[4:13] 912 Turnberry Court.

[4:17] 11.9, acceptance of public improvements associated

[4:20] with the reduced pressure backflow preventer

[4:23] assembly at 499 Wall Street.

[4:25] 11.10, acceptance of public improvement associated with

[4:29] utility abandonment at 8900 Windsor Road.

[4:34] Is there any comments or is there a motion to move items?

[4:44] >> No comments.

[4:44] I'll move the consent calendar if you'd like.

[4:46] >> Second.

[4:47] >> Roll call vote, please.

[4:51] [members voting]

[4:57] >> Thank you.

[4:58] >> Thank you, everybody.

[4:59] Moving on now to item 12.1 in our public hearing.

[5:03] We have the urgency ordinance second extension moratorium

[5:06] on closure for conversion of mobile home parks.

[5:19] >> Good evening mayor and council members.

[5:21] I'll be presenting the second extension

[5:22] to the urgency ordinance for our moratorium

[5:25] on the closure of conversion of mobile home parks.

[5:29] My presentation will briefly review the information

[5:32] provided in last year's report about mobile home

[5:35] parks, the residence, and the regulations.

[5:37] The updates that are needed in the town's regulations and the

[5:41] need to extend the urgency ordinance

[5:43] and end with the staff recommendations.

[5:46] Windsor has for mobile home parks with a total

[5:49] of approximately 569 spaces.

[5:52] These spaces currently represent 43% of the affordable housing

[5:55] supply within the town and the largest source

[5:59] that is indeed restricted.

[6:00] Half of the town's mobile home parks and 80% of the spaces

[6:04] are restricted to seniors.

[6:05] Most who live on fixed incomes.

[6:08] The tenants and homeowners in mobile home parks

[6:11] make up some of the town's most vulnerable residents

[6:13] including seniors and families that qualify as acutely

[6:16] low to very low income.

[6:18] Immigrants and individuals with disabilities.

[6:21] During last year's public hearings,

[6:23] the town had the honor of meeting some of these residents

[6:25] and heard some of the stories these facts represent.

[6:28] We learned that many of these residents

[6:30] are long term owners with some living for over 30 years

[6:34] in their home with three different generations.

[6:36] Including families who would need to relocate

[6:38] schools for their children.

[6:41] Since the town's municipal code section

[6:43] for the closure and conversion of mobile home parks

[6:45] was adopted over 30 years ago, it

[6:48] predates modern standards established under state law.

[6:51] Windsor's General Plan 2040 includes the land use

[6:54] designation for mobile home parks com

[6:56] which recognizes existing land so these parks

[7:00] and is intended to preserve their use.

[7:02] The zoning code which implements the mobile home park land use

[7:05] designation in the General Plan allows residential uses

[7:09] other than mobile home parks.

[7:11] These outdated regulations fail to recognize the housing

[7:15] constraints presently in the county.

[7:16] They can't ensure that the impacts of proposed closures

[7:19] are fully represented and adequately mitigated

[7:22] in the relocation plans.

[7:24] Closure of a mobile home park without adequate notice

[7:26] and preparation time threatens the public health safety

[7:30] and welfare by increasing the risk of homelessness,

[7:33] placing greater demand on local services and resources,

[7:36] destabilizing neighborhoods, destabilizing families,

[7:38] and contributing to economic strain.

[7:40] In response to everything touched on here,

[7:45] the town adopted an urgency ordinance last October,

[7:48] which established a 45 day moratorium

[7:50] on the closure of conversion of mobile home parks.

[7:52] The following month the council extended the moratorium until

[7:55] September 20th of this year.

[7:57] In addition to the internal analysis that

[8:00] commenced last fall, town staff have held and attended

[8:03] various meetings to update our policies and regulations

[8:05] to support both tenants and owners of mobile home parks.

[8:09] This work is still ongoing.

[8:11] In late July staff met with residents of a mobile home

[8:15] park who had been receiving seven day eviction

[8:17] notices for issues such as a room being left

[8:20] outside or potted plants in excess of the seven allowed.

[8:23] Most of us here have the privilege

[8:25] to make these choices for our homes

[8:26] and not live under regular threats of eviction.

[8:30] Extension of the moratorium by 12 additional months

[8:32] would provide the town with the time required

[8:34] to complete its analysis to amend

[8:36] its municipal code and zoning code

[8:38] and other land use requirements for mobile home parks.

[8:41] It allows the town to safeguard this important housing resource.

[8:46] Staff recommends that council hold a public hearing

[8:49] and adopt an urgency ordinance making findings and extending

[8:52] the temporary moratorium on the closure

[8:54] or conversion of mobile home parks

[8:55] within the town of Windsor for a period of 12 months

[8:58] to become effective immediately.

[9:00] This does take a 4/5 vote by council.

[9:05] And I'm happy to answer any questions.

[9:08] >> Can you repeat what it is required, what kind of vote?

[9:13] >> A 4/5 vote.

[9:15] >> With only four council members here,

[9:16] it would mean all four, three out of four?

[9:20] All four.

[9:21] Anyone have questions for staff?

[9:27] >> This is a one year extension of the moratorium.

[9:33] Our prior one year extension -- it was my understanding

[9:36] the prior one year moratorium was to give us time to draft --

[9:41] to update our ordinance.

[9:43] Do we have a timeline for updating the ordinance, which

[9:49] then we would reconsider at that point eliminating the moratorium

[9:54] and implementing the new ordinance?

[9:57] >> This moratorium if adopted would go for another 12 months.

[10:00] It would be expiring by September 1st unless amendments

[10:04] were made prior to that date.

[10:06] And I will defer the rest of the answer.

[10:09] >> Maybe I could add some clarity to the mayor.

[10:13] It is the moratorium.

[10:14] The government code allows for a 45 day moratorium

[10:17] to be established.

[10:19] That moratorium could be established

[10:21] by ten months and 15 days if the work, the analysis, and changes

[10:26] to the code are not done.

[10:27] The government code allows for that moratorium to be extended,

[10:30] which is what you have before you for up to another year.

[10:34] So the law allows for a two year moratorium, which

[10:38] we are still under the law.

[10:40] And I think that council member, to your point,

[10:44] staff has been continuing to work on potential changes

[10:47] and doing a study and working on edits to the town's code.

[10:52] Once that amendment is done, that

[10:55] would be coming to the council for approval.

[10:58] Depending on the type of amendments,

[11:00] it may require planning commission meeting as well.

[11:04] But staff is working on that.

[11:07] >> Thank you.

[11:09] >> Through the mayor, if I could add one more thing,

[11:12] the recent adopted mini storage moratorium that we updated

[11:16] the zoning code, if the code updates are adequate the time

[11:20] that it's adopted by the council,

[11:22] we usually bundle in and end to that moratorium at the same

[11:26] time.

[11:26] So it may not go for the full year

[11:28] if the amendments are in place sooner.

[11:30] >> Any other questions?

[11:33] >> I just have a clarifying question.

[11:35] Thank you, mayor.

[11:37] There's many steps to close a mobile home park.

[11:42] So this moratorium-- have any of these parks come forward

[11:49] to try to start a closure in town?

[11:56] Prior to our moratorium, we didn't

[11:58] have any coming forward to try to actually start a process

[12:01] to close.

[12:01] Thank you so much.

[12:05] >> Okay, no more questions.

[12:08] Do you want to clarify?

[12:11] >> Yeah, we will have to research and get back to you.

[12:14] I do believe there were inquiries

[12:16] about the process for closing the mobile home park before we

[12:18] adopted the moratorium.

[12:20] >> But it is over a two year process for them.

[12:24] So it would be they would need to put in for it

[12:27] and do many steps to close a park.

[12:31] >> Correct.

[12:31] There is a codified process involved.

[12:34] To the best of our knowledge, we haven't received any application

[12:37] to begin that process.

[12:38] But there were inquiries made by mobile home park owners

[12:41] of what the process would be.

[12:43] >> Thank you.

[12:48] >> I just want to follow up on that.

[12:49] The amended ordinance would have changes and more protections,

[12:57] I expect, than our current ordinance, which

[13:01] is overruled by the moratorium.

[13:03] Is that your understanding?

[13:06] The modifications would provide more protections?

[13:10] >> The primary purpose of the update is to update the existing

[13:16] code language for the modern setting.

