10 Point Plan
Bringing St. Helena visions and goals to fruition.
The Economy, Downtown & Quality of Life
Maintain a commitment to strong fiscal oversight, quality of life and maintaining the character of our town.
Foster and promote a diverse and complementary range of local-serving retail stores and industries.
Promote a balanced amount of visitation and tourism that also respects our residential community and works within a diversified economy.
Continue work on the downtown streetscape and sidewalks, directional signage, parking upgrades and traffic mitigation.
Consider more flexible permitting and zoning, and dialogue with landlords to maintain a vibrant downtown.
Explore partnerships with the hospital and college, green businesses, clean energy, tech and medical tech resources.
Engage residents to join in exploring alternative sources of revenue from a more diversified economy, including possible housing opportunities on a portion of Adams St. property.
Attract innovative industries and businesses committed to sustainability, equitable wages and the Triple Bottom Line: People, Planet and Profit.
Rebrand St. Helena as a health destination by partnering with the hospital and health industry – a lifestyle rooted in a commitment to healthy living, blue zone health, open space and outdoor recreation.
Water Security
Water is our most important resource, and a comprehensively mapped and quantified water system is paramount in future planning.
Explore the recommendations made by the Local Agency Formation Commission’s (LAFCO) countywide Municipal Service Review regarding Napa County’s water and wastewater.
For the best way forward, synthesize data from LAFCO and the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency with the two current engineering based St. Helena water studies commissioned by the city.
Expansion of tertiary/recycled water program (purple pipes). Require new development to include plumbing to accept recycled water for landscape and non-household use.
Explore dredging Bell Canyon Reservoir to increase water storage capacity.
Enhance Emergency Preparedness
Adopt a countywide, cross jurisdictional protection and response plan for disasters.
Through mapping, mitigation, communication, education, messaging and community engagement we can find synergies and be resilient in the wake of fires, earthquakes, flooding, pandemics and other natural disasters.
Climate-Environment
Climate change will continue to affect every aspect of our lives. We must be creative, nimble, resilient and adaptable.
It is critical to stay committed to our 2019 Climate Proclamation and 2030 Drawdown Goals. Protect water and open space, address deforestation, eliminate the use of synthetic pesticides, and incentivize green building and clean energy practices through legislation.
Employ green building standards on new City buildings and invest in roof top solar and expansion of charging stations.
Consider balanced growth that sustains open space and watershed lands and forests. Expand parks, open space, bicycle routes and walking trails.
St. Helena’s largest source of CO2 emissions is from car travel, pushing forward on implementing the bike and pedestrian plan included in our General Plan to encourage biking, walking and safe routes to schools.
Affordable Housing & Workforce Housing
Enhance a comprehensive housing strategy that includes land banking (the city acquiring property for affordable housing), updating zoning and the permit process, and incorporating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).
Partner with nonprofits, local commercial interests and Napa County Administrations for affordable housing solutions and opportunities for first-time home buyers and equity building.
Consider the city owned properties including Railroad Avenue and corporation yard for housing opportunities.
Ensure a thoughtful, attractive balance of various affordable and workforce housing models throughout the entire community that integrate with the existing residential community.
Adams Street
Retain the Adams Street property as a treasured city asset.
Use SHAPE recommendations and 2009 Visioning Report for guidance, create a public plaza with community amenities such as an amphitheater, bocce, open space and other community-centered uses.
Explore revenue generating leasing opportunities for affordable housing, mixed use retail and non-profits on a portion of the property.
City Hall & Infrastructure
Continue the partnership with Napa Valley College to lease the UpValley Campus for an interim or long term City Hall, and consider rebuilding City Hall at Main Street location.
Retain city properties as assets and explore leasing as a source of revenue and opportunity for housing.
Explore alternatives like bonding to fund City Hall without placing significant future burdens on our General Fund so those monies can fix our roads, replace storm drains, improve our parks. Seek bonds, grants, cross-jurisdictional cooperation and other tools of municipal finance to expand funding for infrastructure. Consider financing districts for revitalization and funding of community priorities.
Continue maintenance, renovations and upgrades on city buildings including the library, expand road paving and continue with park maintenance and upgrades.
Social Equity
Through public policy, legislation, boards and councils and public engagement we can foster social and racial equity.
Foster an inclusive community that champions diversity and equitable opportunity for all. Recognize our LatinX population, people of color and LGBTQ+ community as integral voices in our community.
Enhance bi-lingual and cross-cultural communication.
Equitable living starts with living wages and access to equitable healthcare and housing.
Engage employers in utilizing tools like diversity training to unify our community and workforce.
Youth Opportunities & Community Building
Our youth are the future. A continued focus on youth resources, support and programs will best enable their success and our full enrichment as a community.
Support music, educational and cultural activities. Continue enhancing community events as Neighborhood Table, Jingle All the Way and Harvest Festival for spirit-building and community pride.
Continue partnerships with service groups, nonprofits and neighborhood networks to encourage a fully engaged community.
Work Cross-Jurisdictionally
We are not isolated in our small community - our traffic, water, social and climate concerns extend across all jurisdictions.
We must continue collaborating with agencies like the Napa Valley Transportation Authority, Napa County Climate Action Committee and League of California Cities for consistency with best practices.
We can continue to protect our small town character while incorporating innovative and forward thinking approaches to problem solving. Together we can inspire and cultivate the re-flowering of our beautiful town and community!
Paid for by Geoff Ellsworth for Mayor 2020 FPPC# 1407177