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.

February 28, 2020

Community Services

Upcoming Events at the Open Space Preserve

In collaboration with the City of Healdsburg, LandPaths will host a handful of events this spring at the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve. The events include docent training, Family Fun Day, Wildflowers of Healdsburg Ridge, and iREAD Outside, which provides opportunities for families to combine the love of reading with the love of being outside. The goals are to increase the percentage of family members reading to children daily and to encourage children and families to explore nature together. Pre-registration is required. For more information, please visit the LandPaths website.

iGrow Garden Improvements

The Community Services Department uses the iGrow Garden as a learning environment for children in our youth programs as well as to supply the Healdsburg Food Pantry with fresh, organic produce. This volunteer- and community-based gardening project uses the garden boxes to support the Sonoma County Health Action goals of growing, eating, and sharing healthy food in our community. Over the past year, the Community Services Department has been improving the garden through community workdays and by expanding the garden space to make more room for educational and community programming. As we continue to beautify the iGrow Garden, we are always looking for volunteer support to help plant, nurture, and harvest produce. For more information on the program or to volunteer, please contact Garden Coordinator Erin Wiese-Antis at ewiese@ci.healdsburg.ca.us or visit www.cityofhealdsburg.org/iGrow

Spring Break Camps Are Almost Here

Spring weather is in the air, and soon, our Spring Break programs will return. This year, we have three camps to fit your family’s schedule and interests:

Our youngest campers (2.5 - 5 years) will enjoy a week at the FunFactory. This camp is designed to spark creativity through science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM).
For older campers (5.5 - 12 years), we offer the classic Spring Break Camp HBG. Campers will enjoy treasure hunts, outdoor games, dress-up days, arts and crafts, science projects, and cooking. This camp will be held from 8 AM - 5:30 PM, giving working parents more flexibility with drop-off and pick-up.
Calling all aspiring “hoopsters” in the community: We are partnering with the National Academy of Athletics to offer a Hoop-it-Up basketball camp (ages 7-13). Whether your child is a beginner or advanced basketball player, this camp will help them fall in love with the game in a social and supportive environment.

For more info, please call 707-431-3152 or visit FunFactory and Camp HBG ; Hoop It Up.

Senior Excursions: Bay Cruise, Art, and More

Spring and summer excursions offered through the Senior Center are now open for registration. While planned to meet the interests and needs of our senior and active adult population, these bus trips are open to attendees of all ages. They're a great opportunity to invite friends, neighbors, family members, and out-of-town guests on unique and inter-generational adventures! Events include:

April 18 - The Book of Mormon play
May 1 - Eleven Roses Ranch historical stagecoach tour and BBQ
June 20 - Champagne brunch cruise on the bay
July 14 - Frida Kahlo exhibit at the DeYoung Museum
August 4 - SMART train and lunch in Larkspur

For a detailed description of these trips, please call 707-431-3324, stop by the Senior Center for a brochure, or visit the Senior Services webpage.

Public Safety

14th Annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive

On January 25, the Healdsburg Fire Department participated in the 14^th annual Bucket Brigade Blood Drive Challenge. The event was held in the apparatus bay with delicious food provided by the Firefighter’s Association.Thank you to everyone who participated! With your help, Healdsburg Fire had 73 donors who gave life-saving units of blood. Healdsburg Fire took second place this year! In 2019, Healdsburg Fire hosted four blood drives in 2019 and collected 181 units of blood. This year, Healdsburg Fire will host five blood drives; the next blood drive is scheduled for April 22.

Utilities

April 3: Earth Day Event - Climate Music Project

The City is honored to host a live performance on April 3 by the ClimateMusic Project in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day. Combining the talents of world-class scientists, composers, musicians, the ClimateMusic Project creates a science-guided music and visual experience in order to communicate climatic data. Attendees will hear two musical performances followed by a panel of experts who will discuss local climate solutions. The panel will include Dr. Bill Collins -- a lead author of the United Nations’ Fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment, for which the IPCC was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize -- among other local experts on sustainability. Please join us on April 3 at 7:30 PM at the Raven Theater for an entertaining and thought-provoking evening. Ticket info: https://bit.ly/2Vn1EA9

Energy Reach Code Now in Effect

Healdsburg has taken another big step to green our buildings and cut greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2019, the Healdsburg City Council passed an ordinance, known as a “reach code" that requires new buildings to have electric space and water heating. The California Energy Commission recently approved Healdsburg’s new energy reach code, making it effective immediately. Instead of appliances that burn fossil fuels such as natural gas, this policy requires the installation of certain electric appliances to improve indoor air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and green our community. Healdsburg’s electricity was nearly 60 percent carbon-free in 2019 and will be 100 percent carbon free by 2035 to meet city council and state goals.

Update on Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan

In December 2019, City Staff presented the the 2020 Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan to the Healdsburg City Council. To verify the completeness of the plan, the City hired a qualified independent evaluator to review the plan and provide a written report. The evaluator's findings have been posted on the City’s website and are planned to be presented to the city council on March 16. The evaluation and other information on wildfire preparedness can be found here.