Sonoma County Regional Parks, in cooperation with the Sonoma County Fire District, is conducting a series of controlled vegetation burns at Foothill Regional Park to better prepare for wildfire. The park will remain open during these burns, which will continue to take place over the next week or so, but park users may see and/or smell smoke in the area. Parking availability may also be impacted on burn days.

This burn series is part of ongoing fuel-reduction efforts by County parks staff and partners, including vegetation thinning on three acres along the park’s western property boundary. To ensure safety, the burns are only taking place when weather conditions are favorable and ample firefighting resources are available.

We appreciate your patience as our partners work to enhance biodiversity and reduce fire risk in Foothill Regional Park. For more information, please contact Jen Stanfield, Sonoma County Regional Parks Project Coordinator, jennifer.stanfield@sonoma-county.org

Updates on Road Work, Temporary Road Closures

April 2: Temporary Road Closure on Windsor River Road
PG&E will be installing electric and gas lines near the roundabout on Saturday, April 2, which may necessitate brief closures of both east- and westbound Windsor River Road, just west of the roundabout, throughout the day. Please follow the direction of flaggers.

March 31, April 4-5: Gas Line Installations
PG&E is in the process of installing new gas lines and equipment at Starr Road and Starburst Court. This work includes excavating under the Town’s storm drain lines to safely run the new gas lines. Construction work is scheduled to continue daily during the week until completion of the project in early June. 
 
However, to make safe passage at multiple locations directly under the Town's 60" storm drain, PG&E is working longer hours today (8 AM – 8 PM) as well as next Monday and Tuesday (April 4-5). The roads will remain open. Nevertheless, please follow signage and the direction of flaggers to ensure the safety of workers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

April 11-12: Paving New Road for Overlook Subdivision
There will be a temporary road closure of a short section of Mitchell Lane (by Vercelli Court) from 7 AM – 6 PM on Monday and Tuesday, April 11-12, so we can create and pave a street – Barbara’s Lane – for the new Overlook subdivision. This paving work includes installing drainage pipes, bio swales, and water grates. Signage and flaggers will direct motorists to detour onto Trione Court. Located near the Windsor Golf Course, the Overlook development will consist of 12 single-family homes. 

If you have any questions about the road work above, please contact Senior Public Works Inspector Tim Davis, tdavis@townofwindsor.com.

PG&E Trimming Trees to Cut Fire Risk

Starting on Tuesday, April 5, a contractor for PG&E will be trimming trees away from electric and gas lines throughout Windsor to help cut the risk of fire hazards.

This work will be ongoing for at least the next few months. Please be careful as you drive past; follow signage and flaggers’ directions.

April 3: Windsor Farmers Market Opening Day

The Windsor Certified Farmers Market returns this Sunday, April 3, to the Town Green with new hours for the 2022 season. The market will now be open every Sunday to December 4 from 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Shop for local vegetables, fruit, flowers, and much more.

April 7: Crosswalk Improvements
Brooks Road South at Natalie Drive

Drop by Windsor Middle School between 5-7 PM on Thursday, April 7, to preview proposed crosswalk improvements for Brook Road South at Natalie Drive. Look for the exhibit boards in the front plaza; if it rains, this event will be held at the school library.
Our goal is to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists by:

• Installing pedestrian-activated rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs)
• Making drivers more aware of pedestrians and reducing pedestrian crossing distance by creating a bulb-out curb extension on Natalie Drive and installing a pedestrian refuge median on Brooks Road South
• Establishing a clearer and more direct path of travel for vehicles and bicycles with modified and enhanced striping

If you have any questions about this project, please contact Mona Ibrahim, Engineer III, mibrahim@townofwindsor.com.

April 7: Community Town Hall
on Next Town Manager

We invite you to attend a virtual community town hall on Thursday, April 7, from 5:30-6:30 PM, to share your thoughts about the characteristics, experience, and background you would like to see in the Town’s next Town Manager. Wendi Brown of WBCP Inc., the firm that will conduct the recruitment, will facilitate this meeting on Zoom (meeting link).

Survey: If you are unable to attend, please take this 5-minute survey to share your feedback. Here is the English-language version of the survey and here is the Spanish-language version.

