WINDSOR KABOOM is back, mark your calendar for the return of the annual event! The Town of Windsor has partnered with the Active 20/30 Clubs of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg/Windsor to produce the event for 2023. The festive event will include live music, children’s activities, food and drink, and fireworks.

Tickets will be sold beginning in June, with detailed information on how to get your tickets coming soon. More information can be found on the Windsor Kaboom website, Windsor Kaboom – July 3rd Fireworks Show in Windsor, CA.

MAY 14 - PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND SAFETY FAIR 

This Sunday, May 14, join the Sonoma County Fire District at Keiser Park for a FREE Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast and Safety Fair from 8 AM -12 PM. Sonoma County Fire District Mother's Day FREE Pancake Breakfast Tickets, Sun, May 14, 2023 at 8:00 AM | Eventbrite.

MAY 21 - WINDSOR HALF MARATHON 10K & 5K 

The annual Windsor Half Marathon returns, Sunday, May 21. Runners will leave the Town Green at 7:30 AM and finish the race at the Town Green with a small festival that will include food, wine and beer, and vendors. Visit course map — WINDSOR HALF MARATHON 10K • 5K (runwinecountry.com) to view the course and please be aware of short rolling street closures as the runners begin the race.

For more information about the race, to register, or volunteer visit the website, WINDSOR HALF MARATHON 10K • 5K (runwinecountry.com).

MAY 22 – CROSSWALK IMPROVEMENTS 

Construction of the crosswalk improvements on Brooks Road S at Natalie Drive is expected to start May 22, and end when school is not in session at neighboring Brooks Elementary and Windsor Middle School. Items of work include the installation of rapid rectangular flashing beacons, ADA curb ramps, curb bulb-out, pedestrian refuge island, slurry seal, vertical bollards to create separated bike lanes, and refresh striping. Construction will overlap with the Michael Hall Park Detention Basin Project on Camelot Drive. Construction updates will be posted on the Town website at: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1428/Brooks-Road-South-at-Natalie-Drive-Cross

This project is anticipated to increase driver awareness to the presence of pedestrians, enhance the visibility of pedestrians crossing the street, reduce pedestrian crossing distance, reduce the number of conflict points, and establish a clearer path of travel for vehicles and bicycles. The project is partially funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) grant which has allocated $240,600 towards the project. 

MCCLELLAND HOTEL PROJECT 

Construction activities have commenced on the long-awaited McClelland Hotel project in downtown Windsor. The hotel will occupy 1.2 acres of the 1.9-acre site, located at the southeast corner of McClelland Drive and Market Street. The remaining 0.7 acres will be used as a construction yard with access from Richardson Street while the hotel is being built. 

The hotel will include 149 guest rooms, a ground floor restaurant and bar; meeting space, retail space; a rooftop terrace and bar; and a backyard patio and pool area. The first phase of construction will include excavation for an underground parking garage. Construction is anticipated to take two years to complete. 

For more information or questions about the project please contact the Community Development Department at 707-838-1021.

BUDGET WORKSHOPS

Budget meetings continue! The Town Council held a budget workshop on May 3, to review the Town’s 2023-25 proposed Operating Budget and 2023-28 proposed Capital Improvement Program. On May 10, staff facilitated a community budget workshop at the Bluebird Center to engage the community and gather input on budget priorities.  

The next opportunity to provide input and learn about the Town’s budgets will be in June. Join the Planning Commission meeting on June 13, at 5:30 PM, to learn about the Capital Improvement Program and the Town Council meeting on June 21, at 6 PM, for the adoption of the budgets.  

RAINWATER HARVESTING 

Have you thought about installing a rainwater harvesting system? Do you have a roof? A small garden, or even a few house plants? Well then rainwater harvesting could be an easy and effective way to offset some of your potable water use, reduce runoff, and create a healthier, more sustainable environment for you and your plants.

Students at Windsor Oaks Academy and North Bay Met Academy installed this Blue Barrel harvesting system with the help of Daily Acts, in February of 2022. Since then, they have been able to use the collected water to irrigate their small garden, which is thriving with beautiful lettuce, herbs, and more.

You too can have a rainwater harvesting success story, and even get a rebate for it. Check out Sonoma County Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Program - Sonoma- Marin Saving Water Partnership to sign up for a rebate of $0.50 per gallon up to 5,000 gallons, and to find more information on installing rain water harvesting systems.

WATER SMART HOME PROGRAM

Want to improve water efficiency in your household and ensure you’re not paying for pesky leaks? Sign up today for a comprehensive water use assessment, through the Town of Windsor’s Water Smart Home Program.

This FREE program is available to all interested Windsor residents. A water conservation representative will come to your house to perform an on-site review of both indoor and outdoor water use. They will check for leaks and replace fixtures with free water efficient shower heads and faucet aerators.

They will also inspect your irrigation system and make recommendations for how to keep your landscape looking nice with as little water as possible.

Interested residents can find more information and schedule an appointment at Water Smart Home Program | Windsor, CA - Official Website (townofwindsor.com) or call 707-547-1909.

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. 

• May 17, 6PM: Joint Windsor Town Council, Windsor Redevelopment Successor Agency and Windsor Water District
• May 23, 5:30PM: Planning Commission
• May 24, 4:30PM: Public Art Advisory Commission Meeting

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES  

Looking to switch to electric yard tools?  Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) offers educational webinars providing an overview of the benefits of switching to electric yard equipment.  For more information on educational webinars, articles, and videos visit SCP Education Hub at Education Hub | SCP Advanced Energy Center

NATIONAL WILDFIRE AWARENESS MONTH 

A Message from Sonoma County Fire District: May is National Wildfire Awareness Month - Wildfires are dangerous fires that can spread quickly and can devastate not only wildlife and natural areas, but also communities. Sonoma County Fire District works diligently to protect our community by educating our community members about defensible space and home hardening best practices.

We encourage everyone to make their homes more fire-resistant, create defensible space, and develop a wildfire action plan for your family. Be prepared for when wildfire strikes by following these simple tips:

• Make your home ember resistant by removing all fuels and combustible materials in the 0’-5’ zone immediately around your home.
• Cut annual grasses to 4” or less around your home and property.
• Clear all vegetation away from your chimney, roof and gutters.
• Limb up trees 6’ from the ground to remove ladder fuels
• Remove combustible materials from underneath your deck and balconies. 

Taking the necessary measures now to harden (prepare) your home can help increase its likelihood of survival when wildfire strikes. For more information: www.readyforwildfire.org