The meeting started with such a pop of energy; Marianne Lyon, Napa County Poet Laureate for 2021and literary ambassador for two years, received a proclamation to recognize this achievement. She shared her thoughts, goals, and ideas with us for her tenure and shared a quote from John Lennon. Her excitement for poetry is so evident, and her focus on children and multi-lingual students is encouraging. Once she left the meeting, that is where the excitement ended; once the regular meeting started, I needed a big glass of water as that was one dry meeting with lots and lots and lots of talking.
One Public Comment complained about the taco truck that has survived during the past 13 months and the writer’s issue with traffic and possibly a noise issue. As seems to be the common reaction for anything at Yountville Community Park lately, the letter’s suggestion was to move the truck to Veteran’s Park. No good deed goes unpunished.
The evening’s first business was a unanimous vote; the Town of Yountville became the first municipality to approve a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) for a countywide climate action plan. A step in the right direction for larger goals to be discussed and achieved on a countywide basis.
Town employees gave various Staff Reports: 1. monthly financial standing for the Town with an emphasis on looking forward to increased revenue and the fact that no reserve funds have been utilized at this point in the fiscal year, 2. leaf blower rebate program has issued $2,800 of approximately $38,000 in funds, 3. and the Town will implement a self-imposed water reduction plan with lots of education and outreach. The town has been very successful with this is in previous years with up to a 28% reduction in water use, and they want to stay ahead of drought issues.
Speaking of “staying ahead,” the Council discussed the possible issue of single-family homes being purchased by LLCs and creating fractional ownership. It is being done in other areas, and the concern is creating a permanent vacation rental with a revolving door of “owners” staying for short periods. Every member of the Council wants to protect the residential neighborhoods; we know this because the Council members repeated it several times. They agreed to have staff come back over several meetings with feedback.
The frustration of the evening was with the Economic Recovery Program. What was anticipated to be a discussion of ideas and thinking for the future was not seen. The Council got bogged down in dates and the difference of “through” and “beyond” and even the title of the program itself! And because of one Public Comment about the taco truck, staff was asked to agendize a conversation to look at the impact of business on parks and neighborhoods. Let’s get focused here, Council!
It was noted that the Town of Yountville set the standard for a Business Transition Support Program (but don’t use that name now!), and there have been other municipalities that have used it as a template. There was no confusion by the public; all the Council members went on record as strongly supporting the local businesses, but there was no discussion of looking at the actual changes in the Use Permit that could be updated/changed/discarded/revised and possibly make a substantive change for the businesses and the community. The Council members wanted to understand the future better to get a longer view on the changes. These changes have been in place for over 13 months, and the Council should begin the process now; they do not need to see what harvest or Christmas brings to start the process. Allowing the Economic Recovery Plan to continue without having a detailed conversation about the changes that are currently in place during this extension is simply inaction. But believe me, all the businesses know the difference between “through” and “beyond” now.
On the Consent Calendar the second meeting in May was cancelled. Better not to rush any further discussions or real change.