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December 18, 2020

Thank You, from Dave Kiff

Best Wishes, Healdsburg!

I wanted to offer my own warm farewell to the City staff and to those community members who read this update.  It was my great pleasure to step in during 2020 and both guide and get to know such a nice group of people.  This all started in March, when I emailed City Manager David Mickaelian to see if he needed help as the pandemic was circling us. It was enjoyable working with the management team and the local business community and getting to know the Council and Chamber of Commerce at the time. 

Little did we all know what would happen next – more of the pandemic, business stresses, David’s departure, changes to the Council, budget impacts, street closure ideas, parklet programs, the Walbridge Fire, smoke everywhere, heat waves, mask enforcement, another stay-at-home order, and so much more.

Hmm. Reading the above might give the impression that it wasn’t fun.  It was. I wouldn’t trade it. Getting to know Healdsburg better in 2020, after I pretty much left town for other pastures in 1986, was wonderful. Helping manage a small town, when my other experience was with larger cities, was so educational.  What I learned:

• Our staff works hard.  Think about it – every city, regardless of size, has a baseline amount to do (and then more on top of that, depending on size). In Healdsburg, fewer are hired to do it.
• We must have multiple skills. Not a lot of room here for narrow job descriptions. 
• This is a terrific Council. I know, they are my bosses. But I have seen and worked with over 150 local officials now in my career. This group is kind, smart, thoughtful, respectful, cares about the community, and has great leadership skills.
• Communication is always good. I wished I had done more with my colleagues on City Staff – to help us all navigate through 2020.  It’s a mistake on my part because I like spending time with folks.  This year just seemed so odd – never to all be in one room, barely being able to recognize folks behind masks, and scarce opportunities to team-build. Hopefully, we’ll all continue thinking that it’s better to engage our workplace and our community as much as possible.

 
As 2020 ends, we seem to have gotten through it. That’s another great credit to all of you. You are in good hands with Jeff Kay. If his (hopefully) long time here is as good as my short time was, he will enjoy it all a great deal. 

Thank you kindly for a remarkable 2020 (not sure I want to repeat parts of it), and onward to 2021.  

Dave Kiff
Interim City Manager

Dec. 21: City Council Meeting on Zoom and Facebook

The December 21 Healdsburg City Council meeting will be held virtually using Zoom instead of Web-Ex; it will also be live-streamed on the City's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cityofhealdsburg (you don't need to be a Facebook user to watch the meeting).

Here’s how to watch the upcoming City Council meeting via Zoom:
• Go to https://zoom.us/join and type in the Webinar ID: 830 6386 0046 or follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83063860046 (Pre-registration for the meeting is not required.)
• Fill in your full name, verify you are not a robot (if required), and click “Join.”
• If the meeting has started, you should join automatically. If the meeting host has not started the webinar yet, sit tight -- it will start shortly.

You can also join by phone:
• Dial 669-900-9128 or 253-215-8782 or 346-248-7799.
• Enter the meeting ID: 830 6386 0046 and press # #. If the meeting has started, you should join automatically. If the meeting hasn’t started yet, sit tight -- it will shortly.

Here’s how to submit a public comment via computer:
• In the bottom center of the screen is a hand icon. Click “Raise Hand.” The hand icon will place you in line to speak.
• When it’s your turn to comment, the moderator will call upon you to comment. State your first name, last name, address, and comment.
• When you’re finished please lower your hand.

And here’s how to submit a public comment by phone:
• Press *9 to raise your hand.
• When it is your turn to comment, the moderator will call the last four digits of your phone number.
• Press *6 to speak at that time. State your first name, last name, address, and comment. You will have three minutes to make your comment.
• After you’ve finished speaking, or when three minutes have passed, the meeting host will remove your ability to talk.

Dec. 24-Jan 3: Most City Offices Closed for the Holidays

City departments except for fire and police will be closed Thursday, December 24, 2020, through Sunday, January 3, 2021, and will reopen Monday, January 4, 2021 so City Staff can spend time with their families.  However, we are still available for some services:

Utility Billing: Utility bill payments may be made online using a bank account or credit/debit card via the City website at https://www.onlinebiller.com/healdsburg/, by postal mail, or by using the drop box in the north parking lot at City Hall. Payments made during the office closure will be posted to your account on January 4, 2021.   
 
We ask that utility customers who need to start or stop service to call our Utility Response Hotline at (707) 431-7000 or toll-free at (855)755-6586. Please note, service starts and stops cannot be scheduled for weekends or holidays and must be requested before noon for same-day service. Requests received after 12 PM on December 30 will not be processed until Monday, January 4, 2020. We ask that customers with non-urgent utility billing questions to leave a message at (707) 431-3307; your call will be returned in the order received on Monday, January 4, 2020.
 
Utility Emergencies: City Staff will continue to respond to utility emergencies day or night. For assistance with utility emergencies such as power outages, water leaks, sewer over-flows, or street issues, please contact the City’s 24-Hour Utility Response Hotline at (707)431-7000 or toll-free at (855) 755-6586. These numbers are the fastest way to get City staff headed your way to correct the issue. For natural gas service, please call PG&E at (800) 743-5000 and for garbage service, please call Recology at (800) 243-0291.
 
Planning & Building: Please go here for more information on planning and building services over the holidays: https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=498

Thank You, David Woltering

Interim Community Development Director David Woltering started with the City of Healdsburg in January 2020, and like many of us, he had little idea what the City would face in the next 12 months. 

