Frequently Asked Questions

A geographic information system, or GIS, integrates hardware, software and both spatial and tabular data. Together those components are used for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS provides a framework for gathering and organizing spatial data and related information so that it can be displayed and easily analyzed.

GIS allows us to view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports and charts. Patterns and relationships are not always obvious in tabular data. However, when this data is viewed spatially these patterns begin to emerge and new types of analysis can be preformed. 

Maps can be created to show change over time and location and to help predict those changes in order to become more prepared for planning efforts. GIS can be used as an information porthole to combine disparate information sources into a single map that otherwise would have to be viewed individually.

While there are countless benefits, they fall into 5 basic categories:

1. Cost savings resulting from greater efficiency
2. Better decision making
3. Improved communication
4. Better geographic information recordkeeping
5. Managing geographically

To request a fire incident report, complete the Incident Request Form or call the Fire Department Administration Office at 530-661-5860. Please be prepared to provide the following information: date and approximate time, address, and type of incident (e.g. fire, vehicle accident, etc.). A $0.30 per page charge may apply depending on the request.

To schedule an inspection with Fire Prevention, complete the applicable form: New Business Fire Safety Inspection or Construction Inspection.

The Administration Office can schedule these events; a minimum of two week's notice is required. We make every attempt to accommodate requests for specific days and times but this is not always possible due to training, maintenance, and inspection activities. We discourage weekend or evening events as the Firefighters have specific duties required during those times.

To request the Fire Department, complete the applicable online form: Static Engine Display, Fire Safety Presentation, Fire Station Tour, Special Event.

For information on burn days, call Yolo Air Quality Management at 530-757-3650 or Dispatch at 530-666-8920. To report agricultural burns, contact Dispatch at 530-666-8920.

Burning is not allowed within the City limits. Agricultural burning outside of the city limits is allowed only on designated burn days. You must contact Yolo Air Quality Management at 530-757-3650 or Dispatch at 530-666-8920 to determine if it is a burn day. You must also provide Dispatch with the time and location of the burn.

The Community Risk Reduction Division has staff who can answer questions about smoke detectors. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and you may contact them at 530-661-5857 or visit The American Red Cross Sound the Alarm Campaign for fire alarm assistance and information.

The City has a weed abatement ordinance which mandates that dry weeds and grass be abated to prevent fires. The Woodland Fire Department oversees vacant parcels and business properties. City of Woodland Code Enforcement handles residential properties within the city limits: https://www.cityofwoodland.gov/392/Report-a-Problem. Visit our website to learn more or to file a nuisance report regarding a vacant parcel or business: https://www.cityofwoodland.gov/230/Weed-Abatement. 

The WFD, as in many fire departments, is divided into two primary service divisions. The Operations Division responds to fire, medical, hazardous materials, and rescue emergencies to protect life and property. The WFD also responds to natural and man-made disasters to protect life and property. In essence, the WFD responds to any and all 911 emergency calls that do not require law enforcement action. Firefighters also provide public education and conduct business and mercantile inspections for fire and life safety issues.

If a large incident occurs, or several small incidents, and more firefighters are needed to protect the City, we can recall off-duty firefighters requesting that they report to work.

Automatic Aid

If we have a large incident beyond our staffing capabilities, our communications center automatically requests units from other agencies throughout Yolo County to help us, starting with the units closest to Woodland. This is referred to as "automatic aid" and the Woodland Fire Department (WFD) maintains automatic aid agreements with fire departments of: 

• Davis
• Dixon
• Ocha Dehe Wintun Nation
• UC Davis
• West Plainfield
• West Sacramento
• Willow Oak
• Yolo

The Willow Oak and Davis Fire Departments are closest in proximity and are typically able to respond to incidents in Woodland within 15 minutes.

Mutual - Aid Agreement

The WFD also has agreements with all fire departments in Yolo County whereby we can ask for help from them when we need it, and they can ask for help from us when they need it. This is referred to as a "mutual-aid agreement." If we have one or more incidents beyond the capabilities of our department and adjoining departments, we can request fire resources from throughout the County to assist us.

Firefighters work together as a team called a company. Everything they do during their shift must be done together so they are always near their fire engine, and always ready to respond to an emergency. It is very common for a company to receive an alarm while away from the fire station or while returning from an incident. All units are equipped with GPS tracking capabilities which ensure that the closest unit is dispatched to an incident.

Fire Engine

The fire engine serves several purposes to the fire company. First, it is their form of transportation around town on errands and to any emergency. Secondly, the fire engine is much like a businessperson's office or a plumber's service truck. Everything the firefighter needs to do their job is carried on that fire engine and the firefighters never know when they might need equipment off of the fire engine for an emergency medical call, a rescue, or a fire. For this reason, the engine company must have all of their tools with them at all times and those tools are carried on the fire engine.

Attempts to Cut Costs

Some fire departments have tried assigning firefighters to pickup trucks or SUVs for medical responses to cut costs, and found themselves on a medical call without their fire engine when a fire call came in. These departments found they were losing valuable time driving back to the fire station to get the fire engine to complete their fire response. In the meantime, the fire grows and crews are unable to make an aggressive interior attack or rescue by the time they arrive resulting in additional property loss and perhaps even life loss. An experiment in saving money like this one usually comes at the expense of someone's property, and perhaps even a life. It's not worth it.

The Woodland Fire Department responds to calls within the City of Woodland, which is approximately 16 square miles. Additionally, the WFD provides contract fire protection to 40 square miles within the Spring Lake Fire Protection District for a total response area of almost 56 square miles.

In California today, most, if not all, fire departments respond to medical emergencies as a standard of care. Fire Department response to medical emergencies is part of a strategic countywide emergency medical response system. Fire engines are geographically located to arrive to emergency medical incidents within 4 minutes of travel time from the station. The goal is 4 minutes 90% of the time. 

Medical transport ambulances are operated by American Medical Response (AMR) as part of their exclusive operating agreement within Yolo County. AMR provides advanced life support (ALS) and transport services, and are required to arrive within 8 minutes, 90% of the time. This standard means the WFD will arrive on-scene quicker than AMR in most cases to provide patient assessment, and begin basic life support services including CPR and early defibrillation, if needed, until the ambulance arrives.

All Firefighters are trained and certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) to provide basic life support (BLS) services. American Medical Response (AMR) is contracted to provide advanced life support (ALS) and ambulance transportation services throughout Yolo County.

The Woodland Fire Department (WFD) has a daily minimum staffing of 13 firefighters per day deployed on 3 fire engines, 1 ladder truck and the Battalion Chief's vehicle. Three Engine Companies operate with 3 fire personnel and 1 Truck Company operates with 3 fire personnel. The four Companies are deployed as follows:

• Station 1: Engine 1
• Station 2: Engine 2
• Station 3: 
  • Engine 3
  • Truck 3

The Fire Prevention Bureau is staffed with an interim Fire Marshal and 2 fire inspectors.

Woodland Fire Department (WFD) firefighters start their shift at 7 a.m. Every morning firefighters clean the stations and make sure their apparatus and equipment are operating properly. They typically start their daily training at 8 a.m. and that may last from 2 hours, to all morning, to all day. Other duties include: 

• Business fire safety inspections
• Equipment maintenance
• Physical conditioning
• Public education
• Special projects
• Station and landscape maintenance

All of which is completed in between responding to emergency calls. Most firefighters also have collateral duties, or additional assignment they manage and oversee, such as: 

• Creating and updating city maps
• Managing apparatus issues
• Managing equipment issues
• Managing hazardous materials response equipment and training
• Managing our radios and communication system
• Managing our records management system
• Managing rescue equipment and training

These tasks keep the firefighters busy everyday including weekends and holidays.

Woodland Fire Department (WFD) firefighters work 48-hour shifts and they go to bed each night like everyone else. While occasionally they may get a full night's sleep, most of the time they are awakened multiple times to respond to emergency calls. Lights and radio tones activate inside the stations at night to awaken the firefighters so they can get up, put on the appropriate safety gear, and get on the fire engine. They do all this with a goal of 1 minute (called "Turnout Time") to start their emergency response.

There are many components of the 911 response system contributing to the "Total Response Time" to an incident and they are:

• Call Processing Time - The Yolo Emergency Communications Agency (YECA) handles the dispatch of all emergency resources within the City of Woodland and most of Yolo County. YECA has up to 60 seconds to receive the 911 call, gather the information, and begin the dispatch process.
• Dispatch Time - YECA has an additional 60 seconds to complete the dispatch process so that the emergency call is received by the responding fire units.
• Turnout Time - Firefighters have up to 80 seconds to receive the emergency dispatch, don the appropriate safety gear, get onto the fire engine, and begin their response to the call. Firefighters may be in their station, involved in training, conducting a business inspection, committed to another incident, or if the call occurs at night, they may be asleep when the emergency dispatch is received.
• Travel Time - The WFD strives to have the first arriving fire engine arrive at the emergency call within 4 minutes, 90% of the time. Our goal is to have the balance of the fire engines responding to the incident arrive within 8 minutes, 90% of the time when multiple units are required.

A KNOX-BOX® is a secure key vault that is installed on the exterior of a building near the main entrance. This box contains building keys or key cards to provide access for the fire department in emergency situations without resorting to forced entry and potential damage to property. The fire department maintains master keys for the Knox boxes in secure locations.

3200 Series Knox-Box is the smallest model approved for commercial use, but the selected Knox-Box must be large enough to accommodate all keys and magnetic cards necessary for Fire Department access to all areas of the building. Recessed models are available for those seeking a more aesthetically pleasing box.

Knox Boxes should be mounted as near as possible to the primary entry door and shall not be visually obstructed. The Knox Box should be installed 5 to 6 feet from ground level. The Knox Box for a gate shall be located on the gate or on a fence or wall within 6 feet of the gate. Additional boxes may be required based on the size of building or fire protection systems throughout the property.

If a tamper switch is connected to the automatic fire alarm system or security system, it must report a "supervisory" condition - never an "alarm" condition. Do not discard the red reflector decal provided with the Knox-Box. Fire Department will install this decal to identify the location of the Knox-Box for responding emergency personnel.

Knox-Box products can now be ordered online at the Knox-Box website. Choose a product then enter the zip code of where the box will be installed, or enter Woodland Fire Department. After you fill out the order form and "submit" it, your order will be forwarded to the Fire Prevention Division for pre-approval. You will receive an email stating whether the order is approved or not, and if not, the reason why. You can then proceed with payment and shipping information.

Keys to exterior doors, interior doors, electrical and mechanical rooms, etc., shall be clearly identified using durable tags and on a single ring if possible. After the Knox-Box is installed, the owner or their designee must contact the Fire Prevention Division at 530-661-5857 or by email to schedule an appointment to secure the keys and lock the Knox-Box.

Knox padlocks and key switches operate with the same master key. These items help expedite emergency responders responding to gated communities, apartments, and businesses. Padlocks and switches could be ordered using the same procedure. Knox Padlocks are required where padlocks are used on manual security gates across fire lanes, and where otherwise approved and directed by the Fire Prevention Bureau. Knox Key Switches are required where approved for access control systems, and electric/motorized security gates across fire lanes.

Locking Fire Department Connections (FDC) Caps

In areas that are highly prone to vandalism, tampering, or where non-locking caps are continuously missing, locking Knox FDC caps may be required as directed by the Fire Prevention Bureau. These caps prevent debris from entering and damaging the system, and obstructing water flow.

Further information about Knox-Box Rapid Entry Systems can be obtained at the Knox-Box website.

Anyone who contracts for or bids on a construction project valued at $500 or more (total labor and materials) must be licensed by the State of California Contractors State License Board. Contractors are required by law to be bonded by the State of California and to have a business license from the city or county in which they are performing work. They are also required by law to provide workers’ compensation if they employ or otherwise engage any person to work.