[13:20] So as mentioned, the existing code is over 30 years old.

[13:24] It has some outdated language and it has significant loopholes

[13:27] that didn't exist back in the time that it was adopted.

[13:30] It would be to tighten up the ordinance

[13:31] to better protect mobile home park owners as well as tenants.

[13:37] >> Thank you.

[13:39] >> Going to open it up to the public.

[13:41] Any member of the public wishing to make a comment on this item

[13:45] may approach the podium.

[13:51] [speaking spanish]

[13:54] If you wish to state your name, you may do so,

[13:56] but it does not require.

[14:03] [speaking spanish]

[14:04] >> Good evening.

[14:04] My name is Laura Peregrina.

[14:05] My husband and I live in Ember Creek Mobile home

[14:08] Park in district one.

[14:09] Tonight I should be home with my husband

[14:11] instead of being here because it is

[14:14] my husband's birthday for one.

[14:17] And because the residence and I shouldn't

[14:19] have to be here to do this.

[14:21] But we are trying to fight for our homes.

[14:25] This is from what I have seen so far,

[14:29] harmony is very unreasonable and outrageous

[14:31] on whether rent hikes, equivalent to totally ridiculous

[14:36] violations for things that Harmony is just

[14:38] using against us, which is total harassment.

[14:40] This is so unnecessary and so cruel to treat people this way.

[14:45] Harmony isn't going to sway me from fighting

[14:48] for my home and my fellow residents homes.

[14:50] I am in this for the long haul.

[14:53] Hopefully my fellow residents are as well.

[14:55] I am not a quitter.

[14:56] I really hope you guys vote yes on the moratorium.

[14:59] Thank you.

[15:09] >>

[15:09] [speaking spanish]

[16:39] >> Gracias, Orlando.

[16:41] >> Good afternoon.

[16:42] My name is Orlando Lopez and I am

[16:45] a resident of Evergreen Community

[16:46] and live in district one.

[16:48] I am once again in front of you, Windsor Town Council,

[16:53] to ask you to continue supporting us

[16:54] with your courageous vote to extend the moratorium

[16:56] on mobile home park closures.

[16:58] Your support would directly benefit us, the residents

[17:02] of Evergreen Mobile Home Park.

[17:04] For the last two years, we have been

[17:06] harassed by harmony communities who run the parks where

[17:10] we live with constant rent increases

[17:12] and looking for any excuse to intimidate and bother us.

[17:15] Because they want to evict us from our homes.

[17:18] The situation has been incredibly stressful

[17:20] for me and for the residents of my community.

[17:23] It has been an injustice we have lived through because we only

[17:26] want to live in peace and tranquility

[17:28] and protect our homes.

[17:30] Harmony is only looking out for their own economic well-being,

[17:34] without taking into account the economic needs of residents.

[17:39] The majority of my neighbors live on fixed and low incomes.

[17:43] And Harmony is just trying to take

[17:45] advantage of the vulnerable situation we are in.

[17:48] Evergreen community thanks you for continuing to support us.

[17:52] Thank you for your attention.

[17:57] >>

[18:00] [speaking spanish]

[19:15] >> Gracias, Juan Carlos.

[19:18] >> My name is Lina Blanco.

[19:21] I'm a tenant organizer with the North Bay organizing project.

[19:24] I'll be interpreting for Juan Carlos's comments.

[19:27] My name is Juan Carlos and I live at Evergreen Community.

[19:30] We are counting on your help today.

[19:31] There are elderly who live in my community in the park

[19:34] and it is understandable that it has been incredibly difficult

[19:37] for them and complicated that for them to find another place

[19:40] to live or to have to pay an unfair rent increase.

[19:43] They have sent us seven day notices, net notices,

[19:47] harassed us, and are doing everything

[19:49] they can to get us evicted.

[19:51] We are worried about this.

[19:53] That is why we are fighting.

[19:55] I want and all my neighbors want to live in peace.

[19:58] Everything has been more expensive

[19:59] than they are putting pressure on us to stay silent.

[20:02] But my neighbors and I continue to fight for a peaceful life

[20:05] and decent housing.

[20:07] In my case I am still paying off my trailer.

[20:11] I've been living here for almost five years.

[20:13] I want clarity on what is going to happen.

[20:17] Because living under harmony has our lives on hold.

[20:20] We want -- we would love for you to approve a one year extension

[20:25] to prevent park closures.

[20:27] Our vision as neighbors is to be able to not just defend

[20:31] our rights as neighbors but to buy our park.

[20:34] And we want support from the community and the city

[20:37] to make that happen long term.

[20:39] Thank you.

[20:44] >> Hi, my name is Maria Hernandez and I am here once

[20:47] again to ask for your help against these people.

[20:52] These are really mean people.

[20:55] This year I almost lost my dad because of them.

[20:59] We have been through so much stress.

[21:04] They have been harassing us, bullying us.

[21:08] We feel hopeless once again.

[21:13] Like I said, my dad almost died because of stress.

[21:17] Of all the stress that harmony has been causing us.

[21:23] I just ask and beg you guys to please help us

[21:26] and don't let those wolves eat us alive.

[21:30] Because that is what they want.

[21:32] We are powerless and they are taking advantage of that.

[21:36] They have money, but we have the heart.

[21:40] They don't have hearts.

[21:41] And we have them.

[21:44] So I am here to please beg and ask for your support

[21:48] and please don't let us alone.

[21:52] Keep helping us.

[21:53] I am going to keep fighting for my home, for my family's home,

[21:58] for my neighbor's home like I fought for my dad's health.

[22:01] He is doing so much better.

[22:04] And I know we are going to get through this with your help.

[22:08] Thank you.

[22:14] >> Good evening mayor and council members.

[22:16] I'm a housing policy analyst at Legal Aid Sonoma County.

[22:19] I want to thank Council for taking action last year

[22:22] to put this moratorium in place.

[22:24] Thank you for standing behind the residents who

[22:26] are in this room, who you have just heard speak.

[22:30] The daily stress as you have heard that these families carry,

[22:34] the weight that this has in the center of their lives,

[22:37] it's really hard to overstate.

[22:41] A year since this moratorium has been in place,

[22:44] there are 23 households who are going to get to go home tonight.

[22:47] Who are going to get to sleep in their beds and their homes

[22:49] in that park.

[22:50] That is because these residents have pulled together

[22:53] and because you all took action to make sure

[22:56] that this park owner couldn't move forward with their threat

[22:58] to close.

[22:59] As you'll remember last year, the owner demanded a $650 rent

[23:05] increase, the equivalent of 140% rent hike on average

[23:09] and threatened to close the park if they did not get all of that.

[23:14] Harmony claimed that this increase was necessary because

[23:17] of financial losses that they had,

[23:20] that they were operating in the red.

[23:22] They submitted 1200 pages of documents

[23:24] trying to back that up.

[23:25] They were only able to support a $4.15 cent

[23:28] rent increase with the financial records they put forward.

[23:32] This year they are back.

[23:33] They are asking for $266 rent increase.

[23:36] In addition to the annual allowable rent

[23:38] increase under the ordinance.

[23:40] And that threat to close the park is still hanging out there.

[23:44] It is looming over everyone who is living there.

[23:47] For harmony this company that has

[23:49] a portfolio of about 100 parks, this

[23:53] is unfortunately about business as usual for them.

[23:55] We see this in Petaluma and Cotati, Santa Rosa, Fresno,

[24:00] San Pablo, Santa Cruz, Santa Paula, up and down the state.

[24:04] It is really unimaginable to think about the hundreds

[24:07] and hundreds and hundreds of families

[24:09] who are living through this who are having

[24:11] the little piece of stability they have just

[24:14] clawed away from them.

[24:16] And Windsor's regulations, we just

[24:20] heard that governance closures and conversions,

[24:22] they are 30 years old.

[24:24] They are significantly out of date.

[24:26] They are below the minimum state standards let alone

[24:29] what exists in strong ordinances in other parts of our county

[24:32] and throughout the state.

[24:34] And we know what is going to happen if this moratorium comes

[24:38] down and no stronger regulations are not

[24:41] in place to back up residents.

[24:43] And I think families could lose their homes.

[24:45] So we really respectfully urge you to extend this moratorium.

