To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Molly Rattigan, Community Resources & Development Director
Prepared By: Neal Harrison, Economic Development Manager
TITLE:
Title
Discuss Napa Sanitation Pump Station Site Acquisition Process
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Direct the Community Resources and Development Director to enter negotiations with Napa Sanitation to acquire the Pump Station site for future uses consistent with Council Focus Areas.
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DISCUSSION:
The Napa Sanitation District pump station property, parcel number 003-144-009, is located at 1210 West Street within the City’s downtown area. The site comprises approximately 1.25 acres and occupies a full city block bounded by West Street, Pearl Street, Clinton Street, and Yajome Street. The property is currently owned by the Napa Sanitation District and contains a former pump station facility that is no longer in active use, along with a small park area and a skateboard park that are open to the public.
On July 17, 2024 the Napa Sanitation Board of Directions adopted a resolution declaring the property to be exempt surplus land in accordance with the Surplus Land Act. The same resolution empowered the District to sell or lease property declared as exempt surplus land if the planned sale or lease and the use of the property furthers the express purpose of the agency work or operations.
The site is located at the northeastern edge of the Downtown Core, within close proximity to Main Street, First Street, the Napa River, and other downtown commercial, civic, and residential uses. The surrounding area includes a mix of commercial buildings, older residential structures, and vacant or underutilized parcels that are anticipated to redevelop over time. The property’s location provides strong access to downtown amenities, traffic circulation, and public infrastructure.
Under the City’s Downtown Specific Plan, the property is designated Downtown Mixed Use (DMU), which supports a range of residential, commercial, civic, and mixed-use development consistent with the City’s long-term vision for downtown Napa. This designation aligns with adjacent properties and reflects the broader policy direction to encourage reinvestment, infill development, and flexible reuse of underutilized sites in the downtown area. While the property has historically served a public utility function, the existing facilities are no longer needed for that purpose, creating an opportunity to consider alternative future uses.
The City Council has identified multiple focus areas for Fiscal Years 2025-2027 in recent goal-setting and budget workshops that are relevant to this site, including Housing, Economic Resilience, and Parks and Community Spaces. Additionally, the General Plan and Housing Element offer guidance supporting housing and public amenities, and the Downtown Specific Plan identifies the Cinedome site, including this parcel, as a focus area that offers catalytic development opportunity. The Napa Sanitation property represents a rare opportunity for potential public acquisition of a full-block site in the downtown area that could support one or more of these priorities over time, whether through public use, future redevelopment, or a combination of both.
At this stage, staff is seeking Council direction to enter into discussions with the Napa Sanitation District to explore the potential acquisition of the property. Any negotiations would be preliminary in nature and intended to better understand terms, timing, constraints, and opportunities associated with a potential transfer of ownership.
Today’s recommended action would provide the Community Resources and Development Director and staff with direction to enter into preliminary discussions with the Napa Sanitation District to explore the potential acquisition of the pump station property at 1210 West Street. Staff would return to Council with updates and to receive further direction as discussions with Napa Sanitation District progress.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
Today’s action to enter preliminary discussions with Napa Sanitation District regarding the pump station property which may require costs related to due diligence. Any future actions related to acquisition of the property would be brought to the City Council with identified financial impacts and potential funding sources.
CEQA:
The Community Resources and Development Director has determined that the recommended action described in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c). Any proposed future project at the Napa Sanitation Pump Station site would be evaluated under CEQA guidelines.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
None
NOTIFICATION:
Napa Sanitation District