With the arrival of Summer, I hope you have enjoyed getting back into your favorite seasonal activities. Reflecting upon the past few months in Napa, I’m thankful for the many opportunities we’ve had to come together as a community. From perusing the beautiful displays at the Lighted Art Festival to banding together at citywide events like Earth Day Community Cleanup and Festival and the Fourth of July festivities, your participation has further contributed to Napa’s vibrant, community-centered culture.
Events like those mentioned above would not be possible without the dedication of City staff who work tirelessly to plan and staff them. Here at the City, we make it a priority to recognize those employees who make a difference in the workplace and in the community. Each year, we hold numerous events to celebrate new hires, promotions, and outstanding performers, and also recognize years of service milestones. Having the opportunity to thank our staff for their service is always rewarding. If you see someone from the City of Napa when you are out and about, feel free to give them a wave. I am sure they would appreciate the gesture!
In addition to hosting these memorable annual events, the City worked hard to develop the budgets for the next two fiscal years. Earlier this year, the Council solidified priorities that have guided the budget process. The key focus areas include general plan implementation, climate action and sustainability, housing and homelessness, traffic safety, and public infrastructure.
The City also hosted a mid-year budget report to outline progress made on the current year budget priorities and a budget workshop to provide the City Council with an overview of fund allocation. After significant planning and discussion, we have arrived at a balanced budget, which was adopted on June 20th, 2023—but we are still navigating financial challenges. We have many identified needs that we cannot yet meet, as we lack the financial resources to address them all. We remain committed to maintaining a healthy financial position as we strive to provide quality services for our residents.
To maintain transparency, the City has hosted multiple workshops and will continue to invite community members to participate in the budget process. To learn more about our most recent workshop and upcoming budget actions, read the City’s latest budget update release at www.cityofnapa.org/2023BudgetUpdate.
Together, we can take proactive steps to support the City’s success. I want to thank all who have participated in our budget workshops this year and continue to partner with us as we work through key City issues together one step at a time. We truly believe that community participation remains essential to building budgets that reflect the values of our residents and make way for positive change in Napa. I have no doubt that our City’s future is bright, and I look forward to seeing it unfold!
-Steve
Steve Potter
City Manager
City of Napa