City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 12, 2023
Profile
Beverly
First Name
Shotwell
Middle Initial Last Name
Email Address
Street Address
Suite or Apt
City State
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Postal Code
Primary Phone
Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
17 years
Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
21 years
Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
<? Yes r No
Colgin Cellars
Ethnicity *
17 Other
Business Manager
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
Beverly Shotwell
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission.Cultural Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
r Yes P No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Housing Element Advisory Board, City of Napa, 2013-2015 Cultural Heritage Commission, 2014-2020 Citizens Academy, City of Napa, Spring 2016 Napa Valley Opera House, Board of Trustee, 2017-2021 Napa Valley Endowment for the Performing Arts 2021-Present Planning Commission, City of Napa, 2022- 2023
Education:
See attached resume
Other relevant experience or expertise:
See attached resume
Additional Questions
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? To serve the citizens of the City of Napa by providing planning guidance, critical feedback, commenting from time to time on issues and policies related to planning, land use regulation and community development. To review and vote on projects and their merits per their conformance with CEQA, the General Plan, zoning, and other development conditions of approval. To do the "heavy lifting" at times for the Council. Attending meetings with an objective point of view. Meeting with applicants to gain knowledge of their projects prior to meetings (when possible).
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many? Yes. More than the average bear.
Beverly Shotwell
ATTACHMENT 1
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
The opportunity to work with staff, my fellow planning commissioners, property owners, developers and citizens of Napa. The opportunity to be connected to the community of Napa and to be part of the improvement and ongoing development of our city. Our City Staff is truly wonderful and I am grateful for the many hours they spend in advance of our agenda items to give us the information we need prior to the meetings. I enjoy site visits with applicants and with staff. Reading EIR's and studying our General Plan and Housing Element is essential in being prepared for most of the items that come before the commission, and I take pride in being as prepared as possible prior to the meetings. I enjoy listening to my fellow commissioners on their points of view and I truly enjoy hearing from the public (and special interest groups) when they show up for meetings, or send in their letters prior to the meetings. It always astonishes me that more people within our community don't participate in the many hearings that make such an impact to our city (and county).
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? I am interested in ALL aspects of the commission and cannot think of anything that stands out as being "less" interesting. I would prefer that the cutoff for comments and letters to be received prior to a hearing is shortened to noon the day of the hearing. Receiving letters of support or complaints about projects at 4pm is in my opinion too late to ensure that the commission has time to read and address the comments prior to the hearing.
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? Energy Efficiency seminars or workshops would be helpful to our commission and council members to gain a better understanding of the "climate crisis" and the negative impacts of an "all or nothing" way of thinking (ie: all electric vehicles and/or homes). I do a lot of R&D on my own and believe that we would all benefit from a seminar or workshop. Much like the preservation workshops that were offered to the CMC in years past. Meetings to educate commissioners on current Senate and Assembly Bills that influence our decisions. More advanced notice of large developments and more opportunities for "Pre-app" meetings with developers and applicants.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? Outreach to staff and the City Manager to see if we have funds in the budget for the seminars and workshops. Staff is already doing a great job to encourage more Pre-app meetings, I simply believe we need to encourage applicants to meet with commissioners in advance of a project whenever possible.
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in a conflict of interest if you are appointed to this board?
No.
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
How did you learn of this vacancy?
17 Other
Beverly Shotwell
ATTACHMENT 1
BEVERLY WILES SHOTWELL
City of Napa Resident
I am a proud homeowner in the Calistoga Avenue Historic District of downtown Napa. Having now served 23 months on the Planning Commission for the City of Napa, I am eager to continue my efforts to serve our community. It is impossible to encapsulate the many high points of my first term on the commission into a single cover letter. I can assure you that one term is not sufficient for what I am able to accomplish as Planning Commissioner.
Highly motivated with a strong set of ethics I bring to the commission a willingness to spend the necessary time to educate myself on the agenda items. Committed to working with Staff, Council members and our community to get all sides of the story before making decisions. I pride myself on meeting with applicants, attending site visits, and responding to emails and letters from the community on agenda items and upcoming projects of concern. I value the outreach from our community. I remain open-minded and eager to be enlightened by new ideas or to be reminded that the old ideas still work best. I pride myself on being the "voice of reason".
Working on the General Plan Update was truly an honor. The work at times was daunting yet always gratifying. I learned a great deal from Staff, City Council and our extraordinary community during the process and I am proud of my fellow Commissioners for all of the input and expertise that they brought to the Plan.
Within the last 23 months, agenda items have encompassed a variety of projects. Subdivisions, Subdivision Maps, Use Permits, Cellular Antennas, Napa Pipe, HHS Site, Vintage Farm, Residential Design Guidelines, Housing Element Update, Bed & Breakfast Permits, Vacancy Rate Determinations, Tentative Parcel Maps, and perhaps too many two-year extensions on previously approved Tentative Parcel Maps. All in all, it has been a captivating and soul- fulfilling run and I would be overjoyed to serve a second term.
ATTACHMENT 1
EXPERIENCE
Planning Commissioner, City of Napa, 2022,2023
Business Manager, Colgin Cellars, St. Helena, CA - 1997-Present Napa Valley Endowment for the Performing Arts
Board of Trustees 2021-Present
Napa Valley Opera House
Board ofTmstees - 2017-2021
Citizens Academy, Napa- 2017
City of Napa, Cultural Heritage Commissioner - 2014-2020 Housing Element Advisory Board, City of Napa - 2013-2015
TRAINING
Guide to California Planning (3rd Edition and 5th Edition) Planning Commissioners Academy, League of California Cities March 2022
2040 General Plan Draft & Update, Participant
EIR's Galore
California Preservation Conference "Deep Roots in Dynamic Times" California Preservation Foundation -2018
Accessibility in Existing Buildings, Summarizing the History of Disability Laws in US & CA, California Preservation Foundation -2018
Napa Historic Preservation Workshop, Office of Historic Preservation - 2016 NAPC CEQA Training -2015
NAPC Commission Camp Training, NV College -2015
Energy Efficiency & Historic Preservation, CA Preservation Foundation -2014 ATTACHMENT 1
EDUCATION
Napa Valley College, 2010
University of California Davis and Berkeley Extension, CA - 2009 Wine 85 Spirit Education Trust, CA - 2008
West Los Angeles College, CA - 1989
San Pedro College, CA - 1987
ATTACHMENT 1
City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 13, 2023
Profile
ERVIN
First Name
L HECHAVARRIA
Middle Initial Last Name
City
State
Postal Code
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
3.5 years
Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
3.5 years
Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
P Yes r No
HOMESTEAD REAL ESTATE
Ethnicity *
17 Hispanic
REAL ESTATE ADVISOR
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
ERVIN L HECHAVARRIA
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission.Culturat Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
r Yes (? No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Board Member - Aldea Children and Families (current) Board Member - Rotary (Napa Sunrise) (current) Commissioner - Napa County Airport Advisory Commission (current) Leadership Napa Valley, Class #35 Menits Stewardship Committee Member (former) Member - Napa Chamber of Commerce Member - Yountville Chamber of Commerce Member - BANG Napa Valley Education:
William R. Boone Highschool 1991 -1995 University of Florida 1995 -1999 Other relevant experience or expertise:
I have been involved with residential and commercial real estate sales nearly my entire professional career in New York, Washington DC, Florida and for the last 3.5 years, here in Napa. This broad experience is valuable in considering planning issues here in Napa.
