To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Tiffany Carranza, City Clerk
Prepared By: Emily Steinley, Office Assistant II
TITLE:
Title
Cultural Heritage Commission Membership
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Interview applicants and appoint two individuals to the Cultural Heritage Commission as follows:
1) Appoint two individuals to serve a term beginning July 1, 2025 and ending on June 30, 2027; and
2) Designate one of the members to serve as a Preservation Professional.
Body
DISCUSSION:
COMPOSITION AND PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION:
The Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC), is a five-member advisory body to the City Council on matters related to preservation of historic resources, particularly regarding the Historic Resources Element of the General Plan, and the Historic Preservation Ordinance (Napa Municipal Code Chapter 15.52). The Commission acts as the decision-making body for specified actions, particularly related to the consideration of certificates of appropriateness. (For detailed information on the composition, duties, and qualifications, see NMC Chapters 2.70 and 15.52).
No less than two members of the Commission must be designated “preservation professionals” defined as those who demonstrate professional experience in the field of architecture, landscape architecture, history, architectural history, rehabilitation and construction, urban planning, American studies, cultural geography, pre-historic and historic archeology, folklore or cultural anthropology, conservation, or other historic preservation related disciplines to such extent available in the community.
All members of the Commission must be registered voters and full-time residents, with the exception of the two designated preservation professionals, who may be full time residents of either the City of Napa or the County of Napa.
Each member of the CHC serves a two-year term per section 4.6.1 of Policy Resolution 10.
NUMBER AND TIMING OF VACANCIES INCLUDING SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
There are two seats to be filled due to the term expirations of Karen C. Wesson and Kent Rasmussen, effective June 30, 2025. Commissioner Wesson is serving in the capacity as the preservation professional (see above definition).
In accordance with NMC 2.70.060, the recruitment and selection process should be conducted in order to encourage adequate representation from the city’s historic districts, including Alta Heights, Downtown Napa, Spencer’s Addition/West Napa, Soscol Gateway/East Napa, and the Napa Abajo/Fuller Park National Register District.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS:
The City Clerk accepted applications for the Committee from May 7, 2025, through May 30, 2025. Recruitment announcements were published on the City’s website, posted at various locations at City Hall, Human Resources, and the Community Services building, and sent to the Napa County Library, Napa Valley College, Napa Chamber of Commerce, Napa Valley Unified School District, Napa County Board of Supervisors, Napa County Administration, Napa County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Napa Valley Coalition of Non-Profit Agencies, Napa Valley Community Housing, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, and Leadership Napa Valley.
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED:
Three applications were received: Julie Seiger, Karren Wesson, & Kent Rasmussen
SPECIAL NOTES:
Karen C. Wesson is an incumbent applying to be appointed to a third term. Karen C. Wesson was first appointed by the City Council on July 20, 2021 and currently serves as a Preservation Professional.
Kent Rasmussen is an incumbent applying to be appointed to a second term. Kent Rasmussen was first appointed by the City Council on June 20, 2023.
Julie Seiger is a new applicant.
Current Commissioner William Tuikka serves as the second designated “Preservation Professional.” Commissioner Sarah Van Giesen also qualifies as a “Preservation Professional.”
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
None.
CEQA:
The City Clerk has determined that the recommended action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Applications
NOTIFICATION:
Applicants