St. Helena meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

St. Helena Council to weigh $793,756 Bell Canyon contract, ADU rules

The St. Helena City Council met Aug. 11 to consider a $793,756 contract amendment for the Bell Canyon Reservoir Intake Tower and Valve House project, but no minutes have been published, so the outcome is not yet known. The council also has a regular meeting Aug. 25 with several items, including a $93,000 increase to a water management contract and a new ordinance on accessory dwelling units.

Recent meetings

• **City Council (Aug. 11)** – Agenda included the $793,756 contract amendment with Mead & Hunt, bringing the total to $2,257,196; one-year memorandums of understanding with the Police Officers' Association, Employees Association, and Firefighters Association; a public hearing on an ordinance clarifying on-site storage regulations; temporary street closures and alcohol possession for the 2026 Harvest Festival; and adoption of the Napa Countywide Active Transportation Plan. No decisions have been reported.

• **Library Board of Trustees (Aug. 12)** – Meeting cancelled. The next regular meeting is Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. at the St. Helena Public Library.

• **Water and Wastewater Advisory Committee (Aug. 13)** – Discussed draft chapters 5 and 6 of the Water Management Plan, a community forest easement proposal, the frequency of monthly water reports, and a rate study. No final decisions were expected.

• **Finance Committee (Aug. 14)** – Discussed an employee classification and compensation report and the process for developing the committee's draft final report. The agenda was procedural, with no major decisions.

• **Parks & Recreation Commission (Aug. 17)** – Meeting cancelled. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Sept. 21.

• **Planning Commission (Aug. 18)** – Held public hearings on a short-term rental permit at 626 Mills Ln (staff recommended continuing the decision until a zoning discrepancy is resolved) and a conditional use permit for a retail wine shop at 1269 Main Street, Suite 1299 (staff recommended approval). CEQA exemptions were cited for both projects. The commission also scheduled Brown Act and Rosenberg's Rules of Order training and noted a future study session for the Wydown Hotel on Sept. 15.

Upcoming meetings

• **Parks & Recreation Commission (Aug. 24)** – Special meeting to appoint a chair and vice chair, review the summer program and special events, and discuss the commission's workplan, goals, and park assignments. Also includes park maintenance and community services updates.

• **City Council (Aug. 25)** – A special closed session will discuss a liability claim by Thompson Builders Corporation. The regular meeting will consider consent items including a $93,000 increase to a water management plan contract with West Yost & Associates (total not-to-exceed $304,628), a professional services agreement with GEI Consultants for the Bell Canyon Intake Tower and Valve House Rehabilitation, a resolution requesting the Governor's veto of Assembly Bill 1383, and the appointment of Susan Casey as Interim Director of Administrative Services/Treasurer. A public hearing will introduce three ordinances updating accessory dwelling unit regulations and water/sewer lateral requirements.

Coming up

• **Sept. 9** – Library Board of Trustees, 5 p.m., St. Helena Public Library
• **Sept. 15** – Planning Commission study session for the Wydown Hotel
• **Sept. 21** – Parks & Recreation Commission

All meeting agendas and minutes are available on the city's official website.

St. Helena council to weigh $793,756 contract amendment; recent meetings set agendas

No decisions were made at St. Helena public meetings over the past two weeks; all were agenda-only or cancelled. The most consequential item on the horizon is a $793,756 contract amendment for the Bell Canyon Reservoir project, which the City Council will consider Aug. 11.

Recent meetings (agenda only)

Parks & Recreation Commission — July 27

The commission held a special meeting to select a new chair and vice chair, as the chair position is vacant. Members also discussed the Elm Tree Tunnel project and set departmental and commission goals for the 2026-2027 term. A consent item covered approval of June 15, 2026 meeting minutes. Minutes have not yet been published.

City Council — July 28 (closed session)

The council met in closed session to discuss a liability claim filed by Thompson Builders Corporation against the city. No other business was on the agenda.

