ADMINISTRATION

Management & Operations

Customer Satisfaction Survey Results

The results of the City's Customer Satisfaction Survey are now available for review at the City's website: City of Willows Survey Results - Key Findings from a survey conducted from January 21 to February 21, 2022. Check it out!

Upcoming City Council Meetings

April 26 at 6:00 pm - Regular City Council Meeting
May 10 at 6:00 pm - Regular City Council Meeting

Important Election Dates - Candidates

June 20: Recommended last day to adopt Council resolutions.
July 4 - 18: Election Official to Publish Notice of Election for Candidates.
July 11: Last day to adopt regulations for Candidates Statements.
July 18 - August 12: Filing Period for Nomination Papers and Candidate Statements.
August 12: Last Day to File Nomination Papers.
August 17: Last Day to File Nomination Papers – Extended filing Period if incumbents do not file.

Important Election Dates - Ballot Measures

May 20: Recommended last day to file Petitions for Ballot Measures.
June 20: Recommended last day to adopt Council resolutions.
June 21: Recommended last Day to Post Notice of Deadline for Filing Arguments and Impartial Analyses.
June 21: Election Official to Publish Notice of Election – Ballot Measure(s) only.
August 12: Last Day to Call Election for Ballot Measures.
August 17: Last Day to Withdraw Measure(s) from Ballot.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Planning, Building & Code Enforcement

Planning Division Activity

During the month of March, the Planning Division was busy with a variety of planning activities that included:

processing two new sign permits;
reviewing four business license applications;
preparing the Annual Housing Element and General Plan Updates (presented to the Planning Commission and City Council);
presenting the Street Banner project to the Planning Commission; recommendations to the City Council will be presented at the May 10 City Council meeting;
Assisting with code enforcement citations; and
Conducting pre-development and zoning advisory meetings with prospective developers.

FINANCE

First Budget Workshop - Coming up in May!

The first FY 2022-23 budget workshop will be held at the regularly scheduled May 24 City Council meeting at 6:00 pm. The presentation will provide the first glimpse of proposed increases and decreases in revenues and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2022-23, including staff recommendations for new expenditures.

FIRE

Fire Response, Prevention & Emergency Medical Services

The region pays tribute to local fallen Firefighter, Brian Ceccon

On April 1, 2022, Firefighter Brian Ceccon passed away surrounded by friends and family.

Brian was a member of the Willows Volunteer Fire Association for the past several years, serving his community at home and abroad on campaign wildfires. At the time of his passing, Brian was not an active Member of the Association; however, at his request, he was designated an Honorary Member in good standing when he moved away several months ago for work.

Brian was a friend, colleague, and brother to the Willows Fire Department, Rural District and Volunteer Association. He was witty, energetic, and an uplifting presence whether he was on a call or simply helping around the station. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.

Donations to offset medical and funeral expenses may be made to "Help Brian's Family Pay for Medical Care" (a Go Fund Me site managed by Brian's family and friends).

It's weed Abatement season!

Annual weed abatement activities are underway in the City of Willows. Abatement notices have been sent to more than 600 properties in the City. Over the next several weeks, Fire Department staff will work with property owners to abate properties as soon as possible and help mitigate fire risk.

Why is weed and other nuisance abatement so important?

Successful abatement programs, or the lack there of, have a tremendous impact on the Fire Department's insurance ratings and ultimately the City's insurance costs.

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) completes periodic evaluations of fire departments across the country, including a "Public Protection Classification" (PPC) also known as an ISO rating. The rating is based on a scale of 1-10 with 1 denoting the best rating and 10 denoting the worst. The PPC grade is based on a 100 point scale and fire departments are issued a 'report card' rating based on the following categories:

Emergency Reporting,
Telecommunications,
Dispatch Circuits,
Engine Companies,
Reserve Engines,
Pump Capacity,
Ladder Companies,
Reserve Ladder Companies,
Deployment Analysis (Staffing),
Company Personnel,
Training,
Operational Considerations,
Community Risk Reduction (e.g., Weed Abatement),
Water Supply System,
Hydrant Size, Type, and Installation, and
Inspection & Flow Testing of Hydrants.

In the Willows Fire Department's most recent ISO rating, the department received a 4.63% out of a possible 5.5% rating in the Community Risk Reduction category. Overall, the City's Fire Department received a 80.94/100 points resulting in a 2/10 PPC or ISO rating.

PPC or ISO ratings are used by insurance companies to determine the risk to insured assets in a specific region. Better ISO ratings result in lower insurance rates for both residential and commercial property owners. Without the points earned in the Community Risk Reduction category, the Department would have a PPC/ISO rating of 3/10 resulting in increased insurance rates throughout the City.

Willows Fire Department is a 2/10 rated fire department. This rating is reflective of our rural areas water supply issues, as well as the vast 80 square mile response area. The "2" applies to areas that are within five road miles of a fire station AND within 1000 feet of a credible water source such as a fire hydrant. Residences that do not fall within these parameters are rated "10."

The Willows Fire Department is now hiring!

The City of Willows Fire Department is currently recruiting for a Temporary Fire Engineer (with the possibility of permanent appointment). For more information, please view Employment Opportunities on the City's website.

Vehicle Extraction

In the past month, Willows Fire Department responded to a big rig rollover. The driver was extricated using the jaws of life and transported to a local hospital. The big rig was transporting 800 bee hives making the extrication process especially challenging.

