The first stage of a six-stage project to improve the Windsor River Road/Windsor Road intersection to a roundabout will start Monday, August 23, and last through October. The entire construction project should take about one year to complete.

We’re building a roundabout at this critical east-west corridor to accommodate the SMART train as well as to improve traffic and safety for all travelers -- not just motorists, but also pedestrians and cyclists. For example, the roundabout will help slow down vehicles at this intersection, which will also help to cut down on noise pollution. New safety measures for pedestrians include building new sidewalks, realigned crosswalks, ADA curb ramps, and refuge medians. 

Stage I requires the closure of Windsor Road from Windsor River Road to the south entrance of Marshall Way to vehicle traffic. Pedestrian access for residents and businesses will remain open throughout construction. Please see the map for proposed construction detours; these may be amended as construction plans change. All construction will take place 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM, Monday-Friday, exclusive of holidays.

During this significant construction, there will be some unavoidable noise, dust, traffic delays, and changes in the traffic patterns and on-street parking, so we will provide regular updates to help minimize the impact to you.
 
Why start construction now? Good question. Last summer, the Town completed the required underground utility work before the roundabout construction could begin. Once that was done, we were hopeful that construction could start earlier this year. But longer than expected Caltrans funding approvals as well as the pandemic resulted in delays.

It certainly was not our intent to start construction in late August and we apologize for the inconvenience to our community. However, even if we had been able to start earlier, this project -- a yearlong endeavor -- would have still impacted school traffic. 
 
For more information about the project, please go to:  https://bit.ly/WRRroundabout. You may also contact the Town's Engineering Department at (707) 838-5340. Thank you very much for your patience.

Mark Your Calendars: Town Council Special Election on April 12, 2022 

The Town Council has called a special election for April 12, 2022, to fill a vacant councilmember seat; the term for this seat expires in December 2022.

Windsor residents interested in running for Town Council may contact the Town Clerk’s office (townclerk@townofwindsor.com) for an appointment to receive nomination papers during the nomination period, which runs from December 20 through January 14, 2022. 

Voter registration: If you’re a Windsor resident and would like to vote in this special election but aren’t registered yet, go here to learn how: https://registertovote.ca.gov/ or https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/CRA/Registrar-of-Voters/.

Volunteer to Serve on a Town Commission

Windsor Veterans Village Moves in First Residents

Windsor Veterans Village -- a 9.75-acre, 60-unit community for low-income veterans and their families -- recently completed its first few buildings and residents are starting to move in. Located at the end of Oak Park Street, it’s a beautiful site with a community garden, covered parking, an exercise area, playground, picnic area, and even a pétanque court.

We are excited to have this new development in our community and we cannot wait to meet our new neighbors!

August 21: Get Your Free Water Conservation Kit

Did you miss our Drought Drop-by in June? Well, the Town is hosting another event to help you conserve water on Saturday, August 21, from 8 AM – 1 PM at the Public Works Department, 8400 Windsor River Road. 

Swing by to get your free water conservation kit, which includes a bucket, water-efficient showerhead, bathroom faucet aerator, toilet leak tabs, and a shower timer. We hope to see you there! 

August 25: Next Windsor COPE meeting

Windsor COPE, a grassroots community-led group that helps residents better prepare for and recover from disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and floods, will hold its next meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, August 25, at 6 PM. Hear from our local fire and police on how to harden your home against wildfires, get information on your evacuation zone, and learn how to get involved in Windsor COPE. 

Please register in advance to attend the online meeting. Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rZrvxBVQSCqLEA7rAGjE-g. After doing so, you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to tune in. To learn more about Windsor COPE, go to: https://www.sonomacountyfd.org/town-of-windsor-cope

Say Hi to Charlie Brown!

The Town is pleased to announce that a new statue is coming to Windsor – “Green Charlie Brown." Artist Amber Rankin who grew up in Windsor, will bring him to life over the next week and the statue will be placed on the Town Green on Friday, August 20, joining “RainJoe” Snoopy. “Green Charlie Brown” will be formally introduced to the community on August 26, at the first Summer Night on the Green concert.