[24:50] We are here as a community partner

[24:51] and we will continue to be here as a community partner

[24:54] to support the town in any way that we can.

[24:55] Thank you.

[24:58] >> Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, Council members, staff.

[25:04] My name is Max.

[25:05] I'm an organizer with North Bay jobs with justice.

[25:08] We're coalition over 30 community and labor

[25:10] organizations.

[25:11] As you've heard from lots of people

[25:13] this is a really important issue for tenants, renters,

[25:16] but I want to share a little about why

[25:18] this is an important issue for workers and labor.

[25:21] In addition to being part of jobs with justice,

[25:24] I am the Executive Board of North Bay Labor

[25:27] Council that has made housing a really critical issue.

[25:31] Because the reality is that as workers,

[25:36] we are always negotiating with employers

[25:38] to try and make sure that the people who receive a living wage

[25:42] and can have affordable health insurance.

[25:43] But if you go home and your rent is going up every year,

[25:48] it takes away the hard fought wins of labor.

[25:53] This is something that is really important for us in labor

[25:57] to be able to make sure that this happens.

[26:01] And right here, I've been able to spend a lot of time

[26:04] in Windsor recently because there

[26:07] are workers at Rodney Strong Winery who

[26:10] are organizing for a fair process to have a union.

[26:14] A number of them are here who are Windsor residents,

[26:17] both renters and homeowners.

[26:19] This is something that is actually important for --

[26:23] we hear it over and over from workers perspective that even

[26:26] if you don't live in a mobile home park,

[26:28] having stability in your community really matters.

[26:31] And when you don't have that, it affects everyone.

[26:36] And so we really appreciate that you all

[26:39] voted for this moratorium.

[26:42] And we appreciate the staff's work

[26:44] to be able to recommend that this continues

[26:46] and to be able to give you all time to do the right thing.

[26:50] And so we really will be watching this vote.

[26:54] We really care about it.

[26:55] We hope you'll continue this important work

[26:58] that you have started.

[26:59] Thank you so much and I will translate for Frederick who's

[27:05] going to speak in Spanish.

[27:08] >>

[27:09] [speaking spanish]

[27:17] >> My name is Felix Lopez.

[27:18] I'm a worker at Rodney Strong and I am organizing

[27:20] for our own improvements.

[27:26] [speaking spanish]

[27:31] So I am here to support the Union of Renters,

[27:38] and just yesterday I received a notice where I live.

[27:44] [speaking spanish]

[27:49] And so I got an official notice that starting

[27:53] on the first of the month, my rent is going up 25%.

[28:00] [speaking spanish]

[28:10] And with the amount of money that I make,

[28:13] I can't afford that rent.

[28:14] I have to bring someone from outside

[28:16] of my home to rent in the home or I have to find a second job.

[28:21] [speaking spanish]

[28:22] And that's all.

[28:23] Thank you all so much.

[28:26] >> Gracias.

[28:31] I see one more person approaching the podium.

[28:34] If there's anyone else if you want to line up.

[28:39] [speaking spanish]

[28:43] >> Mayor and council, I support extending the moratorium.

[28:51] I think that the people who spoke before me

[28:56] have made a very strong case for why it is needed.

[29:00] And I don't need to repeat what they have already said.

[29:03] What I would ask tonight is what happens after these 12 months?

[29:10] We've already had a moratorium, and now we're

[29:15] asking for another year.

[29:16] That time needs to lead somewhere.

[29:19] There needs to be a positive outcome for the residents

[29:23] of these mobile home parks.

[29:26] I hope the council gives staff clear direction

[29:28] that during these 12 months we develop permanent protections

[29:31] that are fair, workable, and strong enough

[29:35] that these residents aren't back here a year from now

[29:39] facing the same uncertainty.

[29:40] A moratorium gives us time.

[29:44] What we do with that time is what really matters.

[29:48] I support the moratorium.

[29:50] Thank you.

[30:02] >> I really wasn't going to talk about this,

[30:05] but as I sit in the audience, my heart is broken.

[30:09] My heart is broken for my community

[30:11] and for my neighbors that have to live under this threat

[30:14] from someone who is doing things that are not legal,

[30:19] certainly not ethical.

[30:20] And I think that it is your job as a council

[30:24] to extend this moratorium and give them the peace of mind,

[30:30] as Jose clearly stated very eloquently,

[30:33] to find a permanent fix for our community members, our neighbors

[30:38] so that they can live in peace here in Windsor.

[30:43] It breaks my heart to hear this.

[30:45] I would imagine what their pain is.

[30:50] And I truly encourage you to extend this moratorium.

[30:54] But more than that to find a permanent fix

[30:59] to update our codes and ordinances,

[31:00] to protect the people in our community who

[31:04] live in mobile home parks.

[31:06] Thank you for your consideration.

[31:10] >> Seeing no one else approaching the podium,

[31:13] I am going to go ahead and close the public hearing and bring it

[31:16] back to the Council for discussion.

[31:18] Who would like to start?

[31:23] Council member Leap, Salmon?

[31:30] >> I will support the moratorium.

[31:33] There are questions.

[31:36] I guess the one question right now,

[31:40] we're in litigation over the moratorium.

[31:42] Is that correct?

[31:43] And it is on appeal?

[31:46] That's the question if I could add.

[31:49] >> That is correct.

[31:50] >> So the moratorium, even though we continue it,

[31:54] I think we won the first trial court.

[31:58] We were successful.

[31:59] Now there is an appeal.

[32:01] And if the appeal is denied, then this moratorium

[32:04] will be in effect for 12 more months.

[32:07] That's my understanding.

[32:12] After 12 more months, state law, that is the limit.

[32:16] So we do have to come up and make modifications

[32:19] to our ordinance to provide as much protection

[32:23] under the law as possible.

[32:26] But I think I understand this would

[32:30] be the last moratorium for the town of Windsor

[32:34] for the group of mobile home parks in our town.

[32:38] And that is the law.

[32:40] So I think we all need to work together

[32:43] to find a way to come up with an answer that

[32:48] won't be acceptable to harmony that we can be assured of.

[32:53] But at least it would be legal and not

[32:57] subject to be more and more lawsuits because I think what

[33:02] I have understood is that once we do adopt the new ordinance,

[33:11] and moratorium is gone, if harmony is not

[33:16] agreeable to the new ordinance, there

[33:17] will be another lawsuit against the town.

[33:20] At some point, that has to end.

[33:27] The courts will make it end.

[33:30] There will be findings.

[33:32] But I think we all have to work to try to come up with

[33:35] a solution for the new ordinance,

[33:37] knowing that this moratorium will end --

[33:42] it may end sooner if we get the ordinance drafted.

[33:46] It's possible the council could end the moratorium

[33:49] and adopt a new ordinance.

[33:51] And then, of course, that would bring --

[33:55] my understanding is based on your experience with harmony

[33:58] and our experience with harmony, we will be subject to a new

[34:02] lawsuit just as they have subjected you to harassment.

[34:06] It seems like that is the name of the game with harmony.

[34:12] And so those are just my comments.

[34:16] But certainly we will support you as much as possible.

[34:21] >> Council member Leep.

[34:24] >> Well, for me, I'm very sympathetic for the folks that

[34:29] live out there at evergreen.

[34:32] And I definitely am in favor of continuing to work with them.

[34:36] The alternative to extending the moratorium

[34:40] is devastating and catastrophic.

[34:43] So certainly the better alternative

[34:46] is to extend the moratorium.

[34:50] >> Vice mayor.

[34:53] >> Great.

[34:54] Thank you so much.

[34:55] I wanted to thank everybody for coming out tonight.

[34:57] It really helps us to see and hear from you.

[34:59] I very much appreciate that you are all here tonight.

[35:03] I hope -- my first hope is that legal aid will continue to work

[35:08] with the families for some of the other treatments that are

[35:11] happening by Harmony.

[35:12] Unfortunately the town doesn't have a lot

[35:15] to be able to do with that.

[35:16] But definitely legal aid can step in and really assist

[35:19] families if you are being treated improperly

[35:21] by the association that is running the mobile home park

[35:26] or Harmony as has been named.

[35:28] So this is a legal moratorium.

[35:32] We have right to do this and there was not any mobile home

[35:36] parks in the process of closing down when

[35:37] we established this moratorium.

