October 30, 2018
October has given us the opportunity to truly pause, reflect, and plan. The County of Napa did just that. This edition of my newsletter contains a brief summary of what we have learned and improved in an effort to make our County more resilient.
Hopefully everyone has a go-bag, but as the Berendsens talk about in the California Wildfire Story Project, make sure the clothes fit. To learn how to plan ahead and prepare your family for disasters, visit www.ready.gov .
As October comes to a close, enjoy all the cute goblins begging for candy and get out those winter coats!

Sincerely,



~ Belia Ramos
In This Issue . . .

-Board of Supervisors News
-Fire Recovery
-Elections Corner
-Housing News
-Transportation News
-Become a Part of Team Napa County
-Protect Yourself from the Flu!
-Featured Nonprofit Organization: Shop with a Cop Napa
-Celebrating Second Responders
-City Council Approves the Watson Ranch Specific Plan!
-Wildfire Safety Vegetation Work
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NEWS
Amendment to the Local Food Advisory Council By-laws
At the October 16 meeting, the Board received a report from the Local Food Advisory Council (LFAC) and approved the proposed changes to the by-laws. The changes include, expanding the purpose of the council to include food access, changes to the representative composition, and a change to the term of office from 4 to 3 years. The request to include food access was requested as a result of findings documented in the Emergency Food System Study conducted by Napa County Health and Human Services, in which food insecurity and the coordination of services to address food insecurity was found to be a gap in our community. If you are interested in viewing the LFAC report, please click here .
Honoring the Agricultural Preserve
A big thank you to Hugh Davies, Chair of the Jack L. Davies Napa Valley Ag Land Preservation Fund, for his recent donation of a sign honoring the 50th anniversary of the Ag Preserve. The Ag Preserve was established in 1968 and has been the bedrock principle of our land use policies and a critical reason for the great success of the County these past decades. The sign will be placed on Silverado Trail, south of Hardman Lane, and will help educate the public on this important achievement in preserving our beautiful valley for generations past, present, and future. This is one of four signs that will ultimately mark each corner of the Ag Preserve on the valley floor.    
FIRE RECOVERY
Napa Wildfires - One Year Later - What's Changed?

October 8th marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating Napa Fire Complex. Since then, the County has been working diligently to improve readiness for future emergencies and disasters. Here are some key fire prevention efforts:
  • Fire Watch Cameras – Napa County Fire and Napa County Communications have introduced Fire Watch Cameras in Mt. Saint Helena, Berryessa Peak, and Atlas Peak. To watch, visit alertwildfire.org and click on Napa County under North Bay.

  • Telecommunications Infrastructure – A professional consultant will be contracted to conduct a study to better understand the damage to our telecommunications infrastructure and its resiliency for future disasters.

  • Video Conferencing – New video conferencing equipment, known as "Mondo Pads" will allow the County to better communicate with elected officials and staff from the cities and town during a disaster.
  • Hi-Lo Sirens – The Sheriff’s Department has deployed new emergency sirens in each deputy vehicle. When residents hear this siren (view right-hand clip) it means it's time to “tune in” – something is happening, so check the radio, TV, Nixle alerts, and social media.
  • Evacuation Tags – The Sheriff has also been deploying “Evacuated” tags to help first responders on the field identify homes that have been evacuated. This is especially necessary in rural areas in Napa County.

  • Evacuation Routes – Evacuation Routes for the areas with the most fire danger (Atlas Peak, Angwin, Dry Creek, and Mt. Veeder) were mailed to over 12,000 people and information will continue to be sent out to make sure the public is aware of this information.
Grant Opportunity

A second round of grant funding is now available to Napa County residents whose ability to obtain, maintain, or restore housing was impacted by the 2017 wildfires. Eligible households must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Displaced from primary residence for 30 days or more (owner or renter) due to the 2017 wildfires. This includes renters displaced from their primary residence by a landlord needing the property due to wildfire displacement.
  • Households experiencing loss of income impairing their ability to obtain or maintain housing due to the 2017 wildfires.

Grant funds are available in $500 increments up to $2,500. Eligible expenses include rental assistance, utility bills, and home reconstruction repairs. Applicants may submit work orders or apply for reimbursement for expenses incurred since October 2017. Applications are available at CountyofNapa.org and must be submitted by November 14, 2018. For questions, call (707) 299-1975 or email Jennifer.Palmer@countyofnapa.org .
ELECTIONS CORNER
Vote! Vote! Vote!

The General Election is only a few days away - November 6, 2018 . I used our new ballot drop box to cast my vote, how about you?

Voting has never been simpler - If you are registered to vote, a ballot was mailed to you on October 8th and you can return your completed ballot by mailing it, using a Drop Box, or visiting a Vote Center. If you missed the deadline to register online, don't worry, you can still register at one of the Vote Centers. For a list of Vote Centers and Drop Box locations,   click here . Now get out there and vote!

VOTE for what you stand for, and VETO what you won't stand for!
HOUSING NEWS
 $2 Million in funding for the Homeless Shelter!

The California Department of Finance awarded the South Napa Shelter with $2 million in grant funding to enhance operations at the homeless shelter and for community outreach. The funds will help transition the South Napa Shelter to a 24/7 facility where folks can now access critical support services such as employment counseling, life skills training, psychological counseling, crisis management, and mental health assessments. Services which will help individuals transition into productive roles in the community and reduce recidivism. Funding will also be used for outreach efforts which seek to ameliorate concerns of nearby residents and to educate community members about the role of the South Napa Shelter in the community. 
TRANSPORTATION NEWS
Sewer Rehabilitation and Road Improvements Coming to District 5!
The Napa Sanitation District (NSD) and the County have coordinated efforts to provide sewer rehabilitation and County road paving improvements north of Imola Avenue, east of Wilkins Avenue, south of Kansas Avenue, and west of Penny Lane.

