Math is much easier than taking a stand on your policy position.
Also, this meeting welcomed the new feature of public comment in real-time, and the public did show up. The Zoom meetings allow you to register for the webinar and raise your hand to speak. The public can continue to send emails to publiccomment@yville.com and on primegov (start here to get to primegov agendas) with the comment bubble on the online agenda.
A quick shout and thanks to Sandy Fagan and Jessica Penman for stepping up for the Town of Yountville Community Foundation Board and Scott Owens for returning to the Napa Valley Transporation Authority. Participation makes a difference.
The three-hour and 22 minute Council meeting included (about) one hour and 30 mins of Town business, and the remainder of the meeting was spent on Council topics. There was the vaccine mandate for Golden ticket programs, Senior Mobile Home Park Overlay, Municipal code update for final ZODO changes, and Staff reports on Water (it’s still not looking good).
Town staff and Council gave goodbyes and a Proclamation to retiring Planning director, Sandra Liston. She has been with the Town of Yountville for 14 years and has been an integral part of changes here in Town. Most notably was her work on the General Plan, updates to the Zoning Design Ordinances (ZODO) to keep them in compliance with our new General Plan, as well as my favorite, creation and development of the Employee Parking Management Plan (EPMP). Over 140 ZDRB meetings and 250 + Town Council meetings! She will be handing over an updated and “clean” ZODO to the Town’s new planning Director, Kirsty Shelton. Kirsty started her career in Yountville 14 years ago. As she stated, her work as an Assistant Planner here inspired her to pursue the field, and she has spent the past years in both the public and private sectors.
(As a wonky, government side note: when an Employee Contract is on the Consent Calendar, the Town must publicly state the salary. All in the name of transparency and open government. The new Planning Director’s Employee Contract was on this meetings Consent Calendar)
So I will start with the quick items and end with the knockdown, drag-out, suck-the-air-out-of-the-room Town Council lengthy discussions at the end.
The Public Hearing Item 9A Yountville Senior Mobile Home Park Overlay continued from the previous meeting. It gave the Town time to fully explain the process to our residents, especially those in the two locations where this overlay was happening, Bella Vista and Rancho de Napa. Town staff sent a Town letter to all the residents of these two 55+ mobile home parks. Planning Director Liston stated that the Town received multiple positive responses from those who specifically reached out with concern before. The one new public comment asked for further clarification on the difference between occupancy and ownership and the Town’s authority. So at least one person in the home must be 55+, and the State regulates much more. With a 5 – 0 vote in favor, the Yountville Zoning Map now jibes with the Zoning Ordinance.
Town staff brought the second and final reading of the Zoning Ordinance & Design Ordinance (ZODO) to the Council with the five updates they had requested. With another 5 – 0 yes vote, the ZODO update is complete and will be in the hands of our Town in the next 30 days. A lot of time and effort went into this project, and the result will be a much easier to understand and work with ZODO. Thanks to all!
The County water update from Public Works Director John Ferons continues to be concerning. The Town is only at a 7.27% reduction with a 20% goal. All other municipalities in the County are reducing more than Yountville, and the situation becomes more dire, and our actions become more important. The owners of our water source, the Vets Home, are asking the Town to reduce our usage to 400 acre-feet for the fiscal year. Since the fiscal year 2010/2011, the Town has averaged well above 400 and never been below that number. Sign up for Eye on Water, knowledge is power, and you want to keep below 450 gals per meter for a single day. The Town of Yountville is also participating with Cash for Grass & Flip Your Strip (parking strip). Our actions have consequences, and we can make them positive.
Finance Director Cecilia King discussed water purchase cost, and guess what? Water cost at the reservoir and water purchases are both over budget. The future utility rate study may need to focus on increasing water revenue. Be diligent and sign up for Eye on Water!
Believe me when I say I want to be optimistic about our Town Council and their work. Today is not one of those days.
Town staff brought the discussion for the Administrative/Regular Items B. Potential Vaccination Requirement back to the Council to further discuss a requirement for Town activities and events. This included a presentation from Napa County Public Health Officer, Dr. Karen Relucio. Some of the highlights of her presentation: Napa County is in the highest tier of transmission according to CDC – 1,000 cases in Aug 2021& 828 in Sept 2021 (more than last summer). Currently, COVID cases are down, and testing positivity is down. Less than 20% of ICU beds are available hence the indoor masking mandate; the most vulnerable are in the age category of 85 years and older, 85% of eligible are fully vaccinated as per FDA approval, and 90% are partially vaccinated. She then highlighted all the vaccine mandates happening on the state level and stated, “I am not interested in issuing vaccine mandates in this County,” and continued that the State is doing it for specific requirements. After some questions from the Council, Dr. Relucio further explained that the State’s mandate for particular groups to adhere to a vaccine mandate already fulfills that function of a vaccine mandate. A local mandate on top of that is not necessary.
After questioning from Councilmember Knight, the Dr.’s final comments discussed that vaccine mandates and COVID tests in tandem take quite a bit of recording keeping and tracking. Also, you then start talking about employees needing to be mandated, and do you mandate just some areas or all Town buildings? It becomes a slippery slope when opening the door to just a narrow group. In this case, the Golden Ticket program only.
