Edition 16 | January 25, 2024

Community Service – As An Elected

We have come a long way since Tammany Hall. Today, the United States has arguably the best and most robust and stable local government system in the world. Our local government requires active participation of the electorate, a vibrant and free press, and importantly, community members willing to serve in elected office. 

Running for elected office can be daunting. Candidates need to gather signatures to file for election, seek the help of family and friends to campaign, raise funds for campaign expenditures, and spend countless hours knocking on doors, learning about issues, and interacting with voters. Sometimes, it takes several attempts to get elected, and, once elected, the actual work begins. Regular staff briefings, attending local, regional and state level meetings, reading reports and meeting with constituents take enormous amounts of time. Then, there is the fact that elected officials need to make important decisions, which sometimes can upset even close friends and supporters. 

Wait! I am supposed to extol the virtues of elected office. 

On the other hand, elected officials can have a great and positive impact on society. Dedicated and conscientious elected representatives invest the time to study the issues, consult with those who are affected and arrive at fair and principled decisions. They tend to keep their sights on the long-term interests of the community at large and are not easily swayed by threats or petty politics; they cannot be bullied. Lester Hardy’s embodied these characteristics, and his resignation provides an opportunity for one more person to practice those virtues. 

As a community, we need a strong bench, and the upcoming Community Academy will be an opportunity to learn about the City and get ready to serve on a committee, board, commission, and/or the highest offices locally – City Council. 

In Service,

Anil Comelo

City Manager

City of St. Helena

• The City Council approved a contract to install new lights at Crane Park. The funding for these lights comes from the Park Impact Fee paid for by certain types of land development and not the General Fund. Monies from the Park Impact Fee cannot be used for non-park purposes such as fixing roads.
• The Wastewater Treatment Plant received authorization to purchase equipment related to critical infrastructure rehabilitation at the plant including one 24-inch and one 36-inch "Channel Monster," and rehabilitation of three influent pumps. This equipment was needed because current equipment is more than 30 years old and has failed multiple times resulting in clogging and binding of pumps and causing the Channel Monsters to not properly grind solid material, resulting in an unpleasant odor for nearby homes.
• There was an introduction and first reading of three ordinances:
• Amending and restating Chapter 12.08 of the St. Helena Municipal Code to clarify maintenance responsibility of sidewalks and driveway approaches fronting private property. Staff and the City Attorney will work to update some language based on City Council discussion.
• Amending Title 13 of the St. Helena Municipal Code to clarify ownership and maintenance responsibility of sewer laterals and water laterals serving private property.
• The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024 2nd Quarter Finance Report was also presented by the Finance Director and the City Council was asked to approve mid-year budget adjustments.
• For FY 2023 the General Fund revenues were $18.6 million and expenditures were $19.1 million, requiring the use of approximately $468,000 from reserves.
• For FY 2023-2024, the budget had already included use of $2.2 million in reserves; because of a decline in Sales Tax Revenue and unforeseen expenses, it is now projected that $2.8 million from reserves will be needed to balance the budget.
• For FY 2024-2025, the approved budget already assumes use of over $900,000 from reserves to balance the budget.
• Following the announcement of Council Member Lester Hardy’s resignation effective on January 31, 2024, the City Council also discussed the process to fill the appointment via an appointment process. The appointed Council Member would serve out the rest of Council Member Hardy’s term which expires in November 2024. For more information on the application period please see "Seeking City Council Member Applicants" story below.
• Review the complete meeting agenda and watch the meeting.

Support the St. Helena Historical Society

Join the St. Helena Historical Society for a Paella Dinner Fundraiser. Enjoy tapas, paella, salad, wine, and dessert while listening to a Flamenco guitarist and bidding on silent auction items. Bring someone special and celebrate Valentine’s Day a few days early. Heritage Center, 1255 Oak Ave., February 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Darren Gardette, Public Works - Plant Operator II

