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CIty Council Appointment Public Comment 13.1
From lana ivanoff <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:01 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
St Helena City Council Meeting 5/26
City Council Appointment Item 13.1
Mayor Dohring, St Helena City Council Members, Interim City Manager Jim McCann I would like to encourage you to seriously consider appointing Mark Smithers to the open City Council seat.
Mr Smithers has demonstrated he has incredible knowledge of financial issues, and has been involved with the betterment of our town for decades.
His current service on the Finance Committee would be a huge benefit to the council given its urgent need to address many of the issues in the Blackburn Report, and in it’s developing à ‘strategic plan’ for St Helena.
Mark has also served on the Water/Waste Water Rate Committees, and the SHAPE Committee, and the knowledge gained in those positions would contribute much to many critical issues confronting our town.
I think Mark Smithers would be an exceptional addition to the Council.
Thank you.
Lana Ivanoff
1533 Pine St
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recommendation for tonight's meeting
From Ariana Peju <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:06 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong support for Joshua Parke for the interim City Council seat.
Joshua is thoughtful, community-minded, and someone who approaches leadership with integrity and professionalism. He genuinely cares about the people of St. Helena and brings a balanced, collaborative perspective that would serve the city well.
I believe he would be an excellent addition to the Council during this interim period.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Ariana Peju
Ariana Peju
Proprietor
.
.
P: 707-963-3600
[email protected] - www.peju.com
8466 St Helena Hwy/P.O. Box 478
Rutherford, CA 94573 USA
Family Owned, Napa Grown • Crafting Excellence for Over 40 Years
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City Council Appointment
From Elaine de Man <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:08 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
Cc Andrew Bradley <[email protected]>; Erika Opp <[email protected]> Dear Mayor Dohring and Members of the City Council,
We are fortunate to have a number of great applicants to choose from to fill the vacant City Council seat. But after reading all of the applications, I think Mark Smithers is clearly the strongest applicant — and the only one who can truly hit the ground running to help the City navigate this important transition period during the next seven months.
While I was unable to attend the City Council meeting last week, I have reviewed the report by the Blackberg Group and think we should all be paying close attention to its findings. It is clear from that report that the City needs a significant organizational transformation that includes financial restructuring, accountability systems, operational planning, and other modernization efforts to secure a successful future. Mark’s background as a longtime and successful finance executive, combined with his broader organizational experience, gives him the financial literacy, institutional perspective, and ability to understand complex operational and governance issues from day one. I think that’s critical.
Additionally, because of his current and prior service on the Finance and SHAPE Committees, along with his Water/Wastewater advisory work, Mark already understands many of the City’s fiscal and infrastructure challenges and can contribute immediately without a lengthy learning curve. He is also creative and willing to think outside the box while still being pragmatic — important qualities when looking for solutions beyond “quick fixes” that could lead to unintended consequences.
Long-term stability is also important, and Mark’s proven commitment to the community, along with his consistent engagement in local issues, volunteer efforts, and public service, shows he is here to stay. All of this will serve the City Council and the community very well and help rebuild some of the public trust that seems so desperately needed right now.
Mark’s history of community involvement and institutional memory may also help prevent us from falling into some of the traps of the past and help us find solutions that won’t sacrifice what makes St. Helena unique and why people want to live and visit here.
Because this appointment runs only through the end of the year, the most important consideration now should be selecting someone who can help the City successfully navigate this important transition period immediately and effectively, while also helping rebuild trust in city government. Mark Smithers is uniquely qualified to do just that.
Respectfully,
Elaine de Man
Jordan Coonrad
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New Council Member Appointment Support
From Walter Nirenberg <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:13 PM
To City Clerk <[email protected]>
To the Sitting Council Members,
I am excited to see the turn-out of new energy for our Council and appreciate the effort you’re going through to vet the potential new member candidates. To that end, as a St Helena citizen I recognize our top priorities for managed growth and sustained way of life that makes our city so special. I am writing today in strong support of three of the candidates, Bonnie Schoch, Daniel Hale, and Mark Smithers. Each of these individuals possess the clarity of community, an historical perspective informed by a balanced future vision, and are pretty smart eggs to boot!
It’s going to be a difficult choice as we are blessed with the abundance of options, so I would want to know where they stand on the top priorities facing St. Helena now and into the future:
1. Workforce Housing: For anyone joining the Council, this must be a high priority as our economy is structured to depend on a workforce to support the tourism industry. Recognizing that it’s a tough challenge, driven largely by state mandates and handled mostly through nonprofit partners like Our Town St. Helena rather than the city directly. Given the city's current budget crunch, it has limited resources to fund housing on its own, making grants and community partnerships critical.
