St. Helena City Council Regular Meeting – September 8, 2026

The St. Helena City Council met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM in the Vintage Hall Board Room. Councilmember Aaron Barak was absent. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including a proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month, staff briefings on traffic calming and infrastructure projects, a contentious consent item regarding a construction management budget overrun, a public hearing to update the Library Board ordinance, the appointment of a new planning commissioner, and two major water-related items: an update on efforts to reduce discolored water events and a proposed water bill credit program.

Consent Calendar

• Item 10.2 – ADU Ordinance (Second Reading): The Council approved on a roll-call vote (4-0) the second reading and adoption of three ordinances amending the Municipal Code to update regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior Accessory Dwelling Units, along with related water and sewer utility requirements. Interim City Manager Jim McCann noted that the changes discussed at the prior meeting had been made.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michelle Lou Covell (speaking as a resident, not in her official capacity): Questioned how a $50,000 "not-to-exceed" construction management contract for the Downtown Pedestrian Improvements Project had grown to $131,698. She asked where the system of checks and balances is and why no one is held accountable for such overruns, stating that this is "exactly the kind of institutional breakdown that the Blackbird reports have been pointing to."
• Tamara Sorensen (1381 St. James Place): Concurred with Ms. Covell and said that admitting to "sloppy work" is not the first time the council has used that excuse. She called for a public matrix with milestones, deadlines, and owners for the Blackbird recommendations, stating that the community needs accountability.
• Gary Rose (speaking as a resident, not representing any committee): On the discolored water item, he praised the analysis provided by resident Joshua Park and called it a well-organized starting point for understanding the system. On the water credit item, he called the one-time $200 rebate a "really bad idea" that would put the Water Enterprise Fund in a tough position, and said the ongoing credit program was not ready for prime time without more cost analysis.
• Joshua Park: Presented his analysis of the water system, hypothesizing that the source of discoloration may be debris in the Bell Canyon transmission main being pushed into smaller distribution pipes during high-flow events. He urged the city to create a legacy maintenance plan so that future staff have a consistent schedule for pipe cleaning and upkeep.
• Eli McElroy: Urged the council to act with more urgency on the water problem, asking why pipe flushing could not start in weeks rather than months, and urged the council to reallocate funds from other capital projects to prioritize water quality.
• Chris Warner (1434 Grayson Avenue; speaking personally): Opposed the one-time $200 rebate as a gesture not tied to cost of service, noting that roughly 75% of customers may not have experienced discolored water. He supported developing the ongoing incident-based credit program but said it needed more work.

