The League of California Cities has awarded the 2021 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Public Works, Infrastructure, Transportation to the Town of Windsor for its 1.8-megawatt photovoltaic floating solar energy project.

Read our press release here: https://bit.ly/2ZlGk1T

The Helen Putnam Award for Excellence recognizes exceptional achievements by California's 482 cities and promotes innovative solutions by city governments. The nonprofit League of California Cities chose Windsor and the winners in other categories from 125 submissions. 

The floating solar array – which addresses the Town’s climate-action goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions – has generated more than 2 million kilowatt hours and counting of renewable energy since it went online in October 2020; that equates to more than $210,000 worth of electricity for the Town.

Sept. 27: Public Hearing on Redistricting

The Windsor Town Council will hold its first public hearing on the potential redistricting of Council districts at 6 PM on Monday, September 27.
 
The redistricting process is required by local governments every 10 years in conjunction with the release of decennial census data by the U.S. Census Bureau. Using recently released 2020 census data, the Town's redistricting review will evaluate changes within each district boundary since the 2010 Census to determine if the boundaries need to be adjusted to maintain a relatively equal population in each district. The Town’s current district boundaries were developed using 2010 Census data.

The public hearing will be held in-person and online:

• In-person: Civic Center Council Chambers, 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400. Please note that those attending in person will be required to wear masks
• Online: https://zoom.us/j/94992683202.

We hope to see you, our community members, at this public hearing. For more information and for a full schedule of future meetings on the redistricting process, please visit: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1300/2021-Redistricting.

2021 Pavement Preservation Project:
Vintana and Vintage Greens

As part of its ongoing pavement preservation project, the Town will slurry-seal the streets in the Vintana and Vintage Green neighborhoods starting on Sept. 28, with preliminary work and striping removal to begin the week of Sept. 20. 

A slurry seal is the application of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, small, crushed rock, and additives to an asphalt pavement surface to preserve and protect the pavement structure and provide a new, smooth surface for vehicle drivers and cyclists. The project will last no more than four weeks. 

To  learn more about the project and see the slurry-seal map, which will have the most up-to-date information, please go to: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1298/2021-Pavement-Preservation-Project.

Update on Roundabout Construction

The Windsor River Road and Windsor Road roundabout construction project is on track. Current and upcoming work in the next few weeks include excavating and subgrading the roadway, installing electric conduits, irrigation chases, and railroad conduits, and removing storm drains.
 
Also, as many of you know, concrete barricades and temporary vehicle and pedestrian detours – including two pedestrian crosswalks east and west of Windsor Road – are in place. Please follow these detours to help keep everyone safe.

Kashia Affordable Housing Project

The Planning Commission on September 14 approved the site plan and design review for a 54-unit affordable housing project with tribal headquarters offices and a public gallery for the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of the Stewarts Point Rancheria. Groundbreaking is anticipated in spring 2023.
 
The project includes five three-story buildings on a 2.5-acre parcel at 10221 Old Redwood Highway. The tribal offices and gallery will be located at the front of the site, in a building with a strong architectural presence as shown above. A new bus stop and bus shelter will be constructed at the front of the site and new crosswalks will be installed on Old Redwood Highway (south of Arata Lane) and on Evergreen Avenue (across the driveway entrance to Evergreen Mobile Home Park). 
 
The site plan was carefully designed to preserve and enhance the property’s natural features, including a drainage swale that runs diagonally through the site and five mature oak trees, as well as respect the privacy of neighbors via building placements and setbacks. Landscaping of native flora will be planted throughout the property. Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of the buildings, which will also have access to electric vehicle charging stations. All ground floor units will be ADA accessible or adaptable.

Free COVID-19 Testing in Windsor

PG&E Electric and Gas Main Work

PG&E has two construction projects in town right now: 

PG&E Lakewood Drive Project: PG&E is connecting electric power to the Tesla charging stations at the north end of the Raley’s parking lot and other power feeds to existing buildings on Lakewood Drive.  

Project limits are from Old Redwood Highway and Lakewood Drive north to a few hundred feet beyond Los Amigos, and from Lakewood Drive northwest on Brooks Road to Edgewood Pl. Construction activity, which includes restoring asphalt, concrete and landscape, started August 30 and will be completed on or around October 14.

PG&E Gas Retirement, Gas Main, and Regulator Project: PG&E is removing an old gas line for safety purposes and installing and connecting new gas mains. Project limits are Windsor Road from the Town Public Works entrance (just south of Windsor High School) north to the roundabout and Windsor Road. This project, which includes restoring pavement, striping, concrete and landscaping, started June 30 and will be complete on or around October 15.

Oct. 3: Fall Concert on the Green with Kenny Metcalf

The Town of Windsor and the Windsor Parks and Recreation Foundation (People4Parks) are proud to present a special fall concert featuring performer Kenny Metcalf as Elton John in his early years!
 
Join us on Sunday, October 3, from 4-6 PM on the Town Green. The free event will include food vendors, free bike valet, and beer and wine. Please go here for more information: www.townofwindsor.com/specialevents

Oct. 5: Community Workshop on Zoning Code Update 

We invite the community to participate in a virtual public workshop on the Town’s zoning code update on Tuesday, October 5, at 6 PM. The zoning code update will address changes in state law, the need to increase housing supply, and to ensure consistency with the 2040 General Plan. The workshop will provide an overview of the update process, background information on what zoning is, and identify issues and opportunities that should be addressed.
 
Following an informational presentation by Town Staff, attendees may provide feedback and express their preferences on future development in Windsor. The results of the public workshop will help the Town prepare an updated zoning code that reflects the community’s expectations and a zoning code that is fully compliant with state and federal law.
 
