Windsor on Wednesday became the first city to join the Sonoma Clean Power Authority, created as an alternative to PG&E to provide a greener product at competitive, if not cheaper rates.

A weed-strewn lot near the Windsor Town Green, one of the last of two undeveloped downtown parcels, could soon be home to a four-story apartment building with retail space on the ground floor.

Windsor Town Council members on Wednesday night rejected a proposed ordinance that would make it easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to sue people who harass or intimidate them.

An innovative water conservation program in Windsor is off to a promising start, drawing attention for saving millions of gallons while creating an immediate drop in residents’ utility bills. More than 300 residential customers have enrolled in the fledgling program, which is being touted as a model that could take off in other communities.

Windsor Councilwoman Debora Fudge remembers the ‘foggy, wintry’ day in 1997, in a field north of town, when an auto salesman first pitched his plan to build a new dealership there.

Windsor is actively seeking sponsors for its Summer Nights on the Green after donations fell off for the popular concert series.

Sonoma County’s ‘electric trail,’ a fledgling network of charging stations for electric vehicles, continues to expand. It’s part of a plan to draw more people in electric cars to the county and also make it easier for locals to recharge theirs when they drive from town to town.

Windsor’s budget is benefiting from an improving economy, with sales and property tax revenues rising steadily. A mid-year review conducted by the Town Council Wednesday shows property tax revenues up 13 percent compared with the same time last year. Sales taxes for the first quarter of this fiscal year were up 10 percent over the same period a year ago.

Cloverdale residents enjoy the lowest water and sewer rates in Sonoma County, but it won’t last much longer. City consultants are recommending a 67 percent increase in water rates and 25 percent for wastewater.

Windsor on Wednesday witnessed a changing of the guard with the selection of a new mayor, seating of a new Town Council member and farewell speeches from the retiring city manager and city attorney.