🌱 New Water Savings Plan + Fiery Crash + Another Hotel Downtown?

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Simone, your regular host of the Healdsburg Daily, back from a super refreshing couple weeks off. Please bear with me as I get caught up on what's been happening around town while I was out, right alongside you! Here's what I'm seeing so far...

First, today's weather:

Dense fog in the morning, turning to sun. High: 63 Low: 35.

Air over Healdsburg:

Here are the top 3 stories today in Healdsburg:

1. The City of Healdsburg's "water contingency plan" is now on a six-stage model instead of a three-stage model, after a unanimous vote at last week's City Council meeting. It allows for more nuance in water conservation requirements and is a little stricter on real estate developers. Under the new six-stage plan, according to the Tribune, "water savings requirements go up by 10% for each stage and the most stringent stages of the plan require new developments — except for affordable housing projects — to achieve an equal amount of water conservation prior to receiving their occupancy rights. The new amendment also allows the city council to change or modify water restrictions as needed depending on water supply conditions." You can read more in the Trib about what the specific restrictions are for residents and developers at each stage of the plan. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
2. There was a dramatic car crash a couple days ago on the outskirts of Healdsburg, at Old Redwood Highway and Eastside Road. The 20-year-old driver of the only car involved in the accident, Joel Mendez Santiago, allegedly "climbed out of the broken windshield" and tried to flee the scene on foot, "leaving his four injured passengers inside the burning wreckage... as officers ran to the vehicle and began putting out the fire," CBS reports. He had crashed his Dodge Dart into a stop sign and then a concrete wall, flipping it, the report says. "Two of the passengers were unresponsive after suffering major injuries and the other two suffered moderate injuries," according to CBS. And Joel was eventually "found by Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputies, taken back to the scene and arrested" on charges of "felony DUI, felony hit-and-run, and driving without a license." (CBS San Francisco & Facebook)
3. There was a Healdsburg city meeting last night to review plans for 16 new "Hotel Healdsburg residences" being proposed by the hotel "at the northeast corner of Healdsburg Avenue and North Street." We didn't watch the meeting, so we're not sure what transpired, but the meeting agenda said the developer, Piazza Hospitality, planned to "introduce the project to the Planning Commission and community and to obtain input." Renderings of the proposal show a huge, sleek vine-covered building that looms over John & Zeke's. The developer's plan is to "remove existing commercial buildings and a private parking lot" at that corner in order to "construct a new 16-room hotel" that would take up the entire parcel, city documents show. The rooms are "designed as suites with a large apartment-like layout with separate living area, bedrooms, kitchen or wet bar, and dining area," as well as bathrooms and "a private patio and/or balcony," the proposal says. "Five of the suites are designed as 3-story townhouses and the remaining 11 suites are designed as single-story flats." (City of Healdsburg & Facebook)

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Today and tomorrow in Healdsburg:

Wednesday, January 26

• Healdsburg City Senior Citizens Advisory Commission Meeting (4PM)
• Virtual Teen Anime Club at Sonoma County Library (4:30-5:30PM)
• Healdsburg High School Model UN Club Takeout Dinner Fundraiser at HHS Culinary Room (4:30-6:30PM)

Thursday, January 27

• Sonoma County Economic Development Board Presents: 2022 Economic Perspective (8-9:30AM)
• Healdsburg American Association of University Women (AAUW) Forum: "Interpreting Works of Art - Your 'GPS' for Visual Literacy" (10-11:45AM)
• Healdsburg Running Company Thursday Night Run, Feat. Post-Run Beers & Beignets From Parish Cafe (6PM)

From my notebook:

• The Downtown Bakery is closed right now while the brand-new owners prepare to reopen, but they say they'll be back open soon: "We look forward to seeing you in February with all your favorite items. Thank you for your patience!" (Facebook)
• The City of Healdsburg is looking for someone to take over operations at the historic Villa Chanticleer on Fitch Mountain starting this summer. That's because the current operator, Tayman Golf Group Inc., is backing out in June. Here's how to throw your name in the hat. (City of Healdsburg & Facebook)
• City leaders are also seeking feedback on their proposal to "improve transportation on Grove Street between Grant Street and Dry Creek Road" by constructing "continuous curbs, gutters, and sidewalks to provide safe pedestrian access to all." Take a look at what they're proposing and fill out this survey if you have opinions. (Facebook & Maptionnaire.com)
• Sonoma Magazine takes an inside look at the only two houses left on the market in a fancy new home cluster in Healdsburg’s Johnson Street Historic District: an Italianate-style 4-bedroom at 136 Lincoln St. for $3.4 million and and a craftsman-style 5-bedroom at 132 Lincoln St. for $3.5 million. (Sonoma Magazine)
• Ever since her death, donations on behalf of animal lover Betty White (R.I.P.!) have reportedly been "pouring" into the Humane Society of Sonoma County, which runs the Healdsburg animal shelter along with a location in Sebastopol. They've reportedly gotten over $20,000 so far, and are "over the moon." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• The Press Democrat has the timeline for Healdsburg's conversion of the L&M Motel at the south end of town to transitional housing for homeless people: "Officials aim to purchase the site in February, begin renovations in March or April, and start accepting residents by August." (Press Democrat; paywall)
• Ever wonder who's behind the wild and wonderful storefront displays at the Favorites consignment store downtown? Meet the great Sandra Novia. (SoCoNews Healdsburg)
• All Starbucks locations, including the one in Healdsburg, are no longer requiring employees to be vaccinated — fallout from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision. (Healdsburg Patch)
• The Healdsburg Police Department is currently hiring "police officers, dispatchers, and an emergency response coordinator." Here's how to apply. (GovernmentJobs.com & Facebook)
• The local Healdsburg Jazz organization has announced their 2022 Artist in Residence: Bay Area-based "harpist, composer, and educator Destiny Muhammad." (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop, as am I! Feels great to be back — see you tomorrow for your next update. :)

— Simone Wilson

About me: I was born and raised in Healdsburg, CA, where I was the editor of the Healdsburg High School Hound's Bark. I have since worked as a local journalist for publications in San Diego, Los Angeles, New York City and the Middle East. I'm currently a senior product manager for Patch.