NEWS FROM DISTRICT 3

Welcome to the April newsletter! My team and I are excited to share a fresh round of updates from around the County and right here in District 3. In this edition, you’ll find updates on federal advocacy efforts, key takeaways from recent community meetings, highlights on our continued commitment to safe and accurate immigration information, and a lineup of upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

There’s a lot packed into this issue—some County-wide, some district-specific—so feel free to dive into what interests you most. Happy reading!

As always, thank you for reading, and please reach out to me (anne.cottrell@countyofnapa.org) or my District Aide Leah (leah.doyle-stevens@countyofnapa.org) with any County-related questions or concerns.

Warmly,

Anne

IN THE COMMUNITY

Napa County at the Table for Wildfire Resilience Talks

I recently represented Napa County and the Rural County Representatives of California on the Executive Committee at the Spring 2025 Regional Meeting of the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force. The meeting brought together over 700 participants and experts in the field to share updates and strategies for wildfire resilience across the state.

Key topics included lessons from the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, community safety efforts since the 2017 North Bay fires, and progress on 2025 statewide resilience goals. Secretary Wade Crowfoot also discussed a new State of Emergency declaration aimed at accelerating wildfire prevention projects. The meeting underscored the Task Force's commitment to collaborative efforts in mitigating wildfire risks and enhancing forest resilience across California, and again, I'm grateful that Napa County has a seat at the table.

As always, counties like ours play a critical role in these conversations. I'm grateful for the partnership of CAL FIRE, state agencies, and local leaders working together to protect our communities.

Learn more about the Task Force and its ongoing work at wildfiretaskforce.org.

Spring Readiness Event in Angwin

Thanks to all who attended the recent Angwin preparedness event at PUC! My team and I were happy to partner with the Angwin Fire Safe Council; thanks to their team for their leadership in organizing. Also, it was great to hear the updates from the fire safe councils in Berryessa Estates, Deer Park, Lake Hennessy, and Pope Valley - they've all been very busy! Napa County Sheriff's Office, Napa County Fire, Fire Administration, Napa County Fire Marshals Office and PG&E gave reports, and Napa Valley COAD, Calistoga CERT, and other groups continued their good work of education and outreach. I am grateful that our community has all these partnerships and collaboration in the fire prevention space. It makes our homes and neighborhoods safer and more resilient!

Coffee & Conversation in Calistoga!

Vice Mayor Irais Lopez-Ortega and I held a Community Coffee meeting in Calistoga recently. Thanks to Irais for inviting me and to the Calistoga Roastery for hosting us! We talked about several important issues including challenges experienced by the Calistoga Food Bank, homeowner insurance, AT&T Carrier of Last Resort and the CPUC, and more. Great crowd and questions, thanks to all who attended! I look forward to another similar opportunity in the fall.

Celebrating St. Helena Stars!

The St. Helena Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the annual CELEBRATE St. Helena event at Crocker & Starr Winery, honoring individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to the community. This year's award recipients were:​

• Business of the Year: Wydown Hotel​
• Citizen of the Year: Oliver Caldwell​
• Employee of the Year: Alejandro Baltazar of Boeschen Vineyards​
• Non-Profit of the Year: Rianda House​

These annual awards celebrate the dedication and impact of those who enhance the vibrancy of St. Helena. ​Congratulations to the St. Helena Chamber on another successful CELEBRATE event and THANK YOU to the winners for all that you do to make our community great!

OVER THE AIRWAVES

Resiliency Conversations

Thanks to 99.3 FM The Vine and Napa Communities Firewise Foundation for inviting me to participate in the first of an interview series meant to enhance community understanding of fire preparedness and what long term resilience can look like. This segment will air throughout the month of April! 

ON THE GROUND

Chipping Services

Did you know the Napa County Fire Department offers FREE chipping services to residents in unincorporated areas? This is an opportunity to clear your property and help protect our community. (Program criteria required.)

Why participate?

✅ Reduces wildfire risk around your home.

✅ Helps create vital defensible space.

✅ Contributes to the overall safety of our community.

Ready to participate? Learn more about the program guidelines and apply here.

IN THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT

Opportunities to choose from in Calistoga!

​Calistoga offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for those looking to contribute to the community. Here are a few organizations that welcome volunteers:​



• Calistoga Cares Food Bank: This organization provides food assistance to local residents and relies on volunteers for their twice-monthly food distribution events. Tasks include organizing and distributing food items.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga: Dedicated to supporting youth development, this organization offers various programs for children and teens. Volunteers can assist in areas such as tutoring, mentoring, or organizing activities.
• Calistoga Art Center: For those interested in the arts, the Calistoga Art Center seeks volunteers to help with tasks like putting up event posters, organizing supplies, decorating for events, or assisting with art exhibits.
• UpValley Family Centers: This organization offers a range of services to support families and individuals in the community. Volunteer roles vary from event support to program assistance.

Engaging with any of these organizations is a meaningful way to contribute to the Calistoga community.

SNAPSHOT ON COUNTY SERVICES

County Spotlight: Board of Supervisors

This County Government month, I want to shine the light on the Board of Supervisors. What is the role of the Board? What leadership duties and functions are we responsible for?

The Napa County Board of Supervisors is the governing body for the County of Napa. It plays a central role in shaping policy, overseeing county operations, and representing the interests of local residents. Here's a breakdown of its roles, services, and leadership responsibilities:

Role and Structure

• The Board consists of five elected supervisors, each representing a geographic district within the county.
• Supervisors serve four-year terms, and elections are staggered.

Leadership Duties

The Board of Supervisors functions as both a legislative and executive body for the County. Its leadership responsibilities include:

• Budget Authority: Adopting and managing the county budget and allocating resources to departments and programs.
• Policy Making: Enacting ordinances and policies that guide county operations.
• Appointments: Appointing members to various advisory boards, commissions, and special districts.
• Advocacy: Representing Napa County in state and federal legislative matters.
• Strategic Planning: Setting long-term goals and priorities for economic development, climate action, equity, and more.

Public Engagement

• Supervisors hold regular public meetings, allowing residents to provide input and stay informed.
• They also work closely with city governments, community organizations, and individual constituents to address local concerns.



For more information or to find your supervisor, visit the Napa County Board of Supervisors page.

That's it for this edition - thank you for reading! If you have a question or a topic you'd like to read about here, please email me at anne.cottrell@countyofnapa.org . You can also get in touch by emailing Leah, my District Aide, at leah.doyle-stevens@countyofnapa.org.

To see my weekly updates, please follow my Supervisor Anne Cottrell Facebook page and @supervisorannecottrell on Instagram. The County’s website and Facebook page are also good sources of information.

Thanks again. I look forward to serving and collaborating with you!

Anne Cottrell