day Committee will be hosting a planning meeting at Round Table Pizza on October 25th @ 6:30 PM. These events are only possible with community volunteers and participation. You can get involved by attending the meeting the next meeting, sending a message to the Winters Youth Day Facebook page , or email info@wintersyouthday.com for more information!

Please Note:

• Planning for the 2023 Tractor Parade and Holiday Festivities are underway. Go to https://winterstractorparade.com/ for more information.
• Public Works has locked the gates to the Little League Baseball fields to allow the grass to come back from overuse. The fall is the only time staff can make repairs to the field and get the grass to grow back before little league starts up again at the end of January. Staff is also working on a plan to resod the infield.
• The Winters Fire Department will be hosting a training with other regional fire departments on Tuesday October 10^th at the PG&E Gas Safety Academy located at 1 PG&E Way, Winters, CA 95694. Do not be alarmed if you notice an increased fire personnel presence in the area.
• Please see the below revised slurry seal scheduled map for the Winters Street Rehab Project. A slight change in dates has been made for the slurry seal phase of the project. Dates have been moved from the start date Monday 10/9 to Tuesday 10/11.

City Council Meeting

The Winters City Council will not hold a meeting on October 17, 2023. The next regular meeting will be November 7, 2023.

Woot Woot!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by Steady Eddy’s for National Coffee with a Cop Day! ☕️ We had some awesome conversations and loved meeting you all.
A special thank you to Steady Eddy’s for partnering with us and hosting this event.

Another wonderful Festival de la Comunidad is in the books. A little rain didn’t stop the festivities and we hope a good time was had by all who attended. A huge shout out to all the volunteers who put in many hours to make the event the success that it was.

09/18/2023 City Manager’s Update

09/18/2023 City Manager’s Update

Full Update (pdf)

08/31/2023 City Manager’s Update

08/31/2023 City Manager’s Update
Full Update (pdf)