[35:39] And so I'm very much believe strongly that we need it

[35:42] and that we need to prioritize the changes to the ordinance

[35:45] so that we can have the most protections for the residents

[35:48] who are living there and for all the residents for all

[35:51] our mobile home parks in town.

[35:53] We have already a homelessness problem

[35:55] in the state of California.

[35:56] I absolutely do not want to add any people

[36:01] to that list, especially not Windsor families.

[36:04] So very much hear what you're saying,

[36:06] very much support this moratorium

[36:08] so we can work to put the strongest language and strongest

[36:12] legal language that we can put into our ordinance

[36:14] and have it brought up to date before we end the moratorium.

[36:18] I am very much in support.

[36:22] Thank you.

[36:24] [speaking spanish]

[36:32] >> First I want to say thank you to everybody for being here.

[36:35] It's really important for you to speak

[36:36] and have us hear your voices.

[36:38] I really appreciate that.

[36:40] Thank you to the speaker that spoke about labor.

[36:46] That was a new perspective.

[36:49] I know it's there in the back of my mind,

[36:53] but to bring it all together -- and this is our workforce.

[36:58] Many of them, this is our labor workforce.

[37:02] So thank you for being here and bringing that to us.

[37:05] As Vice mayor mentioned, we have four mobile home parks

[37:10] in Windsor.

[37:11] And it is amazing when I go to those communities

[37:16] how wonderful they are.

[37:17] They really are great communities.

[37:19] And it is nice in this horrible time --

[37:26] hopefully they call it the silver lining.

[37:28] I don't know how you're going to translate that.

[37:30] The good out of this.

[37:32] [speaking spanish]

[37:33] The good thing is hopefully you guys

[37:35] get to know your neighbors a little bit more

[37:36] and come together.

[37:38] So hopefully-- but yes, I support the moratorium

[37:43] and I will not delay this any more.

[37:46] If we could have someone who is interested to make a motion.

[37:50] >> I'll make a motion to adopt an urgency ordinance making

[37:54] findings and extending the temporary moratorium

[37:56] on the closure or conversion of mobile home parks within

[37:59] the town of Windsor for a period of 12 months to become effective

[38:02] immediately.

[38:03] >> Do I have a second?

[38:06] >> I will second.

[38:07] >> Roll call vote please.

[38:11] [members voting]

[38:14] >> Thank you..

[38:16] >> Okay.

[38:18] [speaking spanish]

[38:36] I asked them if they would like to stay

[38:39] for the next presentation.

[38:40] More than welcome to.

[39:17] >> Good evening mayor and Council.

[39:18] Thank you for the opportunity to come before you tonight

[39:21] and talk about economic development in Windsor.

[39:24] >> Give us one second.

[39:28] >> No problem.

[39:38] >> As you know, on May 7th last year,

[39:39] the council adopted the Economic Development Strategic Plan.

[39:42] The town's first new economic development plan since 2008.

[39:46] Tonight is the first annual report on that plan.

[39:50] I will start off this evening with a reminder

[39:53] of why the plan was written and what it was meant to fix, then

[39:56] go through what happened in its first year

[39:59] under each of these five goals identified in the plan,

[40:02] and finished with eight priorities

[40:04] staff is proposing for year two.

[40:06] Everything I covered tonight is in the staff report

[40:09] in more detail, along with the attachments, the adopted plan,

[40:13] the grand economic impact report, and the status table

[40:17] covering every action in the plan.

[40:19] I will state at a summary level this evening,

[40:22] but I'm happy to take questions at the end or throughout.

[40:25] Before getting to the results, I want

[40:28] to remind the council how this plan came together.

[40:31] Because I think the process is really

[40:33] what makes the plan strong and gives it credibility.

[40:36] We spent about a year on outreach.

[40:39] We held two rounds of community and stakeholder meetings,

[40:42] ran a community survey in English and Spanish,

[40:45] sat down for one on one interviews with business owners

[40:48] and community leaders, and did extensive research

[40:51] on taxable sales, employment, commute patterns,

[40:55] household income, and housing.

[40:57] What we heard was consistent.

[41:00] People value Windsor's character,

[41:01] the town green, the schools, and our independent businesses.

[41:05] They also want a stronger tax base

[41:08] and investment in infrastructure and amenities.

[41:11] The council adopted the plan on May 25th with the vision

[41:15] statement, Windsor envisions a resilient sustainable community

[41:19] that upholds its identity as a vibrant family oriented

[41:22] and innovative town.

[41:24] Along with that vision statement,

[41:26] we structured the plan around five goals, all of which

[41:31] with subgoals and action items.

[41:32] The five overarching goals are how

[41:34] I've organized tonight's presentation.

[41:36] Attachment three shows the status of every action

[41:39] under each goal.

[41:40] If you want to know where any specific item stands,

[41:43] it is there.

[41:45] First, I wanted to start off with a few data points.

[41:49] Windsor has the highest median income

[41:52] in Sonoma County and the highest home ownership rate.

[41:55] At the same time, more than 85% of our employed residents

[42:00] commute out of town for work.

[42:03] And our taxable sales per resident are at about 29%

[42:06] below the county average.

[42:08] About a quarter of our residents retail spendings

[42:11] happen in other cities and nearly all of those cities

[42:14] collect a local sales tax that Windsor does not.

[42:17] Sales tax matters because it's our second largest general fund

[42:20] revenue source and it fell three years in a row from 2023

[42:24] through 2025.

[42:25] Thankfully the first quarter in 2026

[42:29] finally shows growth of 5.2%, but a lot of that

[42:33] came from online deliveries rather than local storefronts.

[42:35] Our tax base is concentrated.

[42:40] Home Depot and Walmart together generate

[42:42] about a quarter of our point of sale receipts and the top 25

[42:45] accounts generate about 70% of our sales tax revenue.

[42:50] Essentially our residents have the income, about the spending

[42:55] and jobs are leaving town.

[42:56] The plan is about trying to bring back

[42:59] both of those to Windsor.

[43:03] Before I get too far I wanted to spend a minute

[43:06] on what economic development actually

[43:07] is because the term covers a lot of ground.

[43:10] The way I describe it is economic development

[43:12] is creating the conditions where businesses

[43:15] choose to start, stay, and grow, and invest in Windsor.

[43:20] The private sector makes the investments.

[43:21] Our job is to create the conditions

[43:24] and build the relationships to make that investment happen.

[43:28] In practice most of the work is helping businesses.

[43:32] Retention visits, workshops, connecting owners to capital,

[43:36] working on transitions when a business closes

[43:38] so the space does not sit empty.

[43:40] The business concierge service is a key part of that.

[43:43] When a project comes in, one staff person

[43:46] pulls planning, public works, fire, and building

[43:49] together so the applicant is not navigating town hall

[43:52] on their own.

[43:53] A few things to keep in mind as we look at the results.

[43:57] Projects run on a long clock.

[43:59] A hotel or manufacturing expansion

[44:02] commonly takes 3 to 7 years from the first conversation

[44:04] to opening day.

[44:05] A lot of that work is confidential while active.

[44:10] I report the attraction pipeline in the aggregate

[44:13] and can brief council through appropriate channels

[44:15] if you have further questions.

[44:17] Also none of this work is done alone.

[44:21] The partners on this slide and every department in Town Hall

[44:24] are essential to this work.

[44:26] Finally, one more note before the goals, what follows

[44:31] are examples and highlights and are not

[44:33] meant to be a complete inventory of the work done this year.

[44:37] Jumping right into the goals, goal one

[44:41] is supporting businesses that we already have in Windsor.

[44:44] Windsor has 1047 active business licenses, about 1 in 7 of those

[44:50] is someone running a business out of their home

[44:52] or what we call home occupation permits.

[44:55] The core of the work is knowing our businesses well.

[44:58] Well enough to help before a problem becomes a closure.

[45:03] This year staff did retention visits and check ins

[45:07] across every commercial district in town.

[45:09] We also launched the town's first business confidence survey

[45:13] in February, which will now give us

[45:16] an annual read on how our businesses are doing with data

[45:18] rather than a series of anecdotes.

[45:21] We brought the Sbdc, our small Business Development Center

[45:25] Capital summit to Windsor and put more than 30 owners

[45:28] in the room with Small Business Administration Lenders, seven

[45:31] banks, and community Lenders.

