City of St. Helena
City Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 6:00 PM
Vintage Hall Board Room - Second Floor
465 Main Street, St. Helena CA
PLEASE NOTE: Any person who wishes to speak regarding an item on the agenda or make a comment under the "Public Forum" portion of the agenda may do so, but please observe the time limit of four minutes.
The City Council meeting will be live-streamed on Comcast Channel 28 and on the City’s website.
Public comment for City Council meetings will be accepted via email via to [email protected]. All public comments must be received three hours prior to the meeting. All other public comments received after the deadline will be attached to the item the next business day or soon thereafter. Public comments will not be read out loud but will be publicly available and attached to the online City Council agenda.
To ensure interpreters are available, requests must be made at least 72 hours in advance by calling the Office of the City Clerk at (707) 968-2640 or emailing [email protected].
The schedule of upcoming meetings and published meeting agendas can be found on the City of St. Helena website at cityofsthelena.gov.
Servicios de interpretación en español durante la reunión pueden ser solicitados por el público.
Para asegurar que los intérpretes estén disponibles, los servicios tienen que ser solicitados al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión llamando a la oficina de la Secretaria de la Ciudad al (707) 968-2640 o por correo electrónico a [email protected].
El horario de las reuniones publicadas y próximas puede ser localizado en el sitio de web de la Ciudad en cityofsthelena.gov
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Mayor: Paul Dohring, City Council Members: Aaron Barak, Michelle Deasy, Kate Spadarotto, Scott Diaz
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
5. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
5.1. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2026
6. PUBLIC FORUM
Members of the public are entitled to speak on matters of municipal concern not on the agenda during Public Forum. Each person’s comments shall be limited to 4 minutes. Each person is entitled to speak on any non-agendized item only once at any meeting. Brief questions by Council Members for clarifications may be posed and answered, and Council Members may make requests that items be placed on future agendas, but in accordance with state law, no substantive discussion or action may take place unless and until the matter properly appears on the agenda.
Estimated start time: 6:05 p.m.
6.1. Public Comment
7. REPORTS BY STAFF AND CITY COUNCIL, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, AND AB 1234 REPORTS
Reports by staff and/or Council Members on items of general interest. Brief questions for clarification may be posed and answered, and Council Members may request that items be placed on a future agenda. Except under certain circumstances, the Brown Act prohibits any other discussion or action by the City Council.
Estimated start time: 6:15 p.m.
8. PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC RECOGNITIONS
9. STAFF BRIEFING AND PRESENTATIONS
9.1. Winter Weather and El Niño Preparedness Presentation by Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments
9.2. PG&E Vegetation Management
9.3. Water System Update
10. CONSENT ITEMS
Members of the Council or the public (present at the meeting) may ask that any items be considered individually for purposes of considering alternative action, for extended discussion, or for public comment. Unless that is done, one motion may be used to adopt all recommended actions. (Roll Call Vote) Estimated start time: 6:45 p.m.
10.1. Consideration and Approval of a Resolution (1) Awarding the S26-05 Sewer Rehabilitation Project to The Trenchless Company; (2) Authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract with The Trenchless Company; (3) Authorizing the Director of Public Works to approve construction change orders not to exceed 10% of the contract price (4) Declaring the project exempt from CEQA.
CEQA Determination: Categorical Exemption
Prepared By: Mario Traverso, Project Manager
Recommendation: Approve the Resolution
10.2. Consideration and Approval of a Resolution Accepting the Work and Directing the Filing of the Notice of Completion for the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant Improvement Project (CIP S-52).
CEQA Determination: Not a project
Prepared By: Eric Janzen, Asst. PW Director
Recommendation: Approve the Resolution Accepting the Work and Directing the Filing of the Notice of Completion for the Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation Plant Improvement Project (CIP S-52).
10.3. Adoption of a Resolution authorizing Amendment #1 to Professional Services Agreement 2025-028 with Sherwood Engineers for the Highway 29 and Mills Lane Improvements Project for a Time and Materials, Not to Exceed amount of $69,600 to be funded from Transportation Mitigation Impact Fees, and authorizing associated transfers and budget amendments.