Additional Questions
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? I would be responsible for learning and knowing the city's planning and zoning laws and ordinances and how to fairly and appropriately apply them to applicants appearing before the commission, from residential to commercial properties. Also use my previous experience, knowledge and good judgment when determining whether an applicant deserves a variance. Act as an advisor to the city council when needed.
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many?
ERVIN L HECHAVARRIA
ATTACHMENT 1
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
Participating in the shaping the future of our community and an opportunity to give back to the city with my years of real estate experience.
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? All of the work undertaken by this commission are subjects that very much interest me. I do not find one item to be least interesting.
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? As a member of the commission, I need to apply the laws and ordinances of our community unbiasedly.
Every applicant to the commission should stand on it's own merits and reviewed fairly without my personal wants and desires regarding what I personally want to see improved or implemented.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? If there is an opportunity to improve any projects or programs, I would be in the forefront of forging the partnerships necessary to accomplish the goals. I think of myself as a consensuses builder and able to find the angle to bring people into the fold.
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in a conflict of interest if you are appointed to this board?
No
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
How did you learn of this vacancy?
17 Other
ERVIN L HECHAVARRIA
ATTACHMENT 1
City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 16, 2023
Profile
Richard
First Name
H Tippitt
Middle Initial Last Name
Em aii Address
Street Address
City
Stats
Postal Code
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
7 Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
7 Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
p Yes r No
Trellis__
Employer
Ethnicity *
17 Caucasian/Non-Hispanic
Co-founder
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
Richard H Tippitt
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission.Cultural Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
r Yes (? No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Slow Down Napa Steering Committee Napa Bike Coalition Member Democrats of Napa Valley Central Committee Napa American Legion Member CDBG Commissioner Measure T Taxpayer Oversight Committee Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Bay Area Executive Director 8 years active duty as an officer in the Air Force.
Education:
USAFA - BS English 2010 UMass Lowell - MS IT 2016
Other relevant experience or expertise:
Leadership Napa Valley Class 36 US Marine Corps leadership school Additional Questions
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? Ultimately, the purpose of the planning commission is to ensure the general plan stays updated and relevant as the city grows and that the growth that happens is in line with that plan and any applicable codes or laws. At the surface, that can seem like a chicken and egg problem, but it is, in fact, a balancing act that requires people who are willing to have the tough conversations and compromise with the community. Because of this mission, the planning commission is the most public facing of the commissions, and I want to ensure we are doing the best we can to engage with the community and to encourage building a physical space that strengthens that community.
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many? No, but I've watched recordings.
Richard H Tippitt
ATTACHMENT 1
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
Updating and managing the general plan, specifically the interaction with the community and shepherding in a future of which Napans can be proud.
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? Being a gatekeeper. The current system is setup to create an us vs them paradigm when building or developing. I want to create a more equitable and open process in which all Napans can partake.
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? - Better land use management. - Program to allow residents to use previously approved architectural drawings (for a fee to the architect of course) to simplify the application and approval process, and to lower the cost for development. - remove parking requirements citywide. - Change tax law to allow residents, people who live here in the city of Napa as their permanent residence or rent out the housing unit full time to local residents, to defer an increase in property value after upgrades or improvements granted they live in or rent out the renovated space for a minimum of 5 years. - Encourage alternate methods of engaging with the community, such as hosting charrettes, quick build pilot projects, and anything else that encourages quick, actionable feedback from the community.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? - Better land use: While steps towards density have been made, a net positive for our community, we are setting ourselves up to be inundated with traffic by not building smartly. Each apartment that isn't walking distance to food, shops, entertainment, and work requires a car trip. I want to work with the city to find tax incentives for developing residences close to amenities, encourage building amenities along specified corridors, and simplify and prioritize building multi-use developments (see my note lower down on changing property tax code). - Sharing architectural drawings. Architectural drawings are already available in public records, so we should ensure any citizen can view those drawings and reach out to the architect and negotiate a fee to update/use those plans. Reusing blueprints that only have superficial changes should then be eligible for expedited review and approval by the planning department. - Remove parking requirements citywide. This issue is an advocacy issue, so it will take working with my fellow commissioners and city council to change our current codes. The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at Berkeley states that there is a 12% increase of price per square foot for each required parking space, hampering growth and increasing housing costs to the detriment of our entire community - Changing tax law. I have already started to work on this effort as a ballot measure. I believe the city would dramatically change overnight, positively, if there were an incentive to build instead of hold onto property and speculate on its increase in value. - Community engagement. If I have to be out in the public myself to get things started, I will. I believe the city of Napa is sorely lacking in how it engages with its citizens, and, while it is not unique in this matter, it can certainly improve. Small towns should be the labs, incubators of democracy, leading from the front with new an innovative ideas. Instead, we've allowed ourselves to be mired in ceremony that no longer serves a purpose beyond "the way it's been done." We should encourage and enact sensible regulations to encourage specific outcomes. Ultimately, it is my opinion that the government exists to promote the common good while defending individual rights, not promote individual rights while defending the common good.
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in a conflict of interest if you are appointed to this board?
No
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
Richard H Tippitt
ATTACHMENT 1
How did you learn of this vacancy?
