$1 Stone joins Planning Commission News, Page 2
The Express celebrates 141 years Features, Page 1
Volume 141, Number 52 — Locally-owned since 1884
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, January 29, 2025
The hometown paper of Maria Rosa Herrera
Wroten named 2024 Winters Citizen of the Year By Abigail Hofland Express correspondent When Carla Wroten arrives at Steady Eddy’s, it’s a familiar whirlwind. On a Wednesday afternoon in January, she smiled as she walked in the door, greeted employees and quickly set down purse and paperwork. Her delegation skills were on display moments later, when her son DJ piped up, “Mom, can I have a banana chocolate? I can make my own.” Wroten laughed and responded, “Do you want to make your sister’s too?” before confirming the idea with Angela, a consenting barista who seemed to have been through this routine before. With milkshakes
in motion, Wroten scoped out a workspace. She landed at her favorite one: the corner table. Wroten is this year’s Citizen of the Year, a recognition bestowed at the Winters District Chamber of Commerce’s annual Toast of Winters dinner and chosen each year by previous Citizen of the Year award recipients. She and her husband Jamell (Mel) have lived in Winters since 2010, when they moved here to raise their family. While maintaining strong connections to Vacaville through her family’s business, CAL INC, Wroten has grown new roots here. “We don’t have any family in this town, so
Miller returns to Winters
By Sonora Slater
Express staff writer
EXPRESS
After announcing his resignation from the Winters Police Department in October 2024 in order to accept a new position in Antioch, Chief John P. Miller has returned to the city of Winters effective Monday, Jan. 27. Details of his return have yet to be released, but interim City Manager Joe Gorton said that the recruitment for police chief was suspended upon news of his return. In City Manager Jeremy Craig’s weekly update email, he expressed excitement for Miller’s return on behalf of him and “the residents and staff who hold him in such high regard.” “We look forward to his leadership as he continues to build upon the strong
foundation he established during his previous tenure,” Craig said. He also took a moment to recognize Interim Police Chief Joseph M. Kreins’ service over the past several months. “We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Interim Chief Joe Kreins for his steadfast leadership and dedication during Chief Miller’s absence,” Craig said. “Chief Kreins has played a vital role in maintaining the high standards of service that our community expects and deserves.” The city council does not have to formally approve the appointment of a police chief. According to Gorton, hiring authority for all city staff (apart from the City Manager position) resides with the City Manager. In a previous Winters Express article about Chief Millers’ resignation, he called his time at the Winters PD “the highlight” of his career.
friends have become very close. A lot of it is centered around the shop,” she said. Wroten has owned Steady Eddy’s Coffee House for 11 years. She and Mel are the joint’s fourth owners. The couple is opposite in many ways, according to Wroten, but their strengths pair well. “What we have in common is we’re very good hosts, and we always want people to feel welcome,” Wroten said. Regulars at Steady Eddy’s are abundant and diverse, ranging from bikers to professors and college students. According to manager Lillian Writh, it’s these visitors that make the space so unique.
Classifieds ................... B-4 Community .................. A-2
See AWARD, Page 6
By Sonora Slater Express staff writer The first city council meeting of the new year included a robust discussion of a proposed ordinance that would introduce new regulations for food vendors in Winters, which ended with a decision to continue the conversation at the Feb. 18 meeting once more information can be gathered. Part of the complexity of the discussion for the planning commission and the city council can be attributed to confusion about terminology. There are essentially four types of vendors: Those who sell from a cart, stand or other non-motorized conveyance and stay in the same place to sell (like the local tamale stand), those who sell from a non-motorized conveyance and move around, only stopping to make a sale (like local ice cream push carts), those who sell from a motor vehicle in the same place, on
We at he r
private property for more than four hours in a day (food trucks), and those who sell from a motor vehicle while moving around on public streets (driving ice cream trucks). The original proposed resolution would set two caps: One on both types of non-motorized vendors, commonly referred to as sidewalk vendors, and one on both types of mobile vendors, commonly referred to as food truck vendors. It was suggested that each cap be set at eight, for a total of 16 food vendors in the city. The resolution previously came before the planning commission during two meetings in October and December where they discussed a potential cap on the number of mobile and sidewalk food vendors and establishing administrative fines for violations of the preexisting code or for vendors operating without a permit. After discussion,
Carla Wroten earned the title of Winters 2024 Citizen of the Year and will be recognized alongside other honorees at the Toast of Winters community awards event.
the commission recommended by a 4–1 vote that the council approve the fines for more effective code enforcement, but discard the cap. Council member Carol Scianna said that she was surprised the commission recommended no cap. Resident Kate Laddish during public comment who said she would love to see the council reconsider that decision, as well as suggesting they consider the map also included in the original resolution that suggested spacing the allowed vendors into four quadrants, so as to prevent crowding. Council member Jesse Loren shared a long list of questions about the resolution, from clarification on terminology, to why some of the mobile vehicle food vendors that do stay in one place are parked on public property, and whether that’s allowed despite not being an official category set out in the
ordinance, whether food trucks play franchise taxes, who is in charge of enforcing vendor regulations, and more. Some of these questions were discussed or answered during the meeting, while others were directed to the city staff in hopes that they can find the answers in the coming weeks. According to Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi, food vending vehicles parked on public property technically shouldn’t be allowed unless they have a conditional use permit, as previously determined by the council. However, while the code states that any use permits for food vendors parked in the same place for a length of time must go through the planning commission for approval, Biasi said he only remembers the Buckhorn BBQ food truck going through this process. Biasi said the
See VENDORS, Page 6
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Leaders share unified response to immigration enforcement changes
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By Crystal Apilado
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Editor-in-Chief
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Rain for week: 0.03 in. Season’s total: 9.58 in. Last sn. to date: 10.38 in.
Following the Nov. 5 general election and subsequent policy changes from the federal government, some Winters residents have expressed apprehension about the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeting
Sports ........................... B-5
Courtesy photo
Council discusses food vendor regulations, enforcement
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“Our regulars play a huge role in the shop. It’s very welcoming to see everyone come in,” Writh said. “I’m here saving up for college to do nursing, and I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities through letters of recommendations from regulars at the shop.” For her part, Wroten credits the Steady Eddy’s staff with creating a friendly communal atmosphere. She expects employees to provide top notch service with the highest standards of conduct. Her philosophy is simple. “I hire the right people,” Wroten said. Wroten’s leadership of Steady Eddy’s is the most public-facing dimension of her work,
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
undocumented people. Local leaders have responded with assurances, emphasizing their commitment to the safety, privacy, and well-being of all community members, regardless of immigration status. In early December, Interim Police Chief Joseph M. Kreins issued a detailed letter
clarifying the Winters Police Department’s adherence to the California Values Act (SB 54), which restricts local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement. “Our officers do not detain, question, or arrest someone solely to determine
See RESPONSE, Page 3
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