[45:33] We also ran workshops in English and Spanish,

[45:36] including AI for business, green businesses, and the chambers

[45:40] Latinos Exitos.

[45:41] I'm sure I mispronounced that.

[45:44] Sorry.

[45:44] In June we launched the Keep it Local Windsor campaign

[45:48] with the Chamber of Commerce.

[45:50] More than 60 businesses joined within the first couple of weeks

[45:52] and has continued to grow.

[45:54] You can see the branding on storefronts

[45:57] around town, on wayfinding signs in downtown, and on the town

[46:02] vehicles.

[46:02] The campaign also runs a steady social media presence

[46:07] with regular posts featuring Windsor businesses

[46:10] and the simple message.

[46:11] Shop here and support local businesses.

[46:13] This is an effort to combat the spending that

[46:16] leaves the town to other cities and remind people to support

[46:19] our local businesses.

[46:20] A couple of examples of business transitions that I wanted

[46:24] to highlight, when Cafe Noto closed,

[46:27] staff worked with the property owner --

[46:31] opened in that space within weeks.

[46:33] Flagship taproom opened as Rough Draft.

[46:36] Bella Cano became Drewseni Winery.

[46:38] Meditation just reopened as Bienvenüe.

[46:41] And after years of sitting vacant,

[46:42] the former Windsor brewery space is now dispersal owned.

[46:47] A live music venue from the local team behind Grata.

[46:51] I'm sure you probably saw some of the social media posts

[46:53] about that opening.

[46:55] It looked like a good time.

[46:57] We currently have a couple of vacancies in the downtown.

[47:00] We're actively working on filling.

[47:02] We're a little bit more on that later.

[47:05] Goal two is the tools and policies

[47:09] that position Windsor for investment.

[47:11] This year that meant rebuilding downtown parking

[47:15] for the smart era with time limits across 97 public spaces

[47:19] in Emily Rose lot.

[47:21] Those changes required working closely

[47:23] with the police department, Sonoma County Transit,

[47:25] who jointly owns the, as well as downtown businesses.

[47:28] We're exploring an enhanced infrastructure financing

[47:31] district as a way to fund infrastructure

[47:34] around town such as the Errata Lane on ramp,

[47:38] which would open up the northern area of town

[47:41] for more commercial activity.

[47:44] The stationary plan update is led by Community department.

[47:51] It is a $1.2 million plant that they have secured.

[47:54] I am working along with them on that project

[47:56] and I'm very excited about the opportunities

[47:58] this plan could create.

[47:59] We had a really productive meeting today.

[48:02] We also researched what a downtown entertainment

[48:06] zone would look like.

[48:07] This is under new state law, with a policy --

[48:11] I'll be coming with policy options to the council

[48:13] this fall.

[48:14] We implemented a customer relationship management software

[48:19] or CRM, so our communications with businesses are tracked

[48:23] and problems get spotted early.

[48:25] We can look up the issues across various businesses

[48:28] and interactions.

[48:29] Staff also worked on completing analysis behind the November

[48:33] revenue measure, building the physical case comparisons

[48:36] to neighboring cities, and more than 30 briefings

[48:41] with service clubs, community groups, and employee

[48:45] associations.

[48:46] The example on the right of the screen

[48:49] shows the concierge services working

[48:51] the way it is supposed to.

[48:53] Shimizu Saki came to us with an idea.

[48:57] Staff discussed their business plan, zoning,

[48:59] and available sites.

[49:00] They received their business license in February,

[49:02] state brewing license in June, and the tasting bar opens

[49:05] in the business park behind Home Depot in December.

[49:10] Goal three is attraction.

[49:12] This is the area where I most limited with what

[49:15] I can share publicly because companies treat site searches

[49:17] as competitively sensitive.

[49:19] Speaking in aggregate, staff worked active site inquiries

[49:23] this year across general merchandise, grocery,

[49:27] quick service, and fast food restaurant,

[49:29] and auto dealership, indoor youth and training

[49:32] facilities, beverage production, hospitality among others.

[49:36] We submitted our sites to four confidential state manufacturing

[49:40] searches through Gobi's.

[49:42] That is the Governor's Office for Economic Development.

[49:44] And we developed opportunity Sites database and attraction

[49:48] marketing materials so we could respond

[49:50] to inquiries both quickly and professionally.

[49:53] One story I can tell is about the Northern Gateway.

[49:57] Staff spent almost two years building a relationship

[49:59] with the family that has owned over 20 acres fronting highway

[50:04] one.

[50:05] They've owned it for decades.

[50:07] We answered questions about the zoning and the approval process,

[50:10] being straight with them about what development would take.

[50:13] This summer they decided the time

[50:15] is right to bring the property to market

[50:17] and it will be listed soon.

[50:19] This is one of the largest development opportunities

[50:21] in town and you'll definitely see that development

[50:24] as a year to priority.

[50:25] I also wanted to be straightforward about the nature

[50:29] of this work.

[50:30] Most recruitment conversations end with no.

[50:32] We recruit, for example in art gallery owner very hard

[50:37] this year.

[50:38] We met with her 4 or 5 times.

[50:40] We took her on a tour of downtown, introduced her

[50:42] to downtown business.

[50:43] I wanted to put her in one of the vacant roost sites.

[50:48] However we lost out to the city of Sonoma.

[50:51] She chose to locate there.

[50:53] The response to that is to keep the pipeline full.

[50:56] And so we can continue to land those spaces

[50:59] as businesses come forward.

[51:02] Goal four is promoting Windsor's identity.

[51:07] The flagship for this is Levi's Gran Fondo and the partnership

[51:11] with Bike Monkey.

[51:13] This year's event has generated $1.89 million

[51:16] in local economic output.

[51:19] Up from 1.75 million the year before.

[51:23] The live broadcast of the event put Windsor

[51:25] in front of an audience in 77 countries

[51:28] and we were able to run a Windsor commercial

[51:31] during that live broadcast, which is up on Windsor website.

[51:35] 97% of the surveyed riders came from outside Windsor

[51:39] and 30% of them stayed overnight here.

[51:42] For the first time ever, every rider meal

[51:45] came from Windsor restaurants.

[51:47] Lopez Diner, the Himalayan, Caseys American kitchen,

[51:51] and kin each prepared post rider meals.

[51:54] Several of the restaurants reported

[51:56] it was their busiest day ever.

[51:57] Attachment to two of the report has the full economic impact

[52:02] analysis.

[52:02] On the marketing side, the hot Shop local campaign

[52:08] ran in print and online.

[52:10] This is a printed online ad on the right there.

[52:16] The campaign earned almost a million impressions

[52:18] at about half the industry cost per click.

[52:21] So we got a lot of attention and people

[52:24] did click on that to learn more.

[52:26] We also rebuilt the Windsor web presence

[52:29] with the new downtown page and a new hero video,

[52:32] introducing the town.

[52:34] And I hold monthly time with Tim events

[52:37] with the chambers, Chamber of Commerce

[52:39] so business owners and the community

[52:41] can sit down and talk to me about their concerns

[52:43] about the town and economic development in general.

[52:48] Goal five is quality of life.

[52:51] Of the five goals, this is the one

[52:53] that looks the least like traditional economic

[52:55] development.

[52:55] There's no recruitment here, no marketing.

[52:58] It is the work of making Windsor a place

[53:00] where people want to live, shop, and do business.

[53:03] One example is the Shiloh Center.

[53:05] It is our highest sales tax district,

[53:09] but it's also our most persistent safety

[53:11] and maintenance concern.

[53:12] The center is divided among roughly ten separate owners

[53:15] so there is no single landlord to call

[53:18] and there was not a good market in place

[53:21] for the oversight and maintenance of the common areas.

[53:25] So staff has written letters to every owner

[53:28] and built relationships where we could.

[53:31] Organize a business safety meeting

[53:33] for the Chief of police, which included

[53:35] the discussion of the potential on site only substation.

[53:40] I want to be honest.

[53:43] Progress has been slow out there.

[53:45] Walmart has made significant esthetic improvements

[53:48] alongside their remodel.

[53:49] The water tower and monument signs were repainted

[53:52] and new tenant panels were put in.

[53:54] Brookwood will only go so far.

[53:56] And with some of these owners.

[53:59] So staff is working through the legal tools

[54:02] the town may have to require the investment in the Center's

[54:06] commerce.

