The residents of Windsor have been doing amazing work making water conservation a part of daily life. Thanks to the commitment of the community, over 36,000 sq/ft of turf were transformed into water efficient landscaping during the period of July 2021- June 2022. These projects will result in an estimated combined water savings of just over 550,000 gallons per year (Sonoma-Marin Partnership Water Savings Calculator). 

Forty-five Windsor residents took advantage of the Town’s turf replacement rebate and made these savings possible. We want to thank you for your commitment to making water savings a part of daily life. Current residents can continue to take advantage of this rebate, which offers $1.00 per square foot, up to $1,500. 

Replacing turf with resilient California native landscapes can not only save water but can promote biodiversity as well as fire safety. It is a win-win for the resident and the environment. To find out how you can transform your turf into a resilient and sustainable landscape, please visit Windsor Efficient Landscape Rebates. And for more information on the types of landscapes that qualify, check out these animated videos! Butterfly Garden and Artificial Turf.

Bird Scooters  

Bird scooters are back up and running in Windsor with approximately 30-40 scooters deploying regularly. Residents and visitors can use the scooters to replace gas-powered car trips and help lower carbon emissions. These trips could include going to the store, meeting friends, or exploring Windsor. 

To ride, sign up for an account on Bird’s mobile-phone app. When you want to ride, open the app to search for and find available scooters near you. As with the 2022 deployment, scooters are repositioned at the end of every day to maximize ridership. For more information visit Bird webpage or report a local issue by emailing windsor311@bird.co.

Report Vandalism 

The definition of vandalism "is a deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property”.  The Town’s parks have seen an increase in vandalism over the past year. Typically, the vandalism is in the form of graffiti, which is usually done by using spray-paint or permanent marker, to deface a wall, bench, building or fence. The damage caused from graffiti has cost the Town thousands of dollars to clean up.  The Parks and Recreation Department, as well as the Police Department do their best to stay on top of this problem but unfortunately, week after week, the departments receive reports of graffiti related vandalism. This type of vandalism is a tough crime to prevent, and it is a frustrating crime to investigate. This is why we need your help! If you see something, say something.  The Town appreciates the extra eyes and ears in the Town’s parks.  To report graffiti vandalism in progress, call the Police department dispatch at (707) 565-2121. If you find graffiti in the park, please call Parks and Recreation department at (707) 838-1009 or report by visiting https://www.townofwindsor.com/467/Graffiti-Removal.

WastewaterSCAN

Did you know you can now look online to see the public health trends in Windsor and neighboring communities? In December of 2022, the Town of Windsor began participating in WastewaterSCAN, a nationwide study that measures key virus levels and reports results to the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System.  More information can be found at Verily Public Health.

The Parks and Recreation Department is hiring for multiple part-time summer positions! Do not miss this opportunity for a fun and meaningful job experience. For more information and to join our team! Go here to apply.

Work With Us!

The Town of Windsor is looking for talented people. For information on open positions, click here for the full list. If you have questions about working for the Town, please reach out to our Human Resources team at hr@townofwindsor.com. 

Join our team! Go here to apply.

Opening Day

The Sunday Market Opening Day for 2023 is Sunday, April 2. The Windsor Certified Farmers Market is located at 701 McClelland Drive at Market Street on the Windsor Town Green.  The hours are 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, every Sunday until December 3, 2023. For more information go to Windsor Farmers Market.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Event 

Do you have unused fertilizer, pesticides, pool chemicals, or flammable liquids, lightbulbs, or batteries that are sitting around that you want to get rid of?  Zero Waste Sonoma will host a HHW event on Saturday, March 21, from 3 PM – 8 PM, by appointment only.  For more information on items collected or to schedule an appointment please visit Zero Waste Sonoma.   

Upcoming Meetings

We’d love to see you at our Town meetings and workshops. Here’s what’s on tap for the next two weeks. You can always find Town Council and Commission meeting information on the calendar on the Town website homepage, on our agendas, minutes, and videos page, and in the agenda packets for each meeting.

• March 22, 4:30 PM: Public Art Advisory Commission Meeting
• March 28, 5:30 PM: Planning Commission Meeting
  
  

Email notifications: If you’d like to get Town Council and Commission meeting reminders and agendas (which are made available at least 72 hours before regular meetings and 24 hours before special meetings), go to our Notify Me page to sign up for email notifications. You can choose specific commissions, for example, as well as topics such as mobile home parks, water conservation updates, and even this newsletter!

Sponsorship Last Call 

The Sponsorship Drive for both Summer Nights on the Green Concerts & Family Movies on the Green is coming to an end. Pledges are due for both events on March 30, 2023. For more information regarding sponsorship benefits, please go to Parks & Recreation-Special Events or call 707-838-1260. 

Rescheduled Compost Giveaway 

Calling all gardeners: Zero Waste Sonoma will host a compost giveaway on Saturday, April 8, from 9 AM – 12 PM at Keiser Park (700 Windsor River Road). The free compost is certified USDA organic and CDFA approved and comes from a compost facility. It’s first-come, first-served. Be sure to bring your own shovels and buckets! For more information, go here.

Compost donations are also available for non-profit farms, educational gardens (e.g., schools), or habitat restoration on a case-by-case basis. Please email xinci.tan@sonoma-county.org with an explanation of your needs, how much compost you'd like, and where the compost should be delivered. 

Smoke Detector/Alarm

A message from your Sonoma County Fire District: Sonoma County Fire District (SCFD) recommends you test your smoke detector/alarm and change your replaceable batteries at least once a year.   Daylight Savings is a perfect time to do just that.   Many detectors have only a ten-year lifespan reducing the chances to prevent deaths. Smoke detectors/alarms are a “key part of a home fire escape plan” with fire deaths commonly occurring between the hours of 11 PM to 7 AM.  Please stay safe, change older smoke detectors and batteries to save lives.   Do not dispose of batteries in the trash, please recycle by placing in a plastic bag and placing on top of the recycle container during your normally scheduled collection day or drop-off at Town offices.  For more information on safety visit SCFD.