CEQA Determination: Statutory Exemption
Prepared By: Mario Traverso, Project Manager
Recommendation: Approve the Resolution
10.4. Consideration and proposed adoption of a resolution authorizing (1) a temporary street closure of Hunt Avenue from November 23, 2026–January 5, 2027, with additional street closures on November 25, 2026; and (2) possession of open alcoholic beverages on public streets on November 25, 2026 for the Holiday Wine Barrel Tree installation and lighting ceremony.
CEQA Determination: Not a CEQA Project (CEQA Guidelines §15378) Prepared By: Ashley Sylvester, Director of Community Services Department Recommendation: Staff recommends City Council review and adoption of the attached resolution.
10.5. Resolution awarding the construction contract for the R24-04 Oak Avenue Surface Improvement Project to Argonaut Constructors, Authorizing the Public Works Director to approve change orders not-to-exceed 15% of the contract rice; Authorizing related actions and approving budget amendments.
CEQA Determination: Categorical Exemption, Class 1, Existing Facilities Prepared By: Mario Traverso, Project Manager
Recommendation: Approve the Resolution
10.6. Waiver of Second Reading and Adoption of Ordinance Amending Sections
2.52.010 to 2.52.070 of Chapter 2.52 of Title 2 of the St. Helena Municipal Code Regarding the Library Board of Trustees.
CEQA Determination: Not a CEQA Project (CEQA Guidelines §15378) Prepared By: Ashley Sylvester, Director of Community Services Department Recommendation: The Board of the St. Helena Public Library and City staff recommend that the City Council waive the second reading, and adopt the ordinances by title only the changes to Chapter 2.52 of the City's Municipal Code which govern the Board. By doing so, the Municipal Code would more accurately reflect the current duties and responsibilities of the Library Board, and ensure compliance with Education Code 18900.
10.7. A Resolution of the City Council of the City of St. Helena Identifying the Terms and Conditions for Fire Department Response Away from Their Official Duty Station and Assigned to an Emergency Incident
CEQA Determination: Not a CEQA Project (CEQA Guidelines §15378) Prepared By: Alec Vidler, Fire Inspector
Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 2026-XX, to allow for reimbursement of “portal-to-portal” travel time, for Department of Interior incident responses.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Estimated start time: 7:00 p.m.
11.1. Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Reimbursement Agreement with Nicca Holding for the Sulphur Springs Sewer Extension.
CEQA Determination: Statutory Exemption; Installation of a new pipeline, less than 1 mile in length in public right-of-way.
Prepared By: Mario Traverso, Project Manager
Recommendation: Approve the Resolution
12. OLD BUSINESS
Estimated start time: 7:15 p.m.
12.1. Consideration of an Ongoing Discolored Water Incident Credit Policy CEQA Determination: Not a CEQA Project (CEQA Guidelines §15378) Prepared By: James McCann, Interim City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution approving:
1. The establishment of an ongoing reporting-based Water Credit Policy for active customers who log verified discolored water incidents on the "St. Helena Grapevine" online portal or via direct phone call to City Staff.
2. Authorization for the City Manager and Director of Finance to establish administrative guidelines to implement, calculate, and process ongoing usage credits and damage claims.
13. NEW BUSINESS
14. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
15. ADJOURNMENT
The next Regular City Council meeting is scheduled for October 13, 2026.
This agenda was posted at City Hall, 1088 College Avenue, and at Vintage Hall, 465 Main Street, St. Helena, California on September 17, 2026.
Andrew Bradley, City Clerk
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.
CHALLENGING DECISIONS OF CITY ENTITIES
The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City of St. Helena is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision, including without limitation Government Code section 65009 applicable to many land use and zoning decisions, Government Code section 66499.37 applicable to the Subdivision Map Act, and Public Resources Code section 21167 applicable to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. Government Code section 65009 and 66499.37, and Public Resources Code section 21167, impose shorter limitations periods and requirements, including timely service in addition to filing.
If a person wishes to challenge the above actions in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of St. Helena, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL RECEIVED AFTER THE POSTING OF THE AGENDA Any supplemental writings or documents distributed to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this Agenda, after the posting of the Agenda, will be available for public review in the City Clerk’s Office located at 1088 College Avenue, St. Helena, California, during normal business hours and by appointment. In addition, such writings or documents will be made available on the City’s website at cityofsthelena.gov and will be available for public review at the respective meeting.