Sign up for our newsletter!

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

May 21, 2021

Healdsburg Has New Evacuation Zones

As we approach another wildfire season, we hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Consequently, we worked with Sonoma County to create new evacuation zones for Healdsburg.

Why do we have a lot of zones? In working with the Sonoma County Sheriff, we decided that this approach to smaller zones will serve us better in the long run because it allows:

for greater flexibility when evacuating community members.
for zones to be more universal so they work just as well for floods, for example, as they do for wildfires.
for a more orderly and less-confusing re-population process after a disaster.
our police department to be more strategic when it comes to operations.

We are also creating an online tool where you can type in your address and the tool will show you what evacuation zone you live in. Once that is finalized, we will post the link. This map and other information, including an emergency preparedness brochure, can be found here: https://ci.healdsburg.ca.us/460/Emergency-Services

Despite Drought, Water Usage Increased in May

Water-storage levels at Lake Mendocino are at only 42 percent and they continue to drop. Low rainfall over the winter required the Healdsburg City Council to mandate a 20 percent reduction in water usage for everyone.

Unfortunately, water usage in Healdsburg jumped 9 percent higher this month compared to May of 2020 and 8 percent higher compared to May of 2019. We understand May is normally the time to start irrigating.

But this year is anything but normal.

Significant communitywide water conservation is needed now. Please adjust your irrigation times to water only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays (between 8 PM – 7 AM) and work with your neighbors to adjust their irrigation patterns. Water saved now allows our limited supply to last through the fall. The City will continue to monitor water usage and report on Healdsburg's progress toward our water-conservation goals.

On a positive note, City staff converted many construction sites from using drinking water to hauled recycled water. Over the past two weeks, recycled water for construction purposes exceeded 600,000 gallons. This rate of usage is almost double the previous record month. In addition, Public Works Director Larry Zimmer was able to convert Recology’s street sweeper to use recycled water to clean City streets. This could save up to 130,000 gallons of drinking water each year!

Getting the Word Out: Please Conserve Water

Video of Utility Conservation Analyst Felicia Smith giving water-conservation tips.

Randy Collins shows a circulation system to the audience.

If you’re a Healdsburg utility customer, you’ve received our notice in the mail about how we must cut our water use by 20 percent. In addition to the notice, the City website, and ongoing social media posts, the City is expanding outreach efforts with this water-conservation message on banners in town and at several City facilities, including the Community Center. The banners will go up next week.

We’re also creating short videos on water conservation; our latest feature former Healdsburg Fire Chief Randy Collins on circulation systems and Utility Conservation Analyst Felicia Smith on measuring water use and irrigation controls. Click the images above or here and here to watch the videos. And coming soon to your home -- “door hangers” with tips and information on water conservation, so look for those soon.

Video: Urban Water Management Plan Meeting

Screenshot of Zoom meeting on the 2020 urban water management plan

The Utility Department hosted a 90-minute virtual community workshop on Tuesday to review the preliminary results of the City’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.

This plan is updated every five years and looks at water supply and demand in Healdsburg over the next 20 years, including projections for sustained drought, water demands from development projects, population growth and conservation needs. Watch the video replay by clicking the image above or going to: https://youtu.be/cHHHg53NwlU.

Police Chief Burke to Retire on June 2

Police Chief Kevin Burke in front of squad car

Police Chief Kevin Burke, who has led the Healdsburg Police Department for more than 10 years, is retiring on June 2. He has served the City through both good times and trying times with strength, integrity, transparency, and good humor.

Thank you for your service, Chief Burke!

He will be hard to replace, but the City must try and has officially launched a search for the next police chief. In the meantime, City Manager Jeff Kay has named Lt. Matt Jenkins to serve as Interim Chief of Police upon Chief Burke’s retirement. Lt. Jenkins has been with the City since 2002 and for the last 8 years, has served as Chief Burke’s second-in-command.

June 5: Fitch Mountain Evacuation Drill

Postcard of the Fitch Mountain Evacuation Drill

Postcard sent by Sonoma County to Fitch Mountain residents.

The City of Healdsburg is partnering with Sonoma County’s Department of Emergency Management and local COPE groups on a full-scale evacuation exercise on Fitch Mountain on Saturday, June 5, from 8 - 11 AM. The purpose: to familiarize community members with local, designated evacuation routes; safely practice an evacuation on those routes; and use the County's SoCoAlert system to notify participating residents.

Residents in the Fitch Mountain area have been notified via mail and other channels on this evacuation drill, which will precede an evacuation exercise on June 19 for Camp Meeker/Occidental. The City will issue Nixle alerts on June 3 and June 5 to alert the entire Healdsburg community that the orderly vehicular procession to the Community Center -- which will serve as a temporary evacuation point -- is just an exercise, not the real thing.

If you are a Fitch Mountain resident, we encourage you to sign up and take part. Please go here to learn more and to register: www.socoemergency.org/2021drill.

Brief Citywide Power Outage on May 18

At roughly 1:53 PM on Tuesday, PG&E was performing switching operations when a PG&E switch failed, causing a citywide power outage. PG&E and Healdsburg Electric Department crews worked quickly to isolate the problem and restore power to the City by 3:20 PM through an alternate transmission source.

While power outages are rare in Healdsburg, they do occur. If you experience a power outage or need immediate response regarding a City utility issue, please call the City’s utility hotline at (707) 431-7000.

Small Fire at Community Center

Firefighters put out small fire by community center.

Image of Chief Burke at Community Center

On Wednesday, the Healdsburg Fire Department and Public Works crews responded to a small vegetation fire at the Community Center, and Police Chief Kevin Burke was the first on scene. The fire, whose cause is undetermined, was small -- about 4 ft. by 4 ft. Many thanks to everyone for their quick response!

June 5: Saggio Hills Affordable Housing Meeting

Image of flyer on affordable housing meeting

Learn more about the proposed 100+ affordable housing units on the Saggio Hills site, adjacent to the Montage Healdsburg resort, at a community meeting on Saturday, June 5, from 10 AM - 12 PM. Hosted by Oakland-based Freebird Development Company, the meeting will take place at Barbieri Brothers Park, 324 Bridle Path, in Parkland Farms.

If you have any questions, please contact Housing Administrator Stephen Sotomayor at ssotomayor @ cityofhealdsburg.org or Robin Zimbler of Freebird Development Company at robin@freebirddev.com.

Work Started on Memorial Beach Crosswalk

Crosswalk in front of Amy's Wicked Slush

A City contractor began construction on the Memorial Beach Crosswalk Improvements Project on Tuesday. The project will enhance the crosswalk between Amy’s Wicked Slush and the County park with a solar-powered, pedestrian-activated flashing beacon system as well as new signage and curbing to direct vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic.

We anticipate that this project will take about two weeks. To minimize disruption to businesses and park/beachgoers, construction hours are scheduled from 6:30 - 11 AM, Monday through Friday.