The City of Napa has enlisted the expertise of Sonoma State University’s Dr. Robert Eyler, who began an engagement with the City to present key economic indicators to Napa’s City Council on a monthly basis beginning at the August 18, 2020 council meeting. The goal of the City’s engagement with Dr. Eyler is to present the Council with facts regarding the state of the local economy to better inform key decisions as the City navigates the new reality presented by coronavirus.
Eyler is a professor of economics at Sonoma State university with a specific focus on the economy of the North Bay area. He has presented his findings to Napa City Council and at the County level previously, but this monthly engagement is new.
“We’re thrilled to have Dr. Eyler on board to provide us with a 10,000 foot view of the local economy and expected trends as we strive to make the best decisions we can for our residents,” says City Manager Steve Potter. “The information he provides over the coming months will help us gather a sense of how our economy may be shifting and make strategic and informed decisions that protect and support our local businesses.”
Eyler’s first presentation to council focused heavily on employment changes in the past year in the Napa area, local home prices, and hotel occupancy. The hope is that over time, these reports will paint a comprehensive picture of Napa’s economic landscape to better support local businesses and drive decisions that will bolster the financial security of the community.
The City and Eyler will be sharing a cumulative report of his findings with the County tourism bureau, Visit Napa Valley, later this year. His presentations will also be made available on the City website for the general public, local downtown associations like the Chamber of Commerce and anyone else who may be interested.
He is expected to present at the second council meeting of every month.
Here is a link to the presentation: https://napacity.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4614795&GUID=685A1909-9743-48B2-9FDB-248E0A18DCE4
For more information on the City of Napa’s budget, go to:
https://www.cityofnapa.org/951/FY-201920-and-FY-202021-Budgets