NEWS FROM DISTRICT 3

Hello — May is Wildfire Awareness Month in Napa County and across the nation, so this newsletter focuses on emergency readiness and preparedness! Read below to learn about an update on AT&T, the functions of the Napa County Fire Department, and ways you can prepare for emergencies. May is also a time we celebrate older adults in the community, and mental health awareness too. Be sure to check out the Listos "First Aid for Your Mind" resource.

Please reach out to me or my District Aide Leah Doyle-Stevens with any County-related issue or question.



Thank you for reading!

Anne

IN THE COMMUNITY

Thank you to everyone who attended the May 7 Community meeting in Angwin! We had a packed house for this meeting on emergency preparedness and resilience – thanks to Pacific Union College for hosting us once again. We are fortunate to have so many strong community partners.

Be sure to visit READYNAPACOUNTY.ORG for regular updates and resources.

For a full list of links and resources made available at the meeting, click here.

The Saints Athletic Association's Fajita Fest is an annual tradition that supports all the school sports at St. Helena High. Here's Darrell, Johnny, and JR kicking it off - thanks to them and the SAA team for all you do for student athletes!

A great morning with our Emergency Services team at the Angwin Flea Market, talking about readiness with local residents.

Thanks to the Deer Park Fire Safe Council team who came across the valley to help the Tucker Farm Center start its defensible space work. This group got a lot done in a short time!

Congrats to Paul Goldberg, the 2024 Napa Valley Grapegrowers' Grower of the Year - great to hear about Paul's hard work and stewardship in the vineyard, and his commitment to farmworker education and support.

ON THE GROUND

Chipping Program-- AVAILABLE NOW!

One way to prepare your property and home for wildfire is to make sure you have proper defensible space. Napa County Fire offers free chipping services to property owners in unincorporated parts of the county. Register for the chipping program here.

ON TWO WHEELS

May is Bike Month in Napa County! Bikefest is a fun annual event honoring local bike advocates, with lots of kids (and grownups) practicing their two-wheel skills. Thanks to Napa County Bicycle Coalition and all who participated. You can check out their webpage for a list of events coming up this month and throughout the year.

AT THE CAPITOL

Earlier this month, I did some advocacy work in Washington DC, where our Napa County team met with federal agencies and our congressional representatives. We shared our County's progress in wildfire prevention and mitigation, and asked for federal support.

We also partnered with the Napa Valley Vintners in several meetings, talking about the joint efforts of the County, Napa Firewise, and our growers and vintners who are taking action to reduce their wildfire risk - and yet still face insurance challenges, like so many Napa County residents.

(Napa Firewise) ON THE WEB

Napa Communities Firewise Foundation has created a new Dashboard to showcase information on project work around the county. It is now live and can be accessed on their website here.

ON THE (LAND)LINE – UPDATE

In last month’s newsletter, we reported that AT&T had requested to drop its “Carrier of Last Resort” (COLR) status, which requires it to provide basic “plain old telephone service” (POTS) to any residential or business customer in its service territory. The Board of Supervisors submitted a letter strongly opposing the request, as did many other counties. This month, we can share that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) released a  May 10 Proposed Decision denying AT&T's request. The CPUC still needs to finalize that decision, but I wanted to provide this interim update, and to thank all the residents who reached out - your voice was heard. We know landlines are critical in our rural areas!

IN THE BOARD ROOM

At the May 7 Board of Supervisors meeting, my colleagues and I marked the start of May as Wildfire Awareness Month in Napa County. Thanks to the Napa County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, Napa County Office of Emergency Services, Napa Communities Firewise Foundation, 21 active local Fire Safe Councils, and our industry and community partners who are all working together to inform residents and property owners about the steps they can take now to prepare for wildfire.

Also at the meeting, Fire Administrator Dave Shew presented his 30-year vision for making Napa County more fire resilient. Program Manager J.R. Rogers also presented an update on the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) FEMA grant that was officially awarded in April. This grant will support large fuel breaks and will help residents with home hardening. Look for more information in the coming months on the BRIC grant and how you can apply.

AT THE READY

Go Bags, Stay Boxes & Grab Lists!



Got your go bag packed? Share it with us at @SupervisorAnneCottrell on Facebook!

ON THE CALENDAR

Have questions about the climate, and how to improve climate resiliency at home and in the community?

Climate and You - What Can You Do? Let's Be Practical! Please join me and Drew Isaacs, scientist and lecturer on Climate Change and Business, for the first session of the District 3 Community Climate Education Series. This series is an opportunity for members of the community to learn, ask questions and hear about practical solutions.

Climate Education Session

May 30, 2024 | 5:30-7pm

Yountville Community Center

UpValley Family Centers to host Older Adult Health and Wellness Fair in Calistoga

May is also Older Americans Month, a time to recognize older adults' contributions, highlight trends in aging, and reaffirm our County's commitments to serving the older residents. UpValley Family Centers invites members of the community to come out for a Health and Wellness Fair for Older Adults in Calistoga.

May 29, 2024 | 10am-12pm

Pioneer Park in Calistoga

This event is a great opportunity to learn about what services are available for older adults in Napa County. No registration is required to attend. There will be raffle prizes and giveaways. 

IN THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT

In addition to its community events like the one mentioned above, UpValley Family Centers works year-round to advance equity and opportunity for youth and families for a more inclusive, resilient Napa Valley.

Serving over 4,500 people a year, UVFC supports our farmworkers, hospitality workers, and low-income households with educational and mentorship opportunities for all ages. It provides parenting resources, homeless prevention services, immigration assistance, community health outreach, financial coaching and tax preparation, and guided referrals.

Volunteers play a key role in UVFC's work: every year, more than 120 community members help bring services, events, and programs to their neighbors! You can learn more about their programs and volunteer here.

SNAPSHOT ON COUNTY SERVICES

With our Napa County Fire Chiefs, Fire Administration team and firefighters from the NCFD Angwin Volunteer Fire Station

Department Spotlight: Napa County Fire Department

This month's spotlight focuses on our Napa County Fire Department (NCFD): "Working together for your safety - Proudly serving our community with courtesy, integrity and compassion."

NCFD responds to all hazards, including medical calls, fires, aircraft incidents, and hazardous materials spills. Guided by the contract between Napa County and CalFire, NCFD also works together with our cities and town to operate the Interagency Hazardous Materials Team and the Technical Rescue Team. NCFD often shares resources under automatic mutual aid agreements when larger or multiple incidents occur. These relationships, along with continuous training, bring a high level of service for our residents and visitors.

Operating under a County Fire Plan, CalFire provides administrative support and coordination with five full-time paid stations and the County's nine volunteer fire stations.

A hallmark of our Napa County Fire Department is the more than 150 volunteer personnel who operate out of stations across the county. These dedicated individuals give of their time to train, run calls for service, and become an invaluable “force multiplier” of response that would otherwise be impossible to obtain.

Last fall, the County created the Napa County Fire Administration. Fire Administrator Dave Shew and Program Manager J.R. Rogers came on board six months ago to oversee all things fire. This spring, we heard from this team and County Fire Chiefs about plans to improve and update our volunteer program within the NCFD. These updates include increased reimbursement for time served, the ability to hire volunteers to staff stations during red flag and high fire danger warnings, and dedicated battalion chiefs who will each be attached to three stations, assisting with day-to-day needs of each station and volunteer. The intent is to increase support, build consistency, and allow our volunteers to respond anywhere in the county at any time. We love our volunteers! These individuals are your family, friends and community members around you and if you’re interested, I invite you to learn more here.

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