Mission

The Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) serves as the advisory body on historical preservation matters; makes recommendations to the City Council on the designation of landmarks and historic districts; and reviews and makes comments on land use, housing, redevelopment and other types of planning and programs undertaken as they relate to the historic resources of the community.

When the Commission Meets

Regular meetings of the CHC are held at 5:30pm on the first Thursday of each month in the Committee Room, City Hall, 955 School Street.

What the Commission Does

For more than 25 years, the City of Napa has been actively involved in a historic preservation program.  A citizen advisory board was created in 1975 to maintain a list of historic structures and other features, to nominate landmarks and historic districts, to advise the City Council on historic issues, and to provide public information on preservation practices for not only the historic structures but also for the cultural icons in our community.  Preservation activities today are the responsibility of the Cultural Heritage Commission, which acts as the City’s review board under the federal Certified Local Government (CLG) preservation program. As the City’s review board, the CHC works to maintain the City’s Historic Resources Inventory (HRI), nominates properties to the National Register of Historic Places, reviews federally-funded programs that may affect the City’s historical resources.  In addition, the CHC reviews and makes comments on land use, housing, redevelopment, and other types of planning and programs undertaken as they relate to historic resources of the community.

The Cultural Heritage Commission consists of five (5) members, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the City Council. Members are chosen by the following criteria: At least three members must be professionals in the fields of architecture, preservation, archeology, and/or history and at least three members must be residents of the City of Napa. Two members may be residents of the County of Napa.

For more information on the work of the Cultural Heritage Commission -- including Napa’s Historic Resources Inventory, Preservation Guidelines, Certificates of Appropriateness, tax credits and incentives for restoration, and a comprehensive list of preservation resources and recent agendas/minutes, explore the menu links in the left hand navigation.
 

Commission Liaison:

Virginia Tygart, City of Napa Community Development Department
(707) 257-9361

Current Commissioners

(Including length of terms)

Sarah Van Giesen (Chair) – Professional architect
*term expires June, 2011
Wendy Ward (Vice Chair) Interest/Owner of historic property
*term expires June, 2010
Heather McCollister – Professional planner
*term expires June, 2011
Marie Dolcini – Interest/Owner of historic property
*term expires June, 2011
Judy Schindler - General Contractor
*term expires June, 2010