July 14, 2017
Greetings!

The sloping lot behind City Hall with the retaining walls has been a presence in American Canyon for so long that is almost an institution in itself – a relic from a failed residential development a decade ago.  And you have been hearing from me for several years now about plans for new affordable housing on the site. Have you given up?  Hope springs eternal!  The project is financed, designed and permitted…ready to build.  Although it’s been a long-time coming, the Valley View project will provide affordable housing for seniors and veterans in American Canyon.  Join us for the construction ground breaking next week (see below for details).  This will be the first of its kind in American Canyon; affordable housing just for seniors and veterans.  I know a lot of you are interested to learn more.  Join us for the celebration.
On the Agenda...

After a bit of a break, the Council will meet again on July 18th.  The agenda is pretty full with many items to discuss.  You can read the entire agenda here.  To kick off the meeting, County Supervisor Ramos will give the Council an update on several County projects and plans.  The City Council will conduct four public hearings:  to consider and adopt the annual assessments for the Lighting and Landscape Districts; to further consider the policies for “accessory” residential units; to extend the moratorium on the installation of new cellular telecommunications equipment; and finally to hear the results of our down-payment assistance and home-rehabilitation programs. As if that isn’t enough, the Council will also conduct a workshop to discuss potential park locations along the highway corridor to serve future residents in the Broadway District.  This discussion is part of the larger  Broadway District Specific Plan that will define how the Broadway corridor will develop in the future.  Finally, staff will give an update to the Council about a recent meeting with the United States Postal Service about postal service in American Canyon.  

Since our Last Update...  

The City Council met twice, on June 20th and 27th.  During these meetings, the City Council adopted capital improvement and operating budgets for the 2017/2018 fiscal year.  One significant project, expansion of the intersection at Napa Junction Road and Highway 29, will get underway shortly as the Council awarded a construction contract on June 27th.  The Council selected a new company to provide landscape maintenance services in the Lighting and Landscaping Assessment Districts and discussed a new ordinance that would allow residents to provide “accessory” units, (aka, “granny units”) on their property with reduced fees and streamlined permitting.  Want to know more?  Check out the agendas and meeting videos here.

Future Meetings...

All meetings held at 6:30 PM at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Check here a few days before the meeting for the full agenda.

July 24th - Parks & Community Services Commission/Open Space Advisory Committee Special Joint Meeting

July 25th - Special City Council Meeting

July 27th -  Planning Commission Meeting
Fire District News
 
The American Canyon Fire District publishes an informative newsletter each month. Click here for the latest. 

The American Canyon-CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) would like to share the following tips to help with disaster preparedness:
  • Immediately after a disaster takes place, check on the safety of everyone in the home and have a predesignated meeting place outside. It could be at the mailbox, the house next door, or across the street on the corner. Have an Exit Drill in the Home (EDITH) plan already in place, this way everyone, including the kids, will know how to get out in case of an emergency. 

  • Get to know your neighbors (participate in National Night Out, see below!) and have a plan in place with them to check on each other (especially the elderly). You might be able to help them if they have fallen or something has fallen on top of them.

  • Take the next American Canyon CERT class in October. Click here for more information. 
New Finance Director
I’d like to introduce the newest member of the City’s management team: Chris Roybal, the City’s new Finance Director. Chris has worked for the City for 11 years as a Finance Manager and was appointed to serve as our Finance Director on July 1st.  

The Finance Department provides services including accounts payable, payroll, water billing, information technology and general accounting.

Chris has a broad background in municipal finance and accounting standards and is a great addition to City management.  Chris is also an avid Warriors fan, which seems appropriate.

Need to reach Chris?  Contact her at (707) 647-4362 or by  email.  
Chris is shown here with her friend Wesley the Water Saving Camel (you may remember him from the drought).
Be Sure to Stop

Please be prepared to STOP! Our streets crew installed two new stop signs  on Wetlands Edge Road at Benton and Rio Del Mar.    
Wildlife at the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)

Wildlife is always abundant at the WRF and this year we were especially excited to find a Great Horned Owl and her two owlets.  
K-9 Training at the WRF

