Sign up for our newsletter!

If you'd like to get this City Manager's Update sent directly to your email inbox every two weeks, go to our "Notify Me" page to sign up. Thank you.

September 25, 2020

Montage Healdsburg Informational Meeting

On Thursday, Sept. 24, the City hosted an informational meeting on the Montage Healdsburg resort and housing development via Zoom.

Interim City Manager Dave Kiff, Interim Planning and Building Director David Woltering, and Housing Administrator Stephen Sotomayor gave an in-depth presentation on the history of the Montage Healdsburg project and the development agreement between the City and the developer, The Robert Green Company. The meeting included a Q&A discussion with audience members.
 
The Zoom video meeting and corresponding PowerPoint presentation can be viewed here: https://ci.healdsburg.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=474
 
The City held the Sept. 24 meeting to help community members get up to speed on the project, which the City Council will consider in a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 5 PM. Next week’s meeting can be viewed live via the City website.

Skate Park Reopens

The Carson Warner Memorial Skate Park reopened today, Friday, Sept. 25. We closed the park on Sept. 15 due to reoccurring compliance issues with mask and distancing rules. Community Services hosted a virtual community discussion on Sept. 23 to collectively come up with a solution. Skaters, their family members, City Staff and Infection Prevention Coordinator and Registered Nurse Cathy King of Healdsburg District Hospital participated in the meeting.
 
The skate park reopened with new operating rules: Skaters must either mask up or stay 6 ft. apart. Staff added new markings to seating areas to help guide park users and everyone using the skate park is expected to self-enforce the new rules. Welcome back and stay healthy, skaters!

Creek Week and National Pollution Prevention Week

Due to public-safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City will not hold its popular Foss Creek Clean-up this year. This event has been held annually since 2005 and is part of the regionally recognized Creek Week and National Pollution Prevention Week. 
 
However, you, your family and your (socially distanced) friends can still help keep Foss Creek clean by picking up litter. A limited number of free, reusable litter cleanup bags, called “barrel bags,” will be available in a box for pick-up outside the City Hall Council Chamber, 401 Grove Street, Monday through Thursday, while supplies last. Please limit one bag per person. See www.barrelbag.org to track your trash pick-up, learn more, or to purchase additional bags.
 
For Creek Week events and activities hosted by other local agencies and organizations, please check out the Russian River Watershed Association Creek Week webpage:  http://www.rrwatershed.org/project/creek-week/  

Fall Soccer Ready to Kick Off

Healdsburg Community Services, in partnership with Healdsburg Youth Soccer Association (HYSA), is launching the Fall Soccer Skills Development Program, which will run for four weeks starting Oct. 5.

Games and scrimmages are not allowed under the current health order, so this program will focus on training, drills and positive team building in a safe environment for players, coaches and volunteers. City and HYSA staff designed this program in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Sonoma County Health Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and best practices from fellow recreation and youth sports providers.

Program registration is now open and families should call (707) 431-3301 or go to www.cityofhealdsburg.org/fallsoccer2020 for more information.

College Street Sewer and Replacement Project

Replacing aging water mains improves flow and reduces maintenance and repair costs. The water main within College Street has been prone to failure, so a City contractor will start work on the College Street Sewer and Water Replacement Project as soon as Tuesday, Oct. 13. Construction hours will be 7:30 AM – 6 PM, Monday to Friday. The project, which will take about eight months, will replace the sewer and water systems in:

• Fitch Street between North Street and Piper Street
• Piper Street between Fitch Street and College Street
• College Street between Piper Street and
• Lincoln Street except for the area upgraded with modernization of the Junior High.

Once the sewer and water system replacements are complete, various curb ramps will be upgraded and the streets will be repaved. Additionally, the sewer system in Grant Street between College Street and Brown Street will be replaced and the trenches restored. This portion of Grant Street will be repaved when the water system is replaced.

During construction, traffic on parts of Fitch, Piper, Grant, and College streets may be impacted. Please observe and adhere to construction area signage and traffic control. For any questions, please email Senior Engineer Clay Thistle at cthistle@ci.healdsburg.ca.us.

Recycled Water Pipeline Extension

A City contractor is preparing to extend the City’s recycled water pipeline to provide water to a greater area and more users. The expansion of the pipeline will help ensure the City can meet compliance obligations of the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Expanded uses include agricultural irrigation of pasture lands, feed grasses, and fruit trees. 

Pictured is the City’s Utility Engineering Manager Patrick Fuss addressing future recycled water users; it was a moo-ving conversation.

Double-Up on Insulation Rebates 

Now is a perfect time to weatherize your home for the winter season. Insulation is a low-cost way to reduce heating and cooling needs and Healdsburg residents can take advantage of two rebates that cover nearly 70 percent of the total project cost. Healdsburg’s Utility Department offers $.35 per square foot through its weatherization program. Apply by going to: healdsburg.seamlessdocs.com/f/ResWeathApp.

In addition, PG & E is offering $.75 per square foot through the BayREN Home+ program.
Visit the following link to learn more: bayrenresidential.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/BayREN_Home%2B_Measures_03022020.pdf. Please note that to qualify for both rebates, you must use an approved contractor from the BayREN Home+ program. 

Floating Solar Program: Operational by Year-End

The City’s floating solar project is moving quickly with the plan of being fully operational by the end of the year. Over the past two weeks, materials for the project have been steadily delivered to the City’s water reclamation facility on Foreman Lane, and will continue in the coming weeks. 

The floating solar project will construct a roughly 3 mega-watt solar array that will provide Healdsburg with about 6 percent of our annual energy needs. Pictured are the pontoons that will support (float) the solar panels. 

Apply Soon: EnergyStar Appliance Rebate Ending

The Utility Department’s rebate for EnergyStar appliances is set to expire at the end of 2020.  If you need a new refrigerator, dishwasher or washing machine, please submit your rebate application before the end of the year. You can find the most efficient model by visiting Enervee’s marketplace (choose.enervee.com) and selecting a model with a high energy score so you save in the long run, too.

Healdsburg Fire Featured in 2021 ALA Calendar

The City of Healdsburg Fire Department will be featured in the inaugural 2021 Fight for Air Climb Firefighter Calendar by the American Lung Association -- specifically Linda Collister, Ruben Mandujano, Hector Madrigal and Lance MacDonald!
 
Every year, thousands of firefighters race up hundreds of stairs wearing full firefighter gear weighing 45 pounds to support the 36 million Americans who live with chronic lung disease. This calendar will feature photos of firefighters at their local Fight for Air Climb not just from Healdsburg but across the country. For more information, go to: https://www.lung.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/firefighter-calendar