Town Manager Jon Davis

Hello, Windsor!

As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” The additional rain and sunshine also mean weed growth will be further accelerated around Town. The abatement of the weeds in public areas is systematic. Town staff are dedicated to protecting your health and safety and will not use glyphosate or other synthetic herbicides in parks or in public areas. If you see a Town crew member working hard to abate the weeds by hand, please give them a nod as a thank you. More information on weed abatement is below.

The month of April means it is time for some of our favorite events to return to the Town Green. The Windsor Certified Farmers Market is up and running each Sunday from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and Levi’s Granfondo will descend on the Green the weekend of April 21. I invite you to bring your friends and family to experience the wonderful events in the Old Downtown. Dine, shop, and have a great time!

Did you feel the earthquake Tuesday night? I awoke to my cell phone alerting me to the event. Thankfully, it was minor in our area. I encourage everyone to sign up for emergency alerts through the County of Sonoma at the following link: https://socoemergency.org/get-ready/sign-up/#signup

This issue, we are spotlighting our Windsor Police Department Community Services Officer, Charity Koch. She takes an active role in the community aiding and providing guidance either in-person or over the phone. You may recognize her around Town at community events, participating in fundraisers or giving a safety presentation at the local schools. Please give the article a read and let us know what you think!

As always, if you'd like to get the Insider sent directly to your email inbox, go to our Notify Me page to sign up. Please let us know what you think -- we welcome your feedback.

Issue #40: April 13, 2023

Spotlight: Community Services Officer - Charity Koch

Have you met Charity Koch, the Community Services Officer (CSO) with the Windsor Police Department? If not, you are in for a treat. Charity started her career in law enforcement over 26 years ago. She joined the Windsor Police Department in 2019. She established a career goal of "creating an active and involved partnership to provide resources and information to assist in keeping our community, families, and businesses safe." She has two powerful daughters and a great husband who is a tremendous dad. “My husband is always there when things get crazy at work”, says Charity.

"She's really good about getting out there and engaging the community, she's at the forefront of everything we do," says Windsor Police Chief Michael Raasch.

Charity was raised in the Alexander Valley and is a 5th generation raising cattle and vineyards with her family. Her parents instilled a strong work ethic early on, and it shows today. "She has a stellar reputation with our department, her work ethic is so strong, and she is so organized," says Deanna Sherman, Administrative Aide.

Growing up Charity knew she wanted to go into law enforcement, starting off as a police cadet at Santa Rosa Junior College Police Department (SRJCPD) and earning a criminal justice degree. She started full time as a CSO at the Sonoma County Sheriff's office in 2002. As the Town's CSO, she finds pride in "helping the community solve their problems". She wears many hats in the department from working with the community, assisting officers, to resolving code enforcement infractions to running programs such as the Neighborhood Watch and COPE in the Town of Windsor.

When Charity is not working you will find her participating in several events around Sonoma County that include the National Night Out, Trick or Treat Trail, holiday toy drives to being a member of the Polar Plunge Team or running in the Special Olympics Torch Run. Charity's work ethic and efforts don't go unnoticed. She has received several distinguished awards from the Special Olympics for fundraising, a Distinguished Service Award for serving the citizens of Sonoma County, and The Louis "Pete" Peterka Emergency Management Award recognizing her outstanding commitment to emergency management to the schools of Sonoma County.

"She excels in dealing with people, engaging them, being very approachable. Having that service-oriented heart helps. She helps to build trust, especially with kids", Chief Raasch says.

Charity is a true advocate working with kids ages 13 to 20 years old in the Town's Explorer Post program. The program encourages kids interested in law enforcement to participate in the program to one day become an officer or get involved in law enforcement. "She makes an impact on the community and everyone she encounters", Mrs. Sherman says.

April 12 - Mayor Visits Sacramento

Mayor Reynoza and Assemblymember Jim Wood

staff and mayor reynoza on capital steps

The mayor and staff visited Sacramento to advocate for funding and to bring awareness of the Town’s “Net-Zero” program at the Water Reclamation Facility (Facilty). The mayor and staff were warmly received by Senator Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood.

The Town’s proposed projects sparked quite a bit of interest. “Net Zero” is an effort to deliver sustainable wastewater treatment by recycling 100% of the Town’s wastewater, converting all the biosolids that come from wastewater into Biochar. Biochar can be used as a beneficial soil amendment in gardens and agricultural and using only renewable electricity at the facility.

This achievement would be the first of its kind, “We have not found anyone else in the world that has achieved this level of sustainable wastewater treatment” says Shannon Cotulla, Public Works Director.

OPEN - California Redemption Value (CRV) Center

Exciting news for Windsor residents! The highly anticipated Recycling Redemption facility at 25 Bluebird Dr. is finally up and running. Operated by the United Cerebral Policy Center of the North Bay, the center accepts eligible aluminum, plastic, and glass containers for California Redemption Value (CRV) redemption. You can drop off your recyclables on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The project began in September when the Town learned that Brogard Recycling had closed its CRV center in Windsor, leaving residents without a local option for CRV redemption. In response, staff reached out to Zero Waste Sonoma to develop a grant-funded recycling center in Windsor, and an agreement was reached to use a portion of the Town-owned Bluebird Center. We are thrilled to see this project come to fruition and hope it will make recycling more accessible and convenient for the community. For more information call (707) 763-4761 or visit https://northbayrecyclezone.com/.