The pandemic changed community development – this included working from home, figuring out how to handle plan submittals and building inspections, keeping the public and staff safe, and more. Throughout this, David led the City Staff as we issued a TCO for the Montage resort development, making sure it opened on time. He also led a public process for amending the Montage development agreement, getting unanimous approval from the Planning Commission just this week.

All this while the City changed, too, with new city council members, City Manager David Mickaelian’s departure, an interim City Manager arriving, and leading all the way up to Jeff Kay’s start date. David, you helped keep us calm, cool, and collected through it all. 

Thank you and many best wishes!

Masks Required for All Playground Users

 
The California Department of Health issued revised rules on November 20 that requires all playground users two years of age or older to wear face masks that cover the mouth and nose when using play structures. This guidance strengthens prior guidance that required face masks when not able to keep six feet apart on play structures. In addition, the guidance includes the following additional requirements:  

• Caregiver supervision must be available at all times to ensure face mask use, and caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least 6 feet apart.
• Users should consider coming on different times or days to avoid potential crowded times.
• No eating or drinking in playground, to ensure face masks are worn at all times.
• Wash or sanitize hands before and after using the playground.
• Elderly and persons with underlying medical conditions should avoid playground when others are present.
• Limit visit to 30 min per day when others are present to allow use by others.

 
Users of Healdsburg’s playgrounds need to follow these requirements and self-enforce to keep them open. To log violations of playground use rules call the Healdsburg Police Department’s non-emergency number at (707) 431-3377.

Senior Center Partners with Local Service Clubs
to Serve Seniors for the Holidays 

Thanksgiving Lunch and the Senior Appreciation Dinner are celebratory events that the Healdsburg Senior Center holds each year. The tradition continued in 2020: Both events were provided via drive-through and delivery to comply with COVID requirements, serving more than 470 members of our community.

Some participants said that these events were their only holiday celebrations and expressed their gratitude to the volunteers and organizers. Special thank you to Healdsburg Rotary Noon and The Friends of the Senior Center for their financial sponsorship of these events. We look forward to seeing the community (hopefully in person) for the Thanksgiving Lunch and Senior Appreciation Dinner in 2021! 

Plaza Street Reopens to Vehicular Traffic 

Sonoma County adopted a Stay-At-Home Order on December 12 which bans outdoor dining and group gathering, among other restrictions. In response, City Staff removed infrastructure such as tables, chairs, umbrellas, and large tents, and re-opened a portion of Plaza Street to vehicular traffic. 

Plaza Street between Center Street and the Senior Center parking lot will remain closed to traffic due to limited retail space in that area and to better promote social distancing.  City Staff are working with businesses who have permitted parklets to keep their footprint in place to support to-go orders and line queuing. We will continue to remain in close communication with businesses as the stay-at-home order is modified or lifted.

For current information on the Marketspace and Open Streets program, please visit www.cityofhealdsburg.org/marketspace.

Camp HBG 2.0 Celebrates a Successful First Semester

December 18 marks the end of the fall semester for local schools and the Camp HBG 2.0 Distance Learning Care program. Camp HBG 2.0 began on August 19 and served 110 children from 13 local schools. Over the last four months, Community Services Staff worked with the Healdsburg Unified School District, Corazón Healdsburg, and the Sonoma County Health Department to provide a safe and enriching environment for all students.  

As we look forward to the spring semester, we ask for the community’s help to keep this program open and affordable for working families. We launched a fundraising campaign this week with the goal of raising $150,000 by December 30.  Please support this program by visiting www.corazonhealdsburg.org/donate and choosing “Camp HBG” in the fund designation drop-down menu.

For questions or to donate by cash or check, call Dave Jahns at (707) 431-3152 or email djahns @ cityofhealdsburg.org. For more information about Camp HBG 2.0 Distance Learning Care, please visit www.cityofhealdsburg.org/camphbg.

City Pilots Zoom and Facebook Livestream for Commission Meetings

On Wednesday, the City piloted the Zoom Webinar platform with the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission meetings.

Through Zoom, the City also live-streamed the Senior Citizens Advisory Commission to the Senior Center Facebook Page and the Parks and Recreation Commission to the Community Services Facebook Page. Feedback from commission members and the public was positive. 

January - April Seasonal Sewer Averages 

Every year, the Utility Department takes an average of your winter water usage to determine how much water is going down the drain into the sewer. One way to reduce your monthly sewer cost is to fix leaks around the house. Drippy faucets, broken diverter valves in the shower, and irrigation leaks can add up and increase your sewer fees. A leaky "running" toilet can waste 35 to 200 gallons per day.
 
If you suspect you have a leak, check the leak dial on your water meter at the street or call the Utility Department at (707) 431-3122 and we can check for you. And, if you fix a leak, you may be eligible for a credit on your utility bill. Learn more by going to: https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/862/Water-Leaks-and-High-Bills.

Consumer Protection Solar Guidebook Available in English and Spanish

Considering a solar photovoltaic array? Thumb through our new consumer protection handbook. We provide tips and considerations on selecting a solar array installer, understanding roof and design attributes, warranties, financing, costs and savings.

There is a lot of (mis)information on solar so the Healdsburg Electric Department Staff is happy to answer questions to help you make the best decision on solar (and energy conservation!). The  guidebooks are available in English and Spanish and can be found here: https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/235/Solar-Energy-Storage