Public Works staff was on site for more than 20 hours to direct traffic and ensure the road was clear so PG&E could restore electricity after high winds knocked down several 80-100 ft. eucalyptus trees on Arata Lane around 2:30 AM on Saturday, January 22. The trees had crashed through power lines and toppled a power pole and transformer, blocking the right-of-way to all traffic as well as cutting power to some utility customers. 

For safety, Town staff set up traffic barricades, cones and signs and, until late that evening, warned drivers of the blocked road, detouring them onto other roads. That allowed PG&E to clean up hazardous material (spilled oil from the transformer), install a new transformer, power lines, and power pole, limb and buck the downed trees and move them out of the way. Power came back on after 10:30 PM on Saturday. Town staff continue to work with PG&E and a contractor to finish cleaning up the area.

New Statewide Emergency Drought Regulations in Effect 

Despite recent rainfall and snow, more than 99 percent of California is still in a drought. Here in Sonoma  County, 2019-2020 was the Russian River Watershed’s third-driest year in more than 127 years.

Consequently, the State Water Resources Control Board passed new emergency drought regulations that took effect on January 18 and will be in place for one year or until the State Board lifts them. These new regulations impact Windsor:

• Ban on the use of potable water for street cleaning and construction site preparation unless no other method can be used to protect health and safety. Recycled water may be used instead.
• Ban on the use of potable water for filling dry fountains and decorative ponds. Evaporative water loss may be replaced in already filled fountains and ponds.
• Ban on the use of potable water to irrigate turf in publicly owned street medians.

• penalize homeowners for reducing the irrigation of turf or other vegetation.
• require homeowners to remove water-efficient landscaping installed during a declared drought emergency.
• penalize homeowners for replacing turf with water-efficient alternatives.

Other new emergency drought regulations are already in place in Windsor since the Town Council declared a level 2 water shortage in July 2021. These include bans on landscape watering that causes more than incidental runoff, washing vehicles without an automatic shut-off nozzle, washing sidewalks or other hard surfaces with potable water, and watering ornamental landscapes within 48 hours of rainfall.

Please keep conserving water: Fix plumbing leaks, turn off your irrigation system, and continue to use water wisely. Thank you, Windsor!

What Should Windsor’s New District Map Look Like?

Every 10 years, the U.S. Census Bureau updates its population and related data so states can redraw their congressional and state legisla­tive district boundaries to better reflect how their populations have changed. Local governments, such as the Town of Windsor, also participate in this process, called “redistricting.” Windsor’s first election using districts was in the November 2020 General Election.

The Town asks community members to participate in its redistricting process by submitting maps with district boundaries that include their communities of interest. There are two ways you can do this – through a paper mapping kit or an online mapping tool. Both mapping methods can be accessed on the Town’s website: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1300/2022-Redistricting.

Please submit your public maps by February 7 so we can analyze them and present them in the agenda report for the February 16 Town Council meeting, which will include a public hearing on redistricting.

April 12 Special Election: Candidates and Information

Three candidates are running for Town Council in the special municipal election on April 12 to fill one at-large seat:

• Stephanie Ahmad
• Evan K. Kubota
• Michael Wall

Make sure you've filed your voter registration information with the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters so you get a ballot in the mail. The last day to register to vote in this special election is March 28 and the deadline to request a ballot by mail is April 5.

Voting opens on March 14. You can drop off your filled-in ballot at a Vote Center, secure ballot drop box, or send it by USPS mail. Ballot drop boxes will open on March 15. For more information on voting, go to: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/. 

Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office (voting center and 24-hour ballot drop box)
435 Fiscal Dr., Santa Rosa
March 14 - April 1 (8 AM -5 PM, weekdays only)
Early Voting: April 2 – April 11 (8 AM -5 PM, Mon-Fri; 9 AM to 5 PM, Sat & Sun)
Election Day: April 12 (7 AM – 8 PM)

Bluebird Center (voting center and 24-hour ballot drop box)
25 Bluebird Dr., Windsor
Early Voting: April 2 - April 11 (9 AM - 5 PM)
Election Day: April 12, (7 AM - 8 PM)

Windsor Council Chambers (voting center)
9291 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor
Early Voting: April 9 - April 11 (9 AM - 5 PM)
Election Day: April 12 (7 AM – 8 PM)

Oliver’s Market (ballot drop box, 7 AM – 10 PM)
9230 Old Redwood Hwy, Windsor

For more information on the April 12 special election and the Town Council candidates, go to: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1314/2022-Special-Municipal-Election

Calling Local Artists: Utility Box Public Art Program

The Town of Windsor is accepting design proposals for the 2022 utility box-painting project, Discovering Windsor Through Art. The project will transform five to seven new boxes around Windsor into public works of art that everyone can enjoy. Check out the map of utility boxes that have been painted so far.

Applications and artist information are available at www.townofwindsor.com/PAAC. The deadline to apply is March 7. The announcement on artist selection will be made on April 20 and the artists will paint the utility boxes May 6-16.

