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May 22, 2020

City Manager's Office

May 23: Prescribed Burn on
Healdsburg Ridge & Open Preserve

To prepare for fire season, Healdsburg Fire is working with Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, LandPaths, CAL FIRE, PCI, Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District and Healdsburg Community Services to reduce fire fuels on the Healdsburg Ridge and Open Space Preserve. 

This Saturday starting at about 7:30 AM, there will be a prescribed burn of approximately three acres on the southeast side of the Preserve. To keep the public safe, the Preserve will be closed from 6 AM to 3:30 PM or until the burn is complete. Healdsburg Fire -- along with the Northern Sonoma County Fire District, Dry Creek Rancheria Fire Department, the Sonoma County Fire District, and the Geyserville Fuels Management Crew – will burn the vegetation, predominately an invasive species of grass.

You may see smoke over the Healdsburg Ridge from the controlled burn, and the recent rains may intensify the smoke column because of the steam that will be generated from the wet grass near the ground. We also realize that it is bird nesting season. A bird survey was completed -- one nest was found near the burn area and firefighters will protect it. If you have any questions, please contact Fire Marshal/Division Chief Linda  Collister at (707) 431-3125 or Parks and Open Space Superintendent Jaime Licea at Jlicea @ cityofhealdsburg.org or (707) 431-3384.

May 26: City Council Budget Meeting

On Tuesday, May 26 at 3 PM, the City Council will have a special meeting to review and provide direction to Staff on the proposed FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 budgets for the City’s Utility Funds. This meeting will be held virtually as City Hal is closed at this time. However, the public can watch the meeting liveon the City's website at: http://healdsburgca.iqm2.com/Citizens/default.aspx. The video link will be live a few minutes before the meeting begins.
 
Members of the public may submit their comments by emailing publiccomment @ci.healdsburg.ca.us, during the public comment period on that particular agenda item, or during the public comment period for non-agenda items. Here is the agenda and agenda packet: https://healdsburgca.iqm2.com/Citizens/detail_meeting.aspx?ID=1963. 

May 26: Farmers’ Market Returns Downtown

The mid-week Healdsburg Farmers’ Market will return to the downtown plaza on Tuesday, May 26, from 9 AM - 12:30 PM. The market has been successfully operating with modified safety measures in the West Plaza parking lot on Saturday mornings since April 18 and will move to its twice-a-week format through the summer.

Reminder that shoppers should wear a mask while visiting the market booths and be mindful of physical distancing. More info: http://www.healdsburgfarmersmarket.org/

Community Services Evaluating
Summer Childcare Options 

Community Services Staff are evaluating childcare options to help parents return to work this summer. Over the past few weeks, Staff have regularly communicated with their professional counterparts throughout the state as well as closely following guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Sonoma County Health Officer.

We released a survey earlier this week seeking the community’s feedback to gauge interest and comfort levels for in-person childcare. Staff are building a framework to provide safe and affordable options for the whole community. Stay tuned for more information early next week!

If you haven't taken the survey yet, we welcome you to do so:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HealdsburgChildcareSurvey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ChildcareSurveySpanish

Downtown Sidewalk Repairs

You may have noticed some sidewalk repair work going on around the plaza over the last few months. As our beautiful trees grow, their roots can displace brick pavers, tree grates, and concrete, creating uneven surfaces. So over the last few months, Public Works Staffers removed and replaced pavers and some of the concrete bands around the tree wells to create a level surface for pedestrians. 

Next up is the stretch of sidewalk from Oakville Grocery to the police station. The Public Works Department will oversee a concrete contractor that will replace much of the sidewalk in this stretch. The work will take place in late June and last approximately one week. Impacted businesses will be notified in advance. 

City Accepting Formal Planning Application Submittals

City offices continue operating on a limited-exposure basis to protect the health and safety of staff and the public. This includes the continued public closure of City Hall and other City Facilities.

Submitting Planning Applications for Review: Public access to City facilities are still restricted; however, the following protocol has been established to continue delivery of services allowed by the new County of Sonoma Public Health Order (C19-09).

• New Applications: The Planning Division resumed accepting formal planning applications this week. Applicants should call or email staff when plans will be submitted by mail or placed in the drop box at the Community Development Center (CDC), 401 Grove Street, Healdsburg California, 95448-4723. Applicants should call or email pertinent staff or check the City's website to determine application fees and submittal requirements for their projects by visiting https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/352/Application-Forms-
• Submittal Requirements. Pre-application consultations with Planning staff are still highly recommended prior to submittal.
• One-Stop Meetings: The City’s Planning & Building Department will resume scheduling one-stop meetings on May 28. One-stop meetings allow applicants to share a possible project and get staff input on their project and the application process. These meetings -- held weekly on Thursday afternoons -- will be conducted virtually via WebEx or Zoom and applicants must provide a project description and conceptual plan at least one week in advance. To request an appointment, please call 707-431-3346 or email planning @ci.healdsburg.ca.us. For more information about the one-stop process and to access a property development questionnaire, please visit https://ci.healdsburg.ca.us/226/One-Stop-Assistance-Center. 

Drive-Thru Option Added to Senior Grocery Distribution

Community Services, in partnership with the Redwood Empire Food Bank, launched the Senior Groceries-To-Go program on March 18 and has made 280 deliveries (5,620 pounds of food) so far to the doorsteps of individuals in need. On May 20, Staff added a contactless drive-thru pickup option for this service, which allows seniors or their family members  to pick up groceries, connect with City staff and, as an added bonus, exchange puzzles or books from the Senior Center library.

Grocery drive-thru and puzzle/book exchange will take place on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, from 10 -11:30 AM while the Shelter-in-Place Order remains in effect. For more info or to enroll, call the Senior Center at (707) 431-3324.

Services Advisory Team Has Kick-Off Meeting
on Community Needs

The Services Advisory Team (SAT), composed of 15 community members and Community Services Staff, had its first meeting on Wednesday, May 20. The goal of SAT is to get and provide direct feedback on community needs throughout this time of uncertainty. Feedback from these meetings, along with direction from the Parks and Recreation Commission, Senior Citizens Advisory Commission, and the City Council, will help prioritize our department’s services during a time of health impacts and financial limitations. 

Discussion topics at the kick-off meeting ranged from childcare needs, senior citizen support, volunteer opportunities, to community health and safety and creative funding opportunities. The team will continue to meet bi-weekly as we move into the summer months. Anyone interested in joining future conversations should contact Recreation Manager Dave Jahns at (707) 431-3152 or djahns@cityofheladsburg.org

Parks Maintenance Partners with Community Volunteers