Trail Cams Installed to Discourage Vandalism

Due to continued and excessive vandalism in our parks, the Town, in consultation with Windsor Police, has installed motion-triggered trail cameras in our parks and public spaces. The aim: to discourage this destructive behavior and provide feedback to the police about our repeat offenders.

Because of the repeated vandalism, we've had to temporarily close some of our facilities, such as park bathrooms, to fix damaged equipment and clean up graffiti. We have also made a commitment to erase graffiti within 48 hours and most of the time, we’re cleaning it up within 24 hours. This is a time-consuming task and has resulted in Parks Staff spending an average of 3-5 hours a day cleaning up graffiti around Windsor. 

Please help us protect our parks, which are meant to be safe places for everyone. If you see vandalism occurring, please report it to the Windsor Police Department, (707) 838-1234. If you see graffiti or damage to park facilities, please call the Parks Maintenance Department, (707) 838-5399.

April 9: Organic Compost Giveaway

Get free organic compost for your garden on Saturday, April 9, from 9 AM – 12 PM at Keiser Park. Each household can take up to a ½ cubic yard of compost, which replenishes soil, nourishes plants with nutrients, microorganisms, and organic matter, and improves soil water retention. 

Since you need to haul the compost, 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.

This compost giveaway, the second of the year, is made possible through WeAct, Cold Creek Compost, Town of Windsor Park and Recreation, Daily Acts, Windsor Town Green Community Garden, Windsor Wellness Partnership, and Zero Waste Sonoma.

April 12 Special Election: Have You Voted Yet?

Remember to cast your vote in the April 12 special election to fill one at-large Town Council seat. Two candidates are running: Stephanie Ahmad and Michael Wall.
 
You can vote by mail or drop off your ballot at a Vote Center or in a secure ballot box. Go here for more information on voting.
 
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 
 
Once a candidate has been elected, the Town Council will once again have a full five-member Council. This at-large councilmember seat expires in December. 

Compost Your Food Scraps, Yard Waste

Don’t throw your food and yard waste into the trash. Instead, compost this organic material in your green cart. 

When you toss organic material into the trash, it goes to the landfill, decomposes, and releases methane – a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere and increases global temperatures. Sorting recyclable and compostable waste is an easy way to combat climate change and cut the results of increased temperatures, such as wildfires.

What goes in the green cart? All food scraps, food soiled-paper products (pizza boxes, used paper plates without plastic coating, napkins, paper towels, coffee filters, etc.), all yard waste (leaves, branches, cuttings, plants) and landscaping.  

Not accepted are plastic products labeled “compostable” or “biodegradable” (bags, cups, cutlery, etc.). While labeled as biodegradable, these products don’t break down at the same rate as food and other organic material, and plastic particles remain in the compost.
 
Composting is so important that new state regulations requiring the recycling of compostable material started on January 1. Learn more about curbside compost services , home composting. Assistance is available for businesses and multi-family locations; please contact the Town’s waste hauler SCRR at info@sonomacorr.com

Learn How to Plant a Pollinator Garden

Spring is the perfect time to plant a garden – why not plant one that provides food and shelter for pollinators such as bees and monarch butterflies? Visit our new monarch butterfly waystation and pollinator garden page to learn how you can do so.

You’ll find a garden template with flowers loved by butterflies and bees as well as a maintenance plan for your garden. If you’re a Windsor water customer, you may even be eligible for a turf rebate if your pollinator garden replaces existing turf. Check out our new page to learn more.

April 14: Policy Measuring Traffic Impact to Environment

On April 14 at 5:30 PM, the Planning Commission will review a proposed “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT) policy regarding traffic-related environmental effects of development projects. The intent: to balance traffic-congestion management with statewide goals related to public health, infill development, and greenhouse gas emissions.

Town staff drafted these guidelines based on recent changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which now requires traffic analyses to focus on the environmental effects of driving instead of impacts to drivers (i.e., intersection delays).

At this meeting, Town staff will present the VMT guidelines to the Planning Commission, which will then make recommendations to the Town Council. The community is invited to participate and provide input. The meeting agenda will be posted several days before the meeting. If you have questions or comments about the proposed VMT policy, contact Senior Civil Engineer Carl Euphrat, ceuphrat@townofwindsor.com. 