2. Budget & Fiscal Stability: The city is navigating a structural deficit, using $1.7 million in reserves to close the FY 2025–26 budget gap, with a projected $1.5 million reserve use in FY 2026–27.
Staff presented cuts totaling $1.94 million (8.3%) as part of the budget process.
3. Water & Infrastructure: Major infrastructure projects include water and sewer upgrades such as the Napa Intertie Transmission Main Replacement and Bell Canyon Intake Tower Rehabilitation.
The city is also actively addressing discolored water through enhanced treatment and expanded water quality monitoring.
4. Downtown Development: The Downtown Specific Plan aims to strengthen the downtown business district, enhance public spaces and streetscapes, outline possibilities for vacant and underutilized sites, and undertake comprehensive parking and traffic studies.
5. Hotel Project on Adams Street The proposed Castellucci hotel at the former Bank of America site on Adams Street is undergoing the CEQA environmental review process, with studies to be shared with the community and City Council as part of public review.
6. City Leadership Transitions The city is managing several leadership changes, including a City Council vacancy, a new Interim Chief of Police (Justin Tharp), and the retirement of the Director of
Community Development.
As always, I want to thank you for your service to our City and please feel free to call on me if I can assist in any way.
Kind regards,
Walter
Walter Nirenberg
E: [email protected]
M: +1.415.298.3013
St Helena and San Francisco
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Special meeting, appointment of council seat
From CN <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:16 PM
To City Clerk <[email protected]>
Dear Council and City Manager,
I write regarding the appointment to the vacated Council seat. This is a meaningful opportunity — and the Council should treat it as one.
St. Helena faces real, unresolved challenges: a general plan that needs serious attention, a housing element under pressure, infrastructure gaps, and a long-standing absence of strategic planning commensurate with the complexity of governing a small city with outsized demands. The appointee should walk in the door already familiar with these realities — not learning about them on the public’s dime.
I am encouraged by candidates who bring substantive backgrounds: those with experience in architecture, land use, design, and the built environment understand how policy decisions translate into physical outcomes for residents. Candidates who have engaged critically and honestly with the city’s shortcomings — not as antagonists, but as informed stakeholders who believe St. Helena can do better — are exactly the kind of voices this Council needs.
What St. Helena does not need is an appointment that functions as an extension of existing Council positions. A seat on this dais should represent residents, not reflect the preferences of incumbents. If a candidate’s primary qualification appears to be enthusiastic agreement with the status quo, that is not a qualification at all — it is a concern.
I urge the Council to prioritize demonstrated competence, independent judgment, and genuine familiarity with the policy tools — general plan, municipal code, housing element, fiscal planning — that govern this city’s future.
The residents of St. Helena deserve a Council that does the work. Please appoint someone who already knows what that work is.
You have these qualifications in Mr. Diaz, Mr. Parker, Mrs. Liu, Mr. Hale.
Respectfully,
Celeste Neeley
SH
City of St. Helena
City Council Meeting
May 26, 2026
Item 13.1 City Council appointment of an applicant to fill the current vacancy.
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members
I am writing in support of Scott Diaz for the interim City Council position.
His application clearly shows his perspective on the issues facing St. Helena and highlights the quality of his analysis for what is needed from a Council Member. His strong background in finance is impressive and his familiarity with the Blackberg Report aligns with his approach to problem solving. The application provides clear insight into his approach to his role on the City Council.
The application was extremely well thought out and very professional. Of all the applicants he articulates clearly on how he will behave on the council. His commitment to a strategic plan for the city, combined with his intent to run in November, make Scott an outstanding choice for an interim council member.
Respectfully submitted,
Garry Rose
St. Helena
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Mark Smithers for Cty Council Vacant Position
From Sandra Archibald <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 2:33 PM
To City Clerk <[email protected]>
To the St. Helena City Council:
I am writing in strong support of the appointment of Mark Smithers to the vacant St. Helena City Council seat. I believe Mark brings an unusual combination of professional expertise, practical judgment, community commitment, and civic temperament that would serve the City of St. Helena well during an important period in our community’s development.
Mark’s professional background demonstrates exactly the kind of financial and organizational experience that is increasingly important for local government. As a retired Certified Public Accountant, former Senior Manager with KPMG International, former CFO of Joseph Phelps Vineyards, and longtime CFO and senior financial executive with Trinchero Family Estates, he has extensive experience working within both large and family-owned organizations and managing complex financial and operational issues. His career reflects decades of responsibility, strategic decision making, and organizational leadership. These are skills directly relevant to the long-term fiscal and managerial challenges facing cities today.
