To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Tiffany Carranza, City Clerk
Prepared By: Emily Steinley, Office Assistant, II
TITLE:
Title
Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Commission Membership
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Appoint new applicants Darren Graffuis and Simone Katz-O’Neill, to the Parks, Recreation and Tress Advisory Commission for terms beginning immediately and ending September 30, 2027; and designate new member Darren Graffius, and existing commission member Jeffrey Richard to serve as members with demonstrated experience in one of the following identified fields: urban planning, park planning, park operations, park maintenance, recreation programming, horticulture, or arboriculture.
Body
DISCUSSION:
COMPOSITION AND PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION:
The Parks, Recreation and Tree Advisory Commission is advisory to City Council and the Parks and Recreation Services Director on matters affecting the acquisition, development and maintenance of parks within the city; public recreation; cultural activities of public interest; matters affecting development of privately and publicly landscaped areas within the city; and matters related to trees, tree preservation and arboriculture, including the review of city tree ordinances, policies and programs. The commission is also authorized to take action as the decision-making body for specified actions set forth in the Municipal Code, particularly related to appeals of decisions regarding planting and removal of city trees under chapter 12.44 and the consideration of permits for activities affecting significant trees and appeals of determinations regarding activities affecting protected trees pursuant to chapter 12.45.
Requirements: The Commission consists of seven voting members appointed by the City Council. One member is a non-voting high school student in the City of Napa.
At least three of the seven voting members shall be a person who demonstrates experience in one of the following identified fields: urban planning, park planning, park operations, park maintenance, recreation programming, horticulture, or arboriculture.
Membership: Applicants must be City of Napa residents and registered voters. Members will serve two-year terms.
NUMBER AND TIMING OF VACANCIES INCLUDING SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
There are a total of two seats to be filled due to the resignation of Clay Newton effective December 16, 2025 and Marian Glynn effective November 5, 2025.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS
The City Clerk accepted applications for the Committee from December 17, 2025 through January 23, 2026. Recruitment announcements were published on the City’s website, on the City’s social media platforms, in the City of Napa News, 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 Community Housing, Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center, Leadership Napa Valley, and NEOGOV.
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
Five applications were received: Evans McLean, Darren Graffuis, Drew Lehman, Rob Hansen, and Simone Katz-O’Neill. All five are new applicants.
SPECIAL NOTES
Rob Hansen withdrew his application on January 15, 2026.
Evans McLean withdrew his application on February 3, 2026
Marian Glynn and Clay Newton resigned as persons with demonstrated experience in an identified field.
Applicants Darren Grafffius and Drew Lehman have applied as persons with demonstrated experience in an identified field. Current Commissioner Brian Bordona serves as the third member with demonstrated experience in an identified field. Current Commissioner Jeffrey Richard also meets the criteria to serve under the designation.
NOMINATION COMMITEE
Councilmembers Bernie Narvaez and Beth Painter, serving as the Council-appointed Nomination Committee, interviewed the applicants on February 9, 2026. A copy of the draft minutes has been provided as Attachment 2 for reference.
The Nomination Committee recommends the appointment of new applicants Darren Graffuis and Simone Katz-O’Neill, to the Parks, Recreation and Tress Advisory Commission for terms beginning immediately and ending September 30, 2027.
Councilmembers Narvaez and Painter established that new applicant Darren Graffuis, and existing commission member Jeffrey Richard would be recommended to fulfill the requirement of members with demonstrated experience in one of the following identified fields: urban planning, park planning, park operations, park maintenance, recreation programming, horticulture, or arboriculture.
Pursuant to Section 4.7.2 of Policy Resolution 10, the City Council may either approve the nominations from the Nomination Committee as submitted or take further action to evaluate the applicants in accordance with Sections 4.5 of Policy Resolution 10.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
None.
CEQA:
The City Clerk has determined that the recommended action in this agenda report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(C).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Application
ATCH 2 - Feb. 9, 2026 Draft Nomination Committee Minutes
NOTIFICATION:
Applicants.