$1
Class of 2026 Parents Group announces fundraiser events News, Page 2
including tax
New mural honors Indigenous heritage Features, Page 1
Volume 142, Number 20 — Locally-owned since 1884
Council postpones food vendor hearing to consider input from Chamber proposal By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief At its June 17 meeting, the Winters City Council voted to postpone a public hearing on a proposed ordinance update related to food vendors, following a request from City Manager Jeremy Craig. The item, listed as “Continued Public Hearing: Introduce and Waive First Reading of Ordinance No. 202501,” proposed amendments to Chapter 5.36 of the Winters Municipal Code. The hearing has now been rescheduled for the July 1 council meeting. Craig said the postponement would allow city staff
time to review new input from the Winters District Chamber of Commerce. “You all received correspondence late this morning from the Chamber of Commerce with some information,” Craig said during the meeting. “We’d like to take time to be able to review that and discuss it with them prior to bringing the item back to you.” Earlier that morning, Chamber board director Chris Turkovich sent a proposal to council members, the city manager and the Winters Express, outlining recommended changes to the city’s mobile vendor ordinance.
“Our objective is to propose a clear, consistent, and business-friendly framework that supports small businesses, aligns with community goals, and simplifies enforcement,” Turkovich wrote in his email. The Chamber proposal introduces a simplified threetiered permitting system for mobile vendors, distinguishing between vendors operating on private property, designated communal zones and public property outside those zones. It also aims to eliminate conditional use permit requirements unless deemed essential, while maintaining reasonable oversight.
City approves balanced budget with Measure S revenue support By Sonora Slater Express staff writer
EXPRESS
At its June 17 meeting, the Winters City Council approved the budget for the 202526 fiscal year. This followed a public hearing at the June 3 meeting, where they heard from the city manager and the heads of various city departments to explain and answer questions about the proposed budget. A big portion of the public hearing focused on how the projected revenue from Measure S, a 1-percent increase on sales tax passed by voters last November, will fit into the year’s budget. Measure S is a general tax, which means that the council can choose to allocate it however they wish. Projected revenue from the sales tax is approximated at $960,000, and will allow the city to close its operating deficit from last year, begin
restoring healthy fund reserves, add three new full-time and three new parttime positions, and keep up with inflationary pressures. The budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year is fully balanced — a goal that the city staff and council were excited to reach, especially considering ever-increasing expenses. “I’m glad to see a balanced budget,” Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Biasi said after the presentation. “I know it’s not easy.” The new positions funded by Measure S include a police officer; an admin staff to serve the city’s water, power and sewer departments; a parttime police academy position to help with recruitment; two part-time seasonal maintenance workers and increased hours for a previously part-time position to help with grants management work. The proposed budget does not include any new programs. According to a general overview given by human resources director Cathy Mathews, there were
See BUDGET, Page 5
We at he r Rain
High
Low
June 04
.00
91˚
59˚
June 05
.00
95˚
57˚
June 06
.00
90˚
56˚
June 07
.00
92˚
56˚
Eventos hispanos ....... A-2
June 08
.00
96˚
56˚
June 09
.00
97˚
59˚
Opinion ......................... B-3
June 10
.00
95˚
54˚
Real Estate ................... B-2
Rain for week: 0.00 in. Season’s total: 19.27 in. Last sn. to date: 23.29 in.
Community .................. A-2
Sports ........................... B-6
Special to the Express The Winters Elder Day Council is proud to announce the 2025 Elder Day honorees, recognizing the lasting contributions and lifelong service of some of the community’s most respected members. This year’s honorees are: • Richard Douglas • Lucia Douglas • Marcela Nazzari • Marian Kammerer • Isabel A. Ramos Elder Day is a cherished local tradition that celebrates the wisdom, dedication, and achievements of
Winters’ older adults. It’s an opportunity for the community to honor those who have helped shape Winters through decades of service, leadership, and love for their hometown. The 2025 Elder Day Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Anthony Parish Hall, 511 West Main St. in Winters. The event is free and open to all. Community members are invited to join in the celebration with music, cake, and heartfelt appreciation for our Winters Elders.
Mark Rowan/ Courtesy photo
Caltrans electrical crews work in the early morning at 4 a.m. Wednesday at the Railroad Avenue and Grant Avenue intersection in Winters, adjusting traffic lights. During warmer months, crews often shift to off-hour schedules to avoid extreme sun exposure and reduce traffic hazards. Motorists traveling during early or late hours are urged to drive with caution and watch for roadside crews to ensure everyone’s safety.
Trustees tackle curriculum, budget and labor agreements By Logan Chrisp Express staff writer It was a busy evening at the Winters Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting as the summer session began, leaving several items across the school district needing to be addressed or presented on Thursday, June 12.
Educational services
Date
Classifieds ................... B-4
Winters Elder Day Council announces 2025 honorees
Caltrans crews tackle signals before sunrise
increases in electricity expenditures across the board this past year, as well as ongoing salary increases. Police Chief John P. Miller gave an overview of the Winters Police Department’s budget, which is up 12.25 percent from last year, for a total of a little more than $3 million. He explained that their 24/7 operation results in high costs that other city departments don’t experience, and noted that the majority of this budget is dedicated to salaries. Dispatch expenses increased significantly this year, and not just because of an increase in call volume. Animal control services also increased. However, the department was able to anticipate a reduction in vehicle repair and maintenance costs and body camera contract costs. Multiple improvement projects, including installing security glass, installing a license plate reader at the entrance to the city,
Index Features ........................ B-1
The hometown paper of Jim Hawley
Winters, Yolo County, California, Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Winters rainfall season began 7/1/24. Weather readings are taken at 9 a.m. daily by local weatherman Joe Bristow.
“What do we want students to know and be able to do?” was the question of focus for Winters JUSD Professional Learning Communities over the previous school year. Assistant superintendent Phoebe Girimonte presented how they would address that very question at every grade level. At Waggoner Elementary School, grade-level teams identified 7 to 10 es-
sential standards per subject with the guidance from the Report Card Committee. At Waggoner, grade-level teams identified the standards for the school and developed a standards-based report card. “This achievement is notable as the school has been working on this for several years, and very excited to see this through the application,” Girimonte said. The new report card will provide communication tools for families to help them better understand what students are learning, what they know, and how they can continue to grow. In the coming year, Girimonte said Waggoner will develop common formative assessments to accurately measure stu-
dent progress towards standards and develop a modified Dual Language report card that reflects Spanish language proficiency standards. In addition, a new TK report card that aligns with the new preschool TK Learning Foundations. At the Shirley Rominger Intermediate School, staff used collaboration time to revisit and update previously identified standards, using the school year to refine the work they’d already undertaken. “Shirley Rominger staff used their collaboration time to revisit and update the previously identified standards, so they had already undertaken this work and used this year to really refine it. It should be
See TRUSTEES, Page 5
YOUR
2 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.4503 buckhornsteakhouse.com
Service all makes & models Accept all major credit cards Family owned & operated
1920 North First Street, Dixon
27990 County Road 90 Winters, CA 95694 www.pearcehvac.com
Brakes • Alignment • Farm & Truck Tires Short Drive to Dixon for Big Savings!
State Contractor Lic# 864483
1 Main St., Winters, CA 530.795.2682 putahcreekcafe.com
YOUR AD HERE!
TIRE in Dixon 707.678.8271
116 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-798-5500
www.smith-funerals.com FD-992
Contact David DeLeon at david@wintersexpress.com 105 E Dorset Drive, Dixon 9253 Johnson Road, Winters, CA 530.212.5161 • monticelloveterinary.com