R7 Other
Richard H Tippitt
ATTACHMENT 1
/
^
RICHARD TIPPITT
Na pa, CA
ABOUT ME
Proven talent for aligning business strategy and objectives with established product management and technology development paradigms to achieve maximum revenue impacts with minimum resource expenditures.
Growth-focused thought leader with expertise in directing the full product development lifecycle, creating and executing pioneering strategies, designing innovative technology products, and leading diverse individuals.
Exceptionally dedicated professional with keen interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, as well as critical thinking, problem solving, and project prioritization expertise.
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Product Development/Management
• Technology Product Design
• Process Development
• Strategic Planning
EXPERIENCE
• Product Strategy Execution
• Investment Management
• Market Research
• Due Diligence
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Continuous Improvement
• Market Expansion
• Data Analysis
Lead Product Manager, Clade, Feb 2023 - Present
Remote
• Employ control over the ideation, development, and execution of the overarching product strategy and vision for an emerging financial technology company through the first priced round. • Direct and oversee a dedicated team of four developers and two designers during product discovery and iterative development processes for 10+ 0-to-l features
• Create, implement, and ensure adherence to ground level product procedures and user-centered design practices to maintain continued lOOx MoM growth.
• Establish and manage the Mixpanel analytics program to monitor user activation and verify retention and growth hypotheses in search of product-market fit.
• Collect and analyze feedback from customers, stakeholders, and other teams to shape requirements, features, and potential new products.
• Work with executive management to create product plans and roadmaps as well as produce and review product requirements documents (PRD).
• Ideate creative recommendations on new features to expand the product base and vision via product-led growth.
Associate, Academy Investor Network, January 2022 - January 2023 Remote
• Delivered keen advisement portfolio founders throughout the product development cycle by providing hands-on ATTACHMENT 1
RICHARD TIPPITT
support for product and team growth.
• Studied and analyzed long-term product viability for dual use technologies utilizing market research, user interviews, and technology stress testing.
• Oversaw due diligence and investments in six companies over a six-month period with a total investment of over $1M, ultimately raising the average investment per deal by 75%. • Hired, mentored, and motivated a team of five venture analysts and fellows responsible for vetting 50+ companies on a monthly basis.
Venture Fellow, June 2021 - December 2021
• Established and expanded an outreach and networking system which grew syndicate by 300% and increased deal engagement per investor by 200%.
• Administered an investment of $1M across five deals while doubling deal flow and building processes to manage increased workload.
• Composed a favorably cited first-of-its-kind white paper regarding the dual use technology market and the US Government's effect on startups.
Senior Cybersecurity Product Strategist, Defense Innovation Unit, June 2020 - May 2022 Remote
• Created a detailed outcome-oriented roadmap for enterprise security capabilities based on national security risk alongside customers, partners, engineering, executives, and other stakeholders. • Disseminated, reviewed, and evaluated multiple RFIs to determine potential solutions which were followed by RFPs to procure the most effective product, service, or capability. • Conducted build, buy, partner discussions as foundational decision points to reduce risk of project failure and protect long term project costs and impact.
• Coordinated product discovery workshops with clients to discuss and finalize pivot or persevere decisions and ensure alignment with stated end user OKRs as products and projects evolved. • Piloted an iterative prototype effort that validated the viability of enterprise-wide IT asset inventory system, resulting in a scale-up $164M contract award.
Kunai, Principal Product Manager, December 2020 - August 2021 Remote
• Achieved measurable success in designing and deploying three mobile fintech apps in collaboration with cross-functional teams, generating over $500M in new revenue. • Liaised with brand owners to confirm brand consistency, increasing adoption of new tools by 25% WoW. • Directed hypothesis first design practice across multiple customers to capture $5M in new bookings from multinational banks.
• Established strategic roadmaps which took into consideration customer needs and C-suite buy-in, resulting in groundbreaking features.
Principal Product Manager, Dragos, Inc., September 2018 - May 2020 Hanover, MD
• Provided tactical leadership to multiple full-stack enterprise cybersecurity product teams for hardware, SaaS, and ML cloud analytic engine.
• Integrated product and design practices while scaling the team to 20 members in support of an organization of 200 as the first product management hire.
• Ideated, pitched, and launched an industry-first automated managed security operations center service to drive product sales, realizing 3x sales pipeline within two weeks of launch, leading to a $100m funding round. • Established ML KPIs across tech stack that enabled the ability to identify cross-verticat breach and vulnerability insights without violating federal regulations.
• Deployed five partner integrations to accelerate "whole product" growth and expand into 12 new verticals.
ATTACHMENT 1
RICHARD TIPPITT
Director of Product Management, USAF Kessel Run Experimentation Lab, April 2018 - September 2018 Son Francisco, CA
• Set product vision across 8 teams, managed hiring and mentoring all PMs and designers through hypergrowth • Created an "innovate first, ask permission later" culture to help break risk averse habits and decrease time to market 84%
• Identified and managed product pivot to increase actual user base 5x and potential user base 20x • Facilitated build vs. buy decisions to identify optimal strategies for addressing business and technology risks Senior Product Manager, USAF Kessel Run Experimentation Lab, September 2017 - April 201 Son Francisco, CA
• Spearheaded a product metric program to track and analyze relevant statistics across the full suite of products despite air-gapped networks.
• Supported the team responsible for shrinking time to delivery by 90% and saving one deployment to Middle East. • Orchestrated a design and prototyping workshop series to obtain relevant feedback from remote locations.
User Experience Designer, USAF Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, April 2017 - September 2017 Son Francisco, CA
• Augmented the potential user base for enterprise SaaS tool 50x by conducting extensive user research which uncovered multiple unforeseen use cases.
• Designed an effective user experience planning tool for the US military's first ML flight, decreasing planning time by 92% and saving $150M/yr.
Cybersecurity Chief of Operations, US Air Force, May 2015 - April 2017 TravisAFB,CA
• Secured a KPI based support contract to maintain optimal availability of communications personnel and equipment across the globe within 12 hours' notice.
• Provided real-time threat monitoring for areas and threat actors of interest to activate the national security team.
Cybersecurity Technical Product Manager, US Air Force, March 2011 - May 2014 Hanscom AFB, MA
• Oversaw the deployment of a $4B of network infrastructure at 139 global locations and integrated an automated customer self-design product for network projects, eliminating $100k per year in manual test processes.
