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Dear Community Members,
I don’t know about you, but I’m still trying to catch my breath from the August rollercoaster. From being fully immersed in all things 4-H and the Junior Livestock Auction, to making the difficult decision to pull the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) housing bond measure from the November 2024 ballot (more below), to Meet Me in the Street in American Canyon and riding on the new St. Helena to Calistoga segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail—I got to wear a lot of different pairs of shoes.
School is back in session! I’m welcoming the return of routine in our lives. A gentle reminder to give yourself a few extra minutes for your commute to account for all the school drop-offs. And cheers to the City of American Canyon on their recent multi-modal improvements on Donaldson and Benton Ways.
September is National Preparedness Month, and we’ve had a few recent reminders of the importance of being prepared. I’m kicking off this month at the Disaster Ready Summit with the Listos California, sharing lessons Napa County has learned over the years. Now’s a good time to make sure you're signed up to get alerts, make a plan, pack a go bag and connect with your neighbors.
Sincerely,
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Coombsville Neighbors, We Need Your Help!
Residents have shared that they've seen an increase of speeders in the neighborhood. With your help, along with the support of California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Napa County Sheriff's Office (NSO), we hope to try and slow vehicles down. If you witness someone speeding in the area, please call CHP to report it with a description of the vehicle and/or license number. These reports, along with the recently installed flock cameras, help law enforcement keep the neighborhood safe!
Number to report speeding: (707) 699-6300
Call during normal business hours: M-F 8am-5pm
For emergencies, please call 911!
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Board of Supervisors Supports Prop 35
Prop 35 will solidify funding for Medi-Cal by making the Managed Care Organization Tax permanent. This tax, on organizations like Kaiser Permanente and Anthem Blue Cross, generates between $7 and $9 billion dollars annually to help fund Medi-Cal. We support Prop 35 to help safeguard medical care for our most vulnerable residents.
Click here to read our letter of support >>>
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Napa County Awards $10.8M to Further Community Health
Last month, the Board approved 36 agreements with local organizations to advance community health in Napa County. Organizations were selected by Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) based on their alignment with our Community Health Improvement Plan goals. With funding from Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), and Opiod Settlement Funds (OSF), we allocated $10.8M to make important services available to the community.
See the list of organizations receiving funds and learn more here >>>
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SHARE Program Launched! Rent Assistance for low-income older adults
Thanks to a $5 million award to Napa County from the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA), we've launched the SHARE Program, which provides up to $800 a month to help low-income older adults stay in their homes. If you or someone you know is 65+ and is struggling to pay rent, check out the requirements to see if you/they qualify. Applications are open now!
Learn more about the program and apply here >>>
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2024 Napa Valley Housing Needs Assessment
At the Aug. 20th Board of Supervisors Meeting, Director of Housing and Homeless Programs, Jennifer Palmer, and Generation Housing (Gen H) consultants, shared their findings from the Napa Valley Housing Needs Assessment. This report further highlights the critical housing situation that Napa County is in now, while also recommending some possible strategies forward in addressing our County's housing needs.
Read the full report here >>>
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BAHFA Housing Bond Measure Removed from November Ballot
“The BAHFA Board’s decision to withdraw the affordable housing bond measure from this November’s ballot is not one that was taken lightly. The Bay Area’s housing affordability crisis has been decades in the making and is far too big for any one city or county to solve on its own. This is the reason the state Legislature established BAHFA. A robust source of funding for safe and affordable housing across our diverse, nine-county region is essential to the Bay Area’s economic and environmental health and to its residents’ quality of life..."