[54:07] Downtown by working closely with the town Village Association

[54:12] as they dealt with trash issues and supported enhancements

[54:15] such as sidewalk cleaning and holiday lights.

[54:20] This slide is hard news.

[54:22] County wide spending was essentially--

[54:25] county wide travel spending was flat last year at.

[54:29] Occupancy tax collections or Tot are still below their 2022 peak.

[54:34] Revenue per person or revenue per room

[54:38] or RevPAR as they call it in the industry

[54:40] is slipping for exactly the type of midscale and independent

[54:43] hotels that Windsor has.

[54:45] So it is up quite a bit for those high end hotels,

[54:48] but in the middle of the market it is slipping pretty quickly.

[54:52] Visitor traffic is still steady enough

[54:56] to support restaurants and tasting rooms and shops,

[54:58] but it does not make the construction

[55:00] of a new hotel financially feasible at this time.

[55:04] This is the backdrop for a couple of our lodging projects.

[55:08] As you know the 135 room hotel is halted after its financing

[55:13] collapsed under higher interest rates and construction costs.

[55:16] The project alone was projected to bring in 600,000 to $1

[55:20] million per year in occupancy tax.

[55:23] The Errata Hotel site is on the market.

[55:26] And the Holiday Inn ownership filed chapter 11 in June.

[55:31] The hotel is open and operating and being

[55:35] sold through the court process.

[55:37] On the employment side the Shiloh Business Park is up

[55:41] 480,000ft² of approved light industrial is through its

[55:45] approvals, but it has not broken ground.

[55:47] I stay in regular touch with Tim Goodman and Associates

[55:50] about this project.

[55:52] It is the largest block of new employment space

[55:54] that we have had in decades.

[55:57] I was really excited to build a pipeline of businesses.

[56:01] And for our employment and also potentially for sales tax.

[56:07] So hopefully the market will be able to move

[56:11] that project forward over the next year or two.

[56:13] These conditions are set by interest rates and the lodging

[56:18] market's.

[56:18] Things that we don't necessarily control here in town,

[56:22] but a year two priorities really focus

[56:25] on trying to address what we can control.

[56:29] Moving on to those year two priorities,

[56:32] staff proposes organizing the year around eight priorities.

[56:35] Each of these traces back to actions

[56:37] that the Council adopted in the plan.

[56:40] Together they are sized for Division one

[56:43] working through partners that we can realistically deliver.

[56:46] I say we because I just don't like

[56:48] saying I, I, I all the time.

[56:52] So I'm going to say we and staff.

[56:54] The division is me, but I think you guys know that.

[56:57] The northern gateway and retail attraction

[57:00] sits at the top of the list because broadening the sales tax

[57:04] base is a core purpose of this plan in large format

[57:08] retailer at the gateway would do more

[57:09] for the tax base than any other opportunity currently

[57:12] in the pipeline.

[57:13] The lodging pipeline, the Shiloh corridor, the stationary plan,

[57:18] and the EIFD, each go directly at something you just saw

[57:23] on the development issue slide.

[57:25] Two of the priorities invest in the businesses we already have.

[57:29] Institutionalizing the business retention work

[57:32] so it continues happening on a regular basis

[57:36] and building out our database, and then

[57:39] putting home based businesses on a path to grow,

[57:42] looking at our rules and regulations around them

[57:44] and seeing if we can address some things to help them grow

[57:47] in their home until it is time for them to find a proper brick

[57:52] and mortar location.

[57:54] And let's see.

[57:57] I think that's it for now.

[58:00] The recommendation tonight is to receive the report

[58:02] and give staff feedback on your year two priorities.

[58:07] Before I close, I want to say thank you to the Council

[58:10] for supporting this plan and economic development

[58:12] as well as thank you to all of the partners that

[58:14] helped make this work happen.

[58:16] So I'm happy to answer any of your questions.

[58:20] >> We will start with questions.

[58:22] Does anyone have questions for staff

[58:26] before I redeem it up to the public?

[58:34] >> Thank you so much for the presentation.

[58:36] For next year's Granfondo, are you

[58:40] planning to do the same plan with the restaurants?

[58:43] >> Yes, I am.

[58:44] I'm working on that contract right now

[58:46] and I'm going to write it into the contract.

[58:48] >> Thank you.

[58:50] >> I'm so glad to hear they're coming back.

[58:53] I guess the contract has to be signed.

[58:56] I have a question.

[58:59] Regarding McClellan drive hotel is halted,

[59:01] can you expand on that at all?

[59:04] >> So I speak with that developer on a regular basis.

[59:08] He's put the hotel up for sale.

[59:11] It's not sold.

[59:13] He still controls it.

[59:15] He still has all of its permits.

[59:19] So it could move forward.

[59:21] The hotel could sell and another development

[59:24] could bring that entitled project forward.

[59:27] He, the current developer could bring that entitled project

[59:30] forward.

[59:31] Or we have encouraged them to go back to the drawing table

[59:34] and come back to the town with the project

[59:37] that they think they can build, which

[59:39] is the five story hotel with surface parking

[59:42] rather than underground parking.

[59:44] That was never approved by this council.

[59:46] And so what we have heard is that project is

[59:50] much more financially feasible.

[59:53] So when the market turns, I want to have

[59:56] that project ready to go, not going through an approval

[1:00:00] process that would take time because as we have seen,

[1:00:04] there are certain windows in which you

[1:00:06] can build these projects.

[1:00:07] And the cost of construction, the cost of borrowing money,

[1:00:13] and market demand all need to line up

[1:00:16] in order for it to get built.

[1:00:17] >> Thank you.

[1:00:18] Any other questions?

[1:00:20] I'll go ahead and open it up to the public.

[1:00:23] Any member of the public wishing to speak on this item

[1:00:25] may approach the podium.

[1:00:29] Seeing none, we are going to close the public comment

[1:00:34] testimony and bring it back to the Council

[1:00:37] for any comments or discussion or recommendations, feedback.

[1:00:42] Who would like to start?

[1:00:49] >> When I first got into office here,

[1:00:51] the first person I talked to was Tim.

[1:00:55] Because it was the most important --

[1:00:58] it was the most importance to me.

[1:01:01] I haven't actually talked to you very much since then

[1:01:04] because I know you're working so hard on what you are doing.

[1:01:07] And so I really appreciate the consistent diligence

[1:01:10] towards your goals.

[1:01:12] And I support you 100%.

[1:01:15] Thank you very much for the report.

[1:01:22] >> Just some comments, Tim.

[1:01:25] I think everybody on the council is

[1:01:27] aware of how important it is that economic development,

[1:01:34] that we see movement so the town can thrive.

[1:01:38] Tried to give thought to how does that happen?

[1:01:41] Where does it happen?

[1:01:43] When we have the discussion about the property

[1:01:46] behind the gas station at Shiloh and the discussion

[1:01:54] about the possibility of a big box with the removal of the gas

[1:01:59] station or an exemption to the gas station ban.

[1:02:01] That was not necessarily about gas stations,

[1:02:05] but about getting that kind of economic boost that we

[1:02:11] would think would stop some of the retail leakage.

[1:02:17] It's incredible.

[1:02:17] When you gave us the stats, we have the highest income

[1:02:22] and we are spending the least in the county the reason for that I

[1:02:29] guess is we just don't have the availability of the goods

[1:02:33] that people need, and also I think you made the point,

[1:02:38] people are working outside the town.

[1:02:40] When you leave work, you tend to do your errands.

[1:02:45] And if the errands work better in the place

[1:02:51] you work then the place you live, then

[1:02:52] you shop at the place you get the better result.

[1:02:55] In terms of planning and how that economic development

[1:03:00] we are seeing development plans for the property

[1:03:06] north of Oliver's, and how will that affect the downtown's

[1:03:12] attractiveness, and also I gave some thought to the Richardson

[1:03:21] Apartment project downtown.

[1:03:22] That one again seemed like it is not going to pencil out.

[1:03:28] We're seeing a lot of developments

[1:03:31] when the bottom line is even though they are approved

[1:03:33] and they have spent the money and they

[1:03:34] have got their approvals, now they are just not penciling out.

[1:03:39] The Richardson properly from what I have talked

[1:03:42] to the developer, that seems to be he would like the town to --

[1:03:47] if we could help him, he would like to and maybe it would

[1:03:51] pencil out.