EDUCATION
University of Massachusetts Lowell, 2016
Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Information Technology
United States Air Force Academy, 2010
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in English
USMC Expeditionary Warfare School, 2015
AWARDS AND HONORS
2020 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITC NATIONAL SECURITC INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGIST FELLOWSHIP • Selected as 1 of 20 fellows nationally to build a stronger partnership between Silicon Valley and the Beltway.
ATTACHMENT 1
RICHARD TIPPITT
2023 Leadership Napa Valley
• 1 of 32 emerging local leaders selected to participate in intensive 9 month course on civics, politics, and activism in The Napa Valley
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
• Slow Down Napa Steering Committee, Present
• Napa Valley Democrats Central Committee, Present
• Napa County Bicycle Coalition Steering Committee, Present • Measure T ITOC member, Present
• Community Development Block Grant Commissioner, Present • Defense Entrepreneurs Forum Bay Area Executive Director, Present
VOLUNTEERISM
• Stanford Hacking for Defense Business Mentor
• Global Emancipation Network Head of Product
• Volo Sports
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Languages: English, Portuguese
Technical Proficiencies: Jira, Shortcut, GitHub, GitLab, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Sketch, Figma, Balsamiq, Vanta, HTML, CSS, Confluence, Trello, Network+, Splunk, LAN, WAN, WLAN, Active Directory, OT security, IT security. Affinity, Axonious, Crunchbase, Pitch Book, Excel, Slack, MS Access, Linux, CLI, Jupyter, NiFi, MiNiFi, Redwood, React, React Native, Segment, SendGrid, Tray.io, Zapier, NMAP, Syslog, Kali, Wireshark, Metasploit, Nessus Interests: CrossFtt (competitive), snowboarding, hiking, mountain hiking, road hiking, refinishing antiques, community building, local activism, literature, the bygone "greatest time in scripted television history" ATTACHMENT 1
City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 16,2023
Profile
Paul
First Name
w.
Kelley
MickJle Initial Last Name
Email Address
City
State
Postal Code
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Primary Phone
Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
61 years
Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
61 years
Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
p Yes r No
Paul Kelley Architect, Inc.
Ethnicity *
I? Caucasian/Non-Hispanic
Principal Architect, Owner
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
Paul W. Kelley
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission,Cultural Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
(? Yes r No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Organization: Napa County Landmarks Dates Served: 2003-2006 Position: Board Member Organization:
Napa County Landmarks Dates Served: 2003-2006 Position: Preservation Action Committee (PAC) member Organization: City of Napa Cultural Heritage Commission Dates Served: 2001-2008 Position:
Chair Organization: City of Napa Planning Commission Dates Served: April 2013 - Present Position:
Commissioner (Design Professional), Chair 2017, 2020
Education:
School: Phoenix Institute of Technology Major: Architectural Design/Delineation Graduation Date/Degree:
1981 -Certificate School: Napa Valley College Major: Humanities Graduation Date/Degree: 1988-A.A.
Humanities School: Longview Education Associates Major: Green Building Professional Certificate Program Graduation Date/Degree: 2010 - Master Green Building Professional (MGBP) Certificate Planning Commission Training SSU Planning Commission Conference: 2013, 2014, and 2015 League of California Cities Planning Commissioners' Academy: 2014 Other relevant experience or expertise:
Employed in architectural profession: 1981-Present California Licensed Architect: 1994-Present President, Lail Design Group, Inc. 1997-2008 Owner of Paul Kelley Architect, Inc. 2008-Present Additional Questions
Paul W. Kelley
ATTACHMENT 1
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? The Planning Commission is an appointed Board and serves at the will of the City Council - similar to other Boards and Commissions in the City. The Planning Commission's role is to help facilitate the CEQA process of environmental review and impact of significant projects and development proposed within the City of Napa. The Planning Commission serves as a design review board and gives direction to staff and applicants. The Planning Commission also provides initial review and comment on citywide items such as the General Plan and broader development plans such as Napa Pipe and the Downtown Specific Plans.
The Planning Commission is also responsible for providing input to the City Council and staff from time to time on various issues and proposed actions.
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many? Since assuming as Planning Commissioner in early 2013,1 have participated in about 100 meetings.
During this past year I served as the chair.
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
I am very interested in the design review and zoning aspects of the Planning Commission. We live in such a wonderful place that has become its own unique destination, separate and distinct from the rest of the Napa Valley. This is wonderful for Napa and at the same time a challenge to find balance between the wants and needs of the community and the goals to make Napa a world-renowned destination. In more recent years the tug of war between hospitality interests and housing for those employees and residents of Napa in general have taken center stage. We are seeing the effects of climate change in real time and really need to assess how we can reduce our overall human footprint on this planet - starting with our community. Now with the challenges of covid we also have to find a way mitigate public gathering uses, locations and safety factors. Having said that, I think that the Planning Commission is charged with a very important role of trying to seek that balance. Trying to help strike that balance of commerce and community is really appealing to me.
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? After serving on the Commission for over 10 years, there is not an aspect that is 'least interesting' to me.
There are difficult aspects that often pit neighbor against developer, neighbor against community need and neighbor against neighbor. These hearings are usually contested and the decision you make can be very unpopular with a large group of people. Likewise there seems to be a growing trend of project appeals in the City and County so we have to consider that a final action by the planning commission may likely be appealed to the council. We have to provide the best decision making and guidance to a project applicant and I make it my personal goal to make sure we have properly and thoroughly vetted a project so that it does not come back to us that 'the planning commission did not consider...' Ideally if we've done our job correctly, the final action will be final or the City Council will have the information they need to render an informed final action.
Paul W. Kelley
ATTACHMENT 1
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? Pressing issues include global warming and responses on a local scale, housing, infill development, promotion of open space, preservation of historic resources, living wage jobs and methods of transportation. Laced through these issues is the need to conserve our resources while welcoming others into our community. Perhaps the most important task I see and would like the Planning Commission to take on is our input and liaison role assisting the City Council. We need to consider global warming and not only its impact on our City (drought, temperature rise, carbon emission rise) but how we as a City can do our part to continue to reduce our carbon footprint and improve conservation efforts. Planning issues can help with putting importance on VMT's concentration closer to the city center, conservation of water and other resources, etc. This time period feels transitory as we have the opportunity to complete our flood control work, look at transit and trail systems, improve and hopefully finish larger infrastructure projects and circulation patterns, decide with housing will look like for the next twenty years, consider the footprint of downtown Napa and likewise our borders and make the best fit of our hospitality uses while blending but not losing community. Now that we've had a chance to work with the Downtown Specific Plan, my concern is that it does not provide the tools to allow for smaller downtown residential projects.