The public comments then started to come in. It appears Dr. Relucio has a local following. Of the eight comments, one was in support of the vaccine mandate; the others spoke about “freedom is our choice,” this is “more public theater than public health,” another spoke of “implementing discriminatory policies.” One comment stated that “masks work.”
The one letter supporting the vaccine mandate was from a participant in the bridge club, the group that started this discussion. Parks Director, Samantha Holland, gave some details on the Golden Ticket program (the bridge club is not part of that program). Over 150 people are currently participating in the Golden Ticket program, a mix of in-person and online classes. She knows of two people who are not participating because there is no vaccine mandate.
Now for the moment, you have all been waiting for: Council discussion, and try to follow along. Councilmember Mohler started with a statement that spoke to her scientific background and explained where we have been and where we are headed. “Vaccines are not designed to prevent exposure or transmission of the virus. That is why wearing masks, social distancing, and getting tested is especially important for indoor group activities due to airflow and filtration being different than when outdoors.” She further spoke about marginalizing sectors of the Yountville population and impacts on Town staff. “Our Town’s time and resources will be more wisely spent in continuing these efforts rather than sidetracked by instituting mandates for public facilities. We all need to remain cautious and diligent as we re-enter society.”
An interesting back and forth then played out between Councilmember Eric Knight and the Mayor, John Dunbar, as Councilmember Knight made his statement. “I feel that there are a number of issues, but we are talking about people who choose to attend a program, choose to enter a facility; it’s a choice on their point. I am talking about people who choose to participate in Town sponsored events; what is our responsibility for older people to participate?” Councilmember Knight made these statements several times as the Mayor asked several times, “Are you turning away someone who wants to participate if they refuse to show proof of vaccination? As of this writing, Council member Knight has yet to answer the question. I’m confused; it appears Councilmember Knight wants to “look out” for those who want to participate in programs and not mandate vaccinations. So what to do? He deferred answering by directing his questions to Councilmember Mohler and Parks Director Holland during the remainder of the meeting and gave no clear course of action.
Not to be outdone, Vice Mayor, Kerri Dorman, stepped onto her soapbox and explained to the public and her fellow Council members that this discussion was all over the board; “the five opinions that matter are the opinions of this Council,” they “must be based on fact and part of our charge is public health and safety.” “It’s not that complex; I’m a retired lawyer. I could take a soda straw and make it complex” (yep, true, I’ve been watching all the meetings). She reminded everyone that she was the one who asked for this item to be on the agenda and that she drew it narrowly for indoor Golden Ticket. So obviously, Vice Mayor, this is something you believe in and will vote for?
During Council discussion, when the public comment has been closed, the Councilmembers then can explain the why of their position. It’s at this point in the meeting that the Vice Mayor stated, “I still don’t know how I am going to vote.” WHAT?! She then explained that the Council is put here to be policymakers and, “I am interested in protecting our residents.” Ok, so you’re ready to make policy? Make a motion?
At this time, both the Mayor and Councilmember Dorenbecher stated their support in the State and County mandates that have been established. Councilmember Dorenbecher said, “The state and county guidelines are working for us and making mandates for specific segments of our population.” Mayor Dunbar stated, “How are we to decide which of our population gets this extra attention?” The Mayor asked Director Holland to give insight on the Parks perspective.
The Vice Mayor quickly stepped up and thanked Director Holland and all the Council and then recounted a discussion she had with the Mayor before she was on the Council. “The mayor told me when the vote is 3-2 or 4-1, the vote is the vote, and we all support it.” So Vice Mayor Dorman continued, “One thing is simple is counting to three, so I see three. “Even though we haven’t voted, In my view, we have made a policy decision, and I am happy to abide by it and go on.” So NOW she knows how she’s going to vote! I see, the Vice Mayor didn’t want to be that lone number one or two. Two separate meetings to discuss her agenda item. All that staff time. All that Council time. Then to step aside because she saw the vote count was not in her favor?
Vice Mayor Dorman made the motion to not impose a vaccination mandate on public facilities at this time. It was passed 5-0.
As we wind down this three hours and 22 minutes, I want to clarify the Vice Mayor’s statement because I have had the same conversation with Mayor Dunbar; the Councilmembers all support it (the vote) AFTER you cast your vote. You still need to vote for what your conviction is. You still need to do what is best for the community. You still take a stand. Take a position. Your vote is much more than simple math.
The very last, very final agenda item, 12.F. Reports and Announcements was again occupied by Vice Mayor Dorman to again request to present an agenda item to discuss the creation of an Economic Committee. All the buzzwords and phrases were tossed about and I am sure local serving business will be next. The Vice Mayor was to present ideas to the Town staff and Council and then if there is interest it can move forward.
There is already an Economic Recovery program in place with the Town. The business community has been utilizing it. The Town has worked with this program for over 18 months. Other municipalities have used the Town of Yountville’s plan as a template.
So once again: Town staff time, Council time; what is the point? Oh, wait; it’s an election year right around the corner.