We are excited to announce our 4Q 2023 Employee of the Quarter, Darren Gardette! Darren works at our Bell Canyon Water Treatment Plant as a Plant Operator II. He started his career with the City of St. Helena Public Works Department in May 2017 working in the Streets and Buildings Division, but was able to focus much of his time on water and stormwater projects. In April 2021, he left the City to work for Lake County and was able to not only focus more on his passion for water treatment, but worked to receive his water treatment plant operator certifications through the State of California. When there was an opening at the City of St. Helena’s Water Treatment Plant, Assistant City Manager April Mitts called Darren directly to see if he would be interested in the position, and he has been working at the treatment plant since August 2022. Darren loves the daily challenges of his job and is always looking for the best ways to create and deliver good water to residents and businesses. He also loves working with his team at the Water Treatment Plant, across the Public Works Department, and other City staff. He has a strong sense of teamwork in all that he does, knowing that it takes everyone in his department and beyond to accomplish tasks in an efficient, timely, and orderly way. Darren lives in Middletown with his daughter and their four pet fish. He enjoys spending time with his daughter, girlfriend and her children, and friends, plus participating in a recreational softball league.

Our 2023 Employee of the Quarter recipients were each chosen for exemplifying the core value of Teamwork. Juan Gonzalez who received the Employee of the Quarter award in 2Q 2023 was chosen as the Employee of the Year. Also honored as Employees of the Quarter in 2023 were Mario Traverso (1Q) and Kathleen Collins (3Q). Each of our Employee of the Quarter recipients will be invited to a special lunch with Mayor Dohring, Vice Mayor Hall, and City Manager Anil Comelo.

Click the underlined event name for more information.

• St. Helena Calendar: Learn more about our business community’s upcoming community events.

• BINGO Live Night: A fun night to benefit Soroptimist and Rianda House. Tre Posit will provide food available for pre-order. Snacks, wine, and drinks are also available for purchase. Native Sons Hall, January 26 at 5:30 p.m.

• Live Music with Elaine Jennings: Elaine Jennings has transformed her singing style from belting show tunes to crafting intimate jazz stylings with local trio The Tritones. She recently debuted her solo act, accompanied by pianists David Austin and Wayne de la Cruz. Her current repertoire draws primarily from the Great American Songbook, plus a few contemporary surprises. The Saint, January 27 at 7 p.m.

• Salty Magazine Dinner Series: Chef Jenner Tomaska of one-Michelin starred Esmé in Chicago and Chef Marcus Jernmark of Habitué in Los Angeles are joining together for a special collaborative Chef’s tasting experience. The dinner will feature a six-course tasting menu with optional beverage pairing curated by Master Sommelier, Vincent Morrow. PRESS Restaurant, January 30 at 5 p.m.

• “Speakeasy on Spring” 53rd Annual Crab Feed: This speakeasy themed crab feed and auction will feature wine, pasta, crab, bread, salad, dessert, fund-a-need, and dessert auction benefiting Soroptimist International of St. Helena. Native Sons Hall, February 2 and 3 at 5:30 p.m., dinner served at 6:45 p.m.

• Barrel Tasting & New Release Party: Begin the New Year by tasting the future as you’ll be one of the first to taste the 2023 vintage. The event will also feature live music, hearty food stations, and the opportunity to taste more than 60 wines. V. Sattui Winery, February 3 at 6 p.m.

• Pint Night with Hop Valley Brewing: A Hop-Head’s Delight Pint Night with Hop Valley Brewing. They don’t even ship their light beers to NorCal – only the hoppy ones, so we’ll be bringing on the bitters with three great IPA’s. Buy the beer, keep the logo glass. Tra Vigne Pizzeria, February 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Wine Dinner with Angelina Mondavi: Renowned fourth-generation winemaker, Angelina Mondavi, will guide you through the nuanced flavors of our Brasswood Cellars Library wines, thoughtfully paired with a four-course culinary menu by Chef Cristopher Johnson. Brasswood Bar + Kitchen, February 8 at 6:30 p.m.

• bASH 2024: Appellation St. Helena (ASH) will host bASH, its annual wine and food pairing competition. The event will feature wines from 20 ASH wineries paired with savory bites prepared by “Rising Star” students. Barrel Room at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, March 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

City of St. Helena

1088 College Avenue

St. Helena, CA 94574