The community workshop will be held via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/98042000255#success. A recording of the event will be posted on the Town’s website if you aren’t able to attend live. Additional information about the workshop and the zoning code update project is available here: www.townofwindsor.com/1302/Zoning-Ordinance-Update

Water Conservation Update: Monthly Use

Windsor is on track to meet its mandatory 20 percent reduction in water use due to a historic drought. Water conservation efforts had a rough start in April and May, but we started to see progress in June with a reduction of 11.1 percent (not the previously reported 19 percent).
 
Your conservation efforts doubled down in July: Water use fell 22.9 percent that month and August was almost as good, with a 21.07 percent reduction compared to water usage in 2020. While Windsor is following the water-use reduction mandate, the water supply in Sonoma County continues to dwindle due to several factors, including lack of rainfall and lack of compliance elsewhere in Sonoma County and northern California, which the State is investigating.
 
Let's hope for a long, wet winter to replenish our reservoirs and aquifers. In the meantime, let’s keep the momentum going as we head into fall. 

Softball Field Dedicated to Longtime Community Member

On Sunday, September 12, the Town renamed a softball field in Hiram Lewis Community Park as “Norm Ray Field” to recognize longtime Windsor resident Norm Ray.
 
For more than 35 years, Mr. Ray dedicated himself to coordinating and supporting all levels of softball here in Windsor. Mr. Ray founded the co-ed softball league in Windsor in 1986 and teams played games at Esposti Park before moving to Hiram Lewis Park. His family team, “The Rayders,” which continues to play in the Town co-ed softball league, at one time included four generations of his family.
 
After Mr. Ray died in 2020, Serena Rupert, Mr. Ray’s eldest granddaughter, contacted the Town about naming a softball field after him. Town staff worked with Ms. Rupert through the Parks and Recreation Foundation to finalize the details. Many of the extended Ray family and former teammates were unaware of the work Ms. Rupert was doing, so the dedication was planned as a big surprise, disguised as a simple memorial BBQ. Town staff, commissioners and foundation members attended to help with the big reveal.

New Web Resource on Koi Nation Casino Project

The Koi Nation, one of the state's federally recognized Native American tribes, announced on September 15 that it intends to build a resort and casino on a 68-acre vineyard site just outside of town, in unincorporated Sonoma County. 

While this $600 million proposed project is not located in Windsor, it borders our town limits. So, we created an informational webpage with information about the casino/resort proposal and next steps as well as the contact information of elected leaders. Go here: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1303/Koi-Nation-Resort-and-Casino-Project .

Help Windsor Become More Resilient

The Town hosted a community workshop at the September 19 Farmer’s Market on the Windsor Resilience Plan (https://windsorready.com/). The plan is designed to make our community stronger, more connected, and better prepared to respond to and recover from wildfires, droughts, floods, and other extreme weather.
 
Please help us refine and prioritize Windsor’s climate resilience strategies. If you haven't provided comments yet, there’s still time. You have until October 31 to give us your feedback by going to: https://windsorready.consider.it/

Draft Policy to Assess Environmental Impacts
of Vehicle Driving

On July 1, 2020, the Town began to assess traffic-related environmental effects of development projects and infrastructure projects, based on recent changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The intent of the new "vehicle miles traveled" (VMT) guidelines is to focus traffic analysis on the environmental impacts of driving, instead of impacts to drivers.
 
The new guidelines more appropriately balance the needs of congestion management with statewide goals related to infill development, promoting public health through active transportation, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Town Staff have drafted VMT guidelines to be better tailored to the local and regional context. 
 
We encourage our community members to review the draft VMT policy and send feedback and questions to Senior Civil Engineer Carl Euphrat at: ceuphrat@townofwindsor.com.

On October 13 at 6 PM, we also invite you to attend a joint Planning Commission/Town Council meeting. Based on public feedback, Town Staff will provide a revised VMT policy to the Town Council at a later date for formal adoption.

Chevron Station Remodel

On September 15, the Planning Commission approved the site plan and design review for a major remodel of the Chevron station at 9120/9200 Old Redwood Highway. The site plan is designed to accommodate future downtown pedestrian improvements to implement the Connecting Central Windsor plan. 
 
The convenience store and carwash will be demolished to construct a new convenience store and Aztec Grill restaurant, which includes an outdoor patio and walk-up window. The project also includes a new automated carwash with self-serve vacuum stations and two additional fuel pumps with extension of the overhead canopy. Three electric vehicle charging stations will be provided. The owners anticipate groundbreaking in spring 2022.

New Plaque: Cunningham Homestead & Hembree House

On September 18, the Town unveiled a new plaque recognizing the Cunningham Homestead and Hembree House and commemorating the history of the pioneer Cunningham Family in Windsor.

The local Sam Brannan chapter of E Clampus Vitus purchased, donated and dedicated the plaque, located at 9225 Foxwood Dr. In addition, the new plaque is installed on a stone from Windsor’s own Brooks Quarry. 

Second Drought Drop-By a Success

Town Staff handed out 133 water-conservation kits at our second “Drought Drop By” event on August 21 in front of the Public Works facility. Each kit included an efficiency showerhead, a bucket, a faucet aerator, dye tablets for toilet leak detection, a hose nozzle and information about water wise gardening.

If you missed this event and would like to have a water-conservation kit, please pick one up at the Public Works counter at 8400 Windsor Road, between 7 AM – 2 PM, Monday through Thursday. Thank you for saving water in this severe drought.

Public Art Advisory Commission Changes
Meeting Schedule

The Public Art Advisory Commission has changed its regular meeting schedule to the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM to increase awareness and participation and to be more accessible to the public, especially students. The Commission’s next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 27.
 
Meetings are held in the Council Chambers located at Town Hall 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400, and broadcasted on the public access channel and online on the Town website. We encourage you to participate in Windsor's public art process!