On September 22, Windsor Mayor Sam Salmon and Windsor Town Manager Ken MacNab, on behalf of the Town of Windsor, accepted the 2021 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence at the League of California Cities’ annual conference in Sacramento.

The League of California Cities, a statewide association, lauded the Town for installing floating solar to power some City facilities, lower its electricity bill, and reduce the Town’s greenhouse gas emissions – one of Windsor’s climate-change goals. Watch this short video created by Cal Cities on the Town’s award-winning project, which spans across Windsor’s largest recycled-water pond: https://youtu.be/UFVN4-p0mWA

The Helen Putnam Award recognizes outstanding achievements made by California's 482 cities. Eleven California cities received the award this year and Windsor was recognized in the “public works, infrastructure and transportation” category. 

Update on PG&E Gas Construction

Over the past month or so, PG&E and its contractors have been upgrading the gas system along Windsor Road by removing an old gas line and installing and connecting new gas mains. On Saturday, October 16, PG&E will test and tie in the new connections and ensure the system is working safely and properly.

This is a daylong project, from 6 AM to about 8:30 PM. PG&E will bring trailers to temporarily provide gas to ensure no disruption of gas service to residents and businesses during testing. Traffic may be impacted along Windsor Road, from Duncan Drive north to Old Redwood Highway. One lane of the road may be closed so PG&E can complete this essential work. Please follow construction signage and follow flaggers’ directions.

People in the area may smell natural gas at times during the testing. After this work is complete, PG&E will then restore the asphalt, a process that will be finished in early November. Thank you for your patience as PG&E completes the work to improve the gas lines for our community. 

Trick or Treat Trail Call for Vendors

The Parks & Recreation Department's Trick or Treat Trail returns on Saturday, October 30! We are now accepting applications from community groups, non-profits, and businesses to host a socially distanced booth and pass out candy along the Trick or Treat Trail.

Click here to view the guidelines and fill out an application. Please share this fun opportunity with anyone who has a business, non-profit, or is part of a community group. 

Oct. 14: Community Workshop
on Housing Element Update 

We invite you to participate in an interactive online discussion at 6 PM on Thursday, October 14, on the Town’s 2023-2031 Housing Element Update.

What’s the Housing Element? It’s a planning document that establishes the goals, policies, and implementation measures to guide Windsor’s housing development. At the meeting, you will learn about the update process, identify needs and opportunities, and discuss how the Town can improve housing opportunities and build a safer, more resilient community.

This public workshop will be held via Zoom. Please register for the event and you will be sent the meeting link.

New Ballistic Vest for Duke

Thanks to funds from the Town’s asset forfeiture program, Duke, a 2-year-old Malinois/German Shepherd K-9 assigned to the Windsor Police Department, has received a new custom ballistic vest to better protect him on duty. Duke is one of nine K-9s for the Sheriff’s Office but he is the solo dog assigned to Windsor. He is trained in suspect apprehension, handler protection and narcotic detection.

Duke’s previous vest was large and heavy, which could limit his mobility, overheat him, and add stress to his joints. Having a properly fitted lightweight ballistic vest allows Duke to wear it for his entire shift. 

The Town has participated in the asset forfeiture program since 2010. When assets are seized during drug interdiction activities, public-safety agencies may use those funds for investigations, training, facilities, equipment, and education/awareness programs.  

Update on Proposed Windsor Civic Center Project

The Town has granted a three-month extension of an exclusive negotiating agreement with The Robert Green Company on the proposed development of a new Town civic center. The developer has requested a two-year extension, and this request may come before Town Council for review and approval.

The proposed project includes a hotel, residential housing, and new civic buildings for the Town’s Police Department and emergency operations center. Other facilities, including Town Hall, the library, and Windsor Unified School District offices, would be relocated north of the proposed development. 

