CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE Volume 23 | Issue 22 | November 3, 2023
THE CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE City Manager Jeff Kay
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.
Fire/Life Safety Emergencies 9-1-1 Water, Electric, Wastewater, Street Emergencies (707) 431-7000 Get Social! Click the icons below to follow us across platforms.
CITY OF HEALDSBURG | 401 GROVE STREET | HEALDSBURG, CA | 95448 (707) 431-3317 | healdsburg.gov
BIOSOLIDS DISPOSAL diesel to clean electricity
The Wastewater Treatment Plant moves a lot of biosolids (treatment process byproduct). Before, biosolids that were extracted while treating wastewater had to be placed in the dumpster using a diesel forklift and occupying staff time every 26 minutes. Now, we are getting the new conveyor belt set up to do this with less labor-intensity and using clean, renewable electricity. It’s a win-win!
Find out more about climate actions at the Wastewater Treatment Plant here: healdsburg.gov/444/Wastewater
ELECTRIC RATES
rate change
November 2023 For an average home, the new rates are expected to increase monthly electric bills by roughly $10.
5
This is the first increase in 5 years.
40% 40% cheaper than PG&E The new rates are still
and Sonoma Clean Power.
QUESTIONS? Phone
WHY ARE THE RATES INCREASING? In 2023, Healdsburg Electric carefully analyzed rates to determine necessary rate changes in order to continue reliable operations and electricity service. Your rate change will help cover increased energy, transmission, and materials costs, as well as important community projects to beautify your City and improve safety. These projects include: Seismic Retrofitting at the Badger Substation Utility Undergrounding along Grove Street Undergrounding portions of Healdsburg Avenue This rate change is not related to electrification or climate actions. The City continues to prepare for these activities but at this time they are not impacting customer rates.
WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
707-431-3307
CARE Program: 25% discount on electric bill for households at or below 80% area median income
In Person
Smart Living Healdsburg: Rebates on energy efficient products and appliances
401 Grove St., Healdsburg Email UtilityBilling@healdsburg.gov Learn More www.healdsburg.gov/electricrates
EV Discount: Monthly bill discount for EV drivers that switch to the Time of Use rate Free LEDs: Available at City Hall or in the Energy Toolkit at the Healdsburg Library To avoid increased bills, families could reduce energy usage by 1 or 2 kWh per day. Finding 4 old incandescent lightbulbs and replacing them with LEDs, could save 1 kWh per day.
TARIFAS ELECTRICAS cambio de tarifa Noviembre 2023 Para un hogar promedio, se espera que las nuevas tarifas aumenten las facturas eléctricas mensuales en aproximadamente $10.
5
Este es el primer aumento en 5 años.
40%
Las nuevas tarifas siguen siendo un 40% más baratas que PG&E y Sonoma Clean Power.
¿PREGUNTAS? Teléfono 707-431-3307 En Persona 401 Grove St., Healdsburg Correo Electrónico UtilityBilling@healdsburg.gov Aprender Más www.healdsburg.gov/electricrates
¿POR QUÉ AUMENTAN LAS TARIFAS?
En 2023, Healdsburg Electric analizó cuidadosamente las tarifas para determinar los cambios necesarios en las tarifas para continuar con operaciones y servicio de electricidad confiables. Su cambio de tarifa ayudará a cubrir el aumento de los costos de energía, transmisión y materiales, así como importantes proyectos comunitarios para embellecer su ciudad y mejorar la seguridad. Estos proyectos incluyen: Reforzamiento sísmico en la subestación Badger Subterranización de servicios públicos a lo largo de la calle Grove Subterranización en partes de Healdsburg Avenue Este cambio de tarifa no está relacionado con la electrificación ni con acciones climáticas. La Ciudad sigue preparándose para estas actividades, pero en este momento no afectan a las tarifas de los clientes.
¿QUÉ RECURSOS ESTÁN DISPONIBLES?
Programa de CARE: 25% de descuento en la factura de electricidad para hogares con un ingreso medio del área del 80% o menos Vivir Eficiente en Healdsburg: Reembolsos en productos y electrodomésticos eficientes Descuento de Vehículos Eléctricos: Descuento en la factura mensual para conductores de vehículos eléctricos que cambien a la tarifa por Tiempo de Uso Luces LED gratis: Disponible en el Ayuntamiento o en el Kit de Herramientas Energéticas de la Biblioteca de Healdsburg Para evitar un aumento en las facturas, las familias podrían reducir el uso de energía en 1 o 2 kWh por día. Encontrar 4 bombillas incandescentes viejas y reemplazarlas con LED podría ahorrar 1 kWh por día.
TURN OFF IRRIGATION to save water
Reminder: Please turn off your automatic irrigation as we head into the cooler and wetter months. Take advantage of the coming rains (and a rebate) by installing a rainwater capture system this Fall. Rebates available at $0.50 per gallon of storage. Find out more at: www.SmartLivingHealdsburg.org
TAKE THE SONOMA COUNTY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN SURVEY
Sonoma County Transportation Authority (SCTA) is currently creating the Sonoma County Active Transportation Plan (ATP). Active transportation refers to “human-powered” modes of travel, like walking, biking, or using mobility devices.
The ATP will focus on increasing access to active transportation modes by planning for infrastructure projects and supportive programs. SCTA is partnering with Cloverdale, Cotati, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol, Sonoma, and Unincorporated Sonoma County to create a community-informed Active Transportation Plan.The planning team needs your input to identify needs, barriers, and opportunities to ensure a successful ATP. You can provide feedback by adding pins to an interactive map. Access the webpage using the QR code below or visit: https://fp.mysocialpinpoint.co m/sonoma-county-atp
CANNABIS DISPENSARY SELECTION PROCESS City Council Special Meeting November 13, 2023 - 5:00 P.M. Reunión Especial del Consejo Municipal 13 de noviembre de 2023 - 5:00 P.M.
Dispensary applications are now available for public review online: https://healdsburg.gov/1094/Retail-Application-Review-Process
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Interested in joining the Healdsburg team? Check out our open positions at healdsburg.gov/jobs. Full-Time: Accountant Part-Time: Parks and Facilities Aide
BIRD UPDATE In the last 6 months Healdsburg Bird users have ridden for 1867 miles! The electric bike share program is a great way to get people out of their cars and help us reduce parking demand and reduce vehicle emissions. The program allows users to park bikes in the public right of way, provided they are parked safely and not impeding pedestrians or other cyclists. Allowing users to park wherever they are going increases ridership and better disperses the bikes so one may be close by when the next user is ready to ride. Bird employees are required to move bikes parked unsafely or left unused in random locations for more than a couple days. Overall, the program has been a success, but… we know it hasn’t been perfect. Too often bikes have been left in neighborhoods or other inappropriate places for much longer than a couple days. Unfortunately, not all poorly located bikes are being moved in a timely manner, and worse some callers found Bird unresponsive to their requests. City staff has been working with Bird to improve service and as a result we have a new and more direct way to connect with the Bird staff responsible for this work. If you see a bike that needs attention, the best way to get it taken care of is to use the Bird App to report the specific bike. The next best way is to use our new Healdsburg specific contact email: healdsburg311@bird.co
TRAFFIC ALERT! Tuesday, November 7, 2023
The Healdsburg Avenue Bridge is scheduled to be closed for routine maintenance inspection from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.