Read the full statement here to learn about why the measure was withdrawn >>>
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Basic Fire Insurance Program to get Improvements Soon
The FAIR Plan provides basic fire insurance coverage for high-risk properties when traditional insurance companies will not. Insurance Commissioner, Ricardo Lara, has prioritized improving the FAIR Plan with the goal of creating more long-term security for consumers, homeowners and businesses across the state. The upcoming improvements include:
- New "high-value" commercial coverage option: This will help those who need coverage beyond what is currently offered through the FAIR Plan, up to $20 million per building
- Improved FAIR Plan reporting and oversight: Creating increased transparency will help regulators and public policy makers track progress toward reducing policies and monitoring the FAIR Plan's financial health.
Read more about the improvements here >>>
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Community Development Updates
With so much development happening in American Canyon, I want to highlight the City's interactive map that allows you to see all the projects and their current status. If you're wondering what is going on with any of the developments in town, be sure to check here first.
Stay up to date here >>>
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Lemos Pointe Apartments
Named after beloved longtime resident, Fran Lemos, Lemos Pointe affordable apartments are open and taking applications. These units are meant to help us meet the urgent housing needs of Napa County by offering reduced rents to those who are at 60% or lower of area median income.
See income limits & availability here >>>
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We ❤ Safe Streets - Traffic Calming Program
With school back in full swing, American Canyon reminds us that we all play a part in keeping our roadways safe. Learn more about the City's Traffic Calming Program and take the "We ❤ Safe Streets Pledge" today!
Take the We ❤ Safe Streets Pledge Today >>>
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SEPTEMBER AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS & EVENTS | |
September is National Preparedness Month
The recent America Fire in our District, and the 10-year anniversary of the 2014 earthquake, are both strong reminders to our community about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. All month long, the County will be sharing resources and updates to help you get prepared before the next disaster strikes. Be sure to follow along on social media to get helpful information!
Get tips on preparedness >>>
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September is Suicide Prevention Month
Attend the Napa County Suicide Prevention Council's first Suicide Prevention Conference, "Hope Beyond Darkness: Uniting for Suicide Prevention," featuring keynote speaker, Candace Washington. Washington is a mother, licensed social worker, psychotherapist, author, minister, Veteran, and a Suicide Survivor, who will be sharing a message of hope and restoration. Additional breakout sessions will be offered along with lunch and Spanish translation is available.
Register now here >>>
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National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15th to October 15th, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of the Latine community in the United States. The City of American Canyon kicked off the proclamations yesterday at their City Council meeting. Other cities and the County will have additional proclamations throughout the month. Local organizations are also hosting events to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage month, including Puertas Abiertas who is hosting their Puro Corazón event on Sept. 20th, and Napa County Hispanic Network who is hosting their Vamos Napa Valley event on Oct. 5th.
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Need Help Completing Financial Aid Applications?
As summer comes to a close, and with school back in session, many students are now focusing on getting ready for college, including how to pay for it. If you or someone you know needs help filling out the FASFA or CADAA, correcting existing applications, or applying for scholarships, there is assistance available through 10,000 Degrees. This is open to ANY student attending college in the fall. Login to zoom on 9/5 or 9/12 for assistance.
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This Month's Board of Supervisors Meetings
Attend and participate in-person or virtually to stay current on County projects and efforts! This month's meetings are on 9/10 and 9/24 at 9am in the Board of Supervisors Chambers on the third floor of the County Administration Building - 1195 Third Street, Suite 305, Napa.
Click here to see current agendas, minutes and meeting details >>>
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Superintendent Dr. Barbara Nemko, Mayor Scott Sedgley and I at Camille Creek School celebrating the partnership with Verizon Innovative Learning. | |
NVC President Dr. Torence Powell and Assistant Superintendent James Reeves gave me a tour of the new River Trail Village student housing development. | |
Trying out the new Imagination Station play area at Napa County Health & Human Services, a new partnership with Children's Museum of Napa Valley. | |
Another incredible National Night Out on August 6th! Glad for the opportunity to connect with first responders and community members all at once. | |
Grateful I got to participate in the inaugural ride of the St. Helena to Calistoga segment of the Napa Valley Vine Trail, open now for the community to enjoy! | | | | |
