April 29, 2016
 
  
The return of spring weather means the calendar is filling up with events.  Did you skip your prom in high school like I did?  To get a second chance (or relive the one you had), check out the Forever Young Adult Prom sponsored by Ahi Swim Team.  Are you so obsessed with Star Wars you named your dog R2 (and you know who you are)?  The annual celebration of all things Star Wars is May the Fourth.  Wish you were in Hawaii right now? The Polynesian Dinner and with music and dance performed by the ACHS Instrumental Music department will transport you there.  Practice your golf at the Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament.  Learn about these, and more on our Community Calendar
 

PS:  See you all Sunday at the Farmers' Market grand opening.
On the Agenda...
Our next City Council meeting will be Tuesday May 3rd at 6:30 PM.  The City Council will hear a presentation from the Napa Bike Coalition and watch ACHS students' winning Water Conservation Public Service videos.  The main topic the Council will consider is an update from the Public Works Director about our water and wastewater infrastructure, water management plan, and a drought update, along with proposed changes to our drought restrictions.  The review will be comprehensive - if you are interested in learning more, or staying updated, about our water situation, this is the meeting for you.  Click here for the complete agenda.

Since our Last Update...
Since our last update, the City Council met on April 19th.  At this meeting, the Council considered a request from the developer of the Canyon Estates subdivision (the planned housing development on the far east side of town) to remove a trail connection in their project.  The originally approved project included a trail connection from the new neighborhood to the Newell Open Space.  However, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service did not approve the trail because it is located in a conservation area.  While they were disappointed, the City Council accepted the change and a donation from the developer to be used for trail improvements in the Newell Open Space.  You can learn more about this, as well as watch the meeting video, here.

Upcoming City Council meeting you may want to attend... 
May 24th - We will hold a workshop on the Broadway District Specific Plan.  This is an important step toward improving the highway corridor.  Read more about it in this recent article in the Napa Valley Register.
Napa Junction III Under Construction
 
Construction is well underway at the Napa Junction III site.  All 8 buildings with 148 apartments units and the clubhouse are under construction.  Three apartment buildings are still being framed, and all the rest are ready for stucco exterior before the interior improvements will be made. 

 
The retail portion of the site has a 7,000 square foot retail building that will include a drive-thru Dunkin Donuts and a Quickly Tea store.  There is room for two more tenants that have not yet been named. 
 
The center will also include a Taco Bell drive-thru restaurant and a Tractor Supply store.  The sites are being prepared and the building permits are expected to be issued any day now.  The site contractors are also beginning to widen Napa Junction Road to accommodate traffic demands from the development. 
 
In addition to the buildings that are under construction or nearly ready to build, Napa Junction III has room for a freestanding restaurant or commercial use near Highway 29 and another commercial business on a 1-acre parcel between Tractor Supply and the apartments.  Occupancy for the apartments and all the retail stores under way is anticipated in the fall. 
Summer Citizen's Academy

Citywide Tour
On June 8th, the City of American Canyon will kick off our third Citizens Academy - a program of classes designed to help the community learn more about their local government. The mission of the program is to help develop future community leaders and build a better community by creating well-informed and engaged residents.  Classes will help participants understand key roles and functions in the city and how they interact to form a strong and effective government. This is a free program for American Canyon community members age 18 and older.  If you are interested in your community and how to make it better, this is a great opportunity for you.  Join us! Click here for more info and to apply.
Academy participants touring the Water Treatment Plant
Street Sweeping

The streets in American Canyon are swept by Recology every other week on the day after your garbage pickup.  Sweeping not only makes your neighborhood look nice, but it serves an important purpose, too.  The sweeper removes oil, trash and weeds that can damage the asphalt and drain into our wetlands.  If your car is parked on the street blocking the street sweeper, it can't do its job.  Please move your car off the street on street sweeping day so that our streets are clean and safe. 
Your street will be swept on the next business day after your trash pickup, every other week.  If your trash gets picked up on Monday, your street will be swept every other Tuesday, according to the schedule below.  If your trash pick-up is on Friday, your street will be swept every other Monday. Please move your car to your driveway the night before street sweeping.
Composting Workshop

Learn how to turn yardwaste and kitchen scraps into compost at home.  A free workshop will be offered in American Canyon on Wednesday, May 18th at 6:30 PM. There are still seats available in this class. Click here for more info and to register. 

FREE Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, April 30, 2016, from 10 AM - 2 PM the Napa Sheriff's Office, American Canyon Police Department, and the Town of Yountville Police Department are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's "Drug Take Back Day". 

This event provides the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse, theft and pollution by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. We are offering three locations for people to drop off their unwanted medications. Locations are:
  • American Canyon Police Department                     911 Donaldson Way, American Canyon
  • Yountville Regional Office                                          1950 Mulberry Street, Yountville
  • Napa Sheriff's Office                                                   1535 Airport Blvd. Napa
If you miss Drug Take Back Day, no worries. We have a collection bin in the lobby of the public safety building, 911 Donaldson Way East in American Canyon. Bring your unused or expired prescription medications that are lying around to the police department and drop them in the bin. No questions asked and it's FREE. Place your medications in a plastic bag and the drop them into our bin.  Throw your plastic bottles into your home recycling container. It's easy! NO NEEDLES and NO LIQUIDS. The lobby is open Monday-Friday, from 8:30 AM - 5 PM.
American Canyon Road West Landscaping

Another water saving project is complete! American Canyon Road West irrigation is now on recycled water and the turf in the medians was removed and replaced with drought tolerant native plants. This project was acccomplished through a partnership with the California Conservation Corps and will save more than 1.1 million gallons of potable water per year! 

