City Manager's Update | April 5, 2024

CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE

The City Manager's Update is a bi-weekly, digital publication, and includes current information and news, program and project updates, upcoming events, recruitment opportunities, and more!

To subscribe to receive this publication and other City information directly to your inbox, visit healdsburg gov/subscribe

To view previous issues, visit healdsburg.gov/cmupdate.

RESERVE FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR Jonah Brem

We would like to highlight the journey of Jonah Brem, who began his path in our fire services as a high school senior through the Explorer program By 2014, after turning 18, he advanced to a reserve firefighter position Over the last decade, Jonah has dedicated numerous hours to the Reserve Augmentation Program (RAP), joined strike teams across the state, and completed extensive training.

Last year, Jonah responded to 272 calls and filled in for B and C shifts, covering for colleagues out on injury This contribution is invaluable to our city and the fire department for several reasons, including maintaining our service levels without interruption and supporting the professional growth of our staff

On a personal note, Jonah married Michaela in 2022 and they welcomed their son Levi in January 2023. Jonah's story reflects his commitment to our community and his personal growth. We're proud to have him on our team.

CITY COUNCIL GOAL SETTING

Last week the City Council held their annual goal setting session at the Villa Chanticleer Annex where they discussed their upcoming Council goals for Fiscal Year 2024-25. These goals include streaming Council Meetings on YouTube, streamlining the process to watch Council meetings on the City website, formation of an Arts Commission and considering an amendment to the Growth Management Ordinance to name a few. The Council goals will return to Council at a future meeting for final review and adoption.

To view the Council’s current goals or to review past Council goals, visit https://healdsburg.gov/477/City-Council-Goals

JOIN THE PLANNING COMMISSION! help shape healdsburg

The City Council of the City of Healdsburg is seeking qualified applicants to fill three vacancies on the City of Healdsburg Planning Commission.

Members of the Planning Commission are required to:

Attend two meetings per month generally at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month

Reside within City limits of Healdsburg

Disclose economic interest as required by the Fair Political Reform Act and the Local Conflict of Interest Code

Complete the required AB 1234 Ethics Training Interested in applying?

Applications are available on the City’s website under Boards and Commissions, or by emailing rallan@healdsburg.gov.

POWER OUTAGE UPDATE

Sunday, March 31, 2024

On Sunday, March 31, 2024, the City of Healdsburg experienced a power outage to a large portion of Downtown Healdsburg. The power outage was caused by a bird that hit the power line. Thanks to our wonderful electric staff, the outage was limited to about an hour!

As a reminder, if you ever experience a loss of power, please contact our Utility response hotline at:

SavetheDate!

FITCH MOUNTAIN PARK & OPEN SPACE PRESERVE PUBLIC ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT & VILLA DOG PARK CELEBRATION!

Saturday, May 4th 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

PLEASE JOIN THE CITY OF HEALDSBURG AND CALIFORNIA SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE MIKE MCGUIRE IN CELEBRATING THE COMPLETION OF THE FITCH MOUNTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AND THE VILLA DOG PARK RENOVATION

CELEBRATION WILL INCLUDE AN OPENING CEREMONY, GUIDED HIKES OF FITCH MOUNTAIN, KIDS ACTIVITIES, LIVE MUSIC, AND A TAIL WAGGIN’ GOOD TIME!

MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!

BIRD BIKE UPDATE

We’ve recently received a number of questions about Healdsburg’s bike share pilot program related to cost, operations, and usage and wanted to provide an update on Bird.

In 2021, the City of Healdsburg received a federal grant to fund a pilot e-bike share program After review of multiple proposals, we ultimately selected Bird Rides Inc. as our provider and agreed to a three-year term for the pilot program. The grant of $250,000 plus another $40,000 of City funds cover all of the costs for all three years.

Due to the federal funding, Bird is not allowed to solicit sponsorships from or advertise for any businesses. The program started on November 11, 2022, but due to some early challenges the program was suspended through the winter and began in earnest in March of 2023 and is expected to end in early 2026.

Our prior bike share (Zagster) program required bikes to be returned to a formal station to end the ride. A station-only bike share reduces usage since a bike may not be near where a potential user and the rider’s destination may not be near a station. The current Bird program intentionally allows users to end their rides at their destination, provided the bike can be parked safely and in the public right of way.

This spreads the bikes throughout the City increasing ridership and providing important data on where people are starting and ending their rides. The map to the right shows where the bike rides have ended. Staff will be presenting usage data to City Council late in 2024 and will engage in a discussion on the pros and cons of the current program and, if the City elects to continue an ebike share program beyond the pilot period, what changes should be made. A future bike share provider could replace the grant funding with sponsorships or partnerships with local businesses along with adding advertising on bikes, station signs, and on operating application, if approved by Council. There may still be some level of City subsidy required to make a program financially sustainable.

