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Council authorizes $123,400 monitoring contract for Upper York Creek restoration
Summary
The council approved a professional services agreement with the Napa County Resource Conservation District for years 5 and 6 of post‑dam‑removal monitoring at Upper York Creek, authorizing $123,400 from Fund 237 to pay for required surveys and annual reporting. Council members and the public described the work as necessary to satisfy permitting
The St. Helena City Council voted Feb. 25 to authorize a professional services agreement with the Napa County Resource Conservation District (Napa RCD) not to exceed $123,400 for monitoring of the Upper York Creek ecosystem restoration project for years five and six.
The contract covers annual field surveys, vegetation and wildlife monitoring, sediment transport observation and preparation of reports required by funding and regulatory agencies. Staff said the monitoring and reporting are required by the project permits and funding agreements and that the monitoring program originally spans 10 years.
Why it matters: The Upper York Creek project included dam removal and ecosystem restoration. The continued monitoring helps the city meet permit obligations with agencies that include the State Water Resources Control Board, NOAA and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, staff said.
Funding and vote: The council authorized use of $123,400 from Fund 237 for the unbudgeted expense and approved a budget increase of the same amount. The item passed on a unanimous roll call: Council member Barrick — yes; Spatarotto — yes; Vice Mayor Deasy — yes; Mayor Paul Doreen — yes.
Staff and regulator engagement: Staff said today’s timing was convenient because city staff and Napa RCD had recently met with the State Water Board, NOAA and Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss monitoring approaches and reporting. City staff told council that the regulatory agencies are open to negotiating a monitoring schedule that might reduce the number of on‑the‑ground surveys tied to storm events and explore alternative sampling timing to reduce cost and scheduling uncertainty.
Public comment: Elaine DeMan, a twice‑certified California naturalist, urged approval and praised Napa RCD’s work and the project’s environmental results. ‘‘This is really money well spent for the future of St. Helena and the people who live here,’’ she told the council.
Implementation note: Staff said Napa RCD is preparing outstanding reports (staff said the city missed one reporting year during staff turnover) and will propose adjustments to the monitoring schedule and approach to the regulatory agencies; any future changes to scope or funding would come back to council.
Provenance: staff presentation began when the item was taken up from the consent calendar and concluded with the roll call approving the consent item.