April 15 - Town Green Community Open Garden

Join the Windsor Garden Club for a beautiful sunny day in the garden. Drop by Windsor’s Town Green Community Garden to enjoy free children’s activities, get your plant and bug questions answered, and wander for inspiration. This event takes place this Saturday, April 15, 10 AM to 1 PM.

While you are there, be sure to check out the Monarch Waystation/Pollinator Garden that is planted right outside the Community Garden. The demonstration garden was planted last year and can give you inspiration for your own pollinator gardens!

April 22 - Earth Day Trash Cleanup Event

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM, join the Town of Windsor staff to celebrate Earth Day by picking up trash in the streets. Your help will improve water quality and urban wildlife habitat in our creeks.

Meet at the end of Victory Lane to pick up safety gear. All volunteers will be provided with all essential equipment to assist with the cleanup event. Participants will receive a free gift and snacks.

Please register on Eventbrite prior to the event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/588298766447. For more information, call (707) 838-5385 or email stormwater@townofwindsor.com.

April 26 - Innovation in Home Water Reuse and Efficiency

A message from County of Sonoma Climate Action and Resiliency Division. The County is hosting Energy & Resilience Workshops to learn about the “benefits of making improvements that will help make your home or business more resilient.” For more information and to register visit Climate Action and Resiliency Division.

April 29 - Grand Reopening Ribbon Cutting

Let’s celebrate the exciting and much anticipated return of programs to the Windsor Senior Recreation Center together with appetizers, music, and comradery during this open house party! The Senior Center has undergone renovations including reconfigured and updated bathrooms, new flooring throughout the building, a new lobby and lounge/coffee bar. Everyone is welcome! Please join us on Saturday, April 29, 1 PM to 3 PM at 9231 Foxwood Drive.

May 6 - Town of Windsor Budget Workshop

Community workshop on Town Budget and Finances

Please join us at the Bluebird Center on May 6 at 6 PM for an interactive workshop to engage the community about budget priorities. The workshop is also an educational opportunity that includes:

Background on Town services and how they are funded
Overview of the Town’s Strategic Plan
Review of Town’s fiscal status
Discussion of key budget items included in the Proposed Biennial Budget

The workshop will conclude with an exercise to obtain community input on budget priorities. We hope to see you there!

2023 Summer Nights on the Green Concert Series

Hey Windsor!

It is the moment you’ve been waiting for… the 2023 Summer Nights on the Green band lineup is here! View the dates below and click the link to view more information about each band. The 2023 Summer Nights on the Green concert series is brought to you by the Town of Windsor, the Windsor Certified Farmers Market and all of our generous sponsors!

https://bit.ly/SummerNights2023

June 1- Pride & Joy
June 8- Mustache Harbor
June 15- Orquesta son de Caña
June 22- The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra
June 29- Skynyrd & Frynds
July 13- Kenny Metcalf As Elton
July 20- Maya
July 27- The Funky Dozen
August 3- Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
August 10- Hey Jude
August 17- Sol Horizon
August 24- Mama Said
August 31- Unauthorized Rolling Stones

Weed Management: Organic Pesticides Only

As spring approaches, our gardens and yards will grow verdant -- and so will the weeds in Windsor’s 120 acres of public parks and 28 miles of streetscape. The Town of Windsor, in close collaboration with the Sonoma County Fire District, actively manages a year-round weed-abatement program that has more than doubled in cost and resources since 2018.

The Town Council changed the Town’s Integrated Pest Management Policy in 2018 so only organic pesticides in public parks and streetscapes may be applied. (The Town does have an exemption that allows a very limited use of synthetic weed killers on street medians and non-public areas around the wastewater treatment plant.). Read the full announcement here: https://www.townofwindsor.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1396

We ask all community members to be patient and understanding with Town staff and contractors as we manage a heathier system for weed abatement.

Windsor Senior Recreation Center Receives Donation

Town staff from the Parks and Recreation Department received a $1400 donation from the Windsor Rotary Club on behalf of the Windsor Senior Recreation Center. The Windsor Rotary Community Foundation seeks to support projects to enhance the quality of life for members of the Windsor community.

The donation will fund a brand new “Coffee Corner” in the newly renovated Windsor Senior Recreation Center. As a show of appreciation to the Windsor Rotary Club for their very generous donation, the area in the Senior Center will be named the Windsor Rotary Club Coffee Corner.

Join Our Team

The Town of Windsor is looking for talented people. For information on open positions, click here for the full list. If you have questions about working for the Town, please reach out to our Human Resources team at hr@townofwindsor.com.

Join our team! Go here to apply.

Upcoming Town Meetings and Workshops

Here are some public Town meetings and workshops coming up in the next two weeks – we’d love to see you. You can always find Town Council and Commission meeting information on the calendar on the Town website homepage.

April 18, 2 PM: Senior Citizen Advisory Commission

April 19, 6 PM: Joint Windsor Town Council, Windsor Redevelopment Successor Agency and Windsor Water District

April 25, 5:30 PM: Planning Commission Meeting

April 26, 4:30 PM: Public Art Advisory Commission Meeting

May 14 - Mother's Day Free Pancake Breakfast

A message from Sonoma County Fire District: Mother’s Day Free Pancake Breakfast. Treat mom to breakfast and join us at Keiser Park, Sunday, May 14^th from 8 AM to 12 PM. There is so much to do! Meet local first responders, check out emergency vehicles, and learn tips to keep your family safe. Please join us by registering at Eventbrite.