City Council Officially Appoints Steve Potter as City Manager

We are so excited to have Steve Potter on permanently as City Manager! After a long career with the Napa Police Department, most recently as chief, Steve moved into the role as Interim City Manager in July and the City Council unanimously appointed Steve as City Manager at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

The Napa Valley Register wrote a great article on the appointment here.

New Community Development Director Named for Napa

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Vin Smith as the Community Development Director for the City of Napa effective January 12, 2019. Vin moved to Napa in 1990 and began his employment with the City as a planner. In 1996, Vin left the City of Napa to work for the City of Petaluma. Vin’s development experience is unique in that he has worked for both the public and private sectors. He is highly regarded by his peers and associates in both sectors. Vin comes to the City after his most recent employment as the Planning and Building Manager for the County of Napa. Vin’s responsibilities will include overseeing the Planning, Housing, Code Enforcement, Building and Parking divisions of the Community Development Department. 

Napa Lantern Parade & Lantern Creation Station

Napa Lantern Parade

On January 18, 2019, everyone can be a part of Art After Dark! This illuminated community parade will start and finish at Veteran’s Park and weave throughout the various art installations in downtown Napa as hundreds of people show off their homemade lantern creations. A band and performers will energize the route along the way! The parade kicks off from Veteran's Park at 6:30 PM.

When: Friday, January 18, 2019 at 6:30 PM
Where: Veteran's Park

Lantern Creation Station

In preparation and celebration of the first Napa Lantern Parade, people of all ages are invited to make a custom lantern to show off later that night! Art supplies and lantern lights will be provided, as well as instructions, ideas and inspirations. Artsy helpers will be on site to assist lantern-makers!

When: Friday, January 8, 2019, from 12 PM - 5:30 PM
Where: Veteran's Park

As an exciting new feature of the Napa Lighted Arts Festival, a parade of participants will show off their handmade lanterns while weaving throughout downtown Napa on a short loop, energized by live music and other lighted art installations along the way. The result will be a magical and fun “art after dark” experience for viewers and participants alike. 
In line with the Lighted Arts Festival’s 2019 theme of BEYOND, we invite lantern designs to be inspired by the literal or conceptual interpretation of the word. As this is a family-friendly event, art is encouraged to be generally uplifting, inspiring, imaginative and positive.

Feel free to bring your own art supplies should you feel inspired to do so. If staying for the Lantern Parade later that evening, remember to bring layers to stay warm and comfortable shoes!

Visit the Napa Lantern Parade Facebook Event to learn more. You can also check out Do Napa's Lantern Parade page or the City of Napa's Lantern Parade page for more info.

Street Closures for Women's March Napa Valley on January 19

The Women’s March Napa Valley will be held for the 3rd consecutive year here in Napa. We wanted to make you aware as there will be street closures in Downtown Napa for this event on January 19, 2019 from 6 AM – 2 PM. Third Street will be closed from Main Street to School Street, and portions of Brown, Coombs, Randolph and Franklin Streets will be closed off of Third Street. School Street will also be closed between First and Third Street.

For more information on the event, please visit https://womensmarchnapavalley.org.

Voting Now Open for Napa Art Walk People's Choice

The City of Napa is excited to announce that polls are now open for People’s Choice Award for the current Napa Art Walk exhibition! The winning artist will be featured on next year’s Art Walk brochure and receive prizes donated from local businesses. 

Please vote HERE and share with your local networks. Please only one vote per person. Voting is accepted through May 2019. Your participation offers the curation team insight about how to best select artworks for this ever-growing program. 

The Napa Art Walk is a curated walking tour program that showcases regularly rotating installation art throughout downtown Napa, California. Since its inception in 2009, it is currently in its fifth exhibition of the biennial rotating public art program. The City is currently accepting submissions for the 2019-2021 collection. The full call for artists may be viewed at the Call For Entry website.

Any questions may be directed to Chelsea Ritter-Soronen, Public Arts Coordinator at 
707-258-7839 or [email protected].

Washer Rebate Program Ending December 31st, 2018!

Looking for an end-of-year bargain on a clothes washer? Only a few days remain for the City’s $100 rebate on Energy Star Most Efficient models. After 14 years, the City concludes its High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate Program on December 31. The City partners with NapaSan on this incentive program that has helped transform the washer market. These qualifying high-efficiency models can save as much as 10,000 gallons of water per year compared to traditional older models, while saving more than 50% in energy costs too.  So get that new washer by the end of the year, get $100 back, and ring in 2019 with water and energy efficiency! Details are found on the program web page, and applications are available at local retailers Sears, Pearson’s, and Home Depot. Applications must be mailed by March 1, 2019 to get the rebate.