Napa Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Commission Special Meeting - November 20, 2024

The Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Commission met at Fuller Park in Napa on November 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. The agenda called this a special meeting, although the chair referred to it as a regular meeting. The commission welcomed two new members, heard a detailed presentation on homelessness and housing, received updates on the Urban Forestry Management Plan and Parks/Recreation operations, and approved the prior meeting's minutes.

Opening, Agenda Review, and Minutes

• No member of the public spoke during public comment.
• The commission reviewed the meeting agenda and supplemental reports.
• Minutes of the October 16, 2024 meeting were approved as revised by motion and second. One commissioner abstained because they had not been present at the October meeting.

Welcome to New Commissioners

• Commissioner Mike Wallace introduced himself. He was appointed to fill Scott Messinger's place. He has a background in education (50 years as a teacher and principal), has served on the Napa County Grand Jury, volunteers at Queen of the Valley Hospital, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and has lived in Napa for about 35 years.
• Student Representative Kirin Sidhu introduced himself. He is a senior at Vintage High School, captain of the varsity water polo team, founder of the school's mock trial team, a volunteer with Napa Peer Court, a former intern at the Napa District Attorney's Office, and a member of Napa Youth Civic Leaders, which pre-registered over 300 high school students to vote.

Homelessness and Housing Presentation

• Deputy City Manager Molly Rattigan presented the city's homelessness and housing strategy.
• Point-in-time counts showed an 18% overall decrease in homelessness between January 2023 and January 2024 across Napa County, with 97% of the county's homelessness occurring in the city of Napa. The sheltered homeless population increased by 34%, and the unsheltered population dropped by 42%.
• Rattigan discussed the U.S. Supreme Court's Grants Pass decision, the Governor's July executive order, and the city council's revised encampment management policy. She noted the city now has an encampment management committee, outreach teams, security guards, abatement contractors, and storage-unit rental assistance.
• The city used a $15 million state grant to lease the Motel 6 property as the North Napa Center, adding 54 non-congregate shelter beds.
• Kennedy Park camping closure: As of last month there were 25 campers; only 4 were enrolled in services. After notice that the park would close, 11 more enrolled, and 4 had been placed in shelter as of the meeting morning, leaving 11 enrolled and waiting and 10 people still not engaging with services.
• The city's interim plan is to create a temporary sanctioned camping area near Ballfield One with restrooms, handwashing stations, garbage service, and a security presence. Campers are asked to relocate or leave by mid-December. The city will remove existing encampments and close Kennedy Park to camping by March 31, 2025. Officials stated that every person in the park will have an opportunity for a shelter bed by that date.
• Commissioners expressed strong approval of the plan and its results. One commissioner asked about services at the temporary site; staff said showers and meals would remain available at the day center. Another commissioner asked about pets and was told pets may accompany people. One commissioner expressed concern that armed security guards might make undocumented park users feel unwelcome; staff said the contract is for six months, daytime only, and will be adjusted if needed. Another commissioner asked why the temporary site was placed near Ballfield One; staff cited winter flood risk, accessibility, and baseball season timing.

Urban Forestry Management Plan Update

• Parks staff member Jeff Giddings presented an update on the Urban Forestry Management Plan.
• The project is supported by a CAL FIRE Urban and Community Forestry Grant totaling $700,000, with $510,000 from the grant and the remainder from city tree mitigation funds. Davey Resource Group and Napa County Resource Conservation District are the project partners.
• A citywide inventory counted 34,000 community trees, representing 260 unique species, with 719 trees recommended for removal at the time of data collection. The age distribution of Napa's trees is near ideal.
• Canopy and land cover analysis found Napa has 21.5% tree canopy cover, nearly 40% hardscape, and canopy cover increased 19% between 2012 and 2022. About 76% of the canopy is on private property. Average park canopy is 25%, with Bumen Park at 76%; canopy by census block ranges from 4% to 94%.
• The urban forest is estimated to provide $2.7 million in annual benefits, keep 52.9 million gallons of stormwater out of the system ($475,000 in infrastructure savings), absorb 4,500 tons of carbon annually ($766,000), remove 225,000 pounds of pollutants ($1.4 million), and store 325,000 tons of carbon ($15.1 million).
• Community engagement so far includes a June 2024 meeting with about 15 attendees and a survey with fewer than 50 responses.
• The grant required planting 400 trees. A first planting event on October 5, 2024, with over 20 volunteers, planted 110 trees at Kennedy Park, including live oaks, valley oaks, Zelkovas, and incense cedars.
• The first draft of the 40-year management plan is expected in winter 2024-25.
• Commissioner questions addressed consequences for removing a city tree without a permit, whether the grant funds implementation (it does not), and whether Davey Resource Group could later implement the plan; staff said the consulting and tree-care companies are separate corporations and the contract is not design-build.

Parks and Recreation Division Updates

• Staff gave updates on recreation and public art. The third annual Dia de los Muertos event has become the city's second-largest single-day event, behind July 4th. The senior Thanksgiving luncheon was held the day before the meeting. The Napa Lighted Art Festival begins January 18.
• An 18-foot cactus sculpture will be installed near the roundabout, with weather delays possible. A mural is being painted at the Highway 29 undercrossing.
• Six playgrounds that the commission previously approved are scheduled to arrive beginning next week, with installation expected over the next two to three months.
• The Parks division has hired Pedro Polanco for the downtown team and is shifting from summer irrigation/mowing to winter catch-up projects.
• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission representative was not present, so that report was skipped.

Fuller Park Playable Art

• Staff reported that 100% design drafts for the Fuller Park playable art project were received that day. The artist was pleased, and only final tweaks and color adjustments remain. The item is targeted for a February 2025 city council meeting, with installation possible in spring or fall of 2025.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the October 16, 2024 minutes as revised, with one abstention.
• Received the homelessness and Kennedy Park closure presentation; no formal action was taken.
• Received the Urban Forestry Management Plan update; the draft plan is expected in winter 2024-25.
• Received Parks and Recreation Division updates.
• The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 15, 2025.