[1:03:51] But again, we don't have that kind of-- we might have $1

[1:03:56] million or $500,000, but we don't have the kind of money

[1:03:59] that they are looking for.

[1:04:01] He did make a presentation downtown

[1:04:04] to not do the project that was approved,

[1:04:08] the apartments with the commercial.

[1:04:10] Some kind of high end three story condos

[1:04:13] that would look different than the downtown.

[1:04:15] That was pretty much rejected by the Planning Commission.

[1:04:18] When we saw it, we didn't have a whole lot of interest in it.

[1:04:23] And he didn't even come in.

[1:04:25] He presented to the Planning commission,

[1:04:27] but he didn't present to the town council.

[1:04:30] Looking At that, rather than having an empty lot, which

[1:04:35] we seem to have a significant amount of empty lots

[1:04:38] in the downtown corridor as well as other places,

[1:04:42] I think we have to take a better look at it

[1:04:45] in terms of that project.

[1:04:47] It may have attracted Airbnb's.

[1:04:50] We know we don't like Airbnb's in the residential.

[1:04:54] I think we might like them in mixed use

[1:04:57] because they generate TOT.

[1:05:00] If we can generate significant TOT if they rent for $2,000

[1:05:07] a weekend and things like that.

[1:05:08] I suspect that maybe I would be looking at other opportunities

[1:05:13] to generate not just tax but to generate interest and people

[1:05:19] downtown.

[1:05:20] SO I know we'll be looking at the development--

[1:05:24] I think we will anyway.

[1:05:26] And is that what we want?

[1:05:28] I know that's not what the current approved plan is.

[1:05:33] The changes and the types of things that I think we

[1:05:40] need to look at.

[1:05:41] Bad news, I talked with you a little bit

[1:05:45] about it on Facebook today.

[1:05:47] The billiard parlor--

[1:05:50] >> Rocket Cues.

[1:05:52] >> The nicest couple invested.

[1:05:54] It must have been two generations of life savings

[1:05:58] it seems like.

[1:06:00] I don't know if anyone will take that over.

[1:06:04] But I can't imagine anyone having more desire.

[1:06:09] So thank you for the report.

[1:06:12] I read it and I will read it over and over

[1:06:14] to try to make heads or tails of how we implement it and assist

[1:06:18] you in implementing it.

[1:06:21] >> Vice Mayor.

[1:06:23] >> Thank you so much.

[1:06:24] I know you have put so much work into our economic plan

[1:06:28] and also bring it to fruition.

[1:06:30] I'm super excited about it and I think

[1:06:32] you've done a wonderful job on all the work you've

[1:06:34] presented tonight.

[1:06:36] I'm trying to bring Windsor to everyone's mind,

[1:06:40] and that they come here and that they

[1:06:43] bring their businesses here and build and do

[1:06:46] the things that we need.

[1:06:47] We have said over and over that we have a budget problem here

[1:06:50] and economic development is the way

[1:06:51] that we really want to do that.

[1:06:53] And so I'm super excited about this Northern Gateway

[1:06:57] property coming out.

[1:06:59] I really cannot wait to hear what you have planned and who

[1:07:05] you've been talking to to try to bring that to be a development

[1:07:09] that people will stop into Windsor because they can see

[1:07:12] from their freeway.

[1:07:12] And so instead of bypassing Windsor,

[1:07:14] hopefully they will come in to Windsor and shop.

[1:07:19] I wanted to just suggest that maybe we

[1:07:23] have an equal chart that shows the businesses in Santa Rosa.

[1:07:27] If people are going to a business Santa Rosa

[1:07:29] to shop, what would be an equal business in Windsor

[1:07:31] they could spend their money on here?

[1:07:32] We could put that on the website or put that out to the chamber

[1:07:35] so that people see, oh, if this is

[1:07:39] where I'm going in Santa Rosa, where

[1:07:40] can I find that in Windsor?

[1:07:41] And choose to spend their money here in Windsor instead.

[1:07:46] And I know that Walmart has theft issues.

[1:07:50] I would absolutely love to see a substation in that parking lot

[1:07:55] because I think that it would reduce a lot of crime and things

[1:07:59] that happen there.

[1:08:02] Potentially when Walmart would lock their items

[1:08:06] because I know sometimes I will walk out of Walmart

[1:08:10] because I can't wait for the staff to open up

[1:08:12] whatever it is I need.

[1:08:13] And so if I just don't have the time to stand there and wait

[1:08:16] for them to come and do it, then I'm just like --

[1:08:18] I literally don't have time to continue shopping here.

[1:08:21] But if it could return back to the way

[1:08:23] it was before because there's some other options for them,

[1:08:26] maybe we can talk to them about trying

[1:08:28] to figure out other options so that they don't keep

[1:08:31] their items so locked up that people

[1:08:32] will turn around and choose not to go there.

[1:08:34] Thank you so much.

[1:08:35] I look forward to this again.

[1:08:37] I would also like to hope and support

[1:08:40] that if we can find some convention.

[1:08:46] I know that was a really big push in Santa Rosa.

[1:08:50] Santa Rosa was able to get some really good businesses

[1:08:53] because they were actively going to these conventions

[1:08:55] and having audience to be able to pitch to to get

[1:08:57] their businesses to come in.

[1:08:58] I'd like to support that in the future

[1:09:00] if there's something that we can find

[1:09:02] for you to be able to do that or some staff members

[1:09:04] to go together and try to get more

[1:09:06] economic development in town.

[1:09:07] So thank you.

[1:09:09] >> Yeah, thank you for the presentation.

[1:09:12] One recommendation that I would like is, so it was a year ago

[1:09:17] that we did these goals.

[1:09:19] My hope is that you're going to come back, especially

[1:09:22] with the new council next year, and revisit the goals

[1:09:27] and adjust them as needed, hopefully.

[1:09:31] And then you mentioned the Emily Rose parking lot.

[1:09:36] As a regular smart rider these days,

[1:09:40] I'm noticing that we put in the 24 hour limit parking.

[1:09:44] And I am seeing cars that just park

[1:09:47] in one spot and then the next 24 hours move to another spot.

[1:09:51] So if there is any way we can figure out a code

[1:09:56] I don't know what it would be or if it even

[1:10:00] exists, like they need to leave for a day.

[1:10:03] Anyway, we have to figure that out.

[1:10:06] I can't wait for Windsor to be able to manage these spaces

[1:10:09] better for our businesses downtown so they are definitely

[1:10:15] -- people are taking smart train and parking right there at.

[1:10:21] They see it every day.

[1:10:22] Other than that, I'm excited to hear that you are

[1:10:26] working with lease companies.

[1:10:28] You talk to them and you're probably

[1:10:30] going to be talking to Rick and Cues to get active.

[1:10:39] I agree with Vice Mayor regarding the conventions.

[1:10:42] Don't be afraid to start small.

[1:10:44] There was a Pokemon convention in San Francisco.

[1:10:48] It could be so nice if we could h add a mini version here

[1:10:53] in San Francisco.

[1:10:53] Find out what the larger Bay area is doing

[1:10:55] and maybe do a smaller version either the weekend

[1:10:58] before, the weekend after to try to feed off their energy.

[1:11:06] Something to think about.

[1:11:07] Thank you so much.

[1:11:08] Appreciate it.

[1:11:17] We are to the item 14, the individual council member

[1:11:22] reports, comments, including meetings or conferences.

[1:11:28] Council member Leep or Salmon, would one of you like to start?

[1:11:32] >> Sure, I will start.

[1:11:33] I have been mentioning SCTCA and the bus schedules

[1:11:37] and the last mile and all that sort of thing.

[1:11:39] I met with Emily Betts, the transit system manager for SCT

[1:11:52] and a planner for her, and said that I still wanted

[1:11:56] to have the bus 66 run later.

[1:11:59] But right after that meeting, what I did was

[1:12:02] I said, heck, let's just go ride bus 66.

[1:12:08] You asked me have I ever ridden it.

[1:12:12] I hopped on it.

[1:12:13] An hour later, I was back home.

[1:12:17] And I went by Walmart, Safeway, Raley's, town hall,

[1:12:23] Oliver's, library, the high school,

[1:12:25] and a number of other important places to me.

[1:12:28] It it's really quite a fantastic bus.