Specifically, with downtown core commercial, onsite parking is not required but is required for residential lofts, etc. If the intent of the DSP is to bring housing downtown, we have yet to see it. Perhaps smaller neighborhood parking areas/structures would allow parking leases for parcels that cannot provide onsite parking for residential occupancies. We are also finding unintended loopholes in the DSP and have to interpret as we go. At some point the DSP should be reviewed and amended/completed, especially in the special focus areas identified.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? I believe that joint meetings or summits, study sessions, etc. of the Planning Commission and City Council can produce discussion, raise awareness and potentially effect legislation and other City goals to address these critical issues. Both bodies have their skill sets and areas of expertise; The Planning Commission could weigh in from a design, planning and use perspective while the Council could bring regulatory, economic and other big picture information to the table. We are so fortunate to live where we do but are greatly challenged with a shortage of housing, abundance of hotel rooms, commute traffic, parking challenges and so forth. I think a meeting just to have dialog on Accessory Dwelling Units for example would be a great sharing of information between staff and the combined commission and council.
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in you are appointed to this board?
conflict of interest if
I am currently a member of the Napa Valley Architect's Exchange (NVAE), Napa County Landmarks, Napa Historic Society - supporting member. My membership in these organizations has not created any conflicts for me during my tenure on the planning commission. My experience with the Public Service Ethics Education has taught me that public perception is the bar that we all must strive to meet and I ask myself that question with specific projects and if I cannot answer the question then I direct it to City Attorney for review.
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
How did you learn of this vacancy?
17 Other
Paul W. Kelley
ATTACHMENT 1
City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 17, 2023
Profile
Lilea
First Name
Du ran
Middle Initial Last Name
Email Address
City
State
Postal Code
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Primary Phone
Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
15 years
Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
16 years (1 year in St Helena)
Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
<? Yes r No
First 5 Napa County
Ethnicity *
I? Hispanic
Executive Director
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
Lilea Duran
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission.Cultural Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
r Yes c No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Please see Community Leadership page of attached resume.
Education:
Brandman University] B.A. Early Childhood Education | Fairfield, CA June 2020-December2021 Stanford University Designing for Social Systems Workshop | Stanford, CA May 2021-July 2021 Napa Valley College Child & Family Studies Associate Teacher w Administration | Napa, CA Aug 2017-May 2021 Other relevant experience or expertise:
Additional Questions
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? The planning commission serves as an advisory body to Napa's city council in matters related to land use and city planning. Planning commission members support the City in realizing the General Plan, including making amendments as needed, and the city's Zoning Ordinance. Commissioners serve a 2 year term.
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many? I have not attended a meeting, but have watched meeting recordings online.
Lilea Duran
ATTACHMENT 1
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
As a long time Napa resident and a parent raising children in this community, I am interested in supporting the City in implementing the General Plan. After reviewing the City's RFP for a Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance Update, I am interested in supporting and advising these ordinance updates during my potential term on the Planning Commission. I am also interested in following and advising projects like the hotel and housing additions in the Oxbow District and developments with Napa Pipe.
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? All activities of this board are of interest to me as they are an opportunity to give back and serve the City of Napa.
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? Having lived in the city of Napa during some of the natural disasters that significantly impacted our community and neighboring ones, like the Glass and Tubbs fires I am interested in seeing more programs and projects that will make our community safer and more resilient in the face of climate change. I would like to see more programs and projects that support the development of walkable communities, safe bike routes, and public access to open spaces. I am also passionate about social inclusion work and want the city of Napa to be a model for inclusive practices where all members of our community have access to needed services and supports and feel a sense of welcome and belonging throughout our city.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? I was fortunate to attend the Inaugural Napa Climate Summit in May of this year. Many groups and organizations were able to present on the innovative work they are doing across our county. I see opportunities to learn from these efforts and collaborate to increase the impact in developing a climate safe county.
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in you are appointed to this board?
No
conflict of interest if
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
How did you learn of this vacancy?
17 Other
Lilea Duran
ATTACHMENT 1
LILEA DURAN
LEADERSHIP THROUGH: C E LE B RATIO N-CO LLA BO RATIO N-CR EATIVITY Pronouns: She/They/Ella
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Community-focused, systems-level changemaker with leadership style and values centered around:
Celebration - Developing spaces that move beyond tolerance and acceptance to celebrate and honor individual identities while creating a sense of community belonging.
Collaboration - Building and maintaining strong relationships with community partners and stakeholders.
A working style that centers partnership to sustain the impact of work. Recognizing and amplifying the perspectives and voices of Napa County's BIPOC, Latine, and LGBTQ+ community members.
Creativity - Centering equity-focused innovation in developing strategies to meet the unique needs of Napa County's community and using human-centered design to center the voices of those being served by work.
SKILLS
Leadership experience
Human-centered design
Excellent communication skills
(Reading, writing, speaking)
Effective facilitator
Systems thinker
Strategic planning
Collaboration
Languages: Spanish
WORK EXPERIENCE
Executive Director
First 5 Napa County
Previous roles: Community Programs Coordinator, Community Programs Manager February 2023 - Present
Dec 2020-Feb 2023
Strategic Direction and Leadership: Developed First 5 Napa County's 2023-2026 strategic plan and implementation plan, grew and managed First 5 team from 2 employees to 4 employees, increased organization revenue from $1M (FY22-23) to $2.6M (FY23-24) by seeking new funding opportunities, taking on greater leadership roles within First 5 beyond Napa County including participating in the First 5 Leadership Network and strategic planning for the First 5 Association's Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) initiatives, collaborates with 9 member commission to provide services and resources to children, families, and providers.
Empower families: Developed and co-facilitated an anti-bias parent education program (Rainbow Family League) that has supported 69 Napa County families, empowered over 450 educators in creating educational spaces where all families are seen and celebrated.
