Hello Windsor!

Last night at the Town Council meeting we celebrated the retirement of Windsor Police Chief Mike Raasch. Our Town has been fortunate to have had many outstanding Police Chiefs over the years, however, none has been more community-minded than Mike.

I would like to personally thank Chief Raasch as Town Manager and as a resident for his dedication to Windsor, his focus on community-oriented policing, and his public engagement and accessibility to all of us. Please join me in wishing Mike Raasch all the best as he ends an outstanding 34-year career in law enforcement!

In turn, I am excited to announce that Lieutenant Gregory Piccinini will be Windsor’s next Police Chief. Chief Piccinini comes to the Town with a wealth of experience built over an 18-year career serving the County in a variety of capacities with the Sheriff’s Department. With a strong history of building positive relationships in the communities he has served, I feel Chief Piccinini will be an excellent fit for our Town.

Please join us at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, May 15, as we welcome him to his new role.

In this edition of the Insider:



Department Spotlight

Ballot Measure

Leadership Windsor Tour

Honoring Windsor Police Chief

Windsor Half Marathon

Native Arts Festival

Pleasant Oak Park Renamed

Pop-Up Party in the Park

Pancake Breakfast & Safety Expo

Sprinkler System Inspection

What is WES?

The Water, Environment, and Sustainability Division (WES) is housed at the Town’s Public Works Department and is led by Deputy Director of Water & Environmental Management, Veronica Siwy. The WES team is staffed by a group of 6 full-time and 3 part-time employees with diverse backgrounds in water and wastewater resources, geology, and sustainability.

The WES Team supports the Windsor community in multiple ways from laboratory testing to sustainability. The Water and Wastewater Laboratory Testing is a state-certified laboratory. Staff perform regular sampling and analysis on water samples to demonstrate drinking water standards are met, and on wastewater samples to ensure treated wastewater meets requirements for recycled water reuse or discharge. Conserving water is essential, and the Water Conservation program works to support residents in conserving our valuable water supply and protecting the environment. This group holds workshops, creates educational materials, provides efficiency rebates, and works with regional partners at the Sonoma-Marin Water Saving Partnership.

To protect water quality, the Storm Water Programs ensure the Town complies with its stormwater permits, issued by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board. Under these permits, the Town’s Stormwater coordinator is responsible for ensuring that certain practices are followed to reduce the pollution of stormwater. This is very important as stormwater flows to Windsor’s creeks and out to the Russian River. Planning is crucial and the WES staff work on Water Supply Planning and projects like the Urban Water Management Plan (2020) and the Groundwater Master Plan (in progress!) to develop a strategic plan for ensuring a resilient and reliable water supply for the community now and in years to come. These plans inform the decision-making process and how staff prioritize Capital Improvement Projects for our water and wastewater utilities.

Resources are ever-changing, and the Town’s full-time sustainability coordinator was hired in January 2024 to support the Windsor community by promoting sustainability resources. Currently, the new Climate Action Plan is being developed to create a roadmap for staff to follow to make Town operations more sustainable and achieve the sustainability goals directed by the Town Council in the 2019 Climate Emergency Resolution. 

Windsor Public Works hosted Leadership Windsor last week for a tour of the wastewater treatment plant and presentations on potable water, water conservation, groundwater, stormwater, streets, recycled water, and the NetZero wastewater program. It was fantastic to host such a great group of enthusiastic and curious individuals! 

Leadership Windsor is a program hosted by the Windsor Chamber of Commerce where community members spend 10 months growing their understanding of Windsor’s local government structures, economic and social issues, and public services.

Leadership Windsor is accepting applications for the next class. More information can be found here.

Last night, the Town Council honored Windsor Police Chief Raasch for multiple years of service and congratulated him on his retirement. Chief Raasch has been invaluable to this community.

Day after day he demonstrated his deep commitment to the Town’s community through extensive community engagement, including his support of the Windsor Rotary, the Bike to School Program, the Special Olympics, the Windsor Community Circle Toy Drive, and countless Town special events.

His position will be filled by Lieutenant Greg Piccinini, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Windsor Half Marathon on Sunday, May 5 from 7:30 AM to 11 AM

The Windsor Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, May 5. Leaving from the Town Green starting at 7:30 AM. There are three courses, a 5K, 10K, and half marathon. 

Temporary road closures around the Town Green between 7 AM and 8 AM will be in place as the runners begin staging at the starting line and take off for their run.