Residential Structure Fire C

On Tuesday, March 29, the Willows Fire Department was dispatched to a reported residential structure fire in the area of 5th and Cherry Streets. The first engine on the scene found heavy smoke and flames coming from the residence.

Initial reports stated that victims were entrapped in the house. The first Firefighters on scene immediately conducted a primary and secondary search for the victims, who were later found safe outside the residence. Firefighters then began an interior attack of the fire before the threat of a burning ceiling collapse forced them to withdraw and begin a defensive attack to protect surrounding properties.

Mutual aid assistance was areceived by Artois and Orland. Glenn County Sheriff's Office also assisted with scene security and Glenn-Codora Fire Department covered the City of Willows response area while crews were tied up with the fire. Fire operations lasted until well after midnight, and the Red Cross was activated to assist the residents of the fire to find shelter. By 2:00 am, most fire personnel had been released. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Photo credits: Joanie Chaney and Maddalena Action Photography.

Concurrent Calls

March 5 - Firefighters arrived at the scene of a CPR case and were dispatched to a stroke before the first call ended.

March 10 - Firefighters attended the scene of a medical call and were immediately dispatched to a public service request.

March 12 - Firefighters were at the scene of a medical call and were dispatched to a residential fire alarm.

March 15 and 31 - Firefighters were already at the scene of a medical call and were dispatched to another medical call.

Grants

The Willows Fire Department received a $10,000 Homeland Security Grant for iPADS and other IT equipment. The equipment will be installed in City and Rural District fire engines as part of the transition to centralized fire dispatch with the County of Glenn's Office of the Sheriff. Once in service, valuable call information such as building plans and fire hydrant locations will be streamed directly to the iPADs, which will will make fire fighting more effective and efficient.

Training

In March, the City of Willows Fire Department trained Firefighters on search techniques, victim rescues, firefighter survival tactics, ground ladder deployment, engine pumping evolution, and urban and rural water supply education.

LIBRARY

When is the next Storytime?

The next Families for Literacy Storytime will be held on May 5, 2022 at 4:00 p.m in the Willows Library. The program includes a story, craft activity, snack, and a free book to take home so that families can start their own home libraries.

State Park Passes Available

at the Library

Library cardholders may now check out a free vehicle day-use pass allowing free access to more than 200 State Parks! The pass entitles the user to a free vehicle day-use entry for one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less, or one highway licensed motorcycle to California State Parks.

Special thank you!

The Friends of the Library thanks everyone for supporting the March Book Sale and the Friends' fundraising efforts! Proceeds and donations from the book sale will fund the "Wild Things" live animal performance on June 22 at 1:00 pm for summer reading program participants.

PUBLIC WORKS

Streets, Parks, Sewage & Capital Improvements

Downed Limbs

Due to high winds over the past few weeks, large tree limbs have fallen throughout the City. Public Works Staff have been working hard to remove the debris as quickly as possible.

Sprinkler Repairs

This past month, the Public Works crew spent three days repairing one of the sprinkler mainlines in Jensen Park.

Manholes Replaced and Repaired

Manhole repairs north of the City's sewer plant that were started last month have successfully been completed.

RECREATION

City seeks Summer Jumpstart Program Instructor

The City of Willows seeks a part-time temporary Jumpstart Program Instructor to work 24-28 hours per week at $25 per hour over a four week period during the summer of 2022. Under the supervision of the City's Recreation Department, they will receive assistance from Recreation Department staff as needed. While not mandatory, a credentialed instructor is preferred.

Responsibilities include:

Schedule, setup and teach daily lessons and craft activities,
Pre-order all materials for the lessons and craft activities (paid for by the City),
Complete prep and clean up before and after each day,
Lead the daily classes and supervise a student employee assistant, and
Select and schedule one special guest speaker per week to visit the classroom.

Youth Soccer about to end for the season!

Youth soccer started on March 26 and will end April 23. For the spring season, 76 children enrolled ages four to 13 and seven part-time seasonal employees were hired. Next up, soccer summer camp and fall soccer season! Stay tuned.

Summer swimming season is almost here!

Due to necessary repairs of the City's swimming pool and the short time frame before the summer swim season begins, the City plans to contract with the Willows High School District again this summer from the week after high school is finished until the week before it starts (e.g., mid-June to first week of August). The Council will consider the summer contract with the School District at the Council's April 26 City Council meeting.

Due to swim team practice in the mornings, the cost-free community summer swim program will be only available in the afternoons, six days per week.

Currently, lifeguard applications are being reviewed. So far, there are six confirmed lifeguards pending the outcome of Senate Bill 722 (e.g., requiring at least one life guard 18 years of age or older on duty per shift).

Getting Ready for Baseball Season

The city split 20 tons of much needed cinder onto its two softball/baseball fields and two little league fields in preparation for the spring/summer season.

Youth Basketball is a big success!

Youth basketball started on January 12 and ended March 19. For the winter season, 113 children enrolled ages six to 13 years of age and eight part-time seasonal employees were hired.

Park Rentals for the First Quarter of 2022

Winter/spring City facility rentals include the following:

Central Park – 1 rental
Jensen Park Small Gazebo – 2 rentals
Jensen Park Large Gazebo – 6 rentals
Sycamore Park Tennis Courts – Currently, used by Willows High School Boys Tennis Team through April 2022.
Little League Fields – Currently, used by Willows Little League through May 2022.
Jensen Park Softball Field West – Currently, used by Willows High School Girls Varsity team through May 2022.