Go directly to this informative and fun section of the website at www.cityofwestsacramento.org/25 and view photos, events and 25 years of history. Learn about upcoming contests, too!

The City of West Sacramento was formed in 1987, following a public vote of residents in the communities of West Sacramento, Southport, Bryte and Broderick. At the time of incorporation, the population was 28,482. Twenty-five years later, the city’s population has increased by twenty-thousand, to 48,744. How the city has grown!

During the past 25 years, the city has enhanced its natural beauty with the addition of 22 park sites; a range of recreational activities from biking and boating to Raley Field and River Cats baseball; a new Civic Center, including City Hall, a campus of Sacramento City College, a community center, and a county library; numerous residential options with schools and retail centers; and as the City says, “a community where residents can enjoy every stage of their lives.”

A Passion for Progress has helped build West Sacramento into a place where citizens can live, work and play.

www.cityofwestsacramento.org/25

The West Sacramento Police Department is joining with other state and local law enforcement officers to help save more lives by strongly enforcing seat belt laws around the clock.  Seat belts are the most effective piece of life saving equipment on your car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2010 nationally, 61 percent of the 10,647 passenger vehicle occupants who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes overnight were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the fatal crash, compared to 42 percent during the daytime hours.

Seat belt use saves thousands of lives across America each year and The West Sacramento Police Department is helping spread the word. NHTSA statistics show that in 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.

Yet, too many motorists may need a tough reminder. In 2010, 22,187 passenger vehicle occupants were killed in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA, and 51 percent of them were NOT wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

Younger motorists and men are particularly at risk.  Data shows that among teen and young adult passenger vehicle occupants in 2010, ages 18-34, who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes, 62 percent were not buckled up at the time of the crash – the highest percentage of any age group.  The number jumps to 66 percent when just men in this age group are included.

While this year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization runs from May 21 through June 3, motorists should know that officers are out enforcing seat belt laws year-round. 

Total costs of a first time ticket are at least $142

“Sparky the Dalmatian” will be on hand for picture opportunities.

Other activities will include:

• Jump House, Slide
• Coloring Contest
• Face Painting
• Equipment Demonstrations
• Fire Safety House
• “Safe Place” Information
• Car Seat Checks
• Blood Pressure Checks
• Kids Fingerprinting
• Kids Bikes to be Raffled

FREE Admission and Hot Dogs!

City of West Sacramento
Fire Department
Station 44
905 Fremont Blvd.
West Sacramento
Date: Saturday, June 16, 2012
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Open House Flyer

For rates and more information please visit our website at www.cityofwestsacramento.org/learningladder or call the Site Supervisor Anne Schultze, (916) 617-5317.

For River Cats ticket information, call (916) 371-HITS or visit rivercats.com. Go River Cats!

Registering to vote is as simple as calling Yolo Elections at 916-375-6490; visiting www.yoloelections.org; or picking up a voter registration card at the library, post office, or City Hall.

The Farmer’s Market is located at 1271 West Capitol Avenue, across the street from City Hall. EBT/SNAP accepted. For an alternate method of transportation, catch Yolobus local routes 35, 40, 41 or 240, to “Ride the Bus to the Market.” Go to http://www.yolobus.com/routes/index.php for bus routes in your area. Or you can “Bike to the Market”–take the Harbor Boulevard route to West Capitol Avenue to avoid traffic.
Check out the West Sacramento Farmer’s Market website: www.wsfarmersmarket.com.

Wood and green waste is not accepted at the clean-up event and may be recycled at the Yolo County Central Landfill using the landfill voucher included in your April utility bill.  The voucher is valid for one residential load of wood and/or green waste. 

For more information visit www.WestSacRecycles.org or call (916) 617-4589.

Featuring beer, brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad and apple streudel! Plus live music, dancing and fun contests! The address is 1271 West Capitol Avenue 95691 (on the Farmer’s Market pad, across from City Hall).

Get your tickets now! $25 pre-sale and $30 at the door. Wristbands will be provided to guests over age 21. For tickets, contact Meaghan at the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, (916) 371-7042 or www.Westsacramentochamber.com.

The event is presented by Capital West Realty.

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (AQMD) presents its annual lawn mower exchange program.

The program allows Yolo and Solano County residents to receive a $100 discount on a new rechargeable lawn mower when they recycle their old gas-powered mower at one of Yolo-Solano AQMD’s partner sites. There are a limited number of mowers available, so interested residents are encouraged to register for the program before the mower supply runs out. A link to the registration site is available at www.worxtools.com/us/yolo-solano-lmx.aspx . Another registration option is calling, 1-(866) 765-5403.

Five different models of WORX rechargeable lawn mowers, starting at $119 after the discount, will be available. All mowers come with warranties and accessories.

“Gas-powered mowers are real sources of air pollution,” said Mat Ehrhardt, executive director of Yolo-Solano AQMD. “We’re thrilled to provide a $100 incentive for Yolo and Solano residents to get new lawn mowers while improving our clean air future.”