Did you know that two of our employees walk on four legs? American Canyon is  safer because of the two K-9 teams working for our Police Department. Chase, (and his human, Officer Eric Olson) and Mac (and his human, Officer Ozzy Hernandez) live, work, and train together. Just like the human officers, the K-9’s are required to do regular training exercises and lately they’ve been working at the WRF practicing jumping in and out of City trucks as well as apprehension and hold skills.  The K-9’s work and train hard and are rewarded with lots of praise and toys (not treats). Chase, a Belgian Malinois, started his career when he was only 18 months old and will retire around age 9.  
Officers Olson & Chase
Officers Olson & Chase
K-9 Chase practicing his jumps 
Traffic Snarl Information

The recent traffic backups due to accidents on Highway 29 north of the City are reminders of why it's helpful to know about programs like Nixle. In the last week, the Napa County Sheriff sent messages about these accidents and traffic delays through Nixle. You can often find out what's going on before getting stuck in the traffic snarls. It's easy and free, click here to learn more and sign up.
National Night Out - August 1st, 6-8 PM
Want to get to know your neighbors, encourage community-police partnerships, and prevent crime in your neighborhood? Host a party for National Night Out and let criminals know that your neighborhood is organized, aware, and fighting back.

Police Officers, Firefighters, and Public Officials will visit registered block parties with some special surprises! There are no requirements on what your party includes - just simply get your neighbors together at a local park, in your front yard, or in the street on your block. Sidewalk chalk, yard games, snacks to share, or whatever you'd like to do, just meet your neighbors and have some fun! Click here to register your party.
Sunday, July 16th at the Market

Nyia Yi Farms, J & J Ramos, Esauivel and Resendiz Farms will be at the Market with their wonderful selection of fresh produce. Bay Fresh Produce will be at the Market with their beautiful strawberries, G & S Farms from Brentwood will have their outstanding sweet corn, and Ortega Farms will be bringing their delicious cherries. Not to be missed are the fresh cut flowers from Love-Lee Farms and local cheeses from Chidenhia.

Don’t forget the Market is a great place to grab a bite to eat. Sticky Business BBQ, Platanitas Pupusas, Mi Fiesta and Hummus Heaven will all be at the market this Sunday. Don’t miss TenderFork Market’s artisan breads on Sunday. They sell out before the end of the Market so get there early.

Music this week will be local musicians Clarence Mamaril & Rob Directo ("The Search"), playing your favorite cover songs from the past 50 years. 

The FREE kid’s activity this Sunday is “Game Day at the Market” featuring balloon tennis, bottle bowling, and bucket toss.

Special entertainment this week will be provided by All City Dance at 11 AM. Come  out to see what’s new in the dance world.

Don’t forget the Market accepts CalFresh/EBT cards. Just stop by the information booth, swipe your card and they'll DOUBLE your money.
Parks & Recreation Happenings 
Open Space Advisory Committee Vacancy
The City Clerk's office is accepting applications from American Canyon residents to fill one vacancy on the Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC). 

The OSAC oversees open space efforts in and around American Canyon. Some of the Committee’s goals and projects include updating the long term vision for open spaces and trails; creating a master plan for Clarke Ranch and fundraising for its implementation; improving access to Newell Open Space Preserve; increasing bike and pedestrian access within American Canyon and regionally by developing multi-modal trails; creating and developing a stewardship program to facilitate habitat restoration, interpretation, education, and minor improvement and maintenance.  The Committee meets the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM at City Hall. 

Applications must be filed no later than 4:00 PM, Wednesday, July 26, 2017 a t:

City Clerk’s Office
American Canyon City Hall
4381 Broadway, Suite 201
American Canyon CA 94503

If you have questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 707-647-5337 or via  email. Applications are available at City Hall or here.
Fourth of July was FABULOUS this year!
We estimate that we set a new attendance record with more than 5,000 visitors throughout the day’s events. For the first time in years, families stayed the entire day. We'd like to send a huge thank you to the sponsors that make this event possible.

Click on any of the photos below for more information.
An Evening at the Ruins
This is your last chance to get tickets to the American Canyon Community & Parks Foundation's "An Evening at the Ruins". Click here to get your tickets now, only ten left!
Report concerns, pay your water bill, receive information on current projects and community events, and more. Download our app to have a connection to your City right at your fingertips. 
Click on Activity Guide pictured above to view summer activities. Click here to register for activities online.