April 16: Earth Day at Robbins Park Food Forest 

Windsor Wellness Partnership and the Town of Windsor invite residents of all ages to “Bee Curious”! In celebration of Earth Day, join us on Saturday, April 16, from 1-3 PM, for free, fun, and educational activities on water conservation, pollinators, plants, and the history of the food forest in Robbins Park (100 Billington Lane at Dartmouth Way).

What is a food forest? It’s a “diverse planting of edible plants that attempts to mimic the ecosystems and patterns found in nature. Food forests are three-dimensional designs, with life extending in all directions – up, down, and out,” according to the nonprofit group,  Project Food Forest.

A food forest is generally very resilient and does not have to be re-planted year after year. And, because there are many layers to a forest garden (such as the overstory, the understory, and the herbaceous layer), more plants can fit in an area without causing failure due to competition.

April 23: Levi’s GranFondo Starts on Town Green

As many as 2,000 cyclists will depart en masse from the Windsor Town Green between 7:30 – 8 AM on Saturday, April 23, for Levi's GranFondo bike ride. Please note that streets around the Town Green will have implemented closures and the neighborhoods along Windsor River Road and Starr Road may not be able to enter the roads between 7:30 - 8:15 AM. Emergency vehicles will not be impacted.
 
The cyclists will follow one designated route as they leave the Town of Windsor at the start of the event, then branch out onto five different race routes. Consequently, there will be increased bicycle traffic on these roads between 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM. There will also be temporary road closures along the routes for the safety of the riders and vehicles. 
 
Go here for more information, including detailed maps and the timing of temporary road closures in the downtown area and the extended ride routes. Since the event began in 2009 by former pro cyclist Levi Leipheimer, Levi’s GranFondo has raised $3.2 million to help at-risk youth.

April 24: Trash Clean-Up for Earth Day

Call for volunteers! In honor of Earth Day, the Town of Windsor Storm Water Quality Program is organizing a community trash cleanup event on Sunday, April 24, from 1-3 PM. Volunteers will help clean up the streets and stop pollution from reaching our waterways.

All participants will receive a gift and snacks for this much-needed service. Please wear sturdy shoes; the Town will provide safety vests, pickers, gloves and bags. Meet us at the corner of Hembree Lane and  Victory Lane for this important work. Before you do, be sure to register on Eventbrite prior to the event so we have enough supplies for everyone. 

For more information, call (707) 838-5385 or email us, stormwater@townofwindsor.com.

April 24: Tour the Town Green Community Garden

On Sunday, April 24, from 10 AM – 2 PM, the Windsor Garden Club, Town Green Community Garden Committee and Town of Windsor invite you to stroll through the garden and enjoy healthy ecosystems that include fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs.

Learn about supporting pollinators and the wise use of water. The garden offers raised beds in a variety of sizes for a nominal annual rental fee. Anyone living in the Town of Windsor can apply to rent a garden bed in exchange for the rental fee and six volunteer hours per year to maintain the garden's common areas. The community garden is located at Windsor Road at Joe Rodota Way, adjacent to Town Hall.

$100 Rebate on Sprinkler Controller

The Town of Windsor has teamed up with the California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) to offer our water customers a $100 rebate on the purchase of a Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller.

The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller monitors local weather conditions to automatically adjust your irrigation, ensuring you only water when necessary. Rachio owners typically save 20 percent to 30 percent on their water bills each month. Supply is limited, so apply today.

New Community Events Calendar

Check out the new major community events calendar our Parks & Recreation Department created to keep our community informed of the events that happen throughout Windsor, such as the certified farmers’ market, Windsor Green Half Marathon, Family Movies on the Green, and the Windsor Chili Cook-off. Bookmark this page, which is updated regularly as new events are added. 

Adopt the 9 PM Routine

The Windsor Police Department would like you to participate in the “9 PM Routine” to keep you and your property safe. Take these steps before you turn in for the night:

• Remove valuables from your vehicles, roll up windows, and lock doors

• Ensure overhead garage doors are closed and secure

• Lock all exterior doors to your residence

• Turn on exterior lights and activate any alarms or security systems.