To participate in the mower exchange, residents will choose their model online or by phone, recycle their old mower at a local participating recycling center and then be billed and shipped their new mower.

Yolo-Solano AQMD is a public health agency committed to protecting human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution. For more information, please visit the AQMD website at ysaqmd.org.

Mower Exchange Flyer

Bolo is a Grammy nominated Hawaiian musician, artist, and poet who plays a classical guitar and an ukulele. He uses a finger picking style known as slack key and plays mostly original music.

His positive vibe performance style is sure to make you feel like you are on the islands when you hear him play.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday March 14th.  If you cannot make it to one of our locations to purchase your tickets you can call Kevin Clonce at (916)617-4620 or email blackbox@cityofwestsacramento.org to have yourself and the number of tickets you will be purchasing added to will call.  Will call tickets will be sold for the advanced ticket price and must be picked up by 6:30pm the day of the event. $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door.

Doors open at 6PM and the show starts at 7PM.  The show will be opening with the Makamae Melia O’Polynesia dance halau.

For more information please contact West Sacramento Parks & Recreation at (916) 617-4620.

For more information, click  for the flyer. Library Recycle Flyer

You may also recycle your phone books in your curbside recycling cart. 

Please be prepared to slow for construction traffic and temporary lane closures in the vicinity. Work should be completed and traffic restored by late afternoon. For more information, contact Vin Cay, Associate Civil Engineer of Public Works – Engineering at (916) 617-4645.

The Port of West Sacramento will host the Golden Bear Vessel on Sunday, April 29.  The vessel is expected to arrive approximately at 1:30PM and the Public is invited to the Port of West Sacramento for free tours between 2:00PM-4:00PM. 

Other community groups will be in attendance including:

• West Sacramento Fire Department Prevention Trailer
• West Sacramento Police Department
• West Sacramento Chamber  (promoting Farmer’s Market)
• River City Rowing Club
• Washington Outboard Club
• Sea Scouts (will be selling snacks and beverages)
• May is Bike Month
• Sierra Northern Railway
• West Sacramento Recycles
• West Sacramento Sailing Club

An adult with government photo identification must accompany children and parking will be available on Port property and a bus will take visitors to the vessel. 

Please note that for safety reasons the TS Golden Bear does not have assist access. Each guest must be able to board without assistance from crutches, walkers, manual or electric wheelchairs, canes and free of casts.  Guests will be required to climb steep staircases to access reception, restrooms and tour areas. We also recommend guests wear pants and comfortable closed-toed, flat shoes. Any person wearing flip-flops or open toed shoes will not be permitted to board.

Please be sure to remind all who are interested in boarding the ship for a tour that it is a working ship (not a cruise liner). Therefore all children must be watched AT ALL TIMES and children under five years old are not allowed on the vessel.

Please visit our website page for more information and updates www.portofwestsac.com

Wood chips work well as mulch around trees and shrubs in your springtime garden project. 

Details:
What:   First come, first served wood chip give away (one residential pick-up load per household).
When:  Saturday, April 21, 2012 9:00am-2:00pm, or until chips are gone
Where: Public Works Corporation Yard 1951 South River Road

During the annual State of the City Address, April 11, West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon traced the city’s significant progress during its first 25 years to a combination of community participation and leadership. The Mayor also stated a new goal to position West Sacramento as the “Silicon Valley of food.”

Mayor Cabaldon described a West Sacramento and its surrounding neighborhoods, dating back to the 1970s, as under the control of sixteen different special districts. By 1986, the concept of incorporation—becoming a city, “a complete community”—gathered popular support. As the Mayor noted, “brash dreams and hard-nosed pragmatism” defined the community’s efforts. The public voted its support for incorporation overwhelmingly, with 72 percent of the vote in 1987.  

In recalling developments which helped shape West Sacramento’s first 25 years.  Mayor Cabaldon cited the following:

• The construction of the Bryte Bend Water Treatment Plant, which provided “good, clean water” to citizens;
• Establishment of fire and police departments to enhance protection for the public;
• Transformation of the old Rose Orchard into an essential retail center, now Riverpoint Marketplace, home to IKEA, Home Depot and Walmart;
• Creation of the Southport Town Center, another retail addition complementing a “new style of suburb”;
• The Port of West Sacramento, which shifted from regional management to West Sacramento control;
• The city’s downtown center, which has become a tangible element of West Sacramento with the addition of Sacramento City College, the Arthur F. Turner Community Library, the Community Center and a transit center; and
• The conversion of the West Sacramento riverfront into a “great asset,” which includes the Ziggurat, Raley Field, CalSTRS, improvements to the Tower Bridge, and the current development of the Bridge District.     

“Why is the West Sacramento story so remarkable?” asked the Mayor. He cited the community’s desire to become a “premier City” in the Sacramento Valley; Mayor Cabaldon added that West Sacramento has perhaps become one of the best cities in the nation. “Those passionate leaders,” said the Mayor, put West Sacramento “first, second and third.”