For more information visit WINDSOR HALF MARATHON 10K • 5K (runwinecountry.com)

The Progressive Tribal Alliance proudly presents Sonoma County’s largest Native American Arts Festival on Saturday, May 11, from 10 AM to 3 PM, on the Windsor Town Green. 

This groundbreaking event not only stands as the largest of its kind in Sonoma County but also marks a significant milestone in the Town of Windsor’s history.

Prepare for a cultural extravaganza featuring a historic lineup of artists, Pomo dancers, songs, blessings, food, and more. The festival promises to be a vibrant celebration of Native American heritage, offering a unique and enriching experience for the entire community. 

For more information visit www.nafestival.org

David Smith Memorial Park

We are pleased to announce an exciting update to one of Windsor’s beloved parks. Following thoughtful consideration, the Parks and Recreation Commission and Town Council unanimously approved renaming Pleasant Oak Park as the David Smith Memorial Park. The decision honors the legacy of David Smith, an influential Native American community leader, teacher, and dancer who was instrumental in perpetuating the Pomo culture.

The renaming coincides with plans to renovate the park, a goal outlined in the 2030 Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update, which calls for the development of environments and programs to better serve community members with physical limitations and special needs. The vision for the renovated park includes the Town’s first all-inclusive playground. 

As the Town reviewed the park’s name and significance, staff turned to the Native American community to assist in identifying an individual who has been influential to the fabric of our community, our history, and our land. Upon the recommendation of the Progressive Tribal Alliance, the name and legacy of David Smith was proposed. The Resolution to rename Pleasant Oak Park as the David Smith Memorial Park was approved at the April 17, Town Council meeting.

To view the presentation to Town Council and learn more about David Smith, please click here.

Join us for the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting on Friday, May 10 at 4:30 PM.

We want to hear from you! As we begin to reimagine the park, we invite you to join us in crafting a place where culture thrives, inclusivity blooms, and nature inspires us all. Share your input and ideas through our online community survey, open now through May 31. We’ll be hosting other engagement activities over the next several months to hear from YOU about your priorities for the future of the park. Learn more about the project and how to participate online at https://www.pleasantoakparkmp.com.

Celebrate Mom with Us at Keiser Park!

Join us for our annual Sonoma County Fire District Free Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast and Safety Fair on Saturday, May 12, at Keiser Park in Windsor. Treat Mom to a delicious breakfast cooked by our local firefighters, enjoy a host of fun family activities, and much more.

You'll have the chance to win raffle prizes, bid on items at our silent auction, watch helicopters in action, and pick up swag from various public safety partner booths. 

This event is a wonderful way to interact with local first responders and learn about safety in a festive, family-friendly setting.

We look forward to seeing you and your family there for a day of fun and appreciation!

Don't miss this special way to celebrate Mom and meet your community heroes!

For more information and to register for a FREE ticket visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sonoma-county-fire-district-mothers-day-pancake-breakfast-safety-fair-tickets-868477077317?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Spring has arrived, and warmer weather is coming our way. Don't forget to inspect your sprinkler system before turning it back on for the summer months. 

Sprinklers can cause thousands of gallons of water waste from broken heads and leaks in the hoses and pipes. You might not notice a leak if your system is running in the early morning, so be sure to inspect your system thoroughly before programming it.

Think about installing a smart irrigation controller to ensure your system is running efficiently or switching to more efficient drip irrigation. Information on available rebates can be found at Rebates and Incentives | Windsor, CA - Official Website (townofwindsor.com).

For more information on how to spruce up your sprinkler system, visit Sprinkler Spruce-Up | US EPA.

Come Join Us!

The Town of Windsor is active with events year-round. 

The following Town links will provide you with dates and event details to "mark your calendar".

We look forward to seeing you!

Major Community Events Calendar

Special Events

Windsor Senior Recreation Center

Windsor Chamber of Commerce Community Calendar

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.

Here are some public meetings and workshops we would love for you to participate in. For more information on the agenda, view the meeting, or the recording click on the meeting link.

Council Meetings - first and third Wednesday of each month at 6 PM.

May 1 & May 15

Planning Commission Meetings - second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM.

May 14 & May 28

Parks and Recreation Commission - second Wednesday of every month at 6 PM.

May 8

Public Art Advisory Commission - fourth Wednesday of each month at 4:30 PM.

May 22

Senior Citizen Advisory Commission - quarterly, on the third Tuesday at 2 PM.

TBD

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Town of Windsor

9291 Old Redwood Highway

Windsor, CA 95492

(707) 838-1000

Email us at info@townofwindsor.com