The California State Licensed Board (CSLB) provides information about a contractor’s license, bond and workers’ compensation insurance status, as well as pending and prior legal actions. Free consumer publications and complaint forms are also available from the CSLB. For more information go to the CSLB website, call 1-800-321-CSLB (2752), or write to:
CSLB
P.O. Box 2600
Sacramento, CA 95826

Please visit the Contractor State License Board for guides and pamphlets regarding numerous topics, including but not limited to:

• “Ten Tips for Making Sure Your Contractor Measures Up”
• “What You should Know Before You Hire a Contractor”
• “Information For New Homeowners”
• “Home Improvement Contracts”
• “Preventing Mechanic’s Liens”

A permit may be obtained by either a licensed contractor or the property owner, also known as an owner-builder permit. If the property owner is not performing any of their own work personally, the contractor typically obtains the permit. A frequent practice of unlicensed persons professing to be contractors is to have the property owner secure an “owner--builder” permit, erroneously implying that the property owner is providing his or her own labor and materials personally. If the property owner will be performing all or a portion of the work and wishes to be their own general contractor, an owner-builder permit typically is obtained. Please visit our Owner-builder Information page for additional details.

All construction complaints should be filed through the State of California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) regardless whether the contractor is licensed or unlicensed.

All construction complaints should be filed through the State of California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) regardless whether the contractor is licensed or unlicensed.

An Owner-Builder is a property owner who acts as his or her own general contractor for a home remodeling project and obtains his or her own building permit. Typically property owners obtain owner-builder permits when they are providing all or a portion of their own labor and/or materials personally. An owner-builder assumes responsibility for the overall job which may include, but is not limited to, taxes, insurance, and other legal liabilities.

Please visit these links to check licensing information for:

• Architects: California Architects Board
• Engineers: Professional Engineers/Professional Surveyors
• Contractors: State of California Contractors State License Board

All construction complaints should be filed through the State of California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) regardless whether the contractor is licensed or unlicensed.

Find information about owner-builders responsibilities on the Owner-Builder Responsibilities page.

View our Work that Requires a Permit page for more information.

Learn more about this on the Necessary Repairs / Improvements at Time of Sale page.

Yes. A homeowner can pull a permit to make improvements on their own house. You can do your own design and prepare your own plans as long as they show compliance with all the applicable codes for structural, energy, fire prevention, and life/safety items. You will be responsible for these items. Liability prevents the City from designing your project for you.  

It is recommended in most cases to use the services of a qualified professional. Licensed individuals must be bonded and provide their own workers compensation and liability insurance. This could potentially be a burden for a homeowner not normally covered for these types of exposure. It is recommended that you contact your insurance agent and review your coverage before taking on a project. See the Contractor page for more details.

Problem With a Contractor

The control the Building Division has over contractors is limited at best; generally it begins and ends with activity on an active permit. A disciplinary action against licensed contractors after a job is complete is administered by the Contractors State Licensing Board 800-321-2752. See the Contractor page for more details.

Problem With a Neighbor

Disputes between neighbors are generally considered a civil matter that is decided in the courts. If work is being done without a permit, or a dangerous condition is being created, the Building Division has the authority to issue a stop work order. Conflicts with local zoning ordinances are resolved by the City Code Enforcement Officer. Contact the Code Enforcement Officer at 530-661-5820.

Contact the Building Division for specifics on your project.

Through an agreement with the city’s third-party plan check consultant, applicants generally receive first round plan check comments with 15 days, and within 5-10 days for subsequent submittals, allowing for building permit issuance in less than 4 months. ADU or JADU permit application must be approved or denied within 60 days.

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Plan Check Expiration

Plan review is valid for a period of one year. Contact the Planning Division for information of time extensions for projects reviewed by the Planning Commission.

Permit Expiration

Permits are valid for a period of 12 months from the time of permit issuance. They may be extend once for an additional 180 days by contacting the Building Division.

The City of Woodland uses the following codes:

• 2022 California Building Code (CBC)
• 2022 California Plumbing Code (CPC)
• 2022 California Mechanical Code (CMC)
• 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC)
• 2022 California Residential Code (CRC)
• 2022 California Green Building Code
• 2022 California Existing Building Code
• 1997 Uniform Housing Code
• 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
• 1997 Uniform Security Code
• City of Woodland Municipal Code

It should be noted that these model codes are amended by the State of California and the City of Woodland to include various additional requirements. Standard code questions can be answered by Building Division staff; however, more complex design issues should be referred to a design professional such as an architect or engineer.

• Woodland is in Seismic Category D
• Wind Speed is 85 mph
• Exposure is determined by terrain and chosen by the design professional, but typically within the City of Woodland is considered exposure B or C depending upon your location in the City
• No snow load requirements in City of Woodland

Yes. Shake or any wood products roofing material shall be Class B or better. Treated shakes may be used for reroofing an existing home when installed as a Class B fire rated roofing assembly. Only one additional roof can be placed on an existing roof.

Yes. All fencing must meet setback and height requirements as specified in the City of Woodland Zoning Ordinance. Contact the Planning Division for fence requirements at 530-661-5820.

A building permit is required for fences over six feet in height, retaining walls 36 inches or greater in height, and fences constructed using alternative building material (concrete block, masonry, brick, etc.)

Call 811 to have an Underground Service Alert performed prior to any digging or fence construction.

Yes! Inoperable motor vehicles are not only those that cannot be driven because of needed repairs or damage; it is also a vehicle that cannot be driven on the streets because it is not currently licensed.

The ordinance does not apply to any vehicle(s) or parts thereof which are completely enclosed within a building (garage) in a lawful manner or where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property.

Yes, as long as the vehicle is operable and currently licensed. However, no person who owns or has possession, custody, or control of any vehicle shall place such vehicle upon any street, alley or city parking lot for more than a consecutive period of seventy-two hours - City Code Section 10.08.040.

In the event a vehicle is placed or left standing upon a street, alley or city parking lot in excess of seventy-two hours, the Woodland Police Department may cause such vehicle to be removed from the street, alley or city parking lot in the manner and subject to requirements of the Vehicle Code of the state.

No person shall abandon a vehicle upon public or private property without the express or implied consent of the owner or person in lawful possession or control of the property. Violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor.

“Major vehicle repair” means any maintenance, repair or replacement not listed in the definition of “minor vehicle repair” in this subsection, including, but not limited to, the removal of engines, rebuilding of engines, repair of the internal components, repair or removal of differentials or axles, dismantling of vehicles, and body work.

“Minor vehicle repair” means maintenance, repair or replacement of the alternator, generator, starter, water pump, battery, brakes or part thereof; minor tune-up (which consists of distributor cap, rotor and spark plug replacement); change of oil and filter, fan belt, or hoses; lamp replacement; repair of flat tires; lubrication.

Yes. All major repair work must be performed within a fully enclosed structure. At no time can work be performed outside of the structure. Under no circumstances can a vehicle be painted within a residential neighborhood.

Code Enforcement is a specialized field in that most of the Codes enforced are those that are adopted by the City Council. The Codes reflect the needs of the community. Many of the Codes enforced are related to property issues. In addition we also enforce some State codes and laws, as is the case with building, housing, and health and safety Codes.

Code Enforcement works to maintain neighborhoods by reducing blight and unsafe conditions. By doing this the community as a whole becomes a pleasant and safe place to live and raise a family.

There are numerous items that can be a violation of the City Municipal Code. The most common are: 

• Graffiti on private property
• Illegal encroachments
• Illegal residential vehicle parking
• Inoperable vehicles, personal or commercial, on private property. Inoperable vehicles on the public right-of-way are to be reported to Woodland Police Department at 530-661-7800.
• Rubbish / junk / debris
• Tall dry grass / weeds
• Unpermitted structures

If you feel that a property has a possible violation, you can contact the Code Compliance Division or Woodland Police Department Traffic Division and the appropriate party will investigate the complaint.

Learn how to report a violation on our How to Report a Violation page.

Yes, we keep all personal information confidential unless subpoenaed by a court. However if you choose not to leave a contact name and phone number with the officer, your complaint will receive a lower priority response.

The property owner is ultimately responsible for any Code violations on their property. However in some cases the tenants or business owners can be held responsible for any violations directly linked to their actions.

Contact the Code Compliance Officer prior to the re-inspection date. The officer may provide you additional time to make the corrections provided you have made some progress towards compliance and the violation is not an immediate health and safety hazard.

Always contact the Code Compliance Officer to find out the status of your complaint. Code Enforcement strives for voluntary compliance from the responsible party; this may include extensions of time to gain compliance. All legal processes must be followed and exhausted prior to any direct abatement action taken by the City.

An in-operable vehicle is defined in Section 9.04.020 of the City of Woodland Municipal Code: An "Inoperable vehicle" includes all motorized and nonmotorized vehicles, including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, trailers, recreational vehicles, farm equipment, motorcycles, boats, dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, and dune buggies, which the engine, wheels, tires or other parts have been removed or on which the engine, wheels, tires, or other parts have been altered, damaged or otherwise so treated that the vehicle is incapable of being driven under its own motor power or incapable of being operated on public streets or highways legally. 

A vehicle that is not registered or does not display a current valid license plate and validating sticker shall be deemed inoperable. A vehicle shall be deemed inoperable when it has one or more flat tires or has one or more missing windshield or windows, or has one or more windshield or windows broken to the extent that visibility is limited so as to make driving such vehicle unsafe.

Please see Section 9.04.030 (B)(4) of the Woodland Municipal Code for further details.

While being used, a portable basketball hoop can be placed on the street next to the curb as long as it is not a safety hazard. They should never block a sidewalk or handicap ramp. When not in use they are to be returned to the owner’s property.

Minor vehicle repair may be done on a personal vehicle outside a fully enclosed structure where elapsed time between the beginning and the end of the repair do not exceed forty-eight hours. Painting of any vehicle is not permitted in a residential zone. (Section 9.04.030 (C))

Each property is limited to no more than two sales in one calendar year, each sale cannot be conducted for more than three consecutive days, and signs should not be posted earlier than one day prior and removed within one day after the sale. Please see Section 17.104.150 of the Woodland Municipal Code for further details.

Boundary disputes are personal legal matters and are not within the jurisdiction of the municipality (note: unless a municipal boundary is the subject of the problem). You should consult an attorney or your title company to assist you.

C.C. & R's are rules and regulations for a sub-division; they usually have more restrictive rules than what is in City Code. These rules and regulations are either enforced by a homeowners association or through civil action.

An encroachment is any obstruction on a city street or sidewalk (Public Right of Way). The most common encroachments include, but are not limited to: Basketball hoops, garbage cans (for an extended period of time), rubbish, junk and debris.

You can get more information at the Community Development Department located at:

300 First Street
Woodland CA. 95695

You can also get more information by contacting Code Enforcement at 530-661-5826.

"Blight” means the accumulation of any item, waste matter, or junk, including, but not limited to, inoperable vehicles, or the maintenance of a condition on any premises, visible to the public, for an unreasonable length of time, which may degrade the aesthetic appearance of the neighborhood.

"Junk” means any castoff, damaged, discarded, obsolete, salvage, scrapped, unusable, worn-out or wrecked object, thing or material, composed in whole or in part of asphalt, brick, carbon, cement, plastic or other synthetic substance, fiber, glass, metal, paper, plaster, rubber, terra cotta, wood, wool, cotton, cloth, canvas, organic matter or other substance.

“Waste matter” means any broken bottles, discarded metal containers, trimmings from lawns, trees and flower gardens, ashes, cardboard boxes, rags, mattresses, sawdust, brick, piled dirt, wire, and other combustible and noncombustible and flammable waste material.

The portable play equipment guidelines are outlined in Section 14A-1-3(a) of the City of Woodland Municipal Code.

The Code Compliance Officer periodically surveys the City to monitor play equipment that are located in residential streets and sidewalks.

Anything which is injurious to health or an obstruction to the free uses of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property or unlawfully obstructs the free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any public park, street, alleyway, highway or other public easement is a nuisance.

See Storage of Vehicle Ordinance, Section 9.04.030 (10) of City of Woodland Municipal Code for more details.

The Code Compliance Officer periodically surveys the City to monitor recreational vehicles that are parked in residential front yard and street side yard setbacks.

To determine setbacks for your specific property, please contact the Planning Division at 530-661-5820.

Just as a glass greenhouse traps heat form the sun, greenhouse gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others, in Earth's atmosphere do the same. As higher concentrations of GHGs are emitted, the greenhouse effect is intensified. This causes changes in climate patterns, which can impact the health and welfare of humans, wildlife, agriculture, and other environmental and societal factors.

In order to achieve Woodland's greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, the City, its residents, and local businesses must work together to reduce GHG emissions. The CAP's six focus areas are Energy, Transportation and Land Use, Urban Forest and Open Space, Water and Solid Waste, Public Involvement, and Municipal Operations.

You can do your part in reducing GHG emissions in your community by choosing from a variety of actions and strategies ranging from simple actions, such as switching to LED light bulbs, recycling, composting food scraps, conserving water, or choosing alternative modes of transportation, to more advanced options, such as implementing energy-efficiency retrofit projects at home, replacing a gasoline or diesel vehicle with a hybrid or electric vehicle, converting your lawn to a water-wise landscape, or launching a citizen-led outreach effort. View the Climate Action Plan (PDF) to find simple and advanced ways to do your part in helping to reduce community-wide GHG emissions in Woodland.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are those gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and others) that trap heat in the atmosphere. The buildup of GHGs in earth's atmosphere causes changes in regional and global climate patterns, which can result in impacts on the health and welfare of humans, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and other environmental and societal factors.

California Assembly Bill 32

California Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), signed into law in 2006, committed the state to reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Year 2005 emission levels are used as the standard baseline level. Executive Order S-3-05 established a long-term target to reduce emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. More recently, Senate Bill 32 (SB 32) established an interim target to achieve reductions of 50% below 1990 levels by 2030. To meet this goal, the state encourages local communities to reduce GHG emissions by 15% from baseline levels by 2020 and longer term climate change effects must be addressed in General Plans and project environmental reviews.

Local Climate Action Plan

A local climate action plan is based on the premise that local governments and the communities they represent are uniquely capable of addressing many of the major sources of emissions within their jurisdictions. Local climate action plans typically address an array of activities and planning practices that directly or indirectly affect GHG emissions. The main focuses of GHG reduction strategies are often electricity generation and use, transportation modes and patterns, and land uses, but many other contributing activities and processes are considered as well.

The 2020 Preliminary CAP and current CAP establish GHG-reduction targets that are consistent with state-established goals and provide strategies for achieving those targets. The CAP is intended to provide the community with a well-defined framework related to energy efficiency and climate change effects and streamline future project compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

General Plans

General Plans are now required to address climate change impacts and adaptation policies. The CAP was developed simultaneously with the City's 2035 General Plan Update, which includes specific policy direction to implement the CAP. The 2035 General Plan also contains many goals and policies supporting the CAP that were considered during CAP development and analysis.

CEQA Guidelines

The State CEQA Guidelines require analysis and mitigation of GHG emissions for proposed projects. CEQA review and permitting may be streamlined for projects that are consistent with a Climate Action Plan and accompanying development checklist, once developed. Therefore, a Climate Action Plan can provide project applicants in Woodland with a consistent, predictable, and streamlined approach to greenhouse gas emission analysis and mitigation requirements for CEQA compliance.

Additionally, CAPs and energy-efficiency plans are a requirement for many state and federal grant processes. With adoption and implementation of the CAP, the City of Woodland is prepared to meet grant application requirements when grant opportunities arise.

As a public agency, the City typically contracts for professional and specialized services through the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) process. Rather than based on a quoted dollar amount, our selection is based on an objective scoring system applied to a firm's demonstrated ability to best perform the required work. When determined to be in the best interest of the public, and by specific action of the City Council, the Department also has the ability to award sole source contracts without public competition. 

For more information, please visit the Consultant / Contractor Guide page found on this site.

Learn more about these projects on our Capital Projects page.

For information regarding the steps of the City of Woodland bid process, please refer to the Capital Improvement Project Guide.

The City of Woodland has an established Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program in accordance with regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 49 CFR Part 26. The City of Woodland has received Federal financial assistance from the DOT, and as a condition of receiving this assistance, the City of Woodland will sign an assurance that it will comply with CFR Part 26. You may also contact Community Development Engineering at 530-661-5820 for more information.

Find information about when an inspector is needed on our City Inspector page.

Backflow prevention devices serve to protect the domestic water supply from contamination from unsanitary sources. Backflow prevention assemblies shall be installed per the Standard Specifications and Details (reference Standard Detail No. 760: Backflow Prevention Assembly). Backflow Prevention Assembly Model must be on State Department of Health's current approved list. You will need to contact a certified backflow prevention assembly tester to perform the necessary work. Although the City of Woodland will not recommend one firm over another to perform the work, there are several approved firms who are willing to provide this service. Please feel free to contact the City of Woodland, Public Works Municipal Service Center at 530-661-5692 for more information about these companies.

Prior to city sign-off, tests are due on installation. Contact the City of Woodland, Public Works Municipal Service Center at 530-661-5692 for testing information or click here for the Backflow Prevention Assembly Test Form.

A Traffic Control Plan provides for safe and efficient movement of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians through or around construction activities while also protecting the construction worker and equipment. The City of Woodland requires all TCP submittals to be reviewed by the City Traffic Engineer. All plans need to be in conformance with the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways please reference Part 6 - Temporary Traffic Control. The TCP must be approved prior to initiating construction and impacting traffic flows.

The City has a benchmark network that must be referenced on all surveys submitted to the City. Please refer to the City of Woodland Benchmark Information web page. For more information, see the City Code (refer to Chapter 21 Article 16, Section 21-16-1.).

Simply complete the SNAP Form for yourself, a loved one or client. Make sure to sign and date the form. Drop the form off or mail the form to:

City of Woodland Public Safety

Attention: Special Needs Alert Program (SNAP)

1000 Lincoln Avenue

Woodland, California 95695-4100

There are two options for including a photograph with your alert form:

1. Attach a 4 by 6 printed photograph to your alert form and turn in
2. Email a .jpeg photograph

Please make sure the photograph is only of the registering person (portraits are best). The photograph needs to be of clear quality, recent and preferably in color. Photographs will not be returned to the registrant, so make sure you have an original copy for yourself.

After your Special Needs Alert Program form has been received, it will be processed and entered into the Police and Fire systems. It is up to the Individual or Primary Caregiver or Responsible Party completing the form to keep the information updated and accurate with the City of Woodland Public Safety.

Alert form information can be updated at any time by completing a Special Needs Alert Program form and checking the "Updated Alert" box at the top of the form. The form can then be dropped off or mailed to the Public Safety Department.

No. Completing the form and registering with the Special Needs Alert Program (SNAP) is free of charge.

Bicycles are vehicles and belong to the road the same as automobiles do; they must obey all the traffic laws and road signs just as vehicles do. For example, bicyclists must travel in the same direction as cars do (on the right side of the road). Second, they may use left turn lanes to make turns or use crosswalks. Moreover, bicyclists are not allowed to ride on sidewalks in the City of Woodland, unless posted otherwise. In fact, a rider can be ticketed if caught riding on a sidewalk in an unmarked zone or if a rider is caught riding against the flow of traffic.

Safety

But the most important rule of all is safety. A rider under the age of 18 must wear a helmet by law, although all riders should wear helmets at all times. Please beware of parked cars with opening doors, pedestrians, and wet weather.

For more information on the California Vehicle Code Sections for Bicycles, Bicycle Rules and Safety Tips and more General Bicycle Information, please refer to the Department of Motor Vehicles Bicycle Rules and Safety Page.

The City of Woodland Neighborhood Traffic Management Program is an attempt to reduce the negative aspects of traffic (volumes, speeds, and / or accidents) in residential neighborhoods by preparing a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan that would implement traffic calming measures. The goal of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan is to achieve consensus on what traffic calming measures should be taken on a street.

Calming Measures

Traffic calming measures can sometimes be controversial within a neighborhood. This is because traffic calming measures also have negative impacts. Possible negative impacts include, but are not limited to, loss of on-street parking, less convenient access, and increased traffic levels on adjacent streets. A Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan will attempt to balance the negative impacts with the desired objectives of the traffic calming program.

Traffic calming is a strategy intended to reduce the impact of motor vehicle traffic on a City street. Usually this strategy is implemented in residential areas. Traffic calming measures can be any combination of roadway modifications, planning features, or traffic control devices that are intended to slow cars down or lower the volume of traffic.

There are three levels of traffic calming:

1. Education and Enforcement seeks to reduce speeds through increased neighborhood awareness.
2. Passive Measures are signing and striping effects that are intended to influence speed or volumes. Regulatory signs, landscape, and pavement markings are passive measures.
3. Active Measures are physical changes to a roadway. Examples of active measures include speed humps and road closures.

The City has adopted a multi-step process for the construction of traffic calming features on a public street. To see a summary of the steps, please click here.

Whether you need an annual or daily transportation permit for your oversized vehicle, please contact the City of Woodland Community Development Department, Engineering Division, or download and print the permit form (PDF) yourself. If you need help filling out your City of Woodland Transportation Permit, please contact us, or follow the instructions (PDF) that can be used in conjunction with the guide (PDF) provided on this website.

If you need more information regarding your oversized vehicle, please contact the City of Woodland Community Development Engineering office at 530-661-5820.

The primary function of any traffic signal is to assign the right-of-way at an intersection or crossing. The familiar red, yellow, and green lights allow pedestrians and conflicting streams of traffic to share the same intersection by means of time separation.

The City installs traffic signals in accordance with established State and Federal guidelines called warrants. City traffic staff review intersections using these warrants.

Similar to traffic signals, stop signs must meet warrants (guidelines) for installation. If you would like request that a study be performed to evaluate a location for a stop sign, please contact us.

Citizen Input

The Traffic Engineering Division gets over 200 requests, suggestions, and complaints each year and investigates each one as quickly as possible. We value your input and appreciate your patience and understanding while we are resolving problems or answering your questions.

If you feel there is a lack of lighting on your residential street and would like to petition for additional street lights on your street, you may submit your request via email or by calling 530-661-5820.

If there is an obvious malfunction with an existing City traffic signal, please contact the City of Woodland Public Works Municipal Service Center at 530-661-5962 during normal business hours. Malfunctions include a signal that has been knocked over, a signal that is stuck in red phase, or not turning green for a particular direction, or a signal with lights out. 

Please be prepared to provide the location of the signal (the intersecting streets), the direction in which it is affecting, and a description of the problem.

The City of Woodland typically will not place temporary stop signs at an intersection with inoperative traffic signals because it is the recommendation of the State and Federal guidelines to not post temporary signs.  One of the major reasons for the guideline is that if the signal returns to power and is operating with a stop sign in place, it causes confusion for the drivers, and creates traffic conflicts.

Please visit our Neighborhood Traffic Management Program information page for more information.

In most cases, lowering the speed limit on certain streets will not slow traffic. The majority of motorists travel at a speed in which they feel is reasonable speed given the surroundings of the street, regardless of what the posted speed limit signs read. The basic speed law states that no person shall drive at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent. 

Therefore, the State of California has established the 85th percentile, or critical speed as the sensible speed. This is the speed at which 85% of the motorists are traveling at or below.

Stop signs are not a traffic calming method for speed reduction and in most cases will actually increase mid-block speeds as people speed to 'regain' time lost by stopping. Stop signs can only be posted in warranted locations. If you would like to request a stop sign please contact us.

The convenient street parking and several parking lots in downtown Woodland are close to Main Street and range from all day to hourly. See a map (PDF) that shows all of the public parking lots in the downtown area.  For more information about parking in Woodland, please see the Downtown Parking Management Plans.

View an informational flyer on crosswalks (PDF).

The City ordinance reads that no foliage or structural features shall extend into the cross visibility area between three and one-half feet and seven feet above the surface of the public sidewalk area or shoulder. The intent of this restriction is to keep free a walkway without interference by or with vehicular travel. 

No encroachment of any nature will be permitted or maintained which impedes, obstructs or denies such pedestrian or other lawful travel within the limits of the right-of-way or which impairs sight distance for safe pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Furthermore, the permitted or the owner of the adjacent property shall maintain the hedges, shrubs, walls, fences or similar structures erected for landscaping purposes in a neat and orderly condition at all times.

Please contact the City of Woodland Public Works Department at 530-661-5962.

Please contact the City of Woodland Public Works Department at 530-661-5962.

With the passage of Measure E, the City set a goal of resurfacing every local street within the life of the sales tax measure. Currently we are on track to meet that goal by 2018 with the tax sunsets. If you would like information specific to your street or neighborhood please contact us.

Streets that are scheduled to be resurfaced generally need significant prep work provided first. In some cases, the amount of prep work is extensive and residents on occasion don't realize that it is only prep work. The final product however may be a slurry seal or cape seal applied one year following the prep work.

There are various levels of resurfacing needs however history has shown that maintaining good roads in condition is significantly less expensive than waiting until they fail and completely rebuilding them. The purpose of sealing the roads is to protect against premature aging and extend the life of the asphalt. Think of it like sunblock for your roads! If you have further questions, please contact us.

Please contact the City of Woodland Public Works Department at 530-661-5962.

Please contact the City of Woodland Police Department at 530-661-7800.

Metal or Concrete Streetlight

If the pole is metal or concrete, please contact the City of Woodland Public Works Department at 530-661-5962. Please note the pole number indicated approximately 8 inches above the ground.

Wooden Streetlight

If the pole is wooden, please contact Pacific Gas and Electric Company at 800-743-5000.

Different styles of lights work at different color temperatures. Most of the white or blue looking lights are the newly installed LED light fixtures that were installed as an energy and money saving measure. The yellowish colored lights are typically high pressure sodium lights.

Traffic Loop

Most of the City's traffic signals have a way to detect vehicles and bicycles. Some locations have a loop of wire placed in the roadway that can determine when a vehicle or bicycle is present. Many newer signals have the bicycle detector symbol (small bike symbol) on the loop in the locations where a cyclist is most likely to be detected by a signal.

Video Detection

In a few locations where traffic loops are not feasible, the City has used video detection. The video detection system works by providing an image to a small computer that can detect a change in the image and determine the presence of a vehicle or bicycle.

Video detection can sometimes be compromised by the environment: fog, dust, shadows, trees, headlights and the reflection of the son on the asphalt can all have adverse effects on the accuracy of detection.

Crime reports are available from the Police Department per the terms of the California Public Records Act and California Government Code Section 7921.000 at the front counter during business hours for $5 up to 50 pages. Photo ID is required. If you have any questsions contact us at 530-661-7800.

Traffic Collision reports can be accessed online. In order to locate the report, you must enter the State and Jurisdiction and one of the following: 

• Last Name and Date of Incident or Last Name and Street
• Report Number

Yes, solicitors are required to avoid homes and businesses where "No Soliciting" signs are posted and clearly visible from all entrances onto the property. An individual is in violation of the ordinance if they choose to knock at a door where such signs are posted. Religious and political organizations are exempt from this ordinance. Solicitors are required to carry and be prepared to show a business license issued by the City. Violations of the ordinance can be reported to the police department by calling the non - emergency dispatch number at 530-666-2411.

Learn more by reading our Police Observation Devices (PODs) Policy (PDF).

As part of a city-wide joint effort the Woodland Police Department has established an email and hotline number for citizens to use to inform us of homeless related issues or concerns. Report issues or concerns by :

• Email
• Hotline phone: 530-661-7879

Note: If the issue is something that requires immediate police attention such as a crime in progress please either dial 911 or 530-666-2411 as this phone line will not be monitored 24 hours 7 days a week.

If you see the application of graffiti in progress, please call 911. If you see graffiti already applied, please contact the Police Dispatch at 530-666-2411 or email photos with location information.

Parking ticket fines can be mailed or paid directly at the Police Department at 1000 Lincoln Avenue.

You may obtain a Request for Parking Citation Review Form (PDF) from the front office of the Police Department. The form must be filled out completely and returned to the Police Department with a photocopy of the citation within 21 days of the citation date. You will be notified by mail if your request has been accepted or denied. If you have questions, or for additional information, please contact us at 530-661-7800.

Click HERE for more information on the low income payment option.

Click HERE for the application for a low income payment option.

Please see the City policy on the use of the Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) (PDF).

A makerspace is an area dedicated to education through creation where users can imagine, explore, and collaborate in hands-on learning, design, and production. The Makerspace Movement has gained momentum in recent years worldwide as a creative, collaborative space outside home, school, and work to explore and learn. This movement aligns with the library's mission to provide education and literacy to the community. "Libraries have always been on the forefront of providing public access to emerging technology that isn't readily available to most consumers," stated Greta Galindo, Woodland Public Library Director.

The name of the space, 745.5 Square One, refers to the Dewey Decimal classification (how the library sorts nonfiction books) for ‘handcrafts' (745.5) and to the place people return when they need to rethink an idea or try again (Square One).

Square One will provide the opportunity for patrons to learn important skills that can be used in the workforce-from drafting and design to the hands-on work of crafting circuit boards. Square One is designed to be a modular space to bring together the community to share knowledge and collaboratively problem solve. The central design hub, sponsored by Sunrise Rotary, consists of a dozen laptops and 8 work tables that can be rearranged for classes, large projects, or smaller group work. Surrounding the design hub are 5 work areas:

1. A prototyping area
2. An art and textiles area
3. An enclosed wood shop
4. An electronics bench
5. And a digital arts station

These areas have all been created to be flexible spaces that can expand or contract as classes, presentations, and use require.

Square One's opening marks the culmination of two years of work, planning, construction, and collaboration with numerous organizations. This project was funded through Measure E and J funds, and the generous financial support of:

• California State Library and the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
• Dan Chervinskas from American Industrial Coatings
• Dowling Family
• Luna Vista Rotary
• Meg and Tom Stallard
• Pavel and Alla Tkachuk at the Woodland Sewing and Vacuum Center
• Sunrise Rotary
• Thordsen Family

The Woodland Public Library thanks our generous community for their support of Square One.

The possibilities are endless!

There are 6 maker areas in Square One with the following equipment:

• Design Hub - 8 movable tables, 6 laptops and mice
• Digital Arts - 2 desktops with photo and video editing software, black and white photo backdrops, a green screen, still and video cameras
• Electronics - 3 soldering stations, an oscilloscope, 3 multi-meters
• Prototyping - laser cutter, 3D printers, desktop CNC router
• Textiles - sewing machines, jewelry making
• Woodshop - panel saw, ShopBot CNC router, drill press, scroll saw, sander, hand tools

Please view our calendar to see what classes are available to take.

All city residents are invited to share in our community resource, Square One.

• In order to use the space, users must bring a valid Woodland Public Library card in good standing and a photo ID. 
• Residents outside of Woodland are welcome to the space, provided they obtain a library card and understand priority is given to Woodland residents.
• Because the space contains multiple work areas and makers working on projects, closed-toed shoes are required in Square One.
• Food and drink may not be brought past the lobby area. Water bottles with lids are permitted on the Design Hub tables.

All users must have a signed waiver (PDF) (minor waiver (PDF)) on file.

Visit these resources to learn more:

• Carvey
• Instructables
• Inventables
• Silhouette
• YouTube

This software is available:

• Adobe Suite
• Corel Suite
• Silhouette Studio
• ULS
• US Cutter
• V-Carve Pro

All requests for public records should be directed to the City Clerks Office. Download a copy of the Public Records Request Form (PDF). You can email the form to the City Clerk or fax it to 530-661-5813.

Anyone may initiate a request for public records. For questions please call the City Clerk at 530-661-5806.

Public Records requests may be used to obtain "agency records," which include a wide variety of documents and other materials (including print, photographic, and electronic formats) that were created or obtained by a city agency and are, at the time the request is filed, in the department's possession and control.

A city agency receiving a request for documents under the Public Records Act has 10 days in which to respond to the request.

Fees for copies are $0.10 per page, unless the requested document has an established statutory fee. The cost of CDs and audio tapes will vary depending on the specific request. For questions please call the City Clerk at 530-661-5806.

Public records are open to inspection during regular business hours, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for city holidays. The office of the City Clerk is located at:
300 First Street
Woodland, CA  95695

Woodland’s water has historically been derived from groundwater wells with water hardness levels that averaged about 18 grains per gallon.  For this reason, water softeners have been a popular choice for many Woodland residents over the years. With completion of the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency’s Surface Water Treatment Plant in mid-2016, Woodland’s primary water source is now surface water pumped from the Sacramento River. 

This water averages about 4 grains per gallon and is considered to be moderately hard. Some Woodland residents have found that lower hardness has allowed them to reduce or even discontinue water softener use.

If you continue to use a water softener, it pays to make sure that it's operating efficiently. If you are using more than 50 pounds of salt per month for a household of 4 people, you could be wasting money and needlessly discharging excess salt to the environment.

• Check to see if your water softener is operating correctly
• Consider upgrading your older water softer to a fully automatic demand-initiated regeneration unit
• Consult with your water softener manufacturer for tips on running your unit economically and efficiently

Learn how water softeners work by visiting our How Water Softeners Work page.

The County of Yolo handles all animal control for the City of Woodland and the surrounding areas. You can contact Animal Control at 530-668-5287,

State laws require that dogs are licensed. For more information, visit the County Animal Services page or email petlicensing@yolocounty.gov. 

County Animal Services provides animal services to the City of Woodland. For more information, please visit their website.

2640 East Gibson
Woodland, CA 95776 

530-668-5287

Shelter Office Hours:

• Monday: 10 am – 5 pm
• Tuesday – Friday: 10 am – 5 pm
• Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
• Sunday: Closed

The Shelter is Closed on all County Observed Holidays

The most current Point-In-Time study of homeless in Yolo County took place on January 23, 2017. The number of homeless individuals in Woodland counted at that time was 131, the lowest number in the last eight years.  

However, most believe that this count underestimates the number of sheltered and unsheltered people living in Woodland. Over the past ten months, the City of Woodland’s Homeless Outreach Street Team (HOST) of the Woodland Police completed 582 field interviews of homeless individuals. Some individuals were interviewed on more than one occasion.  However, 285 of those interviews were found to be unique individuals. 

The Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) study takes place every two years on one given night in January. Required by the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for those communities that receive federal funding, only those individuals meeting the federal definition of homelessness can be included in the count. The federal definition of homelessness includes individuals who are living in places not meant for human habitation; living in an emergency shelter; living in transitional housing; or staying in a motel paid for by a public or private agency.

Each count is comprised of two categories: those sheltered and those unsheltered. In 2017, the number of unsheltered individuals in Woodland was 51; the number of sheltered individuals was 80. Previous numbers of sheltered and unsheltered individuals are shown in Table 1 below.

Point in Time/Year  

2009 – 145

2011 – 151

2013 – 186

2015 – 192

2017 – 131

The City of Woodland has developed a Homeless Action Plan to guide policies and allocation of resources to better manage the issues associated with homelessness, increasing the availability of housing for extremely low-income individuals and families, and expanding availability and capacity of services.  Highlights of the Homeless Action Plan include:  

I. Managing Issues

The growing number of homeless individuals in our community has resulted in a significant amount of City resources being diverted to addressing the impacts of homelessness in our parks, neighborhoods and business districts.  While we work to find long-term strategies and solutions to the underlying causes of homelessness we are equally focused on managing the impacts of homelessness and, in so doing, maintain a high quality of life for our residents and a welcoming place for visitors.  A significant portion of our citywide Homeless Action Plan is specifically focused on managing homeless issues by reducing impacts on the community.  The following highlights several of the initiatives the City has undertaken, and continues to advance:

• Establishment of a Homeless Outreach Street Team, under the supervision of the Woodland Police Department to coordinate city response to complaints and incidents related to homelessness
• Developed partnerships with CalTrans and railroads to better coordinate clean-up of encampments along right-of-ways adjacent to freeways and railroad lines within the city.
• Review and update of City Ordinances to include:
  • Blighted Properties
  • Abandoned Property
  • Shopping Carts
  • Illegal Camping
  • Park Curfews
• Hiring private security to monitor activity in and around the Woodland Public Library
• Installing surveillance cameras at selected locations throughout the City
• Coordinating with the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office to pursue prosecution of individuals responsible for high number of criminal incidents and/or excessive “failure to appear” violations.

II. Increasing Permanent Housing:  Woodland Micro-Neighborhood Proposal

With the goal of increasing affordable housing, the City conceived of Woodland Micro-Neighborhood, a mixed-income development of approximately 100 for-rent single and duplex micro-dwellings that will include individuals who are homeless. It will emerge in three phases over three years.  The first phase, comprised of 60 micro-houses, will provide shelter for the most vulnerable—those who are homeless or unstably housed.  Phases two and three will yield an additional 40 micro-houses for those with moderate incomes.  Manufactured homes will range in size from 320 square feet studios to two bedrooms. 

Progress regarding Phase One for those who are homeless includes the following:

• In July, the City received notification of a grant from the Partnership HealthPlan’s Innovation Fund as seed money toward first 60 micro-dwellings. 
• Partners on the first phase of the project are Friends of Mission as the property owner and developer. Woodland nonprofit agencies Fourth and Hope and Woodland Opportunity Village will operate the programs on-site.  
• Staff and partners are considering different sites and exploring other public and private funding opportunities.  The project is estimated to cost approximately $5.5 million for the first 60 homes, an average of $95,000 per unit.  

III. Expanding Service Availability and Capacity

Over the past months, the City has expanded service availability and capacity to those who are homeless. 

• Social Services Manager—The first Social Services Manager has been hired and will begin work on September 3 providing street services alongside the HOST team.
• Multi-Disciplinary Team Meetings—Under the County’s facilitation, Woodland Police, representative from the City Manager’s Office, Dignity Health, and others meet monthly to coordinate efforts on individuals living homeless and address barriers to housing and services. 
• Additional County Services—At the request of Woodland Police, the County’s Health and Human Services Agency has assigned a licensed mental health clinician to team with HOST to respond to field situations where mental health expertise is needed.  Additionally, the County has assigned a program manager to oversee the federal grant under contract between the County and Fourth and Hope.  This program manager directs the Fourth and Hope staff who provide outreach services in conjunction with law enforcement in each of the cities. 
• Capital Expansion of Fourth and Hope—Fourth and Hope has requested additional Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to enclose the courtyard at its shelter, adding bathrooms, showers, and more capacity for day programming. The Council approved the funding in August 2018.

First and foremost, it is important to recognize that being homeless is not a crime.  Officers typically will evaluate each incident involving homeless individuals and determine the best option for getting the behavior to stop. This could include counseling, referral to services, warnings, or arrest. 

The Woodland Police Department has arrested homeless individuals for a multitude of crimes to include illegal camping, trespass, defecating or urinating in public, public intoxication, drug crimes, and many other violations of the California Penal and Vehicle Codes.  Thus far in 2018, officers have arrested 997 homeless for various crimes which amounts to 43% of total adult arrests.

While many of the illegal activities sometimes associated with homeless individuals are currently classified as misdemeanors (and amount to little more than a citation), the Woodland Police Department and Yolo County’s District Attorney’s Office are working to ensure that individuals who are repeatedly cited for offenses, have outstanding warrants and/or have accumulated excessive “failure to appear” violations are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The majority of the homeless who frequent Freeman Park are clients of the Fourth and Hope homeless shelter.  The shelter provides overnight beds for up to 73 individuals as well as three meals a day.  The shelter is currently open from seven days a week from 4:00 pm to 7:00 am, and clients are not allowed to stay on premises during daytime hours (except for noontime meals and for four hours one-day-a-week for showers and laundry).

With the pending closure of Freeman Park to accommodate the construction of the Downtown Hotel Project, the City is working to provide several options for homeless who currently frequent the park.  The goal is to minimize the displacement of homeless individuals to other neighborhood parks during the hotel construction project, and beyond.

• The City is working with Fourth and Hope to expand shelter services to include daytime services five days / week.  Expanding services at the shelter, to coincide with the closure of Freeman Park, is intended to address the problem of homeless gravitating to the park when the shelter is not open.
• The City is also exploring the possibility of identifying another location where homeless who currently frequent Freeman Park may choose to locate, both during the daytime as well as for limited overnight stay.  This is concept is partially to address the few individuals who sleep in and around Freeman Park.
• Finally, as the Downtown Hotel Project will result in the demolition of the Freeman Park restroom as well as the building that formerly housed the Toy Library, the city expects Freeman Park to be less attractive as a place for homeless to congregate when the park is reopened - to the extent that homeless individuals are attracted to Freeman Park due to the presence of these facilities 

Housing First is a homeless assistance approach or framework that champions permanent housing as a solution for those who are homeless. Access to programs is not contingent on sobriety, minimum income requirements, lack of a criminal record, completion of treatment, participation in services, or other unnecessary conditions. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) prioritizes Housing First proposals in its annual funding to local regions.

Deviating from past practice of “transitioning” those without homes through a temporary house or apartment in which individuals and families must prove or demonstrate their readiness to live in a permanent home, Housing First is built upon the belief that everyone needs a permanent place to live before successfully addressing mental health, illegal drug use, employment and other issues.  The Housing First model has two components:

• Rapid Re-Housing for individuals who are temporarily homeless and need little support to obtain employment or maintain housing.  The tenets of rapid re-housing are:  1) Find housing quickly 2) Help pay and 3) Help stay. In this current year, Yolo County Center for Families receives $265,000 and continues to provide rapid re-housing for families.  The majority targets those who have lost their housing. A small portion, $25,000 can be used for eviction prevention.
• Permanent Supported Housing for those who are chronically homeless and need supportive services such as case management, substance abuse or mental health counseling, and assistance in locating and maintaining employment.

On September 29, 2016, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 1380 into law making California a Housing First state that requires all state programs targeted to end homelessness to incorporate Housing First into its core principles. The Woodland City Council also adopted Housing First as its approach to homelessness.

Although the word “homeless” is used to describe those who are unhoused, research indicates that differences exist in characteristics and effective interventions among individuals who find themselves without shelter.  If temporarily or situationally homeless due to a recession or other life events, the preferred intervention is rapid re-housing.  Transitional housing is no longer seen as the preferred paradigm for most although it is still viewed as effective for those recovering from domestic violence.  Those who are chronically homeless generally suffer from severe disabilities and respond best to permanent supportive housing.

Although research has provided best practices and guidance on effective interventions, there is no “silver bullet” to ending homelessness.  The issue is multi-faceted; individuals and families who are homeless range from those experiencing short-term money issues to others with lifelong incapacities from poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol use, deinstitutionalization (the right of those with disabilities to live in the least restrictive environment), incarceration and unemployment. To date, recommendations include a combination of interventions including prevention, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing.

Not everyone living on the streets wants to move indoors, but the overwhelming majority do. Woodland police officers on the Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) and their social service partners have found that more than half of those living on the streets have asked for help with housing.  Others make different choices after establishing trusting relationships with police officers and outreach workers, resulting in their eventual request for housing and accompanying services.  The smallest group, approximately 10 percent, remain steadfast in their desire to continue to live unhoused.  These individuals can benefit from ongoing outreach services and check-ins as to their health and well-being.

What we do know is that no single person or no one community organization can solve homelessness. The most effective strategy to making headway on this complex social issue is to strategically and collaboratively work together. Government, faith-based organizations, businesses, schools, and residents are all needed to work toward housing for all. This is accomplished by taking steps incrementally over time to increase housing and service options for those chronically homeless and preventing homelessness whenever possible for those already housed.

Policy and housing experts concur that prevention is a critical part to eradicating homelessness.  Strategies that keep people housed or return them to housing quickly, such as rapid re-housing programs, are an essential component to turning the curve on homelessness. While difficult at times to dedicate limited funds to keeping people housed when people currently unhoused require immediate attention, prevention efforts avoid the high costs of returning individuals and families to housing once homeless.

In 2015, Santa Clara County published the largest and most comprehensive body of information that was assembled in the United States to date analyzing the public costs of homelessness.  Authored by the Economic Roundtable, the report can be found at www.destinationhomesv.org. Among other results, this study concluded that the Santa Clara community had a significant opportunity to use public funds more efficiently.

The results indicate that the top 5% of the homeless population accounts for 47% of all public costs.  By prioritizing those who are chronically homeless for housing, it is possible to obtain savings that greatly exceed the cost of housing.

In addition, the study found that the top 10% of high cost utilizers had an average public cost of $62,473; the average cost after being housed was $19,767, an annual cost reduction of $42,706 for those who remained housed.

Data from the study suggests that communities adopt the following three strategies in their efforts to reduce homelessness:

• Invest in homeless prevention.  Once individuals and families lose their housing, it is costly and hard to get them back into housing.
• Expand local rapid re-housing programs.  Participate in federal grant programs and invest in local programs that provide funding to return those who are recently unhoused to housing.  This interrupts the slippery slope to chronic homelessness.  
• Build permanent supportive housing and create new housing.  Coupling housing and supportive services is the most effective strategy for those with a history of chronic homelessness.  Redirecting public funds such as those used to police and clean-up encampments and the inappropriate use of hospitals and emergency rooms, results in less public spending and greater stability and well-being for those who are chronically homeless.

This City has developed, and is well underway, to implement a pilot work program for transitioning individuals experiencing homelessness to re-enter the work force. This pilot program with foster four individuals to supported employment through job coaching and work experience. This pilot program is in collaboration between the City of Woodland and Yolo Community Care Continuum (YCCC), marking the first local employment project to reduce the vast number of individuals who are living homeless and support the national model to “End Homelessness”. The City of Woodland’s Community Services Department will train the YCCC Job Coach on park cleaning and beautification. The Job Coach will provide support and encouragement to the selected individuals in an effort to encourage consistency in attendance, motivate strong work ethic, and model necessary attributes to gain confidence for workforce re-entry. Supported employment will run the busy park months of March through June, three days a week, for up to 4 hours each day. Incentives will be offered for milestones of consistent attendance, stability on the job, and longevity. When the project shows success, after 16-weeks, participants could be interviewed for employment. Each participant will be given a reference for work completed and opportunity to attend a resume writing workshop. This project will greatly reduce the homelessness stigma while increasing community success.

PIT, the acronym for Point-In Time, is an unduplicated count on a single night of the people in a community who are experiencing homelessness. The count includes both sheltered and unsheltered populations. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires this count be conducted for communities that receive federal funding. This count is conducted the last week of January. Point-In Time counts are important because they establish the dimensions of the problem of homelessness and help local jurisdictions identify needs. Additionally, this count can inform the public and determine community patterns to better serve the target population. The most recent data collection for Yolo County was conducted on January 23, 2019. Each City used unique methodology according to specific geography and population variations. In Woodland, the count was conducted with the help of twenty one volunteers and employees from government and community agencies. The 2019 count was executed in a strategic manner to gather and report accurate data. The acquired information has been submitted to Yolo County Health and Human Service Agency for analysis. The County's final report, which will include each City's numbers, is available online by clicking the following link: https://www.cityofwoodland.org/DocumentCenter/View/4568/Yolo-County-Homeless-Count-2019 

City of Davis: https://cityofdavis.org/residents/social-services/homelessness-resources-and-information 

City of West Sacramento: https://www.cityofwestsacramento.org/Home/Components/News/News/1347/67 

There are a couple of ways to report an abandoned shopping cart:

Call Toll Free: (888) 992-4778

Fill out a report online: https://www.retailsolutionshq.com/report-carts

Applications are received a minimum of 60 days before the event and are considered at the Special Events Committee meetings held on the first Tuesday of every month. It is recommended that event applications be submitted four to six months before the event, especially larger events involving street closures.

There is a $100 application fee due at the end of the first Special Events Committee meeting. Any street closures, Police, Fire or other Public Works costs will be billed at the end of the event. Fee waivers are at the discretion of the Special Events Committee.

No, block parties are handled separately by the Police Department. Contact Police staff for more information at (530) 661-7800.

Yes, all first time event organizers must meet with the committee in order to understand the process from beginning to end.

Occasionally this type of event is covered under personal homeowner's insurance. If it is not covered, then separate insurance needs to be obtained. Working with YCPARMIA coverage is designed to satisfy the City's requirements for insurance and additional insurance endorsements. The cost for the one-day coverage depends on various factors but typically ranges from $83 to $250.  For more information, contact YCPARMIA at (530) 666-4456.

Prior to implementation of the Woodland Research and Technology Park Specific Plan, and prior to future development within the plan area, various entitlements are required and entail approval action by the Woodland City Council as the lead agency and/or other responsible agencies such as the Yolo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo). The following entitlements (typical of specific plans generally) will apply to the proposed Woodland Research and Technology Park project:

1. Certification of the project Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Mitigation Monitoring Plan - City Council will take action to approve and certify the project EIR and Mitigation Monitoring Program for the Specific Plan.
2. Specific Plan Approval/Adoption and General Plan Amendment - City Council will take action to approve and adopt the Specific Plan and amend the General Plan to create a new City of Woodland land use designation of Woodland Research and Technology Park Specific Plan and amend the Woodland City Limits boundary. This action will also include approval of the LAND PLAN, project design guidelines and performance standards, affordable housing plan and climate action/greenhouse gas reduction strategies for the research/technology park and residential neighborhoods.
3. Prezoning - City Council will take action to approve the “pre-zoning” of the land within the specific plan area boundary based on the approved land plan in preparation of subsequent annexation of the project site into the Woodland City Limit.
4. Development Agreement - City Council will approve a Development Agreement for the WRTP to provide certainty and mutual assurances to the City and the project applicant regarding plan build out.
5. Annexation - City Council will authorize and direct staff to pursue annexation of the project area into the city limits through LAFCo.

Prior to City Council action on the above listed entitlements, a fiscal impact report and establishment of project financing mechanisms (“Project Financing Plan”) will be provided to council for its consideration. 

The Draft WRTP Specific Plan was made available for public review in November 2020.  Community and stakeholder meetings and presentations began in January 2021 and will continue through the Spring to provide information about the project and allow attendees to ask questions and provide comments on the proposed Specific Plan.   Comments and questions are encouraged now and throughout the process and can be provided via email to: ResearchPark@cityofwoodland.org, or during any future public hearing at the Planning Commission or City Council.  

A detailed project schedule and information regarding opportunities for public comment can be found online at  https://www.cityofwoodland.org/584/Community-Outreach-Public-Hearing-Inform, or by clicking HERE.   Please note, the schedule is subject to change and will be updated online accordingly.   

To keep apprised of future meeting and/or public hearing dates, and the availability of documents, please email ResearchPark@cityofwoodland.org and request to be added to the project’s email listserv. 

The Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and associated technical studies were released for public review and comment in May 2021.  The DEIR and associated technical studies are available online HERE.  Hard copies of the document can be viewed at City Hall, 300 First Street, Community Development Department. 

Upon release of the DEIR, a 45-day public review and comment period was held, during which time the report was presented to the Woodland Planning Commission at a noticed public hearing.  The formal comment period closed on July 2, 2021.  Since this date, the city staff have worked with its environmental consultant and the project applicant team to incorporate recommendations received, where feasible, and/or respond to comments provided.       

Prior to City Council approval and adoption of the WRTP Specific Plan, the Woodland Planning Commission and City Council will receive and be asked to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), which will include a "response to comments" received during the 45-day public comment period and any final edits/updates to the EIR and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan.  The Final EIR and related documents will be made available to the public prior to the Planning Commission and City Council hearings.  It is anticipated that the City Council will take action on the FEIR during a public hearing in late Summer 2023.   

[Updated July 2023]

It is anticipated that phase one of project development could begin as early as 2024, upon adoption of the Specific Plan by the Woodland City Council.  The 350-acre plan area will likely build out over 15 to 20 years and dependent on market demand.

[Updated July 2023]

The Specific Plan is not prescriptive with regard to businesses that locate in the plan area provided they are consistent with the plan area zoning requirements.  However, it is expected users will include companies involved in ag technology, seed technology, life sciences, environmental science, food science, advanced manufacturing, professional office and numerous related fields. The market will determine the business absorption rate, but it is expected there will continue to be demand for these uses and at this location.  

Companies focused on research and development, laboratory science, and advanced manufacturing will continue to need a physical location to do business and development new and cutting edge technologies.   Regionally and throughout the Bay Area, demand for lab space is growing and vacancy rates are extremely low.  In Woodland, Light Industrial and Flex space that would accommodate growing and new companies is at less than 1% vacancy, an all-time low.  Woodland is the center of agriculture in Northern California and located strategically near UC Davis.  Companies locating or expanding in the Technology Park will look to take advantage of Woodland’s long history and industry strengths in the food and agricultural sector, the project’s proximity to UC Davis, a leading research university in crop science, and to adjacent agricultural land and open space for field trials.

While priority will not be expressly granted to any businesses allowed under the zoning, the City of Woodland Economic Development Division actively works with local businesses to assist in their expansion or relocation needs.   Given these existing relationships, the city has already begun to develop a list of local businesses that have expressed interest in (re)locating in the project and will work to facilitate placement of local businesses in the Technology Park.   Additionally, incubating new companies is a core objective of the project.  To that end the City will be partnering with the developer and other organizations such as Woodland-based AgStart to invest in facilities and programs to support start up companies.  

A key guiding principle of the project is talent retention and the creation of career opportunities and upward mobility for Woodland residents.  The City and applicant team have met with representatives of Woodland Community College and the Woodland Joint Unified School District on long-term workforce development initiates to prepare Woodland residents for the careers the plan area will provide.  Already underway, and continuing as the Research and Technology Park builds out, the city and applicant team will engage with representatives from industry and academia to identify skillset needs of existing and prospective technology-based companies.  New career training pathways as well as mentorship and internship programs will be formally developed for Woodland residents seeking local career opportunities with higher earning potential.

UC Davis does not have a formal development partnership in the project and unlike Aggie Square, they do not own the land.  However, the project will provide opportunities for UC Davis to develop facilities and/or programs aligned with the project plan should they desire to do so.  The City and development team have had preliminary discussion with University representatives and once a project is entitled will re-engage to explore potential opportunities to partner.  

The 44-acre Village Center is specifically planned as the core center of the entire development.  The size and the location is planned based on successful mixed use developments in a similar context.  The Village Center’s 3.5 acre mixed use zone will allow for a mix of smaller format commercial spaces and mixed-use buildings that will accommodate uses such as retail/food venues and co-working spaces on the ground floor, with residential and office uses permitted on second and third floors. The retail uses are anticipated to serve both the surrounding office/Technology Park and residential neighborhoods.  

 “The Yard,” an 11-acre linear park, located immediately north of the mixed-use retail zone, is the physical center and social heart of the Village Center and the broader plan area. Envisioned as a largely passive green space, The Yard will serve as a shared “front porch” for the broader Tech Park community.  

A mix of low density (VCLDR) and medium density (VCMDR) residential units are located on the eastern portion of the Village Center District.  Contemporary row house, townhouse, small lot and detached units will provide a variety of housing opportunities for those that desire a more centrally located and lively residential experience.  Residential units within the Village Center will help foster an active mixed-use District well past traditional office hours, bolstering the viability of retail and commercial uses. 

It is anticipated that the Village Center mixed use zone will build out as commercial/office uses in the Technology Park and the residential area also build out creating demand for retail/restaurant amenities. See Chapter 2, Section 2.4.2 of the Specific Plan for a more detailed description of the Village Center planning district.

Uses allowed in the Specific Plan Area are outlined in the “Permitted Use Table” found in Chapter 3 of the Specific Plan or HERE.    Whether a listed use is allowed in a particular zone (i.e. a business or commercial zone versus a residential zone) is determined by the corresponding letter found in the table and further defined in the table’s legend.     Generally, a use is “permitted” and allowed by right, allowed through issuance of a zoning administrator permit, a conditional use permit, is an ancillary use or is not permitted.  When a use is not specifically listed in the table, the use may be permitted if the City determines that the use is similar to other uses listed.  

 As identified in the Permitted Use Table, a grocery store and a medical or dental office are permitted uses in the project area, in the Research Technology Park, Village Center and High Density Residential/Community Commercial Overlay Zones.   These uses are not required or mandated by the plan, but are welcomed and encouraged as neighborhood and community serving amenities.     

Following the adoption of the Specific Plan and prior to first phase development, the project applicant in partnership with the City will prepare a conceptual plan for the park to guide phased park improvements, design and amenities and ensure pedestrian and bike paths internal to the park connect to the external network trail and greenbelt system. Prior to construction of the park, the community will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed park design plan. To keep apprised of the park planning schedule and updates, please email ResearchPark@cityofwoodland.org and request to be added to the project’s email listserv. 

As described in Chapters 4 and 5 of the Specific Plan, the project’s interconnected system of sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use trails/paths are intentionally designed to link seamlessly throughout the Plan Area and to the shared mobility hub promoting more active and healthier transportation choices as well as recreational opportunities.  The Plan Area’s greenbelt and linear greenway network consists of 3.1 miles of class 1 Multi-Use Trails.  These facilities are more informal in nature with a 10-foot wide shared use path that gently meanders through landscaped open spaces.  The overall width of the greenbelts and greenways will vary to reinforce the more informal nature of these spaces. The larger greenbelts are at least 50-feet in width and will be no less than 24-feet at neighborhood connectors or where located along the street right-of-way.  The Multi-Use trails include a 2-foot gravel shoulder or low landscape edge with bi-level motion sensing LED path lighting.  Trails will be well shaded with trees and have amenities such as exercise stations, benches, drinking fountains and occasional open turf areas to encourage passive and active recreational use. 

A greenway along the eastern edge of the Plan Area will serve as a central spine, connecting the Plan Area to the existing Spring Lake development to the east. Located along the western edge of Harry Lorenzo Avenue, the greenway will extend the entire length of the Plan Area between CR 25A and Farmers Central Road.  South of Marston Drive, the existing pavement in Harry Lorenzo Ave will be removed and the existing right-of-way will be utilized for the greenway. This facility will be more informal in nature with a 10-foot wide shared use path that gently meanders through landscaped open spaces.  Multiple trail connections to Plan Area subdivisions will be provided to connect pedestrian and bicycle traffic to the linear greenway and to/from the adjacent Spring Lake community. Intersections with Marston, Parkland, and Road F will be designed with a distinctive treatment to clearly delineate each crossing.

The Plan Area’s greenbelt and linear greenway network transitions to a more formal path facility within the more active urban areas of the plan.  The 1.8 miles of Multi-Use Paths are a linear 10-foot wide shared use path that anticipates a higher utilization by all modes including bikes, scooters, pedestrians, and other forms of active transportation.  Lighting will be integrated with the street lighting system and supplemented with pathway or bollard lighting where needed.  Bike parking, scooter docs, and transit shelters will be strategically located along the Paths to support utilization of alternative transportation modes.

In 2001, the Davis-Woodland Bikeway Feasibility Study was completed through a partnership between Yolo County, the cities of Davis and Woodland, and the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District.  A total of six routes were studied that could serve commute and recreational purposes.  The desired alternative, taking into account commuter, recreational and aesthetic objectives, runs primarily along the east side of CR 101B, south of CR25A. The bikeway project is not currently funded, however remains a project of mutual interest of the cities and county.   The project plan has been designed to provide a primary point of connection to this future project.   

Development within the Technology Park Specific Plan area will be subject to the approved land use plan, zoning and development requirements outlined in the document.  The project development team in partnership with the City carefully considered the appropriate mix of land use types, development requirements and residential densities based on anticipated market demands and in consultation with regional developers familiar with similar projects.  The Specific Plan incorporates flexibility to allow for changing market conditions while still retaining the core vision for the plan area.  As such, it is not anticipated that substantial modifications to the Specific Plan will be required.  However, if plan modifications are requested by future property owners or as a result of new technologies, those changes would require approval by the Planning Commission and/or City Council at a public hearing, and may require additional environmental review, also subject to a noticed, public hearing and governing board approval.    

The WRTP Public Facilities Financing Plan (“Financing Plan”) completed in July 2023, outlines a strategy to fund public facilities and project infrastructure through Plan Area buildout. The Financing Plan identifies an estimated $255.5 million in public improvements needed to implement the Specific Plan and describes the proposed funding mechanisms to complete required improvements.  

A WRTP Capital Improvement Program (“CIP”) prepared for the project, identifies approximately $156.9 million in backbone infrastructure cost obligation for parks, streets, storm drainage, water and sewer improvements.  Completion of backbone infrastructure and other public facilities will be phased to serve logical increments of development, based on the demand for such facilities as the WRTP builds out. The timing and amount of development in each increment will depend on many factors, such as market demand. 

Additionally, the WRTP will have an obligation to contribute to the construction of other infrastructure and public facilities not included in the CIP.   For these public improvements, the developers will pay applicable City, County and WJUSD development impact fees.  The cost obligation for these facilities is estimated at approximately $98.6 million for parks and open space, schools, libraries, fire, police, general government, public transit, affordable housing, habitat and agricultural mitigation and County facilities.  

The developers of the WRTP will be responsible for advance funding and constructing all of the backbone infrastructure and public facilities needed to serve the WRTP, unless the City and WRTP proponents agree otherwise to City construction of specific improvements.  The project includes the adoption of a new Plan Area development impact fee program, the Woodland Research and Technology Park Infrastructure Fee Program (“RTIF Program”) to fund backbone infrastructure and public facilities as described above to accommodate new residents and employees of the project area that are not funded by existing fee programs or other funding sources.  Facilities included in the RTIF Program include those facilities with plan-wide benefits (i.e., serve multiple individual subdivisions), the costs of which should be distributed among RTIF land uses and ownership interests. Additionally, the financing strategy includes formation of one or more land secured bond financing districts (e.g., Mello-Roos CFD or Assessment District), which may be used to fund a portion of the total backbone infrastructure and public facilities needed at the outset of development.  

[Updated July 2023]

It is anticipated that residential development will have a Mello Roos (or special tax assessment district) to help pay for project infrastructure and services.

Spring Lake related property taxes (Community Facilities Districts and the Landscaping and Lighting District) have their own formation agreements which would not change with WRTP Specific Plan approval. City policy requires new development to “pay its own way” with regard to maintenance of infrastructure and amenities serving the plan area.  The Technology Park will have its own financing district and will likely pay similar taxes to Spring Lake.  

Not at this time, however it is anticipated that with the build out of a successful Research and Technology Park, the 11-acre linear park and other plan area amenities, impacts to Spring Lake property values will be positive.  Strong design guidelines will ensure that the project will be an asset to the City and to the adjacent Spring Lake residential community. 

Remaining improvements at Jack Slaven, Rick Gonzales Sr., and Spring Lake Parks are all under construction with estimated completion timelines in late Summer and Fall 2023.   The timing of completion of the 4-acre Spring Lake Central Park will coincide with the future development of the adjacent high-density housing and commercial center.  

The earliest construction of any housing is projected to begin in the Technology Park is late 2024 with occupancy of the first housing units not anticipated until well into 2025/26.    The first phase of development will include portions of the greenbelt and park amenities that will be funded by development of the Technology Park. 

[Updated August 2023]

Yes, the project Development Agreement, a 20-year agreement entered into by the project applicant and City concurrent with Specific Plan adoption, will outline specific ties between residential unit development and commercial/office development within the Technology Park.  Specific details of how this will occur will be outlined in the Development Agreement incorporated as part of the final entitlement documents that will require City Council review and approval prior to project approval.

Based on the Woodland Joint Unified School District's 2020 School Fee Justification Study it is projected that the Woodland Research and Technology Park would generate at build out an additional (376) K-6, (104) Middle School, and (222) High School Students.  The actual student generation rates would likely be less than these estimates given the current capture rates.  To account for the facility needs for these additional students, all residential and commercial construction within the project area will be subject to the District's adopted School Impact fees.  

The District’s Facility Master Plan anticipates capacity to be available at the current middle school and high school sites to accommodate the students at these grade levels.  At the primary grades, it is projected that the District will need to construct an additional K-6 school in the southeast area of the city.  To accommodate this projected need, the Woodland Research and Technology Park Specific Plan identifies the location of a future 12 acre school site just north of The Yard, at the southeast corner of the Parkland Avenue extension and Road B in the Medium Density Residential Zone.  The City will require the Developer to commit to set aside the land for the school site for sufficient time for the District to determine if and when it will proceed with construction of the elementary school. The specific terms of this commitment are being discussed between the City and the District and will be incorporated into the Development Agreement between the City and Developer as part of the final project entitlements.  Should the District elect not to proceed with construction of the elementary school, the identified site would develop consistent with the underlying residential zoning.

 [Updated July 2023]

As outlined in Chapter 3, Section 3.3.1 and 3.3.3 of the Specific Plan, all residential and commercial development projects in the plan area are subject to the city’s Climate Action Plan (2017).  Development within the plan area will strive to achieve zero net energy consumption at the building and neighborhood level.   All projects will be subject to Cal Green Tier 1 building standards which are 15% higher energy efficiency standards than current State of California Title 24 (Building Standards).  Building construction will require the use of solar on single-family and multi-family residential products. It is anticipated that solar technology will be utilized on all commercial development in order for projects to comply with Cal Green Tier 1 standards.  

The plan will focus on the use of green building products, consumption of less energy, water and other resources as well as reduction of storm water runoff and the use of trees for cooling, energy conservation and improving air quality.  The plan will utilize City recycled water for public landscaping.  Pollinator friendly planting and maintenance practices will be integrated into each site’s landscaping in addition to native and drought tolerant plant species.  

This development will provide electric vehicle (EV) charging capable facilities in all residential garages and commercial parking lots.  It is anticipated that all residential products (single-family homes and apartments) will be 100% electric.  GHG reduction strategies and sustainability measures will be considered in future expansion projects and in the ongoing operations and use of all commercial and residential projects within the Plan Area including, but not limited to Energy Conservation, Water Conservation/Quality and Low Water Landscape measures as outlined in Sustainability Guidelines Sections 3.5.3.B for commercial uses and Section 3.5.12.B for residential. 

The WRTP Specific Plan is located in an area within the city that is currently farmed, consisting primarily of row crops, and a small almond orchard in the southeastern corner.  Areas south, southeast, and west of the Specific Plan area consist largely of agricultural production, including commercial almond orchards and open field crops. Current farming activities within the plan area are permitted to continue until such time the land is developed consistent with the city’s Right to Farm ordinance.  The Specific Plan area is subject to the city’s Agricultural Mitigation ordinance which requires that for every acre of agricultural land converted to urban development, a minimum of one acre of mitigation shall be required (1:1 ratio) through conservation easements or through an in-lieu fee payment that shall be used for agricultural mitigation purposes including purchase of conservations easements.  

Commercial cannabis lab testing, manufacturing and distribution are permitted in the Research and Technology Park (RTP) and Research Flex Overlay (RTP/RFO) Zones (see Zoning map HERE).  Retail sales are not permitted in the plan area.  Cannabis testing and manufacturing/distribution are subject to the city’s Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance and permitting process which requires odor control, including a detailed ventilation plan describing the air treatment system, or other methods that will be implemented to prevent offensive odors generated from the manufacturing, testing and/or storage of cannabis from being detected outside the buildings on the site.  Further, no cannabis business may be located within a 600-foot radius of a school providing K-12 instruction, a day care center or a youth center in existence at the time the license is issued. Additionally, no cannabis business may be located within a 600-foot radius of a public park. 

The project applicant team is in communication with the Woodland Tree Foundation regarding future plans for tree planting and in particular how the plan area can support the repopulation of Native Valley Oak trees in strategic and appropriate locations within the 11-acre linear park, greenbelt trail system and as site plan “focal features” in the Tech Park campus itself.   Consistent with the Urban Forestry Master Plan, Climate Action Plan and Municipal Code standards, a substantial number of new trees will be planted throughout the Plan Area concurrent with plan area development and right of way improvements.  The planting and tree palette will take into account "right tree in the right place" considerations, including evaluation of  hardscape and utilities, soil and water conditions, planter size and intended use and mature canopy spread.  Woodland Municipal Code Section 17.112, Landscaping, outlines the technical requirements of public and private landscaping within the Plan area, including spacing of street trees (e.g. every 35-feet along a public right of way) and coverage (e.g. 75 percent vegetative matter coverage in all landscaped areas).  Additional plan area specific guidelines are provided in Chapter 3, including priority for native plant species, inclusion of Native Valley Oak trees where appropriate, and 50 percent shade/coverage requirement for all parking lots within 15 years of tree planting.   

The Specific Plan provides the opportunity for a variety of housing product types throughout the Plan Area consistent with the City’s housing goals and policies outlined in the 2035 General Plan including Policy 2.D.1 which speaks to the importance of a jobs/housing balance.   Specifically there are three residential zones, Low-, Medium- and High-Density Residential (see Land Plan HERE).  The Medium Density Residential (MDR) zone allows for a variety of product types including small lot single-family detached units, attached walk-ups and townhomes, and smaller apartment or loft style residential units.  Medium Density Residential is permitted directly adjacent to the 11-acre linear park, central to the overall project area, and in two locations along the west side of Harry Lorenzo Avenue/greenbelt, opposite Spring Lake Central near Pioneer/Parkland and at the southeast corner of the plan area. Where Medium Density Residential is proposed adjacent to Low Density or single family residential zones, Specific Plan Design Guidelines speak to appropriate transitions including height and setbacks.  

High Density Residential zones are located near the interior of the plan area along Road B, providing nearby access to transit and other amenities.  High Density Residential zones allow for townhomes, and lofts as well as more traditional apartment development.  

A key guiding principle of the project speaks to the provision of diverse, high quality housing options.  The plan area will accommodate up to 1,600 housing units of a variety of product types and densities. Medium and high density housing and residential product types are generally more affordable by design due to smaller unit and/or lot sizes as compared to typical low-density suburban neighborhoods.  As regulated by zoning density requirements, approximately two-thirds of the residential units developed within the project area will be medium and high density product types (an estimated 600 and 500 units respectively), including small lot detached single family homes, duplexes, townhomes, and apartments or loft style development.  The remaining approximately 500 residential units will be developed in the lower density range.  The diversity of residential zoning designations, including minimum density requirements, will ensure the plan retains a diversity of housing options at varying affordability levels.   The plan area is additionally subject to the City’s Affordable Housing Ordinance which outlines obligations around housing affordability and buyer income restrictions for a percentage of housing units developed within the plan area.

Affordable housing is addressed in two ways in the project area.  The Specific Plan area is subject to the city’s Affordable Housing Ordinance (found HERE) which requires that a percentage of all residential units be made available to low-income renters and/or home buyers.  Alternatively, the housing developer can pay an in-lieu fee to the City.   Fees collected are used to support the development of affordable housing in the plan area and throughout the city.  In addition to the requirements of the Affordable Housing Ordinance, the variety of housing product types and relatively smaller unit and lot sizes anticipated within the Medium and High Density Residential Zones will result in more affordable housing opportunities for future Specific Plan area residents.  

The Woodland Police Department will provide law enforcement services in the Plan Area. The Department currently services the community through a four police beat deployment model.  With the geographic expansion of the city as the General Plan Growth areas build out, up to two additional police beats are planned to be added to provide sufficient patrol resources and response times.  The existing Police Station and Administration building at Lincoln Avenue and 6^th Street is sufficiently sized to provide Police service levels through build out of the Plan Area.  The Police Department also provides parking enforcement services for the community.  With the mixed use and denser nature of the project, the need for permit parking and time parking zones is likely.  In the event this occurs, use of new technologies will be utilized to reduce department resources needed for monitoring and enforcement.  

The project site is within the jurisdiction of the Woodland Fire Department which provides fire protection services and emergency medical services within the City and to unincorporated areas in the vicinity. The nearest station to the Plan Area is Station Three located at 1550 Springlake Court, on the east side of SR 113, approximately 2 miles north of the Plan Area. The City recently underwent an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating review and improved to a level two rating.  ISO ratings range from 1-10 with one indicating excellent service and ten indicating minimal or no protection. ISO ratings assess a range of fire safety factors including; firefighting personnel, equipment, water infrastructure, and response times. The City staffs 3 fire stations, with a minimum of 13 personnel on duty per day.  This provides enough personnel to meet the National Fire Protection Association’s Standard 1910 for residential structure fire responses.  The City utilizes robust automatic aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions to ensure sufficient firefighting personnel arrive at a fire in a commercial building.   The City has a maximum "first response" standard of four minutes, 90% of the time.  Currently, portions of the southeast area do not fall within this response time standard due to the distance been the current Fire Station 3 location, and the most southern areas of the Spring Lake development.  The City plans to relocate Fire Station Three to the former Willow Spring Elementary school site, which is located at the northwest corner of Bourn Drive and Gibson Road.  The future Fire Station Three, which will continue to serve the Plan Area, will be located approximately one-half mile north of the Plan Area,  and will ensure that the southeast area, including the Tech Park, would fall within the four minute response time standard.

Additionally, Yolo County maintains an agreement with American Medical Response (AMR) to provide advanced life support (ALS) transport services to the entire County, including the City of Woodland and the Plan Area.  AMR maintains a response time standard of 8 minutes, 90% of the time for any incorporated area within the County.

The installation of new Wireless Telecommunication Facilities or cell towers is typically initiated by private carriers such as AT&T or T-Mobile when gaps in coverage occur.  It is anticipated that additional facilities will be requested in the Specific Plan area or within close proximity as the plan area develops.  Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted within the plan area through the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit by the Woodland Planning Commission after a noticed public hearing.  Any new facility would be encased within planned street light or signal poles or other utilities or adequately “stealthed” to minimize their visibility within the community.  

Yes, consistent with the city’s Public Art Ordinance, all new development shall devote one percent (1%) of the construction cost for public art within the plan area. The public art may be located on the project site in a publicly visible location, or the project applicant can pay an in-lieu fee.  The collected in-lieu fee will go toward a public art project(s) in the Specific Plan area including areas such as the primary entrance/gateway to the Tech Park, within public medians or landscaped areas, within the greenbelt trail system, or in the 11-acre linear park.  

Vehicle parking requirements within the Specific Plan area seek to balance both the need and desire for parking near businesses, shopping and residential uses while also encouraging the use of alternative forms of transportation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize oversized asphalt parking lots that contribute to urban “heat island” effect.  

For Village Center commercial and Technology Park/office uses, parking requirements are based on a “Parking Use and Needs Statement” prepared by the business owner/applicant as outlined in Table 3.2 and Section 3.5.3.F and 3.5.9.G.6 of the Specific Plan.  The statement includes the known or anticipated number of business employees and anticipated visitors or patrons throughout the day as well as any ride-share or van-pool incentives such as priority parking spaces. The statement is reviewed and ultimately approved by the City Planning Department which will ensure ample parking is provided for business employees and guests onsite and that adjacent uses are not negatively impacted by lack of onsite or adjacent public/on-street parking opportunities.  

The Specific Plan includes “parking maximums” to ensure any particular business does not over-park for their use, resulting in unnecessary paving and oversized parking lots.  Shared parking facilities/lots are encouraged throughout the plan area to minimize the underutilization of land for parking.  Bicycle parking is required for all commercial/office uses and shall be a minimum of 10 percent of the total number of vehicular parking spaces provided by the project (e.g. where 200 vehicle parking spaces are provided, 20 bicycle parking spaces or bike lockers shall be provided onsite in a secured and lighted location).  

For residential uses, onsite parking requirements are as follows:

• Low Density Residential (i.e. detached single family and duplex development) = 2 garage/covered spaces per unit, minimum
• Medium Density Residential (i.e. small lot family, townhome and small multifamily/apartment development) = 1 garage/covered space per 1 bedroom unit, 2 garage/covered spaces per 2+ bedroom units, minimum
• High Density Residential (i.e. apartment, lofts) = 1 space per studio or 1 bedroom unit, 1.5 spaces per 2 bedroom unit, 2 spaces per 3+ bedroom unit; plus 1 guest parking space per 5 units and 1 manager space. 

For high density residential apartments, 1 bike parking space is required per residential unit.  See Specific Plan Table 3.3 for residential parking standards. 

Electric vehicle charging stations are required for all new commercial/office and retail development.  The number of charging stations required is dependent on the square footage of the building. All single family residential development shall have electrical conduit pre-installed for EV charging in each garage.   High density residential development, including apartments shall provide EV charging stations on-site, the number of which will depend on the number of units.  Public EV charging stations will be provided as feasible along key corridors, such as along the east side of Road B adjacent to the 11-acre linear park.   On-street “public” parking will be provided throughout the Plan area including along the east side of Road B and along most primary and local roadways in the commercial and residential zones. 

Key roadway segments in Spring Lake including Parkland Avenue and Marston Drive will extend and connect into the proposed WRTP Plan Area as described in Chapter 4 of the Specific Plan.  Buffered bike lanes and off street Class 1 bike trails will similarly extend into the plan area along Marston and Parkland between Harry Lorenzo and Road B (see Land Use Plan). Parkland Avenue will eventually extend west over Highway 113, but the overpass extension will not take place until future build out of Specific Plan areas “SP-1B” or “SP-1C”, located west of Hwy 113, as described in the 2035 General Plan.   All segments of CR25A between CR102 and Hwy 113 will be completed with Plan Area build out, or earlier, including the extension of the urban forest trail on the north side of CR25A. 

Circulation planning for the Woodland Research and Technology Park Plan Area took into account potential increased traffic volumes that may impact the Spring Lake neighborhood.   Where existing roadway networks within Spring Lake were designed to extend into the Tech Park plan area (Parkland, Marston) roadway design incorporates a variety of design features including roundabouts, signalized intersections, narrow roadway widths, enhanced pedestrian crossings, and on street parking and bike lanes that have the effect of reducing vehicle speeds.    

A Traffic Impact Study (“TIS”) was completed for the project in April 2021, which analyzed Level of Service impacts for road segments and intersections throughout the WRTP Plan Area as well as in Spring Lake as a result of Plan Area build out.  Level of Service or LOS, is a term used to quantitatively describe the operating conditions of a roadway based on factors such as speed, travel time, and delay.   The TIS demonstrated that build out of the WRTP Plan Area will not result in roadway capacity issues in Spring Lake, due to the fact that arterial roadways in Spring Lake were sized in anticipation of future build out of the WRTP to the west.  There are two intersections adjacent to Spring Lake that do not meet the General Plan LOS policy goals, the Gibson Road/Pioneer Avenue and Gibson Road/Harry Lorenzo Avenue/bourn Drive intersections.  However, these intersections were already projected to not meet the General Plan LOS policy goals with buildout of the south area. 

While traffic volume is expected to increase with the build out of Spring Lake and the build out of the WRTP Plan Area, design and traffic calming measures will help maintain appropriate vehicle speeds within both the Tech Park and Spring Lake neighborhoods and discourage cut through traffic through existing and future local roads and neighborhoods. 

One of the more extensive circulation related improvements in the Plan Area will include modification to the CR25A / Hwy 113 interchange to accommodate increased traffic volumes and peak hour trips at this facility.    City staff will continue to work with Caltrans on the timing, design and construction of necessary improvements.

[Updated July 2023]

The City recently determined that, pending favorable construction bids, sufficient funding will be available in the Spring Lake Capital Improvement budget to construct the remaining segment of CR25A.  Construction is currently planned for 2024.  Additional project details and updates can be found online at the following link: https://gis.cityofwoodland.org/portal/apps/storymaps/stories/6b53e7556e7643aa9611e611edefbfb6 

[Updated August 2023]

Described in Chapter 4, the plan area includes a shared mobility hub, The Union, that will at project build out serve as the nucleus of the alternative transportation system providing integrated access to intra-city as well as inter-city transit service. The Union will be designed to accommodate a range of potential alternative transportation choices such as:

1. Fixed route bus and micro-transit
2. Car/vanpool/parking
3. Designated car share spaces
4. Electric vehicle charging stations
5. Ride hailing services
6. Bike/scooter share docking stations

Development of The Union will be planned and coordinated with local and regional transit service providers including YCTD and UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services/Unitrans, anticipating service from the Technology Park to UC Davis and the City of Davis. The shared mobility hub is planned to be the primary point of connection to fixed route bus service as part of the City’s planned transit system provided by YCTD’s YoloBus service. 

The South Urban Growth Area Storm Drain Facilities Master Plan (SDFMP) identifies offsite drainage sheds located west of SR 113 that drain to the WRTP site. The highway embankment of SR 113 forms a north-south barrier to agricultural drainage runoff originating from the west.  As development of the WRTP proceeds, existing agricultural flows from west of SR 113 will, in general, continue to be routed around the south side of the WRTP along CR25A. As part of this storm water conveyance, it is anticipated that an approximately 4.5-acre storm detention basin will be adequate to manage development from a portion of the sheds located east of Hwy 113.  Similar to other components of the City’s stormwater management system as well as other public infrastructure, the pond is proposed to be located immediately adjacent to, just south of the planning area, south of CR25A and connect directly into an adjacent facility east of CR 101.   

All refunds are subject to a $30 administrative fee and must be requested at least two weeks in advance. Refunds will not be granted once lessons have started or been completed. Click to start the refund process by completing the online request form.

The Aquatics Staff will try to find an open class at the right level for your child. However, this may require that you switch times or sessions. We will work with you to find the best solution for you and your child. You will not be charged for any change initiated by City Staff. For changes you initiate (change of dates, time, etc.), you may be subject to a $30 administrative fee. 

Space permitting, you may change your child’s swim lesson schedule as needed.   For every requested change, you are assessed a $30 administrative fee. Click to start the process by completing the online request form.

Unfortunately, we are not able to offer individual make-up lessons within our class structure. 

If the city cancels swim lessons for a day for any reason, there is no make-up date. The day's loss in monetary value will be credited to your account.

Please let your instructor or the Pool Manager on duty know right away. The Aquatic Staff will try to resolve whatever the problem might be. If the problem persists, please call the Woodland Community Services front desk at 661-2000 to speak with the Recreation Supervisor over the Aquatics program. 

In the goldfish and Seahorse levels, there is 1 instructor and 1 aide for every 6 children. In the Stingray and Swordfish classes, there is 1 instructor and 1 aid for every 8 children. In the Dolphin classes there is 1 instructor for every 8 children.  In the Orca classes there is 1 instructor for every 10 children.

We will continue to hold swim lessons during the rain. However, if there is lightning and/or high winds, we will close the pool. If classes are cancelled for any reason, you will be notified as soon as possible.

Charles Brooks Community Swim Center keeps a consistent temperature between 78º-82ºFarenheit. Although the outside temperature may make the water seem cooler, the pool temperature is consistently maintained regardless of the weather.  We understand that and try to keep the classes active and moving.