City of St. Helena
Special City Council Closed Session
Meeting
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 @ 5:00 PM
465 Main Street, First Floor, Cafeteria
PLEASE NOTE: Any person who wishes to speak regarding an item on the agenda or make a comment under the "Oral Communication" portion of the agenda may do so, but please observe the time limit of four minutes.
Page
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor: Paul Dohring, Vice Mayor Michelle Deasy, City Council Members:
Aaron Barak, Kate Spadarotto, Billy Summers
3. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO CLOSED SESSION
Each person’s comments shall be limited to 4 minutes.
5. CLOSED SESSION:
5.1. Conference with City Labor Negotiators (Anil Comelo, Mandy Kellogg, Joe Leach)
Negotiations with St. Helena Employees Association (SHEA), St.
Helena Police Officers Association (POA), St. Helena Professional Firefighters Association (SHPFA) and the Unrepresented Program.
Brown Act Section: 54957.6
5.2. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Sec. 54956.8) Property: 1480 Main Street and 1572 Railroad Avenue
Agency Negotiators: City Manager, Community Development Director and City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: TBD
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
Public Comment.Judy Crabb
Public Comment.Julie Baccelli
Public Comment.Kara Smith
Public Comment.Kathy Paulus
3 - 9
6. ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular City Council meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
This agenda was posted at City Hall, 1088 College Avenue, and at Vintage Hall, 465 Main Street, St. Helena, California on August 7, 2025.
Erika Opp, Administrative Analyst
In Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk’s Office (707) 967-2792. Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
From: Judy Crabb
To: Public Comment
Subject: August 12 "Closed Session"
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025 11:20:23 PM
I would like to see Lyman Park and the current empty building turned into a city center area that would include a shell of some type for the summer concerts, our Saint Helena Community Band and other events. This shell would be so helpful in protecting musicians/presenters from the elements, as well as improving the acoustics of the performance space.
Judy Crabb
1550 Voorhees Cir, St. Helena
Agenda Item #5.2.
From: Julie Baccelli
To: Public Comment
Subject: Lyman Park Please save the park and Bandstand. It is essential for our community.
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025 8:44:05 PM
Sent from my iPhone
Agenda Item #5.2.
From: kara smith
To: Public Comment
Subject: Public Comment for Closed Session Agenda on August 12th Date: Friday, August 8, 2025 11:43:37 AM
To The City of St. Helena, in regards to the possible sale of 1480 Main Street and 1572 Railroad Ave:
I believe the sale of these assets will greatly benefit the community if developed into housing opportunities or a tax generating business that will contribute to the future longevity of our community. We desperately need to create long term improvements for St. Helena, both in housing development and tax generating business models to be able to provide the public services our residents are expecting to receive living in this community. Given the financial shortfalls we are all aware of, holding on to a building that is not habitable and without our own resources to improve this space without the financial support of investors, it seems fiscally irresponsible to continue to do nothing with these properties.
I recall around 10 years ago the derelict gas station on the corner of Main and Adams that had zero historical significance, which now houses the Sportigo store. What an improvement this was and so many residents complained that the gas station was getting torn down! Does anyone miss that inoperable gas station today? While the sale of these two properties under discussion is on a larger scale, perhaps with thoughtful development to create something here that benefits our community long term, we will all be grateful that we have tax revenue coming back into our community and/ or more full time residents who want to live and work here rather than holding on to an eye sore that is currently doing nothing to benefit anyone.
It is unclear, however, if Lyman Park is a separate asset from this sale, and my hope that is if it is part of the sale of the property under consideration, this park which hosts community events throughout the year, will be continued to use for the same purpose and considered as a requirement for the development of these assets if sold. This park is integral to community and individual festivities as well as daily use by residents enjoying a rest on a bench in the shade, picnics and children playing. If this park disappears that would certainly make the development of the building site more contentious even for those in support of the sale of the building. Keeping the park as part of the community will send a strong message to the community that while it is necessary to develop and change, it is also important to have a place to gather together and that both can go hand in hand.
While change is not easy we have come to a turning point in St. Helena where we cannot continue to say no to everything. I am in support of this sale with the understanding that the city will do their due diligence to ensure the community will benefit long term. Thank you! Kara Smith, St. Helena Resident
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kara smith
Agenda Item #5.2.
From: Kathy Paulus
To: Public Comment
Subject: 8/12/25 Closed Session
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025 1:12:00 PM
To whom it may concern,
Please reconsider the selling any properties that are owned by the city of Saint Helena. There are quite a few reasonable good ideas voiced by citizens for expanding Lyman Park. Our population is reasonably small but as a destination to visit it is excessive.
The Railroad Ave. land might be valued as an asset to the working tracks and the Wine Train might see the land as an invitation grow their success.
With that said please do not make a decision for the citizens on the selling of the stated properties.
Yours truly
Agenda Item #5.2.