In the summer of 2018, the Windsor Parks and Recreation Foundation (People4Parks) called for and received 47 applications for the theme of the new statue. After much deliberation, the recommended theme will combine elements from three Windsor residents: Joyce Fowler Hasselbeck, Lisa Bollman and Remy Canto Adams. People4Parks, which supports the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of parks, facilities, and recreation programs, donated the new statue to the Windsor community.

Come on by and say hi to Charlie Brown!

Under Construction: 12 Single-Family Homes

You may have noticed that construction has begun on 12 single-family residences on the north end of Los Amigos Road. The homes are being built on an approximately 2-acre site and will include an extension of Graciella Drive to Los Amigos Road. 

The developer is the Schellinger Brothers and the contractor is RHB Builders; both are based in Santa Rosa. RHB anticipates that the first homes will be ready in early spring of 2022. They are already off to a great start with six foundations poured and the walls framed on three of the homes! For queries, contact RHB at (707) 396-0154.

Proposed Multi-Family Housing Project
Moves a Step Forward

On June 22, the Town’s Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan and design review for Shiloh Apartments, a project that includes 62 multi-family units and a 3,575 sq. ft. commercial building at the corner of Golf Course Drive and Shiloh Road. The builder has also submitted building permits to the Town, which are now under review.

The multi-family units, which range from 500 sq. ft to 1,304 sq. ft., will be a mixture of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. All ground floor units will be ADA accessible. The structures will be built with a mixture of lap siding, stucco, wood, metal, and stone. For more information on the project, contact emcdowell@townofwindsor.com.

Evacuation Zone Look-Up Tool and
More Emergency Preparedness Resources

Wildfires present a serious threat and our emergency responders and Town staff train for all types of emergencies, including wildfires. We ask that all residents to also prepare. For instance, learn your evacuation zone -- you can look it up via Sonoma County’s evacuation “know your zone” tool.

Please note that when you use it, “Zone ID” is your evacuation zone. “Zone Status” will say “currently unavailable” unless there is a current evacuation underway. The County’s zone look-up tool is also linked on our evacuation map and information page: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1245/Evacuation-Map-and-Information

In addition, please visit the Town’s wildfire readiness webpage to learn how to improve your home’s wildfire resistance and prepare your family to leave early and safely if and when public-safety officials issue an evacuation order.

Fall 2021 Recreation Guide Now Available

The Town of Windsor’s Fall 2021 Recreation Guide is now available! The guide highlights the return of classes that were on hold due to the pandemic and they’re offered for all ages. Classes include t-ball tune-up (ages 4-6); hoopers scrimmage (ages 7-9); beginner art classes, pilates and yoga (adults); and strength training and “sit n’ fit” (seniors). 

The Recreation Department is happy to bring back activities and special events to the Town. Please visit our recreation guide to see all that the department has to offer: https://townofwindsor.com/588/Activities\

View Town Councilmember and Candidate 
Campaign Statements

Did you know that the Town Clerk’s Office publishes Town councilmember and candidate campaign statements on the Town’s website? You can find them here: https://www.townofwindsor.com/1281/Campaign-Statements.

These statements include Form 460s, which were due on August 2. Form 460 is a requirement by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). A candidate who has a controlled committee or who has raised or spent, or who plans on raising and spending $250 or more a year in connection with election to office, is required to submit a Form 460.

Town Submits Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan
for Approval

The Town has submitted the update of its hazard mitigation plan, part of the Sonoma County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, to the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and approval. We anticipate that Cal OES and FEMA may approve the plan in the next 60 days. Once approved, the Town Council will hold a public hearing to formally adopt it.

The plan helps the Town to better understand, identify, and prepare for natural hazards to create a safer community. It includes a community profile, hazards assessment, risk assessment, mitigation actions, and implementation and maintenance programs. An approved plan also makes the Town eligible for grant funding for actions that reduce or avoid the impacts of natural hazards such as wildfires and floods. 

You may view the plan at the link below. Information on Windsor is in Volume 2: https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/PRMD/Long-Range-Plans/Hazard-Mitigation-Update/