Learn more about the project at: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1207/WINDSOR-CIVIC-CENTER

Feedback Needed on Revitalizing Old Redwood Highway

The Town of Windsor is developing the Old Redwood Highway Corridor Enhancement Plan (ORHCEP) to reimagine and revitalize this corridor, which runs through the length of Windsor. The aim of the plan: to improve mobility for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, and to support a vibrant economy.

We are seeking more public feedback by October 15: What type of facilities and placemaking concepts would you like to see along this corridor? Ideas include green-painted bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, and pedestrian hybrid beacons. This plan can be used as a blueprint to seek and secure funding to implement future projects.

We welcome you to review exhibit boards as well as videos of two previous public workshops here: www.orhcorridorplan.com. This website also features a survey where you can provide feedback on this project.  

Oct 19: Community Workshop
on Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update

Would you like to help make Windsor a better place to walk and bike? Join us for an online community workshop at 5 PM on Tuesday, October 19.

The purpose of this workshop is to update the Town’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which was published in 2014. The October 19 workshop will highlight key challenges and opportunities to make Windsor more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly as well as some preliminary ideas for improvements. Your input is an important part of this plan, so please come with your ideas and suggestions.

Learn more about the master plan update: https://w-trans.mysocialpinpoint.com/windsor. This website includes a short survey and interactive map where you can identify places where you would like to bike or walk, specific improvements you would like to see, or reply to comments from other residents.

This meeting will be held online via Zoom at: https://zoom.us/j/94772275439?pwd=ZUlLNzB3Y1hBUWkrVmlQNFZ3dEFJZz09. The meeting ID is 947 7227 5439 and the passcode is 913696. If you have questions or would like to be added to the project email list, please contact consultant Barry Bergman at W-Trans: bbergman@w-trans.com

New UV System to Disinfect Wastewater

The Town has started the process to build and install a new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system at its water reclamation facility. UV disinfection is the last step in wastewater treatment, resulting in the highest-quality recycled water – fully disinfected and safe to use. Almost 500 Windsor residential properties as well as some local businesses, Town facilities, and agricultural businesses use our recycled water.  

The Town has operated and maintained the original UV system since 2000, and it has surpassed its expected life cycle. The Town has submitted a Request for Proposals (RFP) from local and nationally recognized engineering firms to aid in the new UV disinfection system’s design and construction. Funds for the new system were made available as part of the recently adopted 2021 Capital Improvement Project budget. 

Town's Public Counter Services Returning
to Regular Business Hours

Starting on Monday, October 11, public counter services at the Town departments below will return to the regular business hours of 7 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Thursday. Visitors to all Town offices will be required to wear face masks.

• Administrative Services

• Community Development

• Parks and Recreation

• Public Works Department 

Town offices have been closed to the public since March 2020 following the global outbreak of COVID-19. Public counter services resumed on a limited basis on August 2 as part of the Town’s transition back to full in-person office operations.

The Town continues to operate with some staff working in-office and some working virtually to accommodate health and safety needs and concerns. If you have any questions, please call (707) 838-1000.

Thank You to Sponsors of Summer Nights on the Green 

The Town of Windsor expresses its gratitude to the 2021 Summer Nights on the Green sponsors:

• Bellacana Vineyards Tasting Lounge
• Coleman Construction & RC Painting
• Encore Events Rentals
• Exchange Bank
• Les Schwab Tire Center
• Mengler Family Wines
• Meyers Nave
• Michael Langhals, Realtor
• Simply Solar
• SoCoNews
• Sonoma County Resource Recovery
• The Engine Is Red

In addition, thank you to the band sponsors:

• Friends of the Windsor Library
• FRC Inc.
• Pacific Home Care
• The Tamale Factory
• Windsor Golf Club & Charlies Restaurant
• Windsor Lions Club

Because of their generous donations, the concert series was successful and safely enjoyed by all. Please shop local and support our event and band sponsors. We look forward to seeing your friendly faces on Thursday nights next year.