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July 16, 2021

Recycled Water Deliveries are Overflowing in Popularity

This week we delivered nearly 185,000 gallons of recycled water to 546 households, up from 52 when we launched on June 22. The program continues to gain momentum, with another 150 interested participants in the queue. The combined recycled water use for the city-sponsored delivery service, self-hauling, and construction use is approximately 1 million gallons per week. By comparison, in 2020 we dispensed 500,000 gallons for the entire year. Recycled water has proven to be an important resource and solution to reduce our demand on potable water.

Healdsburg is also using recycled water in some parks and open spaces to help our important living assets survive the drought. We have enlisted the services of Engelke Construction to haul water to City parks and facilities to apply to trees, landscaping, and bio retention swales. The service operates five days a week and staff are closely monitoring the impact this is making.

Healdsburg continues to exceed the 40% Water Conservation Goal

The graph above shows the City’s progress toward achieving our water conservation goals. In comparison to water usage in 2020, 2019, and 2018 the City continues to exceed the 40% conservation goals. This is great work and shows Healdsburg’s collective commitment to saving water. Your work is helping to ensure Healdsburg’s water supply will last well into the fall. Please continue to conserve water, supplies are extremely limited this year and won’t last without continued conservation.

Last Weekend's Flex Alert

Last weekend’s heat-wave stressed California’s grid nearly to the point of requiring rotating outages. The higher temperature and a wildfire that shut-off a major transmission line in Oregon put Healdsburg and California within hours or needing to perform rotating outages. During heat-waves California requires the maximum amount of generation available. With this winter’s low rainfall and historically low reservoir levels much of the State’s hydro generation will not be available to supply our energy needs. During a flex alert, energy conservation is critical to avoid rotating outages or worse. Please be prepared to conserve energy during evening hours by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees, avoiding the use of major appliances, and turning off unnecessary lights and appliances. If we all work together we can help to avoid rotating outages.

Tuesdays in the Plaza

A large group of people listening to music in a park

On Tuesday, July 6, we welcomed our community back to the Plaza with the return of our annual Tuesday concert series. Building on what we learned from the Arts and Culture Planning Process, Latin sensation Rosio La Dama de La Cumbia brought the groves to the Plaza to kick off the season. Tuesday concerts continue through August 31. https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/335/Tuesdays-in-the-Plaza

Golazo 2021

A band playing music to a large group of people

On July 15, Community Services, in collaboration with Corazon Healdsburg and Healdsburg Youth Soccer Association, hosted Golazo 2021, an effort to engage the community to sign up for youth soccer. The event featured music, a car show, cleat swap, and great food at the Community Center. By the conclusion of the event we succeeded in signing up over 100 participants for the fall youth soccer program! While the main registration period for youth soccer has concluded, we will continue to accept registrations until the start of the program. www.healdsburgsoccer.com

Swim Center Opens for the Season

With the lifting of the COVID-19 orders and the return limited funding in the new fiscal year, Community Services reopened the swim center for a shortened 2021 season that runs July 5 through August 13. We are offering swimming lessons, lap swim, and limited recreational swim. For more information visit https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/254/Aquatics-Programs.

Montage Park and Fire Station Site Mass Grading Completed

The Saggio Hills/Montage Resort project development agreement included a requirement that the developer mass grade the park and fire station sites in preparation for future construction. Over the past few weeks, the developer’s contractor completed this work by burying a serpentine knoll in the future park area and moving excess material off the fire station site. This work is also being coordinated with grading of the future affordable housing site and construction of the Parkland Farms Boulevard connection.

Chasin Goat Grazing at the Villa Chanticleer

With the help of Senator McGuire, the City of Healdsburg received a grant from the Coastal Conservancy to assist with Wildfire Mitigation. On July 4, during the Boy Scout Troop 21 Pancake Breakfast, Healdsburg Fire released the first herd of goats and sheep onto Fitch Mountain to create defensible space. Vice Mayor Jimenez and Councilmember Kelley were attending the breakfast and were able to meet the owner Chase Cianfichi of Chasin Goat Grazing.

On August 4, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. we will be hosting an in person meeting at the outdoor picnic area of the Villa Chanticleer. There will be indigenous ecologists, grazing experts, Ag + Open Space and fire and public officials to discuss fuels management at the open space. There may even be some petting goats. If you are interested in having your neighborhood participate in a grazing project, this is your opportunity to ask questions. We are all working towards a “Wildfire Free Healdsburg”.

Highland Circle to Scenic Lane Waterline Extension Project

The City of Healdsburg has contracted with Piazza Construction for construction of the Highland Circle to Scenic Lane Waterline Extension Project. Construction is anticipated to begin as soon as Monday, July 19, and last approximately 3 months.

The Project will extend the existing water main from Highland Circle to Scenic Lane and south along Scenic Lane approximately 300-feet. Two fire hydrants will be installed along Scenic Lane where none currently exist.

The water main extension will improve fire protection and water system reliability in the area.

During construction driving on portions of Highland Circle and the most northern portion of Scenic Lane may be impacted by traffic control, construction activities and construction area signs. Driveway access is intended to be uninterrupted. Please observe and adhere to construction area signage. Though temporary impacts are inevitable, our goal is to complete the project without creating any more disturbance than necessary. The normal construction hours will be between 7:30am and 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Work is not anticipated on Saturdays, Sundays, or Holidays in an effort to reduce the impact to and adjacent residents.

The City of Healdsburg greatly appreciates your patience and understanding over the duration it takes for completion of the project. Please do not hesitate to contact Clay Thistle, Senior Engineer, directly with any questions or concerns by phone at (707) 431-3391 or email at cthistle@ci.healdsburg.ca.us, at your convenience.