Edition 19 | March 7, 2024

Financial Transparency

Nothing is more important in local government than financial transparency. It is necessary to create trust and encourage dialogue. Budgetary allocations, by necessity, are always scrutinized and constructive debate about public policy and quality-of-life issues are important in a well-functioning community.

Read the full version of this piece in the St. Helena Star or on our website.

In St. Helena, as in most cities, how public resources are allocated invites both praise and commentary. In our City the Mayor, City Council, and staff work diligently with residents, stakeholders, and expert parties to make prudent decisions to put community and the maintenance of resources first. With that said, it is not always easy to satisfy the public’s perception of transparency. This message is to reassure every resident in this community that City staff are exploring additional ways to enhance transparency in all our public processes. In subsequent editions of this newsletter I will be providing more information on our budgetary issues and the trade-offs that will have to be made.

The City uses consultants only under three circumstances:

• When needed expertise is not available within the ranks of City staff.
• When staff capacity to do the needed work is lacking.
• When independent assessment or analysis is warranted and often mandated.

The fact remains that staff can and must do a better job of explaining the rationale for contracts and budgetary decisions in staff reports and presentations. This will always be a challenge in every community where naysayers or doubters tend to have the loudest voices. That said, we do want St. Helena to be a safe, open, and honest community. I welcome any opportunities or ideas on how we can bring more transparency into our budgetary cycle and expenditures. 

Yours In Service,

Anil Comelo

City Manager

City of St. Helena 

PS: in my last message I made an error in listing Jeffrey Green as serving on the Board of Directors for UpValley Family Centers instead of Doug Boeshen. My sincere apologies to both for my error.

City Council Appoints Patrick Kenealy

The City Council appointed Patrick Kenealy to serve out the remainder of the term vacated by Lester Hardy during its meeting on February 27. Council Member Kenealy has an economics degree from Harvard University and a background in economics, venture capital, and media, he also served on the Financing Civic Infrastructure Task Force in 2020. In his application, Kenealy wrote that he wanted to be appointed to the position because the “City is in a challenging moment when important choices must be made to preserve its quality of life and lay the foundations for a bright future. I know and love the City and I think my business and financial experience in small, large, and very large organizations can help the council make heart-felt, fact-based decisions.”

Recycled Water Workshop

The City’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade project is nearing completion. Starting this summer, the City will be able to produce reclaimed water suitable for use on landscaping and food crops. The City is also planning to construct a new reclaimed water pipeline to begin distributing water to potential customers. The City is seeking public input on where this water is most needed and will be holding a public workshop at the Fire Station on March 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. All community members are welcome to attend, the entrance to the Training Room at the Fire Station is off Railroad Avenue.

“The City of Immigrants” Exhibit and Speaker Series

The exhibit, which celebrates the historic mass migration from 1820 to 1920, gives a taste of how these early immigrants contributed to the growth and culture of the St. Helena area. “The City of Immigrants” exhibit is a joint effort of the St. Helena and Napa County Historical Societies, and was sponsored in part by Arts Council Napa Valley. In addition to the exhibit which can be seen at the Heritage Center (open the first Saturday of each month), the St. Helena Historical Society’s Susanne Salvestrin Lecture Series will look at the family who owns the oldest, continuously held and farmed property in the Napa Valley, the Taplin family. St. Helena Historical Society, March 14 at 4 p.m.

Parent Night in St. Helena: Song for Charlie

Illicit fentanyl is dominating the drug landscape and causing record numbers of drug deaths throughout the country, particularly among Gen Z. Learn the facts about fentanyl and take empowered action to protect yourself and your loved ones during this conversation that will offer Real Talk About Fake Pills. Spanish translation available. St. Helena High School Performing Arts Center, March 20 at 5 p.m.

JCB Saint Helena, C29, and Ray Ray’s Tacos Updates

New businesses continue to bring new life to storefronts on Main Street and within our downtown core. JCB Saint Helena is “Parisian decadence on Main Street.” The lounge offers wines by the taste, glass and bottle, as well as curated wine flights and decadent food pairings featuring JCB caviar, cheeses, charcuterie, and more. C29, which is building its permanent home at 61 Main Street, is now taking reservations for their pop-up restaurant at 1320 Main Street, right next to JCB Saint Helena. The restaurant earned its namesake from Capo (Capo is short for Capocuocco which means "chef" in Italian), a renowned long-standing Santa Monica restaurant, and the legendary Highway 29, and serves a wide range of modern Italian style cuisine. Ray Ray’s Tacos on Main Street opened on Taco Tuesday this week at its new location at the historic Cornerstone Building (1304 Main Street). It serves classic Austin-style breakfast tacos alongside chef-inspired signature tacos, salads, salsas, and sides.

St. Helena Little League Opening Day!

Batter up for St. Helena Little League's annual opening day event! All are welcome to attend the festivities and help kick-off another great season of youth baseball and softball in our community. Crane Park, March 16 at 9 a.m.

The City of St. Helena is currently hiring for four full-time positions: Chief Plant Operator - Wastewater, Chief Plant Operator - Water, Police Officer, and Underground Utilities Superintendent. The City is also recruiting for additional positions: Recreation Leader I/II (Part-Time) and City Intern. On February 27 the City Council updated workforce classifications and salary ranges for the Underground Utilities Classifications that help to make these positions more competitive in the recruitment process in an effort to fill persistent vacancies, reduce staff burnout, and provide a more competitive wage.