Ensures culture and language access for Spanish-speaking and Latine communities: Developed bilingual Rainbow Kit/Caja Arcoiris resource, Queerly and Culturally Responsive Spanish Language training for educators, and F/orecer youth mentorship program focused on diversifying and sustaining Napa County's early childhood workforce; develops culturally significant, bilingual resources (including Dia de los Muertos educational coloring sheets); joins with community partners in implementing culturally significant events (City of Napa's 2022 Dia de Los Muertos event) Cultivated and ensured high-quality relationships between members of the First 5 Napa Network, the organizations they represent, and the projects network members engage in to advance the ATTACHMENT 1
mission and vision of First 5 Napa County. Co-Developed Racial Equity Plan series in collaboration with Race-Work to further develop social inclusion work of network members.
SITE SUPERVISOR
Napa County Office of Education
Site Supervisor
August 2016- December 2020
July 2019-December 2020
Oversaw the operation of 30 student Bel Aire Park Preschool. Established and maintained classroom policies and procedures for children's development and safety, maintained proper license requirements, and implemented state regulations.
Provided training for Early Childhood Services staff including anti-bias education (gender and family diversity) and documentation using the Learning Genie educator application Site participation in Rainbow Kit pilot with First 5 Napa County 2019-2020: Strategic Planning Committee, Inclusion Subcommittee 2020: Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Student & Community Opportunity Subcommittee Child Development Teacher August 2018 - December
2020
Served as lead teacher in 50/50 and 80/20 special education classes at Phillips and Bel Aire Park preschools. Managed assistant and associate teacher staff and collaborated with an integrated therapy team.
Early Childhood Education Assistant August 2016 - July 2018 Worked in 50/50 special education classroom at the Napa Preschool Program. Assisted lead teacher with classroom preparation and organization. Supported grant writing for and implementation of the first school garden and developed a year-long garden curriculum for students with diverse needs.
CALIFORNIA REGIONAL DIRECTOR
Vegetable Circus
December 2013-January 2015
Managed 6 service providers throughout California
Developed new curriculum for the organization including an 8-week after-school curriculum for school-aged children and the organization's first "Family Night" which taught a variety of circus props and wellness activities to parents and their children.
Played a vital role in the development and execution offundraising efforts.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Brandman University |B.A. Early Childhood Education |Fairfield, CA June 2020-December2021 Stanford University | Designing for Social Systems Workshop | Stanford, CA May 2021-July 2021 _Napa Valley College! Child ^
ATTACHMENT 1
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD CHAIR
Napa Farmers Market
Chair of Executive Committee
Chair of Nominations Committee
Chair of Bylaws and Governance Committee
October 2021-Present
EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER
Napa Valley Register
BOARD MEMBER
Community Resources for Children
Member of Development Committee
Member of Fundraising Committee
November 2022- December 2023
March 2022-March 2023
NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS
MEMBER
Napa Valley Unified School District Guiding Coalition
MEMBER
Live hlealthy Napa County
LGBTQ Community Health Action Plan Subgroup
October 2023-Present
August 2021-Present
MEMBER
First 5 Napa Network, Cohort 3
MEMBER
First 5 Leadership Network, Cohort 4
Present
MEMBER
Community Leaders Coalition
Member of Open and Effective Government Committee
January 2022-Present
December 2022-
June 2022-Present
MEMBER
Child Abuse Prevention Council
Supporting 2022-2023 "Mi Familia, Mi Communidad" campaign July 2022-Present
Napa Valley Black History Month Planning Committee
Napa Valley Pride Planning Committee
Jan 2021- Present
April 2021-Present
ATTACHMENT 1
MicheleGrui
e
November 13, 2023
City of Napa Planning Commission
P.O. Box 660
Napa, CA 94559
Subject: Letter of Recommendation for Lilea Duran as a Member of the City of Napa Planning Commission Dear Members of the City of Napa Planning Commission,
I am writing this letter to express my enthusiastic support for Lilea Duran as a candidate for the City of Napa Planning Commission. I have had the pleasure of knowing Lilea for over a decade in both a professional and personal capacity, and I am confident in her ability to contribute positively to the Planning Commission.
Ms. Duran possesses a unique combination of skills, experience, and dedication that make her an ideal candidate for this important role. As her employer, I have had the opportunity to witness her commitment to thorough research, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of our community's issues. Lilea consistently demonstrates a passion for creating vibrant, sustainable communities and a keen awareness of the challenges facing our city.
One of Lilea's notable strengths is her ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including city officials, community members, and fellow professionals. Lilea has a proven track record of fostering open communication and consensus-building, which are essential qualities for a Planning Commission member. For example, her participation in the First 5 Napa Network resulted in the development of the Florecer Youth Mentorship Program. In partnership with Napa Valley College and New Technology High Schools, the partners are working to create a pathway to a more sustainable early childhood workforce.
I have also been impressed by Lileas's dedication to staying informed about current trends and best practices regarding any project she dedicates her time and talents to. I've seen firsthand her ability to get 'up to speed' on new topics by learning from colleagues, partners and by attending workshops, conferences, and seminars.
In addition to her professional qualifications, Lilea is deeply involved in our community. She volunteers her time and effort to various community initiatives, like the Community Leaders Coalition, the Child Abuse Prevention Council and sits on the steering committees for Black History Month, Dia de los Muertos, and Napa Valley Pride.
In Lilea's roles as resident, parent, community leader and employer, there is clear alignment between her goals and values and the City of Napa's vision and new general plan. I wholeheartedly recommend Lilea Duran for the City of Napa Planning Commission. I am confident that she will bring valuable insights, thoughtful decision-making, and a collaborative spirit to the commission, contributing to the continued growth and prosperity of our community. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact me at [email protected],
Sincerely,
City of Napa Resident
ATTACHMENT 1
Napa Farmers Market
Saturday year-round and Tuesday April through December
Open 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. rain or shine
Market Site:
City of Napa Parking Lot
1100 West Street
Napa,CA 94559
Mailing Address:
Napa Farmers Market
PO Box 10822
Napa, CA 94581
November 13, 2023
RE: City of Napa Planning Commission
It is my honor to compose a letter of recommendation in enthusiastic support of Lilea Duran for the City of Napa Planning Commission. I've experienced the joy of knowing Lilea since 2011, when we began weaving our lives together, both personally and professionally, to help grow our shared vision of a healthy, vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community for all. Over the years, I've been in awe of her robust professional development, dedication to her family, and commitment to improving our community as a whole.