Napa County Water Conservation Public Service Announcement Contest

Water Conservation Programs of the City of Calistoga, City of Napa, Town of Yountville, City of St. Helena, City of American Canyon, Napa County and Napa County Resource Conservation District sponsored a video contest for High School Students of Napa County. The focus was Every Drop Counts - Water Conservation as the new normal for California.

Congratulations to our very own talented American Canyon High School students, who happened to win first, second and third place! The winners will receive prizes and the first place video will also be used as a public service announcement at Cameo Cinemas and Century Napa before movie showings. The City Council will view the winning videos and recognize the students at their upcoming meeting on Tuesday, May 3rd.

1st Place: Joshua Padilla, Jackie Salinas, Yarra Bolla, Edna Santos View PSA Here.
2nd Place: Luis Buenaventura View PSA Here.
3rd Place: Julionna Robinson, Ernesto Garcia, Chezlaine Barrero, John Dizon View PSA Here.

From Left to Right: David Garcia, Jen Kansanback, Nicole Scott - City of American Canyon Water Conservation Program; Joshua Padilla (on FaceTime), Yarra Bolla, Edna Santos Aguilera - Representing 1st Place Winners; Jeanne HIllyard - Biology & AP Environmental Science teacher at ACHS; In Front: Luis Buenaventura (2nd Place Winner) hugging Wesley, the Water Saving Camel
Yard Sale Weekend 
June 3, 4 & 5
 
Our annual Yard Sale Weekend is just a month away!  Definitely time to start getting organized.  First complete this form to register (it's FREE!) and then figure out what to do with all the money you or your organization will earn!  You decide which days and hours you want to participate and we do all the advertising and maps.  Last year 99 sales were held - hoping to top 100 this year.  Questions? Please email or call Deanna at 647-5305.  

Community Recognition Ball 

American Canyon's 17th Annual Community Recognition Ball sponsored by the Napa Valley Vintners, honored Karina Servente as the winner of the prestigious Gateway Award. 
The Community Recognition Ball also presented awards to Walt Perlic of FASTSIGNS as Business of the Year, Chad Pilkington was awarded the Firefighter of the Year and American Canyon High School Link Crew's Paulina Vazquez Vega, Aimee Perez Aguilar, Shareileen Raymundo, Nicole Polo Malo, and Lindsey Lofus were recognized as Youth of the Year. Several Organizational Awards and Certificates of Appreciation were also presented.  The Gateway Award is the community's top honor acknowledging long lasting and impactful community service in American Canyon. Click here for all the details.
Left top: Gateway Award Winner Karina Servente with husband Jeff; Top right: Walt Perlic, Owner of FastSigns, Business of the Year; Bottom Left: Fire Chief Glen Weeks, VFW Post 11099 Quarter Master Don Ockrassa, Firefighter of the Year Chad Pilkington; Bottom right: Youth of the Year Awardees - Aimee Perez; Paulina Vega; Lindsey Lofas; Nicolle Polo Malo
High School Honorary Commissioner Applications

The City of American Canyon Parks and Recreation Department is accepting applications for a Parks and Community Service Commission High School Honorary Commissioner.  This is a fantastic opportunity for a high school junior or senior who is interested in serving in an advisory capacity to the City Council about matters pertaining to park development, park and recreation facility use issues, recreation programming and related issues.  Interested applicants must be in good academic standing and must reside in American Canyon. If you are interested click here and apply before 5 PM on Wednesday, May 11th.
Volunteers Needed for Bay-Friendly Garden Tour 

Volunteers are needed for Napa Valley's 5th Annual Bay-Friendly Garden Tour on Sunday, May 22nd, 10 AM - 4 PM. Volunteers will greet tour-goers and count visitors during the tour. Volunteers work during half the tour, and may spend the rest of the day touring gardens at no charge.  This year, the Garden Tour features 12 gardens in Napa and American Canyon. Highlights include eye-catching drought tolerant gardens, urban farms, and wildlife habitat. If you're interested in purchasing tickets for the tour click here.
 
Volunteer shifts: 10 AM - 1 PM or 1 PM - 4  PM. Contact Frances at (707) 252-4188 ext. 116 or email.

Thank you for considering this volunteer opportunity! Sponsored by City of Napa Water Division,  Napa County RCD, City of American Canyon, County of Napa, and UC Master Gardeners
Parks & Recreation News

AmCan by the Bay - Earth Day Celebration Wrap-up
Thank you to all the wonderful organizations that came together to make our first annual AmCan by the Bay Earth day celebration a success! We came together as a community to learn about saving water, steering clear of pesticides, and making more Earth friendly food choices. We walked, rode our bikes and enjoyed the gorgeous weather and our beautiful wetlands. We are already looking forward to coming together as a community for AmCan by the Bay Earth day celebration 2017! Hope to see you there!  

Upcoming activities:

Class
Ages/Grades
Activity Date/Time
Cost
Location

Spring Wings Walk

Families

May 7, 2016
10:30 AM-12:30 PM

FREE!

Newell Open Space

Senior Trip
Oakland A's vs Texas Rangers


Adults

Wednesday, May 18, 2016
10 AM-5 PM

$25
(Includes transportation & ticket only)

Departs/Returns
Senior Multi-Use Center

Canyon Kids Adventures Camp

Entering Kindergarten - 5th Grade

Weekly: Beginning 6/13/16
8:00 AM-5:00 PM
(before & aftercare available)

Residents: $80/week
Non-Residents: $120/week
*Residents save $120 with all summer signup!


Community Center Gym

Camp Take Charge for Teens

Entering 6th-8th Grade

Weekly Beginning 6/13/16
(before & aftercare available)

Resident: $60/week
Non-Residents: $70/week
*Residents save $90 with all summer signup!


Community Center Gym

For more information contact us at: (707) 648-7275