February 27, 2024

• The City Council, City Manager, and Community all shared memories and kind words (video) for former Council Member Lester Hardy.

• Sergeant Filippo Bianco provided a presentation (video) to the City Council and Community on Red Flag Gun Laws and Gun Violence Restraining Orders (PDF).
• Lieutenant Justin Tharp explained the reasons (video) behind the Police Department’s transition to new body worn cameras (PDF). 
• Community Development Director Maya DeRosa commented (video) on the importance of the Downtown Specific Plan (PDF).
• There was also a clarification by the Mayor about the funding source (video) for the Main Street Pedestrian Safety Grant (PDF) for Spring Street at Main Street/Highway 29, the Tree Maintenance contract (video/PDF) through the Public Works Department, and the City’s continued transition to hybrid (video) and EV vehicles where possible (PDF).
• After appointing the new Council Member, the City Council heard a presentation (video) about the Real Property Transfer Tax (PDF) and made decisions on what they would like to pool before deciding to put a measure on the November 2024 ballot. 
• Review the complete meeting agenda and watch the meeting.
• Did you know that you can sign up to have agendas emailed to you in advance of every City Council, Commission, and Board Meeting?



Click the underlined event names for more information.

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

• St. Helena Mustard Celebration Pop-Up Artist Exhibit + Food & Wine: Get ready to sip, dine, and gaze in awe at the golden vineyards right to the historic shopping district! The St. Helena Welcome Center is pulling out all the stops to showcase the local wineries, mustard-inspired bites, and a pop-up art exhibit for an entire weekend. St. Helena Welcome Center, March 8 to March 10.

• 2024 OL’ SCHOOL DANCE PARTY: The event, supporting the St. Helena Cooperative Nursery School will feature music from Con Brio and guests will be spoiled with food & drink from generous donors including: Ad Hoc, Charbay, Clif Family, Villa Corona, Oak Avenue Catering, Napa Valley Brandy Company, and Co-op family wines. Native Sons Hall, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Patrick's Day Plant Slant Cooking Demonstration: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Blue Zones very own, “Green Harmony Feast” cooking demonstration! Join for a taste of Ireland's culinary magic, featuring vibrant, plant-based recipes inspired by the Blue Zones project. From kale salads to spinach delights, experience the joy of St. Patrick's Day with healthful and delicious bites. Elevate your celebration with the Green Harmony Feast – a delightful fusion of Irish heritage and plant-centric goodness! St. Helena Public Library, March 14 at 4:30 p.m.

• Fire Resources Fair: ​The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG), Napa Valley Vintners (NVV), CAL FIRE/Napa County Fire, and Napa Firewise are co-hosting their third annual communitywide Fire Resources Fair. Exhibitors will offer resources for growers and community members to prevent or mitigate wildfires. The Napa County Fire Administrator and Fire Captain will speak on defensible space and fuel load reduction projects along with answer questions from the community. Various activities will be available for kids to enjoy, including the Nimbus Arts Nim-bus, firehose target practice, along with arts and crafts. Napa Valley Expo, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• FORK2FILM Festival: This annual four-day cinematic event that celebrates the best in culinary, wine, and agriculture films from around the world. Festival programmers have selected fourteen narrative and documentary films that will surprise and delight from culinary classics to Oscar nominees. All focus on food’s power to bring people together; they are about family and culture; and they’re about artistry and sustainability. Cameo Cinema, March 14 to March 17.

• Music of the West African Kora: Sean Gaskell features songs on the kora- a 21 stringed West African harp. As a student of the instrument, he studied under the instruction of two musicians at their home in Brikama, Gambia, over multiple extensive visits. Gaskell has presented adult, youth, and family programs at over 350 libraries and a multitude of k-12 schools, colleges, universities, and assisted living facilities throughout the United States and Canada. St. Helena Public Library, March 19 at 4 p.m.

• Parent Night in St. Helena - Song for Charlie: Illicit fentanyl is dominating the drug landscape and causing record numbers of drug deaths throughout the country, particularly among Gen Z. Learn the facts about fentanyl and take empowered action to protect yourself and your loved ones during this conversation that will offer Real Talk About Fake Pills. Spanish translation available. St. Helena High School Performing Arts Center, March 20 at 5 p.m.

• Tangled Vines, Greed, Murder, Obsession, and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California: Distinguished journalist and author Frances Dinkelspiel brings us up to date on Mark Anderson, her miscreant subject of Tangled Vines. The convicted arsonist died last March. Nearly $5M in inventory had gone up in flames in 2005 at a storage facility on Mare Island under his care. Collectors, wine shops, and wineries lost entire vintages and libraries, including wine from Frances’s own family cellared for over a century. Reception to feature wines from wineries in Frances’s book and a book signing with the author after her talk. St. Helena Public Library, March 21 at 5:30 p.m.

• Give BIG! St. Helena: An annual parent-led social fundraising campaign benefiting St. Helena’s public schools. March is the month of giving and efforts culminate on March 24, marking St. Helena’s anniversary of incorporation – March 24, 1876. Please note that Run BIG! will take place on March 29 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the area of both the elementary, middle, and high schools. There will be rolling street closures managed by the St. Helena Police Department, St. Helena Parks and Recreation Department, and parent volunteers. Please use alternate routes and drive with caution.

• Save the Date - ¡Viva Mariachi Festival at Napa Valley College!: Celebrate the rich heritage and cultural traditions of Mexico through Mariachi music and education. April 5 to April 7.

City of St. Helena

1088 College Avenue

St. Helena, CA 94574