I met Lilea as part of the Napa Hoopers, and we hosted free hula hoop jams in community spaces, like Fuller Park, to get together and hoop our hearts out with our neighbors. In 2011, I invited her to host a hoop jam at the Napa County Public Health Week Fair, and thus because ourjointventures of supporting each other in our work. In 20211 recruited Lilea to join the Napa Farmers Market board of directors. Because she is a motivated leader by nature, she became Vice Chair in 2022 and, as of January 2023, stepped up as Board Chair, becoming the first queer woman of color to hold the position. In her short tenure, Lilea had taken the Napa Farmers Market board of directors' professionalism, organization, and efficiency to the next level. I am beyond grateful I get the opportunity to work together with her to ensure the Napa Farmers Market is as strong as it can be for our community.
In 2022, Lilea and I participated as part of the First Napa Network (F5NN) Cohort Three facilitated by First Five Napa County. The F5NN is a robust, cross-sector network of emerging and established leaders in Napa County, focused on long-term, equity-centered, systems level community change by improving the lives of young children and their families. The cohorts give local leaders opportunities to have tough conversations about race, power, gender, and other issues of equity because real community change requires this. In this space, I witnessed Lilea's ability to communicate and advocate with compassion for a safe, welcoming, and joyful community for all.
As part of the cohort, my small group ("Food for All") implemented a human centered design project with the goal of addressing the question, "How might we create ways to improve food access and security for all; particularly low-income undocumented, mixed immigration status and/or Spanish-speaking families in Napa County?" Based on my group's findings, Lilea advocated for, and we received funding from First Five Napa "We grow community around local food."
www.napafarmersmarket.org
Facebook: @napafarmersmarketlnstagram: @napafarmersmkt
ATTACHMENT 1
County Commission to implement a fruit & veggie box prototype project in the summer of 2022. The prototype project served five families with children under five years receiving services from Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center by delivering boxes packed with fruits and vegetables from the Napa Farmers Market every week for a month. During the project we distributed over 600 pounds of the very best seasonal produce to Latine families experiencing food insecurity. We gained valuable insight, and the findings will be used to inform future initiates to increase access to fresh, locally grown produce to families that need it the most.
My background as a public health professional gives my unique insight into how the built environment impacts community health, wellness, and connection. Lilea understands how to work with communities and the systems level thinking required to affect and protect health and wellness in this precious place we call home. As a resident of the CityofNapa, and someone who cares deeply about our growth, I feel strongly that we need Lilea's voice as part of our Planning Commission because she represents the very best of the future of Napa.
Thank you,
Cara Mae Wooledge, MPH
Director, Napa Farmers Market
home address: I
e: [email protected]
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ATTACHMENT 1
JoeIIe Gallaghcr
November 10, 2023
Napa City Council Members
955 School Street
Napa, CA 94559
Dear Mayor Sedgely, Vice Mayor Painter, and Council members Alessio, Luros and Narvaez:
Please accept this letter of recommendation for Lilea Duran, for the position of City of Napa, Planning Commissioner. I met Lilea when she was hired to serve as the Community Programs Coordinator for First 5 Napa County in 2021.
After I retired as the Executive Director, Lilea was hired into the role, and I remain close to her work as the County Supervisor appointed to the First 5 Commission.
Part of the stated vision of the City of Napa is to, "ensure that the community remains attainable and inclusive, family-friendly, and appealing to an increasingly diverse population of residents, workers, and visitors." In alignment with this vision, Lilea has created and implemented DEI programming that continues to have a significant and lasting impact on our youngest children, their families, and the larger community. (These programs include Safe Space training for early childhood providers, development of multilingual Rainbow Kits, the Rainbow Family League program, and various Rainbow Action Network initiatives.)
Lilea is a bilingual, bicultural community leader, who values and demonstrates a highly collaborative leadership style. As an example, our First 5 youth mentorship program, Florecer, has been able to expand through partnerships Lilea created with Napa Valley College and New Technology high school.
Lilea has also demonstrated her leadership capabilities through the preparation and implementation of the First 5 Napa County Climate Action and Education resolution, the creation of the countywide Story Walk series, and her service on the steering committees for events such as Black History Month, Dia de los Muertos and Napa Valley Pride. She is valued and respected by community members, business, nonprofit, and education leaders alike.
ATTACHMENT 1
I believe Lilea would bring an important and unique perspective to the City Planning Commission. She well understands the diverse needs and desires of our families and businesses, and has a passion for serving the community and improving the lives of others.
Sincerely,
^oe^9A^*
Joelle Gallagher
ATTACHMENT 1
mentis
Napa's Center for Mental Health Services
November 13, 2023
To Whom it May Concern,
It gives me great pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for Lilea Duran for a position on the City of Napa's Planning Commission.
I've known Lilea for over 4 years, both personally and professionally. We first met when she joined the First 5 Napa County team and quickly got involved in our newly formed Rainbow Action Network initiatives that aimed to create a safer, more inclusive community for our LGBTQ+ families and children. I've watched her grow as a queer woman of color, a parent raising children in Napa, and as a community leader. Within three years she was hired as the Executive Director at First 5 Napa.
Lilea's tireless advocacy and selfless commitment to our community, her thought leadership, and her mentorship of our younger generation of leaders has been incredible to witness. She is a champion for youth, for diversity, for belonging and for inclusion. Lilea's roles within First 5 Napa County have enabled her to 1. develop and implement Rainbow Kits, in both English and Spanish, in schools across the County so that our early childhood learning spaces are welcoming to all; 2. expand the bilingual Rainbow Family League program to strengthen families through a lens of equity, respect and social inclusion, and 3. Create and sustain the Florecer mentorship program in collaboration with Napa Valley College, which diversifies our early childhood workforce through professional mentorship.
Collaboration is at the heart of everything Lilea does. She embraces the spirit of collective impact and knows that creating meaningful and lasting change does not happen in silos. Lilea's strength is found in her relationships with community members and organizations who are working together to create a community of belonging.
I've known Lilea most closely through our work on the Black History Commmittee. Together with a small team of local leaders, spearheaded by JT Thompson, we have hosted an annual Black History Month celebration in the month of February, to celebrate Black History Month. This past February, more than 200 community members attended to learn about local and national black history, celebrate Black culture through food, art and music, and to engage in projects centered in diversity and inclusion.
Lilea has a passion for children and families. She listens deeply to our community's needs and strives to respond with programs and initiatives that create systemic change. Her human-centered design approach leads her to create cutting edge ideas that are thoughtful and insightful. She quietly leads and inspires others to get involved and to be changemakers.
709 Franklin Street • Napa, California 94559 " Office 707/255.0966 www.mentisnapa.org ATTACHMENT 1
I wholeheartedly believe that Lilea will be an asset as a member of the City of Napa's Planning Commission.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. I'd be happy to expand on my recommendation.
Sincerely,
Jeni Olsen
Prevention Director, Mentis
Board Trustee, Napa Valley College
Chair, Napa County Suicide Prevention Council
Iolsen@mentisna£a^org
709 Franklin Street < Napa, California 94559 • Office 707/255.0966 > www.mentisnapa.org ATTACHMENT 1
City of Napa Boards & Commissions
Submit Date: Nov 17, 2023
Profile
Alexander
First Name
Myers
Middle Initial Last Name
Email Address
City
State
Postal Code
Mailing Address (if different than Resident Address above) Primary Phone Alternate Phone
Length of Residence in the City of Napa:
26 years
Length of Residence in the County of Napa:
28 years
Registered to vote in the City of Napa?
(? Yes r No
Myers, Jameson & Myers, LLP
Employer
Ethnicity *
17 Prefer not to Answer
Attorney
Job Title
Interests & Experiences
Which Boards would you like to apply for?
Planning Commission: Submitted
Alexander Myers
ATTACHMENT 1
Question applies to Planning Commission.Cultural Heritage Commission Some Commissions and Boards require specific seats to be designated as "Design Professionals". Are you applying as a Design Professional, which is defined as, "a person who demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the City Council, that he or she has professional experience (in the fields of architectural design, landscape architecture, urban planning, building, sustainability, or a related field) that is sufficient to assist the member in the effective evaluation of applications for development projects." ? If you have marked "YES", please provide details under "Relevant Experience" in this section. You may attach your resume below.
r Yes <? No
Upload a Resume
Community Service Experience:
Current Member, Napa Sunrise Rotary (Fmr. board mbr, committee chair) Fmr. Commissioner, City of Napa Planning Commission Fmr. Commissioner, Napa County Housing Commission Fmr. Member, City of Napa CDBG Block Grant Committee Fmr Board Member, Napa Valley Community Housing Fmr.
Member, NVUSD 7-11 Land Use Advisory Committee Fmr. Board Member, Napa County Bar Ass'n Fmr Board Member, Napa Valley Wine Library Association
Education:
M.S., Real Estate - University of San Diego J.D. - University of San Diego B.A., Political Science - University of Southern California CA Real Estate Broker License LEED Green Associate Other relevant experience or expertise:
As a practicing real estate and land use attorney in Napa County, I work within planning and land use decision making and considerations on a nearly-daily basis, and enjoy the experience of helping to curate the growth and future of our community. I am also a small business owner with a vested interest in the future of the City, its economic vitality and its support of local residents. I take great pride in active participation in the community, in volunteering and dedicating time to its betterment, and enjoying the fruits of that labor as a resident here. I had stepped back from as much civic engagement as I once participated in around 2019 when our family was still growing and developing, but am eager to re-engage in these activities.
Additional Questions
Alexander Myers
ATTACHMENT 1
What is your understanding of the role and responsibility of this board? As a former member of the City of Napa Planning Commission for three years (2017, 2018, 2019), I have a deep understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Planning Commission. During my time on the Planning Commission I felt that it was important to exercise careful, considered discretion in review of applications, public comment, informational and advisory meetings, and opinining on prospective legislative changes. I felt that it was important to express my own independent voice on the Commission, while understanding that the Commission is in many respects a proxy of the City Council, and took care to apply my understanding of the policy objectives of the City Council, and the best interests of our City residents in voting and making decisions as a Commissioner.
Have you ever attended a meeting of this board? If so, how many? Approx. 75
What duties of this board are most interesting to you?
I think the most interesting duty of the Planning Commission is the duty of stewardship to the future of our City. It is an incredible responsibility, but also a duty to be very proud of, in helping to carefully guide the shape of the physical landscape of the City of Napa, as well as to form the landscape of precedent each meeting, decision, and guidance is given. I am keenly interested in the future activities of the Planning Commission as I understand them, which include participation in the Zoning Ordinance, application of the new Housing Element, and working to help guide the future of downtown development including areas east of Soscol downtown.
What activities of this board are least interesting to you? It's never pleasant to upset people, and when a controversial subject comes before the Planning Commission, invariably there will be a group of people who are dissatisfied with the outcome, whatever the outcome may be. This is the least enjoyable, and therefore probably the least interesting part of the role. However, although an outcome may not be desirable to an applicant, proponent, opponent, or group of people, it is critical that in delivering such a determination, the effort is made to ensure that all participants appreciate that the process is transparent, fair, considerate of all voices, and that although an outcome may not have been the preference of that person or group, they were provided the opportunity to participate, to contribute, to make their voice heard, and receive due process in the procedure and decision making.
What programs or projects would you like to see improved or implemented? I look forward to the future Zoning Ordinance and to hopefully participating and helping in that process.
For many years it will help sculpt and guide areas of the City, including areas which may be going through dramatic changes in the future as the Housing Element is implemented and density, heights, uses, and neighborhoods change.
How would you approach improving these project(s) or program(s)? I think that I would bring a unique voice to the Planning Commission, as I have a diverse background within the field of real estate, land use, and policy, and which includes considerable analysis and implementation of legislation, as well as practical application of the City of Napa's zoning rules, municipal code, general plan, and downtown specific plan. An even-keeled, researched, and considerate basis of analysis, rooted in advocacy for the best interest of the residents of the City, the future of the City, and the near-term and long-term economic vitality of the City is my approach.
Alexander Myers
ATTACHMENT 1
Are you involved in any organizations or activities that may result in a conflict of interest if you are appointed to this board?
I am a practicing real estate attorney with real estate and developer clients. In my prior three years on the Planning Commission this presented few occasions for a true conflict, perhaps once a year if that. Often I would decline to take on clients to prevent having to recuse from future Planning Commission activities, as I placed that duty as the high priority. I also co-own a preschool and am working to open two additional locations in the City, however the planning and policy activities for those schools are effectively complete.
I do not anticipate any changes in the future, any moves out of the City (which was the basis of my prior resignation, a house we purchased for the family was outside the City Limits), or any other causes for even infrequent recusals.
Please list two local references and their phone numbers:
How did you learn of this vacancy?
17 Other
Alexander Myers
ATTACHMENT 1