Community Information | July 1, 2024

Recap and Planning for Future

As we were preparing for the June 24^th Community Forum, Mayor Dohring and Vice Mayor Hall challenged staff to do something different. Creating dynamic presentations is not our forte, so we turned to the City’s communications professional, Program Manager, Andrew Bradley, for assistance. The resulting video below visually summarizes the work being done to improve the quality of life for residents and to make the City safer.

While there is much to be proud of, we know there is still much to be done. City staff work every day to provide routine services and accomplish goals set by the City Council. The following are specific examples of the work being done.

Planning for Our Future

• Working on a Streets Master Plan to create safer streets for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians while improving circulation and evacuation routes
• Updated Zoning Code that makes St. Helena a better place to live and to do business
• Adopted Housing Element
• Downtown Specific Plan will guide public and private investment to ensure that development and infrastructure projects balance the community’s goals and visions for the future of our downtown
• Parks Master Plan will provide the template to thoughtfully develop walking paths, parks, and related amenities for the enjoyment of all residents and visitors

Tackling Infrastructure

• 8 Capital Improvement Plan projects completed and 41 in progress
• Completed and in progress projects include:
• Repaving Pope Street Bridge, Silverado Trail, and Grayson Avenue
• Watermain replacement projects at Kearney and Andrea, and South Crane Avenue and Vallejo Street
• Lyman Park and bandstand rehabilitation
• Improved lighting at Crane Park
• Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades are nearing completion

Revitalizing Main Street

• Main Street Sidewalks will get leveled in the coming months
• Working to implement ideas from Urban Land Institute Report

Preparing for Emergencies

• Developed a new Evacuation Plan and developing a new Emergency Operations Plan
• Conducted the first evacuation drill for community members living on the west side of Main Street – more than 172 vehicles and 400 people participated
• Sent out Emergency Preparedness Newsletter
• Created new Disaster Preparedness page on our website

Increased Use of Technology

• Website dashboards showing progress on Capital Improvement Program and achieving goals set by the City Council
• Transitioned records to the cloud
• New Parks and Recreation software to improve the sign up and registration processes
• RFID tagged materials at the St. Helena Public Library making it easier to borrow materials, including the popular State Parks pass
• Xpress Bill-Pay for increased efficiencies when accepting and processing payments

Engaging With Our Community

• Excellence in Customer Service staff training
• Enhanced our City website
• Launched the St. Helena Grapevine to report problems and issues throughout the City
• Increased communications through City Newsletter, Community Alerts, social media, video, and more
• FlashVote surveys
• Volunteer park clean-up program
• Increased transparency to the community
• Presentations to numerous community groups
• Community Forums with City Council members and City Manager
• Staff and City Council directed working groups, committees, and commissions

Promoting the Well-being of Our Residents

• Summer Concert Series and movie nights
• National Night Out
• Community Soccer Night
• Napa Valley Pickleball Classic
• St. Helena Public Library events
• Parks & Recreation Summer Camps and Programs

With a knowledgeable City Council and committed staff, we are proud of our accomplishments in FY 2023-24. Together, we’re building a stronger, more sustainable, and more connected community.

Thank you,

Anil Comelo

City Manager

City of St. Helena

City of St. Helena

1088 College Avenue

St. Helena, CA 94574