Equally important, Mark has already demonstrated a commitment to public service and community engagement in St. Helena. His recent service on the Ad Hoc Water and Wastewater Rate Review Committee reflects a willingness to step into difficult and often technical public issues in a thoughtful and constructive manner. His broader record of civic engagement, including service connected to local schools, youth sports, environmental stewardship, and nonprofit organizations, demonstrates that his commitment to St. Helena is longstanding and grounded in active participation in community life.
I am also impressed by Mark’s vision for what St. Helena can become. His application reflects a practical but hopeful perspective focused on financial stability, effective and transparent government, economic vitality, infrastructure improvement, and rebuilding community trust and engagement. He appears genuinely interested in listening to residents, understanding differing viewpoints, and helping bring people together around constructive solutions. At a time when many communities struggle with polarization this approach is especially valuable.
What stands out most to me is Mark’s understanding that effective local government depends not only on technical expertise, but also on openness, responsiveness, and civic engagement. His emphasis on communication, transparency, and being present in the community suggests a style of leadership grounded in listening and collaboration.
St. Helena would benefit from Mark Smithers’ experience, judgment, and commitment to public service. I respectfully encourage the Council to give his application serious consideration.
Sincerely,
Sandra Archibald McCorkle
St. Helena Resident
Outlook
letter in support of Josh Parke's candidacy
From Julie Ann Kodmur <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 3:14 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
Some people who received this message don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important
Julie Ann Kodmur & Stuart Smith
1517 Sylvaner Avenue
St. Helena CA 94574
707/963-9632
corking@julieannkodmur and [email protected]
May 26, 2026
To: St. Helena City Council
We are business owners and long-time residents of St. Helena who know Josh Parke well and highly endorse him as a City Council member.
He is a very talented designer/contractor/architect and in addition to those professional skills, a very astute observer of how St. Helena operates, as well as an articulate participant in the process.
We know from our extensive conversations that he is well-versed in how the City can improve its processes and procedures.
Please consider appointing him to the interim City Council seat.
Sincerely,
Julie Ann Kodmur & Stuart Smith
Jordan Bentley
REALTOR®
License: 01988781 (CA)
O: 408.335.1400 | M: 707.474.7594
[email protected]
www.christiesrealestate.com
Christie's International Real Estate San Francisco |
Marin | Wine Country
1316 Main Street, Saint Helena, CA 94574
Office is Independently Owned and Operated
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In support of Bonnie Schoch
From Jordan Bentley <[email protected]> Date Tue 5/26/2026 3:27 PM
To City Clerk <[email protected]>
Dear St. Helena City Council,
I am reaching out to share my support for Bonnie Schoch to full the vacant position on the city council.
Bonnie has a deep well of experience and is very passionate about serving our community. Our city would benefit very much by having her on the council.
Thank you for taking note of my position and thank you for all your service.
All my best,
Jordan
Outlook
Joshua Parke
From Nicole <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 3:40 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
Hello
I have been a St Helena resident for decades and wanted to reach out in support for this candidate.
Joshua is a very smart, talented father and businessman and I believe he would be an excellent choice for the position. He has already put in so much time and effort to help our community and would continue to do so for years to come. His understanding of building laws, community requirements and regulations will be such an asset.
He has my full support. Thank you, Nicole
Sent from my iPhone
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recommendation for joshua parke
From Rebekah Wiley <[email protected]>
Date Tue 5/26/2026 5:19 PM
To Public Comment <[email protected]>
Dear Members of the Selection Committee,
I am writing in strong support of Joshua Parke for the interim City Council appointment. As a government attorney myself, I appreciate the importance of thoughtful, well-informed decision making in public service, and I believe Joshua would bring exactly that approach to the role.
As the owner of a local business, Joshua has a direct understanding of the needs and concerns of residents, customers, and the broader community. He is deeply invested in the success of the city and approaches issues with both professionalism and care.
Joshua is exceptionally smart and thoughtful, particularly when it comes to complicated matters. He has the ability to dig into the details and understand complex regulations and policies, while also translating them into practical, workable city policy. He asks good questions, listens carefully, and approaches decisions with balance and integrity.
He is also a father of three children in the public schools and is actively involved in the community, giving him an important perspective on the issues facing local families and residents. Joshua genuinely cares about the future of the city and the people who live here.
I believe Joshua would be an excellent addition to the Council during this interim appointment and would bring a steady, informed, and community-minded perspective to the role.
Sincerely,
Rebekah Reynolds
1010 Allison Ave
St Helena, CA
(858) 442-8964
Sent from my iPhone