Napa City Council Approves CARES Act Spending Plan

At their July 21 meeting, the Napa City Council approved a spending plan for $975,000 in grants from the Federal Government's Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These funds will help provide public assistance to local community members, businesses and others that were economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Funds will be distributed in different ways:

• $25,000 in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and related cleaning/sanitation supplies.
• $50,000 to assist in communication outreach with the community and staff related to COVID-19;
• $100,000 grant to eviction avoidance program (to supplement existing funds; any unused funding from other categories will be allocated to this grant);
• $100,000 to grant program for local businesses to assist in purchases of COVID-19 related supplies and/or business interruption costs;
• $250,000 for staff equipment to minimize the spread of COVID-19 by facilitating feasible and longer-term work-from-home scenarios to promote social distancing and;
• $450,000 for technological upgrades to online security and project tracking software to protect City information and data.

Read the full press release to learn more.

Online Water Bill Pay - Try It Today!

The City is thrilled that Napans can now pay their water bill online through our new payment portal that launched in March. Those who wish to review or pay their water bill simply need to visit cityofnapa.org/249/Water-Bills – any time, anywhere there is internet access. 
Users may make a one-time payment without registering by simply inputting the information from their paper bill. Those who wish to access more information such as past bills or set up auto-pay may register for an account with an email address. Either way, it offers a time-saving and convenient way to handle billing. 

CITY OF NAPA TAKES BUSINESS OUTDOORS

Napa Al Fresco: Safe Spaces Created for Businesses Outdoors

Napa businesses are going outdoors in response to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines through Napa Al Fresco! The City of Napa, in partnership with the Napa Downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID), and in collaboration with the City of Napa’s Small Business Recovery Task Force, is bringing a new and creative experience to guests. By utilizing outdoor space, guests can enjoy our beautiful weather while maintaining physical distancing.
 
Napa Al Fresco consists of the following three major programs:

1. Outdoor Business Expansion Permit Program: This expedited city-wide permit program lets businesses quickly apply for dining on public (ex. sidewalks) and private property. Non-food based business may also apply!
2. Shared Spaces Permit Program: This program allows business owners city-wide to utilize the public parking space in the street in front of their business for outdoor dining, wine tasting, or other outdoor uses. This program lets businesses quickly transform these spaces into expanded areas for their business.
3. Parklet Permit Program: Similar to the Shared Spaces Permit Program, this program allows business owners city-wide to utilize the public parking space in the street in front of their business. The key difference is that it entails the installation of a platform to make the area the same level as the sidewalk.

**Downtown and Oxbow Parklet Grant Program**
In addition to the programs above, the Napa Downtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) has allocated $140,000 to the Downtown and Oxbow Parklet Grants Program to support businesses with the design, development, and installation of a parklet or shared space in the downtown area. Downtown and Oxbow District businesses will be able to apply for reimbursable grants of up to $5,000 to help finance the cost of implementing their Shared Spaces/Parklet design.
 
Napa Al Fresco’s goal is to support our businesses during COVID-19 and provide a safe experience to people who visit and enjoy the City of Napa’s world-class dining and wines. All programs are free of charge to businesses. We invite everyone to experience Napa Al Fresco.
The Small Business Recovery Task Force members include the Downtown Napa Association, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Napa-Sonoma SBDC, Workforce Alliance of the North Bay, and the City of Napa.
 
Contact Information
For information about Napa Al Fresco and applications, go to: https://www.cityofnapa.org/937/Outdoor-Dining-and-Parklets or email [email protected].
 
To inquire about the Downtown and Oxbow Parklet Grants program, contact Craig Smith at [email protected].

Check out our helpful infographic here! 

Mental Health and Stress Relief During COVID-19

As the State continues to adjust health orders to address the current pandemic, many of us are finding ourselves in an increased state of stress or fear. But even those who feel like they’re handling the current state of affairs well may be experiencing increased weariness or agitation as a result of our current global situation. As our community does its best to navigate these new challenges and manage physical health, it is similarly important to manage mental health. When our mental health struggles, it makes it much harder to take care of oneself physically, be a supportive friend or family member, and manage day-to-day tasks. To help Californians handle the uncertainty and upheaval of the current climate, California’s Surgeon General has composed a playbook for stress relief during COVID-19. 
The document can be read in its entirety via the link above, and addresses the following:

• How to identify stress in yourself, make a plan, and work a program to combat stress;
• Strategies for combating stress like eating a healthy diet, maintaining supportive relationships, getting quality sleep, and practicing mindfulness;
• Checklists to organize your self-care routine.

Reminder - Business Sectors that Must Remain Closed Per the State of California  

The State of California has ordered that the following businesses sectors must remain closed unless they can be operated outside or by curbside pick-up:

• Fitness Centers
• Worship Services
• Protests
• Offices for non-essential sectors (list of essential sectors here: https://covid19.ca.gov/essential-workforce/)
• Personal care services including nail salons, waxing, massage therapy, day spas and tattoo parlors
• Hair salons and barber shops
• Malls

• Indoor dine-in restaurants
• Indoor wineries and tasting rooms
• Indoor movie theaters
• Indoor family entertainment centers (bowling alleys, miniature golf, batting cages, etc)
• Zoos and museums
• Indoor card rooms
• Bars, brewpubs, breweries and public must close both indoor and outdoor operations.

Government operations are considered an essential services and City of Napa and Napa County offices remain open. The exception to this is the Napa City-County Library that will began curbside services on Tuesday, July 14th.