[1:12:30] However, it doesn't run early enough,

[1:12:34] and it actually might be fast enough.

[1:12:37] But there's an entire section of Windsor,

[1:12:39] two big sections of Windsor, probably 40% of Windsor

[1:12:44] that it does not really go that close to a.

[1:12:47] One of the main places I'm thinking of

[1:12:50] is the far ends of the tree section

[1:12:53] on the far side of Pleasant Oak and that way out to the east.

[1:12:59] And then there are vast areas in either of the sides.

[1:13:03] But I was pleasantly surprised.

[1:13:06] Now my challenge is bus 60.

[1:13:10] I have discovered that it may surprise me some things

[1:13:13] and I want to see if I can make that work.

[1:13:16] So the bus stop for 66 is about 200 yards from my house.

[1:13:24] >> Nice.

[1:13:25] Good job.

[1:13:27] >> Quite exciting.

[1:13:29] >> Council member Salmon.

[1:13:32] >> I don't have anything to report.

[1:13:34] >> Vice mayor.

[1:13:35] >> I attended the Sonoma County Airport Commission meeting.

[1:13:38] The airport is going to be expanding their rental car

[1:13:43] parking.

[1:13:44] They have a lot of changes to how

[1:13:46] the parking is going to be changed coming up in the future.

[1:13:49] So that will extend all the way up --

[1:13:53] moving some of the rental cars and expanding some

[1:13:55] of the parking.

[1:13:56] That's exciting for the future.

[1:13:59] Also being moved to push forward to the Board of Supervisors

[1:14:04] a voluntary quiet zone for the Sonoma County Airport, which

[1:14:11] will give some guidance to carriers as they come

[1:14:15] into Windsor and ways that they can follow

[1:14:18] some voluntary guidelines to try to make sure they

[1:14:20] are doing best practices to keep the flights

[1:14:23] into and out of Windsor as quiet as possible.

[1:14:25] What they would do is if we're able to implement this program,

[1:14:29] they would get a report card on how well they adhere

[1:14:32] to those rules, and then we can decide

[1:14:35] who they're going to fly with based on some of that.

[1:14:38] And there has been-- these programs implemented

[1:14:42] across the United States.

[1:14:43] And they have a pretty good buy in from the carriers.

[1:14:48] And they participate and really do

[1:14:51] try to reduce the sound coming in and out.

[1:14:54] We're also trying to work on some other ways of having

[1:14:56] the FAA change some of the flight paths

[1:14:59] because currently out in Occidental in some areas just

[1:15:04] south of town, they are really hit with a lot of airport noise.

[1:15:07] So trying to work to reduce some of the airport noise.

[1:15:10] I know I live in Quintana and a lot of airport noise there.

[1:15:14] And trying to work on some of the flights

[1:15:16] and how we can do that.

[1:15:17] Also tend to reach for home meeting

[1:15:19] and still working on trying to engage with those

[1:15:23] who are experiencing homelessness in town,

[1:15:25] trying to work on continuing to get

[1:15:27] those services available to them.

[1:15:29] I know there was a significant cleanup in the Walmart parking

[1:15:32] lot in Home Depot parking lot.

[1:15:34] So I do appreciate some of those who had decided to stay there.

[1:15:39] And their homes or moved along because that

[1:15:44] is not an approved place for mobile homes to be.

[1:15:46] That's not approved parking and that's not

[1:15:48] what the businesses are wanting there.

[1:15:50] They were moved along and I appreciate that.

[1:15:52] We did meet with a rep from Adam Schiff s office

[1:15:55] and were able to give some of our concerns for Windsor

[1:16:00] and Housing and water and some of the things

[1:16:04] that we've been really concerned about here

[1:16:06] in Windsor and for the future.

[1:16:07] He definitely had an open ear and offered any help

[1:16:10] that we can on the federal level for the town of Windsor.

[1:16:15] >> Perfect.

[1:16:16] I attended -- I apologize.

[1:16:18] I cannot find my notes for the Sonoma County Mayor Council

[1:16:22] member legislative Committee.

[1:16:23] But I will ask the town clerk, can you

[1:16:26] forward the council the email that I

[1:16:27] signed after that meeting?

[1:16:28] That was one of the topics.

[1:16:31] I think it was regarding utility.

[1:16:35] I can't remember.

[1:16:36] I apologize for that.

[1:16:38] I can't find my notes.

[1:16:40] And then yesterday I attended a vigil

[1:16:44] that was put on by the pole community

[1:16:50] nonprofit in Santa Rosa.

[1:16:52] They did a vigil for all the victims and the families

[1:16:57] that are dealing with the devastation in Nepal.

[1:17:01] So I'd actually like to end today's meeting with my thoughts

[1:17:06] going out to them.

[1:17:07] But it was really nice vigil.

[1:17:09] There were three mayors who attended from Santa Rosa

[1:17:13] obviously and Buena Park.

[1:17:18] And that is it for me.

[1:17:22] Moving on to council requests for future council items.

[1:17:27] Go ahead.

[1:17:28] Oh you don't have any, Council member Leep.

[1:17:34] Vice mayor, anything?

[1:17:36] I think I'm good also.

[1:17:40] Thank you, everybody.

[1:17:42] And then moving on to our announcement

[1:17:46] for our closed session, let's have a council roll call please.

[1:17:57] [members voting]

[1:18:07] >> Thank you.

[1:18:08] >> I want to read what we are going into conference first

[1:18:11] before I say public comment.

[1:18:13] I feel like it's backwards, but I

[1:18:15] feel like it's the correct way.

[1:18:16] Would anyone in the public comment or conferences

[1:18:20] are regarding existing litigation with bourbon

[1:18:25] and Bertie's investment versus the town of Windsor and Sonoma

[1:18:28] County Superior Court.

[1:18:29] Then we have another existing litigation

[1:18:33] with evergreen Windsor NHP, LLC, development Commission, town

[1:18:41] of Windsor, also Sonoma County Superior Court.

[1:18:43] The third existing litigation with evergreen Windsor MH

[1:18:47] p with the Town of Windsor United States Court of Appeal,

[1:18:50] and there's an anticipated litigation significant exposure

[1:18:54] of litigation pursuant to California Government Code

[1:18:57] section 54956.9 D two, one potential case.

[1:19:01] If there's anyone in the public that

[1:19:03] wants to make comment regarding these items,

[1:19:05] you may approach the podium.

[1:19:23] >> Mayor, Council members Cancellara.

[1:19:29] I wanted to make a quick comment on 15.3.

[1:19:32] Council has a interest in building 600.

[1:19:35] I pay very close attention to what happens with this case.

[1:19:38] We just spent considerable time tonight

[1:19:40] talking about economic developments.

[1:19:42] We talked about attracting businesses, retaining

[1:19:46] businesses, filling empty spaces,

[1:19:49] and encouraging property owners to reinvest in Windsor.

[1:19:52] Well, building 600 is economic development too.

[1:19:59] There's already a business there.

[1:20:00] There are employees there.

[1:20:01] There are customers walking through the doors every day.

[1:20:04] There's already been private investment in that building.

[1:20:06] And there could be considerably more

[1:20:09] if there were some certainty about its future.

[1:20:12] I understand there was litigation

[1:20:15] and I understand you can't discuss

[1:20:17] what happens in closed session.

[1:20:19] I'm not asking you to, but I do hope

[1:20:24] that when you go into that room tonight,

[1:20:26] this isn't looked at simply as a lawsuit that

[1:20:28] needs to be won or lost.

[1:20:30] The question should also be, what are we

[1:20:34] trying to accomplish with building 600?

[1:20:36] If the answer is economic development,

[1:20:39] then we already have something there with building on.

[1:20:42] If the goal is retaining businesses, and encouraging

[1:20:46] investment, and strengthening Windsor's commercial areas,

[1:20:50] then let's recognize when these things are already happening.

[1:20:54] Building 600 is not separate from economic development,

[1:20:58] discussion we just had.

[1:21:00] It is probably one of the best test --

[1:21:06] best tests of it tonight.

[1:21:09] Thank you.

[1:21:11] >> Anyone else from the public?

[1:21:12] Seeing none I will close the public comment

[1:21:16] and we will move into our closed session.

[1:21:19] Thank you, everybody.

[1:21:22]

Town Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript