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Another month brings new progress, community connections, and exciting things happening throughout Williams!
We recently celebrated another successful National Night Out, bringing residents, families, City staff, law enforcement, and first responders together for an evening of community and connection. A special thank you goes to all of the City staff who participated and to the Williams Fire Department for putting together such a wonderful community event. We appreciate everyone who helped make the evening a success and all of the community members who came out to join us.
Across the City, our departments continue to stay busy serving the community. Parks & Recreation is wrapping up another youth soccer season, and we thank our coaches, families, volunteers, and staff for making the season possible. Public Works crews continue working hard on various projects and improvements throughout Williams, while our Planning Department continues moving forward with development projects, grant opportunities, and efforts that support the City's continued growth.
With school back in session, we also want to remind everyone to slow down, stay alert, and drive safely. Our streets will be busier with students, parents, school buses, bicyclists, and pedestrians especially near our schools. Please allow yourself a little extra travel time and use additional caution as the ongoing E Street construction may also impact traffic and normal travel routes.
Finally, the City's Household Income Surveys are still out, and we continue to encourage residents who received a survey to complete and return it. Your participation is extremely important and can help the City qualify for valuable grant funding that supports future projects and improvements in our community.
As summer begins to wind down, we thank our residents, City staff, and community partners for continuing to make Williams a great place to live, work, and call home.
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There’s a lot happening in the Planning Department, with projects focused on improving our parks, supporting new development, creating housing opportunities, and encouraging economic growth in Williams.
Cooler Days Ahead for Our Parks
City Planner Kathryn Ramsaur is working with Colusa County on an Extreme Heat Grant application that could bring new shade structures and a splash pad to City parks. If awarded, the funding would help create cooler, more comfortable spaces for families to enjoy during our hot summer months.
Former Bowling Alley Project Moving Forward
Exciting progress continues at 470 Seventh Street, the former bowling alley property. City staff recently met with ABS Builders, the contractor awarded the project, to coordinate final pre-construction activities and scheduling.
The City is currently working toward a September construction start, bringing this long-awaited project another step closer to becoming a reality.
Two New ADUs Approved
The Planning Department recently received and approved two Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) applications, supporting additional housing opportunities within Williams.
Planning Commission – August 24
The next Planning Commission meeting will be held Monday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. One item scheduled for consideration is a request from the Williams Fire Department to rename Ella Street to “Bill Vann Way.”
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and review upcoming Planning Commission agendas for additional information.
Bringing New Business Opportunities to Williams
Williams continues to see new business activity, with 13 new business license applications received. Of those, 7 licenses have been issued, while 6 are awaiting payment before they can be finalized.
City staff are also actively promoting Williams to prospective businesses. Recent outreach has included In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A, Walmart, and others as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to showcase available opportunities and encourage new investment.
While outreach does not guarantee a future location, it helps put Williams on the radar of potential businesses and builds relationships that can lead to future opportunities.
The City will continue working to attract investment and support economic growth in our community.
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Finance Department
The Finance Department continues to support the City of Williams by managing essential financial operations that keep services running smoothly. From processing utility payments to administering payroll and accounts payable, our team works behind the scenes to ensure timely and accurate transactions. We remain focused on maintaining clear, efficient, and dependable financial practices that support both City staff and the community we serve.
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For more than 19 years, Nick Thompson has proudly served in a variety of Public Works roles, bringing dedication, expertise, and a strong work ethic to every position he's held. As a Water Operator for the City of Williams, Nick plays a vital role in ensuring our community has a safe and reliable water supply. His years of experience, commitment to public service have made a lasting impact on both the department and the community. Thank you, Nick, for your many years of outstanding service and all that you do! | |
WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
The City of Williams is proud to participate in a Work Experience Program that provides local youth with the opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to city operations. This month, we welcomed Jozaiah Rivera Mendez who is joining us after school and learning the fundamentals of local government, including basic administrative and operational procedures. Through this experience, Jozaiah is developing valuable skills, gaining insight into public service, and exploring potential future career paths, while contributing to the day-to-day activities of City departments.
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The Williams Water Department is pleased to report that Well 10 is officially back online! The rehabilitation of Well 10 has been completed following several months of work, and the well returned to service last month as the City’s third active well. Along with the City’s two other wells, Well 10 provides a critical water supply to the entire community. Having all three wells available provides much-needed resiliency and reliability for our water system during the high-demand summer months and into the future.
The Water Department also completed its 2026 Backflow Testing Program on July 31. Backflow prevention devices, like the one pictured, play an important role in protecting the City’s drinking water system from potential contamination. We would like to thank all residents and businesses who did their part by having their backflow devices tested and submitting their results in a timely manner.
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Building Department
The Building Department continues to stay busy as development and construction activity moves forward throughout Williams. During the month of July, eight building permits were issued, while staff continued working with property owners, contractors, and developers on projects throughout the community.
Several major construction projects are currently underway, including the new Fire Station 20 on Ella Street, the Maverik gas station along Highway 99, and the Kletsel Tribal Center on 6th Street. These projects represent continued investment and development within our community.
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Parks & Recreation
The City of Williams Parks & Recreation Department is wrapping up a busy and successful summer filled with youth sports, swimming, and opportunities for families to come together.
A Successful 2026 Youth Soccer Season
The 2026 Williams Youth Soccer season officially wrapped up on August 16, concluding one of our largest seasons yet with more than 300 young athletes participating across multiple age divisions.
This year’s program extended well beyond Williams, welcoming players and families from throughout Colusa County, including Maxwell, Colusa, and Arbuckle, as well as participants traveling from Willows. It was wonderful to see neighboring communities come together through youth sports.
From our youngest U6 players learning the game to our U13 and high school-age athletes, we are incredibly proud of the teamwork, effort, and sportsmanship displayed throughout the season.
A program of this size would not be possible without our dedicated volunteer coaches:
U6: Tony Barajas, Emma Velazquez, Ramiro Solis, Dominique Madrigal, Lorielle Contreras, Brianna Gutierrez, Ashley Rodriguez, Janell Garcia, Andrea Velazquez, Evelin Iniguez, and Lesley Duran.
U8: Leo Hernandez, Ulises Lopez, Cesar Tapia, Anthony Ramirez, and Martin Tercero.
U10: Saul Rolon, Julian Garcia, Daniel Preciado, Daphne Castro, Manny Santillan, Juan Arambula, Marco Andrade, Marisol Esparza, and Carmen Contreras.
U13: Ernie Lemus, Ashanti Madrigal, Adan Jauregui, Janell Garcia, Lexy Rodriguez, Jose Olvera, and Moises Rivera.
High School Age Group: Daniel Preciado, Jesse Velazquez, Beto Perez, and Jose Olvera.
We also extend a special thank you to our volunteer referees Mo Hernandez, Uriel Velazquez, Fabian Velazquez, and Diego Jauregui for helping keep games organized, fair, and enjoyable throughout the season.
To all of our players, parents, grandparents, families, coaches, referees, and supporters thank you for making the 2026 Williams Youth Soccer season such a tremendous success!
Williams City Pool Wraps Up Another Great Summer
Another successful season at the Williams City Pool is also coming to a close. The pool opened on June 6 and will officially conclude its 2026 season on August 30.
Throughout the summer, the pool has provided children and families with a fun and welcoming place to cool off, swim, and spend time together. We especially want to recognize our Williams City Pool lifeguards, who have worked hard throughout the summer to help maintain a safe environment for everyone visiting the pool. Their dedication, responsibility, and hard work have been an important part of another successful season.
Celebrating Parks & Recreation Month
On July 23, Parks & Recreation Month was celebrated with a special appreciation event at the City Pool. Families were invited to enjoy a Family Swim, along with free sandwiches generously donated by Williams 76 Gas Station.
We sincerely thank Williams 76 Gas Station for supporting the event and helping make the celebration even more enjoyable for local families. Partnerships with local businesses and organizations play an important role in helping the City provide memorable activities for our community.
As another busy summer comes to an end, the Parks & Recreation Department thanks everyone who participated in our programs, visited the pool, volunteered their time, or cheered from the sidelines. We are grateful for another wonderful season and look forward to continuing to bring our community together through recreation in 2027!
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Police Department
This year’s National Night Out was a huge success! The Williams Police Department would like to thank everyone who came out and helped make it such a great evening.
It was wonderful to see so many families, neighbors, and community members enjoying the activities, meeting our officers and first responders, and spending time together. Events like National Night Out help strengthen the relationships between law enforcement and the community and remind us how important those partnerships are to keeping Williams safe.
A special THANK YOU to our volunteers, community partners, vendors, City staff, and the Williams Fire Department for helping make the event possible. Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us—we hope you had a great time, and we look forward to doing it again next year!
School Is Back – Please Slow Down & Stay Alert!
With students heading back to school, the Williams Police Department reminds everyone to use extra caution on our streets. Drivers should slow down in school zones, watch for children and bicyclists, use extra care near crosswalks and bus stops, and never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing and stop arm is extended.
Parents are encouraged to review safe walking and biking routes with their children and allow extra time during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Students should use designated crosswalks, look both ways before crossing, and avoid distractions such as phones or headphones while walking or riding.
Our streets are especially active during the beginning of the school year. By staying alert, slowing down, and looking out for one another, we can all help make the start of the school year a safe and successful one for Williams students and families!
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The City’s Wastewater Department recently partnered with the Colusa County Migrant Center to replace failing pumps at the facility’s sewage lift station before they could lead to a larger problem.
Using City-owned equipment, our Wastewater staff removed the failing pumps, installed the replacements, and completed the necessary electrical wiring and system connections all in-house. Their quick and proactive work helped prevent potential sewer backups, service interruptions, and costly emergency repairs.
Lift stations are an important part of wastewater infrastructure, helping keep sewage moving safely through the system. By addressing the problem early, staff helped ensure the Migrant Center’s wastewater system continues operating safely and reliably.
A big thank you to our Wastewater Department staff for putting their skills and experience to work for our community. Projects like this are a great example of City departments working with our community partners to keep essential services running smoothly!
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Recently, City crews assisted the Maxwell Public Utility District with a valve replacement project, providing staff, equipment, and expertise to help complete the necessary work.
Back here in Williams, crews also responded to a water leak on Westgate, working to locate and repair the problem. Following the repair, staff completed paving and restoration of the affected area.
Whether responding to an unexpected water leak, repairing infrastructure, or lending a hand to a neighboring agency, our Public Works crews are always working behind the scenes to keep essential services running.
Thank you to our crews for their hard work and dedication to our community!
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Upcoming
City Council Meeting - August 19th - 6pm
Planning Commission Meeting - August 24 - 6pm
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