Napa County is awaiting further details from the State of California, including how long these closures will last. It is anticipated that this order will last a minimum of three weeks. The timing for when these sectors can reopen will be made by the State, not Napa County. More information will be posted on the County’s website as it becomes available.

www.countyofnapa.org/coronavirus

COVID-19 Testing 

The State of California and Napa County are experiencing a significant demand for testing. Nationwide, there is a limited number of tests, trained testing personnel, and lab capacity.

As a result, the public may experience delays in the ability to schedule a test and results may take more than a week to come back from the lab.

Napa County is working with the State of California on testing capacity and we appreciate your patience as we work to address this national shortage.

NOTICE OF ELECTION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Municipal Election will be held in the City of Napa on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 for the following Officers:
 
For Mayor
(Full term of four years)
 
For 2 Members of the City Council (Districts 2 & 4)            (Full term of four years)
   
The nomination period for these offices begins on July 13, 2020 and closes on August 7, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.  During this time, Nomination Papers may be issued by the City Clerk to any eligible candidate during regular business hours. Individuals are considered “official” candidates upon the submission and qualification of Nomination Papers.
 
If nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the City are not filed by August 7, 2020, (the 88^th day before the election) the voters shall have until the 83^rd day before the election, August 12, 2020, to nominate candidates other than the person(s) who are the incumbents on the 88^th day before the election, for that incumbent’s elective office. This extension is not applicable where there is no incumbent eligible to be elected.
 
If no one, or only one person, is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California.
 
The November 3, 2020 General Election will be conducted as an all-mail ballot election. Ballot drop box and vote center locations will be open until 8:00 p.m. on election day. Please consult the City website for locations.
 
Nomination Papers are available at City Hall located at 955 School Street, Napa. To obtain Nomination Papers, please contact the City Clerk at 707-257-9503 or [email protected] to schedule an appointment.
 
Additional information about the General Municipal Election, including candidate and voter assistance information, is available online at https://www.cityofnapa.org/732/2020-Election.

COUPON: One Load of Bulky Items

FREE For City of Napa NRWS Customers

Due to the COVID-19 Shelter-at-Home, the City of Napa and Napa Recycling & Waste Services are offering a special coupon for drop-off of old, broken, unusable bulky items.
Your coupon can be found in your garbage bill - so be sure to check your mail this week! 

EXAMPLES OF ITEMS ACCEPTED WITH THIS COUPON
• Beyond-repair dressers & tables or other wood furniture, mattresses & box springs, sofas, broken toilets
• Large appliances: stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, refrigerators, freezers

EXAMPLES OF ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED WITH THIS COUPON
• Household Garbage
• Hazardous or Toxic Wastes
• Paint
• Ash/Burn Debris
• Drywall
• Carpet, Tires, Yard Trimmings
• Unpainted/Untreated Wood & Concrete (accepted for a    fee)

Coupons are accepted daily from 8 AM –3:30 PM and expire on September 27, 2020. 

COMING SOON: Free Tire Recycling Coupon In Your NRWS Bill 

GET RID OF THOSE ILLEGAL, UNHEALTHY, & UNSIGHTLY PILES OF TIRES!

NRWS has partnered with the City and County of Napa
to provide a FREE waste tire amnesty period
August 1–30, 2020 for NRWS customers. Coupons have been mailed to all NRWS customers - check your mail!

You can help to make sure these tires are recycled
properly instead of becoming breeding grounds
for mosquitoes or fire hazards. Together we can make a difference!

One coupon authorizes transportation
of up to 19 tires for free recycling. The regular recycling price for tires 22” or less in rim size diameter is $5 per tire. PLEASE NOTE: All passenger and light truck tires
22” or less in rim size diameter will be accepted.
Tires can remain on the metal rims.

Tire Coupons accepted daily 9am–3pm - LIMIT ONE COUPON PER TRIP.

Did you know? Tires brought to the Napa Recycling and Composting Facility will be ground and made into an array of products, including:

• new tires
• fence posts
• playground safety surfaces
• athletic surfaces
• mud flaps
• bed liners
• roofing material

For additional information call 255-5200 or visit naparecycling.com.

Complete the 2020 Census Today!

The #2020Census means for:

• Education programs
• Health care services
• Infrastructure & more

Show up for your community & take the census: my2020census.gov

#EveryoneCounts

Annual Drinking Water Quality Report Released

City of Napa tap water met all stringent U.S. EPA and State health standards in 2019. English and Spanish versions of the annual Drinking Water Quality Report are posted online in the Water Quality section at www.cityofnapa.org/water. A message on recent water bills alerted customers of the report’s direct web address. Along with summarizing regulated substances and water treatment tasks, the report describes our source waters, the importance of protecting our watersheds, and the steps we have taken to ensure water reliability during COVID-19. Visit our new Sampling & Testing page at www.cityofnapa.org/water for ongoing monthly test results and more details about the regulatory standards that ensure public health.
 
Printed copies of this Drinking Water Quality Report will be mailed upon request by calling 707-257-9521. Once City offices reopen, printed copies may be picked up at the Utilities Department, 1700 Second Street, Suite 100, or at the Finance-Collection windows in City Hall, 955 School Street.
 
The City continues to primarily use the electronic distribution method for this report, saving resources and ratepayer funds while still communicating to customers about the health and safety of their tap water.

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City of Napa's Business Guidelines
& Resource Page

The City of Napa's Economic Development Division continues to update their Business Resource Page with the latest information to help small businesses and our community navigate the shelter-at-home order. 

City of Napa Business Guidelines & Resource Page