City Council — July 28 (regular agenda)

The council discussed water service and quality following a July 18 event and considered an ordinance to clarify on-site storage regulations in commercial, mixed-use, and industrial zones. Agenda items included:

• A $114,020 contract with Ron's Quality Construction to install a house at the water treatment plant.
• A professional services agreement with North Coast Community Planning not to exceed $97,300.
• A budget amendment of $73,698 for the Downtown Sidewalk Improvement Project.
• A $36,500 agreement with Bob Murray & Associates for City Manager recruitment services.

Finance Committee — Aug. 3

The committee reviewed and potentially adopted reports from the Employee Classification and Compensation and Cost Allocation subcommittees. Members also discussed key assumptions and the schedule for the full committee's draft final report.

Planning Commission — Aug. 4

This meeting was cancelled. The agenda contained only procedural boilerplate and no items for decision or discussion.

Active Transportation and Sustainability Committee — Aug. 5

The committee reviewed the Oak Avenue Restoration Project and discussed traffic slowing alternatives. Members also nominated a chair and vice chair for fiscal year 2026/27 and approved minutes from the June 3, 2026 meeting.

Coming up

City Council — Aug. 11

The council will consider a consent item to approve a $793,756 contract amendment with Mead & Hunt for the Bell Canyon Reservoir Intake Tower and Valve House project, bringing the total contract to $2,257,196. Also on the agenda:

• One-year memoranda of understanding with the Police Officers' Association, Employees Association, and Firefighters Association.
• A public hearing on the ordinance clarifying on-site storage regulations.
• Temporary street closures and alcohol possession rules for the 2026 Harvest Festival.
• Adoption of the Napa Countywide Active Transportation Plan.

The meeting is open to the public.

St. Helena Roundup: City Council to weigh water plant contract, storage ordinance; commissions set leadership

St. Helena's City Council has a packed agenda covering water infrastructure contracts, a proposed storage ordinance, and City Manager recruitment, while the Planning and Parks & Recreation commissions are scheduled to elect new leadership. All recent meetings listed below are agenda-only — minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes cannot be confirmed.

City Council — July 28

The City Council is scheduled to discuss water service and quality following a July 18 event and consider an ordinance clarifying on-site storage regulations in commercial, mixed-use, and industrial zones.

Several infrastructure contracts are on the agenda:

• A contract with Ron's Quality Construction for $114,020 to install a house at the water treatment plant.
• A Professional Services Agreement with North Coast Community Planning not to exceed $97,300.
• A budget amendment of $73,698 for the Downtown Sidewalk Improvement Project.
• An agreement with Bob Murray & Associates for $36,500 for City Manager recruitment services.

A separate special City Council meeting on July 28 is scheduled for a closed session regarding a liability claim filed by Thompson Builders Corporation against the City of St. Helena. No other business is listed.

Because minutes are not yet published, it is not confirmed which items were approved, modified, or continued.

Planning Commission — July 21

The Planning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on a new Short-Term Rental Permit (STR26-008) for a single-family residence at 1248 Stockton Street (APN 009-232-026) in the Medium Density Residential zone.

The agenda also includes an educational presentation on the Napa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update, discussion and recommendation of the 2026-27 Planning Commission Work Plan for City Council approval, and nomination and election of a new Chair and Vice Chair.

Parks & Recreation Commission — July 27

The Parks & Recreation Commission is scheduled to hold a special meeting to select a new Chair and Vice Chair; the chair position is currently vacant. Members are also set to discuss the Elm Tree Tunnel project and set departmental and commission goals for the 2026-2027 term. Approval of June 15, 2026 meeting minutes is listed as a consent item.

Coming up

• **Finance Committee — Aug. 3:** Review and potential adoption of the Employee Classification and Compensation Subcommittee Report and the Cost Allocation Subcommittee Report, plus discussion of assumptions and schedule for the Full Committee Draft Final Report.
• **Planning Commission — Aug. 4:** Cancelled. No items for decision or discussion.
• **Active Transportation and Sustainability Committee — Aug. 5:** Discussion of the Oak Avenue Restoration Project and traffic slowing alternatives, plus nominations for Chair and Vice Chair for Fiscal Year 26/27 and approval of June 3, 2026 meeting minutes.

All recent meeting outcomes remain unconfirmed until minutes are published. Readers are encouraged to consult the official agendas and minutes on the City of St. Helena website for authoritative results.