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April 8, 2022

Celebrating National Women's Month and the Life of Chief Kevin Burke

In the US we have the honor of celebrating women every March during National Women’s month. Women who work on our staff at the City of Healdsburg are employees who are committed to excellence and who frequently go above and beyond their duties in their commitment to providing excellent services every day. At the City of Healdsburg, we have many female employees who have worked for 15 years or more and who have demonstrated their passion and investment in creating a safe, healthy and robust community in Healdsburg. We recently took time to ask some of our female staff members who have worked for the City for 15 or more years about what drives them and what they enjoy about the work they do.

Celebrating The Life of Chief Kevin Burke

The past few days have been hard for so many in Healdsburg. The news of retired Police Chief Kevin Burke’s passing have sent waves of shock and sadness through our community. Many of us are just beginning to process a loss that is hard to comprehend. Amid all the grieving, I have also seen things that bring some comfort during this difficult time. The outpouring of tributes has shined a light on the things that made Kevin so special: his sense of community, his kindness, his dignity. It is clear that he was universally liked and respected and touched many, many people. In ways small and large, I’ve seen our City family come together to take care of one another, offering stories and support when it is needed most.

In sharing memories and stories, I’ve been reminded that, in addition to his exemplary public service, Chief Burke was also a wickedly funny co-worker – somebody that we all loved to be around. Work with Kevin was never drudgery. He took it seriously and he had high standards, but that never came out the expense of having fun. We will miss that terribly.

In the days to come, there will be more information about how the community can honor Chief Burke. In the meantime, our team is doing that by trying to model the traits that made him such a phenomenal leader.

Fare thee well, Chief Burke. I know I speak for the entire City team when I say that I am better as a public servant and better as a person for having known you.

Rosa Gutierrez, Utilities Department

Rosa Gutierrez has worked for the City of Healdsburg for a total of 18 years in many different positions that include: accounting, forklift operator, storekeeper/records technician and in her current position of administrative technician. She originally came to the United States from Guatemala as a teenager and attended Sonoma County schools where she learned English as well as adapted to US culture. As a woman with many dreams and who is multi-talented, she quickly became a valued staff member of the City. Because Rosa is a bilingual and a bicultural employee she has proven to be very skilled and successful in assisting in some of the City’s key campaigns in connection to water conservation, creating sustainable landscapes, drought preparedness, and supporting two of our department directors in water and wastewater services. We recognize and are proud of Rosa for her commitment and professionalism in serving the community over the last 18 years.

Valerie Macor and Marisol Chavez, Administrative Services Department

Valerie Macor and Marisol Chavez both work in the Department of Administrative Services. Marisol’s family is from Cotija, Michoacan and she has worked for the City for 22 years. She is fluent in Spanish which is her native language and in English. As a child she grew up in Guerneville and Santa Rosa. She is a graduate of El Molino High School and this is what she had to say about what she appreciates most about working for the City of Healdsburg, “Healdsburg is a beautiful City and I really enjoy my job because everything I know about accounting, I have humbly learned here.” About some of the more challenging aspects of her job she had this to say, “you have to learn to meet very strict deadlines, and sometimes there are significant changes the workload, yet you learn to adapt and wear many hats.”

Valerie Macor grew up in Sonoma County in the City of Santa Rosa and attended local schools as she was growing up. She is a Senior Accounting Assistant and has worked for the City of Healdsburg for 18 years. Although Valerie has an accounting background, she credits the City with providing an atmosphere of learning where she has been able to grow in her career and has felt genuinely supported. This is what she has had to say about her time at the City, “It is a place with a lot of opportunities to grow. What I really enjoy is being able to ask a lot of questions and to learn from the many people who have worked here.”

Selena Dixon, Public Works

Selena Dixon came to the City of Healdsburg as a Senior Public Works Inspector after working in the City of Turlock. Before that she started out as a young college student working during the Summers for the Army Corp of Engineers. At the time she discovered her passion for construction. She has worked for the City of Healdsburg for the last 12 years in the Public Works Department. What attracted her to the City of Healdsburg was the opportunity to work in her chosen field of industry and she enjoys the immediate impact that her work has on the City streets and infrastructure. She shared that it has been wonderful to work in a City that has been growing significantly. What Selena is most passionate about is creating safe and sound infrastructure around the City. When asked what she enjoys the most about her job she mentioned the excitement that working in a City with older infrastructure brings. This is what she had to say, “Healdsburg is an old city where updating old buildings to new building codes can be very challenging, so I like the challenge of getting buildings with old infrastructure up to code.”

Linda Collister, Fire Department

Linda Collister began working for the City of Healdsburg as the Fire Marshal and Division Chief on August 6, 2007. She has established herself as not only the first female Fire Marshall/Division Chief in Sonoma County, yet also as one of the most respected due to her skillful oversight of fire regulation and prevention. One of her many accomplishments was in unifying the Sonoma County’s fire code meaning that businesses would have the same fire code throughout the county. Since becoming one of the first there have now been 3 female fire marshals total. Fire Marshal Collister demonstrates a great passion for fire regulation and prevention. When she was asked why she is such a passionate advocate she had this to say, “The more inspections that are done, the safer the community is, and employees are also safer. I am also passionate about teaching people how to prevent fire because that saves lives. When you don’t do enforcement things happen.”

Under her watchful eye, the City of Healdsburg has set the precedent for sprinkler system installation at most businesses, schools, and affordable housing units. She stated that, “people don’t realize that smoke damage is costly and very destructive. Smoke damage is worse than fire damage and that is why we do prevention.” When asked what advice she would give to women who want to embark on a career in fire she says, “you have to be prepared and stand your ground as well as do your homework. You have to look at your career as a never-ending process of learning and preparation.”

This year, in May 2022 we wish Linda Collister well on her retirement and congratulate her on 15 years of service as Fire Marshal and Division Chief with the City of Healdsburg.

Latinx Engagement Series

The Latinx Engagement and Inclusion Program will be an ongoing series beginning May 1st with a hands-on Tortilla Making 101 class, followed by a bus trip to Sonoma in June for a historical tour in honor of Puebla Day. In September, the Senior Center will host its first celebration in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day. Stay tuned for registration details coming shortly. For more information contact the Senior Center by emailing senior@cityofhealdsburg.org or calling 707-431-3324.

Summer Camp and Swim Lesson Registration Underway

On March 21, Community Services launched registration for 2022 summer camps and swim lessons. Both programs will begin in early June and run through mid-August. Financial assistance is available for these programs and no family will be turned away based on their ability to pay. For more information on summer programs, please visit https://bit.ly/COHSpringandSummer2022, give us a call at 707-431-3301, or come visit our team at the Healdsburg Community Center.