The project is scheduled to begin in February 2019 with NSD's sewer upgrades followed by the County's paving improvements to start in July 2019 with the anticipated completion in August 2019. The roads receiving these improvements include: Republic Avenue, London Way, Holmes Avenue, Shelter Avenue, Whitney Avenue, Coronado Avenue, Marshal Avenue, Parrish Road, Mayfair Drive, and Penny Lane. 
BECOME A PART OF TEAM NAPA COUNTY
Do you want to provide direct input to the Napa County Board of Supervisors and other County leaders? Then become a part of team Napa County by applying for one of the County's advisory committees, commissions, and boards. Put your knowledge, energy, and passion to work for your community.

Current Openings:
  • Treasurer-Tax Collector Vacancy
  • Napa County Airport Land Use Commission
  • Napa County Child Care and Development Planning Council
  • Napa County Commission on Aging
  • Napa County Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
  • Napa County Advisory Board on Alcohol and Drug Programs
  • Napa County Dangerous Animal Hearing Panel
  • First 5 Napa County Children and Families Commission
  • Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Floating Alternate Director
  • Napa County Housing Commission
  • Napa County Local Food Advisory Council
  • Napa County Mental Health Board
  • Napa Valley Transportation Authority Active Transportation Advisory Committee

Please visit the  County Clerk of the Board website for more information on the current openings.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE FLU!
The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. Every year in the U.S., on average: 5-20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications; and about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. So don't wait, and find out how to get a free flu vaccine from Napa County Public Health. I got my flu shot, have you?
FEATURED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION:
Shop with a Cop Napa
Shop with a Cop Napa is a holiday event (sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa, Napa Target store, and Napa Police Department) that helps children in need by pairing them with a law enforcement officer to go holiday shopping for their immediate family. This presents a great opportunity for the youth to experience the joy of giving unconditionally, which has proven to have had a profound effect on past recipients. The program also attempts to change the perception of law enforcement. Current events have left the most vulnerable youth with a less than favorable impression of law enforcement personnel and the hope is to change this perception through the program.

If you're interested in supporting Shop with a Cop Napa, please contact Toni McIntosh at (707) 257-9262 or TMcintosh@cityofnapa.org .
CELEBRATING SECOND RESPONDERS
Congratulations to all of the award recipients who were recognized at the Celebrating Second Responders event on October 3, sponsored by The Doctors Company and the Napa Valley Community Foundation. The honored "second responders" provided shelter, food, medical aid, and ongoing recovery assistance to those who were affected by the 2017 October wildfires.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE
WATSON RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN!
Exciting news on the Watson Ranch/Napa Valley Ruins & Gardens Project ! The American Canyon City Council unanimously approved the project's Specific Plan. Affectionately referred to as the “Town Center,” the project is one step closer to becoming a reality.

The 309-acre project will include a new Town Center, expected to feature a wedding venue, event center, restaurants, pubs, wine tasting, brewery, amphitheater, food truck court, Farmer's Market, community plaza, and a 200-room boutique hotel.

The project will also create 53 acres of parks, trails, and open space; build a new elementary school for 600 students; a new neighborhood consisting of 1,253 residential units; and more! Click on the image to view the map of the proposed development.
WILDFIRE SAFETY VEGETATION WORK
In response to the recent and dramatically increasing wildfire threat in our state, PG&E is taking immediate action and is performing work to create greater clearances between power lines and trees. New State vegetation and fire safety standards require a minimum clearance of 4 feet around power lines in high fire-threat areas with clearances of 12 feet or more at the time of trim to ensure compliance year-round.

PG&E will be reaching out to customers in advance of the work through automated phone calls, letters, emails, door knocks and door hangers. They promise to work together with you to review the wildfire safety work and answer your questions. If you have any questions or concerns, please call PG&E at their dedicated phone line at 1-877-295-4949 or email them at wildfiresafety@pge.com . They will respond within one business day. More information on their comprehensive Community Wildfire Safety Program is also available at www.pge.com/wildfiresafety .
Upcoming Board of Supervisors Meeting . . .

Join the Board on  November 13 at 9:00 a.m. on the third floor of the County Administration Building—1195 Third Street, Suite 305, Napa.
ABOUT BELIA
Raised in unincorporated St. Helena and Pope Valley, Belia is a first-generation Mexican-American who was born at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa. She currently resides in American Canyon, but calls all of Napa County home. Belia is a business owner, educator, community advocate, and mother of three children. Belia attended St. Helena public schools from kindergarten through high school. She graduated from Saint Mary's College of California in 1999 and UC Hastings College of the Law in 2004. Belia served as an American Canyon City Council Member from 2010-2016. In 2017, Belia was elected to the Napa County Board of Supervisors. She currently serves on the following panels: 25 th District Agricultural Association, Napa Valley Transportation Authority, Association of Bay Area Governments, North Bay Water Reuse Authority, Latino Caucus of California Counties and Rebuild North Bay.  
Supervisor Belia Ramos, Fifth District | Napa County Board of Supervisors |
Phone: (707)-259-8277 | Email: Belia.Ramos@countyofnapa.org