Feb. 5 & April 9: Organic Compost Giveaway

Compost replenishes the soil, boosts plants with nutrients, microorganisms, and organic matter, and improves soil water retention. If you need compost for your garden, organic compost giveaways will be held at Keiser Park on Saturday, February 5, and Saturday, April 9, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

Each household can take up to a half-cubic yard of compost. Please wear a COVID-safe mask. Since you need to haul the compost yourself, we suggest that you bring these tools:

• Shovels
• Gloves
• Tarps, buckets, feedbags and/or a pick-up truck. There will be some extra feedbags available.

These organic compost giveaways are made possible through the community group WeAct in collaboration with Cold Creek Compost, the Town's Parks and Recreation Department, Daily Acts, Windsor Wellness Partnership, and Zero Waste Sonoma.

Suspicious Activity? Contact the Police Department

A message from the Windsor Police Department: Community members, we need your help. The bathrooms at Keiser Park were recently vandalized again, which means that they are now closed to the public. Again.

If you see or hear something that does not seem right, call us immediately. See it! Hear it! Report It! If it’s an emergency, call 9-1-1. Non-emergency? Call Dispatch at (707) 565-2121. Here are some examples of when you should call us:

• Any unusual or suspicious noise that you cannot explain such as breaking glass, pounding, the sound of gunfire, or an aggressively barking dog.
• Someone running from a car or home.
• Someone screaming. Even if you cannot determine what the screams are or where they’re coming from exactly, call Dispatch at (707) 565-2121.
• A person who seems to have no purpose wandering in the neighborhood.
• Strangers carrying property from residences or closed businesses.
• Strangers going into the side yard or backyard of a neighbor’s home, especially when the neighbor is not home. Also strangers entering a neighbor’s home in an unusual way such as through a window, breaking a window, or kicking down a door.
• A stranger in a car stopping to beckon a child or a child resisting the advances of an adult.
• Abandoned vehicles that could be stolen cars.
• Individuals attempting to forcibly enter a locked vehicle, especially at night or in a parking lot.
• A burglar alarm sounding.
• Excessive traffic to and from a residence, especially during unusual hours.

Check Out Our New Sustainability Page!

The Town’s website has debuted a sustainability page to give the community easy access to useful information on the environment, climate and sustainability.

“Windsor’s sustainability page is a convenient place for residents, homeowners, and renters who want to make informed choices about their use of energy, water and other materials,” said Sustainability Coordinator Katharine Gabor.

Sustainability can be defined as the integration of environmental health, social equity and economic vitality to create thriving, healthy, diverse and resilient communities. The new webpage (https://www.townofwindsor.com/1311/Sustainability) provides links to useful content on energy, water, waste, recycling, and composting from the Town, Sonoma County and sustainability-related organizations.

The page also highlights programs that help property owners learn about energy- and water-saving upgrades and how to finance them, such as the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BAYRen) and the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program.

Please bookmark this webpage; it will be updated regularly. If you have questions or suggestions, please email Kgabor@townofwindsor.com.

New Public Counter Hours: Planning Division

The Town’s planning division in the Community Development Department is now holding on-site, in-person counter hours Monday through Thursday, from 2-6 PM, at Town Hall, Building 400, 9291 Old Redwood Highway.

If you wish to schedule an appointment at other hours, please call (707) 838-1021 and leave a detailed message. 

New Banners Installed Downtown

Town staff recently installed 52 new banners throughout downtown. The banners play on DiscoverWindsor.com’s theme of "Big Heart, Small Town" by using similar phrases such as "Small Shops, Big Smiles.”

The Parks and Recreation Commission and the Town Council selected the messaging and design and community members voted on the color. The banners are double-sided -- one side in English and the other in Spanish. Let us know what you think! Email Tim Ricard at tricard@townofwindsor.com.

Recommendations on Short-Term Vacation Rentals

The Planning Commission on January 25 recommended that the Town Council limit non-hosted, owner-occupied rentals to 182 days per calendar year and limit them to areas the Town Council deems appropriate. The Town Council will review the recommendations, which would amend the zoning ordinance, at its March 2 meeting.

If you would like to learn more about the establishment of standards for short-term vacation rentals, we welcome you to review the agenda of the January 25 Planning Commission meeting, which includes the staff report, the draft resolution, a map of short-term vacation rentals, and more. Go here to view them: https://windsor-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1366.

Volunteer Opportunity: Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control District Board

If you would like to serve the community, please consider representing Windsor on the  Marin/Sonoma Mosquito and Vector Control Board of Trustees. The Board, which is composed of representatives from towns/cities in the two counties, helps to develop a program budget as well as organize and carry out an effective control program. The Board meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 PM. The term for this volunteer position expires on January 1, 2024.

Applications must be returned by 6 PM on Thursday, February 17. Please fill out the application:  https://www.townofwindsor.com/76/Committee-or-Commission-Application-Form and email it to iwerby@townofwindsor.com. You may also return your application to Town Hall at 9291 Old Redwood Highway, Building 400, Windsor, CA 95492. 

We recognize that a lot of talent exists here in Windsor. Serving on a committee or commission is an honorable way to serve the citizenry and encourage public input and participation from all members of the community. Thank you for your consideration.