Discussion Items

• Item 9.1 – Traffic Calming Measures and Spring Street: Public Works Project Manager Mario Traverso provided background on the 2022 Spring Street bike lane striping, which has drawn ongoing complaints about lane confusion, narrow travel lanes, and parking in bike lanes. He noted the long-term vision is an expanded sidewalk with bi-directional pedestrian and bicycle travel, similar to the Vine Trail. The Council gave informal consent for staff to conduct community outreach, develop design alternatives, and bring findings back for direction. On speed humps installed in five locations, staff reported the product does not provide the most comfortable transition and that a better design would be used if retained. Council consensus was to allow staff to dig deeper with no commitment.
• Item 9.2 – Oak Avenue Status Update: Traverso reported that utility work is 99% complete. The surface repair project (estimated at $2.1 million) is currently out for bids, with award expected at the September 22 council meeting. Construction would commence immediately after award, with final pavement expected in spring 2027 depending on weather. 95% of sidewalks would be replaced.
• Item 9.3 – Main Street Sidewalks Phase 1B Update: Design is being finalized for completion of downtown sidewalks. A community and business coordination meeting was held two weeks ago. Trees will largely be retained. Spring Street crosswalk modifications will be funded by a $500,000 grant from Aguilar. Construction anticipated for early 2027.
• Item 9.4 – City Manager Recruitment Update: Jim McCann reported the subcommittee met with the recruiter. Individual interviews with council members start next week. A community survey will be released later in September. The brochure will be reviewed by council, applications will be accepted through mid-to-late November, with interviews in December and a target selection by year-end.
• Item 13.2 – Public Works Update on Discolored Water Events: Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director Joseph Leach, joined by Dr. Assam Najim (water quality expert) and Bruce Zaney (project manager), presented findings from three years of investigation. Key points:
  • Discolored water is seasonal (June–September) and system-wide, affecting all pipe materials.
  • The July 18 hydrant incident (4,500 gallons/minute uncontrolled flow) mobilized debris citywide, with 97 reports through the Grapevine portal.
  • Treatment plant improvements have reduced iron and manganese breakthrough, but legacy deposits in the distribution system remain extensive.
  • Staff propose a measured approach: inspect ~2,900 feet of pilot pipe segments via CCTV, clean all transmission and distribution mains system-wide, monitor, and adapt. No budget authorization was requested for this item; a contract for cleaning will be brought later.
  • Mayor Dohring and Councilmembers discussed whether the source is debris migrating from the Bell Canyon transmission main. Staff acknowledged that hypothesis but noted that access points for cameraing the main need to be evaluated. Water quality expert Dr. Najim advised that the entire system needs cleaning because manganese spreads from the water sources, not just from corroding iron pipes.
• Item 13.3 – Water Bill Credit Program: Jim McCann proposed two elements: (1) a one-time $500,000 fund providing an estimated $200 credit per eligible customer account (excluding non-potable/standby accounts) as a gesture acknowledging past discolored water incidents; (2) an ongoing reporting-based credit for customers who experience verified discolored water incidents and flush their systems, with credits calculated using smart meter data. Public comment and council discussion strongly opposed the one-time universal credit, with speakers calling it a poor use of Water Enterprise funds that should go toward fixing the problem. Council directed staff to abandon the one-time credit but to develop and bring back the ongoing incident-based credit program, along with a more accessible damage-claim process, at a future meeting.
• Item 13.4 – FY 2025/2026 Water Supply Update: McCann reported that based on March 2026 Bell Canyon reservoir levels, the city is not in jeopardy of declaring a water emergency in the current fiscal year. Council briefly discussed the need to revisit the water neutrality policy and conservation messaging, given the demonstrated robustness of the supply. Vice Mayor Deasy noted the operational flexibility proposal to maximize use of Bell Canyon during the rainy season could be a "game changer" for water security.
• Item 10.1 – Downtown St. Helena Pedestrian Improvements Project Budget Amendment (Pulled from Consent): The item was pulled by Vice Mayor Deasy and discussed after the consent calendar. McCann acknowledged that the original $50,000 not-to-exceed contract for construction management services was inadequately scoped, and that a first amendment for ~$24,000 should have been for the full $81,698 needed, resulting in a total contract of $131,698. He called this "sloppy work." Councilmembers expressed frustration but said they believed the reorganization of Public Works following the Blackbird report would prevent recurrences. The resolution was approved 4-0.

Key Outcomes

• Item 10.1 – Downtown Pedestrian Improvements Budget Amendment: Approved on a 4-0 roll call vote, authorizing the execution of Amendment No. 2 to the construction management contract, bringing the total to $131,698.
• Item 10.2 – ADU Ordinance Second Reading: Approved on a 4-0 roll call vote, adopting the three code amendments.
• Item 11.1 – Library Board of Trustees Ordinance First Reading: Approved on a 4-0 roll call vote introducing and waiving the first reading of amendments to Chapter 2.52 of the Municipal Code to update the Library Board's duties and name. Second reading is scheduled for September 22, 2026.
• Item 13.1 – Planning Commissioner Appointment: The Council appointed Elaine Honig to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission, with a term expiring June 30, 2028, by a 4-0 roll call vote.
• Item 13.2 – Discolored Water Mitigation Program: Council gave staff direction to proceed with the proposed strategy of inspecting, cleaning, monitoring, and adapting the water distribution system. A contract for system-wide cleaning will be brought to a future meeting. No immediate budget authorization was requested or approved.
• Item 13.3 – Water Bill Credit Program: Council rejected the one-time $500,000 universal credit and directed staff to return with a refined ongoing incident-based credit policy and an improved damage-claim process.
• Item 13.4 – Water Supply Update: The report was received and filed. Council indicated interest in revisiting the water neutrality policy in the future.
• Meeting extension: The Council voted 4-0 to extend the meeting until 9:30 PM to complete the agenda.