In 2023, there were 3,808 individual rides totaling more than 5500 miles traveled Each one of those vehicular trips avoided is a reduction in green house gas emissions, and parking spaces not taken There have been occasionally periods of poor customer service, but Bird and City staff have resolved those issues, and the program is now running smoothly with very few complaints The major complaint of poor response of Bird to emails or calls has been improved with the creation of a City of Healdsburg specific email address which connects the resident directly with our local fleet manager.

RIDERSHIP TRENDS: END LOCATIONS

NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE

protecting public health and safety with reliable water and wastewater services

The City of Healdsburg’s Utility Department takes great pride in providing safe, high-quality water and wastewater services that are essential to your everyday life. In addition to basic sanitation needs, water is a shared community resource that gives us parks to play in and helps us grow food in our gardens. Delivering reliable, high-quality service you’re accustomed to requires careful analysis, planning, budgeting, and financial stewardship.

Investing in water and wastewater infrastructure is an essential community wide obligation.

Aging pipelines, drinking water wells, water distribution systems, wastewater collection and treatment systems, and critical capital projects demand regular maintenance, upgrades, and, at times, a complete overhaul

Neglecting these systems could lead to infrastructure failures resulting in more frequent service interruptions and compromised water quality. Additionally, the City continues to face new state regulatory requirements that necessitate additional capital improvements and higher operating costs.

Public water and wastewater utilities in California typically perform a Cost-ofService analysis, commonly known as a utility rate study, every three to five years to ensure customers fairly and equitably share in the cost to provide these services. The City last conducted a water and wastewater cost of service study in 2022, which established proposed rates over a five-year period However, the study did not anticipate recent historic inflation and significant and sustained water conservation. Since 2022, we have experienced lower water usage than projected, resulting in budget shortfalls that are not financially sustainable.

Following an updated analysis and review of the financial plans, the City is proposing water and wastewater rate adjustments through FY 2026-27. The Healdsburg City Council will consider proposed rates at a Public Hearing scheduled for Monday, May 6 at 6 p.m. In the last couple of weeks, you should have received a Notice of Public Hearing regarding water and wastewater rates. The notice summarizes the rates that would take effect on July 1, 2024, if approved.

Customer rates are the primary source of revenue necessary to operate and maintain these essential services. Like all consumer goods, our utility budgets have been impacted by inflation and rising costs. Plus, some of our water and sewer pipes and facilities are 50-100 years old, beyond their useful life, and in need of repairs and replacement. Rate revenue is necessary to keep our systems functioning reliably for the health of our community, and to assure safe and reliable water supplies now and into the future

Sincerely,

Terry Crowley | Utility Director

We encourage you to go to the website healdsburg.gov/ratestudy, for more information on the financial outlook, past City Council presentations, and the proposed rates.

HEALDSBURG COMMUNITY WALK

"Move! Healdsburg’s First Community Walk" On Sunday, April 7, 2024

This unique event will spotlight the Saggio Hills Affordable Housing project, offering attendees a chance to engage directly with the City’s Housing Director at the project site. For more information, visit our event page:

https://movehealdsburg.org/eve nts/2024-inaugural-communitywalk.

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024

Time: Assembly begins at 1:30 PM; the walk starts at 2:00 PM.

Location: Barbieri Brothers Park, 324 Bridle Path, Healdsburg, CA, 95448. What to Bring: Please bring a water bottle. Healthy snacks will be provided. This event is set to go forward, rain or shine.

April 21, 2024

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Healdsburg Plaza

RESERVA LA FECHA

¡festivaldelclima2024!

21 de abril de 2024

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Healdsburg Plaza

UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS

April 15, 2024

Budget Development Update

Downtown Housing Capacity Study

Sonoma County Waste Management AgencyMemorandum of Understanding

Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District (HTID) Annual Update

Inclusionary Housing Update

May 6, 2024

Annual Water Supply Update

2024 Utility Wildfire Mitigation Plan

Water and Wastewater Rates Public Hearing

Discussion and Direction Regarding Growth Management Ordinance (GMO) Options

Public Service Recognition Week Proclamation

May 20, 2024

FY2023-24 Quarter Three Financial Update

Council Subcommittee Selection for Planning

Commission Applicants

Introduction of the Model TT Fire Engine Update from the Sonoma County Library

NOTE: The schedule is tentative and subject to change pending final publication and posting of the City Council meeting agenda. Agendas can be found here. Interested