Accomplishments 

Anna is a hardworking, persistent, and energetic leader focused on finding common ground and practical solutions to the most pressing challenges we face today. She offers a fresh perspective combined with the organizational and relationship experience to be effective.

Supporting local economy:

• Provided oversight for a balanced city budget without layoffs in 2020  

• Co-created an economic development and COVID Business Recovery plan to foster economic growth and investment in Saint Helena

• Advocated for the council prioritizing funding for scholarships at local childcare centers to provide affordable and quality childcare for essential workers

• Secured donations of protective masks from the St. Helena Hospital Foundation for outdoor essential workers during the wildfire season

• Funded a Small Business Sustainability (SBS) Loan Program ($300,000 appropriation with up to $20,000 in loans per business)

• Initiated a successful pop-up permit program to reduce the cost of starting a business and having temporary events in St. Helena

• Provided direction for an Emergency Temporary Use Permit Program to assist businesses with over-the-counter COVID related permitting needs and cultivated several public outdoor dining and seating spaces 

• Supported $450K in funding for the Sewer Lateral program to advance the Main Street Streetscape Project

• Proponent of our zoning code update to streamline the City’s permit process and allow for more community-supported uses without discretionary review

• Supported approval of the Farmstead Hotel that is expected to generate significant revenue to the City in TOT and Sales Tax, while designed to lessen environmental impact and fund a purple pipe project for using recycled water in the future, and contribute $3.2 million to affordable housing

Climate action:

• Led creation of Napa County Climate Action Committee in collaboration with Supervisor Wagenknecht and other elected officials willing to work on a regional approach to climate action

•  Opted in for MCE Deep Green for St. Helena, which means that 100% of the electricity the city uses is from renewable resources

• Worked to expand St. Helena’s urban community redwood forest at the wastewater treatment plant 

• Adopted a new General Plan with a climate action chapter and work plan with new dedicated staff resources

• Approved new litter removal project along Silverado Trail 

•  Enthusiastic supporter of clean-up days and composting to reduce greenhouse gases and sequester carbon

• Strong advocate for safer and more extensive bike and pedestrian infrastructure

• Requested $200,000 in 2021/2022 spending on alternative transportation infrastructure

• Prioritized General Plan "Climate Action" Chapter action items with appropriate staff and Planning Commission/ATSC Committee feedback into short (1-2 years) and long-term (3-5 year) actionable tasks in addition to Napa County Climate Action Committee initiatives

Water conservation, fire prevention, and suppression:

• Provided direction with Council for a comprehensive water security framework to manage initiatives

• Approved new approximately $14M wastewater treatment plant to process and use recycled water  

• Member of St Helena Water Advisory Board and proactive supporter of water conservation incentive programs such as FLUME for residential real-time monitoring of water use

• Organized and led Neighbor to Neighbor training for fire preparedness 

• Provided oversight for an after-incident report from local emergency personnel and applied learnings to develop emergency evacuation plan and procedures

Diversity and Inclusion:

• Adopted a resolution affirming that discrimination and systematic racism constitute a public health crisis causing disparities in mental wellbeing, language access, housing, economic developments, health, and criminal justice experience, and reaffirming its commitment to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the City.  

• Engaged in public meetings to create a diversity and inclusion work plan that now includes: 

  • live Spanish translation of council meetings

  • updated police policies to ban the use of carotid restraint holds

  • mandate DEI training for city employees

• Supported creation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee with a seat for a youth member to identify recommendations to ensure a more socially diverse and inclusive community

Youth engagement and education:

• Worked with the school district on initiatives to ensure the youth voice is represented and engaged in local government, including invitations to youth representatives to speak at city council meetings on youth-related issues, and conduct surveys of the High School and Middle School youth community

• As a Give Big Committee member since 2017, helped raise over $1.2M for all our public-school students

Mental health:

• Led a council consensus for a $500,000 CDBG grant in partnership with Aldea Children & Family Services to support the delivery of youth and family mental health services

• Prioritized health and wellness policy decisions for city staff and all our residents 

• Advocated for one-time incentive pay for all city employees in acknowledgment of their dedication and hard work during the pandemic

Affordable housing:

• Approved a loan for $1.4M for local Our Town St Helena (OTSH) to purchase apartments and convert them to regulated affordable housing, approved a $450K loan to OTSH to purchase a Pope St residence for affordable workforce housing, and gave ongoing support for Brenkle Court and Turley Flats affordable housing project.

• Advocate for designating city land for affordable housing projects and working with local developers to secure funding for affordable housing ($3.2 million secured as part of the Farmstead Hotel development project, a new standard for Napa County)