MAYOR CONGRATULATES CIVIC LEADERSHIP HONOREES – Mayor Christopher Cabaldon (pictured center) joins recipients, left to right, Freeman and Thaddeus Barsotti of Farm Fresh to You (Prosperity); Mayor Cabaldon; Donovan Smith on behalf of the Farmer’s Market (Community); City Manager Toby Ross (Service); and Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan (Pride) during the 2012 State of the City event.

Acknowledging one of those leaders in particular, Mayor Cabaldon congratulated Mike McGowan, a Yolo County Supervisor since 1993, as well as West Sacramento’s first mayor in 1987, who characterizes “pride” in his constructive assistance to his community and constituents. In addition to Mr. McGowan, the Mayor and the City Council also honored West Sacramento’s retiring City Manager Toby Ross; the Chamber of Commerce’s management of the Farmer’s Market; and the progress of “Farm Fresh to You,” a successful consumer-direct farm product distributor which opened in West Sacramento in 2010. Each was presented a Civic Leadership Award during the State of the City program.

What’s ahead for West Sacramento? Mayor Cabaldon wants to see the city on the cutting edge of California’s food industry, whether it’s food, transportation of food, or consumerism. Helping the city move forward in becoming a participant in a new “Silicon Valley of food” is the presence of such companies as “Farm Fresh to You” and Japan’s Nippon Shokken, a food sauce company under construction in the Southport Business District.

In closing the State of the City address, Mayor Cabaldon admits much has been accomplished in the city during its first 25 years, but he said “we have no intention of resting.” The event, held in the West Sacramento Civic Center Galleria at City Hall, was produced by the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce.

Please bring a photo ID. Participants will receive a FREE t-shirt and be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a BloodSource Gift Bag!

Please eat and drink plenty of fluids.

Eligibility Question, Call BloodSource: 1-866-822-5663

“With the City of West Sacramento celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2012, it’s timely to support the League of California Cities Strong City / Strong State endeavor,” said Mayor Christopher Cabaldon. “From Raley Field to River Walk Park, to new communities in Southport and the riverfront Bridge District, West Sacramento has earned its reputation for progress, turning our residents’ dreams into reality.”

The City’s profile includes photos, video and other media articulating local successes all in one place.  In addition, there are links to West Sacramento Social Media sites.  Success stories will range from public safety initiatives to educational partnerships, infrastructure improvements to community engagement strategies and more.

The City of West Sacramento’s profile is accessible at: http://www.strongcitiesstrongstate.com/city/west-sacramento .

The “Strong Cities / Strong State” website broadly promotes city success stories alongside profiles of elected officials and city managers working together to build and maintain a high quality of life for California city residents. The primary goal of the “Strong Cities” campaign is to promote the innovation and experience of local officials in delivering vital services at a time when this expertise is vitally needed by state leaders struggling with fundamental issues of governance. Cities are equal partners in building a better California.

Visit “Strong Cities / Strong State” at www.strongcitiesstrongstate.com .

“This is the first comprehensive look at the criminal justice system in Yolo County where we will explore how the system interplays with our communities from West Sacramento to the rural areas,” said Mr. Reisig. “I think participants will be educated, enlightened and entertained.”

The Academy will meet every Thursday, starting May 3, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. for 8 weeks at the District Attorney’s office, 301 Second St. in Woodland.

Scheduled topics include:

• The role of law enforcement;
• Special challenges of prosecution;
• Race as a factor in the criminal justice system;
• The roles of the FBI and US Attorney’s Office; and
• The presence of gangs.

To enroll, please contact Wendy Wilcox at (530) 666-8356, or wendy.wilcox@yolocounty.org or log on to www.yoloda.org for more information. The class is limited to 20 participants. The application deadline is April 23, 2012.

If you haven’t joined us before, it’s a great night to burn a ton of calories and dance with our Zumba instructors as each instructor will take a turn on the stage. Set aside Friday, May 4th from 6:15-8:30pm for the party. 

Registration is required and is available online or at the Recreation Center front desk.  Please see the link below for more details.

Come by soon and check it out.

Link to new equipment photo and details:
http://www.technogym.com/us/products/pure-strength/olympic-half-rack/2779

Our very popular Fitness Challenge program will be starting up again at the end of April. Don’t miss an opportunity to get on track with working out, eating healthy and meeting a lot of really cool people. Not sure? Come to the meeting on Thursday, April 26th at 6:30pm.

We’ll talk about what the Fitness Challenge is and answer any questions you may have. For more information now, click on the Fitness Challenge logo. 

“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy. I’m telling you it is going to be worth it.” – Author Unknown

What’s next? Call 617-4770 or e-mail if you have more specific questions.
More questions? Feel free to ask the trainers or the Recreation Center front desk.

The real question is, are you ready for the challenge?